SPE 78313

A Novel Underbalanced Perforating Gun Deployment System Using Production Packer

Technology Successfully Completes HP/HT Offshore Horizontal Well in a Single Trip
Martin Beveridge, Shell U.K. Exploration and Production, Thomas Robb, SPE, and Steve Herron, Halliburton Energy
Services, Inc.
Copyright 2002, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE 13th European Petroleum Conference
held in Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K., 2931 October 2002.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
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Abstract
An innovative completion method was recently used to
complete a well in the Skua oil field in the central area of the
North Sea. The Skua field is part of the ETAP (Eastern Trough
Area Project) and is borderline high-pressure/high-temperature
(HP/HT) with a reservoir pressure of 9,350 psi and a reservoir
temperature of 307 F. The initial field development plan was
to have one subsea well with a horizontal reservoir section of
2,000 ft to drain the prospect. Production would be tied back
to a central processing platform.
The completion design for this well had to address
several challenges.
1. What method could be selected for sand control in the long
horizontal section
2. What equipment would maintain integrity in near HP/HT
well conditions
3. What configuration would allow the completion to be run
underbalanced without completion isolation devices.
Several completion options were reviewed. A new gundeployment system based on production packer technology
was chosen because it appeared to offer the best option for
meeting all the well requirements. The system would also
allow the tubing-conveyed perforating (TCP) guns to be
recovered if they failed to fire or malfunction.
Orientated perforating guns were used to mitigate sand
production. The gun system was deployed from a novel
polished bore receptacle (PBR) and permanent packer system
that allowed for retrieval of the guns should they fail to fire or
malfunction after the packer had been set. The polished bore
receptacle and hydraulically set permanent packer were

designed with the guns hung off the seal assembly of the
polished bore receptacle and the tailpipe run through the
permanent packer to the TCP guns.
A significant feature of the hydraulically set packer-TCP
gun deployment system is that it allows contingencies for
recovery of the completion and TCP guns from the well in the
event of a total or partial perforation misfire. This was a
necessary requirement in view of the fact that a long
perforation gun string was to be deployed in a hightemperature reservoir where there would be an increased risk
of gun failure due to the ambient reservoir conditions.
The Skua well was completed with a fully cemented liner.
The completion and TCP guns were run, and the well was
successfully completed and perforated underbalanced (without
an isolation device) in a single trip.
Introduction
This paper will describe the selection method as well as the
development, testing, and implementation of a new TCP
permanent production packer system.
The Skua field is operated by Shell U.K. Exploration and
Production on behalf of Shell and Exxon Mobil and situated in
the Central North Sea block 22/24a (Fig 1). The subsea
development well, Skua S1, was successfully drilled and
completed with first oil produced in October of 2001. The well
was designed for an initial production rate of 25,000 BOPD.
The well is a subsea tieback exporting oil production via
flowline to the BP operated central processing facility. (See
Fig. 2)
Skua is a near-HP/HT field with initial reservoir pressure
of 9,350 psi and 307o F bottomhole temperature (Table 1).
The Skua reservoir fluid is a highly pressured, undersaturated
light oil of 42 degrees API gravity. The Skagerrak reservoir is
located at a depth of 11,735 ft TVDSS, 13,170 ft along hole
below drill floor (AHBDF) and is accessed with a 2000 ft
horizontal liner section to maximize production from
compartmentalized zones.
Principle Completion Design Parameters
The required design parameters were developed as follows:
Production at an initial rate of 20-25 k BOPD, maximum
design rate of 30 k BOPD.

M. BEVERIDGE, T. ROBB, AND S. HERRON

Use oriented perforations to defer potential

sand production.
Provision of a downhole wash water injection system via
tubing/casing annulus to mitigate Halite/Scale/Asphaltene
deposition in the wellbore.
Determine and apply a completion metallurgy compatible
with HP/HT formation fluids, 1% CO2 and <5ppm H2S.
Minimize
installation
risks
and
maximize
lifetime reliability
Provide contingencies in the event of installation failures.

