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
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 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:
1. Cost of perforating long zones may be significant
2. Not adaptable to special drilling techniques to minimize
formation damage
3. 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 thru-
tubing 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