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Wellhead innovations for hot, high pressure wells

Conference · · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5690448

Mobile Oil Indonesia's Arun wells produce gas at rates up to 150 MMSCFD. The gas contains 14% CO/sub 2/, and up to 100 ppm H/sub 2/S. The flowing wellhead temperature is ca 325 F. The original shut-in surface pressure was 5800 psi. Failure of the resilient wellhead casing seals occurred in ca 40% of the wells. This was attributed primarily to the effects of high flowing wellhead temperatures, and to temperature cycling between flowing and shut-in conditions. Mobile Oil Indonesia (MOI) decided a metal-to-metal seal, between the 9-5/8-in. casing long string and wellhead, was required to insure a long-term effective wellhead seal for Arun producing conditions. Wellhead metal-to-metal seals of the size and type required for 9-5/8-in. casing did not exist anywhere in the industry. MOI worked with the manufacturers of the wellheads used in Arun who designed, tested and manufactured metal-to-metal wellhead seals. Special tools were developed to field machine the casing so that an effective metal-to-metal seal is obtained between the casing and the wellhead.

OSTI ID:
5690448
Report Number(s):
CONF-8202101-
Journal Information:
Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. SPE-10460; ISSN SEAPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English