Swellable Packer In Cement Helps Prevent Gas Mitigation

A major customer in the Marcellus shale wanted to mitigate gas migration to the surface in an effort to reduce health, safety, and environmental risks.

Halliburton proposed running Swellpacker® isolation systems on the intermediate casing and in the production string, in conjunction with cement, to help reduce gas migration to the surface, resulting in a safer wellsite area and less environmental impact.

Halliburton's solution eliminated the need for a remedial squeeze cement job and helped prevent pressure build-up at surface. Swellpacker isolation systems were run as an integral part of the casing string for easy makeup on surface. For the 9 5/8-in. intermediate casing, the operator ran the Swellpacker system just above the shoe joint. For the production string, the operator elected to run the Swellpacker system above the heel, approximately 100ft above a suspected problem zone. The Swellpacker system was successful in helping prevent gas migration to surface, and the operator has opted to repeat the process on other wells in the Marcellus Shale.