2. Operations Training(RTC)
After the well is drilled, casing ran and cemented
in place, the well is ready for the completion
process to begin.
Well completion may be performed by the larger
drilling rig or by a smaller less expensive
completion/workover rig. Rig type would be
determined by availability and project economics.
3. The uncompleted well is not perforated
and is left with the casing full of liquid.
It is capped off with a valve.
To complete the well, it must be
perforated, sand control installed if
required, the tubing installed, tubing
auxiliaries and packers installed and
the tree installed.
The first step in the completion process
is to remove the valve and flange and
install the workover BOP on the well.
4. Operations Training(RTC)
A completion/workover rig is similar to a drilling
rig but on a reduced scale. Completion/workover
rigs have four basic systems.
1. Power System
2. Rotating System
3. Hoisting
4. Circulating System
6. Operations Training(RTC)
Cameron
Type U
Preventer
with Blind
Rams
Cameron
Type U
Preventer
with Pipe
Rams
Preparation Steps Completing a well:
1. Installing the blowout preventer
2. Filling the well with proper completion fluid
3. Perforating the well
4. Installing sand control equipment if
required
5. Running product tubing with its auxiliary
components
6. Pumping inhibited fluid in to the annulus
when required
7. Removal of the BOP stack and installing
and testing the Christmas Tree.
7 1/16”/179 mm
Hydril Annular
Preventer
Blind Rams
Pipe Rams
Cameron Type U Preventer
7. The type of well completion needed is dependent on several
factors.
•Zone Thickness: A few feet to hundreds of feet/hundreds of
meters.
•Reservoir Pressure: Almost zero to more than 20,000 psi
(1,406kg/cm2
).
•Reservoir Temperature: 60 ° F (16 °C) to 600 °F (315 °C) or more.
•Contaminants: Compounds like H2S and CO2 are annoying in
small amounts. In higher volumes it may require special
equipment and procedures. Above a certain point, it may not be
economically feasible to produce some zones, because of these
components.
•Unconsolidated Sand
•Water production
Operations Training(RTC)
8. Wells that are completed in hard rock formations or sands that
are naturally cemented together do not require sand control.
Well completed in a sand zone that has not been naturally
cemented together, (unconsolidated sand) would flow to the
surface with the produced fluids and cause serious problems.
Sand control, usually in the form of a gravel pack or pre-pack
screens are used to keep the sand in place.
9. • After a well is drilled and cased, equipment is installed to flow oil
and gas from the reservoir to the separation equipment. The
“completion” procedure varies with depth, pressure, expected
flow rates and other factors.
• A successful well is the result of a combination of good drilling,
completion, and production practices. Failure in any one of these
area’s could affect present or future project development.
• Poor drilling practices could result in formation damage, reduced
flow rates and possibly premature well abandonment, which in
turn would effect ultimate recovery.
Operations Training(RTC)
10. Completion Steps
A bit and scraper run is made to insure no cement deposits were left on
the interior walls of the casing.
If drilling mud was left in the well after the drilling process, it is replaced
with completion fluid.
If the well is not to be an open hole completion, the next step may be to
perforate the well and run the production packer.
If the well is to be a gravel pack completion, a sump packer set , the
casing perforated, a screen and packer installed, and gravel pumped.
Open hole completion wells are completed by drilling out of the end of
the casing. The target zone is penetrated, a pre-pack screen is installed
in the un-cased hole which is anchored and sealed in the casing.
11. Work String Or Drill String
Scraper
Bit
The rig will pick up a drill string
or a work string and make a bit
and scraper run to TD. This is
to ensure that the well bore
and casing is clean to TD.
At this point, the liquid left in
the casing by the drilling rig
will be displaced with a
specified completion fluid.
Casing Scraper
12. Loose unconsolidated reservoir sand will flow up
the tubing string along with reservoir fluids unless
restricted from doing so. Unconsolidated reservoirs
requires some type of sand control.
There are typically three types of sand control.
Sand consolidation - gluing of reservoir sand grains together.
Gravel pack - filter system usually required in high volume wells
with large producing intervals. A gravel pack is designed for the
sand characteristics of a specific reservoir. This system prevents
loose reservoir sand from flowing into the well.
Pre-pack screen - This system incorporates a sand
filtering material which is wrapped between an
inter and outer layer of the screen.
HES
Pre-pack
Screen
13. The first step in a gravel pack
completion is to set the sump packer.
