WELLBORE COMPLETIONS DESIGN FOR A VERTICAL GAS WELL

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
By Daevin Dev
A vertical gas completion was to be designed using 2-7/8 tubing. Minimal constraints were present in
the well. However, the well needed to be stimulated using acid. Based on these conditions several
analysis were performed to determine the safest and most economical type of tubing and completion
equipment to be used in completing this well. The final chosen tubing was the API type N80 2-7/8
6.5ppf EUE. A brief description of the different types of analysis performed and its corresponding
outcomes are outlined below.
An initial selection of the tubing type was done through burst and collapse analysis. A worst case
scenario for burst and collapse were devised based on the available conditions and potential fluids that
would be in the tubing and in the annulus throughout the life of the well. Next, the minimum tubing
strength requirements were calculated, based on potential loads and backups, and compared against
available tubing data tables. An initial tubing selection was made based of this initial analysis. This tubing
was then used as the basis for further analysis.
The next analysis performed was testing the chosen tubing for potential failure through excessive
elongation or excessive force applied at the tubing at packer depth. This analysis tests the whether or
not the tubing will be able to withstand the potential high pressure and temperature differentials that
are bound to exist during stimulation and/or production. Additionally, this analysis would also indicate
whether or not the tubing can be landed or lathed at the packer. The specifics of this analysis are
outlined in the Excel file that was uploaded along with this summary. The outcome of this analysis was
that the preselected tubing, from above, would not fail and that it could be latched if a slack-off weight
was imposed on the tubing and if an annular surface pressure was introduced so as to offset some of the
pressure differential at the packer depth.
Consequently, the completions equipment that was to accompany the tubing needed to be selected.
The packer chosen was the retrievable type PMDJ Production Mechanical Packer by Schlumberger. It has
a high working pressure and is designed to support acid and frack stimulations, which suits the
requirements perfectly. Additionally, it also has an emergency release system which would prove handy
in the event of an emergency. A Nitrile type elastomer was chosen to seal the tubing and the packer
because of Nitriles high pressure & temperature resistance. A landing seating nipple is to be placed
above the packer to assist other tools in passing through the tubing. A sliding sleeve is incorporated into
the design to allow for ease of unloading the well. Two side pocket mandrels will be placed above the
sliding sleeve with a generous spacing to account for the possibility of artificial lift. The last two
completions equipment is the subsurface safety vale, for emergency production conduit closures, and
the tubing head and hanger to support the whole tubing string.
The projected estimated cost for the tubing is $127,920 at a footage cost of about $10/ft. The additional
completions equipment is estimated to cost about $21,775. This brings the total estimated cost of
completing the well to about $150,000. This cost does, however, exclude the cost of the tubing head
and other additional costs that will be incurred during the stimulation job.
All sample calculations and related diagrams have been uploaded, separately, along with this summary.
The Excel file outlines, to as much detail as possible, the necessary dimensions and specifics of the
completions design mentioned in this summary.

DAEVIN DEV

PEGN 361

PROJECT 2

Sample Calculations
All equations were obtained from Module 4: Tubing Design, PEGN 361: Completions Engineering, Colorado School of Mines.

1. Tubing Cross-sectional Area

= (2.8752 2.4412 )
4
= 1.8122
2. Packer Bore Area

= (3.252 )
4
= 8.2962
3. Outside Tubing Area

= (2.8752 )
4
= 6.4922
4. Inside Tubing Area

= (2.4412 )
4
= 4.682
5. Tubing-To-Casing Clearance, r
6.366 2.875
=
2
= 1.7455
6. Moment Of Inertia, I

=
(2.8754 2.4414 )
64
= 1.6124
7. Weight Of Fluid Inside Tubing, Wi
= 0.0034 2.4412 9.5
= 0.1924/
8. Weight Of Fluid Outside Tubing, Wo
= 0.0034 2.8752 11.5
= 0.3232/

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DAEVIN DEV

PEGN 361

PROJECT 2

9. Ratio Of OD to ID, R
2.875
=
2.441
= 1.178
10. Pressures At The Packer For Initial & Final Conditions
a. Initial Tubing Conditions
8.3
=
12250
19.25
= 5282
b. Final Tubing Conditions
9.5
= 9500 +
12250
19.25
= 14321
c. Initial Annulus Conditions
8.3
=
12250
19.25
= 5282
d. Final Annulus Conditions
11.5
= 1700 +
12250
19.25
= 9018.2

11. Change In Pressure In Tubing At Packer Depth, Pi

= 14321 5282
= 9039
12. Change In Pressure In Annulus At Packer Depth, Po
= 9018 5282
= 3736

13. Change In Average Pressure In Tubing,
14321 + 9500 5282 + 0
=

2
2
= 9269

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DAEVIN DEV

PEGN 361

PROJECT 2

14. Change In Average Pressure In Tubing,
9018 + 1700 5282 + 0
=

2
2
= 2718

15. Force Due to Piston Effect, F1

1 = [(8.296 6.492) 3736] [(8.296 4.68) 9039]
1 = 25943
16. Length Change Due To Piston Effect, L1
25943 12250
1 =
30,000,000 1.812
1 = 70.4
17. Length Change Due To Buckling Effect, L2
1.74552 8.2962 (9039 3736)2
2 =
6.5
8 30,000,000 1.612 ( 12 + 0.1924 0.3232)
2 = 37.1
18. Neutral Point Of Tension & Compression, n
8.296 (14321 9018)
= (12250 12)
6.5
(
12 + 0.1924 0.3232)
= 39961
19. Adjusted Length Change Due To Buckling, L2 Adj
0 , 2 = 2
2 = 37.1
20. Force Due to Ballooning Effect, F3
3 = 2 0.3 (2718 6.492 9269 4.68)
3 = 15440
21. Length Change Due To Ballooning Effect, L3
2 0.3 12250 12
1.178 2718 9269
]
3 = (
)[
30,000,000
1.1782 1
3 = 41.9
22. Force Due To Temperature Effect, F4
4 = 207 1.812 62.5
4 = 23443

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DAEVIN DEV

PEGN 361

PROJECT 2

23. Length Change Due To Temperature, L4

4 = 6.9 106 12250 62.5 12
4 = 63.4
24. Total Force, Fp
= 25943.3 15440 + 10000 23443
= 54825.9
25. Length Change Due To Slackoff Effect, Lm
10,000 12250
1.74552 10,0002
)+(
)
6.5
30,000,000 1.812
8 30,000,000 1.612 ( 12 + 0.1924 0.3232)
= 29.1

= (

26. Total Length Movement, Lp

= 70.4 37.1 41.9 + 29.1 63.4
= 183.8
27. Actual Force At Packer, Fa
= [(8.296 4.68) 9039] [(8.296 6.492) 3736]
= 35514
28. Top Joint Tension, Ftgs
= 35514 54825.9 + 10000
= 60638.2
29. Outer Wall Stress For Slack-Off Weight, So
10,000 2.875 1.7455 10000
=
+
1.812
4 1.612
= 13306.7

30. Axial Stress, a

35514
=
1.812
= 19599.1

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DAEVIN DEV

PEGN 361

PROJECT 2

31. b
=

2.875 1.7455 8.296 (9039 3736)

4 1.612

= 34275

32. Inner Tubing Wall Stress, i

2

= 3 [

1.1782 (14321 9018)

14321 1.1782 9018
34275
]
[
]
+
+ 19599 +
2
2
1.178 1
1.178 1
1.178

= 62689

33. Outer Tubing Wall Stress, o

2

= 3 [

(14321 9018)
14321 1.1782 9018
]
[
+
+ 19599 + 34275]
1.1782 1
1.1782 1

= 63155

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