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25articulo1 SPE PDF
25articulo1 SPE PDF
25articulo1 SPE PDF
Introduction
It is with pleasure, but some trepidation, that I re- and later work that extended the analysis to include
vie-w industry progress in well completion and well :onditions closer to actual well conditions. When
stimulation for this Silver Anniversary celebration the original work was the basic study that opened
of the lournaf of Petroleum Technology (J PT). I a new area for study, it was used as the primary
am pleased because I would like to emphasize the reference,
valuable role that JPT has played in engineering Since this issue of JPT commemorates a quarter
communication. In my opinion, the sharing of re- century of service, my objective will be to give a
search advances and field developments in JPT has broad overview of each main topic, with emphasis
provided a synergism that has had an important bear- on the role that JPT played in communicating new
ing on the great technical achievements of the petro- technology. The discussion will not attempt to refer
leum industry. Each sharing has triggered a chain to all the technology in well completion and stimula-
reaction of new ideas and new work that has re- tion, but only to highlight a few of the important
sulted in an explosion of technology, developments and concepts. The importance of
On the other hand, I have some misgivings about JPTs role will become obvious from the number of
my task, because the areas of well completion and references cited in JPT relative to major technical
stimulation are so broad in scope and the important advances. However, in some areas for example,
technical advances so numerous that it is impossible formation damage by drilling fluids and sand con-
to give proper recognition to all in a review article. trol some of the early basic work was published
There are many hundreds of papers about these in other journals and will be used. Nevertheless, as
operations, and anyone attempting to summarize ad- one searches the literature, it soon becomes obvious
vances in them certainly assumes the strong risk of that the stature of JPT rapidly grew after its incep-
offending many important contributors by omission. tion in 1949, and by the middle 1950s virtually all
Undoubtedly, a different author with a different of the major technical advances were appearing in
background might emphasize different papers; how- JPT,
ever, I have attempted to minimize the risk by draw- Under the broad heading of Well Completion we
ing liberally on the. opinions of others to help me in shall discuss completion mechanics, completion fluids,
my task, Because of space limitations, in some in- cementing, perforating, and sand control. The empha-
stances a choice of references had to be made be- sis in the discussion of drilling and completion fluids
tween the original, idealized work on a given subject will be ori their effect on the formation; it is assumed
Jhe sharing oj research advances and field developments in JPT has provided a
synergism that has had an important bearing on the great technical achievements of the
petroleum industry, Each sharing has triggered a chain reactipn of new ideas and new
work that has resulted in an explosion of technology.
tribution, and quantity used. When diverting treat- Temperature Wells: J. Pet. Tech. (March 1961) 211-
ments are effectively engineered, they can seal off 216.
6. Bell, W. T., Brieger, E. F.. and Harrigan, Y. W.? Jr.:
channels behind casing that may render ball sealers Laboratory Flow Characterlshcs of Gun Perforatlon$
ineffective. These materials were discussed in the sec- J. Pef. Tech. (Sept. 1972) 1095-1103.
tion on acidizing. 7. Brooks, F. A.: Consolidation of Dirty Sands by Phenol-
All of the above diverting methods, and combina- Formaldehyde Plastic: J. Per. Tech, (Aug. 1971) 934-
93s.
tions of them, have been used successfully, Selection 8. Clark, C. R. and Carter, L. G.: Mud Displacement With
of the most suitable method depends primarily on Cement Slurries, J, Pef. Tech, (July 1973) 775-783,
the particular down-hole conditions, 9. Clark, J. B.: A Hydraulic Process for Increasing the
Of the various diverting techniques, the limited Productivity of Wells: Trans., AIME ( 1949) 186, 1-8.
10. Coberly, C. J.: Selection of Screen Openings for Un-
entry technique merits special mention because of its &9soiidated Sands, Drill. and Prod. PIac., API (1937)
fundamental simplicity and economy, although it has
not been necessarily more effective than that for other 11. Coberly, C. J. and Wagner, E. M.: Some Considera-
methods properly used, Lagrone and Rasmussen:)G tions in the Selection and Installation of Gravel Pack
for OiI Wells, Per. Tedz. (Aug. 1938) 1.
reported in 1963 on the development and testing of 12. Farris, R. F.: Effects of Temperature and Pressure on
this diverting technique. The procedure involves Theological Properties of Cement Slurries, Trans.,
limiting the number of perforations in the selected AIME (1941) 142, 117-130.
intervals so that at the design pump rate the restricted !3. Frank, W. J.: *Improved Concentric Workover Tech-
niques, J. Per. Tech. (April 1969) 401-408.
flow capacity of the perforations automatically causes 14. Gallus, J. P. and Pye, D. S.: Deformable Diverting
the fluid to divert through all perforations through- Agent for Improved Well Stimulatlom J. Pet. Tech.
out the interval. (April 1969) 497-504; Trans., AIME, 246.
