Completion practices in deep sour Tuscaloosa wells

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/11190-PA· OSTI ID:7072529

Huntoon, G G

Successful development of the Tuscaloosa trend in Louisiana has required unique completion practices to produce the trend's deep sour formations. Amoco's operations in the Tuscaloosa formation are between 16,000 and 21,000 ft (4877 and 6400 m), and a range of pressure environments, high temperatures, and corrosive elements is encountered. Application of proved completion practices and equipment has resulted in several techniques that enhance the safety, longevity, and production capacity of these wells. The design of deep Tuscaloosa completions is assisted by a series of correlations developed to project bottomhole and surface shut-in tubing pressures, temperature gradients, and flow capacities for deep sour wells. This paper discusses material selection, completion practices, completion fluids, wellhead equipment, packer designs, corrosion-inhibition systems, and safety and monitoring equipment used in the Tuscaloosa trend. The design of a wellhead surface installation used to detect equipment failure, to pump kill fluids, and to circulate corrosion inhibitors is reviewed. A case study illustrates the methods used in completing a Tuscaloosa well with surface pressures exceeding 16,000 psi (110.3 MPa). Deep high-pressure sour-gas wells can be completed safely if all the elements of the environment that will affect the mechanical integrity of the wellbore are considered in the completion designs. The development of higher-strength material capable of withstanding SSC is needed if wells are completed in formations deeper than 22,000 ft (6700 m). Further research is necessary on the use of alloy steels and nonferrous metals for sour service. Effective high-temperature corrosion inhibitors for heavy zinc bromide completion fluids must be developed before these brines can be used in the Tuscaloosa. The testing of new inhibitors for use in highpressure sour-gas completions should be continued.

• Research Organization: Amoco Production Co.
• OSTI ID: 7072529
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 36:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
LOUISIANA
NATURAL GAS WELLS
WELL COMPLETION
WELL PRESSURE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CIRCULATING SYSTEMS
CORROSION INHIBITORS
DRILLING FLUIDS
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES
FLUID INJECTION
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
PH VALUE
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
VERY HIGH PRESSURE
WELLHEADS
ZINC BROMIDES
BROMIDES
BROMINE COMPOUNDS
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
USA
WELLS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC HALIDES
030300* - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing