Figuring out the various components that make up an oil or gas well can be tricky. There are a number of moving parts and pieces as well as different fluids that go into the process. Completion fluids are a big part of what makes up an oil or gas well; in fact, just as the name suggests, a completion fluid is a solid-free liquid substance that completes the well. It is placed inside to begin facilitating the final operation of the well just before production begins. The production process often begins with shooting perforations into the oil or gas producing zone or setting production lines, packets or downhole valves. The completion fluids must be in place before these processes can begin. The purpose of completion fluids is to control the oil or gas well in the even that the downhole hardware fails, so that formation or completion parts are not damaged.
It is important to note that the ever-important production zones are the very reason you decided on a drill location. Because of that, the zones need the right care, which can be provided by a good completion fluid.
There are several types of completion fluids, which include:
- Air and water: This combines water and compressed air, which is pumped into the boreholes or down into the drill string to provide an increased amount of cooling. This is also used as a means to control the amount of dust.
- Mud: This is a combination of water mixed with clay, polymers or other additives.
- Specialty drilling fluids: This is essentially a synthetic fluid that provides specific formation for specific drilling issues.
In most instances, completion fluids are generally brines (which are chlorides, formats or bromides). However, in theory, a completion fluid could be any fluid with the right density and flow. No matter what, it should be chemically compatible with the reservoir formation of the well as well as the other fluids. It is usually filtered stringently to be sure that no solids are introduced through the completion fluid to the well.
In some instances, companies will customize their completion fluids based on their customer’s gas or well drilling needs. The selection of the fluid is usually based on a variety of factors, including the perceived impact on the environment, the density needed and the crystallization temperature. The purpose of customization directly corresponds to the needs of each customer, as they may be different, depending on where they are drilling. Depending on the producing zone, different customers may need varying degrees of viscosity, corrosion inhibition and other variables that range from zone to zone.
Overall, completion fluids improve the productivity of the gas or oil well as it helps to reduce any damage to the structure in the producing zone. Additionally, completion fluids assist in the process of repairing and cleaning out the well bore during the final completion phase. This best serves the purpose of utilizing the completion fluids during the drilling process.
