WELL COMPLETION

OBJECTIVES- Well completion means transformation of well from drilling

efforts to the production unit

WELL COMPLETION: BASICS

The equipments used in well completion involve both sub-surface and
surface equipment.
The sub-surface equipments are casing, tubing, packers, nipples, blast
joints, subsurface safety valve, bottom hole chokes etc.
The surface equipments are wellhead assembly, Christ-mass tree and
surface chokes etc.
Selection type and sizes of these surface and sub-surface equipment
affects the performance of the well in later life.

BASIC OPERATIONS
Drilling through the producing zones, coring, logging of zone etc.
Placing the proper production casing and cementing.
Perforating.
Installing tubing, packer and well head assembly.
Well activation and stimulation if required.
Factors Influencing Well Completion Design
Completion is the lowest cost completion that needs or nearly made the
demand played upon a form the most of his life. To intelligently design will
completion, a reasonable estimate of producing characteristics during the
life overwhelm must be made. Both reservoir and mechanical
considerations must be evaluated.
1.Reservoir considerations-Reservoir under consideration
was the location of various fluids in the formation of penetrated by wellbore
,the flow of these fluids to the reservoir rock, and characteristic of rock
itself. Producing rate to provide maximum economic recovery is often the
starting point for the completion design. Among other factors producing
rate should determine the size of the producing conduit. Multiple reservoirs
penetrated by a well pose the problem of multiple completion in one drilled
hole. Possibilities include multiple completion inside casing separated by
packer, are several strings of smaller casing cemented in one bore hole to
provide effect separate wells. Other possibilities include the commingling of
hydrocarbons from separate reservoir downhole, or drilling several
borehole from one surface location.
Reservoir drive mechanism may determine whether or not the completion
interval will have to be adjusted as gas-oil or water-oil contacts move.
A water drive situation may indicate water production problems. Dissolved
gas drive may indicate artificial lift . Dissolved gas and gas drive reservoirs
usually mean declining productivity index and increasing gas-oil ratio .
Secondary recovery needs may require a completion method conducive to
selective injection or production. Water flooding may increase volumes of
fluid to be handled. High temperature recovery processes may require
special casing and casing cementing materials . ! Stimulation may tiquire
special perforating patterns to permit zone isolation, perhaps adaptability to
high inj ection rates, and a well hookup such that after the treatment the
zone can be returned to production without contact with killing fluids . High
temperature stimulation again may require special cementing procedures,
casing and casing landing practices.
Sand control problems alone may dictate the type of completion method
and maximum production rates. On the other hand, reservoir fluid control
problems may dictate that a less than desirable type of sand control be
used. Sand problem zones always dictate a payoff from careful well
completion practices.
Workover frequency, probably high where several reservoirs must be
drained through one wellbore, often dictate a completion conducive to wire
line or through-tubing type recompletion systems.
Artificial lift may mean single completions even where multiple zones exist,
as well as larger than normal tubulars.

2.Mechanical considerations-Mechanical considerations or

"well hook up" is often the key to being able to deplete the reservoir
effectively, monitor down performance, and modify the well situation when
necessary.
The mechanical consideration of well is the key to being able to do what
ought to be done in the well promised a standpoint of controlling the offer
reservoir of fluids, oil, gas and water.
Formation damages related to the well hookup, both minimising damage
initially and relieving the effects of the damage. Mechanically will
commission design is a complex engineering problem.
Mechanically, well completion design is a complex engineering problem.
Basic philosophy is to design to specific well conditions, field conditions,
and area conditions.

Basic philosophy
1.Maximize profit-Maximize profit considering the time value of
money. Economics are sometimes best served by delaying expenditures,
particularly in wells where servicing is frequent. The isolated well is the one
you can afford to provide with maximum flexibility for the future.

2.Keep the installation simple- Keep the installation simple,

both from equipment and procedural standpoints-consider level of operator
skill available.

3. Overall reliability- Overall reliability depends on reliability of

individual components and the number of components. Design out
maintenance, limit moving parts, avoid debris traps. As complexity
increases, provide alternatives.

