Utilizing E-line Mechanical Services to Fish a Slickline Running Tool and Heavy-Duty Pulling Tool HDPT - A Case from Malaysia
Authors: Movahed Ali , Abu Bakar Asba Madzidah , Che Mat Mohd Redha , Bakar Mohd Farris , Hussain Mohd Mifdhal , Rosli Ahmad Faidzal 
Published: October 2023

A productive offshore/onshore oil well had to be closed because a slickline plug set/retrieval operation failed, leaving tool-string and isolation plug being stuck at a depth downhole. In order to free the tool, a heavy-duty fishing operation was carried out using an electric wireline self-anchoring hydraulic stroking tool. This involved applying a high level of force while pulling or pushing the tool-string. The purpose of this document is to share the knowledge acquired while planning, preparing for, and executing this important task.

It will introduce the hydraulic stroking tool that offers an advancement in engineering. This tool can generate a downhole force of 100,000 lbs. and has been utilized offshore and onshore globally. Insights gained from additional operations utilizing the technology will also be shared in this paper.

In this case study, an operator in Malaysia had used the production packer in Well G. Following the successful landing of the tubing hanger, the RN plug was installed at the RN nipple to initiate the setting of the production packer. However, the RL running tool became stuck in the plug body and remained so despite multiple jarring attempts (~200). As a result, it was decided to use a Heavy-duty Pulling Tool (HDPT) with 0.140" wire to try and retrieve the RL running tool (fish no. 1), but this fishing attempt was also unsuccessful. Unfortunately, the 0.140" wire had to be cut, leaving the HDPT in the well as fish no. 2. Despite these setbacks, further attempts were made to retrieve the RL running tool and the HDPT.

The well was then suspended for completion activities while the project team formulated a plan to retrieve the tool downhole. It was determined that the most suitable option would be to employ the electric wireline hydraulic stroking tool with a high-capacity version that is capable of handling a load of 33k lbs. and 60k lbs.

The method chosen for the task was to recover the slickline running tool and HDPT in two runs by exerting the greatest possible force and retrieving it in several attempts. Once the fishing operation was complete, the plan was to retrieve the isolation plug using the e-line hydraulic stroking tool. To prove whether the high force generated by the electric wireline hydraulic stroking tool could cause the slickline running tool to break or result in any other damages, a basic operational test (site inspection test, SIT) was conducted. The test was set up with identical fishing tools / equipment to those stuck downhole, with slickline running horizontally within a tube and the multi pin testing tool.

Based on a highly successful SIT, all the equipment was mobilized offshore. Since there were two fish in the well, two hydraulic stroking tools with 33k lbs. and 60k lbs. capability were assigned. Utilizing the 33k lbs. stroker, the delivery of three strokes down and one stroke up resulted in both fish to releasing completely, and they were subsequently retrieved to the surface, leading to the well being put on production again