High Pressure High Temperature

Wells (HPHT)
Note #5

Mahmoud Abdelrazik
Offshore DSV and Technical Instructor

Contacts: +20 100 079 2174

m.abdelrazik6@gmail.com
High Pressure High Temperature
• We talked about HPHT deinitions in Note #1 What is the HPHT?,
HPHT Classification, HPHT Consideration, HPHT Mechanisms, and
HPHT Challenges.
• Note #2 Gas kick behavior and control in HPHT wells.
• Note; Note #3 is GAS SOLUBILITY IN OBM’S, EFFECTS ON KICK
BEHAVIOR
• Note #4: Rig Equipment Summary

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Notes on Note #4: Rig Equipment Summary
• As a contractor company when you are going to drill HPHT Well either
• Upgrade your rig to by purchasing
• To evaluate the situation if renting is economic
• For commercial reasons is it worthwhile to make a comparison between the cost of
modifying an existing rig or contracting an existing 15K rig.
• Experience has indicated that there is rather more
than what was originally anticipated in going from 10K to 15K
working pressure equipment.
• So, you have 3 categories; some equipment to purchase/rent, some to
upgrade, and some to be checked.

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Notes on Note #4: Rig Equipment Summary

Equipment to be Purchased/rented Equipment to be Upgraded

• 15K Bop Stack with • 15K Cement line, Stand pipe and
• 15K ram preventer stack with its
different size rams and spare parts0 Chock manifolds
• 5-10K annular preventer with its • BOP control unit with new BOP
spare parts
• 15K Chock manifold with its control requirements
panel
• 15K choke kill lines (preferred 2 choke
lines)
• 15K High Pressure-Low volume
cement pumps
• 15K safety valves
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Notes on Note #4: Rig Equipment Summary
• Equipment/systems to be checked
• Capacity BOP handling system
• Circulating heads, cement heads, killing hoses, etc. should match the higher pressure
rating.
• All drillstring components to match higher anticipated pressure, inside pipe shut off
tools especially
• All Chiksans and Weco couplings should be 15 K (1502)
• Mud pits volumes, Mud mixing system, pumps capabilities.
• Solid control system
• Rig pumps and booster pumps must be able to handle heavy mud
• Cement, barite and bentonite Silos for offshore rigs

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Note #5: Surface Gas Handling Capacities and
Procedure for HPHT
1. Introduction: Gas Expansion
2. The Choke Manifold And Choke
3. Mud-Gas Separators: Design, Capacities And Operation
4. Wellhead And Flowing Temperatures
5. Formation And Prevention Of Hydrates
6. Steady Flow Energy Equation
7. Flow Regimes
8. Flow Of Gases Through An Orifice
9. Flow Through A Choke
10. Flow Of Gases Along Pipes: The Weymouth Formula

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Introduction: Gas Expansion
• In WC operation; The influx is circulated out of the well via the choke
• The BASIC OBJECTIVE is to hold BHP constant at all stages of the process.
This is usually achieved by controlling the drillpipe pressure at constant
pump speed (ie at constant slow circulation rate), according to a
predetermined schedule of pressure and strokes (via the Driller’s, W & W
or Concurrent methods). As long as the pump speed is held constant, the
means of controlling the drillpipe pressure is by adjusting the opening at
the hydraulic choke at the drillfloor choke manifold.
• Gas expansion ratios increase with increase in bottom hole pressure.

where, Vsc/Vbh = Bg (Gas formation volume factor)

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Introduction: Gas Expansion

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Introduction: Gas Expansion (Example)
• A 10 bbbl gas kick is taken at a TVD of
16500 ft in a well with 0.9 psi/ft mud 2194
and a temperature gradient of
1.35°F/100 ft. The slow pump rate is to
be 2.5 bbl/min. The gas SG relative to
air is estimated to be 0.65.
• The gas volume SCF/bbl at standard
conditions. (2194 SCF/bbl)
• The gas flowrate at the outlet from the
MGS,in MMSCF/Day.
• FR =SCR x Bg x 1440 / 1,000,000
MMSCF/Day

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The Chock Manifold and The Chock
• the choke manifold should be designed to provide the following
principal features:
• Adequate pressure integrity for the highest anticipated pressures. This will be
at least 15000 psi with test pressures of 22500 psi for HP wells.
• Adequate temperature range capability without loss of the main physical
properties. This will be at least 250°F for continuous operation and 320°F for 1
hour. Sub-zero temperatures on the downstream side of the chokes will also
be likely.
• A range of flow-path options with at least 2 variable power (remote) chokes
and 1 manual adjustable choke.

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The Chock Manifold and The Chock
• the choke manifold should be designed to provide the following
principal features:
• A point upstream of the chokes at which HP antifreeze (glycol) can be injected
to suppress hydrate formation.
• An adequate buffer chamber between the downstream side of the chokes
and the mud gas separator, to dampen out pressure surges and accommodate
slugs of mud/gas.
• A means of by-passing the mud gas separator, rapidly, in the event of the
blow-down pressure rating of the MGS being approached, so that the
pressure in the MGS can be reduced and the well can be shut in safely.

