A New Method for the Relief of Annular Heat-Up Pressures

Abstract

ABSTRACT Annulus fluid heat-up during production often causes high burst/collapse stresses, particularly in subsea wells where the annuli may be sealed. Various means have been tried to overcome the problem, but all suffer from problems of either high cost, potential unreliability or operational restrictions. This paper describes a new method for annular pressure relief, using a crushable foam wrap enclosing the top few joints of the inner string of the sealed annulus. The method is cheap, practical and effective in all cases.