More wells are being completed with fiberglass casings to overcome the challenge of corrosion to the carbon steel casings. Fiberglass casing is expected to increase the longevity of the wells. The wells completed with fiberglass still require the operators to confirm that the casing is in good condition and also the annular cement sheath is able to provide mechanical support and zonal isolation. The evaluation poses a challenge as the properties of the fiberglass are very different to that of the carbon steel casing. Some studies were performed in 2018 to test the ultrasonic physics in fiberglass, this paper will describe the challenges and how we have now developed an innovative data acquisition, processing and interpretation workflow to properly evaluate both the fiberglass casing condition and as well the annular cement condition. It was observed through surface experiments that the conventional ultrasonic technique applicable to carbon steel pipes has been proven to be invalid in fiberglass casings because the velocity and acoustic impedance of fiberglass are much lower than steel; therefore, there is no resonance in fiberglass. A new interpretation workflow was developed and applied to raw data to build specific parameters proper to the fiberglass samples to determine the acoustic properties: acoustic impedance, attenuation factor and velocity. It is for the first time that data has been acquired in a very large fiberglass casing. Fiberglass casings were run in water well, and wireline acoustic logs were successfully acquired for cement and corrosion evaluation across 19-inch. OD Glass Reinforced Epoxy pipes. The interpretation workflow was applied to raw field data and a comprehensive cement map and corrosion answer products were obtained with an acceptable quality control level. The paper will review the data from three wells. This innovative data acquisition, processing, and interpretation workflow can be deployed in wells for decision making prior to completion and production. The new method also opens up future opportunities for the evaluation of non-carbon steel pipes, and with knowledge of mechanical and acoustic properties, the method can be adapted to perform a full evaluation. This method is expected to provide valuable information for wells planned to be completed with fiberglass casing.

More wells are being completed with fiberglass casings to overcome the challenge of corrosion of the carbon steel casings. Fiberglass casing is expected to increase the longevity of the wells. The wells completed with fiberglass still require the operators to confirm that the casing is in good condition and also the annular cement sheath is able to provide mechanical support and zonal isolation. The evaluation poses a challenge as the properties of the fiberglass casing are very different from those of the carbon steel casing. Studies were performed in 2018 to test the ultrasonic physics in fiberglass, and this paper describes the challenges and how we developed an innovative data acquisition, processing, and interpretation workflow to properly evaluate both the fiberglass casing condition and the annular cement condition. It was observed through surface experiments that the conventional ultrasonic technique applicable to carbon steel casing is not valid for fiberglass casing because the velocity and acoustic impedance of fiberglass are much lower than they are for steel; therefore, there is no resonance in fiberglass. A new interpretation workflow was developed and applied to raw data to build specific parameters for the fiberglass samples to determine the acoustic properties: acoustic impedance, attenuation factor, and velocity. It is for the first time that data have been acquired in a very large fiberglass casing. Fiberglass casings were run in a water well, and wireline acoustic logs were successfully acquired for cement and corrosion evaluation across 18-in. and 10-in. fiberglass casings. The interpretation workflow was applied to raw field data, and a comprehensive cement map and corrosion answer products were obtained with an acceptable quality control level. The paper will review the data from three wells. This innovative data acquisition, processing, and interpretation workflow can be deployed in wells for decision making prior to completion and production. The new method also opens up future opportunities for the evaluation of noncarbon steel casings, and, with knowledge of mechanical and acoustic properties, the method can be adapted to perform a full evaluation. This method is expected to provide valuable information for wells planned to be completed with fiberglass casing.

For the first time, two different sizes of nonmetallic casing strings were installed in water wells to cover shallow potable aquifers. This paper describes the reasons for deployment, planning and design, logistics, operational challenges, lessons learned, and the way forward for this newly deployed technology. In the initial stages of the project, fiberglass-reinforced thermoset resin (RTR) pipes manufactured locally were evaluated in terms of ratings, dimension, and method of connection and feasibility for downhole applications. Two nonmetallic casing strings, 19.7″ and 11″, were selected to be run in hole. Design consideration also included compatibility with available casing running and handling tools to ensure safe and efficient field handling and running. At this stage, carbon steel casings were still needed to connect the nonmetallic casing to the surface wellhead equipment and to the float equipment at the bottom of the string. Specially designed crossovers were manufactured and tested prior to enabling combination of nonmetallic and carbon steel casing. All manufactured casing joints and crossovers were tested based on the best available criteria for the nonmetallic industry. Different challenges were encountered in the design stage, such as overcoming the buoyancy force while running and cementing the nonmetallic casing, all of which to be tackled. Cement slurry design and casing accessories were modified based on the simulations scenarios that were run. These designs were subsequently modified in response to issues, i.e., total losses, encountered while drilling. Successful evaluation of the nonmetallic casing deployment was conducted from multiple aspects, including running efficiency, casing wear, and cement quality. Drillpipe protectors were utilized to reduce the possible casing damage due to wear. The nonmetallic casing joints were connected through crossovers to a top metallic casing and float equipment at bottom. Both casing strings were successfully run to depth and cemented in place. Both casings were pressure tested successfully after performing the logging jobs that indicated the level and quality of cement pumped around the strings. Logs showed no considerable change in both nonmetallic casing thickness. The well was completed with open hole, tested and flowed naturally to surface. A conventional power water injector wellhead was installed before release. The design, review and assessment processes, as well as several lessons learned from the first ever deployment of the nonmetallic casing in a water supply well, are the key takeaways from this paper.

Non-metallic pipelines are slowly replacing steel tubulars especially in Oil and Gas industry as part of the mitigation strategy to have "corrosion-free" systems, longer life service and lower total cost of ownership. In this paper, authors attempt to provide a discussion of value proposition, technology status quo and future trends, focusing on system challenges on downhole applications, and proposed way forward to build the lacking ecosystem essential to deploy non-metallic tubular downhole. A brief discussion on current technological advancement of non-metallic pipes is supported with market trends towards higher pressure rating and higher temperature resistance pipes to meet stringent downhole well requirements. System challenges, load cases, testing requirement, financial aspect based on well construction and downhole condition are described in depth, focusing on a viable pathway to implement non-metallic tubulars in different wells throughout the lifecycle phases in different applications from water injection to oil and gas production. This study identified the lacking aspects of a fundamental ecosystem needed to confidently deploy non-metallic pipes downhole. By addressing the R&D work necessary for the industry to focus on, efforts can be guided to fill in the missing gaps to build a fundamental ecosystem in order to replace steel tubulars gradually for desired properties. Depending on application requirement, selected non-metallic pipes are designed with various constraints and practical considerations which eventually needs to be tested and qualified for application in demanding well conditions (e.g. wet high temperature and pressure). Other factors than pipe design play as integral component such as connection design and compatibility with existing casing and tubing accessories requires parallel development. Compatibility of connection, end-fittings, and supporting well accessories including drilling tools, completion packers, tubing and casing hangers requires thorough compatibility assurance. Logging tools, etc. are to be either delicately planned out or even require parallel development to accommodate the alternative pathway in place of traditional practices. Detailed study on how non-metallic tubular react to conventional drilling, completion and intervention activities is fundamental to ensure system integrity throughout the well construction process and well lifetime. Emphasis is placed on gap analysis of downhole infrastructure system and associated challenges to utilize non-metallic tubulars and related compatible components in drilling, completion, logging, intervention, and production conditions, as well as the lack of qualification standards for downhole non-metallic tubulars.