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Introduction to Stimulation
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................................1-3
How This Course is Organized ..............................................................................................................1-3
Study Suggestions ..................................................................................................................................1-4
The Purpose of Stimulation in an Oil Well................................................................................................1-5
Delivering Quality and Value.................................................................................................................1-5
Halliburton and the Drilling of an Oil Well ...............................................................................................1-6
Drilling Operations.................................................................................................................................1-6
Running Drill Pipe .................................................................................................................................1-6
Running Surface Casing.........................................................................................................................1-7
Cementing ..............................................................................................................................................1-8
Tripping In............................................................................................................................................1-10
Running and Cementing Intermediate Casing......................................................................................1-10
Drilling To Final Depth........................................................................................................................1-10
Completing the Well ............................................................................................................................1-10
Setting Production Casing ....................................................................................................................1-11
Perforating............................................................................................................................................1-11
Installing the Completion System ........................................................................................................1-12
Sand Control.........................................................................................................................................1-12
Installing the Christmas Tree ...............................................................................................................1-12
Acidizing ..............................................................................................................................................1-13
Fracturing .............................................................................................................................................1-13
Historical Background of Stimulation .....................................................................................................1-14
History of Acidizing.............................................................................................................................1-14
History of Hydraulic Fracturing ...........................................................................................................1-14
Halliburton Energy Services Vision and Mission....................................................................................1-16
HES 2003 Vision Statement.................................................................................................................1-16
Production Enhancement Vision and Guiding Principles ....................................................................1-16
HES Mission Statement .......................................................................................................................1-17
General Safety and Work Guidelines.......................................................................................................1-18
Stimulation Job Descriptions (Frac/Acid)................................................................................................1-20
Oilfield Terms, Slang, and Acronyms .....................................................................................................1-22
Common Oilfield Terms ......................................................................................................................1-22
Common Oilfield Acronyms ................................................................................................................1-35
Common Halliburton Acronyms ..........................................................................................................1-38
Unit A Quiz ..........................................................................................................................................1-40
Answer Key .............................................................................................................................................1-41
11 Stimulation I
2005, Halliburton
Introduction to Stimulation
Introduction
Welcome to Halliburtons Production your enrollment and can assist you in
Enhancement (PE) Product Service Line (PSL). completing the course.
Halliburton is the world leader in oil and gas
well stimulation, both in market position and
customer perception. Consistently ranked How This Course is Organized
number one in value by independent surveys of
oil and gas customers, the Production Familiarize yourself with the way this workbook
Enhancement PSL provides excellent value for is organized. You will find a table of contents at
oil and gas operators throughout the world. the beginning of each section, followed by an
Halliburton helped to pioneer well fracturing introduction, a list of topic areas, and the
back in 1949. learning objectives for that section.
Halliburton's PE PSL encompasses the Each section in this workbook contains several
technologies and capabilities to optimize units. Each unit contains all the information you
hydrocarbon reservoir performance through a need. Other manuals or catalogs are not
variety of approaches generally based on necessary, with the possible exception of a Red
pressure pumping services. The PSLs reservoir Book and dictionary. Each unit is made up of
focus drives technology development in fluids, text, figures to help explain the text (pictures,
materials, and equipment. Included in the PE drawings charts, etc.), and a unit quiz. When you
PSL are Stimulation (fracturing and acidizing), complete all the units in a section, you complete
Sand Control, Coiled Tubing, Well Control / a self-check test. Both the quizzes and tests will
Hydraulic Workover (HWO), Nitrogen Services, help you check your personal progress. The time
and Pipeline and Process Services. This course you spend on each unit is not important; it is
primarily covers only Stimulation. important that you learn and retain the content.
This course is your introduction to the well At the end of every section are the answers to all
stimulation process: what it is, why is it done, unit quizzes and the self-check tests. After you
and how we do it. From this course, you will complete a quiz or a test, refer to the appropriate
learn many new terms, types of equipment, types answer key. Let your supervisor know when you
of materials, and processes. By completing this complete a section. Then you will take a written
course, you will be able to more effectively test that is graded. This section test is based
communicate with others in the PSL and at the solely upon the information in your workbook.
job site, be better able to participate in However, you cannot use your workbook as a
stimulation jobs, and be prepared to take on reference while taking the test.
more responsibility. You will start to become an Successful completion of all the section tests and
invaluable person who can deliver the Customer a comprehensive final examination makes you
Service that has been a Halliburton tradition for eligible to attend the next level course.
more than 80 years.
For more information on a subject covered in
Take time to carefully read this introduction. It your workbook, let your resource personnel
will acquaint you with this course and suggest know of your interest they can direct you to
ways to get the most out of it. more information.
This workbook allows you to learn at your own
speed, without an instructor, and at any time or
place that may be convenient for you. Your
immediate supervisor is normally responsible for
Keep your workbook available at all times; you When you work through all the units in a
never know when you might have the section, you will be ready to take the self-check
opportunity to work on a unit. Try and set aside test for that section. Go back through all the
enough time to complete an entire unit during a units to review what you have learned. Your
study period. completed unit quizzes should also be helpful
here.
Some study suggestions include
If you are having trouble choosing or calculating
Review both the section and unit an answer, go to the next question. At the end of
introductions. They will very briefly the test, go back to the questions you didn't
describe what is in the unit. answer and try again. Remember, you are not
competing with anyone but yourself. Take your
Skim through the unit. Look at the figures
time and do your best.
and headings to see what's familiar to you
and what isn't. They will tell you what to When you finish a self-check test, turn to the
expect. answer key at the end of the section to check
your answers. References are provided as to
Read the content carefully. Go back to the
where the answers can be found. Make sure that
beginning of the unit and read the content,
you understand the correct answers before
paragraph by paragraph. Study the figures. If
proceeding to another section. Check with your
you are unfamiliar with the meaning of a
resource personnel if you feel the response you
word, look it up in a dictionary.
gave is correct. Don't forget to let your program
Check your understanding. Try to put into coordinator know that you have completed the
your own words the paragraph you have just section.
read. Go back and underline or make notes Upon completion of a section, ask your
of important points. This will help you to supervisor any questions you might have before
review the content of the unit later. taking the in-class section test. Successful
Review the unit. At the end of each unit, take completion of the test enables you to move on to
a few minutes to look over your notes. the next section. Remember that successful
completion of all in-class section tests and the
Take the unit quiz. Try not to refer to the comprehensive course final examination enables
text when you are filling in the blanks in the you to be enrolled in the appropriate next level
unit quiz. Write your answers in your school.
workbook.
relieve some of the weight carried on the mast or equipment to handle this material in bulk. Bulk
derrick as the long string of heavy casing hangs cement storage and handling equipment is
suspended in the hole. moved out to the rig, making it possible to mix
large quantities of cement at the site. The
cementing crew mixes the dry cement with
water, using a recirculating mixer (Figure 1.6).
