Multiwell Deployment of a New Abandonment System

A new downhole-tool-based abandonment system was developed and deployed successfully on four wells for a major operator on a field in the North Sea. The operations were executed with each well taking less than 18.5 hours to secure. The successful operation saved the major operator considerable time and expense by eliminating the need for cutting and pulling the 10¾-in. casing to remove the oil-based mud (OBM) from the annulus before removing the wellheads.

Introduction

Service companies were challenged by a major operator to create a solution to set a barrier against the overburden and to circulate OBM out of the annulus between the 10¾- and 13⅜-in.