CHEVRON DRILLING REFERENCE SERIES

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COMPLETION PRACTICES

SECTION A: COMPLETION TYPES

1. INTRODUCTION

One of the most exciting parts in the drilling of any well is Its completion. The Drilling
Representative who believes his job is simply to punch a hole in the ground has no
regard for profitability. A successful completion is the payoff! Drilling Representatives
need to take pride not only in staying behind the curve, but also in minimizing formation
damage. Drilling Engineers need to scrutinize not only the casing design but also the
completion design. Drilling employees are fortunate to be located at the hub of wellsite
activity. No other producing group talks to every other producing group like the Drilling
Department. We must take advantage of this position and learn all we can about the
well, from the Geology, Reservoir, and Production Departments so we can establish the
best producing environment for the well.

The variety amongst oil wells is infinite; no two wells are drilled the same and no two
wells are completed the same. Though the completion style may be uniform throughout
a field, each completion has its own problems and concerns which are wellbore specific.
A problem which occurs while setting a permanent packer on one well may not occur on
the next well. Or a problem may be inherent to the completion design and occur
predictably on nearly every well. Because of this reality, Drilling employees must be
familiar with the specific completion equipment and procedures required for a job as well
as having the foresight and problem solving abilities to avoid or remedy a problem
situation should it occur.

2. CASING CONFIGURATIONS

No Casing: When the producing formation of a well is highly competent and stable, the
well is sometimes completed with no casing at all across the pay. Such a completion,
called an open hole or barefoot completion (shown in Figure 16A.1), is the simplest and
cheapest type of completion. In an open hole completion, neither production casing nor
a liner is set opposite the producing formation, thus the name, 'open hole'. Reservoir
fluids flow unrestricted from the formation rock into the open wellbore. This type of
completion is very specialized and is generally restricted to highly competent reservoirs.
Generally, as formation pressures and production rates increase, so must the formation
competency to prevent excessive formation erosion.

In an open hole completion, the casing is set just above the pay zone, and drilling or
coring proceeds into the productive zone as far as deemed necessary to complete the
well. If the walls of the wellbore are not stable, hole collapse and loss of production can
occur. A short producing interval is also necessary. It is very difficult to prevent hole
instabilities over a long interval.

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The primary advantage of an open hole completion is low cost. Less pipe is set and
there are no perforating costs. An open hole completion allows the selective use of
drilling fluids to minimize formation damage in the producing interval. Minimizing
formation damage may also be accomplished by setting an intermediate string of casing
or using a liner. Keeping formation damage to a minimum is extremely important in wells
which are not candidates for hydraulic fracturing. The absence of casing and
perforations in an open hole completion allows unrestricted flow of reservoir fluids into
the wellbore and the wellbore diameter is maximized. In addition, open hole completions
result in an increase in flexibility. Conversion to a liner type completion is always
possible and re-entry to deepen the hole is a simple matter.

The open hole completion is not without disadvantages. In fact, the disadvantages
provide compelling reasons for avoiding the technique. An open hole completion makes
extraneous water or gas production difficult to control. The control of stimulation
treatments is also more difficult. Fracture initiation can occur at any point along the open
hole interval and acidizing treatments must be placed with fluid diverters. Since casing is
usually set before entering the interval, a knowledge of the geology is required. Retrieval

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of the casing, in the case of a dry hole, is more difficult. Clean-out of an open hole is
often necessary due to wall instabilities.

In summary, the open hole type completion is a simple and cheap method of completing
a well. in some reservoirs, it is the only way the well can be completed economically. In
the wrong reservoir however, it can result in increased costs over the life of the well with
less than optimum production.

Production Casing: Most holes that we drill in the ground will collapse upon
themselves in due time without casing to support them. As previously stated, this is one
of the biggest drawbacks of the open hole completion. A string of production casing is
usually run in the well to prevent formation movement and to establish segregation within
the producing zone (see Figure 16A.2). After the well is drilled to total depth and logged,
the production casing is run to bottom and cemented. Holes are then shot through the
casing and cement and into the formation to provide a flow path for the formation fluids
into the wellbore.

