STIMULATION

BackStopSM Service
New Slurry Squeeze System Designed Primarily for Water Shutoff
Does Not Require Zonal Isolation or Drillout

BackStop service helps control unwanted

water production by placing a highly
effective water control agent only a
short distance into the formation around
perforation tunnels. The new BackStop
system offers several advantages:

Production
Casing

Production
Casing

Borehole

Production
Tubing

Cement
Borehole
Gelled Filtrate

Hydrocarbon
Producing
Perfs

No need for zonal isolation as with

standard sealant operations - slurry is
bullheaded into all open perforations.
With BackStop service the entire
wellbore in the selected interval can be
filled with the slurry and squeezed.

Water
Producing
Perfs

Cement

Shallow penetration of the filtrate

allows for reperforation in the
hydrocarbon zone

Production
Casing

Unlike cement, BackStop slurry left in

the hole does not have to be drilled out
but can be easily jetted out with coiled
tubing.

Coiled
Tubing

Gun

Gelled
Filtrate

Gelled
Filtrate

Cement

Cement

Borehole

Reperforation is an option.
Bottom hole temperature of 70 to
350 F (21 to 177 C).

The BackStop service process. (1) Some perforations produce hydrocarbon and some produce
water. (2) BackStop agent is bullheaded across all perforations. (3) After setting up, excess
BackStop agent in the wellbore is washed out. (4) New perforations are created in nonwater-producing zones.

H2Zero Service Technology is the Key

BackStop service is based on a slurry formed by combining
Halliburtons proven H2Zero agent and fluid loss control
additives. H2Zero service uses a revolutionary polymer
system to provide unprecedented capabilities for controlling
unwanted water production. Operators have found that the
organically crosslinked H2Zero system is simply one of the
most cost-effective polymer sealant systems available.
When pumped and squeezed, the fluid loss particles in the
BackStop system will create a diverting filter cake resulting

in a uniform and shallow placement of the H2Zero polymer.

Penetration into the formation is typically less than 3 in.
During the process, the H2Zero polymer used as make-up
water for the slurry will be squeezed into the formation
creating a shallow matrix water shut off after it has set.
Selective perforation of the hydrocarbon zones can
re-establish the oil production. Additionally, the shut-off
zones can be reopened later in the life of the well when
artificial lift has been installed.

HALLIBURTON

HAL24782

Borehole

Candidate Wells
BackStop service is applicable to any well
with these conditions:
Zonal isolation of the offending
water/gas zone is not feasible.

Production
Casing

BackStop Service Compared to

Cement Squeeze Treatments
Although similar to cement squeezes, BackStop service
provides several advantages:
No drill out required
Filtrate forms seal several inches radially around the
exposed wellbore
On the other hand, cement presents the following
disadvantages:
Drill out required
Cement cannot penetrate formation or micro-fissures
Micro-annulus can form
Unlike cement squeezes, with BackStop service the filtrate is
the key to treatment success. Following placement of the
slurry, pressure is slowly applied by pumping an appropriate
displacement fluid (water, brine, etc.) until a volume
corresponding to 1-3 in. penetration of the interval has
been pumped.

Case History
Operators Challenge
In the Middle East, a dual completion well began to
produce excessive water. After 11 years production, the
water cut in the lower zone increased to 96%. A
production logging tool (PLT) survey showed the two
middle perforated sections in the zone produced most of
the water and that water cross flow between these two

sections occurred when the well was closed in. Isolating

the watered-out section in the top of the lower zone with
mechanical means was not possible because of the dual
completion installed in the well. Also, a workover to
install a cemented completion inside the existing
perforated liner was not possible because of the existing
4-1/2-in.-liner. The problem interval in the well was 610 ft
(186 m) long with a bottomhole temperature of
298 F (148 C).

Halliburtons Solution
Halliburton implemented BackStop service to achieve a
shallow penetration of H2Zero agent in the perforation
tunnels. After the BackStop slurry was bullheaded into
the wellbore, the well was shut in to allow the slurry to
set up. The set-up BackStop agent was then easily jetted
out of the wellbore with coiled tubing.

Results
Following the treatment, a PLT survey indicated clearly
that the squeezed zone was not contributing to the water
production. The zone was reperforated and production
resumed, virtually water free.

Other Applications
BackStop service should be considered as an alternative
to many other standard cement squeeze operations in
addition to shutting off unwanted water, such as repairing
casing leaks and sealing off thief zones, lost-circulation
zones or near wellbore channels.

For more information about how BackStopSM service can help control your water production
problems, contact your local Halliburton representative or email stimulation@halliburton.com.

www.halliburton.com
H04796 10/08
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