4.Anticipate all operating conditions- Anticipate all

operating conditions, and associated pressure and temperature
forces.
5. Safety- Safety must be designed into the well. In offshore,
populated, or isolated areas, automatic shut-in systems and well pressure
control methods must be considered
Basic decisions to be reached in designing the well
completion are ::-
The methods of completion
The number of completions within the well go
The casing tubing configuration
The diameter of the production conduit
The completion interval
PRIMARY DECISIONS
Earlier to proceeding ahead with operations in well completion, primary
decision to be taken is about the type of completion i.e. bottom hole setting.
The subsurface and well head equipments are to be selected
WELL HEAD ASSEMBLY-BASIC TYPES/METHODS OF
WELL COMPLETION
i. Open Hole completion.
ii. Liner Completion
iii. Perforated completion
iv. Single Zone Completion
v. Multi-zone completion
Methods of completion::-
Open Hole: - Where casing is set on the top of the producing toward.
Perforated Casing Completion:- Where casing is cemented through
the producing interval and communication is established by perforating
1.Open hole completion Or Bare Foot Completion
Advantages:
i. No obstruction between formation and well bore.
ii. Full diameter opposite to pay zone is available for production.
iii. No perforation expenses.
iv. Easily converted to liner or perforated completion techniques.
v. with gravel pack provides excellent sand control method where
productivity is important.
Limitations
i. Excessive gas or water production difficult to control.
ii. Selective fracturing or acidizing are difficult.
iii. Casing set in the dark before the pay zone is drilled or logged.
iv. Requires more rig time on completion
v. May require frequent clean out operation s in bore hole.

2.Perforated Completion
Perforated completion: Advantage
1. Excessive gas or water production can be controlled more easily.
2. Can be selectively stimulated.
3. Logs and formation samples available to assist in the decision to set
casing or abandon.
4. Full diameter opposite pay.
5. Adaptable to multiple completion techniques
6. Minimum rig time on completion
Perforated completion: Limitations
1. Cost of perforating long zones may be significant.
2. Obstruction between formation and well bore.
3. Poor perforation may reduce production capacity significantly

PERFORTAED LINER COMPLETION

3.Liner Completion
Liner Completion: Loose, soft sand formation require the Liner
completion. The completion of oil string is cemented just above the
producing zone and a slotted and perforated liner is suspended from
the bottom of the string so that the liner can enter the oil sand. The
liner is use to prevent shifting sand from contaminating well bore. The
liner may be gravel packed to act as a filter for fine grained , loose
sand.

SLOTTED LINER COMPLETION

GRAVEL PACKED LINER COMPLETION

Conventional tubular configuration
4.Single zone completion
5.Multiple zone completion
Single Zone & Multi-zone completion
Single zone completion or Conventional completion entails drilling to a
single pay zone where as Multi-zone completion seeks to provide
access to different pay zone simultaneously.
Both process use casing or liner to remain in the well bore for long
time. To avoid their repair another string called TUBING has to run
along with packers inside to take the production.
4.Single Zone Completion
Single Zone Completion:
Factors leading
High producing rates, corrosive well fluids, high pressures, government
policies and operator traditions.
Various hooks up are possible depending on objectives. Basic questions
concern use of tubing and packers. Many wells are produced without
tubing. This possibility should be considered
Reasons for Use of Tubing
1. Better flow efficiency.
2. Circulation of kill fluids, corrosion inhibitors or paraffin solvents.
3. Provide multiple flow paths for artificial lift system.
4. Protect casing from corrosion, erosion or pressure.
5. Provides means of monitoring bottom hole flowing pressure.

