Name: Reband Azad Raza

Petroleum Engineering Department/ Drilling Engineering II

Date: 23 03 2016

(Is gas migration problem in petroleum

industry?)

petroleum industry looking forward to be safe and reliable industry, one of most common

problems petroleum industry faced since its development its (gas migration) Gas migration

also called gas communication or gas leakage (Carter and Slagle, 1970) gas migration is the

most frequent, and no doubt the most critical and dangerous (faul, 10 Dec 1984) , as the

beginning of industry the gas migration wasnt detectable due to complex of reservoir and

inefficient technology, Gas migration is most common drilling problems, its occurs when gas

invasion migrate from High pressure zone[formation] to lower pressure zone[wellbore],the

gas migration can cause the well severity problems like blowout when the well all in lost due

to imbalanced pressure all and when its cement running or while drilling running on, the

detecting gas migration down hole its not such easy way to try, the detection always running

on the wells surface by checking the pressure regulators and well control monitors or by

increase Flow rate or increase in mud pits and having flow while Mud Pumps shut down,

there are several cause and predictable ways to prevent gas migration, one of such factors is

[density],Controlling density immediately after cementing its so similar to well control after

drilling, if the [hydrostatic pressure] decrease below the formation gas pressure will cause

[gas kick], must assure that the pressure at critical zones is maintained between the pore and

the fracturing pressure at all times during, and immediately after, the cement job (Parcevaux,

Step 6 1984), density must be carefully and correctly to be designed to prevent gas flow
during cement displacement (Bonett, Spring 1996), although the design must care of danger

of losing circulation, any density went wrong made while mixing a slurry on the surface may

causes large changes in slurry properties ,that is why now modern mixing cement systems

will offers accurate density control, and the Mud can be a good character For preventing gas

migration, There is no easy path for gas if good mud exists in the well bore, drawn water

from [Mud cake] to surface of [cement sheath], this can causes of cracking in the mud cake

which is causes the best route for gas migration, for example if thick mud cake dehydrates by

14 % it will make (0.195 mm cracks) in the mud cake in the sidewall of the well bore

(NELSON, 1990), and another threat its while when the cement slurry begins to set, the

hydrostatic pressure quickly approaches zero (Levine .D, 1979), due to separation of both of

fluids and pore from connecting each touching other that makes to separate system , because

the fluids in the wellbore cannot have force on the well bore wall that why hydrostatic

approach to zero, one of the solutions its using surfactants with cement slurry, the surfactants

will enter gas zones to become a foam, and by using a [bentonite][sulphate salts] to control

Gel-strength of cement to prevent Gas sneak, there is also a physical ways to prevent Gas

migration, by setting a Casing Packers.

References
Bonett, A., Spring 1996. Oil Field Review. Schlumbeger[online], p. 4.
Carter and Slagle, 1970. A Study of Completion Practices. SPE 764, p. 5.
faul, s., 10 Dec 1984. Annular Gas Flow Theory and Prevention. Oil&gas J, pp. 84-
112.
Levine .D, T. .., 1979. AnnularGas Flow After Cementing: A Look ;it Practical
Solutions, s.l.: paper spe 8255.
NELSON, E. B., 1990. Well Cemening. Saint-Etienne, France: Elisiver .
Parcevaux, D. a., Step 6 1984. Mechanisms of Gas Channeling During Primary
Cementation-Methods for Prevention and Repair. newyork: Chemische Produkte
in der Erdolgewinnung,Clausthal-Zellerfeld.