Installing a full string of production casing also has additional advantages. If the
intermediate casing has been mechanically abraded by the drilling operation, it will lose
some of its pressure integrity. Running a production string of casing puts the prior
intermediate string of casing behind pipe and provides a pressure competent annulus. If
H2O is expected, both the intermediate and production strings must have a Rockwell
Hardness less than 22 to avoid hydrogen embrittlement and failure during drilling or
production. Selective acid or fracture treatments of specific zones are possible when a
string of production casing is installed in the well, and good packer seats are almost
assured when they can be set in casing.

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Running production casing is a common and cost effective way to prolong the producing
lifetime of a well and minimize sand production and workover costs.

Production Liner:

Frequently, in lieu of a complete string of production casing to the surface, a short

section of casing (called a production liner) is run in the well and placed opposite the
producing formation (see Figure 16A.3). Like the production casing, this assembly
provides many advantages over the open hole completion beyond keeping the exposed
formation from caving-in.

If the liner section is long, (greater than 200'), it will usually be hung in tension from the
prior string of intermediate casing. This procedure requires a special liner hanger
installed on top of the casing. Liners which are less than 200 feet in length are often set
directly on bottom. The liner usually extends from 100 to 500 feet up into the
intermediate casing of string .

Usually, cement is pumped around the liner to provide a seal between it, the formation,
and the intermediate string. Liner cementing is a complex subject which requires special
expertise. Liner cementing is covered in detail in the Chevron Drilling Reference Series
Volume 4 on Primary Cementing.

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Liners provide most of the benefits of a full string of production casing at a greatly
reduced cost. If the intermediate string of casing is in good shape, it can be left exposed
and serve as the annular casing wall. Many times, liners are used to provide the
necessary space for installing downhole completion equipment like dual tubing strings
and polished bore receptacles.

A variety of sand control techniques, (gravel packing, wire wrapped liners, etc.) are
frequently used when liners are installed. For an in-depth examination of gravel packing,
see Section F, Sand Control, in this volume.

3. TUBING CONFIGURATIONS

No Tubing: Some wells are so prolific (e.g., Persian Gulf wells) that producing them up
a tubing string severely restricts their productivity, so a tubing string is not installed.
Instead, wellbore fluids flow straight up the 7" production casing. On less prolific wells,
small diameter production casing may be run and cemented which also serves as the
flow string. In both of these cases, a hole in the casing is usually cause for a major
workover.

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Some state regulatory bodies will not allow formation fluids to be produced up the casing
for fear of contaminating shallow fresh water sands should a casing leak develop.
Casing leaks are also difficult to detect when there is no tubing is in the well. Due to the
severity of these consequences, Chevron rarely installs tubingless completions.

Single Tubing String: Nearly all wells are completed with a tubing string. The tubing's
main purpose is to serve as a flow conduit for produced fluids from the formation to the
surface. However, the additional benefits of installing a tubing string are numerous and
include:

• Replaceability. It is much easier to replace a tubing string than repair severe casing
damage which will often result if no tubing is installed.

• Increased Lift. The small diameter of the tubing helps to commingle any produced
gas with the oil to provide increased natural lift. Many wells will flow when produced
up 2-7/8" tubing but will kill themselves when 3-1/2" tubing is used.

• Convey Downhole Tools. The tubing string provides the means of conveying and
locating many downhole completion tools such as packers, nipples, safety valves and
perforating guns. It also serves as a housing for rods, pumps, chokes and gas lift
equipment.

Most of the completion techniques and procedures which we rely on would be impossible
without an accompanying tubing string. Our downhole versatility is severely limited when
a tubing string is not included in the completion. As a result, the single string tubing
completion has become an industry standard.

Multiple Tubing String: When two or more reservoirs are produced from the same
wellbore, it is often wise to install a tubing string for each flow. There are many
incompatibilities between formations which could be to the detriment of each reservoir if
they were allowed to commingle. The main reasons why multiple tubing strings are run
include:

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Pressure Differentials. If a high pressure reservoir and low pressure reservoir are open
to the same wellbore, the low pressure formation may not be able to flow into the well.
Sometimes, the low pressure formation may even take fluid from the higher pressure
formation. Providing individual tubing strings for both formations isolates the reservoir
pressures and allows both to produce simultaneously.

Reservoir Management. Sometimes the pressures of two exposed reservoirs are

equal, but the extent and producing characteristics may not be. For example, two
reservoirs may have equal pressure, but one may begin producing sand at a lower
production rate. In this case, separate tubing strings may be run to meter the production
rate of each at its optimum value. Reservoir management is also the reason why dual
tubing strings are run when gas is being produced from one reservoir and oil from
another.

