2020 Fall PETE 4241 Sec 1

Managed Pressure Drilling

Homework 3
Due Date: Nov 13, 2020

1. For a well with TVD (below Rotary Kelly Bushing) of 18,000 ft, water depth of 8,000 ft,
seawater density of 8.6 ppg, and mud weight for conventional riser drilling of 14.0 ppg, what
mud density for DGD (more specifically seabed pumping) would be required to provide the
same bottom-hole pressure, assuming that the inlet pressure on the seafloor pump is maintained
at seawater hydrostatic pressure?
Solution:
‫݌‬஻ு (‫ = )ܲܪܤ‬0.052 ∙ 14 ∙ 18000 = 131204 ‫݅ݏ݌‬
‫݌‬ௌ௘௔ி௟௢௢௥ = 0.052 ∙ 8.6 ∙ 8000 = 3576 ‫݅ݏ݌‬
13104 − 3576
ߩெ ௨ௗ௙௢௥஽ீ஽ = = 18.33 ‫݃݌݌‬
0.052 ∙ (18000 − 8000)

2. For a well with TVD (below RKB) of 28,000 ft, water depth of 8,000 ft, seawater density of
8.6 ppg, the pore pressure at the bottom of the well is 22,000 psig. Calculate
1) The mud weight to balance the pore pressure when SMD is applied, and
2) When this mud weight is used, what is the distance the mud will fall in the drill pipe after
shutting down the rig pump, assuming no DSV (Drill String Valve) was installed. (Frictional
pressure loss is ignored in this case.)
Solution:
1) ‫݌‬ௌ௘௔ி௟௢௢௥ = 0.052 ∙ 8.6 ∙ 8000 = 3577.6 ‫݅ݏ݌‬
22000 − 3577.6
ߩ௠ ௜௡ெ ௨ௗ = = 17.72 ‫݃݌݌‬
0.052 ∙ 20000
ଷହ଻଻.଺
2) ‫ܪ‬௠ ௨ௗ ி௢௥ ௕௔௟௔௡௖௜௡௚ = = 3882.62 ݂‫ݐ‬
଴.଴ହଶ∙ଵ଻.଻ଶ

‫ܮ‬ி௔௟௟ெ ௨ௗ = 8000 − 3882.6 = 4117.4 ݂‫ݐ‬

3. Identify which type of initial response each figure below represents. Describe in your own
words how each parameter changes during this process and explain the rationale.
(Recommended reading: SPE 128424 - Evaluation of Alternative Initial Responses to Kicks
Taken During Managed Pressure Drilling)
Solution:
 Fig 1

This Figure (Fig 1) represents a Rapid Shut-in Response. This type of method is a non-
circulating response, which basically it is a widely accepted method as the correct approach in
case a kick occurs. In the above described situation, due to the accurate kick measurements,
the kick was early observed (only 2 bbl gain). As a response, the pump were shutdown, the
choke was closed and casing pressure increased to a stabilized value (1100 psi) because the
formation flow was stopped. The slow rate of the choke pressure increase showed us that the
migration occurred in the annulus. While Response Method was having it`s impact, a 5 bbl of
additional gain was observed, resulting in a total of 7 bbl gained.
 Fig 2
This Figure (Fig 2) represents a Rapid pc Increase Response. This type of method is a
circulating response, which, as described by a LSU MP consortium member, is a standard
response for their automate system. The main idea of this type of response is combating the
kick by keeping the flow in at the drilling rate while rapidly reducing the choke opening, until
the flow out dropped to around 110% of flow in. As a response that this method was efficient,
flow in has to match flow out. For doing that, the operation must continue by adjusting the
choke smaller. The above picture shows the same scenario as the Fig 1 does. After the 2 bbl
gain was observed, the pump rate was maintained constant and the pc has been increased for
stopping the formation flow. As a result, the flow out rate changed when the choke adjustment
was made until flow out dropped below flow in. Due to the gas expansion, the two flow rates
were not exactly equal. There were done two more choke adjustments (as shown in the Figure)
to combat the kick. As a confirmation that this method was efficient, which took around 2
minutes, the flow out profile vs. time repeated almost identically. 1.7 bbl were gained
additional to the first gained value.