RECOVERY OF 0.082” SLICKLINE

Jun 11, 20244 min read

24 January 2024

OBJECTIVE:

Our Customer required full tubing bore access to allow a temporary abandonment plug to

be set in the tubing, creating a barrier to the formation. This would defer full abandonment to a later date.

In 2013 a Gemoco wax cutting toolstring and +/-500m 0.082” slickline was left in the well bore blocking access, making it unavailable to set an isolation plug in the lower completion.

There had been two prior attempts by two separate wireline companies to conduct fishing operation on this well. Both attempts were unsuccessful.

LS Well Interventions was contracted to design a fishing program to recover all slickline from the wellbore and allow an isolation plug to be set.

WELL PREPARATION:

The existing swab valve did not pass test criteria, so a second swab valve was installed onto the Xmas tree enabling adherence of a double barrier during the fishing program.

Well bore access was hindered by a large presence of wax in the tubing. This affected the well bore access hindering fishing operations.

A suitable chemical was chosen to be pumped into the wellbore, dissolving the wax and allowing full bore access.

A Limar 1.750 UHD fishing toolstring was chosen for the operation. This allowed unparalleled strength and also the jars to be set above the breaking strain of the 0.082” slickline lost in the well.

EXECUTION:

A 2.350” Wire Finder with 2 prong wire grab was run below the fishing toolstring, top of the slickline was located @ 1796mKB. A latch was obtained at the top of the slickline a 20lbs increase of weight was identified & a small piece of slickline was recovered. This piece of slickline was damaged as expected.

A 3 prong wire grab was introduced to recover a larger amount of slickline with each run.

A subsequent 47 runs with the Wire Finder-grab was made to clear the damaged slickline before a 3m long piece of was retrieved in good condition.

A 1.500” toolstring c/w 1.900” blind box, manage to pass the top of the slickline and tag the top of the Gemoco rope socket at 2243mKB, 12 jars downward were performed to cut the slickline off of the rope socket. After recovering the tools to surface, the blind box was inspected and a mark consistent with contact on the fish was found.

The 2.350” Wire Finder with 3 prong grab was again utilized to grab the top of the now free slickline. A 60lbs increase in tension was identified and the tools recovered to surface.

The well pressure was monitored to not be increasing. Due to the well being Hydrostatically over balance and the installation of BOP/Shear Rams the conditions met the API requirements for working open hole. The fished slickline was then back fed and recovered complete to surface. Total slickline recovered was 23lbs (approximately 1277ft)

A 1.900” LIB below 2.350” Wire Finder was run, we were unable to pass 2067mKB, upon recovery of tools to surface no clear marks were observed on Impression Block. Subsequent runs where made with the 2.350” Wire Finder-3 prong wire grab to sweep the well bore of small pieces of slickline.

Once well bore was clear of loose slickline the decision was made not to attempt to fish the stuck Gemoco toolstring as the objective to clear the X profile of slickline had been achieved.

LS Well Interventions supervised the slickline contractor to conduct Static Gradient Survey and set a 2.313” PX plug to isolate the well.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION:

Small pieces of slickline that were recovered on the initial 47 runs, note the length and sharp bends on the slickline. The condition of the slickline is the result of the previous fishing attempts where the slickline had been latched with a wire grab and spring jars fired, causing the wire grab to be released from the baited pulling tool and recoiling down the hole damaging the slickline.

The last grab with the wire grab that revealed clean slickline. A longer section of slickline in a heli coiled state indicates it has been coiled in the ID of the tubing. When the slickline is recovered in this state, it gives the best chance to be able to safely pass the top of and run inside with a smaller ID toolstring to box off at the fish rope socket.

On recovery of the clean section of slickline a wire wrap test was conducted to help establish the state of the wire. 8+ tight wraps of slickline are obtained without observing any cracking or deformation of the slickline, it is deemed to be in a serviceable state.

This is the face of the 1.900” blind box after being run through the slickline and boxed off. When we observe the circular mark on the blind box this is consistent with making good contact with the top of the fish rope socket.

TOOLSTRINGS:

ONE