Completion of an Oil Well

Once a site has been excavated and the digging has reached the appropriate depth, a well must be made ready to produce the oil the far reaching drill has accessed. This process is called the “completion” of an oil or natural gas well, and is as important a step in oil exploration as any, for, until the well is “completed”, the valuable oil in the depths of the earth cannot be extracted, processed, and used ultimately by millions of consumers.

There are several different categories and types of completion that may be considered depending on the geographical or environmental concerns of an individual site. Barefoot completion is the most basic type, but can only be used when the rock formations around the well are hard and stable. Open-hole completion refers to the method where tubing is used, but the tubes are not cemented into place. Open-hole completion is very popular when dealing with horizontal wells, because cementing these wells can prove a tedious, painstaking undertaking, costing much time and money. Open-hole completion can be used in special situations where sand and debris from the formation around the well threatens movement. Open-hole sand control is the most viable option using stand-alone screens, open-hole gravel packs, and expandable screens to hold back the sand and rock so that oil production is not compromised. The most common form of completion is cased-hole completion. This involves cementing a casing or liner inside the well and is most effective in controlling the flow of the fluids within the well because of the seamless connection of the well bore and the formation. This connection is made possible through precise perforating and employment of controlled charges to increase and control oil flow.

Different completion components are used in the upper portion of the well to transport the oil from the well to the process plant. The festive name of “Christmas tree’ is given to the assembly of valves which resembles the seasonal conifer of the holiday season. This assembly allows for precise control of oil flow as well as providing several points of access, allowing for well interventions such as the hooking up of a pump to import necessary chemicals into the well. Other parts of upper completion include many safety valves and production tubing in order to provide safe transport of oil to the processing plant. Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corp can then process the valuable commodity and expedite its arrival and use by the large population of consumers in America and beyond.

About the Author: Bob Jent is the president of Triple Diamond Energy Corp. Triple Diamond Energy specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties. For more information, visit http://www.triplediamondenergycorp.blogspot.com.