With unconventional drilling increasingly putting engineering limits to the test, high-deviation and horizontal wells are increasingly the standard in most oil and gas plays. These complex well paths present enormous opportunities—but also significant challenges, especially when hydraulic fracturing operations are ongoing. Dissolvable frac plugs stand as the vital factor for handling such obstacles. Dissolvable plugs deliver an efficient and economical phase separation system through their low-risk usage in all demanding wellbore dimensions. The successful completion of a task requires proper method practice.
Applied properly in high-deviation wells, dissolvable plugs provide the best practices to achieve peak performance while decreasing operational risks.
All dissolvable frac plugs are not equal. Materials vary from magnesium alloys to proprietary polymer blends, and each will act differently under downhole conditions. High-deviation wells tend to see high temperature gradients and unstable pressure differentials. So, it's important to select a plug's dissolvable material that matches your well's unique environment.
Choose a plug that will break in your well's expected temperature and fluid chemistry and is strong mechanically enough to endure high-pressure stimulation. If uncertain, contact the plug manufacturer to make plug composition-compatible with well conditions.
Tool hang-up is one of the most prevalent problems with running plugs in deviated wells. A dissolvable frac plug has to travel through sharp turns, high angles, and potentially tortuous wellbore paths. Pre-job planning based on accurate dogleg severity data is critical.
Deploy centralizers and the right conveyance systems (like tractors or coiled tubing for extreme deviation) to avoid the risk of getting stuck or damaging the plug. Good planning will ensure that the plug goes to the depth desired and seats correctly.
Wellbore friction can be a critical problem in high-deviation cases. In order to enable smooth travel of the plug to the desired depth, always pre-run a well-conditioning operation. This may include circulating clean fluid to flush out debris and using compatible lubricants to minimize drag.
Friction reducers do not only assist in placement but also safeguard the integrity of the dissolvable frac plug throughout the run-in-hole. The concern is acute in wells with long lateral sections where plug wear or premature activation may endanger the job.
After a dissolvable plug is placed, confirmation is critical. In high-deviation wells, surface signatures like pressure changes may be dampened or delayed, complicating confirmation of a successful set.
Employ real-time telemetry devices or pressure gauges to observe setting events. A correct pressure confirmation method will create full pressure on every plug to isolate specific stages and establish optimal operational conditions for effective fracturing.
The main benefit of dissolvable frac plugs includes avoiding mill-out runs but their timing needs proper management when dealing with complicated well structures. Too quickly, and the plug will not be able to contain pressure throughout the complete frac stage. Too slowly, and it will slow down production or cause residual impairment.
Make sure that your dissolution window coincides with the expected stimulation and flowback schedule. Water chemistry, temperature, and flowback rate will affect dissolution rate. Some operators even apply temporary sealants or coatings to manage the initial exposure.
Following stimulation, look for plug debris during initial production and flowback. The designated disappearance of dissolvable plugs becomes compromised when a well displays high deviation angles because the displaced materials may become stuck in reduced flow areas.
Proper design of flowback operations should ensure effective removal of debris while inline screens function with sand traps to capture remaining materials.
Vertechs Group owns global supremacy as the leader in well completion technology and owning expertise in dissolvable frac plugs for problematic well conditions. Vertechs develops securely and effectively through innovation to deliver affordable solutions across the energy industry. Learn about Vertechs' frac plug solutions for improved well performance by checking out their webpage today. Please contact us, at engineering@vertechs.com to learn more about how we can support your next project.
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