producing well	добывающая скважина
permeability	проницаемость
artificial lift methods	методы механизированной добычи
secondary recovery	вторичное извлечение

Production

The production stage is the most important stage of a well's life, when the oil and gas are produced. By this time, the oil rigs and workover rigs used to drill and complete the well have moved off the wellbore, and the top is usually outfitted with a collection of valves called a "Christmas Tree". These valves regulate pressures, control flows, and allow access to the wellbore in case further completion work needs to be performed. From the outlet valve of the Christmas Tree, the flow can be connected to a distribution network of pipelines and tanks to supply the product to refineries, natural gas compressor stations, or oil export terminals.

As long as the pressure in the reservoir remains high enough, the Christmas Tree is all that is required to produce the well. If the pressure depletes and it is considered economically viable, an artificial lift method mentioned in the completions section can be employed.

Workovers are often necessary in older wells, which may need smaller diameter tubing, scale or paraffin removal, repeated acid matrix jobs, or even completing new zones of interest in a shallower reservoir. Such remedial work can be performed using workover rigs – also known as pulling units – to pull and replace tubing, or by the use of a well intervention technique called coiled tubing.

Enhanced recovery methods such as waterflooding, steam flooding, or CO2 flooding may be used to increase reservoir pressure and provide a "sweep" effect to push hydrocarbons out of the reservoir. Such methods require the use of injection wells, and are used when facing problems with reservoir pressure depletion, high oil viscosity, or can even be employed early in a field's life; in certain cases – depending on the reservoir's geomechanics – reservoir engineers may determine that ultimate recoverable oil may be increased by applying a waterflooding strategy early in the field's development rather than later. The application of such enhanced recovery techniques is often termed as "tertiary recovery" in the industry.

278

	Terms and Vocabulary
production	выработка, добыча
workover rig	установка для капитального ремонта
	скважины
refinery	нефтеперерабатывающий завод
workovers	капитальный ремонт скважины
scale	твердый осадок на стенах трубопровода
acid matrix jobs	кислотная обработка
shallower reservoir	коллектор на небольших глубинах
pulling unit	подъемная установка для капитального
	ремонта скважин
waterflooding	заводнение (нефтяного месторождения)
steam flooding	нагнетание паром
recoverable oil	промышленные запасы нефти, нефтеотдача
	пласта
remedial	ремонтный
injection well	нагнетательная скважина
oil viscosity	вязкость нефти
enhanced recovery	повышенная норма добычи
tertiary recovery	третичное извлечение

Abandonment

Finally, when the well no longer produces or produces so poorly that it is a liability to its owner, it is abandoned. In this simple process, tubing is removed from the well and sections of well-bore are filled with cement as to isolate the flow path between gas and water zones from each other as well as the surface. Completely filling the well-bore with concrete is unnecessary and cost prohibitive.

Abandonment	Закрытие (ликвидация скважины)
flow path	путь движения флюидов в породе
liability	обязательство, пассив

(Baker R. “A Primer of Oil Well Drilling”, 2001, Austin, Texas)

279

6. Find the Russian equivalents to the English terms.

1. enhanced recovery methods	A. плохая проницаемость
2. refinery	B. траектория движения, путь
	движения флюидов
3. formation sands	C. высокая скорость
4. well	D. истощенное месторождение
5. hole	E. эффект скольжения
6. flow path	F. спускной кран, выпускной клапан
7. increased velocity	G. ствол скважины
8. wellbore	H. нефтеперерабатывающий завод
9. abandoned field	I. скважина, выработка малого
	сечения
10. depleted field	J. способы ремонта скважины в случае
	аварии
11. sweep effect	K. методы механизированной добычи
12. artificial lift methods	L. эффективные методы добычи
13. well intervention	M. песок из пласта
techniques
14. low permeability	N. ликвидированный промысел
15. outlet valve	O. буровая скважина, резервуар,
	отстойник

7. Match the term with its synonym.

1. repair work	A. tubular
2. subsoil	B. washout
3. failure	C. lateral
4. pulling units	D. hoist
5. side	E. secure(v)
6. elimination	F. subsurface
7. pipe	G. remedial work
8. raise, lift (v)	H. leak
9. tie, fix (v)	I. removal
10. drip, ooze (v)	J. workover rigs

