Completion design plays a direct role in operational efficiency and environmental footprint over the life of a well
Through advanced completion technologies, Welltec helps operators address key drivers of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with well construction and long-term well integrity. While the carbon contained in produced hydrocarbons cannot be changed, the way wells are completed can influence material use, operational activity, and integrity performance over the life of a well. Welltec’s completion technologies are designed to support robust well design choices that can enable lower-emission outcomes in certain applications.
Disclaimer: Emission outcomes depend on well design, operating conditions, and operator practices.
In well completions, GHG relevance is usually linked to long-term containment of formation fluids and gases, later remediation and re-work due to integrity issues, rig time and operational activity, and material use such as steel casing and cement.
Supporting well integrity over the life of a well
Robust completion design is a key factor in preventing integrity-related issues such as sustained casing pressure. By supporting effective annular isolation, completion technologies can help reduce the risk of uncontrolled releases over the life of a well.
Read more about methane-specific mechanisms related to sustained casing pressure (SCP).
Completion architecture directly influences the number and length of casing strings, internal well diameter, the volume of cement and associated operations, and the likelihood of future remedial interventions. As a result, design decisions made during well completions have a direct impact on material requirements, operational intensity, and long-term well integrity.
Welltec packers and completion flexibility
Welltec’s metal expandable packer (MEP) technologies provide mechanical isolation without relying solely on cement as a primary barrier. In certain well designs, this can enable alternative completion architectures, including simplified well construction, fewer or shorter casing strings, and reduced reliance on cementing operations. These design options are application-dependent and selected by operators based on reservoir conditions, regulatory requirements, and production objectives.
Where applicable, alternative completion designs enabled by expandable packers may:
Reduced material use and simplified operations can contribute to lower embodied emissions and operational activity, depending on the execution and energy sources used.
Traditional completion designs often rely heavily on cement to establish annular isolation along the wellbore. In practice, cement placement and bonding can be challenging in complex well geometries, and poor cement bond may lead to integrity issues that require remediation and methane leakage.
Welltec’s MEP technologies can reduce reliance on cement as the sole isolation mechanism by providing mechanical annular barriers as part of the completion design. In certain applications, this can enable alternative architectures that simplify well construction and reduce the need for extensive cementing operations.
Reduced cement use and simplified completion designs may lower operational complexity and support material efficiency during well construction. The extent to which these design choices influence operational activity and environmental performance depends on well conditions, execution strategy, and operator practices.
Welltec completion technologies are engineered and qualified to recognized industry standards, supporting:
Strong well integrity is essential not only for safety and production, but also for reducing unnecessary environmental impact over the life of a well.
We deployed two 812WAB® packers to provide open-hole zonal isolation in an innovative deepwater completion system designed to reduce drilling and completion phases. The WABs isolated sandstone and fault sections within the 8½” reservoir while enabling a cementless completion design and eliminating additional casing and cementing stages.
Results:
• Successful life-of-well isolation of sandstone reservoir and fault section
• Completion delivered in 44 days with approximately $30M cost savings
• Elimination of additional hole section, cementing, clean-out, and tie-back operations
• Improved completion efficiency and optimized future plug & abandonment design