101. The Development of a System to Restore Full Safety Valve Functionality to Wells With Blocked and Damaged Control Line
- Author
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Richard C. Jones, Dick L. Klompsma, Jean-Luc Jacob, Bert Lugtmeier, and Rodger Dale Lacy
- Subjects
Engineering ,business.industry ,Forensic engineering ,business ,Safety valve - Abstract
A significant problem confronting Operators in modern field development and production is that created by loss of functionality of the surface controlled subsurface safety valve (SCSSV) due to blockage of, or damage to, the hydraulic control line. The consequent loss of hydraulic pressure to the valve means its closure, the resultant loss of production and the need to provide an alternative safety system in order to continue exploiting the wells reserves Currently two alternatives are available: A full scale workover to pull tubing, replace the inoperable control line and restore functionality to the SCSSV.Installation of a velocity or dome charged subsurface controlled subsurface safety valve (SSCSSV). The former approach requires a major expense, which may not be justifiable in a mature well, while the reliability offered by the latter approach typically does not meet well integrity requirements and can sometimes lead to reduced production. Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) has been faced with this problem in many onshore and offshore wells and was determined to find an alternative solution. Based on the successful completion of a previous development project, NAM asked Weatherford to jointly develop a solution to this problem, which would allow the installation of an alternative control line without the expense of a workover. In this paper the authors will review the problems associated with loss of control line functionality and consequent SCSSV malfunction. They will go on to describe in detail the joint project which led to the development, testing, and eventual field deployment of the Weatherford Damaged Control Line (WDCL) Safety Valve featuring surface control, which can be installed using wireline and capillary string techniques.
- Published
- 2009