The dry cement is gradually added to the tub,
and a jet of water thoroughly mixes with the
cement to make slurry (very thin, watery
cement).
Perforating
Reservoir
Casing Shoe
Cement
Fracturing
500,000 gal of fluid and one million pounds of fracturing may also be used to help overcome
proppant are not uncommon (Figure 1.17). wellbore damage, aid in secondary recovery
operations, and help inject and dispose of brine
and industrial wastes.
With the advancement of computer technology,
field engineers can now use hydraulic fracture
design simulators on the job site for more than
just research purposes. These simulators require
rock mechanic properties, fluid properties,
treatment data, and economic data as inputs to
calculate the most effective frac design. Pre-
Frac data acquisition has become more
sophisticated and varied in recent years because
of new tools and technology. In-situ rock
stresses, fracture orientation, fracture closure
pressure, fluid efficiency, treatment pressure,
Figure 1.16 - One of the first two hydraulic and many other parameters can be determined
fracturing jobs, this one performed in through pre-frac treatment methods.
Stephens County, Oklahoma.
Two valuable aids to well stimulation became
available with the introduction of Nitrogen and
By 1981, more than 800,000 treatments had CO2 services. Along with the advantages of
been performed. As of 1988, this has grown to using Nitrogen and CO2 in stimulation work,
exceed 1 million. About 35 to 40% of all major advances have been made in pumping
currently drilled wells are hydraulically equipment, storage, and safety measures.
fractured. Conservative estimates suggest that
approximately 75% of wells that have been
fractured have increased production.
Many fields exist today because of the use of
hydraulic fracturing techniques. About 25 to
30% of total U.S. reserves have been made
economically producible by the process.
Fracturing is responsible for increasing North
Americas oil reserves by 8 billion barrels. In
addition to creating reservoir fractures for
improving well productivity, hydraulic Figure 1.17 - Large frac-acid job
The Halliburton Energy Services 2003 Vision is to be the undisputed leader in Real Time
Reservoir Solutions.
The fundamental principles to achieving our vision involve:
Providing superior value to shareholders and customers
Creating a company-wide environment for developing, motivating, and rewarding our people
Being the undisputed leader in innovative technology, integrated solutions and health, safety
and the environment.
Being No. 1 or 2 in core discrete businesses
Leveraging Halliburton Company's total capability
The leader in optimizing well performance through reservoir understanding and integrating
intelligent stimulation and completions, we strive to
Demonstrate the greatest value created
Make it easy to do business with HES
Consistently provide best-in-class performance
Our Mission Statement defines our purpose and our beliefs in how we want to achieve our vision by
providing "markers or guideposts" to our beliefs as a company.
Halliburton Energy Services (HES), a business unit of Halliburton Company, is a global
provider of products, services, and solutions to the energy industry. To be successful,
HES must focus on the needs of our customers. We are to continually find creative
solutions that maximize the economic recovery of the oil and gas reservoir.
The means by which we will enable our customers to be successful is by aligning with
their goal of reducing the cost of oil and gas produced, through providing reliable, cost-
effective solutions, delivered by expert personnel with the following values and
principles:
Perform at the highest levels of service quality that exceed our customers
expectations
Believe that all accidents are preventable and strive for an incident-free workplace
Recognize that we are responsible for protecting the environment and consistently
meeting those responsibilities
Continually apply new technology that benefits our customers and distinguishes
Halliburton Energy Services from our competitors as a leader in fit for purpose
solutions
Support a culture of real-time decision-making and speed to ensure responsiveness
to our customers needs
Maintain integrity in all of our actions always honor our commitments
Be flexible and innovative in our business models and recognized as the leading
company with whom it is easy to do business
By virtue of our mission and values, Halliburton Energy Services expects to be the most
valued provider of solutions to our customers. And because we are successful in
meeting our customers needs and good business practices, we expect to deliver
superior financial performance to our shareholders.
We can only accomplish this with the efforts and participation of our employees;
therefore, we must commit to invest in our people to promote a climate of enthusiasm,
teamwork, and challenge which attracts, motivates and retains superior personnel and
rewards performance.
After arriving at the location and changing to 9. All safety equipment should be carried in its
work clothes, clear the way to the equipment proper place on the vehicle. This equipment
site. This preparation is especially important on should be checked periodically. It is the duty
a new location. Transporting heavy equipment
of the operator to know the location of the If you are not sure, ask the advice of your
equipment and its proper operation. supervisor.
In short: Study the rules and regulations in the HES
Be sure you know how to do the job. Safety Policy Manual
Requires a high school diploma, GED, or customer satisfaction for the long term
equivalent experience and a valid growth and profitability of the NWA.
Commercial Driver's License as required.
Manages processes to ensure job site
Demonstrates exceptional skills within the
execution as designed.
service line and a general understanding of
other service functions. Follows up job site performance with
customer.
Service Leader
Maintains MBU performance measures and
In addition to responsibilities as a Service
documents results and best practices. (This
Supervisor, is also the PSL Mobile Business
classification is available only for North
Unit Leader.
America MBU participants).
Responsible for development and leadership
of the Frac/Acid PSL profit center within the
NWA.
