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Workover Operations in Oil and Gas

The document discusses well completion and intervention workover operations. It provides an introduction to workover, describing it as any work performed on a completed well to alter performance or structure. It then discusses different types of workover operations including measurements, maintenance, and workovers. Finally, it discusses the steps involved in a successful workover, including diagnosing problems, determining solutions, preparing procedures, and performing an economic analysis.

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1K views73 pages

Workover Operations in Oil and Gas

The document discusses well completion and intervention workover operations. It provides an introduction to workover, describing it as any work performed on a completed well to alter performance or structure. It then discusses different types of workover operations including measurements, maintenance, and workovers. Finally, it discusses the steps involved in a successful workover, including diagnosing problems, determining solutions, preparing procedures, and performing an economic analysis.

Uploaded by

missaoui
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Course Introduction
  • Introduction to Workover Operations
  • Types of Workover Operations
  • Data Required for Successful Workover
  • Production History
  • Successful Workover Involves
  • Reasons for Workover and Remedial Actions

W e l l c o m p l e t i o n a n d i n t e r v e n t i o n

Workover Operation
Course
Eng. Elsayed Amer
Petroleum Engineer

BSC Of petroleum & NG engineering Phone : 01065860658

Senior Process & Production Engineer Email: Eng20072007@[Link]

Now petroleum Eng. At SUCO & RWE DEA [Link]

Worked for weatherford drilling international Married with twins Mai & Nada.
Page 4

About Workover

Welcome Introductions

“…any work performed after the initial completion that alters the well performance or
mechanical structure”
Page 5

01 Introduction

Workover
All jobs performed in a completed well any time during its productive
live to enhance well integrity and production rate.

Types of Operations
• Measurements
• Maintenances
• Workover

01
6

Workover Operation

Workover: The process of performing major maintenance or remedial treatments

on an oil or gas well.

• Increase or restore hydrocarbon production

• Decrease water production

• Repair mechanical failures


Page 7

Introduction

Well Intervention Workover


8

Workover Operations

01 Measurements
✓ May involve the status of equipment
✓ Quality of pay zones-borehole connections
✓ Status of reservoir and well equipments etc.

02 Maintenances
✓ Simple operations that can be done on a well during
production operations

03 Workover

✓ Heavier operations that might require the well to be


02 killed
✓ Sometimes carried out with the well under pressure
Page 9

01 Reasons for work over

Installing New Equipment


Page 10

01 Reasons for work over

Casing window cutting for side track


Page 11

01 Reasons for work over

Well Plugging and abandonment


Page 12

01 Measurement Operations
At the Wellhead
➢ Pressure and temperatures, variation would mean modification in production conditions.
➢ Pressures or loss in pressures in the annulus to check integrity of packers, casing and
production strings.
➢ In artificial lift operations to monitor stress on rods, pumps or gas lift valves.
➢ Safety valve testing etc.
At the Tubing
➢ Calibrations and checks
➢ Corrosion or deposit problems etc.
At the Bottom hole
➢ Checking top of sediments
➢ Production logs –density, flow rate or temperature.
Page 13

02 Maintenance Operations
At the Wellhead
➢ Routine operations such as adjusting flow rates
➢ Opening and shutting in well.
➢ Replacing faulty parts downstream
➢ Periodic verification of safety valves etc.
At the Tubing
➢ Operations connected with problems of deposits, corrosions etc.
➢ Injection of inhibitors, chemicals, de-emulsifiers, anti foaming agents etc.
➢ Operations for exchange of equipments downhole etc.
At the Bottom hole
➢ Sand control, further perforations etc.
➢ Pumping chemicals etc.
Page 14

03 Workover Operations
At the Wellhead
➢ Leaks in lower master valves, tubing hanger.
➢ Problems with SSSV control lines etc.
➢ Damaged back pressure valves and other wellhead components.
At the Tubing
➢ Casing or tubing problems/leaks.
➢ Collapsed, burst or broken pipe.
➢ Tubing partially or totally plugged.
At the Bottom hole
➢ Leaks in equipments that has seals such as packers, locators, slip joints etc.
➢ Gas lift valves, fish, broken rod, pumping problems
➢ Miscellaneous faulty downhole equipment such as sensors, control lines etc.
Modification in production conditions
Restoration pay zone –bore hole conditions
Change well purpose
Fishing
MINOR WORKOVERS 15

Workover operation techniques include

Wireline Pumping operations Coil tube & Snubbing

• Tubing gage cutter • Well Killing • Chemical injection


• Scale or paraffin removal • Chemical Injection • Acidizing
• Sand bailer • Acidizing • Sand Clean out
• Plugs installation • Hydraulic fracturing • Cement plug
• SSSV repairs • pressure testing • Remedial through tubing
• Gas Lift installation gravel pack
• SSD shifting • Fishing
• Perforation • Scale clean out
• Through tubing activities • Non routing well kill
• Kick off
WORKOVER TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT

These will be discussed with reference to two different categories namely:-


(1) Internal through tubing operations
(2) Tubing retrieval operations

(1) Internal Through Tubing Operations


A number of techniques are available to access and intervene inside the production tubing
including:-
• Conventional slick wireline operations
• Through Flow Line techniques for application in subsea wells
• Concentric tubing
(2) Tubing Retrieval Equipment
Equipment available to conduct such operations could be either:-
• A full drilling rig with the necessary BOP equipment and the capacity to pull tubing.
• A concentric unit which can be installed over the producing well.
Data Required for
Successful Workover
DATA REQUIRED FOR WORKOVER

A Fluid Levels In Tubing

B Wellhead Pressure Rating

C Formation Pressure

D Casing & Tubing Sizes

E Formation Fracture Pressure

F Casing & Tubing Strengths

G Infectivity Pressure

H Maximum Allowable Surface Pressure (MASP)


PRODUCTION HISTORY 19

500

400

300
BOPD
BOPD

200

100

0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Year
WATER PRODUCTION HISTORY 20

500 1000

400 800
FTP

Flowing pressure
BOPD, BWPD

300 600

BOPD
200 400

100 200
BWPD

0 0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Year
Job preparation
Economic phases of field development
Page 23
23

SUCCESSFUL WORKOVER INVOLVE

A Step 1 - Diagnose the problem

B Step 2 - Determine solutions

C Step 3 - Prepare Workover procedures

D Step 4 – Perform economic analysis

unlimited
Page 24

A Selecting Workover Rig

Workover Rig

wheel mounted, propelled unit


containing a fabricated derrick and
a pulling system that operates a
multisheave traveling block with a
"tubing line “drum.
Page 25

A Selecting Workover Rig

A number of factors will influence the selection of a Workover rig


including:-

1. The nature of the operation to be conducted.


2. Tubing size.
3. The suspended weight of the tubing string, pressure control requirements for
well re-entry etc.
4. location of well, proximity to operating company base, space on rig/platform,
crane lift capacity.
5. Economics - cost, availability and its impact on deferred production.
6. The reservoir characteristics for example:-
7. Type of fluid
8. Fluid contaminants e.g. H2 S content
9. Pressure, temperature, fluid rate etc.
10. Depth of well
01
Page 26

B Killing the well


Killing the well is the process of replacing the contents of production tubing
with a fluid with sufficient density called kill fluid to overbalance the
pressure in the producing formation

01
Page 27

B Killing the well


Pumping

Pumping is the simplest way to


pump killing fluid through well
bore

01
Page 28

B Killing the well


Circulating killing fluids

01
Reasons for Workover
and remedial actions
COMMON REASONS FOR A WORKOVER

Formation Problems
• high water cut (water shut off)
• Sand production (gravel pack )
• high gas oil ratio (gas shut off)
• viscous oil (chemical treatment)
• lower productivity (re - perf.+vacuum)
• formation damage (frac + acid)
COMMON REASONS FOR A WORKOVER

Some of the more common reasons for a workover are:


• Repair mechanical damage
• Stimulate an existing completion
• Complete into a new reservoir
• Complete multiple reservoirs
• Reduce/eliminate water/gas production
• Reduce/eliminate water coning
• Repair faulty cement jobs
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Excessive water production can lead to a number of production problems


including
✓ loss of production and eventual well death
✓ expensive treatment and disposal costs,
✓ corrosion and scaling.
• Recovery from water drive reservoirs
• Significant increase in water production
• Rise in water/oil contact as a result of reservoir depletion.
❑ Fingering
• Water migrating along a high permeability streak.
❑ Water Conning
• water is drawn up from the aquifer either across bedding planes leading to
coning.

32
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs Oil producing well


Bottom-Water Drive

Oil Zone

Water

Cross Section
33
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs


Edge-Water Drive
Oil producing well

Oil Zone

Water Water

Cross Section
34
Water Coning

Oil zone
Cone

Water
Water Breakthrough

Low
permeability

High
permeability

Intermediate
permeability
Low
permeability
Water Communication

High pressure
water
sand
Casing leak

Water channel along


bad cement job

Low pressure
oil reservoir
38
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

Oil Rate

Water Rate

39
Solution Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Typical Production Characteristics

Oil production rate, STB/D 800 400

600 Pressure, psia 300

400 200 Reservoir


pressure

Oil production rate


200 100

0 0
Time, years
40
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Effect of Production Rate on Pressure
Production data - lower oil production rate

Pressure, psia
2000
Reservoir pressure
1900
1800
1700

Water Cut, %
60
Water
40
Oil production,

20 20
MSTB/D

15 0
Oil
10
5
0
Time, years

41
Gas Cap Drive
Typical Production Characteristics

Pressure, psia
Production data
1300
Reservoir pressure
1200
1100
1000
900
Oil production rate,

