Whitney Canyon Sour Gas Well
Completion Techniques
Kevin J. Kilstrom, SPE. Amoco Production Co.
Summary
Sour gas wells require special considerations for suc-
cessful production. Corrosion, safety considerations,
prolific gas rates, the casing program, and hydrate prob-
lems affect the final completion design for wells in the
Whitney Canyon sour gas field. A completion technique
that addresses all these constraints yet maintains a degree
of simplicity and therefore presents less risk is being
used in Whitney Canyon well completions. Additional-
ly, problems that do not exist in Whitney Canyon, such
as salt or sulfur deposition, can be handled with this
same basic system.
Introduction
The economics associated with exploration of hydrocar-
bons in the U.S. have improved during the past 8 years,
resulting in more deep drilling and frequent discovery of
sour gas. One such discovery is the Whitney Canyon
field located in the Overthrust Belt of southwest Wyom-
ing, about 15 miles (24 km) north-northeast of Evanston
(Fig. 1). The field was discovered in 1977 with the drill-
ing of the Amoco/Chevron/Gulf Working Interest Unit
Well No.1, which reached a total depth of 10,691 ft
(3258.6 m) in the Permian Phosphoria formation. Sour
gas was recovered in the drilling fluid, and subsequent
failure of tubular goods resulted in plugging back the
well and completing the Triassic Thaynes formation in
the 9,178- to 9,266-ft (2797.5- to 2824.3-m) interval for
4.3 MMcflD (121.8XlO 3 m 3/d) of sweet gas and 96
B/D (15.3 m 3 /d) of condensate.
The field is on the Absaroka thrust plate, which has
resulted in placement of Ordovician Big Hom above
Cretaceous rock in this vicinity (Fig. 2). The Ryckman
Creek field, which produces oil and gas from the Jurassic
Nugget and sweet gas from the Thaynes formation, lies 5
to 6 miles (8.0 to 9.7 km) to the east. The Carter Creek
field has been shown to be a continuation of the Whitney
Canyon field to the north (Fig. 3). A second well was
spudded to test the deeper formations in the Whitney
0149·2136/63/0011·0079$00.25
Copyright 1963 SOCiety of Petroleum Engineers of AIME
40
Canyon play and reached a total depth of 16,393 ft
(4996.6 m) in the subthrust Cretaceous. Testing in this
well verified substantial quantities of sour gas in the Or-
dovician Big Hom and Mississippian Mission Canyon
carbonates and indicated sour gas in the Pennsylvanian
Weber sandstone. Subsequent field development has in-
dicated commercial quantities of gas in four of the
Paleozoic Era formations. These include the Devonian
Darby, Mission Canyon, Mississippian Lodgepole, and
Big Hom formations. Limited quantities of sweet gas
have been tested in the subthrust Cretaceous, and non-
commercial sour gas production was indicated from
Triassic Dinwoody and Permian Phosphoria.
The approximately 4,500-ft (1372-m) thick Paleozoic
interval lies at a depth range of lO,OOO to 16,000 ft (4877
to 3048 m) in the Whitney Canyon area and exhibits nor-
mal pressure gradients of 0.45 to 0.50 psi/ft (3.1 to 3.4
kPa/m) and a maximum temperature of 250°F (121 0c).
Drilling has taken place for 13 miles (21 \<.m) along the
Whitney Canyon/Carter Creek trend, indicating a
sizeable productive area (Fig. 3). The reserves of sour
gas are trapped in the folding associated with the thrust
faulting in the area and are held in primary and secon-
dary porosity (matrix porosity in the 5 to lO% range).
Permeability is generally low [matrix permeability <0.1
md (9.869x lO-5 Jlm2)] and production is highly
dependent on extensive natural fracturing.
The gas composition in the Whitney Canyon field
varies from formation to formation, with all of the
Paleozoics indicating H 2 S content from 1 to 15 mol % .
The Mississippian Age Mission Canyon formation has
indicated the largest reserves in the field and one 30-ft
(9.1-m) interval in the Champlin 457 A Amoco No.1
well tested at 33 MMcflD (934.5 X lO3 m 3 /d) (Table 1).
The Mission Canyon formation is a 1,OOO-ft (304. 8-m)
thick carbonate section with a gas composition of ap-
proximately 15% H 2 S, 5% CO 2 , and 70% methane,
and the balance is ethane and heavier hydrocarbons. To
develop a successful completion design for the Whitney
Canyon field, we first defined all factors that would be
detrimental to production.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
 TABLE 1-PRODUCTION RATES FROM MISSION CANYON FORMATION
Gross
Interval Test
Well Location (tt) MMct/O BCPO'
Champlin 457 A No.1 Sec. 7, T17N-R119W 12,660 to 12,690 33.0 752
Champlin 457 C No.1 Sec. 25, T18N-R120W 13,850 to 14,194 25.1 676
Champlin 468 B No.1 Sec. 1, T17N-R120W 14,068 to 14,595 28.0 660
Champlin 457 B No. 1A Sec. 31, T18N-R119W 12,844 to 12,884 10.4 240
Champlin 323 B No.1 Sec. 13, T17N-R120W 14,618 to 14,712 7.0 96
Kewanee Federal NO.1 Sec. 24, T18N-R120W 13,420 to 13,475 10.6 202
ACG No.2 Sec. 18, T17N-R119W 13,180 to 13,303 10.2 120
CF 1-30F Sec. 30, T18N-R119W 14,101 to 14,227 11.9 365
CF 1-5 Sec. 5, T18N-R119W 14,072 to 14,770 9.2 185
CF 1-32 Sec. 32, T19N-R119W 14,421 to 14,852 6.9 216
• Barrels of condensate per day.

