Scribd
Upload
18 views

Well Completion

The document discusses basic well completion technology and methods. It describes how each wellbore is unique and may require different completion designs and procedures. It outlines some common basic completion methods like openhole, liner, and cased and perforated completions. It then describes the typical procedure for a cased and perforated completion with a single tubing string.

Uploaded by

Subrahmanyam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
18 views

Well Completion

The document discusses basic well completion technology and methods. It describes how each wellbore is unique and may require different completion designs and procedures. It outlines some common basic completion methods like openhole, liner, and cased and perforated completions. It then describes the typical procedure for a cased and perforated completion with a single tubing string.

Uploaded by

Subrahmanyam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Well completion

Basic Well Completion Technology


Each drilled wellbore awaiting completion is unique. Even nearby wells drilled to the
same reservoir can have different depths, formation characteristics, and hole sizes.
It follows, then, that a wide variety of equipment designs and procedures have
been developed to provide safe, efficient conduits from subsurface reservoirs to the
surface in different situations. In each case, the ideal completion design minimizes
initial completion and operating costs, while providing for the most profitable
operation of an oil or gas well over its entire life.

Basic Completion Methods


Once we drill and evaluate our well, our next decision is whether to complete or
abandon it. In the latter case, we would set a cement plug or plugs in the hole,
possibly recover whatever casing can be removed, and return the drill-site to its
original condition. The more fortunate is one in which our well not only is
productive, but economically justifies a completion.

The next step usually involves the running of the final string of casing Ñ the
production string. The manner in which this is done determines the basic
completion method and may follow one of several configurations:

 the openhole completion, in which the producing formation is not isolated by the
casing, which extends only to the top of the producing interval ( Figure 1 (a));

Chapter 1 Page 1
Figure 1

 the liner completion ( Figure 1 (b)), which is not cemented and not "tied
back" to the surface;

 the cased and perforated completion ( Figure 2 (c)), which involves


cementing the production casing across the productive interval and then
perforating the casing for production.

Figure 2

When a liner is cemented and perforated ( Figure 2 (d)) it could be


considered a cased and perforated completion.

One of these configurations will be the basis for the completion design, which may incorporate
one or multiple strings of tubing and a variety of tubing components to facilitate production from
one or multiple zones. For our purposes, a cased and perforated well with a single tubing string
will serve to illustrate the typical completion procedure.

Completion Procedure
Chapter 1 Page 2
After the contract casing crew runs the final casing, cementing follows the usual
procedure, although stage cementing may be necessary to cement an extremely
long string. The production string has been hauled out to the location and the
inside diameter checked to make sure that imperfections will not prevent the
subsequent running in of tubing and packers after the string is set. Special care
must be taken to pre vent the possibility of future leaks. If stage cementing is
necessary, the bottom section is first cemented in place and then a series of plugs
are pumped down the casing to open ports that allow the upper end of the annulus
to receive cement. After the cement has set, the inside of the casing must be
drilled out and flushed clean of cement and other debris to a depth below that of
the pro posed completion. It is important that the inside diameter of the production
casing be clean and smooth.

Chapter 1 Page 3

You might also like