Chapter 3 - Well Completion Practices PDF

SKPP 3423 - Well Completion
Chapter 3 – Well Completion Practices
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Farag Mohamed

Department of Petroleum Engineering
Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
3.1 Factors affecting well completion
3.2 Types of well completion
3.3 Production tubing size selection
3.4 Completion interval
3.5 Well head installation
Students should be able to:
 Describe types of completion.
 Choose a suitable well completion.
 Choose a suitable tubing size for a given reservoir
system.
 Describe the factors that affect selection of completion
interval.
 Discuss the components of a wellhead assembly.
 Recommend wellhead rating to maintain well integrity.
3.1 Factors affecting well completion
The major factors which influence the well completions mainly
related to Reservoir Consideration.
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.

1. Reservoir consideration … (cont.)
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.
3.2 Types of well completion
Type of Well Completions
Well Classifications
Wellbore and Flowing Flowing

Inclination
reservoir interaction path method
Open Hole Tubingless Natural flow Vertical
Cased Hole Single Artificial lift Deviated
Liner Multiple Horizontal
Multilateral
Wellbore and reservoir interaction
 1. Open Hole Completions Tubing
Production casing to be set Production casing
above the zone of interests.
Packer
Wellbore and reservoir interaction (cont.)
 2. Cased Hole Completion
Production casing is
cemented through the
producing zone and the pay Production casing
section is selectively
perforated.
Perfora
tion
 3. Liner Completions.
A liner is install across the pay zone. Can be Tubing
divided into three: Screen Liner, Slotted Liner,
and Perforated Liner. Production casing
o 3.a. Screen Liner:
Casing is set above the producing zone,
and an uncemented screen and liner Packer
assembly is installed across the pay zone.
Screen and
liner assembly
 3. Liner Completions (cont.)
o 3.b. Perforated Liner Completion:
Casing is set above the producing Production casing
zone, and a liner assembly is
installed across the pay zone and
cemented in place. The liner is then
perforated selectively for
production.
Liner
Perforation
Flowing path
 1. Tubingless Completions.
The tubingless completion
Production Casing
method 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
Perforation
from production strings or
isolation systems.
Flowing path (cont.)
 2. Single String Completions
This system has only one tubing string run in hole.
Can be divided into four: Packerless, Pakered, Commingle,
and Selective.
 2. Single String Completions
o 2.a. Packerless Completion:
Packerless completion is a more financially
advantageous system. Here, only the
production tubing is placed in the well, and it
is possible to produce both through it and
through the annulus (Fig.). 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 & casing materials. Moreover, it
is difficult to detect leaks in the tubing or the
casing. Packerless Single
String
 2. Single String Completions (cont.)
o 2.b. Packer Single String:
The single string completion using hydraulic
isolation and just one string. It consists in the
use of a single tubing string that is lowered
into the well together with an isolation device
for the formation section to be produced,
called the packer
Packer Single String

o 2.c. Commingle Single String:
The single string completion using hydraulic
isolation and just one string is convenient
when the production layers appears to be
homogeneous and a selective-zone
production is not necessary.
Commingle Single
String
o 2.d. Selective Single String:
Where there are several production layers
for one fluid, a single selective completion is
used. This system has only one tubing string
and several packers that isolate the various
production levels.
By using wire-line operations it is possible to
open and close the valves so as to allow
production on single layers.
Selective single string

