Well Intervention

Contents
A. Need and Definition of Well Intervention
1. What is the meaning of Well intervention
2. Well Integrity Assurance and Standards
3. Objective of the Well intervention

B. Objectives Well Intervention Methods

1. Design and Concept discussion
2. Assess and Selecting the Method and Resources

C. Plan and Executing Well Interventions

1. Develop Example of Completion and Well Intervention (WCI) Program
2. Field Operations - Importance of Data and Record Keeping
3. Review of CWI Performance and Future Improvement
 Definition of Well Intervention ( Wikipedia)
Well intervention, or well work, is any operation carried out on an oil and/or
gas well (well) during, or at the end of, its productive life that alters the state of
the well or well geometry, provides well diagnostics, or manages the production
of the well.
Quite Simply “Any work done on an oil / gas well” is “Well Intervention..
Any Other ???? Let me introduce the basics in this Course….
VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF ALL WELL INTERVENTION OPERATIONS : WELL CONTROL
Typically Well Intervention has been categorized by experts in many ways :
• Light / Heavy
• Rig Based / Rig less
• Surface / Downhole
• Production / Workover / Stimulation
• Let’s understand and discuss the need / reasons of well Interventions.
VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF ALL WELL INTERVENTION OPERATIONS : WELL CONTROL
 Reasons for Well Intervention
The work on the well can be for one of the following reason :
I. Establishing Well Integrity / Gathering Information / Data
a)Visual Inspection of the well site and facilities
b)Non Destructive testing / Inspection
c) Pressure testing of the Well equipment
II. Remedial work For Equipment
a)Surface equipment Issues (Leaking valves, gages connections)
b)Remedial of downhole equipment
III. Production Enhancement work
a)Data acquisition – Eg Production logging / CET / Corrosion
b)Changes in Well Construction Eg : Adding a zone / Sidetracking
c)Stimulation
IV.Abandonment / Other
 Establishing Well Integrity (WI)
• During Production Life, it is very important to establish “Well Integrity”
• Can be compared with health check of the well and the equipment available.
• Can Have huge impacts on profitability and public image of the Company.
• International Oil Companies WI is an important Key Performance Indicator (KPI).
• NORSOK / ISO Standards define WI as follows :
• NORSOK D-010: Application of technical, operational and organizational solutions to
reduce risk of uncontrolled release of formation fluids throughout the life cycle of a well.
• ISO TS 16530-2 Containment and the prevention of the escape of fluids (i.e. liquids or
gases) to subterranean formations or surface.
In Simple terms “ Keeping hydrocarbon inside Well with Zero exposure to atmosphere”
Any Company who manage the WI well, gets rewarded with risk reduced at ALARP Level
(ALARP : As Low As Reasonably Practicable) .
• Multidisciplinary Teams Responsible for WI Eg : Production Operations + Well
Intervention.
• Understanding Well Integrity Lifecycle is Essential to Assess Risk Which can seriously
erode the Profits and Repute of the Company.
 Scope of the Course - Focus on Operational +Intervention Phase OR
Well Integrity Management - Issues and Interventions Methods Available (WIMS)
 Well Integrity Management (WIMS)
Operate – Intervene and Abandonment Phase Interventions
A. Surface / Facility Issues
I. Failure to Choose surface equipment (Monoblock / Assembled , Material etc)
II. Failed Valves / Connections
III. Monitoring and Testing Adapter Flanges / Void regularly (Schedule)
IV. Early detection helps Controlling Costs of Intervention
 Well Integrity Management (WIMS)
Operate – Intervene and Abandonment Phase Interventions
B. Downhole / Well Issues
I. Failure of Tubing Retrievable Sub Surface Safety Valve
II. Erosion of Tubulars – Inspected using Multi Imaging Tool (MIT) / Camera
III. Casing Corrosion (Logging with Tools)
IV. Sustained Casing Pressure ACP (API-90)
Well Integrity Failure – Schematic of Leak paths
 Summary Reasons - Well Intervention
I. Remedial work For Equipment
a) Surface equipment Issues (Leaking valves, gages
connections)
b) Remedial of downhole equipment
II. Production Enhancement work
a) Data acquisition – Eg Production logging / CET /
Corrosion
b) Changes in Well Construction Eg : Adding a zone
/ Sidetracking
c) Stimulation -