The MBU Leader's emphasis is on personnel
development, operational excellence and
The outer wall of the annulus may be an open BASE - Compound of metal, or a metal-like
hole or it may be larger pipe. group, with hydrogen and oxygen in the
proportion to form an OH radical, which ionizes
API- American Petroleum Institute.
in aqueous solution to yield excess hydroxyl
API GRAVITY- The gravity (weight per unit ions. Bases are formed when metallic oxides
volume) of crude oil or other related fluids as react with water. Bases increase the pH.
measured by a system recommended by the Examples are caustic soda and lime.
American Petroleum Institute. It is related to
BASICITY - pH value above 7, ability to
specific gravity by the following formula:
neutralize or accept protons from acids.
Deg API = 141.5_- 131.5
BED - Specific layer of earth or rock material in
sp gr 60F/60F
contrast to other layers of earth or rock of
APPARENT VISCOSITY- The viscosity a different material lying above, below, or
fluid appears to have on a given instrument at a adjacent to the bed in reference.
stated rate of shear. It is a function of the plastic
BENTONITE- A highly plastic, highly
viscosity and the yield point. The apparent
colloidal clay, largely made up of the mineral,
viscosity in centipoises, as determined by the
montmorillonite, plastic, colloidal clay, largely
direct-indicating viscometer (which see), is
made up of the mineral sodium montmorillonite,
equal to 1/2 the 600-rpm reading. See also
a hydrated aluminum silicate. Used in drilling
Viscosity, Plastic Viscosity and Yield Point. In a
fluids, bentonite has a yield in excess of 85
Newtonian fluid, the apparent viscosity is
bbl/ton. The generic term bentonite is neither
numerically equal to the plastic viscosity.
an exact mineralogical name, nor is the clay of
AQUEOUS - Used to describe fluids prepared definite mineralogical composition.
from water. Usually used to distinguish from
BICARB - See Sodium Bicarbonate.
hydrocarbon fluid. An aqueous fluid may be
plain fresh water, or it may have a great number BIOCIDE- Used interchangeably with the word
of additives, which give it properties much bactericide. Bio means life and cide means
different from plain water. Examples are salt kill.
water of various weights, HCL, KCL water,
BLOCKS, CROWN AND TRAVELING- The
formic and acetic acids.
block and tackle on a rig that raises and lowers
AROMATIC- Describes those hydrocarbons the drill string.
that have carbon chains bent and connected to
BLEED OFF OR BLEED DOWN- Reduce
form a ring or cycle. Aromatic hydrocarbons are
pressure by letting oil or gas escape at a low
sometimes called cyclic hydrocarbons. Many
rate.
of these compounds, as the name implies, have a
fragrant or spicy odor. Xylene bottoms are a BLOOIE LINE- Flow line for air or gas
mixture of aromatic compounds including drilling.
xylene, benzene and toluene. A solid aromatic BLOWOUT - Uncontrolled escape of drilling
hydrocarbon which is commonly used is fluid, gas, oil, or water from the well caused by
napthalene or mothballs. the formation pressure being greater than the
BACK-OFF- Unscrew. hydrostatic head of the fluid in the hole.
BACK PRESSURE - Pressure resulting from BLOWOUT PREVENTER- A device attached
restriction of full natural flow of oil or gas. immediately above the casing, which can be
closed and shut off the hole should a blowout
BACTERIA- The simplest form of animal life.
occur.
BACTERICIDE - Agent capable of destroying
BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURE- The pressure
bacteria.
at the bottom of a well.
BARREL - A volumetric unit of measure used
in the petroleum industry consisting of 42 gal.
silicate of alumina, formed by the decomposition CORROSION- The adverse chemical alteration
of feldspar and other aluminum silicates. See on a metal or the eating away of the metal by air,
also Attapulgite, Bentonite, High Yield, Low moisture, or chemicals; usually an oxide is
Yield, and Natural Clays. Clay minerals are formed. Deterioration of metal due to reaction
essentially insoluble in water but disperse under with the environment.
hydration, shearing forces such as grinding,
CORROSION INHIBITOR INTENSIFIER-
velocity effects, etc., into the extremely small
An additive that cannot be considered as an
particles varying from submicron to 100-micron
inhibitor when used alone but has the ability to
sizes.
improve the effectiveness of conventional
CLAY CONTROL ADDITIVES- Chemical organic inhibitors when used with them.
additives used to minimize the possibility of clay
CRATER (TO CRATER) - Term meaning the
crystals breaking loose and migrating using
hole is caving in. To crater refers to the results
ionic charge and organic polymer.
that sometime accompany a violent blowout
CLEAN VOLUME- Volume of fracturing fluid during which the surface surrounding the well
before adding proppant. bore falls into a large hole blown in the earth by
the force of escaping gas, oil, and water. The
CLOSURE PRESSURE- There is two uses of
crater sometimes covers an area of several acres
this term: (1) The minimum hydraulic pressure
and reaches a depth of several hundred feet.
required to hold a fracture open. This pressure is
obtained from either minifracturing or CRITICAL POINT - The pressure and
microfracturing data. The closure pressure is the temperature where all lines of constant liquid
same Closure Pressure as the least principal rock content coverage for a given hydrocarbon
stress. (2) This term is also used to refer to mixture; the pressure and temperature at which
closure stress, or the stress the formation all intensive properties of the vapor and liquid
applies to the proppant bed after fracturing. are the same.
Note: These two uses of this term should not be
CRITICAL PRESSURE- The point at which a
confused.
constant pressure occurs indicating a reduction
CLOSURE STRESS- Stress applied to the in the fracture extension rate (as defined by
proppant bed after fracturing. Closure stress is Nolte).
not equal to closure pressure. Closure stress is
CROSSLINKING - Union of high-polymer
equal to instantaneous shut-in pressure minus
molecules by a system involving primary
bottomhole flowing pressure. Consequently,
chemical bonds.
closure stress in the proppant bed is a function of
time.- CROWN BLOCK - Sheaves and supporting
beams on top of derrick.
COLLAR - Pipe coupling threaded on the
inside. DARCY - Unit of permeability. A porous
medium has a permeability of 1 darcy when a
COMING OUT OF HOLE - Withdrawing of
pressure of 1 atm on a sample 1 cm long and 1
the drill pipe from the well bore. This
sq cm in cross section will force a liquid of 1-cp
withdrawal is necessary to change the bit, or
viscosity through the sample at the rate of 1 cc
change from bit to core barrel, to prepare for a
per sec.
drill stem test, and for other reasons.