 3. Multiple String Completions
The multiple tubing string completion uses, at the most,
two (Dual-String) or three tubings, isolated by packers
and producing on different levels at the same time (Fig.).
This solution is useful when the reservoir presents
different layers of mineralization, for example gas and oil,
or different types of oil, because it allows us to produce
selectively according to necessity, while keeping
production active on various levels at the same time. For
the single tubing strings, it is always possible to adopt a
solution similar to the single selective completion, thus
obtaining a multiple selective completion. This system’s
drawback is the limited diameter of the tubing which in
turn reduces the flow capacity of each tubing string.
Selective single string
Flowing method
 1. Natural Flow Completion
A well in which the formation
pressure is sufficient to produce
oil at a commercial rate without
requiring a pump. Most
reservoirs are initially at
pressures high enough to allow
a well to flow naturally.
Nodal analysis
Flowing method (cont.)
 2. Artificial Lift Completion
Definition - Any system that adds energy to the fluid column in a wellbore with
the objective of initiating and/or improving production from the well.
So, the main purpose of artificial lift systems is to provide the fluid with the
necessary energy to reach the
surface and continue flowing to
the primary treatment plants.
The main types of lifts are:
a) Sucker rod pumps;
b) Hydraulic lifts;
c) Electrical Submersible
Pumps (ESP);
d) Gas lifts;
e) Progressive Cavity Pumps
Artificial lift systems (PCP).
 2. Artificial Lift Completion (cont.)
a) Sucker rod pumps (SRP)
AL with SRP are made up of a cylinder, a piston,
an aspiration valve and a release valve. The piston
is connected to the surface by a string of pipes,
and is activated by an eccentric system or a crank
and slotted link that transforms the engine’s rotary
movement into an up and down motion. During the
descending phase, the valve in the piston opens
and the one in the cylinder shuts. This ensures the
passage of the oil from the cylinder towards the
delivery pipe above the piston. During the
ascending phase, the valve in the piston shuts and
the one in the cylinder opens. In this manner, the
piston pushes the liquid in the delivery pipe up to
the surface enabling more oil to be sucked in to fill
the cylinder.
b) Hydraulic lifts
Hydraulic pump systems use a power fluid—usually light oil or
water—that is injected from the surface to operate a downhole
pump. Multiple wells can be produced using a single surface
power fluid installation.
With a reciprocating hydraulic pump, the injected power fluid
operates a downhole fluid engine, which drives a piston to pump
formation fluid and spent power fluid to the surface.
A jet pump is a type of hydraulic pump with no moving parts.
Power fluid is injected into the pump body and into a small-
diameter nozzle, where it becomes a low-pressure, high-velocity
jet. Formation fluid mixes with the power fluid, and then passes
into an expanding-diameter diffuser. This reduces the velocity of
the fluid mixture, while causing its pressure to increase to a level
that is sufficient to lift it to the surface.
c) Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP)
An electric submersible pumping (ESP)
assembly consists of a downhole
centrifugal pump driven by a submersible
electric motor, which is connected to a
power source at the surface
d) Gas lifts
A gas lift completion allows hydrocarbons to reach the
surface by means of the reduction of the hydrostatic load
downhole.
Gas lift involves injecting high-pressure gas from the
surface into the producing fluid column through one or
more subsurface valves set at predetermined depths.
There are two main types of gas lift:
1. Continuous gas lift, where gas is injected
in a constant, uninterrupted stream.
2. Intermittent gas lift, which is designed for
lower-productivity wells. In this type of gas
lift installation, a volume of formation fluid
accumulates inside the production tubing.
A high-pressure “slug” of gas is then
injected below the liquid.
e) Progressive Cavity Pumps (PCP)
As the rotor turns, cavities between the rotor and
stator move upward.
Progressive cavity pumps are commonly used for
dewatering coalbed methane gas wells, for
production and injection applications in waterflood
projects and for producing heavy or high-solids oil.
They are versatile, generally very efficient, and
excellent for handling fluids with high solids content.
However, because of the torsional stresses placed on
rod strings and temperature limitations on the stator
elastomers, they are not used in deeper wells.
Inclination
Vertical Deviated
 1. Vertical Completion
A vertical well is a
borehole that is aimed
directly at a target beneath
it. A vertical well does not
have a truly vertical
borehole, but it is more or
less aimed straight down at
a reservoir of oil or gas
rather than being turned
horizontally at a designated
point.
Inclination (cont.)
 2. Deviated Completion
Deviated completion refers to complete a wellbore to reach a target, or a
number of targets, located at some horizontal distance from the top of the hole.
Inclination (cont.)
 3. Horizontal Completion
A horizontal well is a well
which has sections that
have been drilled at more
than 80 degrees from the
vertical in order to
penetrate a greater length
of the reservoir. A well
which has sections more
than 80 degrees from the
vertical is called a
horizontal well.
Inclination (cont.)
 4. Multilateral Completion
A multilateral completion is a
completion that has two or
more drainage holes (or
secondary laterals or
branches or arms or legs)
drilled from a primary well
bore (or trunk or main bore
or mother bore or
backbore). Both trunk or
branches can be horizontal,
vertical or deviated.
Well Classifications
Wellbore and Flowing Flowing

Inclination
reservoir interaction path method
Open Hole Tubingless Natural flow Vertical
Cased Hole Single Artificial lift Deviated
Liner Multiple Horizontal
Multilateral
3.3 Production tubing size selection
Introduction
The pipe centred in the annulus of an oil and/or gas
well through which the hydrocarbons flow from the
formation to the surface is called tubing.
It is important to size tubing properly. If too small,

production will be restricted, limiting the profitability of
the well, also may erosion occurs. However, tubing that
is too large can reduce fluid velocity and allow for
build up of produced water that can kill the well.
Large tubing will also affect the economics of the
project, adding to the cost of the overall well design.
Introduction (cont.)
Tubulars are selected for the specific conditions anticipated in a given
well.
The anticipated production flow rates and economics of the well

determine tubing size, which then determines the necessary size of
each previous hole and tubular.
Once the tubular size and setting depths are determined, the wall
thickness and grade of material are then chosen by the well
designer to ensure the strength is adequate for the expected loads.
Material grade is also selected to ensure it is appropriate for the fluids
the tubular will encounter; corrosion resistant alloys (CRA) may be
required in some environments such as CO2 or H2S.
Finally, tubular connections are selected based on dimensional

needs, load capacity, and gas-vs-liquid seal-ability.
Elements of Tubing Size Selection
 Usually requires a nodal analysis program and

some very good information about the well’s
productivity over time.
 An error in the flow data can cause a quick error in

the tubing sizing.
Nodal Analysis
Instructional Objectives
 Explain the concept of Nodal Analysis.
 List 4 segments in the reservoir/well system where
pressure loss occurs.
 Define the following terms: - Inflow Performance Curve,

