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Completions
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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
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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
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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
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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
Disadvantages AdvantagesApplicationsCompletion Style
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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)
Disadvantages AdvantagesApplicationsCompletion Style
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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
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Completion Types
• High permeability (Kh≥10md for oil, ≥1md for gas) • Stable formation• No bottom edge or water drives• No fracture planned
Open Hole
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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
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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
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Completion Types
• No limits on permeability• Multiple fracs possible• Bottom edge or water not penetrated by frac
Cased Hole Frac Pack
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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
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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
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Completion Equipment
• 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
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Completion Equipment
• 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
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The Calm Before the Storm
Gulf of Mexico Near the Mouth of the Mississippi River28 Well 8-Pile Platform in 440 ft of Water
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Ivan the Terrible Enters the Picture
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After Ivan
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After Ivan
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Completion Equipment
• Casing protection from fluids or pressures.• Zonal isolation.• Subsurface pressure and fluid control.• Artificial lift support equipment.• Retrievable or permanent.
Production Packers
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Completion Equipment
• Seal Application• Pressure• Temperature• Fluid Reaction
• Forces• Slips to resist motion upward, downward, or both?• Temperature.• Piston effect. • Ballooning.• Buckling.
Packer Considerations
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Completion Equipment
• 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
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Completion Equipment
• 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
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Completion Equipment
• 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
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Completion EquipmentBrine Fluids
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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
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Interventions and Workovers
• Advantages• Speed• Cost• Footprint
• Disadvantages• Low strength• Lack of rotation• Lack of circulation
Wireline Operations
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Interventions and Workovers
• 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
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Interventions and Workovers
• 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
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