Capabilities Overview

2120
PIPE RECOVERYPIPE RECOVERY
String Shot
Back-Off
The string shot back-off used by our
services team employs a precisely-
calculated quantity of explosive detonating
cord (Primacord®) to produce a shock wave
that will release a target pipe joint.
Before detonation, left-hand torque is
applied to the string at the neutral weight,
with the pipe neither in tension nor in
compression at the point of the shot.
The shock wave causes the target joint
to release. A collar locator can be used to
determine if the pipe was backed off at the
right point, before coming out of the hole.
This tool comprises a firing head, a 6-ft-
long (1.83-m) steel rod—or a 16-ft/4.88 m
rod for deepwater—and a bottom torpedo.
The Primacord is affixed to the rod in the
most suitable configuration and secured in
place with an adhesive wrapping.
Applications
GE’s services specialists use this tool for
backing off target pipe connections and
releasing stuck packers or fishing tools
(e.g., an overshot). It can also be utilized
to remove corrosion from pipe, open
perforations, jump collars—and remove
jet nozzles in drill bits to increase
circulation rate.
Features and benefits
Our string shot back-off service is designed
to not damage the pipe string in which it is
used, and it can run through restrictions as
small as 0.75 in (19 mm).
It also can be run in annulus to back-off
pipe from the outside, positioned at depth
using a CCL or CCL/gamma combination,
and is available in 0.6875–1.625-in (17.5–
41.3-mm) OD.
Split Shot
The coupling split shot deployed by GE’s
services team is a small-diameter vertical
jet cutter that is positioned against the
inside wall of a target pipe collar using
electro-magnets.
The detonation splits the connection
vertically, allowing the pipe string to be
pulled free. Unlike radial jet cutters—which
can flare the pipe at the cut—the split shot
cutter’s vertical cut is designed to allow
pipe to be recovered without additional
drag or damage to the casing. There is little
or no non-drillable debris left in the hole to
impede fishing operations or drilling.
Applications
This service is ideal for splitting target
pipe collars for pipe recovery when string
cannot be rotated.
Features and benefits
The coupling split shot can run through
small restrictions to recover large-OD pipe.
And a single tool size can work in a wide
range of tubular sizes.
Severing Tool
The severing tool used by our services
team combines explosives and multi-
detonating fuses to create a powerful
shock-wave collision that severs the
heaviest tubulars for pipe recovery. It is a
standard component in our offshore pipe
recovery toolboxes.
HT/HP deepwater drill
string recovery
Our BigShot
TM
HT/HP drill string recovery
service is designed to be the fastest
and surest way to sever and recover a
stuck drill string at depths to 30,000 ft,
temperatures to 400°F, and pressures to
30,000 psi. The e-line service deploys a
site-assembled to a position inside the
target drill pipe connection. The length of
the device—up to 12 ft—ensures that it
will deliver sufficient concussive force to
the connection, even with above-normal
seaswells.
Applications
This tool is used to sever collars and
heavyweight drill pipe.
Features and benefits
• Modulardesign:3-ft-longchargetubes
• Noneedtotorquedrillstring
• Notlock-and-swiveldependent
• Seversawiderangeofdrillpipesizes
• ConformstoAPIRP-67s
• RF-safedetonatorratedat400°Ffor
1 hour and 30,000 psi
• D.O.T.andCoastGuardapprovedfor
transportation
• Canbeusedwithoutrunninga
freepoint, to save time
• Canbepartofourstandardoffshore
piperecovery package
• Testedin5-inheavywalland65/8-indrill
pipe
• Deployedbythemostexperienced
deepwater pipe recovery team in the
Gulf of Mexico
Tool specifications
Tool OD
in 2.125 2.8625
mm 53.0 72.7
Max tool length
ft 12 12
m 3.7 3.7
Max temperature
°F 400 400
°C 204.4 204.4
Max pressure
psi 30,000 30,000
MPa 206.8 206.8