Tubing should be run open ended and set above highest alternate
completion interval to permit thru-tubing wire line surveys and remedial
work.
Use of Packers
A packer should be run only where it accomplishes a valid objective such
as-
1. Improve or stabilize flow.
2. Protect casing from well fluids or pressure
3. Use of a packer may increase pressure on casing in the event of a tubing
leak.
4. Contain pressure in conjunction with an artificial lift system or safety in
system.
5. Hold an annular well killing fluid.
Where packers are used, landing nipples to permit installation of bottom
hole chokes or safety valves are sometimes desirable. Also a circulating
device is desired to assist in bringing in killing the well.
In a high volume, annular flow well, where casing can sustain shut in
well pressure, and safety shut-in capability is required. It may desirable
to run a tubing string to bottom, but set a packer and surface controlled
safety valve within several hundred feet of the surface. Well fluids then
flow through both the annulus and tubing to point immediately below the
packer. Here all flow is brought in to the tubing through the safety control
valve, and then back in to both the annulus and tubing the surface. Thus
safety valve control is maintained, but pressure restriction is minimized.
:: Effect of Tubing and Packer ::
Effect of tubing, with or
without the packer, on well
pressure gradient is under
various condition should be
recognised.

Tubing without
packer(flowing
well):-Presented a
situation for oil well and at
gas well with tubing
"swung". The annulus act
as a separator, does with a
gas gradient in annulus ,
annular well and pressure
is almost equal to bottom
compressor for the oil or gas well .
For the gas well, well head annular pressure is slightly greater with tubing
than without tubing. For the oil well, well head analogue pressure is
considerably greater with tubing installed due to the gas gradient in the
annulus. In the gas well the chances of tubing leak, with tubing swung ,
are nil ; thus, there is no justification for a premium tubing joint. Chances of
a casing leak can't sincerely the same as with tubing has not been done.
With the oil well, chances of tubing leak a maximised. Press the differential
is from annulus to tubing,in the event of a shallow tubing leak, the well
head annular pressure will drop as fluids level moves upward in the
annulus.

Tubing with packer(flowing well):-Tuning and annulus

pressure gradient for an all well and at gas well with tubing set on a packer.
The analysis will delegate providing a slight overburden above shut in
formation pressure. For the oil well differential pressure across the tubing is
now quite a small, and the chance of tubing leak is nil. The same can be
said for the chance of a casing leak assuming normal formation pressure.
The for the gas well differential pressure across the tubing increases to a
maximum near the surface. Chances for near surface tubing leak are
maximised due to an unfavourable situation as regards to tubing load and
temperature chances.

Effect of tubing leak(flowing well):- In gas well, chances are

that a caller leak the locker that a shallow depth since
-pressure differential is greatest
-tubing tensile load is greatest
-temperature fluctuations are greatest
Tubing press the rapid on the top of the pressure gradient of a high
weight column can rupture casing down hole.
One solution to this gas well situation is to use light liquid in the annulus,
then add pressure on top to more nearly match the tubing gradient. This
reduces tubing leak probability, provides that the retrievability of packers,
and permits monitoring of casing pressure to better determind condition of
tubing and casing.
In the oil well a near-surface tubing leak imposes additional bottom-hole
pressure on the casing, but depending on flowing pressure in the tubing, is
not usually a serious downhole threat to the casing. In either case, oil or
gas well, heavy mud is a poor packer fluid from a formation damage
standpoint, and in most situations does not provide additional safety over a
lighter liquid.

5.MULTIPLE ZONE COMPLETION

Factors leading to selection of multiple completions are: higher producing
rate, faster payout, and multi reservoir control requirements. Numerous
configurations are possible utilizing single or multiple strings of tubing
 .

Single String: Multiple zone completion

i. Single string-single packer

ii. Single string- Dual packer

iii. Parallels string - multiple

packers

iv. Single string - multiple packer::

i.Single string-single
packer
There is both tubing and annulus
flow of the producing formation fluid.
This is the lowest cost conventional
dual completion.
No go nipple-a locking arrangement such that
no component pass through this zone
 Limitation:
1. Upper zone cannot be
produced through tubing
unless lower zone is
blanked off.
2. Casing subject to
pressure and corrosion.
3. Only lower zone can be
artificially lifted.
4. Upper zone sand
production may stick
tubing.
5. Work over of upper zone
requires killing lower
zone.

ii. Single string- Dual packer

There is both tubing and annulus flow of formation fluid. The cross over
device permits upper zone to be flowed through tubing.