General Considerations
To improve the economics for a deep well, it is
J MAJOR THRUST FAULTS

O@IiIOO@
necessary to optimize drilling and to maintain a
reasonable wellbore diameter without severely restrict-
ing completion efforts. The structural constraints and
geological conditions in the Whitney Canyon field have
a large influence on drilling programs, and, subsequent-
ly, on completion attempts. The hard formations and
steeply dipping beds result in slow drilling and frequent
,
directional control problems. WHITMEr IIre• • AII

A salt section on top of the Jurassic Twin Creek at a II....

....Il10. • I
.elEAII "ll

depth of about 7,000 ft (2134 m) has been known to 'AIlIrEII . . EA:' J#AI.TEII ~
I 0
flow, and normal practice is to set a casing string once EVANSTON "lLOW ;(
this salt section has been penetrated. An additional cas- CAYE elll( C "f:EIl "t'
ing string is set at the top of the Paleozoic section to pre- EAST. ,'lAUCDC QO
A.SCHUTI •
vent contamination of the upper sweet formations. A
total depth target is generally about 16,500 ft (5029 m) to AIISCNUTI • I' - - ---------
penetrate the subthrust Cretaceous rocks and to test for
ElKHORN.
possible sweet gas. These difficulties and procedures
generally necessitate setting 7-in. (177. 8-mm) casing at * SALT LAKE
lODGEPOlE •

