Eni saves 3 months of rig time by avoiding sidetrack

Summary

Eni used a Casing Reconnect™ metal-to-metal, gas-tight casing repair system to restore casing integrity after a third party’s perforating guns fired prematurely.

Objective

Eni's goal: Repair damaged casing

Eni wanted to repair the damaged 9⅝-in and 13⅜-in casing sections or replace them using a metal-to-metal connection rated to 5,000 psi and compatible with the required 13Cr110 casing.

Secondary goal: Avoid a sidetrack

With limited rig availability for the offshore well, if Eni could not find, test, and mobilize a solution within 2 weeks, the only alternative was to plan and schedule an expensive and time-consuming sidetrack.

Results

SLB solution: Restore metal-to-metal integrity

SLB engineers recommended

cutting the 9⅝-in casing below the damaged section
recovering the damaged section to surface
performing a cement squeeze in the 13⅜-in annulus
running in the Casing Reconnect system on new casing to connect it to the remaining 9⅝-in casing.

Result: Eni meets deadline, enabling completion

The complete Casing Reconnect system solution and tools—84,000 lbm of equipment—were assembled, tested with 13Cr110 casing, crated, and shipped within the 2-week time frame. After the damaged 9⅝-in casing was removed from the well and the cement squeeze performed, the Casing Reconnect system and new casing section were installed with no NPT and tested to 5,000 psi, confirming well integrity and enabling the well completion to continue.

"Despite a tight deadline and challenging requirements, SLB delivered the solution we needed with excellent teamwork and commitment."

Antonio Pasquale, Well Operation Manager, Eni Mexico

Schematic of damaged casing strings and after repair with a cement squeeze and the Casing Reconnect system.

After third-party perforating guns fired prematurely, damaging the 9⅝-in and 13⅜-in casing (left), Eni cut the 9⅝-in casing below the damage and removed the cut section from the well. Following a cement squeeze behind the 13⅜-in casing, a new section of 9⅝-in casing was run in with a Casing Reconnect system, which was used to recreate a metal-to-metal connection with the casing in the well (right).