Fluid Incompatibilities. Sometimes the produced water from one formation may cause
clay swelling and precipitate formation when it comes in contact with another formation.
Dual tubing strings are run in this case also to separate the flows.

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Kill String. It can be difficult to kill a deep high pressure gas well when it has been
completed with only a single tubing string. Installing a second, smaller diameter kill string
alongside the production tubing allows kill fluid to be circulated around easily with less
chance of bullheading fluid away to the formation.

Multiple tubing strings allow the well to be more productive but they can also become
quite complicated and must be well thought out prior to the installation. When a dual or
triple is run, the wellbore is literally packed with completion equipment. Realizing that
nearly every well gets worked over at some point in its productive life, it behooves the
completion designer to consider each piece of completion equipment as a potential fish.
The completion credo is, "The simpler the better.”

4. FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMPLETION CHOICE

To illustrate the range of completion equipment and techniques found within the
company, one simply has to compare the mechanical schematic of a typical False River
gas well with the schematic from a Kettleman Hills heavy oil steam injector. The
equipment and expertise required to successfully complete each of these wells is as
varied as the local accent. There are many factors which must be considered when
designing completions. Some of these include:

Cost. The cost to fish out the completion if problems do occur. With this in mind, table
16A.1 shows the maximum O.D. any piece of equipment that can be safely fished from
the wellbore. Exceeding these values could result in the loss of the well.

Formation Pressure. No other factor influences the completion design more than the
formation pressure. Formation pressure determines whether the well will flow or if it has
to be artificially lifted. Formation pressure also determines the strength of the materials
which are used in the completion and also influences the wellhead design.

Formation pressures also dictate which types of completions are acceptable. High
pressure formations usually mean high surface pressures. In order to keep the pressure
off of the tubing casing annulus, packers or polished bore receptacles are usually
installed.

Flow Rate. The anticipated optimum flow rate will usually dictate the size and diameter
of the various completion components. Larger flow rates require larger diameters to
reduce flowing frictional pressure losses. Completions using polished bore receptacles
usually provide the maximum diametrical flow area.

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Formation Lithology. Many lithological formation properties affect the completion

design. In sandstones, the degree of consolidation will determine whether gravel packing
is required. The requirement of some shales to be fractured for production also
influences the selection of downhole components.

Formation Fluids. The type of fluid to be produced determines the material

requirements of the completion. The presence of corrosive agents such as H2S or C02
requires special seals, coatings, and steel grades. Metal to metal tubing connections
may be required on a gas well where they would not be necessary on an oil well with the
same pressure.

Number of Completion Zones. Dual and triple tubing strings are frequently run when
two or three productive horizons are present in the same well.

5. COMPLETION TYPES

It is incorrect to say that there are four, or six or thirteen, of seventy-eight different types
of completions. The factors listed above combine to create a producing environment
which is unique to the well being considered. It is the challenge of the Drilling
Department to consider these factors and to design and run the best completion
possible.

Any discussion on completion types will ultimately be confronted by the statement that,
"That's not how we do it!.' The purpose of this discussion is not to define completion
rules, but to describe completion alternatives, their applicability, and advantages.

Single Zone, Retrievable: This completion design is one of the most popular because of
its simplicity and reliability. The essential elements of the completion include a
retrievable packer made up near the bottom of a production tubing string. The packer
may be set hydraulically or by mechanical means. The assembly is run in the hole and
the packer is set inside casing above the producing interval. A tubing hanger seals the
top of the annulus in the tubing head.

The single zone, retrievable completion is used most often on flowing wells with total
depths less than 12,000 feet and surface pressures up to 5000 psi. It is a general
purpose completion where stimulation work is not anticipated.

Single Zone, Permanent: This completion design uses a permanent packer and a
tubing seal assembly to isolate the formation pressure from the tubing casing annulus.
The permanent packer is first set by wireline, tubing, or drill pipe. Next, the seal
assembly and production tubing are made up and run in the hole. The tubing is spaced
out and the seals are stung into the packer as the tubing is landed.

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This completion type is often used to complete the deeper, hotter, higher pressure
flowing wells. The main advantage of this completion is that it allows for some tubing
movement when the well is brought on line or when it is stimulated. These activities
produce large temperature variations which cause the tubing to expand or contract. The
seal assembly rides up and down within the packer seal bore as the tubing moves. If the
completion is not designed to account for this tubing movement, the result may be a
buckled production string as the tubing expands, or possibly the packer coming unset as
the tubing contracts.

