Setting ESP Packer at High Inclination Intervals Using a Creative Completion Design Achieving 30% Completion Time Savings in a Middle East Oil Field

After years of oil production, conventional ESP placement at shallow depth ~ inclination of 45° is no longer capable for production and thus the need to push the ESP deeper and closer to the reservoir at 55°-85° deviation is deemed necessary, which negatively impacts the ability to set packers using conventional slickline systems. A novel approach of setting ESP packers is presented in this paper, featuring a modified completion design that allows the packer to be set at any inclination without the use of conventional methods like coil tubing, wirelines, or slick lines. To begin with, the paper provides an overview of technologies that are currently being used to overcome the challenges associated with setting production packers at an incline exceeding 45°. It introduces an alternative approach to set packer using a simple, yet an innovative modification in the design of completion assembly despite historical challenges associated with packer placement at highly deviated intervals. The Optimized system creatively integrates application of multiple fit to purpose technologies and valves assembly across the completion string. This assembly can be operated to allow string self-filling and holding pressure from above which provides a simple method of hydraulically setting ESP packer. Additionally, other technologies were used to ensure hydraulic cables and lines are safe and away from any potential pinch point especially while running through deviated intervals. Finally, study concludes with detailed design criteria and description, execution road map and contingencies. This system was successfully implemented across 5 extended reach wells (ERD) with packer planed at an inclination range of 64° to 86°. Revised approaches enabled time reduction of over 30% compared to other wells across which packer was set with conventional, time consuming and risky operation like coiled tubing and wireline tractor. Optimized completion design is currently adopted by operator as standard practice to set ESP packer across highly deviated trajectories for both multi and single lateral extended reach oil producers in a particular field in the middle east. The document provides a novel approach to set production packer at high inclination by utilization of optimized and simple completion design compared to expensive and time-consuming alternative approaches. This can easily be duplicated worldwide to optimize production packer setting especially at high inclination and thereby saving tremendous time and cost.