Field Trial Gulf of Mexico

Identification of problem

Provide a seal in the production string and annulus to shut off a lower water producing zone.

Issues to overcome

Traditional methods of reducing water production from a well included setting multiple bridge plugs in the production string or perforating the production string and squeezing cement or a resin. Bridge plugs only baffle the water, slowing it down but not stopping it, as they cannot seal the annulus outside of the production string. Resins require perforations to access the annulus, damaging the production string.

Application

• When the alloy solidified, it sealed off the well below the tool, preventing the production of water from the lower watered out zone.
• When the alloy was melted, it flowed through the screen and into the annulus between the screen and the formation wall.
• A BiSN wel-lok™ WSO (Water Shut Off) was set inside the screen between an upper oil producing zone and a lower watered out zone.

Outcomes/Conclusion

Initial water production on the well was in excess of 50%. After setting the BiSN tool, water production was reduced to under 25%.