CT punch gas-lift recovery in a highly deviated gas well
Late-life production had reduced formation energy and liquid-carrying capacity, and conventional flowback and foaming measures could not restore stable production after shut-in. ASBR applied CT punch gas lift to establish deep unloading access inside the existing production string without pulling tubing.
Challenge
Declining reservoir pressure, water encroachment, and liquid loading prevented stable restart. The target interval was highly deviated, so the operation had to address reach, gas-source pressure, casing collapse resistance, temperature, offshore well control, and the integrity of the existing completion string.
Tools and process
ASBR conveyed the punch tool by coiled tubing to create annulus-to-tubing gas-lift communication inside the production string. Isolation packers, gas-lift mandrels, running tools, and retrieval tools were used to support staged punching, isolation, valve docking, and pressure verification.
Field execution
The operation followed a staged workflow: drift run, lower packer setting, CT punching, upper gas-lift assembly insertion, hanging and sealing verification, tool release, and repeated deployment for the next gas-lift stage. Key controls included connector pull test, pressure-control equipment test, slow pass through the downhole safety valve, setting pressure, seal verification, and retrieval contingency.
Application result
After the operation, a multistage gas-lift unloading path was established inside the wellbore, supporting deep liquid unloading, restart, and production recovery. The approach avoided pulling the original production tubing and integrated CT conveyance, punching, isolation, valve docking, and pressure verification into a repeatable offshore gas-well recovery workflow.
Review value
This case shows that CT punch gas lift is not only a planning concept. It can be executed in highly deviated wells with deep targets and completion constraints, providing a practical engineering option for water-producing gas wells affected by liquid loading.