A DECISION-ANALYSIS MODEL FOR COMPARING WELL COMPLETION TECHNIQUES

Oil and gas companies continually face decisions on the outlay of capi tal. One such decision concerns the method by which a well is complete d when multiple pay zones (producing horizons) exist within that wellb ore. This paper proposes an approach to examine the economic implicati ons of the three most widely used and accepted techniques for completi ng such wells. These methods are dual completion (producing two zones simultaneously), single completion with an alternate zone accessible b y wireline, and a single completion with a future rig recompletion to the alternate zone. The preferred method varies from one company to an other with decisions being based on past experiences and other discret ionary parameters. A simulation model that examines all recognized var iables for these alternatives through decision analysis is developed. The results generated by the model should serve as a guide for determi ning which completion technique is most feasible considering the perti nent design variables of each situation in a company.