- Outflow Performance Curve,
- System Graph,
- Solution Node.
Nodal Analysis (cont.)
 The systems analysis approach,
often called NODALTM Analysis,
has been applied for many years
to analyze the performance of
systems composed of interacting
components. Electrical circuits,
complex pipeline network and
centrifugal pumping systems are
all analyzed using this method.
 The procedure consists of

selecting a division point or node
in the well and dividing the
system at this point. The
location of the most commonly
used nodes are shown in the
following slides.
 All the components upstream of the
node comprise the inflow section,
while the outflow section consists
of all the components downstream
of the node.
 A relationship between flow rate

and pressure drop must be
available for each component in the
system. The flow rate through the
system can be determined once the
following requirements are
satisfied:
• Flow into the node equals
flow out of the node
• Only one pressure can exists at
a node.
Once the node is selected, the node pressure is calculated from both
directions starting at the fixed pressures.
Inflow to the node:

PR – p (upstream components) = Pnode
Outflow from the node:

Psep + p (downstream components) = Pnode
Solution Node at Bottom Hole
How do we determine the right flow rate?
We know the separator pressure and the average reservoir pressure.
 We start in the reservoir at the average reservoir pressure, pr, and assume a flow rate. This lets
us calculate the pressure just beyond the completion, pwfs. We can then calculate the pressure
drop across the completion, and the bottomhole pressure pwf. This pressure is valid only for the
assumed flow rate.
 Or, we may start at the separator at psep, and
calculate the pressure drop in the flowline to
find the wellhead pressure, pwh. Then we can
calculate the bottomhole pressure pwf. Again,
this pressure is valid only for the assumed
flow rate.
 The two calculated bottomhole pressures will
probably not be the same. If not, then the
assumed rate is wrong.
 “Nodal” analysis refers to the fact that we have
to choose a point or “node” in the system at
which we evaluate the pressure – in this case,
the bottom of the wellbore. This point is referred
to as the solution point or solution node.
Solution Node at Bottom Hole (cont.)
 Lets assume that the well is completed open hole, and that the well is neither damaged nor
stimulated. In this case, the pressure drop across the completion is zero.
 For the moment, we ignore the wellbore and the flowline.
 If the flow rate is 0, the bottomhole pressure pwf will be the same as the average reservoir pressure,
pr. As we increase the flow rate, the pressure drop in the reservoir segment increases - causing
the bottomhole pressure pwf to decrease.
When we graph the flowing bottomhole
pressure as a function of flow rate, the
result is a curve intersecting the y-axis
at the initial reservoir pressure, and
intersecting the x-axis at the maximum
rate the well would produce if opened
to the atmosphere at the perforations.
 This curve is usually referred to as the
“inflow curve” or the “reservoir curve”.
 Until we take into account the pressure
drop within the wellbore, this curve tells
us very little about the rate at which the
well will produce for a given wellhead
pressure.
 Now let’s assume that the separator is so close to the wellhead that we
may ignore the pressure drop through the flowline.
 At some low flow rate, perhaps 200 STB/D, the flowing bottomhole
pressure may be 1500 psi. In order to increase the flow rate without
changing the surface pressure,
we have to raise the flowing
bottomhole pressure.
 This curve is usually referred to
as the “outflow curve” or the
“tubing performance curve”.
 Until we take into account the
reservoir behavior, this curve
also tells us almost nothing
about the rate at which the
well will produce.
 The inflow curve describes the relationship between the bottomhole pressure and the flow rate in
the reservoir.
 The outflow curve describes the relationship between the bottomhole pressure and flow rate in the
wellbore.
 When we graph these two curves on the same
graph, we refer to this as the “system graph”.
The intersection of the inflow curve and the
outflow curve gives the one unique flow rate at
which the well will produce for a specified set of
reservoir and wellbore properties. The point of
intersection will also give the unique bottomhole
pressure at which this rate will occur.
 If we had chosen a different point as our solution
node, the shapes of the curves would have been
different. The y-coordinate of the intersection of
the inflow and outflow curves would have given
the pressure at the new solution node. The flow
rate at which the curves intersect, however, will
be the same no matter where the solution node
is taken. Calculated intersection points may differ slightly because of numerical errors.
Solution Node at Wellhead
What if we take the solution node at the wellhead? Again, we know the
separator pressure and the average reservoir pressure.
 As with the bottomhole node, we start in the reservoir at the average reservoir
pressure, pr, and assume a flow rate. This lets us calculate the pressure just
beyond the completion, pwfs.
 We can then calculate the

pressure drop across the
completion, and the
bottomhole pressure pwf.
 Finally, we calculate the

pressure drop up the
wellbore to find the wellhead
pressure pwh.
 This pressure is valid only

for the assumed flow rate.
Solution Node at Wellhead (cont.)
Tubing Sizing Analysis
For Tubing Sizing Analysis
 The node is selected at the Wellbore
 The flow into the node is called INFLOW, while flow

out of the node is called OUTFLOW
 At the selected node, whenever the system can flow,

two conditions are always satisfied:
o Flowrate into node = Flowrate out of node
o ONLY one pressure can exists at the node = Pnode =