Concept Feasibility and Selection Process

Because of the long horizontal reservoir section and near
HP/HT conditions, the completion design of the Skua S1 well
had to address a number of challenges; several options were
considered1,2:
Sandface completion (screens) with an isolation
valve device
Cemented liner, permanent packer, and coiled-tubing
deployed perforating
Shoot and pull with TCP guns
Cemented liner, liner top completion, and orientated
TCP guns
PBR/permanent packer gun-deployment system.
Fig. 3 illustrates the first 4 options.
Feasibility Studies
Sand Production.
Mechanical sand-strength studies
predicted that there would be no sand production during the
early stages of production. However, after approximately 2
years of pressure depletion, the potential for sand production
would most likely increase. To mitigate this risk, further
concept studies were performed to assess alternative sandface
completion designs. These included premium sand
screen/predrilled liners, gravel-pack, expandable sand screens
and oriented perforations.
Following a detailed review of active sand control options
and experimental core flood tests, the indications were that
sand screens would lead to excessive pressure drops and
subsequent productivity impairment due to ineffective filtercake pop off.
Perforating Options. Oriented perforating was selected as
the most viable option to lessen the risk of the onset of sand
production. This method attempts to defer sand production by
perforating in the plane of maximum rock strength in order to
maintain the mechanical sand strength surrounding the
perforating tunnels. It was considered that this method of
passive sand prevention involved fewer operational risks when
compared with conventional sand control methods.
Using a completion isolation valve to isolate reservoir
pressure across a sandface completion or to recover the guns
was considered, but finally discounted as an option. Isolation
valve technology, had historically proven to be problematic
(e.g. failure of valve to close and allow bleed down to recover

SPE 78313

guns) in other less hostile subsea developments. Also,

problems such as debris settling on the valve ports, which
would subsequently prevent their re-opening, had occurred.
Due to of the level of residual risk for this type of
installation, isolation valves were not considered further, and
the consensus was to favor a well design that would either
minimize the number of perforating runs (J-shaped slanted
well) or leave the guns across the reservoir downhole. A final
assessment of decision tree options, economics, and risks for
the considered well completion design led to the decision that
the base-case well design for Skua should be a horizontal
wellbore across the reservoir.
The Skua well-planning feasibility studies had also
identified the high risk of completing a long horizontal section
with multiple coiled-tubing-perforating (CTP) runs under
pressure at near HP/HT conditions.
A shoot and kill perforating operation was rejected on
the basis that kill fluid would compromise reservoir
productivity by damaging the formation; furthermore, heavyweight brines (e.g. Cesium Formate) are damaging to
completion equipment elastomeric seals.
The final assessments indicated that when considering
overall completion installation risk management and accessing
reserves to meet targeted well performance at an acceptable
field development cost, the option of leaving the guns across
the reservoir would provide the best compromise. However,
the drawback to this method was that future interventions
could not be performed.
Completion Configurations. The relative merits of both liner
top and production packer configurations during the concept
selection process were also reviewed. A detailed assessment of
comparisons showed that the TCP permanent packer system
where long perforating guns have been run and left across the
reservoir throughout the life of the well could offer important
benefits for the Skua completion. However, gun misfire or
low-order detonation was a key risk for this type of
completion since the perforation design required
approximately 3,500 ft (2000 ft in the horizontal) of oriented
TCP guns and spacer assemblies to be run into the liner.
Another important factor to consider was the potential for
damage to a primary sealbore, which would be exposed to
damage when running the perforating gun system in a liner top
design. The occurrence of sealbore damage due to frictional
wear and scoring would be more difficult to avoid if the linertop completion design option was chosen. The orientation subassemblies of the gun string contained upset and external stepdiameter profiles, and these factors further added risk to the
possibility of sealface scoring during gun deployment.
Thus, it was concluded that a liner-top completion design
with tubing stab-in seals was not an optimal solution for Skua.
Furthermore, tubing-stress analysis comparisons of alternative
options indicated that tubing/packer configurations that loaded
the completion with restrained downward movement would
potentially overstress the tubing, based on the limitation of
connections in compression.

