SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013
CHAPTER 2 WORKOVER PRACTICES
SECTION A WELL LOCATIONS
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WELL LOCATIONS
1.0 INTRODUCTION Back
2.0 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Preliminary Survey of Wellsite
2.2 General Specifications
1.2.1 Oil Well Locations
1.2.2 Gas Well Locations
2.3 Rig Campsite
2.4 Clean Up Operations
3.0 WELLSITE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
3.1. General Spacing Requirements
3.2. Relief Well Requirements
SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013
CHAPTER 2 WORKOVER PRACTICES
SECTION A WELL LOCATION
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WELL LOCATIONS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The well location must be modified for all onshore workovers requiring rig
operations. This location modification involves constructing the wellsite to (a)
accommodate rig dimensions/operations, and (b) comply with well safety
requirements. This chapter will discuss the construction and wellsite safety
requirements for Saudi Aramco onshore workover locations.
2.0 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Preliminary Survey of Wellsite
A preliminary survey of the wellsite location will be made by a Wellsites
Representative and Workover Foreman. The following will be provided during
the onsite survey:
a) Location and dimensions of all relevant pits, changes in elevations, etc.
The Workover Foreman will determine the need and position of any or
all pits.
b) Full sketch of wellhead, as viewed from the North, including the
following:
• Ground level elevation
• Top of bottom flange elevation
• Flowline elevation at strip out point
• Height of production tree
c) Condition of existing marl on location.
d) Condition of access road.
e) Sketch of general layout of well location with respect to flowlines,
permanent structures, security fences, blacktop/skid roads, power
cables, and pipelines.
f) Inspection of buried pipelines, power cables, and other obstacles.
g) Determination of the camp location. If the camp will be moved with the
rig, then the Workover Foreman will approve the new campsite location.
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SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013
CHAPTER 2 WORKOVER PRACTICES
SECTION A WELL LOCATIONS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
h) All scheduled Khuff/Pre-Khuff gas workovers will require a planning
meeting with S. A. Gas Engineering Division, Wellsites Engineering,
Drilling & Workover Services, Engineering, Operations and Well
Services. The objective of the meeting is to define responsibilities
regarding the surface facility, pipe lines, permanent security fences,
access gates and general preparation of the location for the workover.
2.2 General Specifications
2.2.1 Oil Well Locations
General specifications for wellsite construction on oil wells are as
follows:
a) The finished location elevation should be the same as the original
location elevation. If the Workover Foreman requires a different
elevation, the Workover Superintendent must approve the
exception. If approved, the location should be constructed to the
top of the required base level. Producing will re-manifold to this
elevation (lowering the location after the workover will not be
necessary).
b) The preferred orientation of the well location North/South, with
office pit to the North and drainage pit to the South.
c) The required well location size for onshore workover rigs is: 130m
x 130m
d) Power water injection wells may require additional drainage area
and possible vacuum tanker access to the drainage area. The
Workover Foreman during the preliminary survey should provide
this requirement.
e) The necessity/position of any or all pits and additional drainage to
be designated by the Workover Foreman.
f) Flare line and flare pit construction is in accordance with latest
edition of Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard SAES-B-062 for
Onshore Wellsite Safety.
g) No loop road required for workover locations.
h) The finished location may require to be capped with 0.30m dry
marl and 0.15m wet compacted marl.
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SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013
CHAPTER 2 WORKOVER PRACTICES
SECTION A WELL LOCATION
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.2.2 Gas Well Locations
General specifications for wellsite construction on Khuff/Pre-Khuff gas
wells are as follows:
a) The required orientation of the well location is East/West with
drainage to South.
b) Khuff/Pre-Khuff gas well locations should be constructed within
the 160m x 160m security fence.
c) All Khuff/Pre-Khuff gas well locations shall have a reserve pit
and two flare pits
d) The existing water well(s) should be utilized.
e) The campsite should be outside of the 30 ppm RER.
f) The gas buster dike will be constructed on the South side of the
location (305m long).
g) The finished location should be capped with 0.30m dry marl and
0.15m wet compacted marl, if required. The campsite should be
capped with0.15m dry marl and 0.15m wet compacted marl.
h) Flare line and flare pit construction is in accordance with latest
edition of Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard SAES-B-062 for
Onshore Wellsite Safety.
2.3 Campsites
General specifications for campsite construction are as follows:
a) The standard campsite for all rigs consists of 100m x 70m with 0.15m
dry marl and 0.15m wet compacted marl.
b) The campsite should be outside of the 30 ppm RER.
c) Wellsites will determine if an existing campsite will fit the above
specifications or if a new campsite is to be constructed.
d) A garbage pit and sump pit will be constructed at the campsite.
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SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013
CHAPTER 2 WORKOVER PRACTICES
SECTION A WELL LOCATIONS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.4 Clean Up Operations
Wellsite clean-up operations will begin the day the rig moves to the next
workover location. The goal of Wellsites Division is to complete the clean up
no later than 7 days after the oil rig move and 14 days after gas rig move.
General specifications for clean-up operations are as follows:
a) Location and campsite will be graded if deeply rutted or badly marked.
b) Any washouts or excavations on location will be filled with marl.
c) All pits will be back filled with material from surrounding dikes (or sand if
dike material is not adequate) for both location and campsite. The
waste-water will be dumped on Centralized Waste Water Disposal
Pond.
d) All refuse, garbage, and debris will be collected within 90m of the well
location and campsite and send to central processing facility.
e) All cellars on Arab-D wells should be filled with sweet sand prior to rig
release. All cellars on Khuff wells should not be filled.
f) Any re-usable drilling material remaining on the wellsite/campsite will be
noted and reported to the Wellsites Supervisor.
3.0 WELLSITE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
3.1 General Spacing Specifications
The spacing requirements regarding wellsite safety are adopted from the
latest edition of the Engineering Standard SAES-B-062 (shown below).
http://standards.aramco.com.sa/classic.asp?fol=Saes&cat=0&comm
ittee_id=16&sm=SAES-B-062
These specifications apply to onshore oil/gas wells with shut-in wellhead
pressure < 3600 psi. All oil/gas wells with shut-in wellhead pressure > 3600
psi and all gas injection wells are to be determined by a case by case basis,
with concurrence with the Chief Fire Prevention Engineer.
3.2 Relief Well Requirements
All wells being drilled in critical and populated areas as indentified by our
manuals and B-62 should have an identified location and a preliminary plan
for a relief well and should be part of the drilling program.
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SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013
CHAPTER 2 WORKOVER PRACTICES
SECTION A WELL LOCATION
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Drilling Technical Department September 2013
CHAPTER 2 WORKOVER PRACTICES
SECTION A WELL LOCATIONS
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