WorldOil

New electro-mechanical perforating technology reduces cost and increases safety in workover operations

Tubing punch enhances safety, by eliminating the use of explosives, and is more cost-effective than e-line soft-shot methods. Wells in Saudi Arabia, onshore and offshore, often require workovers due to the corrosive environment to which the downhole equipment is subjected. When the workover jobs required a single hole to be punched in “soft” tubing using traditional methods, high failure rates and inherent delays in mobilizing explosives often severely compromised job economics. This article presents several case histories in which a new slickline-deployed electro-mechanical tubing punch was used. Although the workover requirements in each well were different, and the jobs were conducted in both onshore and offshore environments, all required a single hole to be drilled. The case histories will discuss the advantages provided to the operator through use of the new electro-mechanical tubing punch.