Pwf
 The tubing size selection should be made before a well is drilled because
the tubing size dictates the casing size which dictates the hole size.
 Sensitivity analysis can help to identify flow restrictions in the well.
 This slide shows how the size
of the production tubing
affects the well production.
 There is an optimum size for
any well system. Tubing too
small will restrict the
production rate because high
friction losses. On the other
hand a tubing too large may
cause a well load up with
liquid and die.
Nodal Analysis Applications
 Selecting tubing size
 Selecting flow-line size
 Gravel pack design
 Artificial lift design
 Identifying flow restrictions
 Surface choke sizing
 Effects of perforating density
 Subsurface valve sizing
 Well stimulation evaluation
Inflow Performance Relationship, IPR (cont.)
Darcy's law works great for single phase fluid flowing into a reservoir but
when gas comes "out of solution" in the reservoir the free gas in the reservoir
will compete with the liquid phase for the space available in the reservoir
The liquid flow we get

Pr < Pb
as the friction loss in the
reservoir is increased Pwf Pressure - psi
will be less than we
would predict using Darcy's law
Darcy's law! predicted
Qmax
Graphically it would look Actual
Qmax
like this graph:
0
0 Q - Flow Rate
(BPD)
When the average
reservoir pressure is
above the bubble point
and the flowing bottom
hole pressure is below
the bubble point, a
combined approach
using straight line and
Vogel will describe the
process.
 Vogel IPR Curve:
2
𝑞 𝑃𝑤𝑓 𝑃𝑤𝑓
= 1 − 0.2 − 0.8
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑃 𝑃
 Straight line IPR:

𝑞 𝑃𝑤𝑓
=1−
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑃
where Pwf = bottom hole flowing pressure

P = maximum shut-in bottom hole pressure
Example – Inflow Performance Relationship, IPR
Tubing Performance Curve (TPC)
This section discusses
the flow through the
tubing in the well. The
objective is to calculate
the pressure loss in the
tubing as a function of
flow rates of different
flowing rates.
Tubing Performance Curve (TPC) (cont.)
This equation applies to any fluid in a steady state flow condition.
An important thing to note in this equation is that the total pressure gradient is the sum of three
principal components.
 Elevation accounts for approximately 80% of total pressure drop, range from 70 to
98%
 Friction accounts for most of remaining pressure drop
 Acceleration accounts for only a very small amount of pressure drop
where d - pipe diameter

f - friction factor
g - acceleration of gravity
gc - conversion factor
P - pressure
v - velocity
Z - distance along flow path
 - density
Subscripts
m - mixture properties
Holdup is the fraction of the total volume in the pipe occupied by liquid.
Once the holdup is known, the mixture density is readily determined from the
gas and liquid densities.
The pressure – depth profile is called a pressure traverse and is shown in the figure above.
The total pressure at the bottom of the tubing is function of flowrate and the following elements:
1. Wellhead pressure – back pressure exerted at the surface from choke and wellhead
assembly
2. Hydrostatic pressure – due to gravity and the elevation change between wellhead and
the tubing intake.
3. Friction losses – includes irreversible pressure losses due to viscous drag and slippage.
The Vertical Flow Pressure Gradient Curve is
widely used for establishing TPC. These
curves are established based on vertical flow
correlations applicable to particular flow
conditions. The correlations are:
1) For vertical multiphase flow (oil wells)

a) Hagedorn and Brown d) Orkiszewski
b) Duns and Ros e) Beggs and Brill
c) Ros and Gray f) Aziz
2) For vertical flow (dry gas wells)

a) Cullender, Smith, and Poettman
3) For vertical flow (wet gas wells)

a) Ros and Gray b) Beggs and Brill
No one correlation satisfies all well conditions.

Construction of TPC Using Gradient Curves
Exercise – Application
Given,
Pwh = 100 psig
WHT = 70 °F
Tres = 140 °F
GLR = 400 scfbbl
g = 0.65
Depth = 5,000 ft (mid-perf.)
Tubing ID = 2 in.
API Gravity = 35O API
Calculate and plot the tubing intake curve.

Construction of TPC Using Gradient Curves (cont.)
Solution
A plot of the bottomhole flowing pressure vs flow rate is obtained based on
pressure gradients in the piping.
Use the following pressure gradient curves.

