Cost Effective Utilization of Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Tubulars in Single Oil Producer Sour and/or Corrosive Wells

Abstract This paper examines the cost-effective utilization of GRE tubulars in single oil producer sour and/or corrosive wells, emphasizing the cost saving advantages. The study for the use of GRE lined tubular as a cost-effective solution in the completion of oil producers as well as reinjection of produced water has been going on for over a decade. This paper looks at the evaluation of the use of GRE lined tubular in oil producers well with sour and/or corrosive conditions (≤ 5% H2S and ≤ 250°F) and thus verify potentials of replacing CRA tubulars (Corrosion Resistant Alloy Tubulars) with GRE-lined tubular technology for such wells to meet short falls in demand/supply of CRA tubular as well as the significant cost reduction per well completed with GRE lined tubulars in comparison to CRA tubulars. Due to the aging of existing reservoirs, subsequent high water cut and the exploration of more high sour wells, the demand for CRA tubulars has been on the rise. The CRA industry has seen a significant growth in demand, but not the same in supply. This has resulted in 12 to 13 months lead time for the manufacturing and delivery of CRA tubulars. While the lead time of Carbon Steel L-80 is 6 months and GRE lined tubular is 7months. GRE lined tubular will improve the supply chain security of corrosion resist ally tubulars. This paper show cases the procedure employed by a Middle East National Oil company to deploy GRE completion in a sour Single Oil Producer well and the subsequent savings in comparison to the utilization of CRA tubulars for such single oil producer completion. The NOC had in the past completed a successful piloting and field trial of two produced water re-injection wells. The wells were completed and monitored for 6 months for corrosive water injection. After 6 months of injection operation, caliper log was conducted to confirm the condition of the GRE lined tubular and confirmed that it is in good condition. This led to the need to investigate the use of GRE lined tubular in single oil producer wells in sour and/or corrosive environments.