Step 1: Digging a Cellar

On land, a majority of wells

begin with digging a cellar
from three to fifteen feet in
depth. The purpose of a
cellar is to align the
production Christmas tree at
ground level, providing easier
access to the valves,
chokes, and other equipment.

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Step 2: Running a Conductor
Pipe

The first string of pipe used

in a well is called the
conductor pipe, or drive pipe.
The pipe is usually 30-36
inches in diameter. A large
diameter hole is drilled to
a specified depth, usually
one or two hundred feet, and
the pipe is driven into the
ground..

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Step 3: Connecting the BOP

An adapter flange, or drilling

flange, is welded to the
conductor pipe to connect a
diverter system or a blowout
preventer system to control
wellhead pressure.

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Step 4: Running the Surface
Pipe
A hole is drilled for the well’s
first string of pipe, the
surface pipe, and the pipe is
run in the hole. There may be
several strings of pipe in a
well, each run to a different
depth. The number of strings
is determined by the number
of zones being drilled
through. These can include
fresh water, salt water, and
potential production zones.
Each zone is isolated, or
cased off, until it is to be
produced. . 4
Step 5: Connecting the
Surface Pipe

The surface pipe is

cemented in place back to
the surface. This holds the
pipe in place and seals off
the zone. A cement plug is
left in the pipe so that the
BOP system may be
disconnected safely. The
BOP is then removed from
the adapter flange.

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Step 6: Cutting the Conductor
Pipe and Surface Casing

The surface pipe is drained,

the adapter flange (or drilling
flange) is cut off, and both the
conductor pipe and the
surface casing are cut to the
proper height to allow the top
of the completed wellhead
to be at ground level.

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Step 7: Installing the Casing
Head Housing and Base
Plate

The casing head housing is

welded in place on the
inside diameter and the
outside diameter of the
surface casing. The
housing is then tested to
assure there are no leak
paths in the welds.

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Step 8: Installing the BOP
System

The BOP system is installed

above the casing head
housing and then tested. To
test the BOP system, the test
plug is made up on the drill
string and lowered through
the BOP system onto the
casing head bowl. Pressure
is applied from above the
plug to test the BOP system.

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Step 9: Installing the Casing
Head Wear Bushing

A wear bushing is installed to

protect the interior of the
casing head from damage
by drilling equipment.

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Step 10: Installing the
Intermediate String

A hole is drilled for the

intermediate string and the
casing is run in the hole
and cemented in place. A
cement plug is left in the
intermediate casing, just as it
was in the surface casing. .

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Step 11: Installing the Casing
Hanger and Casing Spool

The intermediate casing is

suspended from the block
above the rig floor, the BOP
is picked up, and the casing
hanger is installed on top of
the casing head. Holes are
cut in the casing to allow the
drilling fluids to drain out of
the casing riser. When the
fluid has drained, the casing
is cut off to the appropriate
height and the casing spool
is installed.
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Step 12: Installing the BOP
System

The BOP system is installed

above the casing spool and
then tested. To test the BOP
system, the test plug is made
up on the drill string and
lowered through the BOP
system onto the casing head
bowl. Pressure is applied
from above the plug to test
the BOP system.

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Step 13: Installing the Wear
Bushing

The wear bushing running

tool is made up on the drill
string and the wear bushing
installed on the running tool.
The wear bushing is then
lowered through the BOP
system, until it rests in the
casing spool bowl, then is
locked into place. The
running tool is removed and
drilling resumes.

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Step 14: Running the
Production Casing String

The production casing string

is usually run to the total
depth of the well. A hole is
drilled for the production
casing and the casing is run
in the hole and cemented
into place. A cement plug is
left in the production casing,
as in the previous steps.

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Step 15: Installing the Casing
Hanger and Tubing Spool

The production casing is

suspended from the
elevators at the rig floor, the
BOP is picked up, and the
production casing hanger is
installed in the same way as
the previous casing hanger.
The tubing spool is installed
in the same way as the
casing spool. After the spool
has been installed, the seals
and connections are tested,
and the BOP system is
reinstalled.. 15
Step 16: Running the
Production Tubing

The production tubing is

installed inside the
production casing. Unlike
casing, the production tubing
is not cemented in the well
so it may be removed later, if
necessary.

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Step 17: Installing the Down
hole Packer Assembly

A down hole packer

assembly (a type of seal
assembly) is run and
installed in the
production casing to seal the
reservoir from all strings of
pipe, except the production
tubing.

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Step 18: Installing the Tubing
Hanger

The tubing hanger is installed

on the tubing at the rig floor,
then lowered into
the bowl of the tubing spool.
The packer seals are tested,
and a backpressure valve is
installed in the tubing hanger
so that the BOP can be
removed safely. After the
valve has been installed the
BOP is removed. .

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Step 19: Installing the Christmas Tree
The production Christmas tree, sometimes
called the flow assembly, controls the flow
of the well. It is made up of a seal flange, or
tubing head adapter, a series of valves, and a
choke. The valves are stacked vertically and
horizontally to provide backup should a
valve fail. Each Christmas tree has at least
one actuated surface safety valve to shut
down the well in an emergency and prevent
damage to equipment downstream. The
Christmas tree is connected to a flowline,
which transports the well’s fluid or gas.

The Christmas tree is oriented properly,

picked up, lowered over the neck of the
tubing hanger, and connected to the tubing
spool. The connections and seals are tested,
and the well is now ready for production
testing. 19