Starting Production Flow
Production flow is started by washing in the well and setting the packer.
Surging and Swabbing
- Washing in: This means to pump in water or brine to flush out the drilling fluid. Usually this is enough to start the well flowing.
- Surging: During surging, water or a specialized fluid is pumped into the wellbore at high pressure. This pressure test helps identify any weak points, leaks, or defects in the well casing or cement sheath.
- Unloading: If the well does not start flowing, then the well may need to be unloaded. This means to swab the well to remove some of the brine.
- Swabbing: Swabbing occurs when the pressure inside the wellbore becomes lower than the reservoir or formation pressure, which can lead to fluids (usually drilling mud or reservoir fluids) being drawn into the wellbore.
- Wireline: A wireline is a slender, rodlike or threadlike piece of metal used for lowering special tools into the well.
- Kick: A "kick" refers to an unplanned and often dangerous influx of formation fluids (usually oil, gas, or water) into the wellbore. A kick can happen if the formation pressure exceeds the pressure exerted by the drilling mud.
If this does not work the flow might be started by pumping high-pressure gas into the well before setting the packer.
- The packer is a piece of downhole equipment that consists of a sealing device, a holding or setting device, and an inside passage for fluids.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-6. What is the purpose of washing in?
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