Lecture 2&3-Well Completions

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF
EAST AFRICA
PTE 3161: PETROLEUM PRODUCTION

ENGINEERING
WELL COMPLETIONS
Prepared by: John Bosco Aliganyira; Bsc.Mech.Eng (MUK), Msc.Oil & Gas Eng.(With Distinction)-UOA-UK 1
Introduction to Well Completions
The purpose of drilling oil and gas devpt wells is to produce
hydrocarbons from, or to inject the fluids into, hydrocarbon
bearing formations beneath the earth surface.
 The borehole provides a conduit for the flow of fluid either

to or from the surface.
Certain equipment must be placed in the wellbore, and

various other items and procedures must also be used to
sustain or control the fluid flow.
The term ‘completion’ describes the assembly of Down hole

tubulars and other safety equipment that is required to
enable the safe and efficient production of oil or gas from
the well after it has been drilled.
Design & Completion Objectives for Production &
Injection Wells
Provide optimum production/injection performance.
Minimise the total costs per unit volume of fluid produced

or injected
–minimise the cost of initial completion, maintaining
production & any remedial measures
Ensure safety across the entire completion spectrum
Maximise the integrity and reliability of the completion over

the envisaged completed well life
Well Integrity includes;
1. Well Construction Integrity:
– Wellhead & X-mass tree
– Casing & Cement Integrity (CBL, Zonal Isolation etc.)
– Casing Corrosion Logs
2. Completion Integrity Assurance:

– Wellhead & Christmas tree
– Down Hole equipment (Safety Valve, Sliding Side Door, Dual
or Single Packer either Permanent or Retrievable, etc.)
– Artificial lift (Gas Lift or Pump)
3. Flow Assurance
– Scale, Asphaltene, Corrosion Management, Etc.
4. Well Life Cycle Management

Well integrity
Completion Design
Completion Design
Considerations in well completion design
Well characteristics such as:
(a) pressure, (b) productivity or injectivity index, (c) fluid
properties & (d) rock properties and geological data.
Geographical factors such as:

(a) location, (b) water depth (if offshore), (c) weather
conditions & (d) accessibility.
Operational design constraints such as:

(a) environmental regulations & (b) safety aspects
The number of producing zones.

Factors influencing well completions
 The major factors which influence the well completions are:
1)Reservoir consideration
2)Mechanical consideration
3)Method of completion
 Reservoir Consideration: Reservoir considerations involve:

•the location of various fluids in the formations penetrated by the wellbore
•the flow of these fluids through the reservoir rock
•the characteristics of the rock itself.
 Producing Rate - to provide maximum economic recovery is often the

starting point for well completion design. Among other factors producing
rate should determine the size of the producing conduit.
 Multiple Reservoirs - penetrated by a well pose the problem of multiple

completions in one drilled hole. Possibilities include multiple completions
inside casing separated by packers, or several strings of smaller casing
cemented in one borehole to provide in effect separate wells.
 Reservoir Drive Mechanism - this may determine whether or not
the completion interval will have to be adjusted as gas-oil or
water-oil contacts move.
 A water drive situation may indicate water production problems.
 Dissolved gas drive may indicate artificial lift.
 Dissolved gas and gas drive reservoirs usually mean declining
productivity index and the increasing gas-oil ratio.
 Secondary Recovery - needs may require a completion method

conducive to selective injection or production. Water flooding
may increase volumes of fluid to be handled. High temperature
recovery process may require special casing cementing materials.
 Stimulation - may require special perforating patterns to permit

zone isolation, perhaps adaptability to high injection rates, and a
well hook-up such that after the treatment the zone can be
returned to production without contact with killing fluids.
 Sand Control - problems alone may dictate the type of
completion method and maximum production rates. On the
other hand, reservoir fluid control problems may dictate that a
less than desirable type of sand control be used. Sand problem
zones always dictate a payoff from careful well completion
practices.
 Workover - frequency, probably high where several reservoirs

must be drained through one wellbore, often dictate a
completion conducive to wireline or through-tubing type
recompletion systems.
 Artificial Lift - may mean single completions even where multiple

