Well Completion Design

The well is our only communication with

the reservoir
The effectiveness of that communication is
a large factor in reservoir drainage as well
as overall economics
The individual well completion must be
designed to yield maximum overall
profitability on a field basis

Factors Influencing Well Completion

Design
The ideal completion is the lowest cost
completion (initial and operating costs)
To design a well completion, a reasonable
estimate of the producing characteristics
during the well life must be made. Both
reservoir and mechanical considerations
must be evaluated.

1- Reservoir Considerations:
The reservoir considerations involve the
location of various fluid in the
formations penetrated by the wellbore,
the flow of these fluids through the
reservoir rock, and the characteristics
of the rock itself.

Reservoir Considerations (continue)

Producing rate to provide maximum economic
recovery is the starting point for well completion
design
Multiple reservoirs penetrated by wellbore pose the
problem of multiple completion in one drilled hole

Reservoir drive mechanism may determine whither

or not the completion interval will have to be
adjusted as gas-oil or water-oil contacts move

Secondary recovery needs may require a completion

method conductive to selective injection or
production

Reservoir Considerations (continue)

Stimulation may require special perforating patterns
to permit zone isolation, perhaps adaptability to
high injection rate
Sand control problems alone may dictate the type of
completion method and maximum production rates
Work-over frequency, probably high where several
reservoirs must be drained through one wellbore ,
often dictate a completion conductive to wire-line or
through-tubing type recompletion system
Artificial lift may means single completions even
where multiple zones exist

2- Mechanical Considerations
The mechanical configuration or well
hookup is often is the key to being able to
deplete the reservoir effectively, monitor
down-hole performance, and modify the
well situation.
Formation damage is related to the well
hook-up, both minimizing damage initially
and relieving the effects of damage later

Mechanical Considerations (continue)

Basic philosophy is to design to specific well conditions,
field conditions, and area conditions
1. Maximize profit considering the time value of money
2. Keep the installation simple, both from equipment
and procedural stand-points
3. Overall reliability depends on reliability of individual
components and the number of components
4. Anticipate all operating conditions, and associated
pressure and temperature force
5. Safety must be designed into the well, automatic
shut-in systems and well pressure control methods
must be considered

Method of Completion
There are two methods of completing a well:
1. Open-hole where casing is set on top of the
producing interval and has greater application in
carbonate zone
2. Perforating casing where casing is cemented
through the producing interval and communication
is established by perforating
Each method has inherent advantages and limitations

1- Open-Hole Completion
Advantages:
1. Adaptable to special drilling techniques to minimize
formation damage or to prevent lost circulation into
the producing zone
2. With gravel pack, provides excellent sand control
3. No perforating expense
4. Log interpretation is not critical since entire interval
is open
5. Full diameter opposite pay
6. Can be easily deepened
7. Easily converted to liner or perforated completion

Open-Hole Completion (continue)

Limitations:
1. Excessive gas or water production difficult to
control
2. Selective fracing or acidizing more difficult
3. Casing set in the dark before the pay is drilled or
logged
4. Requires more rig time on completion
5. May require frequent clean-out

2- Perforated Completion
Casing cemented through producing zone and
perforated.
Advantages:
1. Excessive gas or water production can be controlled
more easily
2. Can be selectively stimulated
3. Logs and formation samples available to assist in
decision to set casing or abandon
4. Full diameter opposite pay
5. Easily deepened

Perforated Completion (continue)

6. Will control most sands, and is adaptable to special sand control
techniques
7. Adaptable to multiple completion techniques
8. Minimum rig time on completion
Limitations:
9. Cost of perforating long zones may be significant
10.Not adaptable to special drilling techniques to minimize
formation damage
11.Log interpretation sometimes critical in order not to miss
commercial sands, yet avoid perforating submarginal zones
N.B. it should be recognized that a poor primary cement bond in
effect converts a perforated casing completion to an open-hole
completion

Conventional tubular Configuration

The reasons for tubing are:
1. Better flow efficiency
2. Permit circulation of kill fluids, corrosion inhibitors,
or paraffin solvents
3. Provide multiple flow paths for artificial lift system
4. Protect casing from corrosion, abrasion, or pressure
5. Provide means of monitoring bottom-hole flowing
pressure
Tubing should be run open-ended and set above
highest alternate completion interval to permit thrutubing wire-line survey and remedial work.

Conventional tubular Configuration (continue)

The objective of run a Packer are:
1. Improve or stabilize flow
2. Protect casing from well fluids or pressure, however,
it should be recognized that use a packer may
increase pressure on casing in the event of a tubing
leak.
3. Contain pressure on conjunction with an artificial
lift system or safety shut-in system
4. Hold an annular well-killing fluid
Where packers are used, landing nipples and
circulating devices are desirable to be installed

Conventional tubular Configuration (continue)

Types of completion configurations:

1. Single-zone completion
2. Multiple zone completion
. Single String Single packer
. Single String Duel Packer
. Single String multiple Packer Selective Zone
3. Parallel String multiple Packer

Sizing production Tubulars

The size of the production string casing depends
upon
The diameter of flow conduit needed to produce
the desired flow stream,
The method of artificial lift, if required or
Specialized completion problems such as sand
control.

Sizing production Tubulars (continue)

Size of the production tubing depends primarily on the
desired production rate which depends upon:
Static reservoir pressure
Inflow performance relation
Pressure drop in tubing
Pressure drop through the well-head constrictions
Pressure drop through flow line
Pressure level in the surface separating facilities