An Effectiveness Descaling Production Tubing Utilizing a Torque Action Debris Breaker TADB to Restore Wellbore Accessibility in Offshore Oil Wells

Abstract

Abstract Several offshore oil wells suffer from the most common production problems which are related to scale blockages. The subject wells can not reach the target recommended production rate as well as issues with their wellbore accessibility. The scale can develop at different depths from production tubing. Based on the well intervention and integrity surveys in offshore fields, the subject wells can not be accessible due to an obstacle from scale deposition at a wellbore level. An attempt to perform a downhole scale clean-up job using slickline operation was recommend as a field trial for first time in offshore oil field. Torque Action Debris Breaker (TADB) tool was utilized effectively in order to restore wellbore Accessibility in terms of scale removal and debris cleaning. The TADB tool is jarred down mechanically in oil wells as a unique helically split torque sub applies a short duration torque to its cutter below with each downward jar. The main torque body can be 1 ½ in, 1 7/8 in, and 2 ½ in with a number of different shoe sizes which it can be easily changed on the main body of the tool as a scale to be broken inside the wellbore. Based on the evaluation results, the scale removal tool (TADB) can be mechanically efficient depending on the location of the scale and its physical properties. This tool showed overall reduction in time required for descaling, thus reducing intervention time and costs. In addition, an exist of left hand threads within the tool can prevent tool back-off-down-hole. It is also indicated that the tool provides cost-effective results compared to other descaling alternative such as mechanical, chemical or sonic break-down. The approach made a tremendous cost avoidance of utilizing rig operation in order to remove hard scale in the production tubing in oil wells. The paper covered a first field trial in offshore oil wells utilizing a Torque Action Debris Breaker (TADB) tool to remove different type of scales deposition. The approach applied deep investigation by slickline operation technique to have better results based on a well selection and a problem identification. This paper illustrated the best practices on tool utilization in terms of designing, operating, and monitoring with a long-term strategy execution for advanced solutions related to scale issues at a wellbore level.