o 12 24
total depth. If additional problems are encountered
Miles
before reaching total depth, 7~in. (177 .8-mm) casing is
set and 4V2-in. (I 14.3-mm) liner is run at total depth. Fig. 1-0verthrust belt, Utah and Wyoming.
The completion efforts in the field subsequently are
limited to the use of 7-in. (177. 8-mm) casing at the sur-
face and occasionally 411z-in. (I 14.3-mm) liner at the
target producing formation. Given the use of 7-in.
two gases are dependent on water and can result in
(177 .8-mm) casing and the prolific rates of the wells
severe metal loss in the form of uniform thinning or
(Table 1), the likelihood of a dual completion is small
severe pitting. Though the exact sequence of events is
because of the small tubing sizes that could be run and
not known, the H 2/H 2 0/Fe reaction may be yielding an
the large pressure drops that would be experienced
iron-sulfide corrosion product and free hydrogen. 1,2
through more than 10,000 ft (3048 m) of a small tubing
These two products can lead in tum to two secondary
string. Other problems inherent in a sour gas well almost forms of corrosion. One of these secondary types is
always include high corrosion rates and a safety problem
hydrogen embrittlement or sulfide stress cracking,
caused by the toxicity .of H 2S and its combustion prod-
believed to be a result of free-hydrogen entry into the
uct, S02' Additional factors may include hydrate forma-
material, followed by the combination of individual
tion, COr and velocity-related corrosion, salt deposi-
hydrogen atoms into molecular hydrogen. The combina-
tion, and elemental sulfur deposition. All these con-
tion occurs in the voids of the metal and along grain
siderations place constraints on completion design, and
boundaries, resulting in formation and growth of cracks
their immber determines the provisions for the final com-
because of the larger volume occupied by the hydrogen
pletion design.
molecule. Stress corrosion cracking appears to be ac-
celerated by higher concentrations of H 2, the presence
Corrosion of CO 2 , lower pH, and use of high-strength (hard)
There are two agents of corrosion in the sour gas in the steels. 2 Higher temperatures [> 150 to 200°F (66 to
Whitney Canyon field: H2 and CO 2 , These occur in the 93 °C)] such as found downhole appear to suppress stress
Mission Canyon formation at approximately 15 and 5 corrosion cracking. 3,4
mol %, respectively. The corrosion reactions for these The other secondary-type corrosion is caused by the
JANUARY 1983 41
 14
0
1. 0
1.
SW NE

~~
323 B·1A ACG No. 5 457 A·l 457 A·2
KB 7343 KB 7260
...
KB 7026
~
KB 6946
0
T
19

6000 TflllAtY
..
Carter Creek 0 // V~ N

:(~h
31 33

4000
r..-- - r- ~
CIElA([OU! 2 4 o Propo •• d Or
Drilling

2000 0
1~1j <t G. . Well

Ir~ ~ fl
Sea Level t--- rJ T
18
N

- 2000
1\\~~\\
- 4000
35 \~ ~~"\
~
33

..
(Cro•• -Section Index)

..
2
Ii ,- 4"
- 6000 Whitney Canyon
0 °/~ " T

~ ~ 17

,,'
N
\~
2. i;f1 28

R 120 W R 119 W

Fig. 2-Whitney Canyon typical southwest-northeast cross Fig. 3-Structural top of Mission Canyon cross-section index
section. map, contour interval = 500 ft.

