Baker Hughes introduces the Harpoon Cut-and-Pull Spear technology as featured in the Technology Applications section of JPT’s April issue. The Cut-and-Pull Spear eliminates multiple trips and has added safety features.

1. TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
24 JPT • APRIL 2014
Cut-and-Pull Spear
With many aging wells approaching the
decommissioning stage, operators are
looking for effective options to plug and
abandon (P&A) their wells, particularly
in offshore environments. Baker Hughes
has introduced the Harpoon cut-and-pull
spear, designed for P&A and slot recov-
ery operations (Fig. 5). The spear can be
set and reset several times through sim-
ple mechanical manipulation, allowing
multiple cut-and-pull attempts in a sin-
gle trip for reduced nonproductive time.
This is especially advantageous in situa-
tionswherecementbondandscalebuild-
upareunknown,improvingtheprobabil-
ity of success. The Harpoon is run in with
a cutting assembly and does not require
a stop ring, allowing the robust spear
to engage the casing directly above the
cut, ensuring maximum force is distrib-
uted at the cut point. Specially designed
slips distribute loads evenly across the
entire casing diameter to prevent casing
deformation, and the tool applies ten-
sion during cutting for improved cut-
ting performance. A built-in filter helps
control debris for increased reliability.
The spear’s design also supports loads
in both directions so it can accommodate
the use of fishing jars. For added safe-
ty, the spear features a packoff device to
control the circulation of annular fluids
from the well or in the event that a pres-
surized zone is exposed during the cut-
ting operation. JPT
◗◗ For additional information, visit
www.bakerhughes.com/
wellabandonment.
Chris Carpenter, JPT Technology Editor
Copyright 2014, Society of Petroleum Engineers. Reprinted from the Journal of Petroleum Technology with permission.
Fig. 5—The Harpoon spear from Baker Hughes allows multiple cut-and-pull
attempts in a single trip.