Technology | Major Applications | Advantages Disadvantages |
Bridge Plug | Shut-off all flow inside casing from below plug | Inexpensive High failure rate with poor casing condition Can’t repair channel behind pipe |
Through Tubing Bridge Plug | Shut-off all flow inside casing from below plug | Inexpensive High failure rate with poor casing condition Can’t repair channel behind pipe Not applicable in large casing/tubing ID ratio |
Through tubing Bridge Plug with Cement Cap | Shut-off all flow inside casing from below plug | Inexpensive High rate of success in gas wells High failure rate with poor casing condition Can’t repair channel behind pipe Moderate rate of success in oil wells |
Sand Plug with Cap | Shut-off all flow inside casing from below plug | Inexpensive Flexible design for easy removal (Cap of gel or particulates) or long life (Cement cap) Lose sand to voids behind pipe Can’t repair channel behind pipe |
Cement Plug | Shut-off all flow inside casing from below plug | Provide semi-permanent plug Repairs some behind pipe channels Expensive to remove—Drill out |
Cement Squeeze | Plugs all exposed perforations without restricting casing ID | Casing open for recompletion Mechanically strong to P Expensive due to rig operation or to complex and riskfulrigless operation Low rate of success in plugging all the perforations Fails if casing has large voids behind pipe |
Straddle Packer | Seal selection of blank pipe across selected intervals | With good casing, has higher success than cement squeeze Mechanically strong long life Expensive due to rig operation Reduced ID in respect of casing ID |
Metal Casing Patch | Place expandable metal tube covered by resin | Repairs damaged casing or isolates casing Quite good track record Expensive due to rig operation |
Flexible Casing Patch | Place expandable tube of thermoset resin that cures after placement | Runs through tubing on electric wireline Repairs damaged casing or tubing with minimal reduction of diameter New-Little history of success rate or lifetime |