Intelligent Well Completions

First all-electric intelligent completion system evolves for deep water

When the world’s first all-electric intelligent completion was installed in a subsea deepwater well, it was the culmination of five years of development, testing and trials. System acceptance has been restrained, but improvements have been made.

Oswaldo M. Moreira, Baker Oil Tools, Houston

On Aug. 3, 2003, the world’s first subsea, deepwater, all-electric intelligent completion system was installed in the 8-MLS-67HA-RJS well, in 3,540 ft (1,180 m) of water at Marlim Sul field. The site is about 60 mi (100 km) offshore Campos (Campos basin), Brazil. It is tied back to the Petrobras 40 FPSO – the world’s largest-capacity floating production unit – via a 3.7-mi (6-km) umbilical. The installation culminated a five-year, joint development project by Petrobras and Baker Oil Tools in association with other firms.

The all-electric intelligent completion project was launched in 1999 as part of Petrobras’ Program of Technological Innovation and Deep and Ultra-Deepwater Advanced Development (PROCAP 3000) strategic initiative. PROCAP 3000 has sought to enable Petrobras to operate in water depths exceeding 10,000 ft (3,300 m). System development was methodical, testing was stringent, and subsea installation was trouble-free. Yet, five years after initiation and more than one year after first installation, acceptance of this system appears to have grown little.

Why? The answers offer lessons for both operators and service companies regarding commercialization of new technologies.