Multiple Zone: Multiple zone completions are characterized by having at least two
packers located downhole to isolate the production from separate zones. Dual zone
completions typically have a long string and a short string. The long string is made up
and run in the hole first which includes a conventional packer on bottom and a dual
packer located higher up the string. The packers are positioned and set (usually
hydraulically) and then the second string is run and stabbed into a seal bore located in
the top dual packer. The zone below the bottom packer is produced up the long string,
and the second upper zone (located between the packers) is produced up the short
string.

Multiple zone completions are used when the production from separate formations
cannot be commingled in one tubing string. Multiple completions are expensive, so the
wells are usually prolific and flow by themselves.

Gas Lift: Gas lift completions are used when the formation pressure is insufficient to
drive the produced fluids to the surface at economic rates. The typical installation
involves pumping gas down the annulus which enters the tubing through a valve located
above the packer. The gas then begins to rise in the tubing lifting the produced fluid with
it. The location of the valve determined the standing fluid level in the well.

Gas lifting can lift high volumes of fluid (up to 20,000 BPD on continuous injection) from
moderate to deep well depths (up to 14,000 ft). In gas lifting, the reservoir fluids are lifted
from the wellbore by injection (intermittent or continuous) of a high pressure gas to
supplement the reservoir's energy.

The advantages of gas lifting are:

• very economical where gas is readily available at high pressures. (+/- 1000-1200
psi).

• handles changing volumes with economic flexibility.

• works in low productivity wells with high GOR's.

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• abrasive material (sand, etc.) offers fewer problems.

• works well in deviated, directional or small casing wells, or where surface area is
minimal, such as offshore.

• Gas lift valves are retrievable with wireline, eliminating the need of a workover rig in
some instances.

The disadvantages of gas lifting are:

• requires a continuous high pressure gas supply, operating costs will increase as gas
prices do.

• efficiency generally decreases with lower produced volumes and shallower depths.

• can increase hydrate and paraffin accumulation due to the cooling effect of gas
expansion.

• depletion of a low BHP well is difficult with Gas Lifting.

• the casing must be completely intact (without leaks) and capable of withstanding the
lift pressures.

Electric Submersible Pump: Electric submersible pumping systems are capable of

pumping at low rates (100 BPD) or extremely high rates (100,000 BPD), but the optimum
range is between 200 and 20,000 BPD. Submersible pumps work in well depths up to
15,000 ft. An electric submersible pump is a downhole pumping unit consisting of a
multi-stage centrifugal pump, a sealing section and an electric motor. The pump and the
motor are connected by a steel shaft which runs through the sealing section.

The advantages of an electric submersible pump system are:

• economically produce high volumes of fluid.

• work well in locations with minimal surface area, such as offshore platforms, due to
the small size of surface equipment required.
• have low initial costs in shallow to moderately deep wells producing at high rates.
• use a single tubing string, and vent gas through the annulus.
• work well in deviated or directionally drilled wells as long as the pump is kept fairly
vertical.

The disadvantages of an electric submersible pump system are:

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• have poor flexibility in lifting unexpected, rapidly changing, or low volume production.

• the electric power supply cable is affected by depth, corrosion, temperature, or

handling which can cause cable failures.

• pulling and repair costs are high for electric submersible pumps.

• for wells with gas in addition to liquid, the electric submersible pump must have good
gas separation for efficient pumping.

• abrasives, paraffin, or scale decreases the downhole run life of electric submersible
pumps.

• the inherent low efficiency of a centrifugal pump makes the overall efficiency of
electric sub pumps poor.

Sucker Rod Pump: Sucker rod pump systems are designed for lower producing rates
(up to 1000 BPD) from shallow to moderate well depths (up to 11,500 ft). In a sucker rod
pump system, a surface pumping unit converts the rotary motion of a prime mover (gas
engine, electric motor, etc.) into a reciprocating action. The reciprocating action is
transferred to a positive displacement pump located downhole. Sucker rod pumps are
the oldest and most widely used means of artificial lift, accounting for 85% of artificial lift
in the U.S.A. Due to its wide use, sucker rod pumps are also the most understood
artificial lift method.

