First Successful Shaped Memory Polymer (SMP) Open Hole Sand Control Application in an Extended Reach Well

Abstract Shaped Memory Polymer (SMP) technology represents nowadays one of the more innovative sand control techniques available on the market for layered reservoir with water zones associated or characterized by different pressure regimes. Even though the well configuration has not been identified as a constraint for the technology utilization, a limited number of applications has been carried out. This paper presents the first Southern Europe deployment of the system in an extended-reach well, successfully performed. The SMP is deployed into the wellbore like a sand screen, allowing the installation of the lower completion as a single trip assembly with a liner hanger system. Upon downhole installation, an activation agent is pumped, causing the SMP media to expand. It conforms against the borehole, thus maintaining positive stress against the formation and stabilizing the near-wellbore region. In order to succeed in deploying the completion in such highly deviated environment, detailed torque and drag studies have also been conducted considering the displacement and well drag friction factors (OH and CH). This paper presents the successful deployment of the SMP in an extended-reach well, presenting a slant profile of 80° inclination while dropping to 65° over the last open hole phase (215m length), showing a final displacement at well total depth of 2900 meters. The assembly has been customized considering four production zones separated by open hole packers with an inner string incorporating a sliding sleeve device (SSD) for each zone to ensure production selectivity. Once the SMP has been positioned at the desired open hole depth, the liner hanger is set and the activation fluid pumped. Based on detailed studies carried out considering specific well conditions such as hydrostatic pressure and bottom hole temperature, the contact time has been selected to 40 h to guarantee the full polymer expansion. Subsequently, the liner packer element has been energized, followed by the installation of the upper completion system. Then the clean-up operations started. Shaped Memory Polymer technology stands out as one of the most cutting-edge sand control techniques available. The successful deployment of the system in Southern Europe represents the first application of the technology in an extended-reach well over the few installations carried out worldwide. It validates its capability to effectively operate in highly deviated wells and confirms its viability and cost-effectiveness as an alternative to conventional standalone screens or other sand control techniques.