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CASE STUDY

Operator Identifies ShallowSurface-Casing Corrosion Efficiently

Halliburton electromagnetic pipe xaminer® v (epx™v) tool detects metal loss near wellhead

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Opportunity

Mature Fields

Opportunity
Specific Challenge

Well diagnostics indicated a very shallow leak

REGION - NORTH AMERICA REGION - NORTH AMERICA

North America

REGION - NORTH AMERICA

Challenge

  •  Well diagnostics indicated a very shallow leak 
  • Cost and rig availability drove desire for a rigless solution to identify metal loss

Solution

  •  Halliburton recommended its Electromagnetic Pipe Xaminer® V (EPX™ V) service to determine metal loss across all strings of pipe 
  • The EPX V service is capable of resolving metal loss despite the thick casings present in the well

Result

  • The service indicated a metal loss anomaly a few feet below the surface-casing hanger 
  • Additional diagnostics identifi ed the metal loss anomaly as a likely leak location 
  • The operator cut windows into the conductor and was able to visually confi rm the corrosion and leak location 
  • An external casing patch was used to remediate the damage

Overview 

An operator had a well experiencing an annulus B to annulus C pressure communication similar to others previously identifi ed by the Halliburton Acoustic Conformance Xaminer® (ACX™) tool. Because of the leak, the well could not be produced. The operator wanted to determine the extent of the corrosion. Halliburton proposed assessing the corrosion using the Electromagnetic Pipe Xaminer® V (EPX™ V) tool, which indicated a shallow metal loss anomaly within a few feet of the surface-casing hanger. Additional subsequent surface diagnostics were performed, which indicated the anomaly’s shallow location. Since the problem was identifi ed near surface, a rigless external casing repair could be performed, which will save the cost and avoid the risk associated with using a rig to cut and pull multiple strings of pipe.

Challenge: 

Since the operator’s leak was impacting production, and similar wells in the area experience shallow surface-casing corrosion problems, the operator wished to know the extent of this potential problem to develop a remediation plan corkscrew.

Solution: 

Halliburton recommended assessing the corrosion using the new Electromagnetic Pipe Xaminer® V (EPX V) tool. The EPX V tool uses High-Defi niton Frequency (HDF) technology, which is capable of logging the well in a single pass, without needing additional services to assign metal loss per pipe string. Additionally, the 111⁄16-in. OD allows for assessing the 95 ⁄8-in. surface casing from within the 27 ⁄8-in. tubing. The EPX V tool operates off mono-conductor wireline or in memory mode, which allowed the operator flexibility in choosing how to run it most efficiently.

Result:  

The section of the well in question was logged, and the results indicated a shallow metal loss anomaly within a few feet of the surface-casing hanger. Subsequent surface diagnostics were performed, which indicated a shallow location. The operator cut windows into the conductor casing and positively verified the location and degree of the corrosion. Since the leak was identified near surface, a rigless external casing repair was performed, saving the cost and avoiding the risk associated with using a rig to cut and pull multiple strings of pipe. Looking forward in time, the operator plans to continue using the EPX V tool in an effort to survey and prioritize wells for additional proactive corrosion monitoring and prevention. Proactive surveillance allows for optimized intervention timing and reduced well downtime. The EPX V and ACX diagnostic services can be run together, saving time and money, while providing a complete picture of the challenge.