Sucker rod pump installations have many other advantages including:

• low initial costs in shallow to moderate depth wells.

• flexibility to handle changing production volumes.
• use a single tubing string and vent natural gas through the annulus.

The disadvantages to sucker rod pumping are:

• increasing the depth and/or the produced volumes increases the system's cost and
reduces the system's production capabilities.

• sucker rod pump systems require a pulling unit for running and retrieving the
downhole pump, or replacing sucker rods.

• sucker rods suffer from wear, fatigue or corrosion failures.

• volumetric efficiency is reduced in wells with high GOR, solids, paraffin, H2S or
corrosion.

• production strings also suffer from rod wear etc., wireline tools cannot be run with
sucker rods in place.

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6. RUNNING THE COMPLETION STRING

Ordering the Equipment. The amount of lead time you provide the manufacturer to
deliver your equipment after it is ordered will vary depending on the item. For example,
Gray Tool Co. designed and manufactured a single False River christmas tree, while at
the same time a Texas Iron Works 7' rotating liner hanger was a shelf item. In an ideal
drilling world, every piece of equipment required to drill and complete a well would be in-
hand before the well ever spudded. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. It will
suffice to say that it is a lot better to have the item waiting for the rig than the rig waiting
for the item.

Checking the Equipment. When completion equipment arrives at the rig, it is the
responsibility of the Drilling Representative to confirm that the proper equipment has
arrived. Do not trust a delivery ticket or the roustabout's word that “it's all here". Instead,
the Drilling Representative should physically put his hands on every piece of equipment
which is needed for the completion. You should become thoroughly familiar with the
equipment to the point where you can inspect it and detect any defects.

The Drilling Representative should have a schematic diagram showing the location of
every downhole completion component. Use a copy of this as an arrival check list and to
record the outside and inside diameters and length of everything going in the hole.

Every completion component must be strapped to determine its made-up length. For
components that have 8 Rd tubing connections, this distance should be measured from
the end of the box to the first good (complete) thread on the pin. For premium thread
connections, such as PH-6, the measurement should be from the metal to metal mating
shoulders. The tubing should be strapped for the first time when it arrives at location and
is placed on the pipe racks. Do not use the lengths as recorded on the delivery ticket for
your tubing lengths. The measurements of the tubing joints and associated jewelry
should be recorded on the Chevron form GO-379, Tally of Pipe. You must know exactly
how many joints of tubing are on location in case a discrepancy occurs while running the
pipe.

Service Hands. There are several service representatives who should be on location
and on the rig floor when their equipment is picked up and run in the hole. At a
minimum, there will usually be a packer man and a wellhead man on location. Other
necessary personnel may include gas lift and downhole safety valve representatives,
tubing tong crews, tubing testing 'Crews, and wireline crews. Don't permit unnecessary
personnel to stand around on the rig floor unless they are needed for the job at hand.

Calculations. The completion program will provide the depths at which the packer and
other critical components are to be set. The Drilling Rep should use the initial tubing

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strap figures to determine the number of joints and pup joints necessary to place the
completion components at their proper depths.

Install Tubing Rams. Tubing rams should be installed and tested before starting the
string in the hole. On dual completions only ram bonnet seals may be tested.

Making up the Tools. The Drilling Rep must be on or near the floor when the
completion string is run to insure that all components are properly installed. With the
tubing still on the pipe racks, the thread protectors should be removed and the threads
thoroughly cleaned. The tubing should be strapped a second time and clean thread
protectors should be installed before placing the pipe in the V-door. (An acceptable
difference between the straps of an individual joint is 0.05 inches). Instruct the tubing
tong crews on the proper make-up torque and be sure to use the proper thread
compound for the connections. All 8-Rd threads should use an API high pressure
modified thread compound applied evenly to the pin. Premium thread manufacturers
should be consulted for their recommended pipe dope. Do not remove the thread
protector until the joint is ready to be doped and stabbed on the rig floor.

The proper make-up torque for premium 8-Rd threads can be found in API publication
RP 5C1. Premium thread manufacturers should be consulted for their recommended
make-up torque. Make the joints up slowly (less than 25 RPM) and don't "smoke” the
boxes.

Running In the Hole. Do not hurry into the hole; it's easy to tear the rubbers off a
packer by running-in too fast. Remember that if a full bore packer is installed on bottom
of the tubing string, it can act like a plunger, even with the bypass open. Check-off each
joint as it passes through the rotary table and don't fall behind in your running tally.

