The zonal isolation capabilities demonstrated by Peak's SIM System have convinced Murphy Oil Corporation ("Murphy") in Malaysia to purchase further units, following the successful deployment of a 3 1/2" Plug System into a single gas producer (36.91° max deviation, 180-220°F) earlier this year.
The well, located offshore Sarawak, was flowing from 11 commingled zones, across 80m of cumulative perforated interval. From an earlier MPLT Survey, it was found that the two deepest zones were producing water with very little gas. Murphy decided that isolation of these zones would significantly improve the well’s productivity.
In order to carry out the work within a limit window of opportunity, the Operator decided that a slickline-set, nipple-less type retrievable plug was required to easily and quickly isolate the water-producing zones. Murphy opted for slickline deployment as they believed this would be the most cost effective route to limit non-productive time (NPT) and therefore minimise any loss in production.
Murphy required a short plug assembly given that there was a small setting window between the two perforation intervals and that the plug assembly itself should not cover the open perforations above. A second important consideration was to have the option to retrieve the plug at a later date if required.
Several additional concerns were raised by the Operator prior to deployment:
Support from a Peak Field Specialist was provided for this work programme due to it being the Operator’s first use of the SIM System and given the specific operational hurdles being faced.
The operation was completed safely and efficiently in less than 12 hours with zero NPT and within the prerequisite timeframe, thus optimising operations and production. Moreover, Murphy saw an instantaneous drop in water production when the well was flowed, demonstrating that the watered-out zone had been successfully isolated.
Peak opened a regional office in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. Irwan Halik, Technical Sales Manager for SE Asia, based at the Malaysian office, commented on the unique design features of the SIM System: “The speed of such an operation was made possible by the SIM System's simple, modular design - which enables the SIM Plug to be deployed and activated in just one run - and its ability to be deployed quickly on slickline, with no specialist crews or equipment necessary. Retrieval of the system is quick and easy, using Peak's Equalising Prong which enables the Plug to be removed in one swift motion.”
Two further unique design features of the SIM System contributed to the success of this operation. Peak's SIM System is unique in that it is much shorter than plug systems offered by Peak's competitors, therefore making it much more suited to deployments where platform space is limited, as it was in this operation. In addition, the SIM System also features only one set of slips to anchor in the tubing wall, which makes it more debris-tolerant - a significant factor in the majority of wells - and an advantage in this well where expected debris was a concern.
Based on the success of the SIM System deployment in this one well, Murphy has subsequently ordered further SIM Retrievable Bridge Plug Systems and additional SIM Permanent Plugs, each deployed using the SIM Running Tool, which will be utilised for similar campaigns in more of the Operator's wells located offshore Malaysia.
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For more information and photography/graphics, please contact Lyndsay Avern at l.avern@peakwellsystems.com / Tel +61 8 9270 0500 (Australia) or Tim Williams, Business Development Director at t.williams@peakwellsystems.com / Tel +44 1224 562240 (UK)
