Drilling and production practices to mitigate sucker-rod/tubing-wear-related failures in directional wells

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · SPE Production and Facilities (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/22852-PA· OSTI ID:5627057

Matthews, C M; Dunn, L J

When the Lindberg heavy-oil field in Alberta was being developed in the early 1980's, frequent wear-related workovers were experienced in wells directionally drilled from central pads. Four operating companies collaborated with the Center for Frontier Engineering Research (CFER) in a field study organized to investigate these failures and determine techniques to extend production equipment life. The study included monitoring of rod and tubing wear and production parameters in more than 50 directional wells. Results showed that wellbore configuration had a strong and consistent effect on the wear rates of downhole equipment in directional wells. It also was demonstrated that local curvature variations, which led to wear-related failures in several wells, could be attributed to drilling and surveying practices. This paper offers guidelines on wellbore geometry design to optimize the performance of mechanical lift systems and presents field-based results on the effectiveness of wear-reducing equipment. It also makes recommendations regarding an operational program designed to minimized wear-related failures. The development and applications of a model capable of predicting rod loads and tubing wear in directional or horizontal wells also are described.

• OSTI ID: 5627057
• Journal Information: SPE Production and Facilities (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Vol. 8:4; ISSN 1064-668X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
ARTIFICIAL LIFTS
DESIGN
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
FAILURES
WEAR
WELL SERVICING
DRILLING
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing