Page 125 - Well Control for Completions and Interventions

Completion Equipment 117

Figure 3.24 Hydraulic set pull release dual string production packer.

3.11 PACKER SETTING

Packers will be set in one of the following ways:
• Hydraulic set. The packer is run on the completion string. When it is
on depth, the tubing must be plugged and pressure applied. The
packer will set with the application of pressure at a predetermined
value.
• Hydrostatic set. The packer is run on the completion tubing. Once
on depth, the wellbore is pressurized to a predetermined value. The
pressure needed to set the packer is hydrostatic pressure at the setting
depth plus a predetermined margin than must be applied at the sur-
face. A hydrostatic pressure can only be used if there is something in
the wellbore to pressure against, for example, unperforated casing or a
FLCV. They cannot be used where the wellbore is open to the reser-
voir. Where multiple hydraulic or hydrostatic packers are run, they
can be set sequentially or simultaneously.
• Mechanical setting. These packers can be run on a drill-pipe and set
before the completion is run. Alternatively, they can be run with the
completion tubing. Once on depth the packer is set by mechanical
manipulation.
• Wireline setting. The packer and tail-pipe is run on e-line, and set
using a slow burn explosive charge that drives a setting piston, com-
pressing and setting the packer. With the packer and tail-pipe in place,
it is possible to install a wireline retrievable plug before the completion
is run, thus providing a well control barrier. Alternatively, the plug
can be preset in the tail-pipe before the packer is run.

3.12 PACKER-TO-TUBING CONNECTION

There are a number of methods of connecting the completion tub-
ing to a production packer. Of the most commonly applied, three provide