2
MSTB/D

Oil
1

0
Time, years
42
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Remedial Actions

• Squeeze cementing
• plugging back and re-completion
• Straddle system

43
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Remedial Actions

• Straddle system
Perforation Shut Off

44
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Remedial Actions

• Squeeze cementing

45
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Remedial Actions

• plugging back and re-completion

46
Potential Well Problems
1. Control of Water Production:

• Remedial Actions

• P&A

47
Potential Well Problems
2. Low Reservoir Pressure

• The reduction in reservoir pressure and hence flow rate is particularly acute
in dissolved gas drive reservoirs.
• In gas cap and water drive reservoirs, pressure maintenance techniques can
often offset the reduction in pressure due to depletion.

48
Potential Well Problems
2. Low Reservoir Pressure

• Remedial Actions

• Recomplete the well with either smaller tubing or some form of artificial lift.
• Injection

49
50
Potential Well Problems
2. Low Reservoir Pressure

• Remedial Actions

• Injection

51
Potential Well Problems
3. Poor permeability

• Fields with low reservoir permeability suffer a rapid decline once the fluids
near the wellbore are produced

• Remedial Actions

• Reservoir stimulation
1. Acidizing
2. Hydraulic frac

52
Potential Well Problems
3. Poor permeability
• Remedial Actions
• Matrix Acidizing
usually accomplished by
introducing a mild acid through the
perfs and into an existing
producing reservoir for the
purpose of dissolving acid soluble
solids and regaining or restoring
production. This can be done by a
coiled tubing unit, snubbing unit, or
small tubing unit.

53
Potential Well Problems
3. Poor permeability
• Remedial Actions
• Matrix Acidizing
usually accomplished by
introducing a mild acid through the
perfs and into an existing
producing reservoir for the
purpose of dissolving acid soluble
solids and regaining or restoring
production. This can be done by a
coiled tubing unit, snubbing unit, or
small tubing unit.

54
Potential Well Problems
3. Poor permeability
• Remedial Actions
• Hydraulic frac

55
Potential Well Problems
4. Wellbore Restrictions

• Typical causes of restrictions include scale, sand, paraffin and asphalt etc.
• Many of these problems may not be apparent during early field life but can
become a significant problem as the field matures.
• Remedial Actions

• Mechanical remove of restriction.


• Chemical remove of restriction.

57
Potential Well Problems
4. Wellbore Restrictions

• Remedial Actions

• Mechanical remove of restriction.


1. Scale and Sand milling out

58
Potential Well Problems
4. Wellbore Restrictions

• Remedial Actions

• Mechanical remove of restriction.


1. Scale and Sand under reaming

59
Potential Well Problems
4. Wellbore Restrictions

• Remedial Actions

• Chemical remove of restriction.


1. Jet Pump Sand Cleanout

60
Potential Well Problems
4. Wellbore Restrictions

• Remedial Actions

• Chemical remove of restriction.


2. Acid washing

61
Potential Well Problems
5. Mechanical failure

• Mechanical failures of tubing, casing and downhole equipment often require a


workover to rectify the problem.
• Typical problems would include
✓ casing leaks, either as a result of corrosion or collapse,
✓ tubing failures, packer failures and
✓ Downhole safety valve failures.

• Remedial Actions

• Replacement of downhole components by work over units


• Expandable tubular

62
Potential Well Problems
5. Mechanical failure

✓ casing leaks, either as a result


of corrosion or collapse,

63
Potential Well Problems
5. Mechanical failure

✓ casing leaks

64
Potential Well Problems
5. Mechanical failure

✓ tubing thread failures

Scab Liners INFLATABLE PACKERS

65
Potential Well Problems
5. Mechanical failure

✓ tubing thread failures

Scab Liners

66
Potential Well Problems
5. Mechanical failure

✓ Downhole safety valve failures.

67
Potential Well Problems
6. Primary Cement Failures:

✓ A poor primary cement job which


leaves channels behind the casing
can lead to the influx of unwanted
fluids and in certain instances
casing collapse.