The method is limited to rather thin zones, and 15. Gidley, J. L.: Stimulation of Sandstone Formations
with Acid-Mutual Solvent Method, J. Pet. Tech. (May
to wells completed with low perforation density. It 1971) 551-558.
eliminates some of the mechanical problems inherent 16. Glenn, E. E. and Slusser, M. L.: Factors Affecting Well
in diverting with ball sealers but does not remedy Productivity 11. Drilling Fluid Particle Invasion into
Porous Media. J. Per. Tech. (May 1957) 132-139;
the problem of channeling behind the casing. 7%s., AIME, 21O.
17. Godfrey, W. K.: Effect of Jet Perforating on Bond
Conclusion Strength of Cement, 1, Pet. Tech. (Nov. 1968) 1301-
In reviewing the JPT literature of the past 25 years, 1314; Trans., AIME, 243.
18. Gray, D. H. and Rex, R. W.: Formation Damage
we must conclude that the industry should be justly
Caused by Clay Dispersion and Migration, Proc:, 14th
proud of its technical achievements and of the role North American Clay Minerals Conf., Clay Minerals
that JPT has played in communicating and stimu- SOC. ( 1965).
lating advancements. 19. Hall, C. D., Jr., and Dollarhide, F. E,: *EtTectsof Frac-
turing Fhmd Velocity on Fluid-Loss Agent Performance,
I sincerely congratulate the management and staff J, Pet. Tech. (May 1964) 555-560; Trans., AIME, 23L
of JPT for its continuing vigor and vitality, despite 20. Hall, C. D., Jr., and Harrisberger, W. H.: Stability of
changes in personnel over its first 25-year life span, Sand Arches: A Key to Sand Control, J. Pet. Tech.
(Juiy 1970) 821-829.
From the past record, we can look forward with con-
21. Harris, F. N.: Applications of Acetic Acid to Well
fidence to outstanding progress and innovation in ~omnletion.
__..., -.. Stimulation. and Reconditioning, J. Pef.
JPT during its next 25 years. Tech. (July 1961 ) 637-639.
22. Harris, 0. E., Hendrickson, A. R. and Coulter, A. W.:
Acknowledgment High-Concentration Hydrochloric Acid Aids Stimula-
tion Results in Carbonate Formations J. Jer. Tech.
I wish to express my appreciation to the Union Oil (Oct. 1966) 1291-1296.
Co. of California for permission to prepare and pub- 23. Howard, G. C. and Fast, C. R.: Optimum Fluid Char-
lish this paper. I am indebted particularly to J. E. acteristics for Fracture Extension, Drill. and Prod. Prac.,
API (1957) 261.
Sherborne, Claude Hocott, and Tom Sullivan for 24. Howard, G. C. and Fast, C. R.: Squeeze Cementing
their guidance and constructive criticisms, and to Operations; J. Pet. Tech. (Feb. 1950) 53-64; Trans.,
Dwight Smith for suggestions on cementing tech- AIME, 189.,
25. Howard? R. A. and Watson, Marsh S., Jr.: Relative
nology. I also wish to acknowledge the constructive Productwity of Perforated Casing: Trans., AIME (1950)
comments of a great many other engineers and 189.179-182
>- and 323-324.
scientists. 26. Hewer, W. F. and Brown, W.: Large-Scale Investigation
of Sand Consolidation Techniques, J. Pet. Tech. (Dec.
1961 ) 1221-1229; Trans., AIME, 222.
References 27. Hubbert, M, K. and Willis, D, G.: Mechanics of Hy-
1. Allen, T. O. and Atterbury, J. H., Jr.: Effectiveness of draulic Fracturing, J. Pet. Tech. (June 1957) 153-166;
Gun Perforating, ~, Pet. Tech. (Jan. 1954) 34-40; Trans., AIME, 210.
Trans., AIME, 201. 28. Huber, T. A. and Tausch, G. H.: *Permanent-Type well
Comr)letion. J. Pet. Tech. (Jan. 1953) 11-16; Trans.,
2. Allen, T, O. and Worzel, H. C.: Productivityy Method
of Evaluating Gun Per foraging, DrilI. and Prod. Prac., AIME; 198.
API (1956) 1!2. 29. Jones, F, O., Jr.: Inftuence of Chemical Compmition
of Water onClay Blocking of Permeabilityy; 1. Pet. Tech.
3. Althouse, h. S., Jr., and Fisher,,)H. H.: Selection of a (Amil 1964) 441-446; Trans., AIME, 231.
Multiple Completion Hook-Up, J. Pet, Tech, (Dec. 30. Ke~n. L. R:. Perkins. T. K. and Wyant, R. E.: The
19S8) 12-20. Mechanics of Sand Movement in Fracturing, J. Pet.
4. Barron, A, N., Hendrickson: A. R. and Wieland, D. R.: Tech. (July 1959) 403-405; Trans., AIME, 216.
The Effect of Flow on Acid Reactivity in a Carbonate 31 Klotz. J. K., Krueszer, R. F. and Pye, D. S.: Effect of
Fracture: J. Pet. Tech, (April 1962) 409-41 S; Trans., perforation DamaEe on Well Productivity; paper SPE
AIME, 22S. 4654 presented at SPE-AIME 48th Annual Fall Meeting,
5. Bell, W. T. and Auberlinder, G. A.: Perforating High- Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 30-Ott. 3, 1973.