High temperature perforating in east Texas

Challenge
Unconventional wells
JUSET113111 High temperature perforating - Well Intervention - Welltec
  • Max. temperature 385°F @ 22,084 ft
  • Max. pressure 13,705 psi
  • Max. depth 22,084 ft
  • Max. deviation 93.80° @ 16,078 ft
  • Distance tractored 7,779 ft
  • H2S 10 PPM
  • CO2 4%

Background

An operator was preparing the toe stage of an extended lateral, cased hole, high temperature well for fracture stimulation. Due to the extended lateral length of up to 7,300 ft (2,225m), the Well Tractor® was the preferred tool to reach the toe.

This well was located in the Haynesville Shale on the border between Texas and Louisiana, an area in which the shale formation lies deep and the wells reach temperatures of up to 400°F (204°C).

Operation

The toolstring was run in hole to a hold up depth of 14,766 ft (4,500m) where the 3-wheel section, 318 Well Tractor was activated. It worked through several obstructions to deliver the payload successfully.

Conveying the perforation gun string over 7,300 ft (2,225m) into the lateral to an ultimate depth of 22,082 ft (6,731m) MD, where the four guns were activated in sequence with no misfires. The bottom hole temperature was recorded with a temperature strip in the Well Tractor, which showed ~385°F (~200°C).

Achievements

The Well Tractor and gun string were exposed to the high temperature for five hours and 45 minutes and the tools handled the temperature without any issues.

The Well Tractor and gun string were exposed to the high temperature for five hours and 45 minutes and the tools handled the temperature without any issues.