DARCYS LAW- The rate of flow of a
CONDENSATE- Hydrocarbons which are in
homogeneous fluid through a porous medium is
the gaseous state under reservoir conditions but
proportional to the pressure of hydraulic
which become liquid either in passage up the
gradient and to the cross-sectional area normal
hole or at the surface.
to the direction of flow and inversely
CONDUCTIVITY - See Fracture Conductivity. proportional to the viscosity of the fluid.
DENSITY- When used in relation to materials change alone. Natural gas that is produced with
such as solids, liquids, or gases, this means the liquids; also a gas that has been treated to
weight of a unit volume of the material. Many remove all liquids.
types of units are used to measure density. The
DRY HOLE- Somewhat loosely used in oil
chemist usually uses grams per cubic centimeter
work, but in general any well that does not
(gm/cc). In the oil patch we may use pounds per
produce oil or gas in commercial quantities. A
cubic foot (lb/cu ft) for solids, pounds per gallon
dry hole may flow water, or gas, or may even
(lb/gal) for liquids and pounds per cubic foot
yield some oil to the pump, but no in
(lb/cu ft) for gases.
commercial quantities.
DIFFERENTIAL ETCHING- The removal of
ELEVATORS- Latches which secure the drill
formation during fracturing acidizing in an
pipe or casing; attached to the traveling block
uneven manner (hills and valleys). Once the
which raises and lowers the pipe from the hole.
formation closes, the area where the most rock
was removed can act as permeable flow EMULSION- A substantially permanent
channels while the other areas act as support to heterogeneous liquid mixture of two or more
keep these channels open. liquids that do not normally dissolve in each
other but which are held in suspension or
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE -Difference in
dispersion, one in the other, by mechanical
pressure between the hydrostatic head of the
agitation or, more frequently, by adding small
drilling-fluid column and the formation pressure
amounts of substances known as emulsifiers.
at any given depth in the hole. It can be positive,
Emulsions may be mechanical, chemical, or a
zero, or negative with respect to the hydrostatic
combination of the two. They may be oil-in-
head.
water or water-in-oil types.
DIFFUSION -Spreading, scattering, or mixing
ENZYME- One of a group of complex organic
of a material (gas, liquid, or solid).
substances formed in the living cells of plants
DIRTY VOLUME - Volume of fracturing fluid and animals. They are necessary catalysts for the
after adding proppant. chemical reactions of biological processes (such
as digestion).
DOG-LEG - The elbow caused by a sharp
change of direction in the well bore. Bend in FATIGUE - Failure of a metal under repeated
pipe, a ditch, or a well. loading.
DOPE- Material used on threads of pipe or FAULT - Geological term denoting a formation
tubing to lubricate and prevent leakage. break, upward or downward, in the subsurface
strata. Faults can significantly affect the area
DOUBLE- Two lengths or joints of pipe joined
mud and casing programs.
together.
FEMALE CONNECTION - Pipe or rod
DRILL-STEM TEST (DST)- A test to
coupling with the threads on the inside.
determine whether oil and/or gas in commercial
quantities has been encountered in the well bore. FILTER CAKE- The suspended solids that are
deposited on a porous medium during the
DRILL STRING- The string of pipe that
process of filtration. See also Cake Thickness.
extends from the bit to the Kelly, carries the
mud down to the bit, and rotates the bit. FILTRATE - Liquid that is forced through a
porous medium during the filtration process. For
DRILLING MUD OR FLUID- A circulating
test, see Fluid Loss.
fluid used in rotary drilling to perform any or all
of various functions required in the drilling FITTINGS- The small pipes and valves that are
operation. used to make up a system of piping.
DRY GAS - Hydrocarbon fluid which exists at a FLOCCULATION- Loose association of
reservoir temperature above its cricondentherm; particles in lightly bonded groups, non-parallel
a gas which cannot be liquefied by pressure association of clay platelets. In concentrated
suspensions, such as drilling fluids, flocculation filtrates. Asphalt from crude oil will also
results in gelation. In some drilling fluids, damage some formations. See Mudding Off.
flocculation may be followed by irreversible
FORMATION PRESSURE - Pressure at the
precipitation of colloids and certain other
bottom of a well that is shut in.
substances from the fluid, e.g., red beds.
FORMATION VOLUME FACTOR -
FLOORMAN - Member of the drilling crew
Reservoir pore volume occupied by a unit
whose work station is about the derrick floor. On
volume of stock-tank oil and its associated gas.
rotary drilling rigs normally there are two
floormen on each drilling crew. FRACTURE - Cracks and crevices in the
formation either inherent or induced.
FLUID FLOW- State of fluid dynamics of a
fluid in motion is determined by the type of fluid FRACTURE OPENING PRESSURE -
(e.g., Newtonian, plastic, pseudoplastic, Pressure required to open an existing fracture.
dilatant), the properties of the fluid such as Because this pressure is sometimes close to the
viscosity and density, the geometry of the closure pressure, these terms are often used
system, and the velocity. Thus, under a given set synonymously. Since the fracture extension
of conditions and fluid properties, the fluid flow pressure is obtained after the opening pressure,
can be described as plug flow, laminar (called these terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
also Newtonian, streamline, parallel, or viscous) FRACTURING - Application of hydraulic
flow, or turbulent flow. See terms and Reynolds pressure to the reservoir formation to create
number. fractures through which oil or gas may move to
FLUID LOSS- The volume of fluid lost to a the well bore.
permeable material due to the process of GAS CONDENSATE - Hydrocarbon fluid
filtration. The API fluid loss is the volume of which exists at a reservoir temperature above
fluid in a filtrate as determined according to the that of the critical point and below
Fluid-Loss Test given in API RP 10B. See cricondentherm of the mixture.
Water Loss.
GAS-OIL RATIO- The number of cubic feet of
FLUID-LOSS ADDITIVE- An additive used gas produced with a barrel of oil.
to reduce the fluid loss of cement slurries.
