Isealate Springblade Patch deployed as a hold-open sleeve

A tubing retrievable safety valve (TRSV) positioned at 1,200 ft was failing to move, therefore preventing access to an eroded hole in the 3-½”, 9.3 ppf tubing at 6,750 ft.

An Isealate Springblade Patch had already been used to remedy a previous leak at 5,000 ft in the same well, making this next operation a patch-thru-patch deployment with no removal required*, made possible by the ultra-slim nature of the laminate steel sheets, reducing inner diameter (ID) by only a few mm.

The faulty TRSV reduced the inner diameter (ID) at that point (1,200 ft) from 2.992” to 2.70”.  A unique solution was devised whereby an additional Isealate Springblade Patch could be used as a hold-open sleeve, if placed correctly inside the TRSV flapper.

A meticulous and collaborative planning phase ensued, involving close coordination between Welltec and the client to ensure a successful outcome.

The entire intervention was carried out via standard e-line.  Running in hole with an Isealate Springblade Patch and positioning it across the TRSV, the activation process was initiated to provide much better access to the leak situated further downhole. 

An additional drift run confirmed that the unique hold-open sleeve was effectively set, after which another run was made with a Well Cleaner® Wishbone Honer in order clean deposits from tubular walls, and in this instance to help ensure flush contact between the subsequent patch and the tubing’s ID around the leak at 6,750 ft.  

The versatility of the Isealate Springblade Patch was demonstrated through its unique application as the world’s slimmest hold-open sleeve, enabling access for an additional patch at 1,200 ft, which also seamlessly passed through a prior repair at 5,000 ft for the first-ever patch-thru-patch run.

*Conventional leak remediation options require operators to set retrievable patches that significantly reduce the inner diameter of the tubing, whereas the Isealate Springblade Patch provides a far more efficient solution that can be set patch-thru-patch, eliminating the need to pull the patches for any work below. This not only saves valuable time but also reduces costs for operators.