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mxjmMSET shop review with Blaine

AWARDED Wed, Apr 22

Details

In-person walkthrough of the AS1X packer hardware Blaine sourced for the MSET development. Confirmed 2026-04-21 by Lev that Blaine would arrive at 11:00 AM with the packers.

  • 11:00 AM at the Kobold shop
  • Blaine bringing 4 AS1X packers (2 × 4-1/2", 2 × 5-1/2")
  • On/Off and EQ valve NOT included; Silver Fox Completion Services sells them
  • Walkthrough on how to run the AS1X tool strings
  • (from 2026-04-16 Kobold - MSET Meeting)

Who's involved

Blaine Best Jeff Kennedy Shane D'Arcy Lev Zakharov Kobold Silver Fox Completion Services

Current state

  • Date: 2026-04-22, 11:00 AM
  • Status: awarded
  • Confidence: confirmed in writing the day before; took place as scheduled.

Sources (2)

meeting 2026-04-16 Kobold - MSET Meeting § Date history 2026-04-16 CURRENT
Claims date: 2026-04-22
Said by: Jeff Kennedy, Lev Zakharov, Shane D'Arcy, Mark Andreychuk, Paul Vos, Ranald Hollan
Quoted passage
  • 2026-04-17: Lev reached out to Blaine Best (per action item). Blaine confirmed he has 4 AS1X tool strings — 2 × 4-1/2", 2 × 5-1/2". On/Off and EQ valve are NOT included. Blaine confirmed Silver Fox Completion Services sells them. Blaine is available next week, can bring them and walk through how to run.
  • 2026-04-17: Jeff and Shane set up a meeting for Wed 2026-04-22 at 11:00 AM in the shop with Blaine to review.
  • 2026-04-21: Lev confirmed Blaine will be in the shop at 11:00 AM with the packers (2026-04-22).
  • 2026-04-17: Mark Andreychuk replied to praise Jeff's project management approach for the engineering team, and disclosed (confidential) that Kobold's biggest client recently advised them they will be reducing engagement from 2 years to 1 year — context indicates this relates to Tundra and the tracer product/service. Mark called for PM elevation on the Tracers offering with Tundra and asked Jeff to share the project management document currently in process for the North Sea. See 2026-04-17 Kobold - Tundra Engagement Reduction & PM Initiative for the strategic implications.
Per the event note: 2026-04-17 — Jeff and Shane scheduled the meeting for Wed 2026-04-22 at 11:00 AM in the shop
Show full meeting

2026-04-16 Kobold - MSET Meeting

Internal Kobold meeting on functional requirements, COTS, and custom/semi-custom options for the MSET — a multi-set retrievable bridge plug to be integrated with Kobold's frac BHA for Tundra Oil & Gas swabbing operations. Doc ref: KC-MSET-2026-001.

The objective is to enable Kobold to complete swabbing programs for Tundra in a single run without handing off to Steelhaus (formerly Eclipse) when sleeves leak — saving significant rig time, mob costs, and trip count.

Attendees

  • Jeff Kennedy (VP Engineering, Kobold)
  • Lev Zakharov (Operations, Kobold)
  • Shane D'Arcy (Engineering, Kobold)
  • Cole (Engineering, Kobold) — first-name reference only
  • Ryan (Sales, Kobold) — first-name reference only
  • Mark Andreychuk (Kobold, CC on email distribution)
  • Paul Vos (Kobold, CC on email distribution)
  • Ranald Hollan (Kobold, CC on email distribution)

Tools / Products

  • MSET — primary subject
  • G5X — existing Kobold compression-set packer that the MSET would pair with on the BHA
  • AS1-X mechanical set packer (Silver Fox / vendor-supplied) — leading candidate platform

Current Swabbing Workflow — Kobold for Tundra

  1. RIH with frac BHA, clean wellbore, recover sand/debris.
  2. Close all CT-shiftable sleeves on the way out.
  3. Confirm sleeve integrity via full-well pressure test.
  4. Selectively open target sleeves for the first swabbing interval (e.g., sleeves 3, 4, 5).
  5. Set G5X flow-through tool ~5–10 m above the uppermost open sleeve.
  6. Swab interval ~1 day; OSR submits swab report to client (Perkins or equivalent).
  7. Overnight, client reviews data and issues next swabbing program.
  8. Close evaluated sleeves, pressure test, open next interval, reposition G5X, repeat.