Material used to maintain adequate injected fluid GEL - Viscous solution or semi-solid dispersion
within the created fracture and to minimize of a solid in a liquid. The solids may be either
damage by controlling fluid leak-off. natural polymers or synthetic polymers. These
solids are composed of fibrous strings of
FLUID MOBILITY - Instantaneous ratio of extremely long molecules. The polymer particles
effective permeability for fluid to its viscosity. swell when placed in a fluid and take part of the
FOAM- A foam is a two-phase system, similar fluid into the fibrous structure. This gives the
to an emulsion, where the dispersed phase is a fluid viscosity which may vary from a slight
gas or air. Dispersion of a gas in a liquid. thickening of the fluid to the creation of a rigid
gel similar to set gelatin. Gels are clear or
FOAMING AGENT - Substance that produces
translucent.
fairly stable bubbles at the air-liquid interface
due to agitation, aeration, or ebullition. In air or GONE TO WATER- Describes a well in which
gas drilling, forming agents are added to run water production is increasing.
water influx into aerated foam. This is GRAVITY, SPECIFIC- The weight of a
commonly called mist drilling. Surface active particular volume of any substance compared to
agent capable of stabilizing a foam. the weight of an equal volume of water at a
FORMATION DAMAGE- Damage to the reference temperature. For gases, air is usually
productivity of a well resulting from invasion taken as the reference substance, although
into the formation by mud particles or mud hydrogen is sometimes used.
GROSS INTERVAL - Vertical distant between circulating water and mud into a completed well
persistent and correlatable log markers above before starting well service operations.
and below the entire reservoir interval.
LAMINAR FLOW- Fluid elements flowing
GUAR GUM- A naturally occurring along fixed streamlines which are parallel to the
hydrophilic polysaccharide derived from the walls of the channel of flow. In laminar flow, the
seed of guar plant. The gum is chemically fluid moves in plates or sections with a
classified as a galactomannan. Guar gum slurries differential velocity across the front which
made up in clear fresh or brine water possess varies from zero at the wall to a maximum
pseudoplastic flow properties. toward the center of flow. Laminar flow is the
first stage of flow in a Newtonian fluid; it is the
HYDRATION - Act of a substance to take up
second stage in a Bingham plastic fluid. This
water by means of absorption and/or adsorption.
type of motion is also called parallel, streamline,
HYDROCARBON - Compound consisting or viscous flow. See Plug and Turbulent Flow.
only of molecules of hydrogen and carbon. Fluid flow where neighboring layers are not
HYDROSTATIC HEAD- The pressure exerted mixed.
by a column of fluid, usually expressed in LEAST PRINCIPAL STRESS- The smallest
pounds per square inch. To determine the principal stress in an elemental cube with one
hydrostatic head at a given depth in psi, multiply face oriented normal to the vertical. This stress
the depth in feet by the density in pounds per is also referred to as Horizontal Effective Stress,
gallon by 0.052. Horizontal Stress, Closure Pressure or HST.
INHIBITOR (CORROSION) - Any agent LINER- Any string of casing whose top is
which, when added to a system, slows down or situated at any point below the surface.
prevents a chemical reaction or corrosion.
LOG - Running account listing a series of
Corrosion inhibitors are used widely in drilling
events in chronological order. The drillers log is
and producing operations to prevent corrosion of
a tour-to-tour account of progress made in
metal equipment exposed to hydrogen sulfide,
drilling. Electric well log is a record of
carbon dioxide, oxygen, salt water, etc.
geological formations which is made by a well
Common inhibitors added to drilling fluids are
logging device. This device operates on the
filming amines, chromates, and lime.
principle of differential resistance of various
INORGANIC- Compounds of earthy or mineral formations to the transmission of electric
origin such as: water, limestone, dolomite, current.
gypsum, HCl, etc; no carbon compounds are
MALE CONNECTION - Connection with the
included except cyanides or carbonates.
threads on the outside.
INSTANTANEOUS SHUT-IN PRESSURE
MATRIX FLOW - Flow of fluids through the
(ISIP) - The pressure observed during a
permeable formation.
hydraulic fracturing operation immediately
following the shut-in of the well which negates MINI-FRACTURING- A series of tests
pressure transients. The difference between the performed to obtain important information
fracture extension pressure and the instantaneous pertinent to the design of the main fracturing
shut-in pressure is the frictional pressure drop job. These tests include a step rate test, a pump-
across the perforations to the fracture tip. in, flow-back test and a pressure decline test.
These tests yield the fracture extension pressure,
KELLY OR KELLY JOINT - Heavy square
the closure pressure, the instantaneous shut-in
pipe or other configuration that works through a
pressure, the opening pressure, the closure time,
like hole in the rotary table and rotates the drill
and the fluid loss coefficient. Further analysis
stem.
yields the fracture width and the fracture length.
KILLING A WELL - Bringing a well under
MISCIBLE - Solubility of one liquid in
control that is blowing out. A procedure of
another. When a solid dissolves in a liquid, we
say it is soluble in the liquid, as salt is soluble in NONIONIC- Refers to surfactants which do not
water. When speaking of liquids, we say that ionize and to molecules which neither have
they are immiscible, partially miscible, totally positive nor negative charges. They have oil-
miscible, or miscible in all proportions. soluble and water- soluble ends and the
wettability characteristics are related to the
MONOMER - Simple molecules that join
relative sizes of these ends. Many nonionics will
together to form a polymer are known as
water wet both limestone and sand. They are
monomers and their union is called
often blended with anionics or cationics.
polymerization. k-TROLtm is pumped into a well
as a monomer and polymerizes in the formation NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS- Fluids that the
to form a polymer. apparent viscosity changes with agitation or
pump rate, for example, gels, emulsions,
MONTMORILLONITE - Clay mineral
polymers, mayonnaise. These are fluids that
commonly used as an additive to drilling muds.
experience apparent viscosity changes with
Sodium montmorillonite is the main constituent
agitation or pump rate. Examples are gels,
in bentonite. The structure of montmorillonite is
emulsions or polymers.
characterized by a form that consists of a thin
platey-type sheet with the width and breadth OFFSET WELL- Well drilled near another
indefinite, and thickness that of the molecule. one.
