During the plug and abandonment of a well, the operator needed to set a cement retainer, squeeze cement in perforations with coiled tubing, and then install a 300-ft-long cement plug. Following this operation, the operator wanted to cut the production tubing and finally set a casing integrity bridge plug above.
The objective was to cut 4.5-in 12.75-lbm/ft casing below a tight 2.562-in inside diameter no-go landing nipple. A high-expansion tubing cutter was required, and the operator wanted a mechanical tubing cutter to avoid damaging the casing and to receive confirmation of the cut.
SLB recommended the tubing cutter of the ReSOLVE iX™ intelligent extreme wireline intervention service because of its 2.375-in outside diameter, which can pass through tight restrictions and cut up to 5.5-in casing.
In this first deployment of the ReSOLVE iX tubing cutter in the Gulf of Mexico, it severed the pipe in 28 minutes and provided a real-time confirmation. The successful cut was verified by the drop in tubing tension. When the pipe was pulled out of hole, a precise cut was revealed at its end, and an equally smooth cut was left on the inhole pipe, which is a beneficial quality if reentry were necessary.
The tubing cutter features a unique, built-in release system that leaves only the cutting head in the well. The release system was not required during this operation but could have been valuable in case of an issue.
SLB wireline personnel successfully conducted the entire operation—punching, cutting the pipe, and setting the plug—without requiring another service provider. By utilizing integrated SLB services, the operator reduced risk, cost, personnel on board, and interfaces.