Limitations:
1. Casing subjected to pressure and corrosion.
2. Must kill both zones for work over of upper zone.

Selective landing nipple-specially designed in such a way some workover equipment or

coiled equipment (valve, chokes) are to be placed in a particular zone.

Blast joint- it is a thick walled coupling. It is used for zone 2. The fluid entering through zone
2 may rapture the fluid, so it has to be of thick wall to account for pressure.

Flow coupling-it couples the flow from zone 1 and zone 2 before connecting it to the surface
facilities. Since pressure is not from both zones, hence pressure regulator are used
otherwise back pressure may be ceated.

Circulating device-it is used for flow control.

iv.SINGLE STRING COMPLETION WITH MULTIPLE
PACKER

Advantages:-
Producing
section can be
opened a
close by use
of wireline
Limitations:-
Difficulty of
monitoring
flow from
individuals
zone
Difficulty of
treating are
even the
perforating individuals zone unless well is killed and tubing is pulled.

iii. PARALLEL STRING MULTIPLE PACKER

This type of completion can lift several zones simultaneously. Co-centric
tubing and wire line work over jobs are practical in all zones without
interfering the other zones.
Advantages:
1. Both zone can produce simultaneously
i.e. production from one zone does not
production from 2nd zone.
2. Can lift several zone simultaneously.
3. Concentric tubing and wireline
workover possible in all zone i.e. we
may go for workover or wireline
simultaneously.
Limitations:
1.High cost
2.Susceptibility to tubing and packer leaks
3.Hesitation to perform stimulation or work over jobs in individual zones

PERMANENT TYPE WELL COMPLETION

MUTIPLE TUBINGLESS COMPLETION-
UNCONVENTIONAL TUBULAR
CONFIGURATIONS

The multiple tubingless

completion is an outgrowth of
permanent well completions
(PWC) and concentric tubing
workover technology. It
involves cementing several
strings of pipe inside one
wellbore, as shown in Figure 5-
10. Originally this concept was
applied to multiple strings of
27Js-in. pipe; but, currently
multiple strings of 3 lh-in. and
even 4lh-in. are used. The
concept should not be thought
of as being limited entirely to
low volume producing or
injection wells.
Advantages
1. Reduced cost-initial completion and future workover costs are
reduced.
2. Each zone is independent and can be worked on without disturbing
the other completions.
3. Communication between strings is easily located and eliminated.
4. Procedures are simplified.
Limitations
1. Restricted production rate.
2. Corrosion and paraffin control more critical.
3. Higher risk due to pressured well fluids.
4. High rate stimulation treatments are more difficult.
5. Long-zone sand control more difficult .
The application of multiple tubingless completions, along with procedures
for running and cementing multiple strings of casing, are covered in detail
in Appendix A of this chapter.
SIZING PRODUCTION TUBULARS
The size of the production string casing depends upon the diameter of flow
conduit (single or multiple) needed to produce the desired flow stream, the
method of artificial lift, if required, or specialized completion problems such
as sand control. Sizing of the production tubing depends primarily on the
desired production rate. Maximum production rate in a given well depends
upon:
1. Static reservoir pressure
2. Inflow performance relation.
3. Pressure drop in tubing.
4. Pressure drop through the wellhead constrictions.
5. Pressure drop through the flow line
6. Pressure level in the surface separating facilities.
Where maximum flow rate is an objective of well completion design all of
these factors must be considered.
 HORIZONTAL WELL COMPLETION

Completion flow control accessories

Flow-control accessories add to the flexibility of the cased-hole completion design and perform a multitude of
tasks, such as:

Temporarily plugging off the tubing string.

Establishing temporary communication between the tubing and the annulus.

Profile seating nipples and sliding sleeves have a special locking groove and a honed sealbore to allow a flow-
control device to lock in the nipple and seal off when installed. By design, the sleeves and nipples will have a
smaller inside diameter (ID) than that of the tubing string. For this reason, careful consideration must be given
to the overall application and completion design when selecting and sizing the various models of profile seating
nipples and sleeves. This is especially true in any case in which through-tubing operations or perforating are
planned.

