Precise, reliable, safer mechanical tubing cutting.
High-expansion mechanical tubing cutter enables successful P&A
An operator in the Gulf of Mexico deployed a high-expansion mechanical tubing cutter to successfully sever a 4.5-in 12.75-lbm/ft casing during a plug and abandon operation. By using integrated Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ services to conduct the entire operation, the operator reduced risk, cost, personnel on board, and interfaces.
During the plug and abandonment of a well, the operator needed to set a cement retainer, squeeze cement in perforations with coiled tubing, and then install a 300-ft-long cement plug. Following this operation, the operator wanted to cut the production tubing and finally set a casing integrity bridge plug above.
The objective was to cut 4.5-in 12.75-lbm/ft casing below a tight 2.562-in inside diameter no-go landing nipple. A high-expansion tubing cutter was required, and the operator wanted a mechanical tubing cutter to avoid damaging the casing and to receive confirmation of the cut.
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ recommended the tubing cutter of the ReSOLVE iX™ intelligent extreme wireline intervention service because of its 2.375-in outside diameter, which can pass through tight restrictions and cut up to 5.5-in casing.
In this first deployment of the ReSOLVE iX tubing cutter in the Gulf of Mexico, it severed the pipe in 28 minutes and provided a real-time confirmation. The successful cut was verified by the drop in tubing tension. When the pipe was pulled out of hole, a precise cut was revealed at its end, and an equally smooth cut was left on the inhole pipe, which is a beneficial quality if reentry were necessary.
The tubing cutter features a unique, built-in release system that leaves only the cutting head in the well. The release system was not required during this operation but could have been valuable in case of an issue.
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ wireline personnel successfully conducted the entire operation¡ªpunching, cutting the pipe, and setting the plug¡ªwithout requiring another service provider. By utilizing integrated Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ services, the operator reduced risk, cost, personnel on board, and interfaces.