SPE 64400

New Workover and Completion Technology Utilised in Bass Strait

M.L. Eaton, A.G. Barry and S. Schoemaker Esso Australis Pty Ltd

Copyright 2000, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

charges used to stimulate production from well
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and with extensive near wellbore damage; and
Exhibition held in Brisbane, Australia, 16-18 October 2000.
Mini-fracturing gas stimulation technology used
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
on poor performing reservoirs.
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any
position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at The high level of mechanical success combined with
SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of
Petroleum Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper
encouraging reservoir success in some instances is
for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is promoting a continued search for further production
prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300
words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous enhancing techniques.
acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O.
Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.
Introduction
Abstract
Esso/BHPPs operations in Bass Strait, South Eastern
As production from the Gippsland Basin in Bass Strait Australia, include 16 production platforms, five sub-sea
Australia passes the 30 year mark, the need to find innovative completions and two single mono-towers (Fig. 1).
techniques to maximize production from this world class From these facilities there are 364 wells, the majority
maturing basin is a principle priority for the operator. To being oil and/or gas producers with the remainder
address this issue, Esso Australia, on behalf of the 50:50 joint injecting for reservoir management.
venture with BHP, recently embarked on a concentrated
program to trial and evaluates several new technologies being Since production commenced from the Gippsland Basin
developed by industry. in 1969 with the installation of the Barracouta platform,
significant ongoing drilling and workover activities have
This paper discussed several technologies that were employed enhanced and maintained production levels Until the mid
to increase production, enhance reservoir recovery and to late 1990s, traditional tubing pull, mechanical isolation
improve well integrity. Varying degrees of success were and cement squeeze techniques have yielded high levels
achieved during these trials and the successes, failures and of mechanical and reservoir success with stronger
lessons learned will be outlined. workover economics. An ever declining list of high
quality opportunities, as evaluated using traditional
The technologies discussed include: techniques, made it necessary to embark on a search for
technologies that world continue to achieve mechanical
Scab liners with inflatable packers set through and reservoir objectives while at the same time reducing
tubing in horizontal wells to isolate water/gas workover costs.
production;
Gas and water shut off techniques utilizing After implementation of each new technology, an
evaluation based on both mechanical and reservoir factors
polymer technology;
were performed. Mechanical success was defined as the
Wellhead leak sealing technology using
completion of the required scope of work with appropriate
differential pressure-set coagulating
testing successfully completed. Reservoir success was
Coagulating polymers;
defined by long and short term reservoir performance
Wire lineless completions using expendable
compared against pre-job expectations. This paper
plugs and perforating gun hanger systems on
concentrates on the mechanical aspects of each
space limited platforms (during infill drilling
technology, however reservoir performance has also been
operations);
discussed where appropriate.
Through-tubing deep penetration perforating
2 MEGAN. L. EATON SPE 64400

