After drilling two exploration wells offshore East Java, Saka Indonesia Pangkah Limited (SIPL) cut the 13⅜-in and 9⅝-in casings at the seabed and plugged the wells. Once construction of the surface platform and facilities was completed, the operator wanted to reconnect the casings to surface with full metal-to-metal seal integrity and commence production. The alternative was to drill new wells, which would entail delay and high cost.
SLB recommended its Casing Reconnect™ metal-to-metal, gas-tight casing repair system. The 13⅜-in casing was cut and dressed to ensure that the top of the casing was in good condition. An appropriate length of casing was then run with a Casing Reconnect system receptacle on the bottom, which was landed over the casing stump. For this size of casing, the reconnection system was run using a slip-type casing hanger and spaced out without any issues.
The expansion tool was deployed to a predetermined depth, using a depth latch locator profile. Subsequently, pressure was applied via hydraulic lines and controlled from surface to activate the tool. As a result, the casing stump morphed into the receptacle, rejoining the two strings with 14 metal-to-metal sealing points, exceptional axial load capability, and no loss of ID. The connection is validated to ISO 14310 V0. After the morphing operation was complete, the new 13⅜-in casing was cut at the surface wellhead position and connected to the BOP. The procedure was repeated for the 9⅝-in string.
Both wells were restored, and completion strings with gas lift valves were installed without any issues. They are now ready to commence production. This was the first use of the Casing Reconnect system for well reentry to convert exploration wells into producers and avoid drilling new wells, enabling SIPL to shorten the time to first hydrocarbons.
