COMPLETION RUNNING PROCEDURES 1 General

1) Assemblies should be made up on the rig floor and landed off low in the rotary table. The correct torque should be applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Connections are to be made up with a hydraulic casing tong fitted with an internal back-up tong. The tong should be calibrated for torque turn readings. Rig tongs must never be used to make up the completion sub assemblies.

2) Ensure that a safety valve is located on the rig floor complete with crossover to suit the tubing thread being run. If a two sizes of tubing are being installed, two safety valves are required.

3) Make sure that the appropriate retrieving/fishing tools are on site when running the completion.

4) Ensure that collar clamps are used when running the tailpipe assembly.

5) Drift each nipple with the appropriate standing valve, lock mandrel or equalising sub (without packing or keys) when the packer/tailpipe assembly is suspended in the rotary table. Drift through the complete packer/tailpipe assembly with an appropriate gauge cutter.

6) Run the tubing as specified in the well completion programme.

7) Extreme care should be observed when running the completion, run in the hole at a steady uniform speed and apply the brake slowly. Do not jerk the completion string when applying the brake. After lowering the slips into the rotary bushing, slack off the string weight with care.

8) Check the composition of the completion fluid at regular intervals, and maintain the required levels in the tubing and annulus.

9) If running chemical injection or downhole gauge systems, attach an across-coupling and mid joint protectors (one each per joint) to secure the lines to the tubing. Do not over-tighten to allow movement for stretch induced by temperature changes. Pay particular attention to the lines when lowering the slips.

10) When changing tubing sizes, count all the remaining previous tubing left on the pipe rack. Make sure that this agrees with the running list. If there is a problem do not proceed until it has been resolved.

11) Continue running the completion to depth where the SCSSV is to be installed. Pressure test the tubing string to the pressure given in the well programme.

12) Make up the SCSSV. Install the control line and pressure test to the pressure stated in the well programme for 15min. Bleed off the pressure to WP and maintain this pressure whilst running in the hole. Secure control lines with the across-coupling and mid joint protectors.

13) When running tubulars with control lines attached, take care to ensure that the string is properly centralised to prevent stripping off the protectors.

14) When pressure testing equipment, build up pressure slowly. Pressure should be built up in a series of stages to the required maximum. Maintain pressure for the required time and record on a suitable chart recorder.

8.5.2. Running Procedure

The following is a generic procedure for a single trip packer completion.

1) Pick up the tailpipe packer assembly. Do not install a standing valve. The completion should be run in open ended.

2) Pick up and run the completion assemblies as per the running list. Ensure that the correct torque is applied. Remake any connection identified as suspect by the JAM unit. Reject tubing joints as required.

3) In gas lift completions, an intermediate pressure test will be performed after running all the gas lift mandrels. Set a standing valve in the appropriate nipple in the tailpipe, and pressure test to the pressure stated in the well programme. Do not exceed this pressure.

4) After making up the hanger assembly, the wellhead engineer will supervise the operation of setting the hanger. The setting sequence will have been determined earlier and be described in the well programme. No deviation from this procedure is allowed.

5) Run in the completion until the packer is almost at setting depth.

6) Rig up electric wireline and correlate the packer setting position according to section 7.3, if required.

7) Pull back and space out the tubing string as required according to the log correlation results.

8) Check continuity of electric cables, if applicable. 9) Run back into depth for packer setting.

10) All completion equipment should now be in the hole. The packer should be at setting depth, and the tubing hanger should be oriented and proud of its hang off point if the tubing is to be set in compression.

11) Check the completion running list, make sure that all remaining equipment left on deck agrees with the running list.

12) Rig up slickline and set a standing valve in the tubing nipple. Pressure test the tubing integrity to the pressure stated in the well programme. The SCSSV control line pressure must be increased to the appropriate pressure when conducting this test (test pressure + valve opening pressure + margin), refer to the following sections on SCSSV installations. Retrieve the standing valve.

13) Set a standing valve in the packer tailpipe nipple.

14) Check that the packer is at the correct setting depth. Slowly pressure up the tubing to the specified differential pressure according to the programme. The shear screws locking the packer setting mechanism will shear with the applied tubing pressure differential, then the setting cycle of the slip mechanism will be complete, and the pack off element fully set. Hold the setting pressure for 10min.

15) After setting the packer, pressure up to pressure test the entire completion string. Hold the pressure until a 15min ‘straight line’ is recorded on the recorder. Records of this test are to be retained in the well files.