Purpose of swabbing: determine oil-to-water ratios per zone so Tundra can decide which sleeves to leave open for production. This works only if every sleeve seals — if all sleeves hold pressure, Kobold can complete the full program with a single packer set above the zone.

The Leaking Sleeve Problem

Sleeve seal degradation on Tundra wells is well-known and expected:

  • Dragging seals across debris and port edges shaves O-rings. Last O-ring crossing the 1" port gets sheared each shift cycle — a 1" piece with a perfect dovetail imprint has been recovered on the BHA.
  • 4 O-rings on the upper section of a sleeve = effectively only 3 reliable open/close cycles before integrity is lost.
  • Corrosion of the seal bore and seal degradation after 5–6 months on production compounds the problem.

Once a leaking sleeve is identified (even minor — e.g., 5 MPa dropping to 3 MPa over 5 minutes), Tundra will not proceed with Kobold swabbing. The job is cancelled and Steelhaus is called in. This happens on roughly 90% of Tundra swabbing programs.

Eclipse / Steelhaus Method (current fallback)

Before Steelhaus arrives, Kobold runs back in and opens all sleeves so Steelhaus can access any zone. Steelhaus procedure:

  1. RIH with bridge plug, set below zone of interest (e.g., between sleeves 2 and 3).
  2. Disconnect from bridge plug.
  3. Pull up above zone, set tension-set packer (J-mechanism, always held in tension).
  4. Pressure test between two packers at ~725–1000 PSI (5–7 MPa). Tundra is very conservative on pressure to avoid casing damage.
  5. Move top packer above zone of interest, begin swabbing.
  6. To change intervals: unset top packer, fishnet flush debris, latch onto bridge plug, retrieve, reposition, repeat.

Advantages: tension-set packer keeps tubing straight (less wear on swab cups, can swab deeper); straddle isolates zone regardless of leaking sleeves.

Disadvantages: Steelhaus cannot manipulate Kobold's CT-shiftable sleeves. If Tundra wants to change open sleeves, Steelhaus POOH → Kobold runs in to shift sleeves → Steelhaus runs back in. Multiple trips, significant time and cost.

MSET Value Proposition

With a retrievable, multi-set bridge plug integrated onto the bottom of the frac BHA, the single-run workflow becomes:

  1. RIH with frac BHA (including MSET bridge plug), clean wellbore, close/open sleeves as needed.
  2. Set bridge plug below zone of interest.
  3. Disconnect from bridge plug via overshot.
  4. Move uphole, set G5X compression packer above zone.
  5. Pressure test between bridge plug and G5X.
  6. Swab interval.
  7. To change intervals: unset G5X, latch onto bridge plug, retrieve, reposition, repeat — while still being able to open/close sleeves as directed.

This eliminates Steelhaus on most jobs, keeps Kobold's sleeve manipulation capability in play throughout, and saves significant client rig time and mob costs.

Key Technical Discussion Points

Compression vs. Tension Set Packer

Tundra's preference is tension (tubing straight, less swab-cup wear, deeper swabbing), but compression is acceptable and has never been a deal-breaker. The G5X is compression-set because the BHA must shift sleeves — a tension-set upper packer would preclude this. Cole flagged that compression limits the number of intervals swabbable at once (fixed pipe length below packer); if the client changes the program mid-job, a trip to surface may be needed. Group concluded the trade-off is acceptable given the value of retaining sleeve manipulation.