SPE 78313

A NOVEL UNDERBALANCED PERFORATING GUN DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM USING PRODUCTION PACKER

TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AN HP/HT OFFSHORE HORIZONTAL WELL IN A SINGLE TRIP

Another factor considered was the effect of the additional

compressive loading, due to annulus washwater injection. The
stress calculations indicated that cyclical loads could affect the
long term reliability and the integrity of the static seals. After
considering this possibility, the high-temperature production
fluid effects, and the contingency completion recovery
requirements, the decision to use a hydraulically set
production packer rather than a liner top configuration was
finally made.
Completion Design
The next stage was to design the completion. The final well
schematic is shown in Fig 4. The details of the completion
equipment are summarized below:
Tubing. The tubing selected was 25% Cr, 125 MY, 5 in.-20# Vam Top HT. The well design dictated the tubing
weight and grade, and the produced fluid conditions dictated
the metallurgical specification. The tubing below the packer
was super 13% Cr, 110 MY, 3 -in.9.2# Vam Top.
Packer Fluid. The packer fluid was inhibited freshwater
cleaned up to <.02% suspended solids and particle size of less
than 10 microns.
Perforating. 2-7/8-in. 6-spf orientated TCP guns were
selected to cross over below the 3 -in.-9.2# tubing. The
TCP tool string consisted of a slickline deployed firing head,
fill sub, ported debris barrier, and two ported flow subs. The
oriented TCP gun assemblies and inter-gun ballistic swivel
connectors were extensively tested and qualified under Skua
environmental conditions for 400 hours at 325 F.
The guns were designed to orientate using weighted
spacers and orientation subs with ballistic feed-through
assemblies especially adapted for Skua HPHT conditions. The
live gun sections then self align using the mass of the
weighted spacers oriented to the low side under gravity and
assisted by intermediate swivel sub-assemblies.
Hydraulically-set TCP Packer. A 9-7/8-in. permanent
packer, anchor, and 6in. PBR were used to isolate the
production casing and to provide an anchor for gun
deployment (Fig 5). The equipment was rated for 10,000 psi
and 325F and set in the casing above the 7-in. liner tie-back
packer. The PBR was designed with a 150,000 lbf shear ring
and was designed to maintain the seals in a static position. The
PBR had a 20-ft stroke, and the seal mandrel extended down
through the packer to the 3 -in.-9.2# tubing. A separate seal
at the lower end of the seal mandrel packed off inside the
bottom sub of the packer to allow the packer to be
hydraulically set by pressuring against a plug in the 3-in.9.2# tubing below the packer.
Washwater Injection Mandrel. A washwater injection
mandrel was used to allow the injection of treated, desulphated, de-oxygenated seawater into the production tubing
via a wireline-deployed injection valve. Washwater injection
was required to mitigate against Halite, scale and Asphalthene
deposits in the wellbore. A 4.313-in. nipple in the mandrel was
used to set the injection-valve lock mandrel.