280

8. Match the words in the right column with the definitions in the left one.

1. well completion	A. cylindrical hole drilled without entering of people
	and having a diameter significantly less than its
	length
2. production well	B. well preparation for oil production after drilling
	that includes such operations as perforation jobs, acid
	and frac jobs...
3. well	C. pipes run in the hole and cemented during drilling
	in order to consolidate well bore walls and prevent
	their collapse
4. well workovers	D. operations to consolidate casing in a well after it
	was run in the hole during drilling.
5. formation pressure	E. a process of well construction by means of rock
	destruction with a bit
6. injection well	F. a well drilled in compliance with the plan of
	formation development to produce oil and gas
7. drilling	G. a well drilled to inject into zones water (air, gas,
	steam) to maintain formation pressure and prolong
	flowing period of field development
8. cement job	H. pressure at the bottom of a well that is shut in
9. casing	I. operations to clean out, repair or otherwise work
	on a well to increase or restore production

9. Compose collocations from the following words.

drilling	rock
flow	flooding
recoverable	pipe
artificial	zone
depleted	recovery
production	rig
drill	path
steel	field
steam	oil
secondary	bit
reservoir	method

281

10. Fill in the gaps with a suitable preposition.

1.At the end sections of the wellbore are filled ______ cement.

2.Pressure can be lowered _______other producing wells.

3.Casing used ______well integrity should be secured ______cement.

4.Perforations made in the portion of the casing passed _______the production zone provide a path_____oil to flow ______the production tubing.

5.This kind of device provides a redundant barrier ______leaks

________hydrocarbons.

6.These methods are used to increase downhole pressure to push hydrocarbons _______ the reservoir.

7.You can use enhanced recovery methods when you face problems _______

high oil viscosity, etc.

11. Fill in the gaps with the most suitable words or terms from the text.

1.Completion is a stage when a well is prepared for oil or gas _______.

2.A steel pipe is secured with ______ to provide structural _____of the well.

3._____ are applied to prevent the migration of formation sands into the production tubulars.

4.The better is quality of _____the higher the well operation efficiency.

5.The application of enhanced recovery methods allow reservoir engineers to increase the ultimate ________ ______ .

6.Drilling preparation operations first of all include selection of location for a _______ _____ .

7.Perforations are made in the casing section which passes through the

______ _____.

12. Give English equivalents to the Russian words in brackets.

1.The top of an oil rig (оснащена) with a certain set of valves.

2.Such enhanced recovery methods as (заводнение, нагнетание паром)

are applied to increase reservoir pressure.

3.(Буровая установка) is a complex of drilling machines, mechanisms and equipment in the (буровая площадка).

4.The well (ликвидировать) when it no longer produces oil or gas.

5.A small diameter of the tubing allows increasing the velocity of

(углеводородов).

282

6.Injection wells are used for injection into (продуктивный пласт) to maintain (давление в продуктивном пласте).

7.(Буровой шлам) are carried to the surface by the drilling fluid which (прокачивается) by special equipment.

13. Read the conversations and underline the process they are talking about.

1.– Roughly how much would it cost?

– In your case, it’s better not to waste money at all.

Planning

Abandonment

Enhanced oil recovery

2.– We have a small problem which can lead to well shut-in.

– It’s quite serious. You should contact our service company today.

Completion

Workovers

Fracturing

3.– How far is it?

–Five hundred kilometers.

–So, we can transport everything in a day.

Planning

Casing

Drilling

4.– I see we only have large diameters

–Only tomorrow we’ll need smaller diameter.

–That’s OK. Everything will be ready.

Production

Injection

Completion

14. 

A. Listen to the description of the drilling process and fill in the missing words (no more than THREE words). The first word is given as an example.

The world’s (0) dependence on oil and gas is a given. Drilling a well is a complex process involving different service companies each one adherent to the clock scheduling, safety and (1) __________. The first task is to prepare the location. Next a pilot hole is dug at the precise location marked by the survey crew for the main hole, two other holes, (2) __________ and rathole, are also dug. Two shifts of complete crews are assigned to the drill site for

283

the entire project. Drilling happens in stages: drilling, running and (3)

___________. To help keep cuttings from plugging the hole the mud passes through shakers that (4) __________ and send them to the bit. The blowout preventer or BOP contains high-pressure safety valves designed to (5)

__________ of underground gases or fluids in order to prevent blowout from occurring.

The bit is a cutting element used in (6) __________. As the bit turns it crushes the rock efficiently. When the hole reaches the designated depth, the derrickhands circulate fluid to condition it for the logging, the process of measuring and (7) __________. If everything tests positively the crew inserts the last string of (8) __________ that runs the entire length of the hole and cements the casing in the hole.