1. Using Fig. 1, start at the top of the gradient curve at a pressure of 100
psig. Proceed vertically downward to a gas liquid ratio of 400 scf/bbl.
Proceed horizontally from this point and read an equivalent depth of
1,600 ft.
2. Add the equivalent depth to the depth of the well at mid-perforation.
3. Calculate a depth of 6,600 ft. on the vertical axis, and proceed
horizontally to the 400 scf/bbl GLR curve. From this point, proceed
vertically upward and read a tubing intake pressure 730 psig for 200
BPD.
4. Repeat the procedure for flow rates of 400, 600, and 800 BPD
using Figs. 2 through 4, respectively.
5. Plot the Pwf vs q values tabulated below as shown in Fig. 5 to

complete the desired tubing intake curve.
Assumed q Pwf
(BPD) (psig)
200 730
400 800
600 880
800 1000
Fig . 1
Fig . 2
Fig . 3
Fig . 4
Fig . 5
This figure shows a tubing intake or outflow performance curve for a
wellhead pressure of100 PSIG.
System Analysis
 For the system analysis, IPR and TPC are plotted together.
 The intersection of IPR and TPC will give the flowrate of the
system.
 At condition at which no intersection occurs between IPR

and TPC, the well cannot flow at the specified conditions.
 Adjustments of the controllable parameters have to be

made to lower down the TPC.
System Analysis (cont.)
Tubing Performance Curves with Inflow Performance
Relationship
IPR Change After Some Reservoir Depletion
Production Rate and Tubing Sizing
What Happens When TPC and IPR Curves no longer meet?
What Happens When TPC and IPR Curves no longer meet?
Tubing Sizing Requirement
Related to Well Performance Analysis
 Deliver the desired production/injection rate
 Avoid inefficient and unnecessary artificial lift
 Avoid liquid load up problems especially in two-phase flow

of gas wells
 Produce/Inject at velocity below the erosional velocity

Exercise – IPR & Tubing Size Selection
Exercise – IPR & Tubing Size Selection (cont.)
3.4 Completion interval
1. Specific perforation objectives
2. Cement bond
3. Open hole log
4. Contacts
5. Perforation analysis and conditions
1. Specific perforation objectives
A perforation program is normally part of the well completion, well
test, re-perforation or workover program.
 Define the specific objectives first as it will determine the other
requirements. One or more of the following may be the
objectives :
 To complete and produce an oil or gas zone at maximum

productivity and recovery.
 To perform cement remedial operation.
 To gravel pack.
1. Specific perforation objectives (Cont’d)
 To perforate the water leg of an oil zone for water injection
at maximum injectivity.
 To perforate the gas column of an oil zone for gas injection

at maximum injectivity.
 To perforate at optimum cost and productivity/injectivity.
 To re-perforate a zone with low production rates

2. Cement Bond
 Evaluation of the cement quality behind casing near the zone of
interest to ensure that perforation objectives are met.
 Cement quality is good enough to ensure water or gas from nearby

zones or columns (within the same sand) are isolated behind
casing.
 Perforation interval may need to be reduce to ensure isolation

