03 Completions

1

Completions

2

Completions• What is a Completion?“Preparing the drilled wellbore to

produce hydrocarbon reliably and at optimum rates.”

• Topics:– Selection Criteria for Completion Styles– Completion Equipment– Potential problems

2

3

Introduction

• Why do we install completions?• Isolation•Formation control

• How does a well flow?•Natural Pressure•Artificial Lift

• How does the completion effect well design?•Casing sizes•Wellbore placement

4

Completion Options

No inflow/outflow control; Some loss of productivity likely; Liner may collapse due to slotting/holes; Limited logging data; Unlikely that completion can be changed; Complete P&A unlikely

Cost is still low; Allows better access to wellboreby controlling collapsed formation

Less stable lithologies exposed such as sloughing shales or unconsolidated sands

Uncementedliner (Slotted or pre-perforated)

Minimal inflow/outflow control; P&A may be more difficult; More difficult stimulations.

Lower initial cost; Max. reservoir exposure; Simple; Potentially least reservoir damage; Able to change/extend hole

Stable lithologiessuch as carbonates

Open Hole

Disadvantages AdvantagesApplicationsCompletion Style

3

5

Completion Options

Minimal inflow/outflow control; High cost; P&A likely to be difficult

Consistent access to wellbore; Control of sand production while maintaining high permeability flow path

Less stable lithologyexposed such as sloughing shales or unconsolidated sands

Open Hole Gravel Pack or FracPack

Unstable & permeable formations may make poor ECP seats / poor isolation; Some productivity loss likely; Completion cannot be changed; Complete P&A difficult

Cost is higher depending on number of ECPs;Improved inflow/outflow control w/sliding sleeves;Allows better access to wellbore by controlling collapsed formation

Less stable lithologyexposed such as sloughing shales or unconsolidated sands

Liner with ECPsand some blank pipe


6

Completion Options

Very high cost; possible reliability issues

Maximum flexibility; cheapest (often rigless) intervention

Good inflow/outflow control and monitoring required, including remote control / monitoring

‘Intelligent’Completions

High cost; Max. productivity loss

Maximum inflow/outflow control; Consistent access to wellbore; Improved P&A

Good inflow/outflow control required

Cased Hole (liner cemented and perforated)


4

7

Completion Types

• Completion design is driven by reservoir characteristics.

• Permeability• Porosity • Saturations • Pressures• Formation Strength

• Data collection and quality early in project life is critical to long term success.

Introduction

8

Completion Types

• High permeability (Kh≥10md for oil, ≥1md for gas) • Stable formation• No bottom edge or water drives• No fracture planned

Open Hole

5

9

Completion Types

• High permeability (Kh≥10md for oil, ≥1md for gas) • Possibility of spalling, but no sand movement• Bottom or edge water control needed• No fracture planned• Laminations not frequent

Cased Natural

10

Completion Types

• High permeability (Kh≥10md for oil, ≥1md for gas) • Laminations not frequent (h ≤ 2 ft)• Limited bottom edge water control needed• Sand Control Needed

Cased Hole Gravel Pack

6

11

Completion Types

• No limits on permeability• Multiple fracs possible• Bottom edge or water not penetrated by frac

Cased Hole Frac Pack

12

Completion Types

• Surface / reservoir access limited• Thick layered pay zones• Multiple well types needed• Compartmentalized reservoirs• Wellbores placed for water control• Limited re-entry potential• No pressure isolation needed

Multi-lateral

7

13

Completion Equipment

• An arrangement of valves to provide primary control of a producing well.

• Simple to complex.

Tree’s

Block Master Valve

Swab Valve

Choke

Wing Valve

14


• Holds backpressure on a flowing well. • Optimizes gas lift of liquids and controls

bottom hole pressure.• Variable or fixed openings called “Beans”.

Chokes

From Cameron

8

15


• Automatically halts production in the event surface equipment fails or is damaged.

• Valve set in tubing string ≈ 100 below mud line • Control provided by small hydraulic line on

outside of tubing. • Interrupted pressure closes the valve.

Subsurface Safety Valves

16

The Calm Before the Storm

Gulf of Mexico Near the Mouth of the Mississippi River28 Well 8-Pile Platform in 440 ft of Water

9

17

Ivan the Terrible Enters the Picture

18

After Ivan

10

19

After Ivan

20


• Casing protection from fluids or pressures.• Zonal isolation.• Subsurface pressure and fluid control.• Artificial lift support equipment.• Retrievable or permanent.

Production Packers

11

21


• Seal Application• Pressure• Temperature• Fluid Reaction

• Forces• Slips to resist motion upward, downward, or both?• Temperature.• Piston effect. • Ballooning.• Buckling.

Packer Considerations

22


• A perforated section of pipe wrapped with “wire” to create a specific opening size to restrict the flow of formation solids.

• Can be used alone or with gravel or frac packs.

Sand Control Screens

12

23


• Shaped charges.• Majority of perforating work.• The focused pressure wave with the mass

of the perforating liner punch the hole in the casing, cement and formation.

• Velocities near 20,000 ft/sec.• Bullet guns.

• Hardened steel shot from short barrel to penetrate casing and formation

• Abrasive methods.• Sand and water slurry pumped at high

pressures aimed at the casing wall.

Perforation Charges

24


• Control the well pressures by adjusting density –limited by same parameters as drilling mud.

• Adjust density by changing salt / salt combinations.• Avoid damage to well after completion, stimulation, or

repair. Formation “friendly”.• Confirm compatibility with produced fluids.• Clean up and disposal requirements at the surface.• HSE issues with brine handling

Brine Fluids

13

25

Completion EquipmentBrine Fluids

26

Interventions and Workovers

• Liquid and fill diagnosis• Gauge running and retrieval• Gas lift valve replacement• Sleeve shifting• Plug and packer setting• Bailer runs

Wireline Operations

14

27


• Advantages• Speed• Cost• Footprint

• Disadvantages• Low strength• Lack of rotation• Lack of circulation

Wireline Operations

28


• Continuous string of steel tubing wound on large diameter spool

• No connections = continuous circulation• One of the largest technological advances of

last 30 years.• Multiple sizes as small as 1 inch diameter

Coiled Tubing

15

29


• Initiating or controlling flow• Jetting out sand or fill in tubing• Stimulation operations• Logging• Conveying perforating systems• High angle and horizontal well capable

Coiled Tubing Operations

Notes: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Notes: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Notes: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Documents

03 Completions