P & A Workshop

Dual String Section Mill (DSSM)

Used in Conjunction with Innovative Technology for more
Effective Well Abandonment
Richard Segura

June 9, 2011
Introduction DSSM Project

In recent years plug and abandonment (P&A) technologies are receiving

greater attention around the world as more and more fields reach the end
of their productive life. Permanent P&A is done with the objective of the
well being sealed and isolated forever. This long term sealing requirement
is one of the principle parameters to measure the success of
abandonment.

Several operators mainly in the North Sea sector would like to have the
capability to section mill both inner and outer casing strings thus allowing
cement plugs to be set across the formation for a permanent Rock to Rock
barrier.

Various methods have been used to section mill dual casing strings either
one string at the time or both at the same time with results ranging from
costly multipule trips to total failures.

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 2
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 Project Scope & Design Goals

 Develop a milling system that permits the removal of two strings

of casing 7” 32# inside 9-5/8” 47# with only one full trip into and
out of the well. Other casing combinations are also a consideration.

 The system may require multiple tools or subsystems.

 If milling of both strings in one trip proves not feasible, milling of

the inner string on one trip and then milling of outer string on the
next trip could be accepted.

 Capable of handling flow rates to operate tool and clean hole.

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 3
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 Project Scope & Design Goals

 Objective is to mill up to 100m (330ft) section of 7” and 9-5/8”

preferably achieved during one trip in and out of hole.
 Reach of blades shall be sufficiently large enough to mill casing
couplings of 7” & 9 5/8”
 DSSM will have integral stabilizer to drift ID of 7” & 9-5/8” casing
string.
 Work in highly deviated wells
 Future additional sizes 9-5/8” inside 13-3/8”

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 4
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 Why DSSM - Benefits

Safety
 Eliminate/minimize trips and BHA handling

Cost Savings
Reduced trips, One trip removal of longer outer string was not
achievable prior to new concept

 Two stages with 17” per stage of full gauge blades

New concept design is to removal of up to 100m section of 7” & 9-

5/8” casing

Design
All body stages are interchangeable

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 5
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 DSSM BHA Basic Schematic
for Dual Strings in One Trip

9-5/8” Stage 3 Downhole

Section Mill

9-5/8” Stage 2
7” Casing
Downhole Section Mill

9-5/8” Casing 9-5/8” Stage 1 Casing Radial Cutout &

Downhole Milling Window Tool

7” Stage 3 Downhole
Section Mill

7” Stage 2 Downhole
Section Mill

7” Stage 1 Casing Radial Cutout &

Downhole Milling Window Tool

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 6
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 DSSM BHA Basic Schematic for Single String

Drill Collars

7” Casing 9-5/8” Stage 3 Downhole

Section Mill

9-5/8” Stage 2 Downhole

9-5/8” Casing Section Mill

9-5/8” Stage 1 Casing Radial Cutout &

Downhole Milling Window Tool

Optional Joint of DP

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 7
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither
 DSSM Design Concept

Stage 1 Cutout & Section Milling Setup

17”

Stage 2 & 3 Section Milling Downhole Setup

Typical Section Mill Blade Length: 4-6 inch

DSSM Stage 1 Blade Length 4 inches

DSSM Stage 2 & 3 Blade Length: 17 inch of full gauge blades
Conventional mills would require several runs
DSSM Design Concept for 100 meters sections

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither
 DSSM Operation Procedure for Inner Casing String
Steps:

1.Run DSSM BHA

through inner casing (7”)
with blades fully
retracted.
2.Activate Stage 1 tool.
Cut Out and mill 20-30 ft
section in 7” casing.
3. When Stage 1 tools
wears out, activate Stage
2 tool. Mill downward till
stage 2 tool wears out.
4.Activate Stage 3 tool
Steps 1 2 3 4 and mill down rest of the
required casing length.
5.Trip out the tool. Blades
will retract to entry into
7” casing .

© 2010 Weatherford International,

Inc
 DSSM Operation Procedure for Outer Casing String
Steps:

1.Run DSSM BHA into the

section milled in casing
(7”) blades fully
retracted.
2.Activate Stage 1 tool
inside of the outer
casing string (9 5/8”).
Cut out and mill section
20-30 ft of 9-5/8” casing
length.
3. When Stage 1 tools
wears out, activate Stage
Steps 1 2 3 4 2 tool. Mill downward till
stage 2 tool wears out.
4.Activate Stage 3 tool
and mill down rest of the
required casing length.
5.Trip out of the hole.
Blades will retract at the
entry into 7” casing.

© 2010 Weatherford International,

Inc
DSSM Operation Procedure

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 DSSM Section Milling Through Restrictions

Smaller Running OD Enables Going Through

Collapsed casing

Severe dog leg

Parted casing

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 Project Status

 The design concept of milling both strings at one time delayed

due to additional design work to cover:
1. The sweep required for dual string maximum eccentricity .
2. The possibility of movement between the inner and outer
string .

 Patented Design

 Engineering design, analysis and simulations complete

Prototype being manufactured for testing

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 13
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 Hydraulic Pulling & Jacking Unit

Design Capability
 Rigless
 Modular
 Small footprint / lightweight
 Maintain pulling capability
 Innovative
 Versatile & Flexible
 Quick mobilization
 Carry out many of the “intervention”
operations traditionally carried out
by drilling units and/or HWU

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 14
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
Innovative Technology for more Effective
Well Abandonment
Hydraulic Pulling & Jacking Unit
Capabilities

 Plug and Abandon Wells

 Set plugs & packers
 Slot Recovery
 Cut and Pull Tubing & Well Conductors
 Fishing operations
 Set Whipstock
 Perform Section Milling
 Repair Well Conductors
 Change Out Tubing / Completion Components
 Support Coiled Tubing and Well Diagnostics
Operations, Wireline / Slickline
 Run Internal Casing and Tubing Patches
 Run and retrieve ESP’s

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and 15
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor
 Innovative Technology for more Effective
Well Abandonment
Gulf of Mexico Case Studies

1. Hurricane damaged platform leaning at 15 degrees,

10 live producing wells, 1 partially drilled conductor
299 days on location / 60 days under AFE / Cost Savings $6.7MM
2. Offshore platform, Gulf of Mexico, 10 well P&A and 1 well Intervention campaign
540 days on location / 108 days under AFE / Cost Savings $10.8MM
3. Offshore platform, Gulf of Mexico, 6 well P&A operations in 750’ water
450 days on location / Under AFE & Cost
Saving not available
4. Offshore platform, Gulf of Mexico
66 days on location / 24 days under AFE / Cost
Savings $ 2.2MM

© 2010 Weatherford International, Inc.

This document is copyrighted and, whether patentable or non-patentable subject matter embodies the proprietary and
confidential information of Weatherford. Recipients agree it is loaned in confidence with the understanding that neither it nor 16
 Dual String Section Mill (DSSM)
Used in Conjunction with Innovative Technology for more Effective Well Abandonment

Questions?
& Discussion

Thank You!