What Happens After the Rig Leaves?
When the folks on the drilling rig finish drilling the well, what happens next? In today’s video blog we address this very question and go full circle on this topic. Be sure to watch the video above and subscribe to our youtube channel, but if you’re pressed for time, feel free to utilize the quick summary below. Please note that we are assuming the well to be a typical horizontal shale well here in the United States. What happens after the rig leaves might differ for other types of wells.
- Pre-Frac Prep: This is when all of the preparations for the ensuing frac job are completed. This will typically consist of a few key components.
- Cellar prep: This is when the wellhead is fitted with the frac stack that will be used during fracturing operations.
- Toe prep: This is when the actual well itself is prepared for the fracturing operations. This typically consists of ensuring that rate can be established while pumping into the well. This shows that there is communication with the formation which will allow for the wireline and fracturing operations to complete the first stage of the well. Gauge rings might also be run during toe prep by wireline to ensure that the wellbore is clear of any obstructions.
- Water prep: This is where the water delivery and storage system is setup for use during the fracing operations.
- Hydraulic fracturing operations: This is where the well is fraced (or “fracked”).
- Plug drill out: This is when the plugs used to isolate stages of the lateral during hydraulic fracturing operations are to be drilled out so that the well can produce. Note: if dissolvable plugs were used, this step might be unnecessary.
- Flowback: This is when the well begins to produce. Sometimes flowback crews and specialized equipment will be used to flow the well for the first few weeks or months.
- Production: This is when the well is hooked into the normal production equipment on location to produce the well.
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