WELL SERVICES

An Overview of Well
Services
Operations

By Sanjeev Aggarwal
 An Overview of Production Activities

Sanjeev Aggarwal
Chief Engineer (Production)
B.E(Mech.)— I.I.T, Roorkee
M.B.A (Finance)
Certified Project Mgmt. Professional — P.M.I (U.S.A)
L.L.B (Professional)

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power.

We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
Martin Luther King

SANJEEV AGGARWAL, CE(P)

 WELL SERVICES

 Well Testing.

 Well Completion.
 Artificial Lift.
 Well Stimulation
Work Over Operations..
 Non Flowing Wells
SICK WELLS are those connected wells which presently
ceased after production but which can be put back on
production with greater degree of certainty after remedial
measures.
OTHER NON- FLOWING : These are those wells which are closed/ not
put on production due to any of the following reasons such as:
- Reservoir control for regulating production.
- Tubing choke due to deposition of paraffin/sludge etc.
- Flowline choke/leak
- Negligible/no- flow (High GOR/High water cut, low or
doubtful potential wells and wells needing innovative
techniques for production.
- Awaiting flowline connection/production facilities/Artificial
lift surface hook-up etc.
- Awaiting stimulation/activation or completion equip.etc.
 Well Interventions
No CTU or Wire line CTU Wire line Winch Work over
( X-mas tree removal )
1. Oil circulation (cold or HOC) 1. HOC 1. Setting /retrieving equip:
2. Acid jobs 2. Sand washing 2. GLV, SSV, Choke, in L/N& 1. Recompletion
3 . Zylene job 3. Chemical spotting mandrel 2. A/L
4. Surfactant jobs 4. Acid job 3. P/Packers can 3. Gravel Pack
be set in casing
5. Cement squeeze : 4.Fishing : 4. Water Shut off
- Water control -Retrieving stuck tool 5. Perforation
- Gas Control - lost tool, wire 6. Capital repair
4. Impression Block
6. Scale removal 5. Well logging
7.Fishing - ( Elect ,Gama, Temp,
8. Drilling sound , density,etc)
6. Perforating
7. Paraffin cutting
8. Sand bailing
9. To open & close :
- Sliding sleeve or
Circulating port
10. To prove hole
 Definition Work over

 Work over is any operation performed on

a well to restore or increase its production
or Injection which requires Rig .

 Although the abandonment procedures

carried out on a well after it has ceased
producing are also considered a work
over.
 WORK OVER JOBS

 Water Shut-Off

 Gas Shut-Off
 Gravel Packing
 Installation / Servicing Artificial Lift System
 Fishing
 Testing & Transfer to Other Objects
 Fishing, Milling & Stuck-up Removal & Recompletion
 Detection & Repair of Casing Damage
 Detection & Repair of Channeling Behind Casing
 WO Planning

 Identification of problem
 Design a plan that will correctly for solving the
well problem
 Formulate a step-by-step field plan to implement
the design
 Design the repair procedure logically
 Optimize the work over time and money
 Plan to avoid further work over rig deployment
 Work over plan is to be designed to meet the
need of the problem
 Selection of Rig

 Load capacity
 P/O tubing or not
 Weight of tubing ppf (2000 m 6.5 ppf
2 7/8” tubing weighs 20 tons)
 Size of tubing
 Pump capacity
 Rotary requirements
 Depth of well
 Depth of water (For Offshore)
TRUCK MOUNTED RIGS
TRUCK MOUNTED RIGS
 Modular Rig

 Modular Rigs are basically a platform

mounted work over rigs with light
weight components
 Platforms have to be checked for their
structural as well as space adequacy
for installation of such rigs on top of
platform.
 The modular rig is equipped with
hydraulic skidding system that allows
it to reach all the wells on the
platform, as and when required.
 Limited crew members are allowed
 Modular Rig
Two modular rigs are presently deployed in western
offshore. Some of the facilities available on these rigs
for carrying out work over jobs are:
• Static hook load capacity of 125 Tons
• Well Servicing pump of 600 HP
• Cementing & mixing pump of 240 HP
• Work over fluid capacity of 600 barrels
• 11” x 5K double ram BOP plus annular BOP
• Work string 3 ½” & 2 3/8” IF “G” class
• Modular crane of 15 MT capacity
• Other auxiliary equipments-Cement silo, mixing tank, power
pack, compressor, living quarters, fishing tools, handling
tools etc.
 Jack Up Rig
 The slot-type jack-up rig has 03
individual legs which can be
independently raised/lowered to
make the rig structure level and
stable at any location.
 The drilling mast can be shifted
from one slot to another without
moving the rig
 Water depths not more than 90
m.
 Also, such rigs cannot be
deployed at locations with
varying / soft soil conditions
which can lead to sudden unsafe
tilting of the rig.
 Floaters Rigs

