SUCCESSFUL REVIVAL OF A SANDED OUT OIL PRODUCER

Background
An oil producer well located offshore Vietnam was completed with a gas lift system that aided initial production from the Lower Miocene formation in 2002. Over a period of eight years, the well was producing sand along with liquids at approximately 1,000 bbl per day. In the beginning of 2011, there were a series of full field shutdowns and shutting in of the well after which it was unable to be flowed. When running slickline and bailer it was concluded that the well was plugged with sand at a held up depth of 5,052 ft. (1,540 m.) MD. In order to flow the well again, the sand had to be removed.

Operation
The operator was looking for a lighter alternative to coiled tubing and contacted Welltec. They decided to use the Well Cleaner PST to remove the sand to surface with exact measurement of volume due to the advantages provided by this electric line solution. Initially, it was suspected that the sand was caused by a bridge instead of a full column of sand. The Well Cleaner PST cleared 4,777 ft. (1,456 m.) of sand bridges and recovered a total of 861 liters of sand to surface. The theory that the well was suffering from sand bridging was confirmed by the intervention.

Thanks to the clean-out job, full flow path was re-established and the well was returned to full production. Choke size was adjusted to flow the well at 500 bbl of liquid (400 bwpd and 100 bopd) per day instead of 1,000 bbl to control sand production.

1063MD

45

1545MD 66 60

552 liters
66

4 liters
64 2296MD

1722MD 1867MD

64 2725MD

15 liters

260 liters
2897MD

Achievements
The clean-out intervention was completed in 34 days of daylight operations and provided confirmation of the total amounts of sand recovered to surface. The Well Cleaner PST proved to be an efficient alternative to a conventional coiled tubing unit for this operator who applied the solution for the first time. HSE risks were reduced by applying electric line compared to heavier intervention methods like coiled tubing; less and lighter equipment was involved, fewer lifts were required and mobilization was done considerably faster with Welltecs solution.

Well data
Well type: 4-1/2 single completion Max. deviation: 68.18 Total depth: 10,499 ft. (3,200 m.) MD Max. temperature: 194 F (90 C) WHP: 1,100 psi BHP: 1,300 psi @ 6,985 ft. (2,129 m.) TVD WLD

Tool applied for this operation: Well Cleaner PST