Most completion strings will be pressure tested as they are run in the hole. If internal
testing is used, make sure an API drift is included in the tool string. If the connections
are externally tested, the pipe will need to be drifted in the V-door. Use a Teflon rabbit if
the tubing is internally coated.

Be especially cautious when approaching liner tops, casing patches, or other

obstructions with the packer. Drilling crews often treat tubing as if it had the strength of
drill pipe. This treatment usually results in broken or corkscrewed tubing.

Landing or Spacing Out. The way in which the tubing is landed depends upon the type
of packer which is used (i.e., permanent packer with seal bore, hydraulically set, or
mechanically set.)

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a. Permanent Packer with Seal Bore. A landing joint should be installed when the
seal assembly gets within 30’ of the permanent packer. The landing joint should be
made-up loosely because it will have to be backed out later. Lower the landing joint very
slowly as you approach the permanent packer with the seal assembly. The weight
indicator should jump when the seal assembly tags the packer. Continue to slack-off
until the seal assembly is landed in the packer with a predetermined set down weight.
Close the blowout preventor and pressure the annulus to 1000 psi to test the packer
seals. Open BPOE before pulling tubing. Pull the tubing so that the seals are located at
the desired position within the packer, and make a clear mark on the landing joint at the
rotary table. Next, retrieve and lay down the landing joint and one additional joint from
the well.

The distance from the rotary table to the tubing head should have been measured
previously. Next, calculate the length of pup joints required and install them on top of the
tubing still hanging in the well. The length of pup joints which need to be installed can be
calculated with equation 16A.1.

Equation 16A.1 - Length of Pup Joints

Length of Pup Joints = Lpr - Dth - Lh

Where:

Lpr = Length of pipe removed from the well below the rotary table.
Dth = Distance from rotary table to top of tubing head landing shoulder.
Lh = Length of tubing hanger

Note: Do not include the length of any part of the hanger which will
extend above the tubing head when landed.

Make-up the additional joint of tubing which was pulled from the well on top of the pup
joints, and then install the tubing hanger. The entire assembly is then run in the hole on
a landing joint. Record the up- and down-weight before landing the tubing. Measure in
on the landing joint and slack-off until the tubing hanger lands securely in the tubing
head.

JJ Flash, the Chevron Drilling Rep, was fixating on the weight indicator. His completion
tubing string was in the well and he had calculated that he should be tagging up on the
permanent packer any second. A roughneck was making chalk marks every 5' on the

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landing joint as it was being lowered into the well. Finally, the Martin-Decker quivered
perceptibly and the Driller sighed, “There it is.”

“Make a mark”, JJ shouted to the roughneck, “and another one 15' up on the joint.” The
second mark was to indicate when the top of his 15' seal assembly should land out on
top of the permanent packer.

After the seal assembly was landed with just over 8000# and tested, JJ told the Driller to
pull up so that 4'of seals were exposed above the top of the packer. At this point, JJ told
the Roughneck to make a really good mark on the landing joint right at the floor, and then
they pulled the landing joint and the next joint from the well and placed them in the V-
door.

They strapped the distance from the chalk mark to the first good thread (it was 8-Rd
tubing) and found it to be 18.58' in length. The additional joint which they had pulled from
the well was strapped at 30.65'. JJ wrote the total length of these measurements
(49.23’) in his tally book as the length of tubing removed from the well below the rotary
table.

Several pages prior in his tally book he found where he had measured the distance from
the rotary table to the top of the landing shoulder on the tubing head as 26.15’. He also
knew that the length of the tubing hanger was 1.20' (neglecting the 0.4' that would extend
above the top of the tubing head when landed.)

JJ then calculated the length of pup joints required as:

Pup Joints = 49.23' - 26.15' - 1.20' = 21.88

JJ selected two 10' pups and a 2’ pup and made them up on top of the tubing string. He
then picked up the extra joint which he had pulled earlier and made it up on top of the
pup joints. Next, he installed the tubing hanger, and finally a loose landing joint on top of
that.

They lowered the assembly into the well and measured the let down from the top of the
hanger. At about 15' in on the landing joint, he saw the weight indicator kick, and 11’
later the hanger landed securely leaving 4' of exposed seals extending above the packer.

“It sure is swell when things go well”, JJ remarked.