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The Chock Manifold and The Chock

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Mud Gas Separator
• The capacity ratings of the surface handling equipment, in particular
the liquid seal tubes, vent lines and mud gas separators (Poor Boy
Degassers), were not adequate to circulate the influx safely out of the
well, at the “normal” slow circulating rates, although influx volumes
and shut-in pressures indicated that anticipated maximum well-head
pressures could be safely accommodated.
• The liquid seal was achieved by either a U-tube or a dip-tube with a
liquid seal height of about 10 ft and a vent tube of about 6“ diameter.
In addition separator capacity was usually less than 10 MMSCFD.

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Mud Gas Separator

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Mud Gas Separator
• The design philosophy should also address itself to:-
• High capacity to allow for the large gas expansion ratios.
• The special problems associated with horizontal wells (Not included for non
reliability and applicability for use).
• The need for compact design, particularly for offshore rigs.
• Compatibility with established well control practices and the
• Kick tolerances specified at various depths.
• Reliability in operation.

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Mud Gas Separator
• Design Example
• Design criteria:
• Separation Capacity.
• The volumetric gas flowrate through a
MGS which will permit venting of gas
with a limiting liquid droplet size at the
exhaust.
• Blowdown Capacity.
• Flowrate which is sufficient to cause
enough internal pressure to blow out the
liquid seal at the base of the MGS.
• Slow circulation rate
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Mud Gas Separator
• Design Example
• Design criteria:
• Separation Capacity.

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Mud Gas Separator
• Design Example

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Mud Gas Separator
• Design Example
• Design criteria:
• Blowdown Capacity.

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Mud Gas Separator

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Mud Gas Separator
• Design Example
• Design criteria
• Slow circulation rate

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BOP and Chock Line Flowing Temperature
• The temperatures at the BOP and choke line are likely to be of
importance in a well control operation from 2 aspects:
• If the well is flowing rapidly, the temperature at sub-sea flexible elements
may be near to their operational limit.
• In a sub-sea BOP stack system, there will be a cooling effect between the BOP
and the surface choke manifold. The expansion of gas across the choke may
then lead to downstream temperatures which are low enough to cause
hydrates to form.

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BOP and Chock Line Flowing Temperature

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Hydrate Formation and Prevention
• Hydrates are ice-like solids which
are formed when gases are flowing
in the presence of small quantities
of water vapour.
• Concentrates at bends or
restrictions,
• such as chokes or other valves.

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Hydrate Formation and Prevention
• When hydrates form, the gas
becomes “locked” into the solid at
the local pressure. It is estimated
that 1 cu ft of hydrate may hold the
equivalent of 170 SCF compressed
gas. This can be released when the
hydrate is melted by the application
of heat.
• If a pressure/temperature plot for a
particular gas is below the line for
that gas, then hydrates will form.

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Hydrate Formation and Prevention
• Once hydrates have formed they
may lead to complete plugging of
chokes, fail-safe valves, choke lines
and expansion points at entry to the
MGS. It is normal to try to prevent
hydrates from forming by the
injection of a suppressant at the
upstream side of the choke or at
the BOP, on the occasions when
hydrate formation is likely.

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Hydrate Formation and Prevention
• Prevention of hydrate formation is always regarded as the preferential
action. Monoethylene glycol is the most common suppressant.
• It is common in HPHT wells to make provision for the injection of
glycol hydrate suppressant at a point into the BOP upstream of the
inner choke line valves and upstream of the choke at the choke
manifold. This is done by a glycol injection pump which can deliver at
a pressure up to the rated pressure of the choke manifold.
• The injection is started at a point when the gas influx is some depth
below the BOP, such as 1500 to 2000 ft. The minimum injection rate is
about .05 gpm but should be increased as necessary.
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Hydrate Formation and Prevention
• If hydrates have formed and plugged the lines, the well must be
properly shut in and steps taken to melt the hydrate plug.
• Such steps may be:
• Steam or hot liquid jets directed onto the external surfaces of the affected
areas.
• Circulation of heated mud into the MGS, if hydrates are forming there.
• The injection of small quantities of methanol into the area upstream and
downstream of the hydrate plug.

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End of Note #5 Surface Gas Handling
Capacities and Procedure for HPHT
• Later, we have about 14 notes
• 8 Notes for Well control
• 1 Note Rig equipment summary
• 1 Note Management of the operation
• 1 Note Samples of HPHT guidelines (HSG’s)
• 1 Note HPHT Drilling Fluid
• 1 Note HPHT Cementing
• 1 Note HPHT Standards
• Keep Following for the updates.

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 Thank you, and keep following
************

Next Note, Note 6; Drilling and Well Control Procedures

for HPHT Wells
Now we achieved 25% of HPHT Hurry to read past
lessons

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