zone exist, as well as larger than normal tubulars.
Mechanical Considerations
 The mechanical configuration or “well hookup” is often the key to
being able to deplete the reservoir effectively, monitor downhole
performance, and modify the well situation when necessary.
 The mechanical configuration of the well is the key to being able

to do what ought to be done in the well from the standpoint of
the controlling the reservoir fluids, oil, gas, and water.
 Formation damage is related to the well hookup, both minimising

damage initially and relieving the effects of damage later.
 Mechanically well completion design is a complex engineering

problem. Basic philosophy is to design to specific conditions, field
conditions and area conditions - which are:
 Maximise profit considering the time value of money
 Keep the installation simple, both from equipment and
procedural standpoints.
 Overall reliability -which depends on reliability of individual

components and their total numbers. Design out
maintenance, limit moving parts, avoid debris traps. As
complexities increase , provide alternatives.
 Anticipate all operating conditions, and associated pressure

and temperature forces.
 Safety must be designed into the well. In offshore,

populated, or isolated areas, automatic shut-in systems and
well pressure control methods must be considered.
Basic decisions to be reached in designing the well
completions are:
a) the method of completion
b) the number of completions within the wellbore
c) the diameter of the production conduit
d) the completion interval
Well completion schematic
A completion string must be able to;
 Withstands anticipated pressures during production and well
operations eg stimulation.
 Produce or inject into the reservoir with minimal loss of flowing

pressure.
 Minimise reservoir fluid contact with production casing (annulus

isolated from production tubing)
 Remotely shut-off flow downhole when required.
 Selectively circulate between annulus and tubing
 Install a plug in the tubing eg for pressure testing
Generally, a well completion mode should meet the following
requirements;
(1) The optimum condition of communication between reservoir and
wellbore should be retained to reduce formation damage to the full extent.
(2) The flow area between reservoir and wellbore should be provided as fully
as possible in order to decrease the resistance to oil and gas flow into the
well as far as possible.
(3) The oil and gas reservoirs and aquifer should be effectively isolated in
order to avoid gas and water channeling and interlayer
interference.
(4) Sand production should be effectively controlled in order to prevent the

borehole wall from sloughing and ensure long-term production of the oil
well.
(5) The oil well, which is run in after the well is completed, should not only
meet the requirements of flowing production, but suit the need of artificial
lift production in the later stage.
requirements;
(6) The conditions of downhole operations and measures, including
separate-zone water injection and gas injection, separate-zone
fracturing and acidizing, and water shutoff and profile control,
should be provided.
(7) The requirements of steam injection should be met during the

thermal recovery of heavy oil.
(8) The conditions of side-tracking should be provided in the later

stage of oil field development.
(9) The conditions of drilling horizontal branch holes of a horizontal

well should be provided.
(10) The corrosion caused by H2S, CO2, and salt water with a high
salinity should be effectively prevented.
requirements;
(11) The creeping of salt rock bed and salt paste bed should be
resisted.
(12) Simple and convenient operations and good economic benefits

should be provided
Contents
Bottom hole completion techniques
Selection of flow conduit between reservoir and surface
Completion string facilities
Completion string components
Multiple completions
Wireline servicing of completion accessories
Bottom hole completion techniques
The three major techniques of the bottom hole completions
are:
Open hole completion
Pre-drilled / pre-slotted liner or screen completion

(uncemented)
Casing or liner with annular cementation and subsequent

perforation (Perforated or cased hole completions)
Open hole completion
 This type of completion is sometimes referred to as “barefoot”
completion.
 It involves leaving the entire reservoir open after drilling.
 No casing or liner is cemented in place across the production

zone.
 However, this type of completion does mean that the entire

interval is open to production and hence does not provide
selective control over fluid production or injection.
 It is therefore not recommended for production or injection wells

where distinctive variations in layer permeability will
detrimentally affect the sweep efficiency on zones under water
flood or gas injection.
Advantages
This type of completion generally has a higher technique
inflow performance than the other two techniques.
It minimizes expenses since no equipment requires to be

installed and allow for flexible treatment options if the well
is deepened later.
It saves time and minimizes formation damage.
No perforation required.
Disadvantages
It is difficult to isolate water/gas breakthrough or migration
into the wellbore unless the entry pour is at the base of the
well where isolation with a cement plug may be successful
It is limited to highly competent reservoirs (consolidated

sands) where wellbore stability is not a problem as the
borehole may become unstable once a drawdown in applied
to induce the well to flow. In such cases either total collapse
of the formation or the production of sand may occur.
Lack of zonal control for production or injection is another

major limitation on the application of this technique.
Open hole completion limits the control of well fluids.