Permanent Downhole Gauge. The hyperquartz gauge was

capable of recording pressure within the 0 to 20,000-psi range
and the 10 to 350 F range.
Surface-Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve. A 5-in.
tubing-retrievable flapper valve was selected and set at
approximately 1,750 ft TVDSS. A non-equalizing valve was
selected for simplicity and reliability. A 4.562-in. nipple in the
safety valve would be used as a contingency for the
insert valve.
Slickline Nipples. Two slickline nipples were included in the
tubing string: A 2.562-in. positioned in the 3 -in., 9.2#
tubing to set the packer and a 4.437-in. positioned above the
washwater injection mandrel as a contingency for tubing tests.
Design Philosophy of the Hydraulic-set-TCP Packer
The chosen system offered several significant advantages.
Two of the primary benefits were that it would allow a
contingency for recovery of mis-fired guns and elimination of
potential sealbore damage during gun deployment. Packer
components for the system had already been proven, therefore,
only a qualification program for the Skua HP/HT and
washwater injection conditions would be required. The TCP
packer contains a shear-ring mechanism in the PBR to
eliminate tubing and dynamic-seal movement, this had been
designed to provide a reliable primary seal during the
production lifecycle.
There were still several design issues to consider. The
initially high temperatures and pressures in Skua would
impose severe tubing stress conditions during combined
production and washwater injection cycles. The induced
stress, if unrestrained, would generate significant seal travel
across the bore such that there would be likelihood of eventual
wear on the primary production PBR seals. To eliminate
motion, it was decided to maintain the seals in a normally
static position and only allow disengagement of the shear ring
during the most severe cases of tubing contraction.
Design stress analysis load cases were modeled for the
proposed TCP packer, and tubing loads were calculated. This
ensured that the packer design envelope would comply with
all the safety factors stated by the Shell tubing-stress analysis
guidelines and the extensive qualification and quality
assurance program that had been initiated. (See Fig. 6)
The planned configuration using permanently latched
tubing seals in the PBR would provide the greatest degree of
seal reliability by preventing motion of the seals throughout
the normal production life of the well. The shear rating of the
PBR shear ring would be designed for all load-case scenarios
in combined production and washwater injection operations.
The calculations determined that the most severe load case
limitation was calculated to occur during bullhead injection
operations; e.g. scale squeeze, which would impose severe
contraction and tensile loads in the tubing.

M. BEVERIDGE, T. ROBB, AND S. HERRON

Contingency Operation
The special TCP packer configuration contains a 5 -in. x 4in. x 3 -in. internal string from which the TCP perforating
gun string is supported. Therefore, the completion can be run
as a conventional TCP deployment operation. In a worst-case
scenario, should the guns misfire, the design would allow a
tubing overpull to shear out the shear ring from the PBR. The
upper completion, inner string and mis-fired guns could then
be pulled back through the packer, leaving the PBR sealbore
and packer set downhole. A backup packer system can then be
re-run with a replacement packer set above, leaving the
original packer redundant.
Development and Qualification
The detailed design review for the selected packer included
the criteria required for the testing and qualifying program to
assure compliance with the Shell quality assurance plan. The
qualification and prototype testing program was formulated to
closely reflect the well life-cycle operating conditions to
which the packer would be exposed in Skua S1.
The required test design envelope was determined from the
tubing stress analysis and thermal model (Fig. 6). Packer
differential pressure and thermal modeling data provided input
parameters for developing the testing program. Thus, the
prototype test conditions would closely emulate the predicted
maximum and minimum environmental conditions for various
stages of the well life and would allow safety factors to be
verified within the design stress envelope. The other
completion equipment had a similar qualification regime
applied or been field proven in similar well conditions in the
North Sea.
The Packer/PBR system was qualified to ISO 14310 V3 at
325F and was tested in the actual 9-7/8-in. casing used for
Skua. Also, cyclic temperatures and pressures were applied
after the PBR shear ring was sheared to simulate life of well
operations such as scale squeeze.
Load Cases. The Skua well was modeled to determine all the
load cases during the life of the well, and these included
pressure tests, early production, late production with
maximum annulus pressure (washwater injection), hot
evacuation, and scale squeeze. The PBR seal assembly was
designed to remain static during life of the well operations and
to shear during cold kill or scale squeeze only. A 150,000 lbf
shear ring was selected to meet these requirements.
Wet-Stab, Polished Bore Receptacle. The well was
considered HP/HT, and thus, precautions were taken to
mitigate trapped atmospheric pressure between the seals. To
eliminate this concern, the seals were stabbed into the PBR
submerged in a bath of silicon oil. This removed any air
between the seals and the potential for an
atmospheric chamber.
After a review of the wet stabbing procedure, it was
decided to complete this operation in a horizontal position
during the assembly stage rather than use a test rig and wet
stab in the vertical position. This involved designing a special