presence of the corrosion product. Some fonns of the
corrosion product possibly act as a cathode and lead to
severe localized pitting from galvanic corrosion. The
presence of CO 2 , in addition to reacting with the iron
and causing metal loss, results in the fonnation of an
acid; which lowers pH and can accelerate the H 2 S corro-
sion reaction. CO 2 corrosion can be particularly hannful
in high-velocity/high-pressure environments, leading to
high pitting rates caused by a combination of corrosion
and erosion.
There are various methods available to combat the cor-
rosive attack of sour gas. The use of hardness-controlled
steels has become a standard procedure when H 2 S is pre-
sent. Lower-strength steels, and higher-strength steels
heat -treated to reduce hardness, appear resistant to H 2 S
stress cracking. Stress cracking nonnally results in a
rapid loss of strength and an almost immediate failure of
materials that are too hard. (Rockwell C of > 22 general-
ly is considered susceptible to stress cracking for nonnal
carbon steels. 5)
Additional methods to reduce corrosion include use of
neutralizers or inhibitors, use of coatings, and reduction
of tubing velocities. Neutralizers are generally effective
in wells with only freshwater production. The presence
of dissolved solids generally negates any neutralizer
effectiveness.
Internal coating would be effective if integrity could
be ensured. A coating that had any defects present could
lead to severe localized attack and rapid failure. Any
fines production could erode many coatings rapidly,
necessitating frequent pulling of the tubing for repair or
introduction of another protective method. Because of
42
this problem, the use of inhibitors was selected as the
most suitable method to fight corrosive attack in the
Whitney Canyon field.
Inhibitors
Corrosion inhibitors are filming compounds that attach
to the surface of metallic materials. They can be cationic
or anionic, and vary in the strength of the film they fonn.
Inhibitors generally are not introduced to the well bore
alone, but are mixed with a carrier fluid. Actual inhibitor
usage is fairly small [a widely used rule is 1 qt in-
hibitor/MMcf sour gas (l L inhibitor/30 x 10 3 m 3 sour
gas)], and a nonnal inhibitor-carrier fluid mixture
generally contains 5 to 10% inhibitor. These inhibitors
are available through various suppliers, and composition
depends on individual well conditions.
There are three basic systems to carry an inhibitor
downhole: an oil-soluble inhibitor system, a water-
soluble inhibitor system, and a water-dispersable in-
hibitor system. All three have specific advantages and
disadvantages, so wellbore conditions and characteristics
detennine which inhibitor will be most effective. The
use of inhibitors in sour gas wells has become important
with recent sour gas discoveries such as those in Whitney
Canyon and the Tuscaloosa Trend.
Though sour gas has been produced for many years
from fields such as the East Texas Edgewood field (1.8
years), there are no standard rules or methods for choos-
ing an inhibitor system or an injection method because
reservoir and gas properties vary from one sour gas field
to another. Current research indicates that film tenacity
is one of the major differences between the three carrier
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
 systems. Tests show that an oil-soluble inhibitor general-
. ly produces a much stronger film than either water-
dispersable or water-soluble inhibitors. Initial tests also
show that water-soluble inhibitors 6 form the weakest
fi.lm, and consequently must be regenerated through a
more frequent treatment program than the other two car-
rier systems. As expected, velocity of produced fluids,
liquid loading, and solids production affect inhibitor film
life and can affect inhibitor requirements significantly.
Though an oil-soluble inhibitor forms the strongest film,
there are problems associated with its use. The most ob-
vious drawback is the cost of an oil carrier as compared
with a water carrier. Availability of the hydrocarbon car-
rier also may pose a problem, and recovery of the carrier
may not be possible. Fire risk also is involved when us-
ing an oil carrier.
Hydrocarbon-liquid undersaturation in the produced
gas can present the greatest problem when using an oil
carrier. In a continuous inhibitor injection system, the
carrier fluid can flash into the undersaturated produced
gas. Then the inhibitor probably will decompose because
of high bottomhole temperatures, creating a gummy
composition that can build up and plug off the injection
system and/or the production tubing. This also could oc-
cur in the batch-treatment method of inhibitor introduc-
tion, causing plugging of the formation. This, in tum,
could necessitate a workover to clean up the formation
plugging. The occurrence of undersaturated gas
necessitates injection of high volumes of carrier fluid to