• Abandonment / Workover
• These operations / projects may also be
considered as well interventions. However
let’s understand the difference.
 Well Intervention / Workover - Abandonment
• Well interventions classified as
Workovers / Abandonment
typically require Rigs.
• In most interventions existing X
Mas tree is in place.
• For Workover / Abandonment
require the X Mas tree to be
removed and use additional
equipment (Rig BOP) for Well
control
Techniques / Resources Applied - Well intervention
• Wellhead Maintenance and Repair
• Slickline
• Braided Line
• Electric Line
• Coiled Tubing
• Hydraulic Workover / Snubbing
• Wireline Tractors
• Hydraulic Fracturing
• Perforating
• Logging
• Subsea Well Intervention
• Gas Lift
 Design and Concept Selection
Typical Project Engineering Cycle
• Once development objectives are
defined it is desirable to follow typical
project engineering cycle.
• Decide strategy about Resources,
schedule, cost and outcome.
• Most Operators make provisions for the
project costs while planning their
Operating Expenses (OPEX) budgets
and have a dedicated project team for
handling the intervention projects.
• Specific project needs can be effectively
addressed and simple business
objectives such as return on investment
(ROI) / early pay back period can be
achieved with Smart Key Performance
Indicators (KPI) for the business.
 Design and Concept Selection - Intervention
Typical Project Delivery Cycle
• Design and Concept selection involves
defining the intervention needs which can be
either routine / non routine.
• Routine interventions typically cover location
/ company specific requirements / objectives
• Non Routine interventions may involve
extensive work that may be required to
either maintain the status of the well
integrity or production enhancement.
• Designing involves defining the specific goals
/ objectives in response to the Company’s
own / regulator specification such as
NORSOK / OG Rules / OISD, tasks for teams
must be detailed and responsibilities fixed.
• Concept to be developed and selected based
on the schedule, Risks involves. Based on the
resources OPEX budget is made.
 Design and Concept Selection – Details
Team work is the Key in Design and Concept Selection
• Team work is key factor during the
entire project engineering cycle
• Previous intervention history helps the
design and firm up the well
intervention objective by the Multi-
Disciplinary Team (MDT)
• MDT studies the reservoir pressure and
production data along with available
completion equipment and the
installed capabilities in relation to the
design envelope addressing the
stresses during the operation.
• It is recommended to involve service
providers as their experience of similar
interventions can help in understanding
completion The
 Design and Concept Selection -Example
Monitoring Integrity – Routine
Intervention
• Example of Routine Intervention which can be
monitoring Well integrity by :
• Monitoring Pressures of A B and C.
• Periodic Pressure testing of tree valves and Void
Spaces
• Objective of the intervention requires fairly
lean effort to design as the concept is simple.
• The tasks involved are to be repeated
periodically as required by individual Company
policy the activity is scheduled as Routine tasks
such as collecting pressure readings, and
conducting pressure tests.
• Service providers can be used to execute
pressure tests and report the data.
• Data validation is the most important step and
Software / databases are available for the
purpose.
Design and Concept Selection - Example
• Examples of Non Routine Interventions are
related to well operations. Producing life of
the well can bring several issues as water /
gas coning may require shutting a zone /
adding a zone, which is certainly a non
routine operation
• Damage to the tubulars owing to unplanned
changes in the stress / load scenarios
considered for design / material of
construction used for selecting the tubulars.
• Completion geometry dictates designing the
conveyance of service tools.
• Although several options are available to
service the well selecting the right concept
helps to reduce the intervention costs.
Assess and Select the Method and Resources
• Assessment of Intervention Method largely
depends on the past / similar interventions on the
well. The records related to past intervention /
history along with the current well parameters
dictate the of the well intervention method to be
chosen. Example : A well having Calcium
Carbonate Scale deposition during producing life
may require repeated pumping treatments
• However if the well intervention is to be
performed for the first time detailed assessment
of the completion design in relation to the
treatment proposed must be done. Example if a
Matrix acid job is to be done for stimulation the
material of construction for production tubing and
the equipment such as packer, safety valve must
be assessed for competency of the acid
formulation.
Assess and Select the Method and Resources - Option
• Multiple options for delivery of intervention
objectives can be made available requiring
detailed assessment and selecting the right
method for the intervention.
• Example : Intervention required to operate the
single side door(SSD) for stimulating production
zone after operating the SSD. This can be done
using either Coil tubing / Wireline “conveyed”
shifting tool to operate the side door / sliding
sleeve as a preferred method for the intervention.
• Detailed assessment of the conveyance method
including the resource requirement for each case
needs to be done as follows :
• Operational Risk Assessment : Asset and People
• Chances of Success of the objective.
• Resource and Cost associated
• Schedule impact of the intervention duration and
possible loss of productivity
 Assess and Select the Method and Resources - RA
• Operational Risk Assessment All
risks must be mitigated to ALARP
(As Low As Reasonably Practicable)
• Coil Tubing :
• Dropped Object Risk - 4B (ALARP)
• Well Control Risk : 3C
• Damage to Well : 4B
• Damage to environment : 1B
• Wireline :
• Dropped Object Risk - 3B (ALARP)
• Well Control Risk : 3C
• Damage to Well : 4B
• Damage to Environment : 1B
Based on the Risk Assessment Wireline is preferred method
 Assess and Select the Method and Resources - COS
Chance of Success (Example) Coil Tubing E Line

Meets 100% Objective 80% Probability 90% Probability

Meets 100% Safety requirement 70% probability 90% probability

Meets Cost 20% probability cost 0% Cost Escalation

escalation

Meets Schedule 80% Likely 100% likely

Based on the Risk Assessment Wireline is preferred method

 Assess and Select the Method and Resources – External

• External factors influencing the assessment and selection

• Change in Availability status for the right resources (equipment /
people)
• Availability of the services - Contract / Call out work option
• Logistics involved in mobilizing resources (Equipment and People)
• Administrative approvals from regulators
• Licenses / patents preventing the use of specific tools /
materials
 Assess and Select the Method and Resources - Summary
Well Intervention Activity Steps / Tasks Method / Process / Resources
Objective Operation

