Application of Retrievable Bridge Plugs

A bridge plug is a specialist downhole tool designed to isolate wellbore at a chosen depth. When set, bridge plugs prevent fluids from a lower zone reaching an upper zone or the surface. Once in place, the upper zone can still undergo workovers such as surface equipment maintenance, well cleanup, stimulation or temporary abandonment of the lower zone.  

Retrievable bridge plugs (RBPs) include mechanisms to release and retract the plug for retrieval from the wellbore after work is carried out. RBPs are usually composed of slips anchoring the plug to the casing, a main inner mandrel, outer housings and a sealing element. 

Many situations in the mining, oil and gas, and geothermal industries require a wellbore to be sealed off from the surface after drilling is complete. Some of these applications include well testing, zone isolation, or temporarily shutting in of a well for completion servicing.  Retrievable bridge plugs are ideal for any of the downhole tasks where a secure, retrievable pressure barrier between different parts of a well is paramount. 

Once set in place, a bridge plug enables operations on a distinct part of the well to be carried out without affecting the other. 

These versatile workhorses can eliminate the need for multiple trips, making them a cost-saving deployment option. 

Zone Isolation 

One application of retrievable bridge plugs is for zone isolation. Say, for example, you want to convert a gas injector well into a producer well. To facilitate the operation, a retrievable bridge plug can isolate the zone, create a gas-tight seal (even in a HPHT environment) to carry out the proper tubing cut. Using rig-less intervention with a retrievable bridge plug can save several rig days, mitigate risk, and reduce workover costs.  

Temporarily Shutting in of a Well for Equipment Repair 

Retrievable bridge plugs can also be used to temporarily shut off a well for equipment repair. Imagine this scenario: you notice a pressure integrity failure while producing, and you determine the pressure loss is due to a leak in the production casing between the upper completion packer and the casing hanger.  A retrievable bridge plug can be deployed to isolate the reservoir. Once isolated, the upper completion packer and tailpipe (left in situ) can be cut and retrieved. The production casing integrity can be restored. Additionally, a new downsized completion string can be run. Then, once the necessary equipment repair is completed, the retrievable bridge plug can easily be unset to allow production to recommence. By using a retrievable bridge plug, a well is only temporarily shut down saving several days of rig time. 

• Retrievable bridge plugs are also an ideal solution in these situations: 
• Wellhead repair, maintenance, and replacement 
• Zonal isolation, water shut off, or treatment 
• Temporary abandonment operations 
• Temporary suspension 
• Pre-installation in completion tailpipe for packer setting 
• Contingency packer setting
• Testing of production tubing 
• Plugging of completions with damaged nipple profiles 
• Hanging of completing accessories within tubing string 
• Thru-Tubing completion 
• Formation fracturing, acidizing, and testing 

Vigor's Retrievable Bridge Plugs represent our latest innovation in the oil and gas industry, designed to enhance operational efficiency and reliability. Prior to their official launch, our skilled technical engineers undertook a series of rigorous laboratory and field tests to ensure that every aspect of the product met or exceeded the demanding standards required for real-world applications. These extensive evaluations confirmed that our Retrievable Bridge Plugs can effectively withstand the pressures and conditions encountered in the field.

We are committed to delivering high-quality solutions tailored to our customers' needs. If you're interested in our bridge plug series or other downhole drilling tools, or if you have specific requirements for new product development, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Vigor's dedicated team is eager to provide you with exceptional support and the best solutions for your projects. Your success is our priority!

For more information, you can write to our mailbox info@vigorpetroleum.com & marketing@vigordrilling.com