This packer is set for two reasons.
1. It will be the basis for proper
placement of the gravel pack screen
across the perforations. For
accuracy in packer placement, an
electric line unit is used to set this
packer.
2. Sand grains and/or other particles
that pass through the screen fall
through the bottom of the gravel
pack assembly into a sump or rat
hole. This lessens the chances of
plugging the tubing.
Locating Device
Packer Setting
Tool
Sump Packer
Sump/Rat Hole
Perm. Packer
Packer Seal
Assemblies
14. Once the sump packer is set, the well
will be perforated. This may be done
with tubing conveyed guns or guns run
on electric line units. Perforating guns
are designed to penetrate the casing,
the surrounding cement, and go into
the formation, opening the reservoir to
the well bore. Perforating guns
usually do their job by means of a
shaped explosive charge.
Caution: Perforating is a critical
and potentially dangerous operation,
all guide lines must be followed.
This process may leave behind
undesired material that could impede
flow into the well bore.
Sump
Packer
Perforations
Locating
Device
16. Operations Training(RTC)
Perferation:
After casing is set and
cemented, the well must
be opened to the
producing zone.
Necessary holes are
opened through the
casing and cement into
the producing zone.
17. The perforating process may leave material
behind which may affect production
volumes, the well is usually back surged to
remove this material.
A back surge tool is run and set above the
perforations.
The back surge process causes a sudden
short term decrease in pressure at the
perforations. Damaged material in the
perforated areas caused by the shaped
charges are pulled into the casing by the
reduced pressure.
This material is circulated out of the well,
it’s volume measured and an equal volume
of clean gravel pumped into the well.
18. Next, the screen and gravel pack setting
and crossover tool are run. The gravel pack
sand is pumped in a gel type solution. This
solution is designed to keep sand volumes
consistent as it is pumped down the work
string.
Once the sand /gel slurry is pumped below
the screen liner hanger, it goes through a
port in the crossover tool into the annular
space between the screen and production
casing. The gel minus the sand returns to
the surface through a port in the gravel
pack assembly by crossing over into the
production casing /tubing annulus.
Pumping continues until pack sand fills the
annulus between the production casing
and the screen to a predetermined height.
The gravel packing is now complete.
The liner setting device and gravel pack
tool are pulled out of the hole.
Sump Packer
Perforations
Screen
Liner Hanger
Gravel Pack
Crossover
Tool
Screen
Liner
Hanger
Packer
19. After the gravel pack running
equipment is removed, the
complete gravel pack assembly
including the sump packer,
sand screen, sand and liner
hanger/packer will be in place.
The well is now ready for the
production tubing and its
components to be installed.
20. The production tubing which carries
fluids from the reservoir to the
christmas tree is now installed. Tubing
strings generally run from 2 3/8 “ to
5 1/2” in diameter. The tubing string
contains a number of auxiliary devices
which provide safety and environmental
protection and assist in producing and
maintaining the well.
Landing
Nipple
Gas Lift
Valves
Landing
Nipple
Surface
Controlled
Subsurface
Safety Valve
And
Hydraulic
Control Line
22. Auxiliary Tubing Devices
Landing nipples - Equipped with a polished
bore and internal profiles cut into the I.D., these
devices allow locking mandrels and the
attached devices to be locked and sealed in the
tubing.
Locking mandrel are flow through devices.
Landing nipples and Locking Mandrels may be
used to:
•Check tubing integrity.
•Install a down hole choke.
•Install a subsurface controlled safety valve.
•Hang off a BHP device.
Landing
Nipple
Gas Lift
Valves
Landing
Nipple
Surface
Controlled
Subsurface
Safety Valve
And
Hydraulic
Control Line
Landing
Nipple
Locking
Mandrel
23. Auxiliary Tubing Devices
Gas Lift Mandrels: High pressure
compressed gas from the production
casing is injected through the
mandrel and gas lift valve into the
tubing.
Gas injection lightens the
hydrostatic fluid column in the
tubing, allowing the well to flow.
Some wells are kicked off on gas lift,
others require gas lift continuously.
To date Shell has not used gas lift in
any deepwater or subsea wells.
Other methods of artificial lift are:
•Rod pumping
•Hydraulic down hole pumping
•Electrical down hole pumping
Landing
Nipple
Gas Lift
Mandrels
Landing
Nipple
Surface
Controlled
Subsurface
Safety Valve
And
Hydraulic
Control Line
25. Surface controlled subsurface
safety valves:
Usually part of the tubing
Automatically closes if a undesirable
event or catastrophe occurs.
Set at least 100’ below the mud line
(MMS). Fail safe; normally closed
valve
Operates automatically or manually
Controlled by a small stainless steel
hydraulic line which allows hydraulic
pressure from the surface to operate
the valve.
The valve must be checked for holding
every 6 months (MMS).
26. Chemical injection Nipples:
Allows injection of chemical down hole
into the tubing.
If necessary, injection of hydrate
inhibition chemicals, asphaltine
inhibition chemicals, wax (paraffin)
control chemicals, and corrosion
inhibitors can be injected into the
tubing.
Down hole pressure /temperature
devices:
Provide real time wellbore pressures and
temperatures.
27. Auxiliary Tubing Devices
Down hole volume measurement devices:
- Usually run in high volume subsea or TLPs wells.
- Permits down-hole measurement of produced fluids.
- Eliminates large heavy top side measurement equipment.
- In multiple subsea systems, will reduce down time due to testing.
- Allows measurement before commingling subsea wells
28. Operations Training(RTC)
Surface Casing
Landing Base
Conductor Casing
Production Casing
Slip and seal
assembly
Production Tubing
VR Plug
Valve Removal
Tubing Hanger
Spool
Tubing Hanger
SC-SSSV Hydraulic
Control Line
Drive Pipe
Hanger Pins
Guide Pins
Christmas Tree
30. Operations Training(RTC)
Typical Solid Block (OCS) Tree
Tree Cap
Wireline Valve
SSV
Master Valve
Tubing Hanger Spool
Casing Valve
Choke Body
Needle Valve
Wing Valve
31. Subsea Tree
•Choke
•POD (Subsea Control
Module)
•Tree Valves
•Production
•Chemical
•Annulus
Tree
Wellhead
ROV Access Panel
POD (Control Module)
33. ROV Tree Cap
ROV Tree Cap
Insert Choke
Insert Choke
Tree Assembly
Tree Assembly
Tubing Hanger
Tubing Hanger
Vertical Hub
Vertical Hub
for Well Jumper
for Well Jumper
Tubing Head
Tubing Head
Assembly
Assembly
34. Operations Training(RTC)
After a well has produced for a time, mechanical may develop.
Problems may include:
A. Damaged Tubing
•Collapsed and plugged
•Holes and split
•Parted and corroded
•Leaking Packers
B. Damaged gravel pack screens
• Collapsed
• Washed out
C. Damaged Casing
• Collapsed
• Split
• Eroded
• Parted
• Corroded
35. Remedial Well Operations
Remedial well work will be
required at some point in the
life of a well.
Re-completions requires a workover
rig.
If the job does not require pulling of
the tubing, through tubing equipment
may be used.
Problems may include:
•The reservoir is depleted
•Excessive gas or water production
•Mechanical problems
•The well is plugged up
36. Operations Training(RTC)
Mechanical problems (Tubular Damage) usually require pulling the
tubing string and its components, necessary repair’s or replacement
made and the well returned to production. With this type of
workover, the well continues to produce from the same reservoir.
Examples of non-mechanical well problems:
1. Excessive water production (expected or unexpected)
2. Excessive gas production
3. Restricted production due to formation damage
4. Increase/decrease in reservoir pressure
5. Depleted reservoir
37. Operations Training(RTC)
Conventional Workover/Intervention Methods:
• Require removal of Christmas tree, tubing, and other
mechanical components in the well
• In many instances, workover/intervention on a well with
reservoir problems will require completing the well in a
different reservoir
These projects must be justified, cost to do the work is
estimated, economics of the project are then determined.
Based upon this evaluation, the project is approved or
rejected.
After completion, the well is turned over to production for
unloading and bringing to full potential.
38. Coiled Tubing Units
A continuous small diameter tubing (generally on the
order of 1/2” to 1 1/4”/12.5mm to 31.25 mm in
diameter) which is inserted into and removed from the
well bore by means of a tubing injector and BOP which
is mounted on the christmas tree.
Designed to do remedial work on wells without
removing the christmas tree or production tubing from
the well.