depth via a 1.66 OD jointed workstring. This operation

Each of the new technologies trailed are discussed in the used a concentric workover unit, with the subject wells
following sections; killed prior to rigging up. Coiled tubing (CT) was not
used due to the relatively high cost based on 1) limited CT
Scab Liners with Inflatable Packers unit availability and 2) the requirement for specialized
jacking equipment to run jointed tubing between the
A number of horizontal wells in Bass Strait were packers.
identified as potentially producing either gas or water
preferentially from the heel of the horizontal section. The While minor differences in operational techniques exist a
cost of traditionally used methods for water or gas shut- typical scab liner setting operation involves pumping a
off such as tubing pull re-completions for installation of phenolic ball to a choke coupling located at the end of the
mechanical isolation equipment or cement squeezes made scab liner assembly. The circulating tool, which is located
them uneconomic. above the running tool, assists the ball pumping operation
by allowing fluid that has been pumped down the work
Recent industry developments have allowed the use of string to be circulated back through the workstring by
through-tubing technology to isolate these sections at a tubing annulus. This took is useful in the event that the
fraction of the cost of conventional workovers. Research reservoir locks up, increasing pumping resistance at
indicated that less than 12 jobs had been performed surface.
worldwide using this type of technology in the small
diameters required for Bass Strait applications. Once the phenolic ball is seated, the setting operation is
suspended for approximately 12 hours to allow the
For the purposes of this discussion a scab liner is defined Bottom Hole Temperature (BHT) to stabilize. It is
as an assembly consisting of two inflatable packers important to ensure that the packers are set as close as
separated by enough small diameter tubing to place the possible to the original BHT as every 1F rise in
packers at the upper and lower ends of the zone to be temperature increases the pressure inside the packer
isolated (Fig. 2). elements by 35 psi. After temperature stabilization, the
workstring is pressured up against the ball in the choke
The interval tubing is required for two reasons. Firstly coupling and the lower packer is inflated via an injection
acting with the packers as the mechanical barrier that port until the shear setting pressure has been obtained.
isolates the undesirable water or gas zone and secondly as
the conduit through which the reservoir fluid from any Workstring pressure is increased further until the shear set
zones below the scab liner will be produced. pressure of the upper packer is reached. A further
increase in pressure shears the choke coupling, releasing
The maximum Outside Diameter (OD) of the scab liner the ball into the wellbore. Another ball is pumped to
assembly has to be small enough to run through the release the workstring from the scab liner assembly via
smallest Inside Diameter (ID) of the existing completion the hydraulic release tool.
string and then set in the production casing or liner below
the end of tubing. The ration of casing or liner below the All packers with the exception of one were inflated
end of tubing. The ration of casing ID to uninflated without incident. The operational difficulties experienced
packer OD, called the expansion factor, is a critical on the one well resulted from an inability to maintain
design parameter that governs the maximum differential pressure in workstring whilst attempting to set the upper
pressure allowable across the scab liner assembly. packer. The phenolic ball that was pumped to set the
packers did not seal in the choke coupling. A subsequent
Three workovers have been performed using this ball was released and the lower packer set. Increasing
technology, with two attempting to shut off water and one pressure to attempt to set the upper packer caused the
isolating a gas zone. Two operations had a minimum ID choke coupling to shear prematurely, leaving the upper
in the tubing of 3.456 inflating into a production liner packer unset. It is believed that continual cycling of the
with ID 4.892. The other operation has a minimum ID pressure during diagnostic activities when the original ball
of 2.992 in the tubing inflating into a production liner did not seat resulted in a weakening of the choke coupling
with the ID of 3.937. pins, causing them to shear prematurely.

Technique Due to the inability to set the upper packer during the
workover, another inflatable packer was run and latched
The scab liner assembly consisted of two inflatable into the release sub of the un-set upper packer. This
packers, interval tubing, choke coupling, circulating tool operation proceeded without incident.
and a hydraulic release tool which wax run to isolation
SPE 64400 NEW WORKOVER AND COMPLETION TECHNOLOGY UTILISED IN BASS STRAIT 3

approximately 22% over the entire sand interval. The

Test on the lower packer are performed by slacking off or clay content of the sandstone was reported between 10-
picking up weight on the workstring to ensure mechanical 15% with the clay containing 80% Illite/Smectite and
integrity. Pressure integrity cannot be confirmed as there 20% Kaolinite.
are open perforations both above and below the packer.
Both mechanical and pressure integrity of the upper Technique
packer are tested.
The conformance squeeze involves pumping a number of
Results fluid stages through the production tubing and into the
perforation interval to be isolated, whilst continually
All jobs were classified as mechanical successes, while observing the surface pressure for indications that
the reservoir results varied. The reservoir performance of isolation is progressing.
the three workovers is summarized below:
Based on laboratory testing and wellbore temperature
Workover 1- Gas production was reduced by model ling,, the polymer gel is designed to start setting
more than 50% with a corresponding 250% only once it has reached the outer edge of the theoretical
increase in oil production. placement volume the perforated one. It is important to
Workover 2- Water production reduced by have accurate BHT data as the fluid program, in particular
approximately 50% in the short term but returned the gelatin response of the polymer stages, is highly
to original rates within one month of production. dependent upon accurate wellbore temperature modeling.
It is believed that local stratigraphy or a behind- The design and testing process must take into account the
pipe cement channel caused this premature water cooling effect of any fluids pumped into the formation
production from the middle of the horizontal including kill fluids and preflush stages.
section. The first stage is a buffered preflush, which is pumped to
Workover 3- No evidence of reduced water provide a compatible fluid before the polymer gels re
production was reported. The results of this pumped. Fluid compatibility is important to ensure that
workover supported the theory of field wide the polymer gel sets within the design time limits.
tilting contacts resulting in the toe of the well
being watered out. Following the preflight, a series of polymer stages are
pumped into the formation. The objective of the
Gas and Water Shutoff Techniques Utilizing operation is to have all polymer stages set up and achieve
Polymer Technology squeeze pressure during the final stages of the
displacement. Regardless of stage and as the polymer
A gas and water shut-off, otherwise known as a begins to set, flow will be diverted from higher to lower
conformance squeeze, was performed using a cross- permeability regions of the reservoir. Due to cooling of
linking polymer gel to allow for production from a deeper the formation as polymer gel is pumped, subsequent
reservoir zone. This technology offers an alternative to polymer stages will contain more cross-linking additive to
zonal isolation with scab liner assemblies. The success of ensure setup at lower temperatures. The reduction in the
the conformance squeeze is dependant upon the ability of overall permeability of the formation should be evidenced
the polymer gel to propagate beyond the wellbore and at surface by an increase in the Tubing Head Pressure
through the rock matrix at the proposed isolation depth. (THP) as the job progresses.

There are a number of factors, which need to be If is important that the surface pressure is closely
considered when implementing this type of technology. monitored throughout the pumping programs as not to
These include the temperature of the zone being isolated, exceed the formation fracture gradient. This is to keep the
the concentration of the fluid providing the isolation, pH polymer fluids from being pumped away in a fracture,
and most importantly reservoir characteristics such as maintaining the integrity of the conformance squeeze.
porosity, permeability and clay content. This is of particular importance as the final stage is being
pumped when it is expected that permeability has been
Polymer isolation of a two meter perforation interval was significantly reduced by the previous gel stages. Once all
performed on one well, which was preferentially stages are pumped, the gel is left for approximately 30
producing gas. Electric logs performed before the hours to continue cross-linking. The remaining polymer
isolation of this sand indicated a temperature of 183F at gel in the wellbore is circulated out. The polymer squeeze
isolation depth. The horizontal permeability was 1-3 is then subjected to a draw down or negative pressure test
darcy and vertical permeability was between 40-80% of to ensure integrity. A deeper zone can then be perforated
the horizontal permeability. The porosity was upon completion of the shut-off operation.
4 MEGAN. L. EATON SPE 64400

Results installing wellhead equipment to integrity was

substantially reduced due to the introduction of sealant
A 100 bbl preflush, two stages of polymer gel, and a technology. Replacing failed casing hanger seals or
displacement were pumped into the formation over 7 repairing SC-SSSV control lines has typically required an
hours. The first gel stage consisted of 250 bbls, the expensive tubing pull re-completion to gain access to the
second 40 bbls. A 6bbl cross-linked polymer post flush failed components.
was pumped as part of the displacement stage to prevent
non-setting fluids reaching the formation in the event that Advances in sealant technology have resulted in the
squeeze pressure was not attained. introduction of differential pressure activated coagulating
sealants which remain fluid in any hydraulic system until
During the pumping operation there was no significant the sealant passes through a leak site and experiences a
increase in THP observed. This indicated that the gel was pressure drop. The driver for utilizing this technology
not setting up at the tip of the treatment zone and creating was the significant cost savings compared to a traditional
diversion. This was not entirely unexpected as the initial tubing pull workover, as only minimal personnel and
formation temperature was at the lower end of the ideal pumping equipment are required to carry out repairs.
design temperature for the polymer being utilized.
Temperature conditions were known prior to The technology was utilized in a number of different
commencement of operations, but it was considered that failure scenarios including casing hanger, tubing hanger
mechanical success was still possible if adequate setup and control line seal failures.
time was allowed even in the absence of observed
diversion. For each job, leak-specific information was required
before a special sealant formula was mixed. Information
At the completion of the operation the gel was allowed to required included the leak rate, travel time for the sealant
cure for 30 hours before perforating the deeper zone. to reach leak site, differential pressure across the leak, and
the flowing and shut in temperature conditions.
The squeezed zone was subjected to a drawn down
pressure 300 psi below pre-job reservoir pressure. THP The potential leak sites for control lines include; seals
increased by 50 psi over a 60 minute interval, meeting the associated with passage through the wellhead or
acceptable leak rate criteria, indicating mechanical connection to SC-SSSV or holes within the control line
success. itself.

After the completion of the shut-off a new zone was Results

perforated and flowed to determine the composition of the
new reservoir fluid. The well came on line with 83 kl/d of To date eight repairs have been attempted using this
oil at 55% water cut and a Flowing Gas Oil Ration technology. The results are outlined below:
(FGOR) of 1383 m/kl. Although the FGOR was reduced
by a factor of four this reduction was only short term. Control line failures- three of four were
The well shortly returned to gas rates which were outside successful (75%)
platform constraints and this workover was classified as Casing hanger or tubing hanger seal failures-
unsuccessful from a reservoir perspective. The post three of four was successful (75%).
isolation production response is inconclusive with the
respect to the possible source of increased gas production. When assessing the remedial work for the one unsuccessful
Insufficient polymer penetration may result in a control line repair, diagnostic testing indicated an increase in
contribution from the polymer isolated zone, or the newly the control line pressure when pressuring up the tubing by
perforated zone could be producing more gas than production casing annulus. The tubing pack-off and the
anticipated. A logging program is proposed to determine control line seals were tested positive indicating that the leak
the relative gas contributions of each zone and hence was in the control line. The sealant was pumped down the
confirmation of isolation performance. control line and allowed to set until enough pressure could be
maintained to open the SC-SSSV. Within one week it was
Wellhead Seal Technology reported that the control line could not maintain pressure.
Another attempt was made to seal the leak with the
A significant percentage of Bass Strait wells contain coagulating polymer and control line pressure was maintained
original equipment, which can be in excess of 30 years above the SC-SSSV opening pressure. When lift gas was
old. The wellhead seals and Surface Controlled injected into the tubing by production casing annulus, the
Subsurface Safety Valve (SC-SSSV) control lines have control line pressure increased. A final attempt was made to
deteriorated over time in some wells. The cost of re- pump sealant down the control line to seal the leak. With
SPE 64400 NEW WORKOVER AND COMPLETION TECHNOLOGY UTILISED IN BASS STRAIT 5

pressure on the control line, an attempt was made to flow the After running the completion, pressure is applied to the tubing
well however all indications were the SC-SSSV was not to set the packer and test the tubing. Once the production
opened. The ability to maintain pressure on the control line packer has been set at the appropriate depth, the tubing hanger
suggested that the leak was sealed, however the inability to is landed in the tubing head and the production annulus is
open the SC-SSSV would indicate that there might have been pressure tested. The drilling rig could then move on to the
a blockage in the control line. next well slot as a pump could now be used to expend the plug
by pressure cycling once the surface facilities had been
Difficultly was experienced on the single unsuccessful casing installed to prepare the well for production.
hanger repair due to a substantial leak rate. A large enough
differential pressure could not be obtained, preventing the Technique- Perforating gun hanger systems
polymer coagulating at the leak site.
Permanent production and gas lift flow lines are installed prior
The most significant measure of success for this technology to perforating so that an under balanced condition at the
has been the cost savings associated with not having to pull producing interval can be developed. This underbalance is
tubing, as well as the production it has brought back on stream achieved by unloading fluid from the tubing using lift gas.
for the cheap price. In total more than $10M worth of savings There is a delay of the order of 2-3 days required for flowline
have been realized with more than 5kbd of production installation during which the rig is skidded to the subsequent
reinstated. operation in the interest of maximizing productive rig time.

Wire lineless Completions Utilizing Expendable Given space constraints while drilling on the smaller first
Plugs and Perforating Gun Hanger Systems generation Bass Strait platforms, traditionally through-tubing
conductor line perforating techniques required the rig to be
skidded back to the well in question to allow access for
Traditionally, Bass Strait completion operations have used conductor line rig-up, significantly increasing perforating cost.
slickline to run and retrieve wireline-set plugs for the packer Rig time savings were realized under conductorline conveyed
setting and pressure testing operations. In addition, typically gun hanger systems installed inside the production casing prior
conductor line is utilized to perforate wells after the to running the completion. This system uses a time-delayed,
completion has been run. hydraulically activated firing sequence that could be initiated
after flowlines had been installed. This kept perforating
Expendable plugs and perforating gun hanger systems offered operations off the rig critical path so that subsequent
the advantage of completing wells on space limited platforms operations did not have to be interrupted.
without the need to mobilize slickline or skid the drilling rig
back to a well to rig up conductor line for perforating. While The expendable plug isolates the hydraulic firing head from
the primary application for these technologies is in high angle packer set and tubing test pressures. When the plug is
wells where wireline intervention is difficult or impossible, in expended, pressure can then be applied to the gun system to
this application it afforded significant rig time/ cost savings in initiate the firing sequence.
a space-limited environment.
Results
Technique- Expendable plugs
To date eight jobs have been completed using expendable plug
Expendable plug assemblies are installed below the production and perforating gun hanger technology. In all cases the
packer as an integral part of the tubing string, allowing perforating gun hanger system worked without incident while
hydraulic packer setting and pressure testing of the completion the expendable plug technology had mixed results as outlined
string. below:

A typical expendable plug assembly (Fig. 3) consists of a Ability to set the packer and test the tubing with
debris barrier to prevent debris build-up, an auto-fill device to the expendable plug- seven of eight was
allow tubing to fill when running the completion into the hole, successful (87.5%).
and the plug itself. The plug consists of a fresh water Expelling the expendable plug- five of eight
reservoir kept separate from a salt plug until a pre-determined were successful (62.5%).
number of pressure cycles are completed. The pressure cycles
progressively move an inner mandrel, eventually opening up a On three wells, difficulty was experienced expending the plug
conduit for the fresh water to contact the salt plug and expend after the packer had been set. The operational difficulties
it. During pressure cycling, pressure and volume is monitored were a result of surface pressure limitations where the tubing
to determine when the plug has expended. could not be pressured to the required cycle pressure limit.
Pressure was cycled a minimum of 20 times with no indication
6 MEGAN. L. EATON SPE 64400

of the plug expending. To expel the plug, a slickline unit was Results
mobilized so that a spear could be run to puncture the debris
barrier and the protective membrane, dissolving the plug. In The well test results using conventional charges and deep
these instances no cost savings were realized, as slickline was penetrating charges are outlined in Table 1.1.
required for well intervention.
Table 1.1: Well Test Data.
Another operational difficulty experienced included the
inability to maintain pressure on the tubing after the Conventional Deep Penetrating
expendable plug had been run in the completion. A slickline Charges Charges
plug had to be run to set the packer. It is believed that debris Interval 3517-3519m 3517-3519m
became lodged in the auto-fill device causing it not to affect a Oil Rate (kl/d) 78 259
seal during the closing operation. Water Rate (kl/d) 522 388
Water Cut 87 60
While some difficulties were experienced with the expendable Choke (%) 100 100
plug, the five successful operations saved more than $1M in
rig time. The well was perforated with conventional charges in 1992.
This well exhibited flow stability problems despite a
Perforating with Deep Penetrating Charges downgrade in the tubing size from 4-1/2 to 3-1/2 in 1996
and several gas lift valve change-outs. Studies indicated that
Perforating is a critical component of the well completion the most likely reason for the slugging was excessive near
process and continuous effort is focused on increasing well wellbore damage.
productivity through this technology. Perforating with deep
penetration charges has been performed on a number of wells To trial the deep penetrating technology the well was first
in Bass Strait providing increased productivity from reservoirs perforated with conventional charges. No improvement in
containing lower quality sands. production was seen and approximately two months later the
well was perforated using deep penetrating charges. A
The deep penetrating perforating charges offer increased significant increase in oil rate and a reduction in water rate
penetration depth and a larger whole size for improved were experienced.
reservoir connectivity when compared to conventional
perforating charges. The result proved that these charges were able to penetrate
past the near wellbore damage where conventional charges
Technique could not.
The main differences between conventional perforating Mini-fracturing Gas Stimulation Technology
charges and the deep penetrating charges are in the proprietary
design of the charge itself. Material selection, improved Wellbore damage can be experienced during perforating as the
manufacturing tolerances, quality control, and charge crushed rock particles bridge across the pore throats increasing
geometry optimization have all contributed to improved flow resistance and reducing productivity. In some cases the
penetration performance. damage can be so severe that only a portion of the perforations
will produce.
Regardless of charge, perforating operations are carried out to
maximize depth control and reservoir productivity. Gamma To reduce the risk of damaging the formation, it is common
Ray/Casing Collar Locator (GR/CCL) tools are run on all practice in Bass Strait to perforate in an underbalanced state to
perforating toolstrings for correlation and depth control. encourage rock particles to flow out of the tunnels
Measurement While Perforating Tools (MWPT) is utilized for immediately after perforating. Stimulation technology is also
precise control of under balance pressure plus short-term available to remove near wellbore damage using extreme
reservoir response immediately prior to and following overbalance as an alternative.
perforation.
Gas stimulation involves perforating the damaged zone in an
To evaluate the effectiveness of the deep penetrating charges, extreme overbalanced state. The pressure exerted on the
one well, which had previously been perforated with formation during stimulation exceeds the fracture gradient of
conventional charges, was perforated over a similar interval the formation; creating short fractures and forcing crushed
using the deep penetrating charges. rock particles into the formation (Fig. 4). The fractures
improve reservoir to wellbore connectivity, bypassing the near
wellbore damage.
SPE 64400 NEW WORKOVER AND COMPLETION TECHNOLOGY UTILISED IN BASS STRAIT 7

To date there has been one gas stimulation attempted in the continue to use cost effective measures to maintain and
Bass Strait. enhance production. The recent trials of new technologies
have proven that, when evaluated and implemented in
Technique appropriated situations, the reward out weighs the risk.

In general the operation is very similar to conventional Esso will continue to take on the challenge of new
perforating with the main difference being the requirement of technologies trailing, evaluating and learning from their
a 100+m gas cushion below the surface wellhead. This implementation.
cushion eliminates the chance of fluid surging to the surface
under the shock of firing the stimulation tool. There is a risk Acknowledgements
of damaging the surface and downhole equipment during a
stimulation operation if this gas cushion is not present. The authors would like to thank Esso Australia Pty Ltd and
BHP Petroleum for permission to publish this paper. They
The stimulation tool consists of three major components- the would also like to thank the many members of the Esso
explosive igniter, the stimulation material and the hardware. Production Department and Service Company representatives
The explosive igniter consists of a detonator and a primer for their assistance in its preparation.
cord. The simulation material is a solid which when ignited,
becomes a high-pressure gas (15,000 psi). The hardware NOMENCLATURE
consists of a top firing head, the individual connectors and a
bottom bull-nose. The bull nose is used for centralization and OD Outside Diameter
has a larger OD than the stimulation material to ensure that the ID Inside Diameter
material is conveyed downhole with the minimal amount of CT Coiled Tubing
damage. The connectors also have a larger OD than the BHT Bottom Hole Temperature
stimulation material and are used to connect the tool THP Ltubing Head Pressure
components. FGOR Flowing Gas Oil Ratio
SC-SSSV Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve
The stimulation tool with GR/CCL tools and adequate weight Kbd 1000 barrels per day
bars is conveyed to stimulation depth via conductor line. Bbl 1 barrel (159 litres)
Once the stimulation tool has been correlated on depth with GR/CCL Gamma Ray/Casing Collar Locator
the gamma ray tool, the detonator is fired and the solid NWPT Measurement While Perforating Tool
material oxidizes within milliseconds, producing a burst of Kl/d 1000 litres per day
high-pressure gas. This high velocity gas enters the % - Percentage
perforations cleaning out the tunnels by initiating short
fractures in the formation (approximately 1-6 feet long). As
the stimulation material continues to burn, fractures are
propagated through the damaged zone, resulting in an
improved flow path from the formation to the wellbore.

Results

Unfortunately sand and accumulation in the well prevented the

stimulation tool from reaching depth on the first attempt. The
well was subsequently cleaned out and the stimulation
operation continued.

It is believed that the well killing operation during the sand

wash either damaged the formation beyond what the gas
stimulation could repair or assisted in the development of a
void behind casing which dissipated the pressure wave
reducing stimulation effectiveness. No increase in production
was seen after the stimulation and the job was classified as
unsuccessful.

Conclusions

As operations in Bass Strait continue to mature Esso will