SPE 78313

chamber to attach to the top of the PBR and hook up to the test
ram. The seal mandrel was installed in the horizontal position
and wet stabbed at the same time. This eliminated any health ,
safety and environmental risks primarily associated with
manual handling of equipment at height, as it avoided using a
complicated stack up of equipment at a test well facility.
Hydraulic-set TCP Packer. The packer/PBR system had to
be qualified to the Skua load conditions. A 9-7/8-in.
permanent packer, 6-in. PBR, and ratch latch were selected
and modified to accommodate the inner string running down
through the inside of the packer to the TCP guns. The
permanent packer was a 10,000-psi-rated packer with a Nitrile
element and metal back-up rings. The bottom sub of the
packer was extended for a 4.5-in. seal bore to allow the packer
to be set conventionally with an additional seal mandrel on the
inner string. Viton, Teflon, and Ryton vee packing was
used on the PBR and ratch latch to maintain pressure integrity
over the wide range of temperatures.3 Inconel 718 alloy
material was used for the well conditions.4
Existing equipment was available but this had to be
modified to suit the Skua well conditions and the new concept
for running the TCP guns. The modifications included:
A PBR seal mandrel crossover from 5 -in.x 4-in. x 3
-in. and extended through packer ID
Additional moulded seals added to the seal mandrel
for setting packer
A packer bottom sub extended for 4.5-in. seal bore
A 20-ft stroke, one-piece PBR
A prototype PBR with the stroke reduced to 10 ft to fit
into the deep well simulator.
Three systems were manufactured: primary and backup
production systems for the Skua well and a prototype system
for testing.
Testing. The packer/PBR assembly was pressure tested
individually before assembly make-up of the PBR, ratch latch,
packer and seal mandrel. A 10,000-psi internal body test at
ambient was completed on the assembly prior to the
envelope test.
The following conditions were identified for qualifying
and testing the packer/PBR system to the Skua
well conditions:
ISO 14310 V3 Packer/PBR system test at 325 F, 8500
psi, with tension and compression. A 200 F
thermal cycle.
Overpull PBR and shear 150,000 lbf PBR shear ring
at 325 F.
PBR thermal/dynamic tests at 325 F/125 F and stroking
the seals 4-ft under constant pressure. Repeat cycle
3 times.
TCP guns interface trials.
The ISO 14310 V3 test was completed on the prototype
system at the deep well simulator in Dallas. The complete
assembly measured 46 ft including the top and bottom pup

SPE 78313

A NOVEL UNDERBALANCED PERFORATING GUN DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM USING PRODUCTION PACKER

TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AN HP/HT OFFSHORE HORIZONTAL WELL IN A SINGLE TRIP

joints. For testing purposes, a 10-ft PBR was used to allow the
assembly to be lifted into the deep well simulator. The 9-7/8in. casing was installed, and the test fixtures made up to the
hydraulic jack (shown in Fig. 7). The prototype assembly was
manufactured with exactly the same materials and elastomers
that would be used in the production units.
The packer/PBR system was tested in the Skua 9-7/8-in.
casing joint with test fixtures to allow make up to the
hydraulic jack. The temperature in the deep-well simulator can
be controlled at 325 F and allows independent application of
pressure above or below the packer with applied tubing loads,
either tensile or compressive. Before setting the packer, the
test fixture was tested at temperature to ensure pressure
integrity. A pump-out plug was used to set the packer, and this
was expended after the packer was tested. The packer
operating envelope was traced with differential pressures of
8,500 psi. The tensile axial load was limited to 120,000 lbf due
to the rating of the PBR shear ring. The compressive axial
load was 200,000 lbf. This envelope covered all the pertinent
Skua load cases. The temperature was reduced to 120F and
tested with pressure below and tensile axial load. The
temperature was increased to 325 F, and the test was repeated
with pressure below and the tensile axial load. A surface
readout provided data points of pressure, axial load, stroke
and temperature.
At 325F, an overpull with the hydraulic jack, sheared the
PBR shear ring and allow the seals to travel in the PBR
seal bore.
Thermal dynamic tests were performed by stroking the
seals 4-ft up and down the seal bore at constant differential
pressures of 4,500 psi. The tests were performed both at 325
F and 125 F and pressure tested to 8,500 psi at the end of each
stroke. The stroke test was repeated 6 times before cooling the
test fixture down to ambient temperature. The casing and
packer/PBR system were removed from the deep-well
simulator and laid horizontally. The test fixtures were
removed (cut) with the slick joint, leaving only the
packer/PBR assembly inside the 9 7/8-in. casing. The casing
was cut for access, leaving only the casing around the packer.
In the final test, the TCP assembly was made up to the
bottom of the 3-in. pup joint below the packer, the assembly
was pulled through the packer to ensure that no hang up
points/shoulders would prevent the TCP guns from traveling
through the packer. This operation was repeated in
both directions.
After the tests were completed, the casing was milled and
split to provide access to the packer/PBR for inspection. All
the components were inspected and found to be within
tolerance with no damage to any of the seals or elements.
Completion Installation
Specifically selected 9-7/8-in. casing was inspected and used
at the packer setting depth. Prior to running the completion, a
scraping operation to clean the casing was performed and an
ultrasonic inspection log run. After the casing and liner were

