Well Intervention OPERATIONAL

CHALLENGES

Mahmoud Farag Radwan

Subsurface & Integrity Operations Lead
https:\\www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-farag-radwan-a9266626
 Mahmoud Farag Radwan

Mahmoud Radwan is a Subsurface & Integrity Op. Lead with more than 15 years of experience in
oil & gas industry. Mahmoud worked in Well Engineering, Intervention, Integrity & Work-over at
Short several companies, including AMAL Petroleum Co. (AMAPETCO), KDT Global Solutions, CUDD
Well Control, Badr El-Din Pet. Co. (BAPETCO), Qarun Pet. Co. (QPC) and Wadi El-Sahel Petroleum
Biography Co. (WASPETCO).
Also, a freelance instructor at upstream Oil & Gas in Egypt & GCC since 2008.
Mahmoud received a BSc degree in Petroleum Engineering from Al-Azhar University in 2007.

o Evaluating Sustainable Annulus Pressure (SAP) in Sour Wells and the Possible Causes to
Avoid Recurrence to the Well Integrity Annual Middle East Conference in Abu Dhabi; UAE in
Apr 2015
o Implementing NDT methods for maintenance and inspection to the Asset Integrity
Management North Africa Conference in Cairo; Egypt in Nov 2015
o Feasibility Evaluation of Using Downhole Gas-water Separation Technology in gas Reservoirs
with Bottom Water; paper number: SPE-183739-MS to the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and
Publications Conference in Mar 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/183739-MS
o Managing the Operational Challenges in Corroded Wells through Well Integrity Management
System to the Improving Brownfield Performance Technical Convention, in Cairo; Egypt in Dec
2019
o Safe and Economic Attractive Rigless Operations Using a Digital Slickline in Unmanned
Platform with Low Structure Loads and Spacing; paper number: SPE-202857-MS to the Abu
Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) in Nov 2020
https://doi.org/10.2118/202857-MS
Well Intervention OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
Well Intervention Common Challenges are:

• Surge Pressure • Hydrates

• Swab Pressure • Equipment Failure and/or Defect
• Blockages • Human Error

1. Surge Pressure
Piston Power arises from running of tubing in hole & caused by:
• Small clearance (between CT OD / tubing ID) produces ▲pressures
Completion fluids produces ▲pressure than oil/gas).
• ▲speed produces ▲pressures.
• Longer OD tools produces ▲pressures.
• May activate pressure-activated equipment downhole.
e.g. Entering 2⅞” tubing with 250 m/h speed will results injection rate
of 1.05 m3/h =17.5 l/m. This can be compensated by bleeding of
via choke to separator while RIH.
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
2. Swab Pressure
Piston Effect occurs when downhole equipment is being pulled from the well & caused by
following conditions:
• Small clearance (between CT OD / tubing ID) produces ▲pressures.
• Completion fluids produces ▲pressure than oil/gas).
• ▲speed produces ▲pressures.
• Longer OD tools produces ▲pressures.
• Greater effect when downhole tools closer to reservoir & causes hydrocarbon
to be drawn out from reservoir.
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
3. Blockages
• Formation sand
• Scale
• Collapsed casing, liners or jammed valves etc.

Removing Blockages
• Mechanical methods
• Chemical methods
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
4. Hydrates
Crystalline water structures filled with small molecules. 1 m3 of hydrates contains
approximately 0.8 m3 water & 180 m3 gas.
• Presence of free water
• Presence of light gas molecules
• Relatively high pressure
• Relatively low temperature

Removing Hydrates
• Reduce pressure
(Risk: hydrate plug slips & gas above it, the plug may blow up).
• Raise temperature
• Use inhibitor (glycol, methanol or salt).
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
5 Equipment Failure and/or Defect

Equipment failures lead to disastrous tragedy.

Certified independent inspection body, pre-job function & pressure tests, good equipment handling, effective
maintenance program, sufficient spares & back-up equipment are essential in achieving maximum safety
standard & high rate of operation success.
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
6 Human Error

Qualified, well trained competent personnel are essential in achieving maximum safety standard & high rate of
operation success.

Two ways communication is vital to this dynamic WI operations. Well developed intra-personnel relationship is
essentially important.
 Thank You

Mahmoud Farag Radwan