Page 60: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Aug/Sep 2014)

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Drilling

Adding a secondary barrier against gas migration in deepwater environments

Secondary mechanical

Enhanced reliability the unwanted and dangerous infuxes of formation fuids, solids, and gases. Adding a secondary mechanical pressure pressure barriers could

In deepwater wells, cement’s ability barrier above the uppermost hydrocarbon help ease regulatory bodies’ to reliably contain reservoir pressures is zone will help increase reliability and threatened by fuid losses to the forma- safety, especially offshore. The additional concerns around efective tion during cementing operations that barrier could prevent unintended and zonal isolation in wells. is impacted by higher pressures and uncontrolled fow of reservoir fuids to temperatures, extended laterals, and the surface in the event of a compro- good cement job is the primary unstable formations. An inferior or com- mised cement barrier, and help boost barrier for effective zonal isola- promised cement job presents serious production rates, by eliminating fow that

A tion in wells, and is the preva- safety risks to the drilling rig, rig person- would otherwise be lost to the annulus. lent method to protect the wellbore from nel, and the environment. Baker Hughes has developed an

The Cytadel ZX packer can be activated by dropping a magnetic signal carrier from the surface. A no-go signal can also be dropped to switch of the activation timer if needed. Images from Bakers Hughes.

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