Customer Challenges
- Although the single-trip concept is highly attractive, combining all critical operations poses significant limitations. Key tasks - including drilling out cement and float equipment inside a 4½” liner, polishing a 15,000 psi-rated PBR, conducting an inflow test, and verifying lower completion integrity - require precise tool positioning and distinct landing points
- These operations are inherently incompatible in one continuous deployment, making it essential to strike a balance between minimizing trips and ensuring technical integrity and functionality
Expro Excellence
- Travel joint technology was introduced as a first-of-its-kind solution to eliminate the conventional three-trip WBCU process. The system integrates the drilling bit, completion polish mill, and inflow test packer (liner top test tool) into a single run while navigating the need to land at two distinct points within the well
- The travel joint is pinned with shear pins in the extended position, giving a positive indication when the tool is functioned
- At the first landing point, weight is applied until the shear pins break at the predetermined value
- After shearing, the upper string can be lowered to tag the second target and set the liner top test tool
- This design allows two distinct operations - clean-up and inflow testing - to be performed in one trip without conflict, reducing both time and complexity
Value to Client
- The integrated assembly successfully combined completion polish mill accessories, WBCU tools, and an inflow test packer with a 3 5/8” bit into one optimized run. This enabled the operator to:
- Successfully drilled to 126ft of hard cement and float equipment inside the 4½” liner under controlled parameters
- Land accurately at two different points
- Conduct negative and positive inflow tests
- Polish the 15,000 psi-rated PBR in a single trip
Time Efficiency:
- Achieved consolidation of the conventional two-trip system into a single optimized run, saving time and reducing logistical complexity
- Conventional method: 3 separate trips × 36 - 45 hours each = ~108 hours
- Travel joint method: Single optimized trip = ~40 hours
- The travel joint reduced completion time by more than 60%, eliminated logistical complexities, and lowered exposure to operational risks. This successful deployment demonstrates the travel joint’s effectiveness in streamlining complex completion operations while preserving technical integrity
- Due to the mechanical nature and positive indications of landing on the liner tops, the client has confirmation of the actual liner tops depths
Contact
For further information, please contact coretrax@expro.com.