They are limited in the following ways:
•Depth and pulling capabilities
•Pressure handling capabilities
•Inability to rotate the work string
•They must use down hole mud motors to drill
•Do not work well in highly deviated wells
•Not well suited for minor drilling or fishing operations
Courtesy of Halliburton Energy
Services
Courtesy of Halliburton Energy
Services
39. Snubbing Units
Designed to do remedial work on a well without
removal of the Christmas tree or production tubing.
This kind of a project is called a through tubing job.
Pipe, generally about 1”/ 25 mm in diameter is
inserted into and removed from the well by means of
a hydraulic ram. A small BOP is placed on top of the
tree to ensure proper well control while working is
being conducted. Snubbing operations are suited for
work on fairly deep high pressure wells.
Snubbers are capable of:
•Acidizing wells
•Drilling or washing sanded out of the tubing
•Fishing operations including milling
•Minor drilling operations by means of a hydraulic
rotating system or a down hole mud motor.
•Operating in deviated wells.
•Unloading wells by means of gas injection
•Spotting cement and doing minor squeeze jobs
Courtesy of Halliburton Energy Services
Down Hole
Mud Motor
40. To recomplete this well to another zone:
•A workover rig would be moved on
location
•The well would be killed and prepared
for the workover
•The tubing would be removed
•If the zone to be completed were below
the existing zone, the gravel pack would
have to be removed using typical fishing
techniques to clean out the hole.
•The perforations would be squeeze
cemented
•The new zone would be perforated and
gravel packed
•Production tubulars would be run in the
well
•The christmas tree installed and the well
would be turned over to production
personnel to be put on production
41. If the zone to be completed were above
the existing zone, the gravel pack would
be squeeze cemented and abandoned
using typical cementing techniques.
The new zone located above the original
zone would be perforated and gravel
packed
•Production tubulars would be run in
the well
•The christmas tree installed and the
well would be turned over to production
personnel to be put on production
44. Surface Controlled Subsurface
Safety Valve System
• Surface controlled subsurface safety valves
are controlled (opened & closed) from the
surface by applying and releasing hydraulic
pressure to the valve.
45. Surface Controlled Subsurface
Safety Valve System
• The Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety
Valve is a device installed in a well to
prevent uncontrolled well flow when
actuated.
• This type valve can be tubing or wireline
retrievable.
46. Surface Controlled Subsurface
Safety Valve System
• Each well has both a surface safety valve
(SSV) and a surface controlled subsurface
safety valve (SC-SSSV)
• The SSV is the primary means of shutting in
the well
• The SC-SSSV is the secondary means of
shut in
47. Surface Controlled Subsurface
Safety Valve System
Regulations concerning subsurface valves
• All tubing installations open to hydrocarbon-
bearing zones shall be equipped with
subsurface safety valves
• All tubing installations which are capable of
natural flow shall be equipped with a surface
control SSSV
48. Surface Controlled Subsurface
Safety Valve System
• Test frequencies: Every six months
• Leakage rates: 200 cc’s liquid per min. or 5
scfm gas
• The SC-SSSV shall close in not more than 2
minutes after the shut in signal has closed
the SSV
52. Subsurface Safety Valve
The subsurface controlled subsurface safety
valve (SSCSV) is a device installed in a well,
below the well-head, with the designed
function to prevent uncontrolled well flow
when actuated.
53. Subsurface Safety Valve
• These devices can be installed and retrieved
by wire-line (wire-line retrievable) and/or
pump down methods (TFL Thru-Flowline)
or be an integral part of the tubing string
(Tubing retrievable).
54. Subsurface Safety Valve
• The most common type in our operation is
the wire-line retrievable, which is set in a
landing nipple or on a slip lock device.
The landing nipple is generally used. The
subsurface safety valve is attached to a
mandrel which is located, locked, and
sealed inside the landing nipple. A flow
coupling should extend a min. of 3 feet
above and below the landing nipple.
55. Subsurface Safety Valve
• Other names given this valve are “storm
choke” or “velocity valve”. The general
principle of operation is an increased
pressure drop across the choke or
decreased tubing pressure that will cause
the valve to shut.
56. Subsurface Safety Valve
• These valves are set to close on velocities
higher than normal production rates. This
is generally done by installing spacers and
chokes in the valve. If improper spacers or
chokes are installed, the valve will not close
at the desired velocity.
57. Subsurface Safety Valve
• Leakage Rates: 200 cc liquid or 5 scfm
• Test Frequency: Every six months if not
installed in a landing and once a year for
those valves that are installed in a landing
nipple.