The above characteristics of open hole completions explains
why they are used in:
Low cost developments.
Deep, consolidated reservoirs being produced by depletion

drive ensures good contact between fracture and well.
Naturally fractured reservoirs
Some horizontal and multi-lateral wells with high depletion

costs
Screen or Pre-slotted liner completion
 In this type of completion, a wire-wrapped screen, slotted steel
pipe or alternative sand control screen is installed once the
drilling through completed reservoir section has been
completed.
 The casing is set above the primary zone and an un-cemented

screen and liner assembly is installed across the pay section.
 The screen or liner is installed to prevent sand production into

the wellbore and tubing.
 The success of the completion in controlling sand production is

dependent upon the screen or slot sizes and the sand particle
sizes.
 This system is also used in high angle wells to prevent major

borehole collapse or facilitate the passage of logging tools.
Advantages
Can be applied to reservoirs with unconsolidated reservoirs
to minimise sand production.
This technique minimizes formation damage and gives the

ability to control sand.
It is a relatively low cost technique.
The use of the screens (wire wrapped, prepacked screens,

etc.) and/ or slotted liners helps to filter out solids
entrained in produced fluids.
Disadvantages
The technique also suffers from the liability of zonal
isolation due to lack of cemented casing.
Gas and water build up is difficult to control and selective

stimulation not possible.
Screen may become plugged.
Cemented and Perforated Casing/Liner
In this type of completion, the production casing can be set
all the way to bottom and cemented or set to the top of the
pay sand and a production liner landed on the casing shoe
and cemented in place.
The liner/casing can then be perforated at selected sections.
Liner has lowest cost
Commonest type of completion
Inflow selectivity achieved by careful positioning of

perforations if cement hydraulically seals casing annulus.
Advantages
 The well can be drilled and logged to total depth prior to running and
cementing production casing. By obtaining cores and logs of the
potential producing interval, one can estimate the economic value of
that wellbore prior to committing funds to complete the well.
 It is easier to obtain a good cement job, compared to pre-slotted liner

completion.
 Well can easily be deepened
 It is safer during well completion operations.
 The zones can be selectively stimulated.
 Excessive water or gas production can easily be controlled or

eliminated.
Disadvantages
Cased- hole completions are more susceptible to formation
damage than openhole completions. Formation damage
refers to a loss in reservoir productivity, normally associated
with fluid invasion, fines migration, precipitates, or the
formation of emulsions in the reservoir.
It involves considerably greater costs and time than the

previous options. The cost of a full length of casing from the
surface to the base of the well can be considerable, to which
must be added the cost of perforating, cementing and the
additional rig time. The use of a liner helps to reduce the
required length (and cost) of casing.
Upper hole completions
 The upper well completion involves the selection of the flow
conduit between the reservoir and surface. There are a
number of options for fluid flow to surface in a production
well, or to the formation in an injection well.
 Considerations which may influence the choice include cost,

flow stability, ability to control flow and ensuring well safety
and integrity of the well by minimizing corrosion or erosion.
 The following alternatives exist for a single zone completion:

