AlphaST™ Enables Openhole Sidetrack Drills 25-ft, Full-Gauge Wellbore within Highly Compressive Formation in Single Trip Allowing Drilling Operations to Resume

Re-enter wellbore to allow an openhole sidetrack after milling an existing 7-in. (177.8 mm) liner.
Create an 8-3/8 in. (212.73 mm) openhole sidetrack at 10,715 ft (3,266 m) in a single trip.
Provide a clean transition from the main wellbore to the sidetrack bore to allow the operator immediate deployment of the drilling bottomhole assembly (BHA).

After milling 572 ft (174.35 m) of the liner, the operator contacted Weatherford to explore openhole-sidetrack options that would avoid a known, shallow fluid-loss zone.
Weatherford re-entry specialists recommended the AlphaST openhole sidetrack system with its next-generation, hydraulic slip-type anchor and PDC drill bit as the ideal choice to successfully execute the sidetrack in a single trip.
Weatherford re-entry services quickly prepared and dispatched the AlphaST whipstock system and personnel to the rigsite. After the wellbore-preparation and caliper-log runs were performed, AlphaST was deployed to target depth.
Following gyro orientation, the whipstock was set and sidetrack bore was drilled with the AlphaST openhole PDC drill bit in a single trip. Upon completion, the bit and all mills were determined to be in full gauge, allowing the operator to slide past the whipstock using a rotary-steerable BHA—thus continuing drilling operations.

A full-gauge transition from the main wellbore to the sidetrack hole was achieved, allowing the operator to quickly resume drilling operations with a rotary-steerable system (RSS) as planned.
The AlphaST openhole sidetrack system enabled the operator to work through multiple tight spots, set the whipstock with hydraulic slip-type anchor, and drill 25 ft. of new hole—all in a single trip.

Details

Location

Saudi Arabia

Well Type

Onshore, gas

Formation

Sandstone (21 ksi)

Hole Size

8-3/8 in. (212.73 mm)

Hole Angle

2°

Casing Size/Type

9-5/8 in. (244.5 mm), 58.4#, TN2

Depth

10,715 ft (3,266 m)

Products/Services

AMP™ All-Electric Interval Control Valve