saturate the produced gas or use of a heavy hydrocarbon
carrier that will not flash. Heavy hydrocarbon carriers
usually have a higher viscosity and higher pour point,
resulting in the need for heated tanks and heat tracing of
the injection system, especially in a cold environment.
However, a water-soluble system also would require
heat tracing in cold environments.
The weak film established by currently available
water-soluble inhibitors limits their use to a continuous-
injection mode because of the frequency of treatments
required with the batch-treatment method. A water-
dispersable system creates a medium film strength and
has the advantage of cost associated with a water carrier.
This system is actually an emulsion, and stability of the
emulsion becomes a question in a continuous-injection
system. Again, heat tracing would be required in cold
weather applications.
The carrier system chosen will be a compromise and
should be selected after considering cost of the various
systems, availability of an oil carrier, and gas properties.
The chosen inhibitor-introduction method also affects
selection of the carrier system.
Inhibitor Introduction
The two most common methods to introduce inhibitor
are batch treatment and continuous injection.
Batch Treatment
Batch treatment involves squeezing an inhibitor into the
formation. This produces an initial film on the tubular
goods as it is being pumped into the formation and main-
tains the film as the inhibitor is produced from the forma-
tion with the produced gas. Quantity and frequency of
injection for a new well would not be known unless from
JANUARY 1983
a very similar experience, and therefore a very thorough
program of monitoring is required while varying the
treatment program. In a field such as Whitney Canyon,
the program probably would be different for each well
because of the degree of fracturing and the consequential
variation in return of the inhibitor. Because of (1)
downtime associated with this type of treatment, (2) the
unknown frequency of treatment, (3) the value of de-
ferred products from a 25-MMcflD (707.9 X 103-m3/d)
well, and (4) possible problems in recovering load fluids
when reservoir pressures decline, the continuous-
injection method was preferred and investigated in addi-
tional detail.
Continuous Injection
Continuous injection does not necessarily imply constant
injection, but represents a method that allows inhibitor
introduction without interruption of production. Con-
tinuous injection can be accomplished in several ways,
but always involves the injection of an inhibitor at the
lowest rate possible without harming the tubular goods.
The inital rate is set fairly high and is reduced until the
optimal level of injection is obtained. The intent is to in-
troduce inhibitor at the lowest point possible in the
wellbore, preferably at the bottom perforation. This will
protect the entire tubing string, the casing, and the in-
tegrity of the packer.
Considerations Affecting Inhibitor Injection
There are several systems that allow continuous injection
of an inhibitor: multiple string designs (both side by side
and concentric configurations), packerless completions,
and conventional single string with packer completions.
Corrosion inhibitor can be injected down a second string,
down the tubing/tubing annulus between two tubing
strings, or down the casing/tubing annulus.
The method for introducing inhibitor downhole
depends on well bore constraints and production con-
siderations. When determining the physical design to in-
ject inhibitor continuously, these various restrictions
must be coordinated into one system. For Whitney Can-
yon completions, the constraints of well bore size and the
need to design for high flow rates were mentioned brief-
ly. Additional constraints are discussed in the following.
Hydrate Formation and Control
The sour gas produced in the Whitney Canyon field has a
high hydrate tendency that results in frequent formation
of hydrates downhole and subsequent producing prob-
lems (Fig. 4). H 2 S and CO 2 increase the hydrating
tendency of the gas because of their relatively small size
and solubility to water. There are two methods that can
be employed to control hydrate formation: introduce a
hydrate-point suppressant such as a methanol or glycol,
or alternatively, heat the well stream to or maintain it
above the hydrate point. The common method to in-
troduce heat downhole is to circulate a warm fluid in the
tubing/casing annulus while producing through tubing.
Selection of either alternative depends on required
rates of injection or circulation and economics. A warm-
fluid circulating system requires a second string, which
introduces additional risk and equipment requirements.
There may not be room for a second string, and use of
43
 TABLE 2-SAMPLE PRESSURE DROP CALCULATIONS Ga. Composition
THROUGH TUBING' H S 16.60
2
8000 CO 2 6.28 e
Bottom hole

