Urban Map-Then-Intercept Abandonment

Los Angeles, California, USA · 2021

Two-sidetrack map-then-intercept of an inaccessible well for permanent abandonment

The challenge

→The well needed a deep TD cement plug, but milling for concentric access failed.
→The cased target had to be physically intercepted from a sidetrack to establish communication.
→A dense urban setting demanded a precise, controlled re-entry.

Our solution

After a section mill and an open-hole sidetrack off a cement plug, the first sidetrack was drilled purely to MAP the target by magnetic ranging, fixing its position. It was plugged back and a second sidetrack kicked off, steered by two more ranging runs to a direct intersect, then oriented 180° to slide along the target casing. A Drill Collar Severing Tool established hydraulic communication for the deep abandonment plug.

Direct casing contact held over 15 ft, target severed and abandoned

The result

Direct

casing contact, paralleled the target over ~15 ft

·First sidetrack drilled purely to map the target by ranging
·Second sidetrack steered (closing to ~4 ft) to a direct intersect at ~3,568 ft MD
·Oriented 180° to slide along the casing, physical contact held over ~15 ft
·Drill Collar Severing Tool established hydraulic communication for permanent abandonment

Ranging

AMR + PMR

Deployment

While Drilling (PMR) / Wireline (AMR)

Re-entry

Yes

Location

Los Angeles, California, USA

Year

2021

Regulatory approval Permanent abandonment witnessed and approved under California's energy regulator, the California Department of Conservation's Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM).

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