1. Completing & Producing A Well

2. The Well is Drilled - Now What?
Logs
A systematic recording of data
Driller’s log, mud log, electrical log, radioactivity log
Cased hole vs open hole
Exact zone depths are determined using logs
Wellhead Installation and Integrity Testing
Completion Design and Scheduling
Why Complete a Well?
Tight reservoir rock with low permeability must be stimulated to provide economic recovery
The well can be acidized or given an acid job by pumping acid down into the well to dissolve the rock. To prevent the acid from corroding the steel casing and tubing in the well, an additive called an inhibitor is used.
Two types of acid treatment
Matrix acidizing – the acid is pumped down the well and enlarges the natural pores of the reservoir
Fracture acidizing – the acid is pumped down the well under higher pressure to fracture and dissolve the reservoir rock.
After an acid job, the spent acid, dissolved rock and sediments are pumped back out the well during the backflush
Acid can also be used to remedy skin damage. This is called a wash job.

3. Completion Techniques
Perforating (Perfs)
A perforating gun fires shaped charges through the casing and cement into the formation allowing fluids to be pumped into/out of the reservoir
Hydraulic Fracturing (Frac Job)
Water, polymers, and “proppants” are mixed to make frac gel
The gel is then pumped into the formation under high enough pressure to break or fracture the rock
Acidizing (Acid Job)
Acid is pumped into the formation and chemically reacts to dissolve the rock
The dissolved rock and “spent acid” are washed back to surface
The well can be acidized or given an acid job by pumping acid down into the well to dissolve the rock. To prevent the acid from corroding the steel casing and tubing in the well, an additive called an inhibitor is used.
Two types of acid treatment
Matrix acidizing – the acid is pumped down the well and enlarges the natural pores of the reservoir
Fracture acidizing – the acid is pumped down the well under higher pressure to fracture and dissolve the reservoir rock.
After an acid job, the spent acid, dissolved rock and sediments are pumped back out the well during the backflush
Acid can also be used to remedy skin damage. This is called a wash job.

4. Artificial Lift
Natural Flow vs Artificial Lift
Reservoir pressure is key to determining how a well will flow
In cases where wells cannot flow naturally, artificial lift may be used
Pumping Units (West Texas!)
Rods are run the length of the tubing with a pump on the end
As the surface unit moves up and down, valves down hole open and close providing a lift mechanism for the formation fluid
Others
Electronic Submersible Pumps (ESPs), Plunger Lift, Gas Lift
Enhanced Recovery (common in Permian Basin but not Concho)
CO2 Flood
Waterflood

5. Artificial Lift

6. Artificial Lift

7. Workovers
Common Well Problems
Holes in tubing/casing
Rod parts
Worn pumps
Paraffin
Weather
Abandonment (PA’d / TA’d)

8. From the Wellhead Wellhead Separating Systems Oil Water Gas
Tank Battery
Tank Battery
Meter
Truck/Pipeline
Pipeline
Refinery
Disposal Station
Gas Plant

9. Role of Field Personnel
Lease Operators (Pumpers)
Handle daily field maintenance and ensure wells are producing
Manually record production (used in regulatory and revenue)
Artificial Lift Techs
Optimize pumping unit performance/shoot down hole fluid levels
Foremen
Serve as field managers and as a liaison with office personnel
Field Engineers
Design and implement technical procedures/equipment
Monitor field performance and minimize costs
Consultants
Supervise work crews and provide experience driven expertise

10. Questions??