Tubing Patch Installations

Weatherford offers systems for performing coiled tubing (CT) or electric line-deployed retrievable inflatable patches in thru-tubing applications.

The inflatable retrievable production packer (IRPP) packer patch system uses two IRPP packers together, connected by spacer pipe or run separately with a seal assembly to straddle and isolate unwanted perforated or screen sections in the production casing. If the packers are run together, a shear out plug or ball seat is run below the lowermost packer, which will determine the inflation pressure of both packers. The required amount of spacer pipe or CT is run between the two packers. A hydraulic disconnect, or the electric pump setting tool (EPST), is run with the electric-line packer running tool (EPRT) above the uppermost packer.

Once assembly is on depth, pressure is applied to the run-in string or current is sent to the EPST to inflate the packers and expel the ball seat or shear-out plug. A disconnect ball is then pumped to seat in the hydraulic disconnect, actuating the release of the run-in string; or a predetermined pressure is applied from the EPST to release the EPRT from the upper packer. A retrieval profile is left for future retrieval, if required.

If run separately, the lower packer is run in either on an EPST setting tool or on CT with a hydraulic disconnect. After the lower packer is set, a specified amount of tubing or CT is run in the well with the locator seal assembly. Another IRPP packer is made up to the top of the spacer pipe and attached to either of the setting devices. The upper section of the patch is run in the well and snapped into the lower packer, and the upper packer is set.

In applications in which it is conducive to run in the spacer pipe sections on slick line, tieback receptacles can be used to deploy sections of tubing individually. The SO tieback receptacles are used in applications where tubing movement is anticipated and are combined with an expansion joint to allow for this movement. The SO tieback receptacles positively latch and are shear pin-adjustable for varying release forces. The JJ tieback receptacles do not latch and are used in applications where no tubing movement is anticipated.

This system is recommended for applications in which the packer system runs through production tubing and is set in a larger-diameter casing, liner, or screen.