run and cemented, the well was inflow and pressure tested
with inhibited fresh water.
The completion was run, spaced out, and the hanger was
landed. A slickline plug was set in the nipple below packer,
and the tubing pressure was tested to 5000 psi to set the
packer. After the plug was retrieved, the packer was tested
from above and below. Tubing hanger plugs were set, and the
BOP stack retrieved. The Xmas tree was run and tested, and
the tubing-hanger plug was retrieved. The TCP gun firing head
was deployed on slickline, and a 500-psi underbalance was set
to perforate the well with time delay initiation. The well was
cleaned up and performance evaluated. The completion was
run without incident and successfully commissioned.
Conclusions
From the success of this installation, the following conclusions
have been made:
1. An alternative cost-efficient and safe method for
successfully completing and perforating long horizontal
sections underbalanced has been qualified and field proven.
2. The method optimizes the completion design and allows
completions to be carried out in a single trip for both standard
and HP/HT applications. Low-pressure systems are also being
used for the Penguin project, another subsea development
consisting of 4 wells with an average bottomhole pressure of
7,200 psi. These systems are also utilising permanent
packer/PBR configurations (rated for 6,000 psi) that are
similar to those used in the Skua well.
3. The extensive development and test program for the Skua
well conditions contributed to the successful installation of the
hydraulic-set TCP packer.
4. The use of a PBR in a near HP/HT well can offer the
benefits of a static seal during the life of the well operations as
well as the flexibility of a dynamic seal for contingencies
or workovers.
5. Provides additional Risk mitigation measures when running
long TCP assemblies.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Shell U.K. Exploration and
Production and Esso Exploration and Production UK Ltd, and
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., for their encouragement and
permission to publish this paper. The authors also wish to
acknowledge the Skua well project team and associated
service companies for their contribution to the successful
delivery of the Skua well.
References
1.

2.

Law, D., Dundas, A.S., Reid; D.J.: HP/HT Horizontal Sand

Control Completion, Paper 65515 presented at International
Conference on Horizontal Well Technology, Calgary,
November 2000.
Humphreys, A.: Completion of Large-Bore High Pressure/High
Temperature Wells: Design and Experience, Paper OTC 12120,
Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, May 2000.

3.
4.

M. BEVERIDGE, T. ROBB, AND S. HERRON

Ray; T: High Pressure/High Temperature (HP/HT) Seals for

Oil and Gas Production, Paper 39573 presented at Oil and Gas
Conference and Exhibition, New Delhi, February 1998.
Williford, J., Rice P., Ray, T.: Selection of Metallurgy and
Elastomers Used in Completion Products to Achieve Predicted
Product Integrity for the HP/HT Oil and Gas Fields of
Indonesia, Paper SPE 54291 presented at the SPE Asia Pacific
Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia, 20-22
April 1999.