The unit thickness of the molecule consists of
OIL-BASED MUD- The term oil-based mud
three layers. Attached to the surface are ions that
is applied to a special type of drilling fluid
are replaceable. Calcium montmorillonite is the
where oil is the continuous phase and water is
main constituent in low-yield clays.
the dispersed phase. Oil-based mud contains
MUD- A water- or oil-base drilling fluid whose blown asphalt and usually 1 to 5 percent water
properties have been altered by solids, emulsified into the system with caustic soda or
commercial and/or native, dissolved and/or quick lime and an organic acid. Silicate, salt, and
suspended. Used for circulating out cuttings and phosphate may also be present. Oil-based muds
many other functions while drilling a well. Mud are differentiated from invert-emulsion muds
is the term most commonly given to drilling (both water-in-oil emulsions) by the amounts of
fluids (which see). water used, method of controlling viscosity and
thixotropic properties, well-building materials,
MUD PIT - Earthen or steel storage facilities
and fluid loss.
for the surface mud system. Mud pits which vary
in volume and number are of two types: OIL FIELDS - Area where oil is found.
circulating and reserve. Mud testing and Loosely defined term referring to an area in
conditioning is normally done in the circulating which one or more separate pools or reservoirs
pit system. may be found.
NET PRESSURE- The bottomhole treating OPEN HOLE- The uncased part of the well.
pressure minus closure pressure. The net
OPERATOR- The person, whether proprietor
pressure acts to propagate a fracture.
or lessee, actually operating a mine or oil well or
NEUTRALIZATION - Reaction in which the lease.
hydrogen ion of an acid and the hydroxyl ion of
OPERATING PRESSURE- The pressure at
a base unite to form water, the other ionic
which a line or system is operating at any given
product being a salt.
time.
NEWTONIAN FLUID- Fluids with the same
ORGANIC - Compounds of carbon or carbon
apparent viscosity irregardless of the pump rate
and hydrogen (hydrocarbons). Other elements
or agitation, for example, water, oil, molasses.
may be present in the make-up of the compound.
NON-EMULSIFIER - Substance which Examples are: acetic acid, formic acid, all
demulsifies (breaks) emulsions or prevents their alcohols, natural gas, propane, and crude oil.
formation.
amount of connected pore spaces, i.e., the space consistency decreases instantaneously with
available to fluid penetration. See Permeability. increasing rate of shear until at a given point the
viscosity becomes constant. The yield point is
POTASSIUM- One of the alkali metal elements
determined by direct-indicating viscometer is
with a valence of 1 and an atomic weight of
positive, the same as in Bingham plastic fluids;
about 39. Potassium compounds, most
however, the true yield point is zero. An
commonly potassium hydroxide (KOH) are
example of a pseudoplastic fluid is guar gum in
sometimes added to drilling fluids to impart
fresh or salt water.
special properties, usually inhibition.
PUDDLING- In cement evaluation work, the
POUR POINT - Lowest temperature at which a
term applies to agitation of cement slurry in
liquid will flow when a test container (like a test
molds with a rod, to remove any trapped air
tube) is tilted.
bubbles. In field practice, the term has been used
PPM or PARTS PER MILLION- Unit weight to denote the reciprocation or rotation of the
of solute per million unit weights of solution casing during or after a cementing operation.
(solute plus solvent), corresponding to weight-
PUMP-IN/FLOWBACK TEST- A test in the
percent except that the basis is a million instead
minifracturing series with an injection rate
of a hundred. The results of standard API
varying from a minimum of 3 to 5 barrels per
titrations of chloride, hardness, etc, are correctly
minute up to the proposed injection rate at which
expressed in milligrams (mg) of unknown per
the fracturing treatment is to be performed.
liter but not in ppm. At low concentrations, mg/l
Flowback rates vary from 0.25 to 1 bbl/min. The
is about numerically equal to ppm.
closure pressure may be obtained from the
PRECIPITATE - Material that separates out of pressure inflexion during the flowback portion
solution or slurry as a solid. Precipitation of of this test.
solids in a drilling fluid may follow flocculation
PUMP-IN/SHUT-IN TEST- See Pressure
or coagulation, such as the dispersed red-bed
Decline Test.
clays upon addition of a flocculation agent to the
fluid. An insoluble solid substance produced as a PUMPING TIME- Synonymous with
result of a chemical reaction. cementing time except in those instances where
a volume of cement slurry is premixed prior to
PRESSURE - Force per unit area.
displacement in a well. In this instance, the
Bottomhole Circulating Pressure - Pressure at pumping time will be total cementing time
the bottom of a well during circulation of any minus mixing time.
fluid. It is equal to the hydrostatic head plus the
RATE OF SHEAR - Rate at which an action,
annular friction loss required to pump fluid to
resulting from applied forces, causes or tends to
the surface plus any back pressure held at the
cause two adjacent parts of a body to slide
surface.
relatively to each other in a direction parallel to
Bottom Hole Static Pressure - The pressure at their plane of contact. Commonly given in rpm.
the bottom of a well after the well is shut-in long
RELIEF VALVE- A valve that will open
enough to reflect ambient formation pressure.
automatically when pressure gets to high.
Circulating Pressure - The pressure at a
RESERVOIR - Each separate, unconnected
specified depth required to circulate a fluid in a
body of producing formation.
well at a given rate.
RESISTIVITY - Electrical resistance offered to
Surface Pressure - The pressure measured at
the passage of a current, expressed in ohm-
the wellhead.
meters; the reciprocal of conductivity. Fresh-
PSEUDOPLASTIC FLUID - Complex non- water muds are usually characterized by high
Newtonian fluid that does not possess resistivity, salt-water muds by a low resistivity.
thixotropy. A pressure or force in excess of zero
will start fluid flow. The apparent viscosity or
drilling fluids to control the degree of hole. This survey is used to find the location of
emulsification, aggregation, dispersion, inflows of water into the hole, where doubt
interfacial tension, foaming, defoaming, wetting, exists as to proper cementing of the casing and
etc. for other reasons.
