An Introduction to Well Control

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Pore Pressures

The theory behind pore pressure Why pore pressure anomalies occur A brief overview

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Pressure Gradient Theory

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Normal & Overpressure

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Effect of Hydrocarbon Column

At 3000 ft, the gas water contact is 0.465 x 3000 = 1395 psi

At 2000 ft pressure is 1395 psi less 100 psi (1000 ft gas column hydrostatic presure), 1295psi

At 3000 ft MW = 8.9 ppg At 2000 ft, MW = 12.45 ppg

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Effect of Faulting on Pressure

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Kicks
A kick is the term used to describe the inflow of formation fluid into the wellbore during drilling operation. This arises due to the formation pressure being greater than the hydrostatic pressure imposed by the mud column. This can happen in a normal or abnormally pressured formations. A kick may be primarily composed of salt water, oil, natural gas or a combination of the fluids. The influx of formation fluid may arise for a variety of reasons These include:

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Insufficient mud weight; Swabbing; Not keeping the hole full; Loss of circulation (partial and full); Kicks generally occur during trips with the influx occurring from a combination of swabbing and failure to keep the hole full. Swabbing is the result of the piston effect of the drillpipe due to excessive trip speed resulting in instantaneous vacuum being created below the bit. Kicks occurring during drilling operations most often occur due to insufficient mud weight.

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Insufficient mud weight

.may occur due to: Penetration of an abnormally pressured zone; Accidental dilution of the mud by fluid addition at surface Dilution of mud by influx from an aquifer exposed to open hole; Gradual mud density reduction due to gas cut and failure to degas the mud at surface; Improper mud mixing and poor quality control in measurement.

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Low Level of Drilling Fluid Column Not keeping the hole full

Two conditions may lower the fluid column in the annulus. These are: Failure to fill the hole during a trip; Lost circulation during drilling

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Swabbing
Swabbing is the reduction of bottom hole pressure caused by upward pipe movement - result is reduced bottom hole pressure. High trip speed can lead to instantaneous vacuum below the bit. The swab pressure depends on: Pipe velocity; Bit and/or BHA balling; Clearance between pipe and hole - the smaller the annular cross section, the greater the swabbing action; Mud rheology - the higher the viscosity, the greater the swabbing action.

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Kick Detection
The single most important step to blowout prevention is closing the blowout preventers when the well kicks. The decision to do so may well be the most important of your working life. It ranks with keeping the hole full of fluid as a matter of extreme importance in drilling operations. (Chevron Well Control Manual) Be prepared and maintain a kick control Work Sheet at all times.

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Maximum Working Casing Pressure

The casing and blowout preventer (BOP) are designed for the different expected pressures during each drilling phase. This is determined during well planning. The pressure requirements are based on the maximum anticipated pressures caused by a gas kick.

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(Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure)

MAASP

This is the annular pressure at the surface that corresponds to the pressure at the weakest point of the hole. The fracture gradient at the last casing shoe traditionally defines the weakest point. The MAASP represents the annulus pressure which may be expected to result in loss of circulation while controlling a kick. MAASP = 0.052 x (Frac ) x Dw
Frac = Fracture pressure at shoe equivalent mud wt in ppg

= current mud weight in ppg / Dw = TVD of weakest point

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Rig Capacity for Weighting Mud

Although this data does not appear in the worksheet, it is important as it defines the number of circulation cycles necessary to regain primary control with given change of mud. The rig capacity depends on total reserves of weighting materials (Barites, etc) and the maximum rate of addition to system. The maximum rate of addition is measured in Ib/min or kg/min. Backup supply MUST always be available on rig.

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System Pressure Losses at Slow Pump Rate

To control circulating a kick out of the hole without the risk of causing a second influx or losses from breaking down the formation with excessive annular pressures slow a circulating rate (SCR) is used. of the well. This is is dependent on the rig, but this is usually about 20 or 30 strokes per minute. This slow rate must be taken: At the start of each tour; If the mud weight changes; If bit arrangement changes; After bit changes; Every 500 ft drilled.

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Well Kill Circulating System

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Kick Detection Techniques

There are a number of indicators that provide early warning of kick occurrence - positive kick indicators are: Mud pit level/flow Increase; Incorrect hole fill up during trip; Decrease in standpipe pressure/Increase in pump rate; Increase/decrease in drillstring weight Potential indicators are: Increase in penetration rate; Lost circulation; Changes in gas levels, mud density and conductivity

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Parameters used for detecting abnormal pressure zones are also potential kick indicators and include: Torque, overpull and drag; Shale caving increase Shale density/shale factor changes Flow line mud temperature changes d Exponent changes
Indicators of occurrence of a kick follow

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Dc Exponent
The dc exponent has to be treated with caution. Originally developed in the US Gulf of Mexico it works well in the long clay sections drilled there. However, In areas where there are continuous changes of formation it is difficult to establish a trend to detect changes. The increase in pore pressure is indicated by the shift to the left of the plot.
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Mud Pit Level / Flow Increase

These parameters are major positive indicators. As the influx of formation fluid displaces the mud in the annulus, the pit level would increase in the active mud tanks. There would also be evidence of increase in return flow rate if logged. The effectiveness of pit gain/flow increase depends on: Initial size and type of kick; Mud fluid base and rheology; Minimum sensitivity of the measuring systems But remember Gas kicks are more difficult to detect than oil /water due to its compressibility ...