 Anchor Moored Rigs - placement of

6 to 8 anchors on the sea bed.
 The anchors are kept under tension
to hold the vessel on place.
 Water depths up to 1000 m.
 In DP (Dynamic Positioning)
vessels , the station keeping is
achieved through propellers and
water depths up to 3000 m.
However, since the propellers have
to be in operation continuously, the
operating cost of such vessels is
very high.
 Semi submersibles
Casing 13 3/8” Casing 30"

Casing 20"
Casing 9 5/8”
 Wellhead Equipment

Wellhead
• are attached to the top
of the various casing
strings used in a well
• to support the tubular
strings, hang them,
provide seals between
strings and control
production from the
well.
• These equipment are
covered by American
Petroleum Institute
(API) Specification – 6A.
Well Head
X-mas Tree
 X-mass Tree

 X-mass Tree
• A Christmas tree is usually the first device
encountered by a work over crew
• It is an assembly of valves, spools,
flanges, and connections that control the
flow of fluids from the well.
• Because a Christmas tree controls the flow
of fluids from a well, crew members must
be careful not to damage it when they
move in and rig up.
 BOP Stack
 It is composed of stripper
assembly and hydraulically
operated rams that are
generally rated for minimum
working pressure of 10,000 psi

 Ram Preventer: The BOPs are

placed below the stripper
assembly. The standard
arrangement for a four ram
arrangement ( Top to bottom)
for coiled tubing is as follows
Rams
 First set : Blind ram
 Second set : shear ram
 Third Set : Slip Ram
 Fourth Set : Pipe Ram
 WELL COMPLETION

• Well Completion is a technique where

equipment are selected & installed in a
well to get optimal production safely
for entire foreseeable producing life of
an oil or gas well
 WELL COMPLETION DESIGN

• Completion design is a function of

numerous reservoir characteristics,
such as
- Permeability
- Porosity
- Saturation Pressure
- Stability, and
- Compartmentalization
 Production String Tubing
• Nominal Dia
– Max. flow rate corresponding to erosion vel.
– Min. flow rate necessary to lift water or condensate by
the gas
– Space required by coupling

• Grade of steel and Nominal weight

– Stress to withstand during production

• Type of connection and metallurgy

– Type & corrosiveness of producing fluid
 Production Tubing

• major conduit for the well's

produced fluids.
• protects the casing from
pressure and corrosion.
• most common sizes are 2-7/8"
OD (73.02 mm) , 2 3/8" OD
(60.32 mm), and 3 ½”
• Tubing normally runs from the
wellhead to the production
zone.
• Tubing is classified by size
(OD, ID, tool joint OD, ID),
weight (lbs/ft), and grades
such as J-55 and N-80.
 Subsurface Safety Valves
(SSSV)
• SSSV provide the ultimate protection against
uncontrolled flow from producing oil & gas wells in case
of catastrophic damage to wellhead equipment.
• Safety valves are essential in offshore wells and many
land wells located in sensitive environments, or in wells
that produce hazardous gases.
• Regulations & Standards applied
• API 14A / ISO 10432: Specification for Subsurface Safety
Valve Equipment
• API RP14B / ISO 10417: Design, Installation, Repair and
Operation of Subsurface Safety Valve Systems
• US MMS-30 CFR-250: USA Federal Laws
• PNG (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008
 Production Packers

Applications / Uses
 Casing protection
 Separation of multiple
zones
 Zone isolation
 Gas lift installations
 Subsurface safety control
 WELL TESTING
Well Testing is the first major activity by production crew after
completion of DRILLING Operations

 WELL TESTING IS CARRIED OUT TO GET THE FOLOWING

INFORMATION
1. DELIVERABILITY OF THE WELL
2. AVERAGE RESERVOIR PRESSURE
3. OPTIMUM SELECTION OF COMPLETION EQUIPMENT
4. PREDICTION OF RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE AND
NEED OF OTHER APPLICATIONS
 DETAILED TESTING PLAN SHOULD BE PREPARED
1. Involvement since initial plan for DRILLING

2. A Good Testing Technique , Reliable Equipment MUST for Reliable

Results

3. Equipment Layout and their Placement should suit local conditions

4. Equipment Checklist and Operability Test should be done PRIOR to

Well Testing.

5. Completion Equipment & Alternative If any to be prepared in

ADVANCE
 CONVENTIONAL WELL TESTING PROCEDURE
PLANNING WELL TEST

EQUIPMENT CHECK

FIELD TEST ING

OK HERMETICAL NOT OK
PERFORATION
TESTING WELL REPAIR JOB

OK NOT
NOT OK OK
ACTIVATION STIMULATION ZONE ABANDON

OK
WELL COMPLETION

CONECTION TO GGS
 Well Stimulation
To remove well bore damage
- To restore / improve production from the well
- To improve / restore infectivity of the injectors
- To enhance recovery factor from the field
- To improve economics of exploitation
Methods
 Acidization
 Solvent
 Emulsified acid
 Surfactant ( Viscoelastic)
 Hydro fracturing
 Acid fracturing
 Foam Fracturing
COIL TUBING SERVICES

A NEW GENERATION
WORK OVER EQUIPMENT
 CONVENTIONAL CT
OPERATIONS

• Jetting for
– Bottom Clean out
– Screen Clean out
– Foam Clean out
• Activation for Production
• Paraffin Removal
• Stimulation
• Emergency Well control
SCHEMATICS OF COILED
TUBING UNIT
 INTRODUCTION

• Introduction of hydraulic workover rigs

opened a new chapter for workover
operations.
– ADVANTAGES
• JOBS DONE UNDER PRESSURE
• WELLS NEED NOT BE KILLED
• QUICKER PRODUCTION
• PORTABLE
• NO DANGER FOR BLOW OUT
– UNITS IN OPERATION IN ONGC
• COIL TUBING UNIT
• SNUBBING UNIT

Contd..
 COIL TUBING UNIT

• Second generation hydraulic system

for well servicing under pressure.
• Highly deviated wells can be logged
or perforated with CTU.
• Economical and time saving.
• CT completions are most popular.
• Latest application includes side
tracking, window cutting, under balance
& multilateral drilling.
 ADVANTAGES OF CT
SYSTEM

• Well servicing under pressure.

• No formation damage & kill fluid.
• Circulation while RIH & POOH.
• Maximum handling speed 250 ft/min.
• Only method for packer completed
wells.
• Logging & perforating of highly deviated
wells.
• Drilling is also possible.
 LIMITATIONS OF CT
SYSTEM

• CT strength - 70,000 psi. Avg. Min.

Yield for QT-70.
• Pumping pr. –
– 1-1/2”: 7,500 psi
– 1-1/4”: 5,000psi
• Well head pr. - 2,500 psi
• Coil tubing string can not be
rotated.
• RIH & POOH of production tubing is not
possible.
Activation for Production

Choke
Fluid return
CTU
Reel
Coil Tubing
Production
Tubing
Sand

Nitrogen
Pumper
 Artificial Lift
Any system that adds energy to the fluid column
in a wellbore with the objective of initiating and
improving production from the well
Types of Artificial Lift
Artificial-lift methods fall into two groups,
Pump Types
• Beam Pumping / Sucker Rod Pumps (Rod Lift)
• Progressive Cavity Pumps
• Subsurface Hydraulic Pumps
• Electric Submersible Pumps
Gas Method
• Gas Lift
 Sucker Rod Pumps
• This type utilizes a positive
displacement pump that is
inserted or set in the tubing near
the bottom of the well.
• The pump plunger is connected
to surface by a long rod string,
called sucker rods, and operated
by a beam unit at surface.
• Each upstroke of the beam unit
lifts the oil above the pump’s
plunger
 Electric Submersible Pumping
• an electric motor and centrifugal pump
unit run on a production string and
connected back to the surface control
mechanism and transformer via an
electric power cable.
• The power cable is banded to the
tubing and plugs into the top of the
motor.

• In most cases the motor is located on

the bottom of the work string.
• Above the motor is the seal section, the
intake or gas separator, and the pump.
 Gas Lift
• Compressed gas is injected
through gas lift mandrels and
valves into the production string.
• The injected gas lowers the
hydrostatic pressure in the
production string to re-establish
the required pressure differential
between the reservoir and wellbore,
thus causing the formation fluids to
flow to the surface.
• liquid is lightened by the gas which
allows the reservoir pressure to
force the fluids to surface.
 Work over Procedure -Offshore

The procedure for working over a well, in general,

involves the following steps:
 Lock open SCSSV(Surface Controlled SSV)
 Stop gas injection and bleed off annulus gas through burner in
case of gas injection wells.
 Bulldoze string volume (twice) into formation with water.
 Fill annulus with seawater.
 Perforate 5 m above packer.
 Circulate and kill well. Under loss conditions a LCM pill is
placed and in case activity is observed ten brine of sufficient
specific gravity is circulated.
 The tubing condition is assessed using Multiple Imaging Tool
(MIT).
 Work over Procedure-Contd

– In case the tubing condition is very bad then cut

tubing and fish out packer separately.
– In case tubing condition permits over pull then
try to release the packer and string directly.
 POOH old completion string.
 Make bit & scraper trip to required depth.
 Re-perforate / add layers and re-complete the well.
 Activate through gas injection in case of gas
injection well.
 Stimulation job, if required.
 Hand over the well to platform.
 “We must become the change
we want to see.”
M.K.Gandhi

Let us strive to make tomorrow

brighter….

SANJEEV AGGARWAL, CE(P)

SANJEEV AGGARWAL, CE(P)