An Innovative Approach to Perform Cement Packer in a Well with Multiple Leak Issues

Abstract Reserves was realized above top packer and a barrier was needed to segregate the new producing zone from the gas lift. Cement packer job was called forth to spot cement in tubing-casing annulus (casing). A conventional cement packer job will punch a hole in the tubing above a set plug. This allows circulation from tubing into casing to spot cement in the casing. For the job to be successful, the tubing integrity, casing integrity and top packer integrity must be intact for proper placement of cement in the casing. However, a well's completion integrity was found to be compromised. This well has multiple leaks in the completion rendered the conventional cement packer methodology ineffective. The complexity of the challenges had led to compare the options of performing cement packer using coiled tubing (CT) against performing well workover. A new cement packer methodology was devised to tackle the leaks in short string, leaks in long string and leaks at top packer. Sealant was used to reduce the leak at top packer. Retrievable bridge plug was used to control the leak in long string. Modified cement retainer and CT tension set packer were deployed for a successful cement placement in the casing via short string, bypassing the leaks in short string. New producing zone was perforated through the cement packer and no communication between producing zone to the gas lift area was seen indicating a successful cement placement in the casing that act as packer. This successful method had safe client from doing workover on the well. Plus, this method allows future possibility of performing cement packer with tubing integrity issue, unlocking more potential reserves behind casing to be produced.