Correct application of flow-control accessories can greatly reduce the time and money spent on diagnosing well
problems (such as tubing or leaks) should they occur. Strategically placed profile seating nipples above and
below the packer aid in isolating the leak to the packer or the tubing string. Once the source of the failure is
known, a plan can be formulated to resolve the problem. Not much can be done to fix a packer leak without
well intervention. However, special flow-control devices are available to straddle across sections of leaking
tubing and deter workovers. In either case, the knowledge gained by being able to use flow-control accessories
and devices to perform downhole diagnostics is extremely valuable in planning corrective action to be
addressed in the subsequent workover.

Wireline re-entry guides

In some operations, it is necessary to run electric wireline, slickline tools, or coiled-tubing assemblies past the
end of the tubing string and into the casing below (Fig. 1). Upon retrieving these tools, there may be problems
pulling them back into the tubing string if the tubing is run open-ended and unprotected. Sharp edges and
square shoulders of pin threads, couplings, or muleshoes can cause the tools to snag or hang up on re-entry.
The wireline re-entry guide is run on the end of the tubing string (or the tailpipe below the packer) and is
designed to facilitate re-entry into the tubing string of those electric-line or slickline assemblies. It has an
internally beveled, bell-shaped ID that eliminates any sharp edges or square shoulders and helps align the
tools as they are pulled back up into the tubing string.

Fig. 1Wireline re-entry guide.

Profile seating nipples

Profile seating nipples are often referred to as:

Top no-go
Bottom no-go
Selective.

As the names indicate, each has a unique machined profile with a locking groove to accept a flow-control
device that is run and installed on slickline or coiled tubing. The profile seating nipple also has a honed and
polished sealbore to allow the slickline device to not only land and lock into the nipple, but also to seal off,
assuming the accessory item to be installed also has a packing stack.

Profile seating nipples are positioned at strategic locations within the tubing string to allow the accurate
placement of:
 Slickline plugs
Check valves
Bottomhole chokes
Downhole flow regulators
Bottomhole pressure recorders

At least one profile seating nipple is recommended near the bottom.

Top no-go profile seating nipple

The top no-go nipple accepts a lock assembly with a no-go shoulder located on the lock itself (Fig. 2). When
the lock assembly is run in the hole, the no-go shoulder on the lock engages or locates on top of the nipple.
Once located, the locks are engaged into the locking groove, and the installation process is complete. Care
must be taken when designing the completion to ensure that there are no ID restrictions above the nipple to
prevent passage of the lock assembly. The top no-go nipple is generally run when a single nipple is required
in the hole and the largest ID possible is required through the nipple profile. However, more than one top no-
go may be run if the IDs of the profiles are reduced sufficiently as the nipples progress in the hole to allow
passage of the appropriate locking assembly through the nipple located immediately above the intended target
nipple.

Fig. 2Top no-go profile nipple and lock assembly.

Bottom no-go profile seating nipple

The bottom no-go nipple has a no-go shoulder located in the bottom of the nipple (Fig. 3). The lock assembly
or slickline device landed in this type of nipple locates the nipple by landing on the bottom no-go. Once landed
and located in the nipple, the locks can be engaged and the installation completed. Because its ID will not allow
passage of any flow-control device through the nipple, the bottom no-go nipple is always run as the lowermost
nipple in the completion. Another benefit of having a no-go nipple in the completion is that any other slickline
tools or tubing swabs that are lost in the tubing string should not fall to the bottom. The lost equipment usually
can be fished out of the tubing string or, in cases when it cannot, the tubing can be pulled to recover the tools.


Fig. 3Bottom no-go profile nipple and lock assembly.

Selective profile seating nipple

Selective type profile nipples are perhaps the most versatile of the three (Fig. 4). In such a design, an
unlimited number of the same size and type profile seating nipples may be run in the hole, because the locking
assembly or flow-control device is able to find and selectively land in any of them. In most systems, either the
packing stack or a collett indicator is used to help the slickline operator locate the nipple, and alternately picking
up and slacking off through the nipple actuates the locks and sets the flow-control device. The benefit of this
type system is a larger ID through the completion and fewer slickline accessory items that must be inventoried.
Generally, it is still advised that a no-go nipple be run on the bottom of the tubing string to prevent any lost tools
from falling into the cased hole below the completion.