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Incorrect Fill-up During Trips

If the hole does not take the correct volume of mud for the volume of pipe pulled from the hole then an influx has probably been swabbed into the well bore The driller and mud loggers should be maintaining independent records of volume taken to fill the hole for every 5 stands If the hole fill is not correct go back to bottom and circulate bottoms up to check what is at the bottom of the hole
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Decrease in Standpipe Pressure/Increase in Pump Rate

The circulation system is a U-tube. An influx of fluid into the annulus creates an imbalance resulting in a decrease in hydrostatic pressure in the annulus. In such an unbalanced system, gravity helps move drilling fluid down the hole, requiring less energy from the pump. This will result in a decrease in the standpipe pressure

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Increase/Decrease in Drillstring Weight

Any influx into the wellbore from the formation reduces the buoyancy of the annular drilling fluid. A sensitive weight indicator will register this change in weight as an increase in drill string weight. For very large kicks, fluid may enter the annulus with enough force to cause a decrease in indicated string weight.

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Increase in Penetration Rate (Drilling Break)

A marked increase in rate of penetration (ROP) may indicate either changes in the type of formation being drilled or a reduction in the differential between the mud pressure and pore pressure. Generally, the following parameters affect the ROP: Rock type; Formation bulk density/porosity; Differential pressure; Bit type/wear; Drilling breaks are generally evidence of Hydraulics; porosity change. Drilling rate tends to Weight on bit; decrease with depth. Thus when a Rotary speed; drilling break occurs, it may be an Personnel/equipment. evidence of transition to an abnormal zone. It is crucial at this point to stop drilling and check for flows.
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Lost Circulation

Loss of substantial quantity of mud into the formation will result in reduction in hydrostatic column height in the annulus. If not checked, this can result in a kick.

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Changes in Gas Levels/Mud Density/Conductivity

Gas extracted from the mud comes from one or more of the following sources: -

Liberated gas which is the measured gas from the return mud flow, released from the pore spaces of the drilled cuttings. It is the so-called background gas during circulation. If there is overbalance, and the ROP is constant with flow rate, this liberated gas; Produced Gas enters the wellbore from adjacent permeable formations when underbalance exists. A background gas increase when ROP is constant is evidence of produced gas; Recycled gas is the gas recirculated into the hole. It appears on detection equipment as an increase in background levels; Contamination Gas results from chemical breakdown of mud additives; Connection gas and trip gas are short duration gas peaks caused by swabbing action.

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Changes in Gas Levels/Mud Density/Conductivity

Gas extracted from the mud comes from one or Depending on sensitivity level surface monitors should detect a more of the following sources: relatively steady level of gas extracted from mud during normal

Liberated gas which is the measured gas from the return mud drilling. This background level may show occasional variations flow, released from the gas pore spaces of the drilled cuttings. It is the so-called background circulation. there is depending on penetration gas rate, during mud pumping rate, If hydrocarbon overbalance, and the ROP is constant with flow rate, this liberated gas; content of section drilled. Under normal conditions, the gas should remain within about 50% of local average. background Produced Gas enters the wellbore from adjacent permeable formations when exists. A background gas increase It is crucial that allunderbalance gas values must be reported whether they are when ROP or is not. constant is evidence of produced gas; significant Thorough inspection of gas monitoring systems Recycled gas is the gas recirculated into the hole. It appears on and calibration as part as or routine maintenance exercise is essential detection equipment an increase in background levels; to preventing potential disasters Contamination Gas results from chemical breakdown of mud additives; Connection gas and trip gas are short duration gas peaks caused by swabbing action.

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Connection and trip gas are most common while drilling. The connection gas peaks are a clear sign that pressures are near balance, making for optimum ROP. Swabbing is the main cause of connection/trip gas as it creates negative differential pressure. . Effects of gas expansion at surface are varied. Evidence includes: Rapid fall in flow line mud density; Increase in return flow; Mud pit level increase; Rapid increase in total gas or hydrocarbon levels.

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Closing the Well In

The Blowout Preventer (BOP) Stack Closes the annulus Has multiple redundancies
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Protecting the Drill Pipe Side

The top valve is a FULL OPENING SAFETY VALVE. Installed on the drill pipe when a kick is taken while tripping. The lower valve is an INSIDE BOP - it is potentially DANGEROUS and its use should be avoided!
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Protecting the Drill Pipe Side

continued

To provide permanent protection in the drill pipe when handling a kick a drilling float valve should be used. This is a non-return valve installed immediately above the bit.

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Circulating out a Kick

Two basic techniques; The Drillers method - 2 circulations; The Engineers or Waite and Weight method - 1 circulation; The Engineers method results in lower annular pressure, particularly at the shoe.

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Drillers Method

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Engineers or Wait and Weight Method

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Important Principles
A kick is NOT a blowout. Most blowouts are due to human error in handling a kick. The fundamental principle in well control is CONSTANT BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE Shut the well in using the HARD or FAST SHUT IN using the annular BOP.
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Important Principles
continued

Control a kick with the bit on bottom. Use True Vertical Depth (TVD) for calculating pressures. Use Measured Depth (MD) for volumes and displacements. Establish pore pressure by recording the shut in drill pipe pressure.

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Important Principles
continued

Maintain constant bottom hole pressure by controlling the drill pipe pressure - do not us the casing pressure. Assume and design for a gas kick unless the reservoir fluid is known. Gas is more difficult to handle - primarily due to large expansion during circulating out a kick. (Boyles Law: P1V1 = P2V2)
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If You Get it Wrong!

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Further Reading
Campusmoodle: ENM201 notes Well Control SPEs Applied Drilling Engineering (Red Book) :
Chapter 4 Drilling Hydraulics Chapter 6 Formation Pore Pressure & Fracture Resistance

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