2024 - Uinta Basin

Brine: 9# | SICP: 970-1280 | Depth: 8600-9600

Achieving cost-effective operations while minimizing non-productive time (NPT) related to the timing ESP installations presents significant challenges due to the trade-offs associated with traditional well control methods:
10# Brine Kill: While cost-effective, this method delays installation until the well sufficiently dies down, increasing NPT. It risks formation damage if not carefully managed, requires precise pressure balancing to avoid complications, and necessitates 11.6# brine on standby, adding logistical complexity.
11.6# Brine Kill: This approach is expensive, further straining budgets. Like the 10# brine, it introduces installation delays, potential formation damage, and pressure management challenges. Additionally, it requires 12.5# brine as a contingency, escalating costs and operational complexity.
Mechanical Packer or Bridge Plug: Although reliable, this method is costly and leaves downhole components vulnerable to erosion, corrosion, or scaling, potentially compromising long-term well performance. It restricts well access, often necessitating future interventions, which increase lifecycle costs and NPT.
These challenges highlight the need for a balanced approach to optimize well control, reduce costs, and minimize NPT while ensuring well integrity and operational efficiency.

To address the challenges of cost-effective operations, minimizing NPT, and ensuring reliable ESP installations in Uinta Basin wells, a novel well control strategy was implemented, leveraging advanced technology and lightweight completion fluids tailored for artificial lift operations:

Atlas Dissolvable Packer: Utilizes a magnesium-based dissolvable alloy, rated for 8,000 psi from below and 275°F, fully dissolves in approximately 14 days under normal production flow, accelerated by chlorides. The Atlas eliminatated the need for permanent downhole components prone to erosion, corrosion, or scaling, thus preserving ESP run life and well accessibility.
Lightweight Completion Fluid: Employed an 8.34 ppg completion fluid for hydrostatic control, eliminating the need for costly and logistically complex heavy brines (10# or 11.6#). Lightweight fluids (ranging 8.33–9.90 ppg) reduced formation damage risks, simplified pressure management, and lowered operational costs while ensuring compatibility with ESP deployment.
Pump-Out Plug: The integrated pump-out plug feature of the Atlas Packer, enabled immediate flow-through post-ESP installation without waiting for packer dissolution. This minimized NPT by allowing rapid transition to production, critical for maintaining project timelines in ESP wells.
Gauge Rings for Deployment: Used gauge rings to ensure smooth and precise deployment of the ESP system, mitigating risks of mechanical complications during installation and enhancing operational efficiency.

Field Results from Uinta Basin Installations:

Well A: Packer set at 8,900 ft, successfully held negative pressure. ESP installed without issues, and the plug was pumped out at ~1,650 psi differential, enabling immediate production with no NPT.
Well B: Packer set at 8,960 ft, held for 80 hours. ESP installation was completed, though non-packer-related issues caused minor delays, demonstrating the packer’s reliability despite external challenges.
Well C: Packer set at 9,620 ft, held for 48 hours. ESP installed successfully, with the pump-out plug enabling rapid flow-through, minimizing NPT.
Well D: Packer set at 8,600 ft, held for 30 hours. ESP installation proceeded without issues, and the dissolvable packer performed as designed, supporting efficient operations.

This solution, combining the Atlas Dissolvable Packer, guage rings, and lightweight completion fluids, eliminated the drawbacks of traditional well control methods. It reduced costs by avoiding heavy brines, minimized NPT through rapid deployment and flow-through capabilities, and ensured long-term ESP reliability by preventing formation damage and maintaining well access. The successful deployment in four Uinta Basin wells demonstrates its effectiveness for artificial lift professionals seeking to optimize ESP installations.

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An Innovative Approach to Early ESP Installation

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