Fig. 4Selective profile nipple.

Sliding sleeves
In oil- and gas-well completions, the sliding sleeve provides a means of establishing communication between
the tubing and annulus for (Fig. 5):

Fluid circulation
Selective zone production
 Injection purposes.

The sliding sleeve is ported from ID to outside diameter (OD) and has an internal closing sleeve that can be
cycled multiple times using slickline or coiled-tubing shifting tools. When in the open position, the sleeve allows
communication from tubing to annulus, and when closed, pressures are once again isolated.

Fig. 5Sliding sleeve (shown in closed position).

The sliding sleeve also incorporates a nipple profile and polished sealbore above and below the ports to allow
the landing of various flow-control devices or an isolation tool should the sleeve fail to close. The isolation tool
locks into the profile in the upper end of the sleeve, and seal stacks on the tool straddle the ports to achieve
isolation. The success of sliding sleeves depends on well conditions. Operational problems in the opening and
closing of sliding sleeves may be caused by:

High temperature
Sour gas
Scale.

Blast joints
The blast joint is used in multiple-zone wells in which the tubing extends past a producing zone to deter the
erosional velocity of the produced fluids and formation sand from cutting through the tubing string. In most
cases, the blast joint is simply a thick, heavy wall joint of steel pipe. However, there are also more sophisticated
designs that use materials such as Carbide for severe service applications. Care must be taken when running
and spacing out the tubing string to position the blast joint evenly across the open perforations. It is wise to run
enough length of blast joint to provide 5 to 10 ft of overlap across the perforations to allow for errors in tubing
measurements.

Polished joints
This is a completion component that has been polished or prepared to efficiently hydraulic seal. The polished
joint may have external or internal polished surface in a length that enables some movement of the
completion string or associated components without compromising hydraulic seal. It is mainly
 Flow couplings
Flow couplings are usually the same OD as the tubing couplings and have the same ID as the tubing string with
which they are run. They are run above and below any profile seating nipple and sliding sleeve in which it is
anticipated that the turbulence created by the flow through the nipple restriction can reach erosional velocity
and damage the tubing string. The flow coupling does not stop the erosion. Its thick cross section will extend
the life of the completion, because more material must be lost to erosion before failure occurs than in the case
of the tubing string alone. Flow couplings are recommended when a flow-control device is to be installed on a
permanent basis (i.e., safety valve or bottomhole choke).

Blanking plugs
Blanking plugs may be landed in profile seating nipples or sliding sleeves to temporarily plug the tubing string,
allowing pressure to be applied to the tubing string to test tubing or set a hydraulic packer, or to isolate and
shut off the flow from the formation. The basic blanking plug consists of:

A lock subassembly
A packing stack
A plug bottom

Each size and type of blanking plug is designed to fit a specific size and type of profile seating nipple or sleeve.
Slickline blanking plugs always have an equalizing device incorporated into the design to allow pressure above
and below the plug to equalize before releasing the lock from the nipple. This prevents the toolstring from being
blown up the hole.

Bottomhole choke
Bottomhole chokes are flow-control devices that are landed in profile seating nipples. The bottomhole choke
restricts flow in the tubing string and allows control of production from different zones. It can be used to prevent
freezing of surface controls. The choke assembly consists of:

A set of locks
Packing mandrel
Packing assembly
Choke bean.

The choke bean is available with orifices of varying sizes. The orifice size must be predetermined and sized
specifically for the intended application.