SWABBING- Operation of a lifting device to TENSILE STRESS- The perpendicular
bring well fluids to the surface when the well components of internal stress exert a pull
does not flow naturally. This is a temporary between the two parts of the mass which
operation to determine whether or not the well constitutes a tensile stress. A pull-apart stress.
can be made to flow. In the event the well does
TONGS- A wrench type item used to tighten or
not flow after being swabbed, it is necessary
loosen drillpipe or casing connections.
then to install a pump as a permanent lifting
device to bring oil to the surface. TOOL PUSHER - Foreman in charge of one or
more drilling rigs or supervisor of drilling
SWIVEL - Hose coupling which forms a
operations.
connection between the slush pumps and the
drill string and permits rotation of the drill TORQUE- A measure of the force or effort
string. applied to a shaft, causing it to rotate. On a
rotary rig this applies especially to the rotation
TALLY - Measure and record length of pipe or
of the drill stem in its action against the bore of
tubing.
the hole. Torque reduction can usually be
TEARING DOWN - Act of dismantling a rig at accomplished by the addition of various drilling-
the completion of a well and preparing it for fluid additives.
moving to the next location.
TOUR- The word which designates the shift of
TECTONIC- Pertaining to the rock structures a drilling crew or other oil field workers is
and external forms resulting from the pronounced usually as if it were spelled t-o-w-e-
deformation of the earths crust. r. The word does not refer to the derrick or
tower, as some seem to think, the day tour starts
TEMPERATURE- The degree of heat usually
at 7 or 8 in the morning. The evening tour starts
expressed as degrees Fahrenheit.
at 3 or 4 oclock in the afternoon. The morning
- Bottomhole Circulating Temperature - The tour starts at 11 p.m. or midnight (sometimes
temperature of any fluid at the bottom of the referred to as graveyard tour). The almost
well while it is being circulated. universal practice in oil well drilling is to work
- Bottom Hole Static Temperature - The 8-hour tours or shifts.
temperature attained at the bottom of a well after TRIP - Pull or run a string of rods or tubing
the well is shut-in. See Static Temperature. from or into a well.
- Circulating Temperature - The temperature TUBING JOB- The pulling and running of
of any fluid at any specified depth in well while tubing.
it is being circulated, as measured inside casing
TURBIDITY - Measure of the resistance of
or drill pipe.
water to the passage of light through it. It is
- Static Temperature - The temperature caused by suspended and colloidal matter in the
attained at a specified depth in a well after the water.
well is shut-in long enough to reflect the
TURBULENT FLOW - Fluid flow in which
ambient formation temperature.
the velocity at a given point changes constantly
TEMPERATURE STABILITY - Chemical in magnitude and the direction of flow pursues
characteristics of a material which determine its erratic and continually varying courses.
resistance to thermal decomposition. Turbulent flow is the second and final stage of
TEMPERATURE SURVEY - Operation to flow in a Newtonian fluid; it is the third and
determine temperatures at various depths in the
final stage in a Bingham plastic fluid. See or in some cases by a capillary block of the
Critical Velocity and Reynolds Number. pores due to surface tension phenomena.
UNDER-REAM - To enlarge a drill hole below WET GAS - Gas that carries a lot of liquids
the casing. with it.
V-DOOR (WINDOW) - An opening in a side WETTING AGENT- A substance or
of a derrick at the floor level having the form of composition which, when added to a liquid,
an inverted V. This opening is opposite the increases the spreading of the liquid on a surface
draw-works. It is used as an entry to bring in or the penetration of the liquid into a material.
drill pipe and casing from the pipe rack.
WORKOVER - Perform one or more of a
VELOCITY - Time rate of motion in a given variety of remedial operations on a producing oil
direction and sense. It is a measure of the fluid well with the hope of restoring or increasing
flow and may be expressed in terms of linear production. Examples of work-over operations
velocity, mass velocity, volumetric velocity, etc. are deepening, plugging back, pulling and
Velocity is one of the factors that contribute to resetting the liner, squeeze cementing, shooting,
the carrying capacity of a drilling fluid. and acidizing.
VELOCITY, CRITICAL - Velocity at the WORMHOLE - Large, highly conductive
transitional point between laminar and turbulent channels that result from the matrix reaction of
types of fluid flow. This point occurs in the acid with highly reactive sections of the
transitional range of Reynolds numbers of formation. Usually a wormhole starts by
approximately 2,000 to 3,000. enlarging already large permeable vugs or pores
and moves forward as it creates additional
VISCOMETER (VISCOSIMETER)- An
surface area.
apparatus to determine the viscosity of a fluid or
suspension. Viscometers vary considerably in YIELD- A term used to define the quality of
design and methods of testing. clay by describing the number of barrels of a
given centipoise slurry that can be made from a
VISCOSITY- The internal resistance offered by
ton of the clay. Based on the yield, clays are
a fluid to flow. This phenomenon is attributable
classified as bentonite, high-yield, low-yield,
to the attractions between molecules of a liquid,
etc., types of clays. Not related to yield value
and is a measure of the combined effects of
below. See API RP 13B for procedures.
adhesion and cohesion to the effects of
suspended particles, and to the liquid YOUNGS MODULUS - Ratio of stress to
environment. The greater this resistance the strain of a material undergoing elastic strain.
greater the viscosity. See Apparent and Plastic
ZINC CHLORIDE- ZnCl2. A very soluble salt
Viscosity.
used to increase the density of water to points
VUGS- Natural cavities formed in certain more than double that of water. Normally added
formations due to leaching out of soluble to a system first saturated with calcium chloride.
minerals. These cavities are lined with a
crystalline material and a composition different
from that of the surroundings. The size of a vug Common Oilfield Acronyms
may vary from a small pea to a large boulder.
WATER BASE GELLING AGENT - Polymer ACE - Automatic Controlled Equipment
which thickens or gels water. (formerly HIC) - used in HES pumping
equipment
WATER BLOCK- Reduction of the
permeability of a formation caused by the API - American Petroleum Institute
invasion of water into the pores (capillaries). ASME - American Society of Mechanical
The decrease in permeability can be caused by Engineers
swelling of clays, thereby shutting off the pores,
BHA - Bottom Hole Assembly
OIP - Operator Interface Panel - used by a increasing technical and customer needs on a
person to control a UC global basis. Successful completion of the
program is expected to lead to promotion of the
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health
Participant from entry level (or experienced
Administration - Federal US Agency responsible
candidates from within Halliburton) to a revenue
for worker safety
producing Service Supervisor in field
PBR - Polish Bore Receptacle operations.