•Tubingless casing flow
•Casing and tubing flow
•Tubing flow without annular isolation
•Tubing flow with annular isolation
Tubingless Casing Flow
 Tubingless completion is used in wells where the pay rock
pressure is low and high flow rates are required.
 In this case production must take place directly through the final
lining of the well, with no support from production strings or
isolation systems.
 Once the well has been drilled and the bottom hole completion
technique implemented (open hole or perforated casing) the
well is induced to flow under drawdown and fluid is produced
up the inside of the casing. This type of completion is not
universally utilized.
 The tubingless completion, a variant of this approach, is

sometimes applied to multiple zones. Here the borehole is
drilled passed all the zones and individual tubing strings located
opposite each zone. The entire borehole is then cemented and
each tubing string perforated with orientated guns.
Advantages
 It is simple and minimises cost.
Disadvantages
 High fluid slippage and friction loss- The production casing may
be so large a diameter that the fluid superficial velocities are
low enough for phase separation and slip to occur, resulting in
unstable flow and increased flowing pressure loss in the casing.
 Corrosion of casing-The produced fluid is in direct contact with

the casing, potentially resulting in casing corrosion. This is worse
if the produced fluids contain hydrogen sulphide.
 Potential burst on the casing at well head-If produced fluids

contain hydrogen sulphide or sand is being produced,
reductions in the casing integrity due to either of the above can
result in potential burst of the casing at the wellhead if the well
changes from oil to gas production
Casing and Tubing Flow
 This is used in highly productive wells where a large cross
sectional area for flow is desirable.
 A production tubing is installed and flow is allowed to occur

up the tubing and the tubing-casing annulus.
 It provides the alternative of minimizing slippage and friction

loss is the casing/tubing flow configuration.
 This completion is very useful for high flow rate wells

provided no erosive or corrosive compounds are present in the
flow stream.
 Though this type of completion is also not generally applied, it

has some advantages.
Advantages
Provides a circulation capability deep in the well where
reservoir fluids can be displaced to surface by an injected
kill fluid of the required density to provide hydraulic
overbalance on the reservoir.
It also does not require the high pressures associated

with squeeze operations.
Tubing Flow without Annulus Isolation
 Only the production tubing is placed in the well, and it is possible
to produce both through it and through the annulus.
 The production tubing can be used for injecting inhibitors or

killing fluid. This method is somewhat limited in terms of flow
conditions and the protection of the tubing materials.
 In situations where annular flow in a casing-string completion

results in excessive phase slippage with consequent increased
flowing pressure loss and flow instability, the annulus could be
closed at wellhead (surface) and preventing annular flow. This
could however result in annulus heading.
 This is the phenomenon, in which, the flowing bottom hole

pressure is at or below the bubble point pressure and solution gas
escapes and migrates to the top of the wellhead resulting in
increased casing head pressure.
This can continue until gas fills up the annulus and starts off-
loading as gas slug into the base of the tubing and is
produced. This phenomenon can lead to erratic, unstable
production.
In this type of completion the casing is exposed continuously

to the potentially corrosive produced fluid.
This, coupled with the potential for annular heading, can be

avoided when the annulus is not left open to production i.e
closed at wellhead.
Advantages
Its cost is affordable
Disadvantages
There is potential for corrosion of the tubing and possibility
of annular heading which can lead to unstable production.
It is difficult to detect leaks in the tubing or the casing, and

to gather bottom hole pressure data.
Tubing Flow with Annular Isolation
 This is the most popular technique of completion. Fluid is
produced through the tubing only with the annulus isolated at a
given depth.
 The annulus is normally isolated by the installation of a packer

and the produced fluid flows to the surface via the tubing.
 The packer has a rubber element which, when compressed or

inflated, will expand to fill the annulus between the tubing and
the casing.
 The packer is normally located as close to the top of the reservoir

as possible to minimise the trapped annular volume beneath the
packer. Hence the volume of gas which can accumulate there is
minimised; simplifying downhole pressure management when the
packer is released by the drilling rig during recovery operations.
 This completion system is by far the most widely used in the

industry.
Advantages
 It offers maximum well security and well control including
multiple completions where it is the only option.
Disadvantages
 Packer installation removes the ability to U-tube or circulate kill
fluid between the tubing and annulus. The circulation capability
can be restored via tubing accessory, such as a sliding side door
which allows annulus communication. Alternatively one can
perforate the tubing, which would need replacement prior to
production.
Completion String Functions and facilities
Functions
1. Pressure flow containment. This includes the use of
•Xmas tree - for pressure containment within the production casing,
tubing, wellhead, surface valve closing system.
•Packer isolation
•Tubing selection: Key criteria are optimum and stable production.
2. Annulus Isolation
 This prevents surface injection pressure exertion on wellhead.
 Facility: Packer installation in production string set at depth to minimise

volume of fluid below packer.
3. Dowhole closure of flown string

 Because of possibility of lack of access to Xmas tree to effect valve
closure or repair valve failure, it is essential to install Sub-surface Safety
Valve(SSSV) to provide emergency closure capability.
Prepared by: John Bosco Aliganyira; Bsc.Mech.Eng (MUK), Msc.Oil & Gas Eng.(With Distinction)-UOA-UK
4. Circulation Capability
 Installation of facility to kill the well for well control. Devices used
are:
(a)Sliding side door(SSD)
(b)Sliding Sleeve(SS)
(c)Side Pocket Mandrel(SPM)
(d)Ported Nipple
(e)Tubing Punch -This is a drastic step. Limited circulation prior to
workover since it cannot be closed.
5. Tubing Isolation
 This is a secondary means of physical isolation to supplement
SSSV. It is used when the well is hydraulically dead and the SSSV is
to be removed.
 It can be provided by lowering a plug or wireline down the inside
of tubing string until it lands and locks in a wireline nipple.
Additional Components
A: Downhole Tubing Detachment
In the event of tubing failure it may be necessary to pull the string. To
minimise removal cost and amount of equipment to be pulled, a point of
easy detachment is useful. This requires the installation of a removable
locator device which deals with the rest of the tubing string left in the well.
1. Packer seal system - With this tubing above packer can be safely
disconnected.
2. Downhole hanger system which suspends tubing beneath the wellhead.
The SSSV can be located above such systems.
B: Tubing Stress Components.

Extension or contraction of the tubing as well as heaving platforms
offshore lead to stress on the production string. The use of polished bore
receptacle can therefore be helpful.
C: Ability to suspend monitoring equipment
It is essential to monitor bottom hole pressure and temperature
during production. Installation of a wireline nipple as a component
of is inevitable.
D: Controlled fluid injection into annulus

Examples are corrosion inhibitors and gas for lift operation. Will
require the use of the side pocket mandrels.
Completion string components
Completion String Components
Packer Classifications
 Packers are classified according to:
1. Retrievability
 These are retrievable packers and permanent packers(Fig 6.10 and
6.11 a & b)
2. Setting Mechanism
 Mechanical setting using tubing rotation
 Compression or Tension setting: Involves actuation of a mechanical

device which allows the string weight to be transferred to packer to
compress the rubber element
 Hydraulic: Utilises pressure generated inside the completion string
 Electrical: Uses special adapter and setting tool which allows packer
assembly to be lowered into the casing or electrical conductor cable.
At required depth, a small explosive charge can be detonated to
actuate the setting mechanism.
3. Ability to withstand differential pressure
 For compression packers - higher pressure below packer to
counteract the setting mechanism. Very suitable for injection
wells where differential pressure supports the setting
mechanism.
 Tension Packers
 Compression/Tension Packers.
4. Packer bore: Single, Dual and triple bore packers
5. Seal between tubing and packer

 When a retrievable packer id run, it is made up as an integral
component of tubing and the seal is effected by the tubular
connection between packer and tubing. It is necessary to
maintain this pressure seal to avoid leaks.
Classifications
 This depends on whether they allow tubular movement or not.
A. Seal without tubing movement External rubber seal element
which can be run with mechanical latch and lands inside the seal
bore.
B. Assemblies with tubing movement

(a) locator seal assembly - seals at regular interval lengths
(b) Extra long tubular seal receptacle (WLTSR): Made up of two
concentric cylinders with rubber seal in between them.
(c) Travel Joint - Inverted ELTSR.
(d) Polished bore receptacle (PBR) - Provides annular seal and a
locator seal which permits tubing movement.
 Seal assembles can be run on tubing and located inside PBR.

 These contain off-centre pockets wit ports in annulus. Examples
are Gaslift valves mandrels, chemical injection valves (for
corrosion inhibitors, etc.), circulation valves for kill fluids, etc
 Used for well killing, placement of fluids in tubing or annulus
Landing Nipples
Short tubular device with internal mechanical profile capable of
accommodating and securing a mandrel run on wireline. It provides
pressure seal against internal bore or nipple and outer surface of
mandrel. Application include:
1. Isolate/plug the tubing string for pressure testing
2. Ported device for tubing & annulus communication
3. Emergency closure of tubing
4. Downhole regulation or throttling of the flow through Installation

of downhole chokes.
5. Installation/landing downhole Pressure or Temperature recording

gauges
6. Setting hydraulic set packers
7. Zonal isolation
In summary, Nipples installed at various points in the string

for two major applications:
(a) Plugging the tubing for:

Pressure tests, Setting Hydraulic packer & Zonal isolation
(b) Installing flow control equipment:

Downhole chokes, SSSVs & pressure recorders
Multiple Zone Completions
 This technique is employed in reservoirs where more than one
distinct reservoir layer can be encountered in a single well and
there is the intention, or legal requirement, to produce from or
inject into these layers separately.
 Each reservoir has, by definition, its own pressure regime and, if

present, their own Gas-Oil-Contact and Water-Oil-Contact. This
is common in stratified reservoirs existing in the Niger Delta,
Gulf coast and in many North Sea Fields.
 The completion can be achieved by one of the following:

•Co-mingling the flow from various zones.-More than one
communication with each tubing string with each zone producing
up a single tubing string.
•Segregated flow - Use of multiple production conduits to
produce from each zone separately.
•Alternate zone well completions - Individual well completed on a
reservoir. Multilaterals are becoming very important for this
application.
 Multiple completions include the tubing-casing dual, dual

tubing strings, and the typical triple completion consisting of
three tubing strings.
 The more complex the completion, the more trouble one can
expect in both completion operations and in subsequent
workover operations.
 Multiple completions should be considered only in special

situations.
 These situations include areas where drilling costs are very high
or where the area allocated for drilling wells is at a premium.
Such areas include offshore areas, highly populated areas, and
remote land locations.
The main advantage of multiple completions is that two or
more reservoirs can be simultaneously produced from a
single wellbore.
 If all goes properly, the economics of using multiple

completions can be attractive; however, operating and
workover costs can be quite high. These operational factors
must be considered when considering multiple
completions.
Disadvantages
(1) More wells required to achieve the same degree of
depletion control
- Greater cost for same drainage reservoir efficiency
(2) Zonal productivity differences will defer production &

extend field life unless well count increased
– Increase unit production costs.
Co-mingled Zonal Flow
(a) Advantages:
(1) Minimises well numbers & capital investment.
(2) Reduced drilling time accelerates production build-up
(b) Disadvantages
(1) Mixing of produced fluids can give problems:
(a) Corrosion/erosion: acids, H2S, CO2, produced sand.
(b) Different composition of fluids & economic value
(c) Different zonal WOR and GOR will influence the tubing
vertical lift performance
Co-mingled Zonal Flow
(b) Disadvantages (continued)
(2) Poor performance of the less productive/lower pressure
reservoirs due to inflow from more productive zones
(3) Control of individual zonal production not possible.
(4) Fluid injection, e.g. for stimulation, cannot easily be

diverted into required layer.
(5) Total well production influenced by change in

characteristics of one zone. E.g. increased WOR
Multizone Completion Options
(a) Comingled Flow:
• Multiple zones flow at the same time into the tubing e.g. two
zones producing via a single tubing string
(b) Alternate Zone Well Completion:
• A single zone flows into the tubing at any time
• Lower zone produced first
(c) Segregated, Multi-Zone Flow:

• Multiple production conduits within the same wellbore
• Each tubing produces one zone only
Well Completion Design
• Well characteristics such as:
(a) pressure, (b) productivity or injectivity index, (c) fluid
properties & (d) rock properties and geological data.
• Geographical factors such as:

(a) location, (b) water depth (if offshore), (c) weather
conditions & (d) accessibility.
• Operational design constraints such as:

(a) environmental regulations & (b) safety aspects
• The number of producing zones.