behind casing if remedial cementing will not be carried out.
3. Open hole Logs
 Evaluate Open-hole logs to look for
contacts nearby sands and sand quality
of perforated intervals.
 General rules to select perforation
interval for high productivity :
o Good sand based on porosity cutoff
with the desired fluids type (oil or
gas) must be perforated :-
 Perforate more than the interval
with good porosity.
 In laminated sands, perforate
across the whole interval to
ensure good permeability unless
shale layers are obvious.
4. Fluid Contacts and Nearby Sands
Fluid contacts (GOC, OWC, GWC), reservoir drive and nearby
sands to be considered. Some guidelines are :
 If GOC and OWC present at or nearby the well or reservoirs
with both water and gas cap drive of equal strength:
 Perforate 1/3 to 1/4 of oil column height for the OWC
and 2/3 to 3/4 of oil column from GOC.
 Strong water drive reservoirs :
 Perforate as high or far from the reservoir OWC as
possible.
 Strong gas cap drive with weak water drive reservoirs :
 Perforate as low or far from the reservoir GOC as
possible
4. Fluid Contacts and Nearby Sands (Cont’d)
 Gas reservoir with strong water drive :
 Perforate as high or far from the reservoir OWC as
possible
 Mobility of oil, gas and water which are functions of viscosity,
fluid saturation, porosity and permeability can be calculated
from simulation, laboratory and correlation can be used to
determine distance of perforation from OWC/GOC/GWC.
 Perforate away from nearby sands which may interfere with
production and recovery if poor cement are suspected.
4. Fluid Contacts and Nearby Sands (Cont’d)
5. Perforation Analysis and Conditions
 An analysis to determine the following conditions to achieve the objectives of
optimum productivity or injectivity must be carried out :
• Charge Type : based on penetration required
• Shot Density : determine gun type
• Shot Phasing : determine gun type
• Overbalance / Underbalance required
• Gun stand - off : influence on penetration
 These conditions will be examined to determine the optimum perforation technique
i.e.. Wireline, TCP, overbalance or Underbalance.
 A program called SPAN, can assist in this analysis..
 Estimate the total perforation cost including rig time and determine if the increase in
productivity justifies the additional cost. In general any increase in productivity can
justify the increase cost of ensuring maximum productivity.
3.5 Well head installation
Overview
 All wells are lined with steel pipe, known as casing,
to allow unobstructed access to the target reservoir.
Up to four casing strings may be installed and each
string is cemented in place to mechanically support
the pipe and hydraulically isolate the target reservoir
from groundwater sources and other formations.
 Most wells also include one or more strings of pipe
or tubing to recover or “produce” the reservoir fluids,
to inject fluid into the reservoir, or to allow other well
operations.
 All wells are capped by an assembly of steel pipe
and fittings known as the wellhead. The wellhead’s
function is:
 Seal & isolates Casings and Tubing's.
 Allowing access and controlling flow from
(or to) tubing and casing annulus. Simplified Diagram of Casing & Tubing
Basic Components of a Wellhead
A wellhead is made up of a series of components that are connected and
sealed in various ways. In this section, the following key components of a
wellhead (from bottom to top) are covered. Bear in mind not every wellhead
requires all of these components since
the need for each depends on the type
of well, the well completion, and
expected operation.
 Casing Head
 Casing Spool
 Casing Hangers
 Tubing Head
 Tubing Hanger
 Tubing Head Adaptor
 Christmas Tree
Casing Head
The casing head, also referred to as a
casing bowl, is the lowest part of the
wellhead assembly. The bottom of the
casing head is configured to attach to the
casing below (typically, the surface
casing). The upper inside of the casing
head provides a bowl in which the next
casing string can be set and sealed (if
required). The top of the casing head then
connects to the next wellhead component.
Access to the annulus between the
surface casing and the next casing string
is available through side outlets.
Casing Head (Cont’d)
The function of the casing head is to:
 Isolate the inside of the surface casing from the outside environment.
 Provide a platform for and a means to test the rig BOP stack during drilling and well
servicing operations.
 Support or transfer the weight of drilling and workover equipment during drilling and well
servicing operations.
 Allow for suspending and packing off the next casing string (i.e., intermediate or
production casing). This is accomplished by setting a casing hanger and seal against the
recessed profile machined into the upper inside surface (bowl). The hanger often is held
in place by lockdown screws and the seal thus formed against the casing string is called
the primary seal.
 Provide access to the surface inner casing annulus for monitoring and fluid return
purposes. Access to the annulus is available through side outlets drilled through the
casing head.
After the well is completed, one of the side outlets may be converted to a surface casing vent.
This can then be used to monitor any flows or pressure build up of gas, water or hydrocarbon
liquids within the surface casing annulus. These can indicate a failure in the integrity of the inner
casing cement, production casing, or annular seals that may present an environmental hazard.
Casing Spool
If a well includes one or more intermediate casing strings between the surface
and production casing, the next component required after the casing head is the
casing spool.
The bottom of the casing spool mounts on

top of a casing head or previous spool, and
the top connects to the next spool or tubing
head assembly. The spool is designed so
the bottom bowl or counterbore will allow a
secondary seal to be set on the previous
casing string, while the top bowl will hold a
casing hanger to suspend and allow a
primary seal around the next string of casing. Multiple casing spools may be
used, one on top of the other, to hang intermediate casing strings and the
final production casing string.
Casing Spool (Cont’d)
The function of the casing spool assembly is to:
 Allow for a secondary seal on the previous casing string in the counterbore.
With a secondary seal in place, flange or hub seals and casing hanger seals
are isolated from internal casing pressure.
 Provide a port for pressure testing primary and secondary casing seals and
flange connections.
 Provide a platform to support, seal and pressure test the BOP during drilling
and well servicing operations.
 Provide a load shoulder and controlled bore in the top bowl to support the next
casing hanger and enable a primary seal for the next intermediate or
production casing.
 Provide annular access for fluid returns or fluid injections and pressure
monitoring, through side outlets drilled in the spool assembly.
Casing Hangers
Both casing heads and casing spool assemblies may require
the use of casing hangers.
Casing hangers attach to the end of a given casing string and
suspend and seal the casing string in the top bowl of a casing
head or spool. Casing hangers come in two main varieties:
• Slip type hangers that are installed around the casing
after it is run, either before or after the casing is
cemented into place.
o Slip type casing hangers are used as a
contingency when pipe is stuck, allowing the
casing to be cut off and set where it sits.
• Mandrel type hangers that are threaded onto the
casing.
o Mandrel type casing hangers provide superior well
control when landing the hanger and improve the
annular seal.
Casing Hangers (Cont’d)
When a casing hanger is used, shallow intermediate
strings are usually suspended from the hanger and then
cemented to surface. Longer intermediate and production
strings that are not cemented to surface are usually
cemented while the casing is suspended in tension from
the rig traveling block. After the cement has set for a few
hours, the traveling block pulls a calculated tension on the
casing above the cement and it is at this point the hanger
is set in the bowl.
Casing hangers are often called slips or seals as they are
designed with built-in seals. Slips may occasionally be run
without seals in shallow wells where a primary seal is then
installed whenever the BOP or Christmas tree is removed.
A hanger may also be held in-place in the upper bowl of a
casing head or spool assembly by the use of lock-down
(also called hold-down) screws.
Casing Hangers (Cont’d)
The function of the casing hanger is:
 To suspend the load of the casing
string from the casing head or spool.
 To centre the casing in the head.
 To provide a primary seal against the
inside of the casing head and isolate
the casing annulus pressure from
upper wellhead components.
Tubing Head
The tubing head assembly provides a means to suspend and seal the
production tubing in the wellhead.
The tubing head is the top spool
in the wellhead assembly and is
installed after the last casing string
is set. The bottom of the tubing
spool includes a counterbore that
can be used to set a seal against
the production casing. The top of
the tubing head provides a landing
shoulder and a seal bore for landing and enabling a seal to the tubing hanger.
Above the tubing head is the tubing head adaptor which provides a transition
to the Christmas tree.
Tubing Head (Cont’d)
Tubing heads come in three basic connection configurations. Well type and
conditions are used to determine which type of tubing head is most
appropriate for the operation.
1. Top connection threaded; bottom connection threaded or welded.
2. Top connection flanged; bottom connection threaded or welded.
3. Top and bottom connection flanged or clamp hub
Tubing Head Threaded by Threaded or Welded Tubing Head Flanged by Threaded or Welded
Tubing Head (Cont’d)
The function of the tubing head assembly is to:
 Enable the suspension of the tubing.
 Allow for sealing the annulus between the tubing and the production
casing.
 Allow access to the annulus between the tubing and production casing,
through side outlets.
 Provide a means to support and test the service rig BOP during well
completions.
 Provide a bit guide for running the tubing without causing damage to
the production casing.
Tubing Hanger
A tubing hanger is also commonly known as a dog nut.
A tubing hanger typically is threaded onto the top of a tubing string and is designed to sit and
seal in the tubing head. Usually the tubing hanger is run through the BOP and landed in the top
bowl of the tubing head. The top of the tubing hanger provides a profile necessary for the lock
screws that will secure the hanger in the tubing head.
 In a simple, single string completion the hanger carries the weight of the tubing and the
tubing is “hung in neutral”.
 In other completions where the tubing–casing annulus must be isolated from the fluid
handled (e.g., produced water injection or disposal wells), different intervals must be
isolated from each other, or gas will be injected to enhance fluid production (i.e., in a gas
lift well), hanger design must also consider the use of a downhole packer where the tubing
may be set in compression, tension or neutral, and upward (compression) forces may be
placed on the tubing string during production or injection operations.
 Tubing hanger design / hold downs also should consider the dynamic loads that can be
applied in artificial lift wells by the reciprocating motion of a rod string and torque induced
at the start-up and shut-down of ESPs and PCPs.
Tubing Hanger (Cont’d)
Standard, single or dual tubing hangers with seal rings or elastomers provide
a seal between the tubing hanger and tubing head below the lock down
screws.
Extended neck tubing hangers allow for a primary and secondary seal on the
tubing hanger. In this configuration, a secondary seal packs off inside the
tubing head adaptor. As a result, the lock down screws are isolated from the
well bore fluids and the primary and secondary seals can be pressure tested.
Extended neck tubing hangers are
required for sour wells and possibly
corrosive wells. Because tubing head
components and seals are uniquely
exposed to production and injection
fluids, special consideration needs
to be given to the metallurgy and
elastomer seal selection.
Tubing hangers may come with a back pressure thread profile that enables
the operator to lubricate an isolation plug into the tubing hanger. With an
isolation plug in place, pressure testing can now be carried out above the
tubing head. It also provides
well control for installing and
removing the BOP or
Christmas Tree, and for
temporary well suspensions.
Tubing Head Adaptor
The tubing head adaptor provides a transition
from the tubing head to the Christmas tree.
With a basic tubing head configuration where
the tubing hanger is seated in the top of the
tubing head, the bottom of the tubing head
adaptor will seal against the tubing head and
contain reservoir or injection fluids moving
through the top of the tubing. With an extended
neck tubing hanger, the adaptor will provide a
secondary seal against the hanger, isolating the
seal between tubing head and adaptor and any
lock screws holding the tubing hanger in place.
As such, this configuration provides a means to
test the primary and secondary seals on the
tubing hanger.
Christmas Tree
A Christmas tree is an assembly of gate
valves, chokes and fittings included with
the wellhead during well completion. The
Christmas tree provides a means to
control the flow of fluids produced from or
fluids injected into the well, at surface.
While Christmas trees come in a variety
of configurations based on a number of
well design and operating considerations,
typically the bottom connection of the tree
matches the top connection of the tubing
head adaptor and these are generally
installed as a unit, immediately after
production tubing is suspended.
Christmas Tree (Cont’d)
A typical Christmas tree components on a flowing, gas lift, or
injector well can be seen in Figure. These components include:
 A minimum of one master valve that will control all flows to and
from each tubing string.
 Under certain service conditions and well pressures, additional
master valves.
o The upper valve is typically used in routine operations while
the lower valve provides backup and the ability to service
the upper valve as the need arises.
 A tee or cross leading to control valves such as production gate
valves, surface safety valves, flow control valves or chokes
 Potentially a swab valve above the tee that permits vertical
access to the wellbore.
 A tree cap that might be fitted with a pressure gauge. The tree
cap provides quick access to the tubing bore for bottom hole
testing, installing down hole equipment, swabbing, paraffin
scraping, and other thru-tubing well work.
A Christmas tree may be modified based on well operating
conditions, fluids produced and recovery methods. In the case of an
assisted lift well that requires a rod string to run through the
Christmas tree (e.g., reciprocating rod pumping or PCP, see
Figure), the configuration is adjusted as follows:
 The master valve is either removed or incapacitated to prevent
accidental closure.
 The addition of a polished rod BOP that can be closed around
the polished rod to seal fluid and pressure in the wellhead if
required. The polished rod BOP may be activated either
manually or hydraulically.
 The addition of a stuffing box that provides a seal around the
moving polished rod during operations.
 The inclusion of an environmental BOP that seals across the
tubing bore in the event a polished rod breaks and is pulled or
ejected out of the stuffing box. It may be integrated into the
stuffing box itself or be installed as a separate component above
or below the stuffing box.
Christmas Tree on Dual Completion Well
Wellhead and X-Tree Installation
The wellhead flange attaches to the first cemented surface casing string
designed to hold pressure.
Wellhead and X-Tree Installation (Cont’d)
Well flange attachment to the casing may be by welding, forming, threaded
connection or set screws.
The second string of casing is run and the hanger is landed in the bowl.
The second string of casing is run and the hanger is landed in the bowl.
Hanger set in the Lock down screws

casing spool engaged
Annular access port

The tubing head follows.
The tubing is landed in
the spool.
Lock down pins are engaged and the seal activated.
One or two full
opening master
valves come next.
Followed by the
flow T or Cross.
The tree before
adding control
valves.

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SKPP 3423 - Well Completion

Chapter 3 – Well Completion Practices

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Farag Mohamed

 the location of various fluids in the formations

 the flow of these fluids through the reservoir rock

 the characteristics of the rock itself.

Multiple Reservoirs - penetrated by a well pose the problem of

Secondary Recovery - needs may require a completion

Sand Control - problems alone may dictate the type of

Artificial Lift - may mean single completions even where

Wellbore and Flowing Flowing

Open Hole Tubingless Natural flow Vertical

Cased Hole Single Artificial lift Deviated

Liner Multiple Horizontal

Packer Single String

Selective single string

Wellbore and Flowing Flowing

Open Hole Tubingless Natural flow Vertical

Cased Hole Single Artificial lift Deviated

Liner Multiple Horizontal

It is important to size tubing properly. If too small,

The anticipated production flow rates and economics of the well

Finally, tubular connections are selected based on dimensional

 Usually requires a nodal analysis program and

 An error in the flow data can cause a quick error in

 Define the following terms: - Inflow Performance Curve,

 The procedure consists of

 A relationship between flow rate

Inflow to the node:

Outflow from the node:

 We can then calculate the

 Finally, we calculate the

 This pressure is valid only

 The flow into the node is called INFLOW, while flow

 At the selected node, whenever the system can flow,

o ONLY one pressure can exists at the node = Pnode =

The liquid flow we get

 Straight line IPR:

where Pwf = bottom hole flowing pressure

where d - pipe diameter

1) For vertical multiphase flow (oil wells)

2) For vertical flow (dry gas wells)

3) For vertical flow (wet gas wells)

No one correlation satisfies all well conditions.

Calculate and plot the tubing intake curve.

Use the following pressure gradient curves.

5. Plot the Pwf vs q values tabulated below as shown in Fig. 5 to

 At condition at which no intersection occurs between IPR

 Adjustments of the controllable parameters have to be

Related to Well Performance Analysis

 Deliver the desired production/injection rate

 Avoid inefficient and unnecessary artificial lift

 Avoid liquid load up problems especially in two-phase flow

 Produce/Inject at velocity below the erosional velocity

 To complete and produce an oil or gas zone at maximum

 To perform cement remedial operation.

 To perforate the gas column of an oil zone for gas injection

 To perforate at optimum cost and productivity/injectivity.

 To re-perforate a zone with low production rates

 Cement quality is good enough to ensure water or gas from nearby

 Perforation interval may need to be reduce to ensure isolation

The bottom of the casing spool mounts on

Hanger set in the Lock down screws