Equalizing / Indexing Valve Requirement

Ryan raised the concept of an equalizing indexing valve in the bridge plug gudgeon (similar to Silver Fox), purpose being to equalize differential pressure across the bridge plug before unsetting. Discussion:

  • Differential pressure across the bridge plug in a lateral is expected to be low (formation pressure, not wellhead).
  • The bridge plug must hold pressure from both directions (proper, solid bridge plug).
  • May be possible to latch on with overshot, rotate right, stroke apart without an EQ valve.
  • Action: revisit with a sketch showing expected pressures and loading across the bridge plug in a typical Tundra lateral.

Multi-Set Requirement

Single-shot bridge plugs (hydraulic set with shear release) will not work — bridge plug must be set, retrieved, and reset at multiple locations within the same run, potentially 5–10+ times per job. The AS1-X style mechanical set packer (quarter-turn J-slot) is the leading candidate because it is inherently multi-set and field-proven.

Overshot / Slip Joint Mechanism

Overshot stinger connects the BHA to the bridge plug. Considerations:

  • Must reliably latch and unlatch in a debris-laden wellbore.
  • Lev noted these tools are very debris-sensitive and can be difficult to unset.
  • J-slot needs rotation (quarter-turn right to set, left to release for the overshot). Concern raised about transmitting rotation through the full work string — Lev confirmed the quarter-turn forces itself through the string (only a few hundred pounds needed).
  • Shear pins protect against accidental release during RIH; once sheared, the overshot relies on J-slot profile to retain the plug. Need to confirm accidental tagging/jarring will not release the plug prematurely.

Tundra Well Conditions

Lev provided context on Tundra drilling practices:

  • Very undulating well paths — bouncing off the top and bottom of a ~2 m pay zone based on geological samples rather than MWD data.
  • Wells are shallow but extremely tortuous, requiring maximum BHA flexibility.
  • Casing landings are difficult — Trinidad rigs were modified with hydraulic winches tied to the top drive to force casing to bottom.
  • Ian Fisher (recently hired Kobold, former Tundra driller with ~200 wells of experience) is a valuable source of operational intelligence on Tundra well profiles.

Existing COTS Options Reviewed

COTS bridge plug and packer options reviewed (primarily from Silver Fox Completion Services):

  • AS1-X Mechanical Set Packer — double-grip, quarter-turn J-slot, compression or tension set, holds pressure from above and below, 10K or 7K ratings, large internal bypass, field-proven. Leading candidate for MSET bridge plug.
  • Overshot Stinger (T2) — guides onto gudgeon fish-neck, seals, and latches via J-mechanism. Integral to retrieval system.
  • Equalizing Check Valve — standing valve allowing flow from below while blocking from above. May or may not be required (see EQ valve discussion above).

Blaine Best (Tundra consultant, former Kobold employee) reportedly has two full straddle strings in his garage that may be available for inspection or purchase. Would provide a physical reference for the exact Eclipse/Steelhaus setup.

Action Items

  • Lev Zakharov: reach out to Blaine Best to request access to one of his straddle strings for inspection/purchase, and gather his operational insights on the Eclipse/Steelhaus setup
  • Jeff Kennedy: set up call with Chris Perkins (Tundra) on MSET development — get Tundra's input on design requirements, identify anything sub-optimal with current retrievable packers in Tundra ops; include Shane D'Arcy and Lev Zakharov
  • Group: review COTS AS1-X options from Alberta-based vendors (see vendor list below) and evaluate compatibility with the G5X BHA
  • Group: research hydraulic-set retrievable packer options as alternative to mechanical J-slot — evaluate debris tolerance and operational ease
  • Group: revisit the equalizing valve requirement with a sketch showing expected pressures and loading across the bridge plug in a typical Tundra lateral; determine whether equalization is needed
  • Group: evaluate the overshot/slip joint mechanism in detail — confirm accidental tagging/jarring during RIH will not release the bridge plug prematurely; consider sourcing a sample unit for bench testing

Source Materials

Email Thread Follow-ups (2026-04-17 to 2026-04-21)

  • 2026-04-17: Lev reached out to Blaine Best (per action item). Blaine confirmed he has 4 AS1X tool strings — 2 × 4-1/2", 2 × 5-1/2". On/Off and EQ valve are NOT included. Blaine confirmed Silver Fox Completion Services sells them. Blaine is available next week, can bring them and walk through how to run.
  • 2026-04-17: Jeff and Shane set up a meeting for Wed 2026-04-22 at 11:00 AM in the shop with Blaine to review.
  • 2026-04-21: Lev confirmed Blaine will be in the shop at 11:00 AM with the packers (2026-04-22).
  • 2026-04-17: Mark Andreychuk replied to praise Jeff's project management approach for the engineering team, and disclosed (confidential) that Kobold's biggest client recently advised them they will be reducing engagement from 2 years to 1 year — context indicates this relates to Tundra and the tracer product/service. Mark called for PM elevation on the Tracers offering with Tundra and asked Jeff to share the project management document currently in process for the North Sea. See 2026-04-17 Kobold - Tundra Engagement Reduction & PM Initiative for the strategic implications.
meeting 2026-04-16 Kobold - MSET Meeting § Date history 2026-04-16
Said by: Jeff Kennedy, Lev Zakharov, Shane D'Arcy, Mark Andreychuk, Paul Vos, Ranald Hollan
2026-04-21 — Lev confirmed Blaine attending with the packers
Show full meeting

2026-04-16 Kobold - MSET Meeting

Internal Kobold meeting on functional requirements, COTS, and custom/semi-custom options for the MSET — a multi-set retrievable bridge plug to be integrated with Kobold's frac BHA for Tundra Oil & Gas swabbing operations. Doc ref: KC-MSET-2026-001.

The objective is to enable Kobold to complete swabbing programs for Tundra in a single run without handing off to Steelhaus (formerly Eclipse) when sleeves leak — saving significant rig time, mob costs, and trip count.

Attendees

  • Jeff Kennedy (VP Engineering, Kobold)
  • Lev Zakharov (Operations, Kobold)
  • Shane D'Arcy (Engineering, Kobold)
  • Cole (Engineering, Kobold) — first-name reference only
  • Ryan (Sales, Kobold) — first-name reference only
  • Mark Andreychuk (Kobold, CC on email distribution)
  • Paul Vos (Kobold, CC on email distribution)
  • Ranald Hollan (Kobold, CC on email distribution)

Tools / Products

  • MSET — primary subject
  • G5X — existing Kobold compression-set packer that the MSET would pair with on the BHA
  • AS1-X mechanical set packer (Silver Fox / vendor-supplied) — leading candidate platform

Current Swabbing Workflow — Kobold for Tundra

  1. RIH with frac BHA, clean wellbore, recover sand/debris.
  2. Close all CT-shiftable sleeves on the way out.
  3. Confirm sleeve integrity via full-well pressure test.
  4. Selectively open target sleeves for the first swabbing interval (e.g., sleeves 3, 4, 5).
  5. Set G5X flow-through tool ~5–10 m above the uppermost open sleeve.
  6. Swab interval ~1 day; OSR submits swab report to client (Perkins or equivalent).
  7. Overnight, client reviews data and issues next swabbing program.
  8. Close evaluated sleeves, pressure test, open next interval, reposition G5X, repeat.

Purpose of swabbing: determine oil-to-water ratios per zone so Tundra can decide which sleeves to leave open for production. This works only if every sleeve seals — if all sleeves hold pressure, Kobold can complete the full program with a single packer set above the zone.

The Leaking Sleeve Problem

Sleeve seal degradation on Tundra wells is well-known and expected:

  • Dragging seals across debris and port edges shaves O-rings. Last O-ring crossing the 1" port gets sheared each shift cycle — a 1" piece with a perfect dovetail imprint has been recovered on the BHA.
  • 4 O-rings on the upper section of a sleeve = effectively only 3 reliable open/close cycles before integrity is lost.
  • Corrosion of the seal bore and seal degradation after 5–6 months on production compounds the problem.

