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