Verifying Well Integrity Monitoring Annular pressure Record and Maintain data for Visual Inspection / Remote Production Operator /
/ Checking Gas levels A, B C Annuli Sensing Instrumentation

Barrier Health check Pressure testing Valves / Record and Maintain On site Measurement Pressure testing Pump,
Flanges /Void Space pressure test info Operator

Gathering Information / Measuring the ID / Tubular / Execute wireline operation – Function testing the Wireline Wireline equipment,
verifying ID of production Proving the clear depth Supervise the operation equipment and execute well personnel + Supervision and
tubing as Barrier operations downhole tools (Multi finger
Imaging Tool)

Dewaxing Completions Pull out, Service and replace Inspect, record, analyse, Servicing Completion Well Service team and
(land) / Pump Solvent / Hot execute and Supervise Components / Pumping Support team +
oil operations. Equipment and products

Gas Lift Deepening Pull out and change gas Lift Execute wireline operations – Function testing the Wireline Wireline equipment,
valve Supervise the operation equipment and execute well personnel + Supervision and
operations gas lift valves.
Assess and Select the Method and Resources - Example
• Background : An Offshore well started producing much lesser than
the normal. While there is no surface indication about any possible
leak paths the well has shown significant reduced production.
• Analysis : Based on the reservoir pressures and fluid data it is
required to see what is an issue with the well.
• Two choices are to be considered for intervention objective of
restoring production.
• Wireline Intervention
• Slickline Intervention : Check ID of tubing using LIB (Lead
Impression Block)
• Electric line – Surface readout for Camera
• Pumping
• Pumping acid in the well for possible scale treatment
• Review Past intervention history
• Consider Risk involved in Acid pumping Vs E Line / Wireline.
• Consider cost of wireline / electric line and camera Vs Acid treatment
• Consider other logistical / contractual aspects
• Consider possible repeat situation
Develop Well Program
• Well intervention program is expected to be a
COMPREHENSIVE and Mandatory document
required for execution of the Well intervention
• The document provides the execution team
necessary information about the intervention
• The program document needs to have all relevant
information related to execute the WCI work.
• Typical Example table of contents can be referred
• Benefit of the Well Program / Procedure
• Ease of finding Data needed
• Ease of record keeping
• Reproducibility of reference
• Analysing the Operation
Develop Well Intervention Program
• Companies have standards / management systems /
specific standards such as HSSE, QAQC, which demand
that the information related to well intervention be readily
available.
• The Well Intervention Program is the best document
suited for the purpose.
• Compliance to various regulatory requirement also is
facilitated by the document.
• Minimum Requirements may Vary between the companies
however following as minimum are recommended :
• Well Intervention Proposal listing Objective
• Background and past intervention outcome
• Operational Risk Assessment and Mitigations
• Time Estimates / Detailed Schedule
Field Operations - Reporting / Recording Data
• Objectives of Pre-Job Meeting – Safe Execution
• Discuss specific hazards prior to execution
• Discuss Job plan with the Available team
• Discuss Roles and Responsibilities of Individuals
• Review the Risks mentioned in Program
• Management of Change (if any)
• Review Mitigations in place.
• Discuss Emergency Preparedness and What if scenarios
/ alternate plan prior to staring the work.
• Execute work as per Plan
• Record Time and accurate parameters of job execution
• Be prepared to respond to changes as discussed in pre-
job events
• Prepare execution documentation such as and
Handover Daily Operation Report / Time log
Field Operation – Records of Execution
• Data related to Field Operations is extremely important not
only for recording the events during the completion /
intervention, but also it helps future projects that need
improvements.
• Executing planned work can have impact of operational and
/ or logistical challenges such as reaching the right
resources to the location, readiness of work site, Critical
equipment failure during the job.
• Dedicated competent team, fit for purpose equipment and
consumables along with effective supervision help achieve
objective of
• Starting the work is not always the first step, and several
preparations are warranted at location
• Review of Administrative and engineering Controls such as
Permit to work, the work instruction / program for intervention
• Pre Job Meeting / Tool Box Talk / Tail Gate meeting helps the site
team to review Risks related to specific tasks and ensure
mitigations are in place
 Field Operations - Review of the Data

• AAAR ( After Action Analysis Review ) - For Planning

Future Interventions
• Standard Process recommended For following
• Critical Review of Planned s Actual Time Execute
work as per Plan
• Lessons for Future.. From this intervention
 Field Operations - Recording Data Vs KPI
No. KPI Target Plan Actual

1 Total Recordable Case Frequency Zero Zero Zero

2 Hazard Reports / Safety Suggestions / BBS Observations One /Person / Week 245 332

3 Pre-Job Safety Meeting Daily 107 152

4 Emergency Response Drill One / Month 8 12

5 Hazard Identification One / Month 6 7

6 Weekly Safety Meeting One / Week 12 17

7 Maintenance Review One / Month 1 1

8 Food and Water Sample from OSV One / Campaign 1 1