Subsurface safety systems

If a catastrophic failure of the wellhead should occur, the subsurface safety valve provides a means to
automatically shut off the flow of the well to avoid disaster. There are basically two types of downhole safety
valvessubsurface-controlled safety valves and surface-controlled subsurface safety valves (SCSSV).[1]
 Subsurface-controlled safety valves
The subsurface-controlled safety valves (often called velocity valves or Storm chokes) are wireline retrievable
and are installed in standard profile seating nipples in the tubing string below the surface tubing hanger (Fig.
6). A subsurface safety valve requires a change in the operating conditions at the valve to activate the closure
mechanism. There are two models of subsurface controlled safety valves. The velocity valve contains an
internal orifice that is specifically sized to the flow characteristics of the well. The valve is normally open and is
closed by an increase in flow rate across the orifice. This creates a pressure drop, or differential pressure,
across the valve that causes it to close. The velocity valve reopens when the pressure is equalized across the
valve.

Fig. 6Subsurface-controlled safety valvevelocity type.

Another type of subsurface-controlled valve is the gas-charged or low-pressure valve. This valve is normally
closed, and the bottomhole pressure must be higher than the preset pressure valve for the valve to remain
open. If the flow rate of the well becomes too great and the bottomhole pressure falls below the preset value of
the valve, the valve will automatically close. It is reopened by applying pressure to the tubing string to raise the
pressure above the preset pressure value of the valve.

For either valve to work properly, the well must be capable of flowing at sufficient rates to close the valve, and
the catastrophe must be severe enough to create the conditions necessary to actuate the closing system. The
settings of the valves are critical to success, and they must be checked periodically.

Surface-controlled subsurface safety valves (SCSSVs)

The SCSSVs are also installed in the tubing string below the surface tubing hanger. They are controlled by
hydraulic pressure through a capillary (control) line that connects to a surface control panel (Fig. 7). Most
SCSSV designs today use a flapper to form a seal. Both elastomeric and metal-to-metal seal designs are
available.


Fig. 7Surface-controlled safety valve.

The SCSSV is a normally closed (failsafe) valve and requires continuous hydraulic pressure on the control line
to keep it open. The pressure acts upon an internal piston in the valve, which pushes against a spring. When
the hydraulic pressure is relieved, the internal spring moves a flow tube upward and uncovers the flapper. The
flapper then swings closed, shutting the well in. Ball valves work similarly. The surface control panel, because
of a change in flowing characteristics that exceed predetermined operating limits, generally initiates the closing
sequence. However, any failure of the system that results in loss of control-line pressure should result in the
valve shutting in the well.

To open the SCSSV, the pressure above it must be equalized (usually by pressuring up on the tubing string),
and hydraulic pressure must be reapplied to the control line. Some models have a self-equalizing feature and
can be reopened without the aid of pressuring up on the tubing. Whether the valve is working or not, most
models have a pump-through kill feature that allow fluids to be pumped down the tubing to regain control of the
well.

The SCSSV is available in a tubing-retrievable model and a wireline-retrievable type. The wireline-retrievable
SCSSV is installed in a special ported safety-valve nipple. The capillary line is connected from the surface
control panel to the ported nipple. The hydraulic pressure applied at the surface communicates to the valve
through the ported nipple. The wireline-retrievable SCSSV can be pulled and serviced without pulling the tubing
string out of the hole. Because of the design and the use of elastomeric seals, they are somewhat less reliable
than the tubing-retrievable version. The wireline-retrievable valve has a smaller ID, and reduces flow area for
production to pass through. The reduction in ID can create a pressure drop across the valve and turbulence in
the tubing above it. In high-flow-rate wells, the turbulence can lead to erosion of the valve or tubing string.
Access to the tubing string below the valve is restricted when the wireline-retrievable SCSSV is installed. The
valve must be removed before performing any through-tubing workover or wireline operations below the valve.

The tubing-retrievable model is more robust and offers a larger internal flow diameter. This helps eliminate
turbulence and increases production capabilities. It also allows full-bore access to the tubing string below the
valve. One disadvantage, in some instances, is its large OD. This may limit the size of tubing that can be run
into certain sizes of casing. To service the tubing-retrievable SCSSV, the tubing string must be retrieved. To
avoid this and extend the life of the completion, it is possible to disable the valve permanently by locking it
open. A new wireline-retrievable SCSSV can be inserted into the sealbore of the retrievable valve, enabling the
well to continue production without interruption.