Well Completion

After drilling operation the hole is provided with casing and cementing is done. A sketch of typical
completed well is shown in the figure 1.

Figure 1 Typical completed well

By logging, formation evaluation, drill stem testing, coring it is determined wheather a well should be
completed for commercial oil production. The Well completions are of the following categories:

1. Open hole completion

2. Conventional perforated completion
3. Sand exclusion type and
4. Permanent type completion
Open Well Completion
In this case the oil string is set on the top of the pay zone (The reservoir rock in which oil and gas are
found in exploitable quantities). This type of completion is possible if the zone is competent and the hole
wall does not cave.

After the pay zone is reached, the rotary drilling is stoped and oil string is set. Using cable tool drilling
the mud from the hole is bailed out. Formation damage is eliminated by adopting proper cementing and
mud technology.

For oil to flow from the reservoir to the hole hydrofracturing of the reservoir is carried out. Earlier
nitroglycerine shooting was carried out to stimulate the reservoir for The hydrofracuring or glycerine
shooting is done in the open hole.

Conventional Perforated Completion

This category of completions is in wells, in which the oil string is set through the pay section, cemented
and subsequently perforated at the desired interval. Such completions are extremely common and are
feasible in all formations except those in which sand exclusion is a problem. The main factor in this type
of completion is the performing process.

Earlier (before 1930) casing could be performed in place by mechanical perforator search perforator
used a single blade or wheel type knife which could be opened at the desired level to cut vertical slots in
the cosigned.

In the early 30s bullet perforating equipment was develop. In the bullet perforating a multi-barrels
firearm is used. The devise is lowered into the well position at the desire level and fired. The high
velocity bullet pierces through the casing and cementing. Large hole of 1.5” also can be obtain and it can
facture the formation upto 2 meter. From the fractured reserve wire oil enters the production string
through the perforated casing.

Bullet piercing is good in medium and soft rock. It gives maximum fracturing of cement and rocks.
Generally it is cheaper.

Jet Perforating
In this method penetration of the target is obtained from the jet stream’s high velocity impact. The
velocity of the jet is in the order of 10000m/sec. There are retrievable and expendable jet perforating
guns. The retrievable gun is composed of a cylindrical steel carrier with the charges opposite ports
facing rdially from the vertical axis of the carrier. Expendable guns are composed of materials which
disintegrate into small particles when the gun is fired.
Jet penetration is used for deeper penetration in hard rocks and multiple casing string. This cause
minimimum shattering of the cementing.

Jet piercing is superior in dense formations and for penetration of multiple casing strings.

In softer targets bullet perforation is preferred. Bullet produces greater fracturing around and beyond
the perforation which results in greater permeability, particularly in soft and/or shaly formations. Bullet
gun is used in holes with temperature less than 275 degree Fahrenheit. Jet equipment can work up to
400 degree F.

For perforation job accuarate depth measurements are necessary. Proer well logging is essential for
proper placement of the shot. The fluid presence in the hole plays a critical role in perforation practice.
It is advantageous to perforate with well bore pressure lower than formation pressure.

Comparing Open Hole Completion and Perforated Completion

The open hole method is initially cheaper, since perforation costs are not there. It also avoid
contamination by cements. Perforated completion provide better control over the pay section as
intervals can be perforated as desired. Individual sections can be isolated and selectively stimulated
much more easily and satisfactorily through perforations than in open hole.

Hydraulic fracturing of zones is more successful in perforated completions. Productivity ratios of

perforated wells are in general 50% higher than open hole completions.

Sand Exclusions Problem

The completion of well in an unconsolidated sand is not very easy. It is necessary to exclude production
of sand along with oil. Sand can cause severe problem to the machinery due to its corrosive effects.
The sand is eliminated by using screening. Screening is done by using slotted or screen liners or by using
packing of the hole by aggregates such as gravels. The slotted or screen liner is run on tubing and hung
inside the oil string opposite the producing zone. Figure 2 shows gravel packing for sand exclusion.
 Figure 2

Sand may also be excluded by using consolidated plastic material which actually cements the sand grains
together, thereby preventing caving.This reduces permeability and is not useful in low permeability dirty
sand.

Permanent Type Completion

In this type the tubing run and the well head is assembled only once in the life of the well.

Well Stimulation
Well stimulation is means of increasing well productivity. It is done by

1. Nitro shooting
2. Acidizing
3. Hydraulic fracturing

The benefits and limitations of these methods are mentioned in the table below