• Remedial Actions
• Squeeze cementing
• Scab liners
• Expandables

68
Potential Well Problems
6. Primary Cement Failures: packer

• Remedial Actions tubing

• Squeeze cementing FORMATION

casing
Forces cement slurry, under pressure, through DEHYDRATED
CEMENT
perforations or holes in the casing or liner….. cement
slurry

cement PRIMARY
nodes CEMENT

CHANNEL BEHIND
CASING

69
Potential Well Problems
7. Sand Production:

• Failure of reservoir formations and subsequent sand production from


wellbore can cause
✓ Erosion of tubular and components
✓ Productivity impairment
✓ Clogging of separators

• Remedial Actions
• Mechanical sand control
✓ Screens
✓ Gravel pack
✓ Frac pack
✓ Expandables
• Sand Management-
✓ reservoir pressure maintenance

70
Potential Well Problems
7. Sand Production:

71
Potential Well Problems
7. Sand Production:
UNDERREAMED UNDERREAMED
INSIDE CASING CASING SCREEN LINER OPEN HOLE OPEN HOLE
GRAVEL PACK GRAVEL PACK IN OPEN HOLE GRAVEL PACK GRAVEL PACK

72
Potential Well Problems
7. Sand Production:

73

Common questions

Powered by AI

Workover operations are primarily conducted to enhance well integrity and production rate, repair mechanical failures, and address formation problems such as high water cut, sand production, or viscous oil. They are also used to complete into new reservoirs, reduce/eliminate water or gas production, and perform remedial actions like stimulation of existing completions or fixing faulty cement jobs .

Formation damage impairs well productivity by reducing permeability and reservoir contact, lowering hydrocarbon flow rates. Techniques to mitigate damage include acidizing and hydraulic fracturing, which restore or enhance permeability and reservoir access. These interventions aim to dissolve or mechanically remove blockages, significantly improving the efficiency and rate of hydrocarbon recovery .

The selection of a workover rig is influenced by factors such as the nature of the operation, tubing size, suspended weight, pressure control requirements, well location, space on the rig/platform, crane lift capacity, and economic considerations like cost and impact on deferred production. These factors determine the feasibility, safety, and efficiency of the operation by affecting logistical planning, equipment compatibility, and overall costs .

Excessive water production can be controlled through methods like water shut off, gravel packing, and reducing water coning. If left untreated, it can lead to decreased oil production, increased treatment costs, corrosion, scaling, and eventually well shut down due to the operational and economic burden. Effective management strategies are crucial to maintain reservoir health and optimize oil recovery .

Reservoir stimulation is employed to enhance permeability in a well, addressing issues like low flow rates due to poor natural permeability. Techniques include acidizing, which dissolves acid-soluble solids within the reservoir, and hydraulic fracturing, which creates fractures to improve fluid flow. Both methods aim to increase reservoir contact and improve production efficiency by enabling easier movement of hydrocarbons .

Economic considerations in workover operations include the cost and availability of rigs and equipment, expected production enhancements versus operational expenses, and potential impacts on deferred production. These considerations affect decision-making by dictating project feasibility, prioritizing interventions that maximize return on investment, and enabling a balance between short-term costs and long-term productivity gains .

Chemical injection in workover operations is employed to mitigate problems like scale, corrosion, and hydrate formation within the wellbore. Benefits include prolonged equipment life, improved flow assurance, and reduced operational disruptions. Common chemicals used are inhibitors, de-emulsifiers, and anti-foaming agents that chemically interact with problem elements, enhancing overall well performance and integrity .

Wellbore restrictions can significantly impair productivity by causing flow blockages due to scale, sand, paraffin, or asphalt. Remedial actions include mechanical removal using techniques like scale and sand milling, under reaming, and chemical removal through acid washing or jet pump sand cleanout . These interventions help restore the wellbore's ability to efficiently transfer fluids, increasing overall production .

Common mechanical failures requiring workover operations include casing leaks, tubing failures, packer failures, and downhole safety valve failures. Remedies involve replacing faulty components with workover units, such as expandable tubulars for casing leaks, addressing tubing thread failures with scab liners, and using equipments like inflatable packers to restore well integrity. Effective remediation ensures continued safe and productive well operations .

Killing the well involves replacing the contents of the production tubing with a fluid denser than the formation's pressure, known as kill fluid, to prevent flow from the reservoir. This process is critical for safely conducting maintenance or remediation work under controlled conditions. It involves circulating kill fluids through the well bore using pumps, ensuring the fluid's weight overbalances reservoir pressure, preventing any unwanted flow .

Workover Operation W e l l c o m p l e t i o n a n d i n t e r v e n t i o n Course
El sayed AmerEng20072007@gmail.comLogin••••••••••
Email: Eng20072007@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/elsayedameer Phone : 01065860658 Married with twins Mai & Nada. Senior
Page 4 “…any work performed after the initial completion that alters the well performance or mechanical structure” Welcome In
Page 5 01 01 Introduction Workover All jobs performed in a completed well any time during its productive live to enhance well
6 Workover Operation Workover: The process of performing major maintenance or remedial treatments on an oil or gas well. •
Page 7 Introduction Well Intervention Workover
8 Workover Operations 01 Measurements 02 Maintenances 03 Workover 02 May involve the status of equipment Quality of pay zon
Page 9 Reasons for work over Installing New Equipment 01
Page 10 Reasons for work over Casing window cutting for side track 01

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