Tubing Size
Flow Rate
(MMcf/O)
Pressure
Required
(psi) 6000
C1
C2
89.38
8.17 /
e

/
31f2 in., 12.7 Ibf C3 2.09
35 4,490
(2.75 in. 10) 25 3,420 C4 + 1.68
15 2,432 4000 e
5 1,690

/
-;
2~s in., 6.5 Ibf 25 4,390 'OJ

• .
(2.441 in. 10) 20 3,660 .e
., Hydrate Formation
15
10
2,960
2,310 .
~
3000 Possible e

23/S in., 4.7 Ibf

(1.995 in. 10)
15
10
7.5
4,450
3,825
2,650
.,
oi:
2000
/ e
Hydrate Formation
Unlikely

31f2 in., 12.7 Ibf

(1.050 in. annular
flow)
5
25

20
15
2,130
4,960

4,090
3,270
1000
_ _e
__e /
e
10 2,500 o~ ____ ~~ ____ ~~ ____ ~~ ____ ~

• Assumptions: 1.1 ~O-psi tubing pressure-flowing; 5,850-psi shut-

in bottomho!e pressure; 100°F surface 70 76 80 86 90
temperature; 225°F bottom hole temperature; Tamperaturel·F)
13,OOO-ft depth.
Gas composition: H2S~ 15.5%, CO 2 ~5.3%,
C1 ~69.4%, C2~6.2%, C3~2.1%, C4+ ~1.5%. Fig. 4-Hydrate prediction curve.

the annulus for another purpose (such as inhibitor injec-
tion) is possible. Methanol or glycol injection is
associated with high operating costs if injection rates are
high. Recovery of either of these fluids could be
necessary for economic reasons or for operational
considerations.
Safety
Subsurface safety valves must be considered for the
Whitney Canyon field because of possible failure of sur-
face safety equipment or damage to the wellhead. In ad-
dition to the cost associated with bringing a large-
capacity gas well blowout under control, the danger and
possible risk to life because of the toxicity of H 2 Sand
SO 2 necessitate serious consideration of subsurface safe-
ty valves.
The subsurface safety valves considered are of the
surface-controlled variety, which require a hydraulic
control line to the valve from the surface. These valves
are available in both wireline-retrievable and tubing-
retrievable designs. The tubing-retrievable valves are the
only reasonable alternative because of the large restric-
tion and possible pressure drop, temperature drop, and
turbulence associated with the restriction of a wireline-
retrievable valve. Subsurface safety valves are quite
large and limit other equipment being run downhole.
Since subsurface safety valves are not required onshore,
their use is dictated by location and proximity to
populated areas as well as other well bore and producing
constraints.
Solids Deposition
Some sour gas fields have a problem with salt or sulfur
deposition downhole resulting in plugging of production
tubing and frequent workovers. Neither of these prob-
lems have occurred in the Whitney Canyon field. There
are solvents to dissolve elemental sulfur (CS 2 ), and fresh
44
water generally will dissolve any salt buildup. If either of
these two problems occurs in a sour gas field, they too
will affect the completion considerations and should be
addressed.
While designing a completion system for all existing
conditions, remember that simplicity is of prime impor-
tance if risk and maintenance are to be kept to a
minimum. First, the size of the production string, or, in
the case of annular flow, the cross-sectional area, must
be determined. Minimizing pressure drops while also
providing for effective stimulations (if these will be per-
formed down tubing or down the annulus) is important.
However, it must be realized that the initial decision is
subject to change. Also, economics and availability of
materials affect selection of tubing size. Future produc-
ing conditions, such as fluid buildup and possible inabili-
ty to produce the fluid volumes through the original
design production string, should be considered. Once an
initial production string size is chosen, the ability to pro-
vide for other factors can be considered in conjunction
with this system.
The initial development of the Whitney Canyon field
provided information used to design a permanent com-
pletion system. Field conditions have been determined,
and various ideas have been tested during initial testing
of several wells. The primary goals were to provide max-
imum revenue for the field and to maintain simplicity in
design. The goal of providing maximum revenues con-
icides with minimizing downtime and maximizing
production.
Since the Whitney Canyon gas is undersaturated at
reservoir conditions and water production is minimal. it
was not necessary to consider a completion that would
maintain sufficient velocity to carry liquids uphole.
Subsequently, the first approach was to select a system
that would provide low pressure drop and hence max-
imize deliverability. Pressure-drop calculations were
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
 made for various sizes of tubing and concentric string an-
nular flow (Table 2).
Dual completions were considered, but because of
clearance problems, rates would be limited through the
l!ecessarily small tubing sizes. The desire to obtain high
or low rates controls the selection of the hydrate-
prevention system. A heat-circulating string would
necessitate use of three strings (production, inhibitor in-
jection, and heat medium). This would present opera-
tional difficulties and again would require a smaller pro-
duction string. The selection of a heat-circulation system
in lieu of methanol would favor batch treatment of in-
hibitor because only two strings are needed. Since con-
tinuous inhibitor-injection ability was chosen, methanol
Stainless Steel Line
injection was the preferred method of hydrate preven- Strapped To Tubing
tion. After considering various alternatives, including
packerless tubing arrangements, side-by-side dual
strings, and concentric strings, we chose a system that
provides the best solution to constraints in Whitney Tubing Hanger

Canyon.

~ M,,"'."' ,.,....". Mo."" •• ''".

The optimal system consists of a 3t;2-in. (88.9-mm)
production string with a methanol injection valve set at
3,000 ft (914.4 m) and a bottomhole assembly (BHA)
that allows crossover of inhibitor fluid from the annulus
to the tubing.
The methanol injection is accomplished down a
stainless steel injection line strapped to the production
tubing. Methanol enters the well through the wellhead,
travels through a stainless steel injection line, and enters
the production stream through an injection valve in a side
pocket mandrel as shown in Fig. 5.
The inhibitor fluid is pumped through the annulus and
crosses to the production side through a BHA that in-
cludes another side pocket mandrel and injection valve
(Fig. 6). A permanent packer is used for the permanent
completion along with seal bore extensions to protect the
seal assembly. An inner tailpipe can extend below the
BHA and reach to the bottom perforations, although cut-
ting the tailpipe would be possible at the perforations.
The inhibitor should reach to the bottom of the tailpipe
and protect casing to that point.
If the tailpipe is set above the top perforation, the cas-
ing across the gross pay interval is left unprotected and
could suffer corrosion. A solution to this problem would
be to run an alloy casing, which would be more resistant
to H 2 S/C0 2 corrosion across the pay zone. In the in-
stance when casing already has been run, another solu-
tion must be considered if corrosion is a problem. Other
solutions include the extending of the tailpipe to the
lowest perforation or converting to the batch-treatment
method at the expense of production.
The 3 Ih-in. (88.9-mm) tubing can be fished easily in
the 7-in. (l77.8-mm) casing and the stainless steel injec-
tion line easily is run in and out of the well with the prop-
er equipment. An annular blowout preventer is necessary
when running the stainless steel injection line.
Although salt and/or sulfur deposition has not oc-
curred in the Whitney Canyon field, this system could
eliminate these problems or at least reduce the effects
and extend time between workovers. A water-soluble in-
hibitor could be used if salt deposition were a problem,
and would dissolve some and possibly all salt if injection
rate were increased. This likewise would be true if a
sulfur solvent and inhibitor could be combined. If either
Fig. 5-Methanol-injection assembly.
problem were near surface, the methanol-injection
system could be used to pump a solvent since it will be in
use only at start-up.
This completion design eliminates the use of two
strings to the packer, which minimizes tripping difficulty
and potential fishing problems. Also, there is no
downtime associated with batch treatment of inhibitor.
Finally, it is also possible to run a full-opening 3 \l2-in.
(88.9-mm) subsurface safety valve in 7-in. (l77.8-mm)
casing. The safety valves are planned for use on all sour
gas wells pending successful testing of the valves in ser-
vice. The safety valves along with the injection mandrels
and the BHA are available with high-pressure ratings,
allowing high-pressure stimulations without tripping
tubing.
This completion design has been installed in two wells
and has been tested satisfactorily. Methanol injection
was accomplished at rates of approximately 1/2 gal/min
(2 dm 3 /mi,n) through 3,000 ft (914.4 m) of 3/s-in.
(9.53-mm) stainless steel line. Inhibited 2 % KCI was
pumped through the annulus at the same rate while flow-
testing the wells. Both systems performed effectively for
testing periods of 7 to 10 days. This system with or
without slight variations should work in many sour gas
field applications. The long-term success of this system
is not known since the Whitney Canyon gas plant was
not dedicated until Nov. 1982. The wells in the field will
be shut in until that time.
Conclusions
I. Because of improved gas prices, deep drilling will
continue t6 expand, leading to the increased likelihood
of additional sour gas discoveries.
2. Sour gas presents many problems that must be con-
trolled to exploit reserves successfully. Definition of

JANUARY 1983 45
 7" Casing
Tubing 3112"

Side Pocket Mandra'

3/S" 0.0.