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COMPLETION PRACTICES

b. Hydraulically Set. Hydraulic packers are the easiest packers to space out. The
length of pup joints necessary to position the packer downhole can be calculated from
the tubing strap alone. The packer is run in the hole and the necessary pup joints are
added one joint below the tubing hanger. A landing joint is used to lower the hanger into
the tubing head which simultaneously positions the packer. A packer setting ball is
dropped down the completion string and tubing pressure is applied to set the packer.
Annulus pressure is used to confirm that the packer is set.

c. Mechanically Set. The mechanically set packer requires that tubing weight be
slacked off to set the packer. Ideally, the packer should be set with the required amount
of set-down weight at the same instant the tubing hanger lands in the tubing head. In
order to accomplish this, the tubing stretch generated by the amount of set-down weight
must be calculated. If it is desired to set the packer with 20,000 pounds set-down
weight, then an extra amount of pipe equal to the length of tubing stretch generated by
20,000 pounds of pull at TD must be added to the string. The packer is run in the hole
and positioned at the proper setting depth. At this time, the tubing hanger should be
located above the tubing head a distance equal to the stretch length already determined
and added into the string. The packer is un-jayed and weight is slacked-off. The packer
begins to take increasing weight until the hanger lands out in the tubing head. There are
many charts and tables available to calculate tubing stretch.

Nipple Down. After the tubing is landed, the hanger lock-down dogs are run-in and the
hanger seal is tested. A back pressure valve is run in on a joint of tubing and installed in
the hanger. The well is now totally sealed off so the blowout preventors can be nippled
down and the christmas tree installed and tested. For a complete description of nippling
down and installing christmas trees, see the Chevron Drilling Reference Series volume
on Wellheads and Surface Trees.

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Table 16A.1

Casing Washover Size Guidelines

recom- * recommended minimum O.D.

mended Max O.D. size casing & wt. casing
max O.D. fish that washpipe is washpipe can
of fish to washpipe to be run in be run in
O.D. Wt. I.D. washover will cover O.D. -Wt. O.D. -Wt.
3-1/2" 9.20 2.955 2-3/4" 2-13/16" 4-1/2" -11.6 4-1/2" -16.6
3-3/4" 9.50 3.250 3-1/16" 3-1/8" 5" -18.0 4-1/2" -13.5
4" 11.60 3.428 3-1/4" 3-3/8" 5" -15.5 5" -18.0
4-3/8" 13.58 3.740 3-1/2" 3-5/8" 5-1/2" -23.0 5-1/2" -23.0
4-1/2" 16.60 3.826 3-1/2" 3-11/16" 5-1/2" -15.5 5-1/2" -20.0
5" 18.00 4.276 4-1/8" 4-1/4" 7" -40.0 6" -23.0
5-1/2" 17.00 4.892 4-5/8" 4-3/4" 7" -35.0 6-5/8" -28.0
5-3/4" 22.50 4.990 4-13/16" 4-7/8" 7" -23.0 7" -35.0
6" 20.00 5.352 5-1/8" 5-1/4" 7-5/8" -29.7 7" -26.0
6-3/8" 24.00 5.625 5-3/8" 5-1/2" 7-5/8" -24.0 7-5/8" -39.0
7" 26.00 6.276 6" 6-1/8" 8-1/8" -20.0 8-5/8" -49.0
7-3/8" 29.00 6.625 6-3/8" 6-1/2" 8-5/8" -40.0 8-5/8" -36.0
7-5/8" 29.70 6.875 6-5/8" 6-3/4" 9-5/8" -47.0 8-5/8" -28.0
8-1/8" 39.50 7.185 6-7/8" 7" 9-5/8" -40.0 9-5/8" -53.5
8-3/8" 35.00 7.625 7-3/8" 7-1/2" 9-5/8" -36.0 9-5/8" -40.0
9" 40.00 8.150 7-5/8" 8" 10-3/4" -54.0 10-3/4" -55.5
9-5/8" 47.00 8.681 8-3/8" 8-1/2" 10-3/4" -40.0 10-3/4" -45.5
11-3/4" 54.00 10.880 10-5/8" 10-5/8" 13-3/8" -83.0 13-3/8" -ALL
13-3/8" 68.00 12.415 12" 12-1/4" 16" -84.0 16" -84.0

When covering the max. O.D., as a rule, no more than one thirty foot joint of washpipe
should be used.

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