Lower completion requires fast, reliable isolation
A Canadian oil and gas company operates in the upstream and downstream
sectors of the industry in Canada and elsewhere. One field’s wells in the
North Sea UK sector contained three packers and intermediate strings with
expandable sand screens, which made isolating the lower completions during
installation extremely challenging. The operator needed to isolate the
completion efficiently and on schedule and to meet strict regulatory
requirements regarding the completion design plan.
After encountering supply and operational problems with third-party
vendors, the operator contacted Schlumberger to discuss the availability and
use of the FIV valve.
FIV valves provide needed protection
Schlumberger had developed the FIV isolation valve technology to provide
a two-way barrier for protecting costly gravel-pack and frac-pack operations
from completion fluid damage. The technology is designed for use in deepwater
and high-pressure, high-temperature applications, gravel-pack operations,
horizontal wells, and underbalanced conditions. Thus, it met the stringent
requirements for use in these North Sea wells. In addition, Schlumberger
maintained inventories of these valves at local facilities, simplifying supply
on a call-out basis.
FIV valves available locally provide supply, operational, and
regulatory solutions
Having speculative FIV isolation valves in stock locally and
installation personnel available on short notice allowed Schlumberger to react
quickly to the operator’s request to install FIV valves. Installation time
was approximately the same as that required for other types of isolation
valves, but the immediate availability of the FIV valves and their successful
performance helped quickly resolve its supply challenge and meet its
operational goals.
