Let’s explore five types of frac plugs, along with the pros and cons of each one. And because our plugs are the best in the business, we’ll use Repeat Precision products as our examples.
1. Composite Frac Plugs
Composite plugs are designed to perform under high bottom hole pressure at high temperatures for a temporary seal. They’re often made with frac plug materials that allow for fast, efficient drill-out, like epoxy, glass fibers, thermoplastics, or other metal-free materials. For example, apart from the ceramic buttons, the PurpleSeal™ composite frac plug only contains composite, with no metal anywhere in the plug.
This type of plug tends to have good zonal isolation and flow-through capabilities. Composite plugs are also known for having greater downhole integrity and a lower price point than other types of plugs. You’ll notice more uniform perforations, higher pressure-normalized rates than dissolvable plugs, and a repeatable approach that you can use across multiple stages and wells (within reason).
READ MORE: Frac plug forensics: top takeaways from DarkVision’s latest report
2. StageSaver
The PurpleSeal™ StageSaver is a variation on the traditional composite plug. We added this extra feature to our PurpleSeal™ plugs as a contingency device for unplanned downhole events. Lab-tested and field-proven for consistent performance, the StageSaver is designed to reduce the risk and cost associated with screen-outs in both low- and high-pressure formations.
PurpleSeal™ plugs equipped with the StageSaver still offer a top-tier seal with no run-in-hole speed limits and 25% less water during pump-down, compared to similar plugs. As long as you have fluid rate in the downhole direction, you can easily activate the device, confidently time your acid, perform injection tests before the frac, or even run a mini pressure test after plug setting.
READ MORE: Meet the StageSaver: your misrun insurance policy
3. Bridge Plug
Bridge plugs are a great peace-of-mind option for those situations where you really, really need your plug to be sealed through the ID and against the casing. They tend to drill out slower than standard frac plugs—but it’s hard to beat the seal you get with a bridge plug.
Like most bridge plug options on the market today, the PurpleSeal™ bridge plug provides temporary wellhead isolation from the zones below after a frac. But unlike other bridge plugs, which are typically made with cast iron components, PurpleSeal™ comes in two options: either a cast iron upper slip and powder metal buttons in the lower slip, or an all-composite version with no metal content.
READ MORE: Bridge plug vs frac plug: what’s the difference?
4. Dissolvable Frac Plug
Dissolvable plugs provide short-term zonal isolation in multistage applications. This type of plug isn’t ideal for every wellbore because it’s designed to fail in certain conditions or after a certain amount of time. The main benefit is that there’s a reduced need for plug removal because very little of the plug is left behind.
There are many different types of dissolvable frac plugs, designed with degradable polymers, composites, or metal alloys (like magnesium, aluminum, or iron). We engineered the PurpleReign™ dissolvable frac plug with high-strength materials that ensure precise frac placement—with no plug slippage—and will last as long as you need them to. You’ll still get the same fast, low-risk clean-out as a standard dissolvable plug, but with an extra level of dependability.
READ MORE: Why we changed our minds about dissolvable plugs
5. Hybrid Frac Plug
Hybrid frac plugs are a relatively new type of downhole tool that uses a combination of both composite materials and degradable materials like magnesium. This type of frac plug is designed to partially degrade while still providing good zonal isolation, giving you the best properties of composite and dissolvable plugs.
This type of plug is harder to find since it’s not commonly manufactured. (In fact, it’s the one plug on this list that we don’t make.) As a result, it can be more expensive to purchase. Your best bet is to use a composite plug if you need reliable isolation, or a dissolvable plug if you want a faster drill-out with limited debris. You can also use a mix of composite and dissolvable plugs to address changing downhole conditions in different stages of the frac.
READ MORE: What makes PurpleSeal™ different?
Get all the best frac plug types in one place when you choose Repeat Precision. Contact us today and add the industry’s favorite plugs to your completion.
