PREFACE
The second edition of production operations includes
revision and updating of many chapters in volume 1 and 2. In volume 2, a new
chapter entitled “Paraffin and asphaltene deposition, removal and prevention”
has been added. Major revisions have been made in the corrosion chapter, with
extensive technical coverage of coating and plastic pipe. Appendices covering
rock mechanics and oil field polymers have been added to the fracturing
chapter. Because an ever-increasing number of universities and colleges in the
world employ OGCI’s production operations books as basic text in production
operations, the second edition includes additional clarification in major
technical areas as well as required technical updating
In an overview of the oil industry, well completion,
workover, and stimulation seemingly plays only a small part. The same is true
even if we limit ourselves to the exploration and production phases of the
industry. From our vantage, however, the focal point of exploration and
production is successful well completion that obtains, and maintains, effective
communication with the desired reservoir fluids. The technology required for
effective well completion involves many disciplines and many different types of
talents. A well completion is not merely a mechanical process of drilling a
hole, setting casing, and perforating a hydrocarbon section.
The importance of total reservoir description; the role of
effective communication between the reservoir and the wellbore; the hazards of
flow restriction around the wellbore; the importance of knowing where fluids
are and where they are moving to; and the rigors of excluding undesirable
fluids all become more and more evident as we move deeper into the areas of
enhanced methods of maximizing recovery of increasingly valuable hydrocarbon
fluids
In preparing production operations, volume 1 and volume 2,
we have tried to logically separate well completion and well operation
technology into packages to permit detailing the more important facets. Effective
well completion and re-completion operation require consideration of specific
problems using all available technology
Volume 1 and 2 are the product of some sixteen years of
conducting training programs throughout the world for industry groups,
including engineers, managers, geologists, technicians, foremen, service company
personnel, and others.
The question is often asked, “what is new in well completion
technology”. Our answer must be that new technology per se is not the real
issue in considering improvement in production operations. “the key to
optimizing oil and gas recovery and profits is the effective application of
proved technology”. This has been the theme of our production operations
courses since our first effort in 1966, and is the theme of these two books on
productions operations. A primary objective of our technical training has been
to assist operating groups reduce the length of them required for “proved
techniques” to become routine field practice
The business of well completion is continually changing. The learning
process continues, technology improves, and just as important, the rules of the
game change with the times and with the area. In many areas, effective and
economic recovery of hydrocarbons from more and more marginal reservoir is the
name of the game. In other areas where costs are tremendous due to
complications of deep wells, offshore activities, or geographic location, high
production rates, which are needed to provide sufficient return on the
incomprehensible investment required, provide the winning combination
Response to the first four printings of production
operations, volume 1 and 2, reflects industry acceptance of our efforts. We anticipate
that the improved second edition will be even more valuable for production
operating personnel than the first edition of production operations. The widespread
awareness of the need to update petroleum personnel at all levels in the
application of proved technology provides OGCI with the incentive to invest
time and money in providing new and improve training course and books. To meet
this need, OGCI is offering additional course each year and is in the process
of developing a series of technical books for the petroleum industry
May 1982