Once a leaking sleeve is identified (even minor — e.g., 5 MPa dropping to 3 MPa over 5 minutes), Tundra will not proceed with Kobold swabbing. The job is cancelled and Steelhaus is called in. This happens on roughly 90% of Tundra swabbing programs.

Eclipse / Steelhaus Method (current fallback)

Before Steelhaus arrives, Kobold runs back in and opens all sleeves so Steelhaus can access any zone. Steelhaus procedure:

  1. RIH with bridge plug, set below zone of interest (e.g., between sleeves 2 and 3).
  2. Disconnect from bridge plug.
  3. Pull up above zone, set tension-set packer (J-mechanism, always held in tension).
  4. Pressure test between two packers at ~725–1000 PSI (5–7 MPa). Tundra is very conservative on pressure to avoid casing damage.
  5. Move top packer above zone of interest, begin swabbing.
  6. To change intervals: unset top packer, fishnet flush debris, latch onto bridge plug, retrieve, reposition, repeat.

Advantages: tension-set packer keeps tubing straight (less wear on swab cups, can swab deeper); straddle isolates zone regardless of leaking sleeves.

Disadvantages: Steelhaus cannot manipulate Kobold's CT-shiftable sleeves. If Tundra wants to change open sleeves, Steelhaus POOH → Kobold runs in to shift sleeves → Steelhaus runs back in. Multiple trips, significant time and cost.

MSET Value Proposition

With a retrievable, multi-set bridge plug integrated onto the bottom of the frac BHA, the single-run workflow becomes:

  1. RIH with frac BHA (including MSET bridge plug), clean wellbore, close/open sleeves as needed.
  2. Set bridge plug below zone of interest.
  3. Disconnect from bridge plug via overshot.
  4. Move uphole, set G5X compression packer above zone.
  5. Pressure test between bridge plug and G5X.
  6. Swab interval.
  7. To change intervals: unset G5X, latch onto bridge plug, retrieve, reposition, repeat — while still being able to open/close sleeves as directed.

This eliminates Steelhaus on most jobs, keeps Kobold's sleeve manipulation capability in play throughout, and saves significant client rig time and mob costs.

Key Technical Discussion Points

Compression vs. Tension Set Packer

Tundra's preference is tension (tubing straight, less swab-cup wear, deeper swabbing), but compression is acceptable and has never been a deal-breaker. The G5X is compression-set because the BHA must shift sleeves — a tension-set upper packer would preclude this. Cole flagged that compression limits the number of intervals swabbable at once (fixed pipe length below packer); if the client changes the program mid-job, a trip to surface may be needed. Group concluded the trade-off is acceptable given the value of retaining sleeve manipulation.

Equalizing / Indexing Valve Requirement

Ryan raised the concept of an equalizing indexing valve in the bridge plug gudgeon (similar to Silver Fox), purpose being to equalize differential pressure across the bridge plug before unsetting. Discussion:

  • Differential pressure across the bridge plug in a lateral is expected to be low (formation pressure, not wellhead).
  • The bridge plug must hold pressure from both directions (proper, solid bridge plug).
  • May be possible to latch on with overshot, rotate right, stroke apart without an EQ valve.
  • Action: revisit with a sketch showing expected pressures and loading across the bridge plug in a typical Tundra lateral.

Multi-Set Requirement

Single-shot bridge plugs (hydraulic set with shear release) will not work — bridge plug must be set, retrieved, and reset at multiple locations within the same run, potentially 5–10+ times per job. The AS1-X style mechanical set packer (quarter-turn J-slot) is the leading candidate because it is inherently multi-set and field-proven.