16) Run in hole with slickline and retrieve the standing valve.

17) Pressure up the well through the production string to pressure test the packer from below. This test should be according to the programme (or the same as the casing test pressure), observe the pressure is stable for 15min.

18) Pick up to shear out the tubing movement device, if applicable. This should be observed at surface.

19) Set down and slack off string weight, land and set the surface hanger as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This operation may sometimes be carried out prior to setting the packer.

20) Pressure test the annulus according to the programme, observe the pressure is stable for 15min.

21) If the well has been perforated, set a wireline plug in the tubing string and the plug in the tubing hanger profile.

An alternative procedure for testing the packer without having to remove the tailpipe plug, is to utilise a ported slick joint in the landing string on which the pipe rams or annular can be closed. The packer is then pressure tested by applying 500psi to the annulus. This saves installation time.

8.5.3. TRSCSSV Installation Procedure

When running the completion, the SCSSV will be installed at the appropriate point so that it will be positioned at the correct depth when the completion string is landed off.

1) Pick up and make up the SCSSV assembly onto the completion string.

2) Lower it through the rotary table to waist height and set the slips where they will not cause any damage to the valve.

3) Flush through the control line from the pump manifold for a short period of time to ensure the fluid is clean.

4) Attach the control line to the valve and cycle the valve open and closed observing that it fully opens and closes, recording the volumes required meet with specification. 5) Pressure test the control line according to the pressure stated in the programme. 6) Lock and monitor the pressure in on the reel keeping the valve open as it is run in the

hole preventing pressure locking, allowing the string to self fill and checking for control line leaks.

7) Attach an across-coupling protector at the first connection and ensure the control line is flat against the tubing and is in tension.

8) Run in the hole on tubing applying the protectors at every connection and mid joint, keeping tension on the control line. Never rotate the tubing with control line in the hole.

9) When the spacing out procedure has been completed, wrap the control line around the pup joint below the hanger to provide contingency if the line is damaged during make up and landing.

10) Bleed the pressure off the control line, cut it and connect it to the hanger control line port.

11) Attach the remaining control line from the reel to the exit port in the hanger and pressure test the line according to the completion programme.

12) Reduce the pressure to the required calculated operating pressure.

13) Land off the completion, install barriers, perform all hydraulic tests and close the valve prior to rigging down the BOPs.

1) Remove the control line.

2) Install the Xmas tree, pressure test and function test.

3) Cycle the SCSSV, checking the returns are per specification ensuring the valve is fully opening and closing.

4) Continue with the Completion Programme. 8.5.4. WRSCSSV Installation Procedure

When running the completion, the SCSSV landing nipple will be installed at the appropriate point so that it will be positioned at the correct depth when the completion string is landed off.

1) Install the dummy valve into the landing nipple assembly.

2) Pick up and make up the SCSSV landing nipple assembly onto the completion string. 3) Lower it through the rotary table to waist height and set the slips where they will not

cause any damage to the valve.

4) Flush through the control line from the pump manifold for a short period of time to ensure the fluid is clean.

5) Attach the control line to the valve and pressure test the connection and the dummy seals according to the pressure in the programme.

6) Lock and monitor the pressure in on the reel to check if any leaks occur.

7) Attach an across-coupling protector at the first connection and ensure the control line is flat against the tubing and is in tension.

8) Run in the hole on tubing applying the protectors at every connection and mid joint, keeping tension on the control line. Never rotate the tubing with control line in the hole.

9) When the spacing out procedure has been completed, wrap the control line around the pup joint below the hanger to provide contingency if the line is damaged during make up and landing.

10) Bleed the pressure off the control line, cut it and connect it to the hanger control line port.

11) Attach the remaining control line from the reel to the exit port in the hanger and pressure test the line according to the completion programme.

12) Reduce the pressure to the required calculated operating pressure.

13) Land off the completion, install barriers, perform all hydraulic tests and close the valve prior to rigging down the BOPs.

14) Remove the control line.

15) Install the Xmas tree, pressure test and function test.

16) Continue with the Completion Programme, pulling the dummy valve and installing the SCSSV according to the procedures in the Wireline Procedures Manual.

If direct acting SSSVs (storm chokes) are being used, they will be calibrated and then installed also according to the procedures in the Wireline Procedures Manual.

An option to steps 5 through 8 is to install a check valve on the SCSSV control line port and open the valve locking in the pressure. this then allows tripping in the hole to space out without the control line in the hole.