Gas Lift Supplier - Production Packers

 Circulation – Sliding Sleeves – Jar Up or Jar Down?

Jar up to open sleeves, as opposed to jar down to open, have the advantage that a greater force can usually be exerted by upward jarring especially using hydraulic or spring jars.

Downward jarring force, especially in deviated wells, is somewhat limited. Where a large differential pressure, annulus to tubing, is expected, down to open sleeves may be preferable, which place the tool below the communication port preventing tools being blown up the tubing.

Sleeves placed in a build or drop section of a well can be particularly difficult to manipulate. It’s best to install jar down sleeves in these section.

Circulation – Side Pocket Mandrels

A mean of achieving communication between the tubing and the casing is with side pocket gas lift equipment, provided this has been installed in the initial completion.

Initially gas lift dummies are placed in the side pocket mandrels until gas lift valves are required. Most dummies are non-equalizing but there are some models that have an equalizing feature. Research well files to determine which have been run. If the dummies prove to be non- equalizing, then potential differential pressure estimation at the depth of the gas lift mandrel should be done.

Prior to pulling the dummy, set a positive plug in a nipple below the gas lift mandrel. This protects the producing formation from possible solids contamination and excessive pressure during the initial circulation to kill the well.

Gaining Tubing-To-Casing Communication Tubing Perforation

A second means of establishing a flow path between the casing and tubing is by perforating the tubing. A positive, wireline-set, plug should be set in a nipple in the tubing below the desired depth of the perforation to isolate and protect the producing formation.

Consideration should be given to estimating the potential differential pressure at the depth of the perforation to minimize the possibility of the perforator and wireline tool string being blown up the hole.

Circulation – Which Device To Use?

Most sliding sleeves incorporate landing profiles enabling a selection of control devices, including straddle tools to isolate a leaking sleeve, to be locked in.
The sliding side door is preferable to a ported nipple or a Side Pocket Mandrel if high circulation rates are required, e.g. well killing. However, the SSD should not be considered for use without careful analysis when CO2 or H2S is produced as seal damage may occur.

If the temperature is greater than 225°F seal damage may occur. In highly deviated wells where jarring may be difficult. In such cases a Side Pocket Mandrel may be preferred.

Do not install sliding sleeves opposite perforations unless it is unavoidable. Ensure there is at least 6 ft between blast joints and sliding sleeves.

Packers are categorized as permanent or retrievable, and even permanent packers can be pulled.
They serve as service tools, production isolation tools, and permanent isolation tools.

When setting, many packers shorten in length which causes external slips to engage the casing and the sealing elements to expand and effect a seal across the casing. The packer setting is maintained by internal slips.

Packers – Production Packers

The VersaTrieve line of packers are designed for intermediate and high pressured production environments. These packers can be either hydraulically or wireline set and can be retrieved with a pulling tool installed on a workstring.

A dead upward pull unlatches the packer. If this proves to be impossible, the packer can be milled and removed.

This style of packer is well-suited for gavel pack completions, deep and highly deviated well, or in any well where pipe manipulation is difficult or undesirable.