SPE 78313

Viton (Vinylidene Flouride) Registered trademark of Dupont Company

Teflon (Polytetrafluoroethylene) Registered trademark of Dupont
Company
Ryton (Polyphenylene Sulfide) Registered trademark of Phillips Petroleum
Company

Table 1 Initial Conditions

Reservoir
Depth (top of target)
Length horizontal section
Initial Reservoir Pressure
Initial Reservoir temperature
Fluid Density
Bubble Point
Initial solution GOR
CO2
H2S
Cloride

Skagerrak
11735TVD, 12500 MD
2000 ft
9350 psi
307 F
41.8 API
2940 psi
815 scf/stb
0.93 mol %
<5 ppm
250000 mg/l

Mungo
Aberdeen

Monan
Marnock
Mirren

Skua

Egret
Scoter

Heron
Machar
Shearwater
Elgin
Franklin

Fig. 1 Location of Skua

oil field

Puffin

Erskine

SPE 78313

A NOVEL UNDERBALANCED PERFORATING GUN DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM USING PRODUCTION PACKER

TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AN HP/HT OFFSHORE HORIZONTAL WELL IN A SINGLE TRIP

Fig. 2 Schematic of the ETAP production facilities

M. BEVERIDGE, T. ROBB, AND S. HERRON

Sandface Completion
open hole
screens
completion isolation valve
sandface packer
production packer

CT perforate
cemented liner
permanent packer
CT perforate

Shoot and pull

cemented liner
overbalance brine
TCP guns

Fig. 3 Four of the completion options considered

SPE 78313

Liner Top Completion

cemented liner
orientated TCP guns
liner top packer

SPE 78313

A NOVEL UNDERBALANCED PERFORATING GUN DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM USING PRODUCTION PACKER

TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AN HP/HT OFFSHORE HORIZONTAL WELL IN A SINGLE TRIP

Tubin g Hanger (4.75" and 1.875" Nipple Profiles )

320ft

A-T RSSV (1.875")

Productio n TRSCSSV (4.562")

10 3/4 x 9 7/8 x-over

9 7/8" Casing
Electrical PDHG

11410ft

4.437" AO F Nipple

11467ft
11497ft

Wash Water Injection Mandrel (4.313")

PBR (Latched)

11510ft

9 7/8" MHR TCP Production Packer

11542ft

2.562" AO F Nipple

11602ft

11617ft
11700ft

Liner Tie-back Isolation Packer

3 1/2" F low Sub
3 1/2" Vam Top Spacer Tubing
3 1/2" F low Sub
3 1/2" Debris Sub
12500ft

Slickl ine Deployed Firing Head Assembly

2 7/8" Spacer Guns

Top Shot ca. 12603ft

1,000 ft of 2 7/8" Oriented Guns

13591ft Heel Point

16088ft =TD
2,000 ft of 2 7/8" Oriented Guns
Bottom Shot Ca. 15591ft

Fig. 4 Skua S1 Well Configuration

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M. BEVERIDGE, T. ROBB, AND S. HERRON

Polished Bore Receptacle

Seal Assembly

Packer

CN05832

to TCP Guns

Fig. 5 Hydraulically-set TCP Packer

SPE 78313

A NOVEL UNDERBALANCED PERFORATING GUN DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM USING PRODUCTION PACKER

TECHNOLOGY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AN HP/HT OFFSHORE HORIZONTAL WELL IN A SINGLE TRIP

SPE 78313

300000
PRESSURE (psi)

Above

11

Below

Tensile

200000

D
-8000

0
-6000

-4000

-2000

2000

4000

6000

-100000

Compression

-10000

FORCE (lbs)

100000

-200000

-300000

Fig. 6 Test design stress envelope determined from modeling and analysis

8000

10000

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M. BEVERIDGE, T. ROBB, AND S. HERRON

SPE 78313

Tool Loading Jack

Power Pack for Tool Loading Jack
Load Flange

Heating System Air

Handler and Controls

Hot Air Flow Path

Hot Air Discharge

Hot Air Return

3337

Packer

Fig. 7 Deep well simulator used for prototype testing