Wireline Servicing of Completion Accessories
• Typical Wireline applications:
1. Installation of completion equipment prior to running the
production tubing e.g. a packer and a tailpipe.
2. Installation or retrieval of equipment within the tubing string e.g.

valves, pressure gauges, etc.
3. Operation of downhole equipment to either divert or shut off

fluid flow. e.g. open a SSD, install bridge plug
4. Removal of materials which have built up in the tubing string e.g.

wax or sand.
5. Adjustment of the completion interval (perforating)

Wireline can work on a “live” well
 Wireline intervention & surface equipment must allow:
• Lowering and retrieval of the tool string to the (downhole)
work location & its subsequent retrieval.
• Monitoring of tool position & cable tension.
• Equipment to position lubricator & tool string vertically

above well & lower through Xmas tree & into the tubing.
• The ability to insert tool string into live well & prevent well
fluid from escaping into the environment.
• A blowout preventor capable of sealing the annulus around

the wire & cutting, if necessary, the wireline 109
Prepared by: John Bosco Aliganyira; Bsc.Mech.Eng (MUK), Msc.Oil & Gas Eng.(With Distinction)-UOA-UK
Well Completions
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INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF

PTE 3161: PETROLEUM PRODUCTION

 The borehole provides a conduit for the flow of fluid either

Certain equipment must be placed in the wellbore, and

The term ‘completion’ describes the assembly of Down hole

Minimise the total costs per unit volume of fluid produced

Ensure safety across the entire completion spectrum

Maximise the integrity and reliability of the completion over

2. Completion Integrity Assurance:

4. Well Life Cycle Management

Geographical factors such as:

Operational design constraints such as:

The number of producing zones.

 Reservoir Consideration: Reservoir considerations involve:

 Producing Rate - to provide maximum economic recovery is often the

 Multiple Reservoirs - penetrated by a well pose the problem of multiple

 Secondary Recovery - needs may require a completion method

 Stimulation - may require special perforating patterns to permit

 Workover - frequency, probably high where several reservoirs

 Artificial Lift - may mean single completions even where multiple

 The mechanical configuration of the well is the key to being able

 Formation damage is related to the well hookup, both minimising

 Mechanically well completion design is a complex engineering

 Maximise profit considering the time value of money

 Overall reliability -which depends on reliability of individual

 Anticipate all operating conditions, and associated pressure

 Safety must be designed into the well. In offshore,

b) the number of completions within the wellbore

c) the diameter of the production conduit

d) the completion interval

 Produce or inject into the reservoir with minimal loss of flowing

 Minimise reservoir fluid contact with production casing (annulus

 Remotely shut-off flow downhole when required.

 Selectively circulate between annulus and tubing

 Install a plug in the tubing eg for pressure testing

(4) Sand production should be effectively controlled in order to prevent the

(7) The requirements of steam injection should be met during the

(8) The conditions of side-tracking should be provided in the later

(9) The conditions of drilling horizontal branch holes of a horizontal

(12) Simple and convenient operations and good economic benefits

Selection of flow conduit between reservoir and surface

Completion string facilities

Completion string components

Wireline servicing of completion accessories

Pre-drilled / pre-slotted liner or screen completion

Casing or liner with annular cementation and subsequent

 It involves leaving the entire reservoir open after drilling.

 No casing or liner is cemented in place across the production

 However, this type of completion does mean that the entire

 It is therefore not recommended for production or injection wells

It minimizes expenses since no equipment requires to be

It saves time and minimizes formation damage.

No perforation required.

It is limited to highly competent reservoirs (consolidated

Lack of zonal control for production or injection is another

Open hole completion limits the control of well fluids.

Deep, consolidated reservoirs being produced by depletion

Naturally fractured reservoirs

Some horizontal and multi-lateral wells with high depletion

 The casing is set above the primary zone and an un-cemented

 The screen or liner is installed to prevent sand production into

 The success of the completion in controlling sand production is

 This system is also used in high angle wells to prevent major

This technique minimizes formation damage and gives the

Lecture 2&3-Well Completions

Lecture 2&3-Well Completions