Crossover

INHIBITOR FROM
Seal Assembly
ANNULUS VIA INJECTION
VALVE IN SlOE POCKET
MANDREL
Inner Tail Pipe

~~~r-- CROSSOVER
Ii\J SUB
Packer With Seal Bore Extension

See Detail ' A ' . LOCATOR SEAL

w~ ....- ASSEMBLY

PACKER SEALS "'I'"-.~~

INNER
[l4'fIIiio--- TAIL PIPE
Tail Pipe

Top Of Pay DETAIL 'A'

Fig. 6-lnhibitor-injection assembly (left) and expanded view of crossover sub/inhibitor-injection assembly (right).

constraints and development objectives is of primary im- References

portance since the interrelationship of these factors will I. Cooper, N.: "Hydrogen Sulfide Corrosion of High Strength
limit options for a permanent completion design. Metals," Bull., Texas Engineering Experimental Station (July
3. The main factors considered when designing a 1976) No. 76-3, 47-53.
completion for the Whitney Canyon field are: prolific 2. Engineering Reference Manual, Amoco Production Co., Chicago,
1, Secs. 1-32-1-34; 2, Sec. V-IO.
flow rates, H 2 S- and COrrelated corrosion, safety, 3. Hamby, T.W. Jr.: "Development of High-Pressure Sour Gas
hydrate formation, and geological and wellbore Technology," J. Pet. Tech. (May 1981) 792-98.
constraints. 4. Tuttle, R.N.: "The Effects of H 2 S on Engineering Design of Oil
4. The conditions existing in the Whitney Canyon and Gas Wells on Facilities," paper 78-Prt-5 presented at the 1978
ASME Petroleum Div. Energy Technology Conference, Nov.
field have allowed the design of a simple low-risk system 5-9.
that will not limit production, will minimize corrosion 5. "Material Requirement-Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant
and hydrate problems, and will allow use of subsurface Material for Oil Field Equipment," NACE Standard MR-OI-75,
safety valves. Katy, TX (1978).
5. Application of the system designed for Whitney 6. Wakely, W.D.: "Progress Report-Hot Well Corrosion Control
Project," Amoco Production Co., Tulsa (April 1981).
Canyon sour gas wells may not be possible because of
different controlling factors. However, the definition of SI Metric Conversion Factors
the major problems and goals will allow the design of the bbl x 1.589 873 E-Ol m3
best completion system for a given field. cu ft x 2.831 685 E-02 m3
Acknowledgments ft x 3.048* E-Ol m
OF (OF-32)/1.8 °C
I thank the management of the Denver Region of Amoco in. x 2.54* E-Ol cm
Production Co. for permission to publish this paper. I lbf x 4.448 222 E+OO N
also thank my coworkers who provided suggestions and mile x 1.609 344* E+OO km
constructive criticism regarding this subject and paper. I psi x 6.894 757 E+OO kPa
also acknowledge the assistance of Camco Inc., Otis ·Conversion factor is exact. JPT
Engineering Corp., and Baker IntI. in the development Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum Engineers office July 21 :1981.
of the downhole equipment used in the Whitney Canyon Paper accepted for publication Jan. 28, 1982. Revised manuscript received Nov. 15,
1982. Paper (SPE 10079) first presented at the 1981 SPE Annual Technical Con·
field. ference and Exhibition held in San Antonio Oct. 5-7.

46 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY