MaxVert® Seals Three Sets of Perforations Simultaneously in West Texas

An international operator drilling in West Texas wanted to deepen an 18-year-old well by 300-ft. The well was initially perforated in the Upper Clearfork, Lower Clearfork and Wichita/Albany intervals (Figure 1). After years on production, the well could not support a full column of fluid. In order to safely drill the additional 300 feet, the operator needed to regain circulation in the wellbore.

Impact Fluid Solutions (IFS) engineered a MaxVert diverter pill system to plug the existing 136 perforations in three separate intervals and regain circulation. MaxVert fluid diverter is a temporary diverting material used in fracturing, refracturing, and sub-hydrostatic workovers. MaxVert can also temporarily plug existing perforations allowing the operator to reach a new, untapped section of their reservoir.

To spot the diverter pill, a 2 7/8-in. tubing with a packer was ran to 5500-ft. where the packer was set and the casing integrity was tested. An IFS Field Service Technician prepared a 150bbl MaxVert pill which was pumped down the tubing. With the targeted pressure observed, the packer was released. After unseating the packer, the operator tested the wellbore for circulation. The test results were positive and the tubing was pulled out. Immediately after, a 2 7/8-in. L80 EUE 8-RD workstring with a 3.5-in. 26.39 drill collar and a polycrystalline diamond (PDC) bit was ran to bottom. The 300-ft. of new hole was drilled and cemented.