Successful GLIS Installation with Multi-Run Gas Lift System Reducing Rig Time
A producing well in the Caspian Sea faced declining performance due to severe slugging and increasing water cut, requiring a deeper gas lift injection point within a restricted 7" upper completion. Interwell deployed a 2-run HEX Multi-Run Anchored Production Straddle with GoLift technology and an integrated IRBD-PO glass plug, avoiding four additional intervention runs and an expensive workover.
Year
Region
Rig Time Saved
Challenge
An operating company completed and produced from a well in October 2011. After several years of production, it began experiencing issues, periodically having severe slugging that leads to plant instability.
In addition, increasing water cut introduced a growing risk of liquid loading, requiring intervention to both restore and sustain production rates long-term.
The well completion design also added further complexity, with restrictions of 4.437” minimum ID and a deviation of 77°; limiting intervention options.
Solution
The proposed solution involved replacing the existing orifice valve in the Gas Lift Mandrel with an unloading valve via slickline, and installing a Gas Lift Injection System (GLIS) assembly deeper in the upper completion, using e-line.
Interwell deployed its Anchored Production Straddle (APS) to retrofit the gas lift system and establish a deeper injection point within the 7” upper completion.
A 2-run, High Expansion (HEX) 430-700 Multi-Run APS Straddle was installed, incorporating:
→ Interwell 4.25” GoLift Sub with 1.5” GLV (32/64” orifice)
→ 240-420 IRBD-PO glass plug device below the APS lower module
The inclusion of the IRBD-PO glass plug enabled tubing integrity testing without requiring additional temporary barriers. This allowed verification of:
→ Upper APS packer integrity
→ Stinger-latch sealing
→ Lower APS packer integrity
To further optimise the operation, a third-party well puncher was integrated into the lower packer bottom hole assembly (BHA). This eliminated the need for a separate run, saving an estimated 12 hours of rig time and reducing operational risk.
Value Created
The Gas Lift Straddle was successfully installed via e-line, with no operational challenges or equipment failures.
This integrated solution provided a robust gas lift system designed for long term operation over the remaining life of the well. By combining the IRBD-PO glass plug and well puncher in a single deployment, the operator avoided four additional intervention runs compared to conventional methods. This resulted in:
→ Reduced operational risk
→ Significant time and cost savings
→ Lower environmental impact through reduced intervention activity
The IRBD-PO glass plug performed as planned, shearing precisely at the target value during operations.
Key Capabilities
→ ISO 14310 V0 qualified, fully retrievable Multi-Run HEX APS
→ Slim design (small OD & large ID)
→ Interwell GoLift™ Technology
→ Multiple intervention runs were avoided compared to conventional methods
→ Cost & time efficient by avoiding an expensive workover