Mechanical Evaluation and Intervention in IMonmetallic Tubulars Using Current Technologies

With increasing interest in nonmetallic products for downhole applications, such as fiberglass tubing, it is essential to ensure that the well integrity is similar as the standard carbon steel completions. One important aspect of well integrity is the ability to routinely access the downhole condition of the tubing and perform basic intervention. This article demonstrates the testing and validation of different mechanical evaluations of the integrity of fiberglass tubing using logging and intervention tools. In this work, two joints of fiberglass were connected together to study the effect of logging and intervention tools on the integrity of these joints from the inner and outer surfaces as well as the structural integrity. For the inner wall evaluation, a multifinger caliper tool was run inside the two joints several times to investigate potential damage caused by the fingers. In addition, a tubing puncher was used to punch a hole and characterize the surface damage and any effects on the structural integrity of the fiberglass. Furthermore, a tubing cut was performed to confirm the performance of the cutting tool in such an environment. All the tests were conducted safely and successfully at the surface using two different sizes of fiberglass tubing. The tested tubulars were split to further investigate the internal condition. The effect of the applied fingertips on the inner wall surface of the fiberglass from several passes indicated minor scratches that can be further investigated using an accelerated wear test. The integrity of this nonmetallic tubular can be evaluated using standard mechanical tools to identify defects and scale buildup. Other intervention tools such as the mechanical puncher and cutter indicated successful deployment under surface conditions. An investigation of existing downhole evaluation and intervention technologies can provide an immediate assessment of the benefits and limitations with respect to unconventional completions such as the fiberglass tubing and other nonmetallic pipes. Future research and development programs can rely on such solid basis to tailor advanced solutions for any specific application or products. © 2023 Aramco Services Company. All rights reserved.