Welltec | DRAFT - JARG2311901 - Clean-out and conveyance for on-schedule frac operations

Well type

Gas producer

Max. downhole temperature

100°C / 212°F

Max. downhole pressure

4,500 psi / 310 bar

Background

During the pre-frac stage of a horizontal producer in the Vaca Muerta formation, Neuquén, Argentina, the operator encountered difficulties in sliding open the toe sleeve, believed to be the result of a poor cementing job.

The well featured a lateral length of more than 3,250 meters (10,663 ft), a maximum depth of 6,842 meters (22,448 ft), bottom hole pressure of 4,550 psi, and a maximum temperature of 110°C. These conditions, combined with suspected obstruction in the 4.5” casing, prevented the operator from reaching the minimum pump rate required to execute the pump down operation and complete stage one of the frac program.

Given Welltec’s extensive track record of clean-out and conveyance runs in Argentina since 2017, the operator sought out a fast, efficient, reliable solution.

Operation

Welltec mobilized a Well Tractor® 318 and Well Miller® Reverse Circulating Bit (RCB) 318 to location.

A tractor conveyance feasibility analysis, performed in advance, concluded that at least one clean-out run would be required before any attempt at gun conveyance.
Equipment was deployed following surface checks on both the test cable and wireline.
The bottomhole assembly comprised a three-wheel section tractor combined with the Well Miller RCB equipped with three integrated bailer sections (where debris is captured and recovered to the surface).

Two runs were executed:

Cleanout run – Successfully cleared the obstruction and established passage to 6,745 m (22,129 ft).
Gun conveyance run – Reached 6,737 m (22,103 ft), enabling precise placement of guns and preparation of the well for frac stage one.

Conveyed via Well Tractor®, the Well Miller RCB efficiently removed debris – ensuring controlled and reliable intervention.

Achievements

The intervention demonstrated the efficiency and reliability of Welltec’s cleanout and conveyance technologies in Argentina’s challenging Vaca Muerta formation, enabling the operator to overcome initial obstacles and keep the frac program on schedule. By combining the Well Tractor® 318 and Well Miller® RCB 318, Welltec delivered a fast, safe, and effective solution for complex cleanout and conveyance operations.

Time efficiency – Completed in less than two days, reducing operational time by ~50% compared to conventional alternatives such as coiled tubing.
Operational continuity – Ensured the well was prepared prior to the arrival of the frac crew, avoiding costly deviations to the overall program.
Reduced surface footprint – Required significantly less surface equipment than traditional methods, simplifying logistics and lowering operational complexity.
Fast response – Immediate tool availability and rapid mobilization supported the operator’s need for a quick contingency solution.
Proven capability – Confirmed Welltec’s position as the operator’s preferred first-choice provider for critical pre-frac interventions.

Products applied

Well Tractor®

The original tractor with 30 years of experience

Similar cases

See all