Published: 03/19/2015
Published: 03/19/2015
After decades of strong production, a brownfield in Latin America struggled with economic and operational challenges for Pemex. To enhance declining flow rates, Pemex planned to perforate two new intervals and reperforate a critical zone. In an effort to prevent deferred production and remove formation damage, Pemex needed Schlumberger to perform the perforating job on a live well during underbalanced conditions.
Schlumberger deployed the ACTive OptiFIRE system, a first-of-its-kind coiled tubing technology that eliminates the need for a ball drop or pressure-pulse system to activate shaped charges. Using advanced fiber-optic technology, Schlumberger accurately placed the perforating guns into the three selected zones and perforated the well. Casing collar locator (CCL), pressure, temperature, and accelerometer data confirmed downhole detonation in real time.
After the intervention, Pemex realized a production increase of 18%, and the ACTive OptiFIRE system reduced perforating gun detonation time by 75%.
The absence of working fluid dramatically reduced HSE risk during the underbalanced perforating intervention, as it eliminated the need to hydrostatically load the well as part of the operation. Because the intervention was performed on a live well, Pemex avoided deferred production and nonproductive time associated with conventional perforating methods.
Challenge: Perforate two new intervals and reperforate a producing interval in underbalanced conditions without deferring production
Solution: Use ACTive OptiFIRE CT real-time selective activation system to perforate the selected zones and confirm downhole detonation instantaneously
Results: Successfully perforated all three intervals, increasing well production by 18%
