Completions system integration test mitigates risk

Earl J. Coludrovich III, Shawn Pace, Sam Brady, Chevron; and Craig Campo, Halliburton

Completions in deepwater subsea applications are becoming increasingly expensive and complex. This complexity is compounded by the challenges of installing intelligent completion equipment in deepwater environments. Reliable completions are a direct result of how well the pre-planning procedures are implemented. The industry is challenged to integrate multiple service-provider equipment and procedures into a single intelligent completion system. Intelligent Well Completion System Integrity Tests (IWC SITs) are being used as a proactive means to mitigate risk. This is especially true in international operations where the logistics and planning have a greater degree of complication for completions. This article is an overview of an IWC SIT conducted in March 2007 for a West Africa deepwater field. The article is a discussion of the planning, implementation and learning captured for the operation. Highlighted is a series of subassemblies, run and retrieved from a land rig location. Actual downhole equipment was used. Service-provider personnel used for the operation were also the technicians expected to run the equipment on the deepwater rig. A formal report and video were developed to share lessons learned and best practices with the project team. The operation was considered successful due to the efforts of a number of service providers, partners and operator company personnel. A strong commitment to safety, learning and improving the operations was demonstrated by everyone.

INTRODUCTION

The field being highlighted in this article was discovered in 1998. Planning for drilling and development has been underway since this time. Chevron has installed a very limited number of intelligent systems to date. In the industry, there are estimated to about 500 total systems installed by operators worldwide. Technology advances are being incorporated into new systems for various types of IC equipment. Function testing and reliability of these systems often come under intense scrutiny. This article is focused on the benefits of conducting an IWC SIT to mitigate installation risk, which is basically an effort to integrate service providers and improve installation efficiency.