Paper: REPAIRING INJECTION PORTS AND CASING BEFORE FRACING USING EXPANDABLE STAINLESS STEEL PATCHES

Optimising the recovery of hydrocarbons has led to an increasing need for remedial applications in both production and injection wells. The increasing use of multi-zone horizontal completions, both for shale and more traditional formations, means thousands of frac ports are now being run every year. In 2010 a new technology was launched in North America to expand stainless steel patches using a high pressure inflatable packer. This has now become a regular service, both for perforation shut-off and casing repair. The versatility of the technology has also enabled it to be used to seal leaking cementors and frac ports, with the unique ability of creating a high pressure resistant inner lining and yet enabling the passage of large size balls to activate the ports below. This paper will describe rapidly how the technology works and follow up on the progress made over the last year. The first US operations base has been set up in Midland, Texas. Some of the first US field applications including both casing repair and perforation shut-off will be described. The paper will also present the testing process to validate using the Patch with differential pressures up to 10,000 psi, and describe the first field operations repairing frac ports. It will conclude by presenting the development of possible future applications of expandable stainless steel for improving completions