Scholarly record

DEVELOPMENT OF A DRY CEMENT SWELL PACKER, A NOVEL SOLUTION TO PREVENT ANNULUS PRESSURE MIGRATION

euan murdoch

Abstract

The proposed presentation details a newly developed well integrity packer solution that provides a permeant non-elastomeric barrier and can be installed as easily as existing technologies, but offers the unique advantages of a permeant cement barrier. Traditional elastomeric swell packers are a practical, easily installed and proven well construction product, but they have their performance limitations, especially over a well’s lifetime. The cementitious swell packer (CSP) is a product intended to supplement or replace conventional elastomeric swell packers, using a novel, specially formulated swelling cement housed in a porous membrane. The CSP is prepared on a casing joint at a predetermined length, that once immersed in water-based fluids, will swell over a period and then cure to form a permeant seal on the inner and external annuli of a pipe to pipe or pipe to rock application, creating permeant zonal isolation. Once cured, the packer can hold a differential pressure, currently qualified up to 2000 Psi in liquid. This cost-effective method of isolation has been created to replace conventional solutions, allowing for a life-of-well seal to form, that does not break down when in contact with well fluids such as hydrocarbons or saline water. Bespoke CSPs have the potential to customize the mechanical configuration and cement formulation to specific well conditions. The paper will elaborate on the idea background, and technology development process from its concept inception, early challenges, testing criteria and results are covered, as well as a number of development observations. A full summary of the trial results will be included, along with conclusions and lessons learned. The technology is novel in that no other cementitious swell packers are in the public domain and it offers the opportunity to move from elastomeric swell packers to a low cost permeant barrier.

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