2022-Present - Delaware Basin

BHT ~185℉

This operator continually seeks opportunities to optimize their field operations. Before engaging Shale Oil Tools, their production teams achieved well control during gas lift installation through the use of double disk subs below the production packer. In order to initiate flow and move onto the next pad after tubing installation, the procedure required a slickline intervention to ‘knock out’ the disks - forcing time consuming logistical activities and intermittent delays due to knock out operations and slickline availability. These delays resulted in NPT which had a cascading scheduling effect across the production group.

Shale Oil Tools engaged the operator to explore the potential benefits of replacing disk subs with the Dissolvable Pump-Out Plug. Given the value proposition of Dissolvable Pump Out Plugs vs disk subs, the operator agreed to a trial. Trial prep was easy, requiring only 4 data points:

1. Bottom hole temperature
2. Desired pressure hold duration
3. Hydrostatic pressure from below
4. Chloride content of production fluid

Based on these criteria, a dissolvable alloy already in inventory was selected and shear pins were installed. For convenience, Shale Oil Tools has stocking arrangements with popular artificial lift/packer providers who assemble and run the plugs with the completion BHA. The trial was successful: the plug held pressure during tubing install and pumped out right on target. Given the chloride content of the production fluid and BHT, it was estimated that the plug core fully dissolved in 4-6 days after it was pumped out - leaving a restriction-free wellbore.

By eliminating a slickline intervention, the operator was able to initiate production sooner, move onto the next pad faster, and no longer had the logistical head-aches of coordinating the slick line crew and potential delays.