PCI - Pumping Control Interface - a VME box SSIT - Service Supervisor in Training - is
PD&C - Product Development & responsible for successful wellsite job execution
Commercialization in a safe and efficient manner. The Service
Supervisor's emphasis is on operational
PM - Preventive Maintenance - system of excellence and customer satisfaction for long
checks that ensure equipment is kept at term growth and profitability of the NWA.
minimum standards to prevent failures during
normal operation. SSSV Sub-Surface Safety Valve
Common Halliburton Acronyms What that really means is, the HMS is what we
do, how we do it, who is responsible, how we
know we've done it, and how can we make it
BU - Business Unit
better.
CAPE - Concurrent Art to Production
HPM - Halliburton Performance Management -
Environment
This function includes Market and Business
CBT - Computer-Based Training Analysis, Strategic Planning, PSL Marketing
CEMS - Computerized Equipment Management and the Product Development and
System - field system for tracking equipment Commercialization Initiative Champion
and repairs HR - Human Resource department
COE - Common Office Environment An HRD - Human Resource Development -This
architecture of PCs that standardizes software department drives performance -focused change
and hardware throughout the company. of our people, processes, and organization,
CPI - Correction, Prevention, and Improvement. supporting Halliburtons goal of becoming a
Halliburtons quality improvement system. high -performing organization. Using the
developmental solutions approach, HRD
CPS - Completion Products & Services PSL A develops and implements specific processes that
reservoir focused set of Completion Solutions change and improve performance (processes
including Subsurface Products, Sand Control, collectively known as interventions) to support
Slickline, SEWOP, and Surface Products our clients business needs
CT - Coiled Tubing and all its components HSE - Health, Safety, and Environment. Refers
CVA - Cash Value Added - The CVA for a to department policies for ensuring our
period is a good estimate of the cash flow compliance with HSE regulations.
generated above or below the investor's IS - Integrated Solutions PSL -was established,
requirement for that period. See also NOVA uniting the best people, technology, products,
EJCS - End of Job Customer Satisfaction and equipment to offer oil and gas companies
Survey the most effective and profitable solutions to
their challenges
F&A - Finance and Administration
IT - Information Technology
FPD - Focused Product Development Process
used in Technology Centers ITP - Integrated Technology Products -The
purpose of the Integrated Technology Products
FSQC - Field Service Quality Coordinator Group is to offer solutions with reservoir
FSR - Field Service Representative performance focus; champion the rapid
development and introduction of new
HALCO21 - Halliburtons team and processes technologies that cross PSL boundaries; focus
for revolutionizing business processes globally on cross -PSL technology delivery as a business;
to provide dramatic improvements for and commercialize multi-PSL solutions based on
Halliburton Company, enabling our success in value creation transfer technology to countries.
the 21st Century
JSA - Job Safety Analysis
HEI - Halliburton Energy Institute the
development center in Duncan, Oklahoma, KBR - Kellogg Brown and Root Halliburtons
which provides training for employees and business unit that provides a full spectrum of
customers services: project development, technology
licensing and development, consulting, project
HMS - Halliburton Management System - is an management, engineering, procurement,
integrated management system designed to meet construction, operations and maintenance
operations, quality, health, safety, and services.
environmental management systems needs.
KPI - Key Performance Indicator; used as a champions service excellence, creating customer
measure in Service Quality PII satisfaction. The Service Coordinator deploys
equipment, materials, and personnel with focus
L&P - Logging and Perforating PSL
on optimizing use and profit.
MBU - Mobile Business Unit - a team with
SS - Shared Services - the enabler for change by
equipment, which can deliver products and
pulling together the various functions that were
services to the customer
common to all our operations under one
NOVA - Net Operating Value Added management structure that exists along side of
NWA - Natural Work Area - A method of the other mainstay processes of acquisition and
dividing up the United States into regions which execution. Through this model each Business
have similar product and service requirements Unit is able to access the resources necessary to
acquire and execute its work, yet gain the
PD&C - Product Development & efficiencies and synergies available by "sharing"
Commercialization key services between Business Units.
PE - Production Enhancement PSL SSDP - Service Supervisor Development
PII - Performance Improvement Initiative - Program is designed to train Supervisors to meet
Three areas of Performance we can focus on in increasing technical and customer needs on a
the delivery of our services, In addition to our global basis. Successful completion of the
financial performance. -Doing the Job Right the program is expected to lead to promotion of the
First Time by Using Standard Processes and Participant from entry level (or experienced
Procedures -Reducing Injuries by Better candidates from within Halliburton) to a revenue
Management of Risk -Protecting the producing Service Supervisor in field
Environment by Reducing the Amount of Waste operations.
Created and Using Environmentally Friendly SSDS - Sperry-Sun Drilling Services
Operating Practices
SSIT - Service Supervisor in Training - is
PPR - People Performance Results - part of the responsible for successful wellsite job execution
People Performance Management system used in a safe and efficient manner. The Service
to establish goals, provide feedback on Supervisor's emphasis is on operational
performance, assess performance and deliver excellence and customer satisfaction for long
pay or other incentive based rewards term growth and profitability of the NWA.
PSL - Product Service Line T&E - Travel & Entertainment - System of
PSMT - Product Service Management Team tracking these expenses
Unit A Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one of more words to check your progress in Unit A.
1. Stimulation treatments refer to ____________ and _______________.
2. What are three (3) design requirements necessary for a successful job design?
8. Proppant is used to provide passages for __________ or __________ to flow into the well.
Answer Key
Refer to the pages provided as references if you answered any of these items incorrectly, or if you
were unsure of your answers.
Items from Unit A Quiz Refer to
Page
1. Acidizing/fracturing 5
3. Blowout preventer 9
4. Surface Casing 7
5. Service Supervisor 18
6. Plug to abandon 35
7. Shaped-charged explosives 11
8. Oil/gas 13