Overshot / Slip Joint Mechanism

Overshot stinger connects the BHA to the bridge plug. Considerations:

  • Must reliably latch and unlatch in a debris-laden wellbore.
  • Lev noted these tools are very debris-sensitive and can be difficult to unset.
  • J-slot needs rotation (quarter-turn right to set, left to release for the overshot). Concern raised about transmitting rotation through the full work string — Lev confirmed the quarter-turn forces itself through the string (only a few hundred pounds needed).
  • Shear pins protect against accidental release during RIH; once sheared, the overshot relies on J-slot profile to retain the plug. Need to confirm accidental tagging/jarring will not release the plug prematurely.

Tundra Well Conditions

Lev provided context on Tundra drilling practices:

  • Very undulating well paths — bouncing off the top and bottom of a ~2 m pay zone based on geological samples rather than MWD data.
  • Wells are shallow but extremely tortuous, requiring maximum BHA flexibility.
  • Casing landings are difficult — Trinidad rigs were modified with hydraulic winches tied to the top drive to force casing to bottom.
  • Ian Fisher (recently hired Kobold, former Tundra driller with ~200 wells of experience) is a valuable source of operational intelligence on Tundra well profiles.

Existing COTS Options Reviewed

COTS bridge plug and packer options reviewed (primarily from Silver Fox Completion Services):

  • AS1-X Mechanical Set Packer — double-grip, quarter-turn J-slot, compression or tension set, holds pressure from above and below, 10K or 7K ratings, large internal bypass, field-proven. Leading candidate for MSET bridge plug.
  • Overshot Stinger (T2) — guides onto gudgeon fish-neck, seals, and latches via J-mechanism. Integral to retrieval system.
  • Equalizing Check Valve — standing valve allowing flow from below while blocking from above. May or may not be required (see EQ valve discussion above).

Blaine Best (Tundra consultant, former Kobold employee) reportedly has two full straddle strings in his garage that may be available for inspection or purchase. Would provide a physical reference for the exact Eclipse/Steelhaus setup.

Action Items

  • Lev Zakharov: reach out to Blaine Best to request access to one of his straddle strings for inspection/purchase, and gather his operational insights on the Eclipse/Steelhaus setup
  • Jeff Kennedy: set up call with Chris Perkins (Tundra) on MSET development — get Tundra's input on design requirements, identify anything sub-optimal with current retrievable packers in Tundra ops; include Shane D'Arcy and Lev Zakharov
  • Group: review COTS AS1-X options from Alberta-based vendors (see vendor list below) and evaluate compatibility with the G5X BHA
  • Group: research hydraulic-set retrievable packer options as alternative to mechanical J-slot — evaluate debris tolerance and operational ease
  • Group: revisit the equalizing valve requirement with a sketch showing expected pressures and loading across the bridge plug in a typical Tundra lateral; determine whether equalization is needed
  • Group: evaluate the overshot/slip joint mechanism in detail — confirm accidental tagging/jarring during RIH will not release the bridge plug prematurely; consider sourcing a sample unit for bench testing

Source Materials

Email Thread Follow-ups (2026-04-17 to 2026-04-21)

  • 2026-04-17: Lev reached out to Blaine Best (per action item). Blaine confirmed he has 4 AS1X tool strings — 2 × 4-1/2", 2 × 5-1/2". On/Off and EQ valve are NOT included. Blaine confirmed Silver Fox Completion Services sells them. Blaine is available next week, can bring them and walk through how to run.
  • 2026-04-17: Jeff and Shane set up a meeting for Wed 2026-04-22 at 11:00 AM in the shop with Blaine to review.
  • 2026-04-21: Lev confirmed Blaine will be in the shop at 11:00 AM with the packers (2026-04-22).
  • 2026-04-17: Mark Andreychuk replied to praise Jeff's project management approach for the engineering team, and disclosed (confidential) that Kobold's biggest client recently advised them they will be reducing engagement from 2 years to 1 year — context indicates this relates to Tundra and the tracer product/service. Mark called for PM elevation on the Tracers offering with Tundra and asked Jeff to share the project management document currently in process for the North Sea. See 2026-04-17 Kobold - Tundra Engagement Reduction & PM Initiative for the strategic implications.