Next the workover unit trips out of the hole and picks up a (9) __________

which the crew lowers into the well to the production depth. An electrical signal is sent down the wireline, firing the gun and igniting explosive charges that create holes connecting the wellbore to the reservoir to (10) __________

the flow of hydrocarbons. The final step is to install a pump jack or production well head called a Christmas tree on the well. It is then time to produce the well and plan for any future field development.

B.  Listen to the text again and choose the answer – A, B, C or D – that best suits the information from the text.

1. To prepare the well location implies

A.construction of an access road and availability of utilities supply lines.

B.introduction of electricity generation and waste water discharge systems.

C.deforestation and drainage of the area.

D.training of the personnel involved.

2.After being moved and assembled the rig is inspected in order to make sure

A.it is still intact and able to operate.

B.it is equipped and fitted with all necessary up-to-date components.

C.it meets all specifications and safety standards.

D.it looks attractive for investors.

3.Tripping out is performed to

A.remove the entire string of drill pipe.

B.replace a worn-out drill bit.

C.keep the drill crew busy.

D.prolongate the drilling process.

4. An additional mud system used to clean the drilling fluid from cuttings includes

284

A.desanders, debubblers and desilters

B.decutters, desilters and degassers.

C.degassers, desanders and desilters.

D.descreeners, desanders and descalers.

5.Downhole information obtained by logging allows determining A. if the well is drilled well enough to produce oil or gas.

B. if the well is plugged with cuttings.

C. if the well is able to meet expectations. D. if the well is completed or abandoned.

6.The purpose of fracturing a well is to

A.release the pressure and allow oil and gas to flow into the wellbore.

B.pump air, sand and fluid into the wellbore under very high pressure.

C.keep perforations open to prevent them from being plugged.

D.test the walls of the well whether they are solid.

7.The name of the device that controls the flow of hydrocarbons is

A.a monitoring unit.

B.a flow valve.

C.a choke.

D.a tubing.

8. According to the text, drilling for oil and gas helps us

A.make more money and raise the life standards up.

B.meet growing needs for energy.

C.produce high-quality oil-derived products.

D.affect economic ratings on world’s stock exchanges.

15.Match the questions about “well life” on the left with the answers on the right.

1.	What is the average diameter of		A. Well, the diameter of the tubing
a well hole?			is small so as to produce
			hydrocarbons and increase
			velocity.
2.	How is the migration of		B. That’s difficult to say, but I
formation sands controlled?			know that in the Tomsk region
			flooding is applied.
3.	How is hydrostatic effect of		C. My best advice is to give it up!
water overcome?
4.	What is the nodding donkey?		D. As I know, sand screens or a
			gravel pack is installed.
5.	Is the “Christmas Tree” on the		E. As far as I know, a “hole” is an
well top the same as the tree we			opening, but a well is a deep hole.
have at Christmas?
		285

6.	What would you do if reservoir	F. Hmm, that’s hard to say, but as
pressure decreases?		far as I know it is a surface pump
		jack which could be seen in old oil
		fields.
7.	What must I do (well owner) if	G. Yes, you are right, but instead of
the flow rate decreases to 5%?		Christmas toys there are different
		valves.
8.	What is the difference between	H. Well, I think it’s about
the well and a hole?		13–76 cm.

16. The life of a well includes several stages. Put the following key words according to the stages and describe each of them.

