SPE - Society of Petroleum Engineers Well Completions and Stimulation Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A well in a competent sandstone formation is completed by running and cementing casing through the production zone. To establish flow, which of the following completion techniques is required?
- Open-hole completion
- Gravel packing
- Perforating (Correct answer)
- Slotted liner installation
Correct answer: Perforating
When casing is cemented across a production zone, it creates a barrier between the reservoir and the wellbore. Perforating involves creating holes in the casing and cement sheath to establish a connection with the reservoir, allowing hydrocarbons to flow into the well.
Question 2: Which of the following stimulation techniques is most appropriate for removing near-wellbore formation damage in a high-permeability carbonate reservoir without fracturing the rock?
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Fracture acidizing
- Matrix acidizing (Correct answer)
- Well shooting
Correct answer: Matrix acidizing
Matrix acidizing is a stimulation technique where acid is injected at pressures below the formation's fracture pressure. The goal is to dissolve materials that are plugging the pore throats in the immediate vicinity of the wellbore, thereby removing skin damage and improving permeability.
Question 3: A production engineer is designing a completion for a well in an unconsolidated sandstone reservoir known for significant sand production. Which sand control method involves placing a downhole filter and packing the annulus with specifically sized sand to prevent the influx of formation sand?
- Frac-packing
- Gravel packing (Correct answer)
- Expandable sand screens
- Chemical sand consolidation
Correct answer: Gravel packing
Gravel packing is a widely used sand control method where a screen is placed in the wellbore and the annulus between the screen and the formation is filled with gravel. This gravel pack acts as a filter to prevent the production of fine formation sand while allowing hydrocarbons to flow through.
Question 4: During a hydraulic fracturing operation, what is the primary purpose of the proppant?
- To increase the viscosity of the fracturing fluid
- To dissolve the formation rock and create fractures
- To provide a corrosion-resistant coating to the fracture face
- To keep the induced fractures open after the pumping pressure is released (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To keep the induced fractures open after the pumping pressure is released
Proppant, such as sand or ceramic beads, is mixed with the fracturing fluid and pumped into the formation. After the hydraulic pressure creates fractures in the rock, the proppant is left behind to hold these fractures open, creating a conductive pathway for oil and gas to flow to the wellbore.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT a primary design consideration for a hydraulic fracturing treatment?
- Proppant type and concentration
- Fracturing fluid selection
- Wellhead pressure rating during production (Correct answer)
- Pumping rate and pressure
Correct answer: Wellhead pressure rating during production
While the wellhead pressure rating is a critical aspect of the overall well design and safety, the primary design parameters for the hydraulic fracturing treatment itself include the properties of the fracturing fluid, the type and amount of proppant, and the injection rates and pressures used to create the desired fracture geometry.
Question 6: An operator is completing a well in a deep, high-pressure formation. They need to perforate a long interval with high shot density. Which perforating conveyance method is generally most suitable for this scenario?
- Wireline-conveyed guns
- Slickline-conveyed guns
- Tubing-conveyed perforating (TCP) (Correct answer)
- Hydraulic jetting
Correct answer: Tubing-conveyed perforating (TCP)
Tubing-conveyed perforating (TCP) is often used for deep, high-pressure wells and long intervals because it allows for the use of large, powerful guns with high shot densities. The guns are attached to the completion tubing, which provides a robust and reliable method of conveyance and allows for underbalanced perforating.
SPE - Society of Petroleum Engineers Well Completions and Stimulation Questions and Answers 1
A well in a competent sandstone formation is completed by running and cementing casing through the production zone.
To establish flow, which of the following completion techniques is required?