Casing/cementing/zonal isolation
Cementing and zonal isolation remains an important topic to operators and service providers alike. Additionally, an increase in the number of papers with both academic and field-driven content shows that there is no lack of initiative for operators to materially improve on existing methods and technology.
This paper highlights nontraditional methods to cure oil-based-mud losses in horizontal wells drilled in unconventional plays.
The authors of this paper write that the use of high-angle wells through anisotropic shale formations represents a promising approach to improving oil recovery while reducing the overall number of wells required.
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Shale producers have learned in recent years that their fracture plugs may not be holding up as well as they thought. One of the first operators to realize the true scope of the issue is now sharing the pathway it took to solving it.
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The complete paper discusses a geophone array, including four, three-component geophones deployed by wireline, that provides a solution for this problem by creating a 3D map of the acoustic environment.
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When a plug gets stuck in a well, consider the cause. Often stuck fracturing tools are a warning sign of casing trouble. Companies that have investigated plug problems have been surprised by the findings.
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An analysis of existing wells in the Martin Linge field, conducted by Equinor when it took over as operator from Total, revealed that several did not have sufficient barriers, leading the company to plan new wells to ensure safe operation.
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In tectonically influenced regions, potential hydrocarbon traps are subject to complex states of stress. This scenario often translates into severe strike/slip (SS) and thrust-fault or reverse-fault (TF/RF) stress states.
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The oilfield services company's Tubular Running Service was recognized for reducing costs, maximizing safety.
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The cementing services market size in the US is expected to drop 50% year-on-year from 2019. The significant drop in Permian Basin activity will account for 40% of the total market size reduction.
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In the complete paper, a novel system that uses engineered features of permeable polymeric shell walls for the controlled release of encapsulated cargo is described.
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This year, excellent papers have been presented, augmenting our knowledge and responding to the challenges of complex wells and efficiency requirements. At the same time as we “Strengthen the Core,” we continue to focus on design, delivery, and evaluation of cementing operations.
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The complete paper presents a case study in which offline cementing improved operational efficiency by reducing drilling times and provided significant cost savings.