		2	4
	1		3

Workovers, rotation, integrity,	Recovery, hydrocarbons,
circulation, hole shut-down,	reservoir pressure,
cement,	perforation, artificial lift

	cuttings, coiled tubing,	Production zone,
		concrete, enhanced
	Injection well,
		methods, losses
	expensive,

286

	WORDLIST
ENGLISH	RUSSIAN
abandonment	закрытие (ликвидация скважины)
acid matrix jobs	кислотная обработка
artificial lift methods	методы механизированной добычи
cased-hole completion	заканчивание скважины посредством обсадной
	колонны
cement	цементный раствор
circulate fluid	прокачивать буровой раствор по системе
completion	заканчивание скважины
cuttings	буровой шлам
depleted field	истощенное месторождение
downhole pressure	давление в скважине
drill bit	буровое долото, буровая коронка
drilling	бурение
drilling fluid	буровая жидкость
drilling rig	буровая установка
drilling site	буровая площадка
enhanced recovery	повышенная норма добычи
flow path	путь движения флюидов в породе
formation sand	песок из пласта
fracturing fluid	жидкость для гидроразрыва
gravel pack	гравийный фильтр
hoist	подъем
hole	отверстие, выработка малого сечения, скважина
hole completion	заканчивание скважины
injection well	нагнетательная скважина
integrity	целостность
leak (v\n)	утечка, течь
liability	обязательство, пассив
oil rig	нефтяная вышка
oil viscosity	вязкость нефти
perforation	перфорационное отверстие
permeability	проницаемость
produce (v)	добывать
producing well	добывающая скважина
production	выработка, добыча
production tubing	эксплутационная насосно-компрессорная
	колонна
	287

production tubular	эксплутационная колонна
production zone	продуктивная зона
pulling unit	подъемная установка для капитального ремонта
	скважин
recoverable oil	промышленные запасы нефти, нефтеотдача
	пласта
redundant	излишний, избыточный, резервный
refinery	нефтеперерабатывающий завод
remedial	ремонтный
reservoir rock	порода-коллектор
reservoir section	коллекторская порода
scale	твердый осадок на стенах трубопровода
screen	фильтр
secondary recovery	вторичное извлечение
secure (v)	закреплять
shallower reservoir	коллектор на небольших глубинах
steam flooding	нагнетание паром
steel pipe (casing)	обсадная колонна
tertiary recovery	третичное извлечение
unconsolidated sand	неуплотненный песок
washout	размыв, отверстие в бурильной трубе
waterflooding	заводнение (нефтяного месторождения)
workover rig	установка для капитального ремонта скважины
workovers	капитальный ремонт скважины

288

UNIT 2

TYPES OF WELLS

Well is a deep cylindrical hole or shaft sunk drilled without entering of people to obtain water, oil, gas, or brine.

Lead-in

Form the types of wells from the verbs \ nouns given in Terms and Vocabulary

R	S	С	A
		WELL	Dev
P			D

Ex
							Pros
					W
		R

	Terms and Vocabulary
recover	добывать
produce	добывать
explore	исследовать, вести разведочные
	работы
relief	ослабление, разгрузка, сброс
prospect	разведка, производить поиск
discover	обнаруживать, находить
wildcat	рискованное предприятие
develop	развивать, совершенствовать
appraise	оценивать
confirm	подтверждать
step out	выходить, отходить
	289

1. Match the well type with its definition in Russian.

1. development	A. поисковая \ разведочная скважина
	(бурится для обнаружения ранее
	неизвестного месторождения новых
	коллекторов, залегающих на других
	горизонтах, который был открыт на
	малоисследованной территории)
2. discovery	B. продуктивная скважина
3. prospect	C. оценочная скважина, пробуренная
	для подтверждения присутствия \
	оценки углеводородов в пласте-
	коллекторе, который был открыт на
	малоисследованной территории
4. wildcat	D. эксплуатационная скважина
5. relief	E. вновь пробуренная скважина (при
	постепенном разбуривании
	месторождения); отдаленная скважина
6. exploration	F. эксплуaтационная скважина,
	(добывающая)
7. production	G. поисково-разведочная скважина (на
	новой недостаточно разведанной
	площади)
8. appraisal	H. поисковая скважина
9. step-out	I.наклонная скважина, пробуренная
	для глушения другой скважины (в
	случае открытого фонтанирования
	пожаров); вспомогательная скважина;
	разгрузочная скважина
10. confirmation	J. доразведочная скважина,
	подтверждающая скважина (вторая
	пробуренная продуктивная скважина
	на месторождении)
11. recovery	K. скважина, открывшая новое
	месторождение/вскрывшая новый
	пласт

290