Chapter 11: Well Completions Available to Purchase

This chapter presents information concerning the completion strategy required to successfully stimulate a well with hydraulic fracturing and the completion techniques necessary to implement the chosen strategy safely. The chapter begins by providing an introduction to completions and then briefly reviewing several basic subjects, such as drilling, well architecture, zonal isolation, and tubular design. These brief discussions are followed by a more detailed discussion of completion strategies and perforating techniques and then by thorough discussions concerning multistage hydraulic fracturing and treatment diversion. The chapter concludes by presenting information and ideas concerning several special well completion challenges.

The well completion process refers to the operations and techniques that complete a newly drilled well so that fluids can be produced from, or injected into, the reservoir in an efficient and safe manner. Completion operations are generally considered to commence when the well is drilled to total depth and the well construction process of cementing the casing in place is finalized. However, to fully maximize performance from a well, an integrated engineering approach between drilling, well construction, and completions is required. A great deal of planning must be undertaken to ensure that the well delivered by the drilling department will fully accommodate the completion design that is required to best produce the reservoir.