eRED Smashes Own Record

The record for the longest deployment of any Remote Open Close Technology (ROCT) tool has been smashed by one of our eREDs, clocking-up a total of 154 operational days, 127 days of which were downhole, before being remotely actuated.

The new record beats the previous one by 61 days, with the eRED being operated three times, reducing the total number of wireline runs and all the associated costs and risks.

How did eRED Do It?

The operation was carried-out on EnQuest's Thistle Alpha platform in preparation for the re-completion of Slot 13. The intervention was conducted offline safely and efficiently using a wireline mast.

As a permanent deep-set barrier was already in place, a wireline unit was used to deploy our eRED as a shallow-set barrier. With the eRED in position and tested, it was opened and the integrity of the deep-set barrier monitored. When the main derrick was available and the integrity of the deep-set barrier confirmed, the eRED was closed in preparation for pulling the completion.

Day 1 - 1st December 2011.

We switched-on the eRED and shipped it to EnQuest's Thistle Alpha platform. Here it was run-in-hole in the closed position to a depth of 86 ft on a Petrowell 5.5 in plug.

Once at depth the plug was set and the assembly pressure tested to 2,000 psi for 10 minutes. With a successful test, the eRED was commanded to open with a pressure command of 1,250 psi for 10 minutes. The wireline equipment was then rigged down and the tubing head pressure monitored until the rig was available to recover the completion.

Day 151 - 29th April 2012.

The eRED was commanded to close by applying 750 psi to the tubing. The eRED was programmed to close on six hour timer after detecting the command signal. The well was circulated to kill-weight brine during the six hours prior to the tool closing. A pressure test confirmed that the eRED had successfully closed.

Day 154 - 3rd May 2012.

Finally, the xmas tree was removed and BOPs installed. The eRED was given the last command to open (1,500 psi for 10 minutes) and was confirmed to be open, a total of 154 days after first being switched-on. The completion was pulled with eRED left in the open position.

Will the record stand?

No! This latest operation represents the longest time that an eRED has been deployed in the field. However, under test conditions, one eRED has remained operational for over two years - that's 730 days - exceeding 40 ball actuations and is still going strong. We are confident that this record will not stand for long!