Well Completions in the Beta Field, Offshore California

Abstract

ABSTRACT The heavy oil reservoir in the Beta Field, Offshore California is thick (up to 1200 feet gross), unconsolidated, consists of nine distince sand intervals, and lies at a shallow depth. In order to economically develop the field from two platforms and be able to waterflood, the development wells must (1) be highly deviated with an ‘S’ shaped profile, (2) have isolated multi-zone completions designed with the capability to selectively inject or produce any combination of zones, and (3) produce virtually sand-free because of the use of electric submersible pumps for artificial lift. To meet these requirements, new completion techniques were developed. This paper reviews the overall completion sequence starting with primary cementing and zonal isolation, through perforating and perforation cleanup, and finishing with the inside casing gravel packing and gravel pack logging. The new techniques have proved expedient and successful, with 40 producing wells containing a total of 152 individual zones completed as of December, 1982.