WELL CONTROL

Equations
Charts & Tables

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

1.

Pressure (psi)
Force (lb)
= psi
Area (in 2 )

2.

Pressure Gradient (psi/ft)

P.G.(

3.

psi
) 0.052 Mud Weight (ppg)
ft

Hydrostatic Pressure (psi)

a. H.P.(psi) = 0.052 Mud Weight (ppg) True Vertical Depth, TVD (ft)
b. Mud Weight (ppg) =

Hydrostatic Pressure (psi)

0.052 True Vertical Depth, TVD (ft)

c. True Vertical Depth, TVD (ft) =

4.

Equivalent Density (ppg)

Eq. Density (ppg) =

5.

Hydrostatic Pressure (psi)

0.052 Mud Weight (ppg)

Pressure (psi)
0.052 TVD (ft)

Formation Pressure (psi)

Formation Pressure (psi) = Hydrostatic Pressure in Drill Pipe (psi) + SIDPP (psi)

assuming shut-in well with BHP equalized with formation pressure

6.

Density to Balance Formation (ppg)

Kill Mud Weight, KMW (ppg) =
SIDPP (psi)
+ Original Mud Weight (ppg)
0.052 TVD (ft)

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

7.

Equivalent Mud Weight, EMW (ppg)

EMW(ppg) =

8.

Leak - Off Pressure (psi)

+ Leak - Off Mud Wt (ppg)
0.052 Casing Shoe TVD (ft)

Maximum Allowable Surface Pressure, MASP (psi)

Based on Casing Burst.

MASP(psi) = Casing Internal Yield (psi) .80 (safety factor)

9.

Maximum Initial Shut-In Casing Pressure, MISICP (psi) Upon initial closure only--Based on
formation breakdown @ shoe. For
IWCF, written as initial MAASP.
MISICP(psi) =

10.

EMW (ppg)

- Present Mud Wt (ppg) 0.052 Shoe TVD (ft)

Initial Circulating Pressure (psi)

ENGINEER'S & DRILLER'S METHODS.

ICP (psi) = SIDPP(psi) + Slow Pump Rate Pressure, SPRP (psi)

11.

Final Circulating Pressure (psi)

FCP(psi) = SPRP (psi)

12.

Annular Pressure Loss (psi)

+ Mud Wt (ppg)
0.052 TVD Bit (ft)

Gas Pressure and Volume Relationship -- Boyle's Law

P1V1 = P 2 V 2

P2 =

14.

Kill Mud Wt (ppg)

Original Mud Wt (ppg)

Equivalent Circulating Density, ECD (ppg)

ECD(psi) =

13.

ENGINEER'S METHOD.

P1V1
V2

The Pressure (psi) of a gas bubble times its Volume (bbl) in one
part of the hole equals its Pressure times its Volume in another.
Disregards effects of Temperature (T) and gas compressibility (z)
or

V2 =

P1V1
P2

Pump Output (bbl/min)

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

Pump Output(bbl / min) =

15.

100% Triplex Pump Output (bbl/stroke)

Pump Output(bbl / stk) =

16.

Stroke Length (in)

3
12

Drill String Internal Volume (bbl)

bbl / stroke

Volume (bbl)
Pump Output (bbl / min)

Open Hole Capacity Factor (bbl/ft)

Capacity(bbl / ft)

19.

1029

Circulating Time (min)

Min =

18.

Liner ID (in)

Surface To Bit Strokes (strokes)

Strokes =

17.

bbl
strokes

stroke
min

Open Hole Diameter (in)

=

1029

Pipe Capacity Factor (bbl/ft)

Capacity(bbl / ft) =

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Pipe Inside Diameter (in )

1029

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

20.

Annulus Capacity Factor, ACF (bbl/ft)

Capacity(bbl / ft) =

Open Hole Diameter (in)

- Pipe Outside Diameter (in)

1029

or

Capacity(bbl / ft) =

21.

Casing Inside Diameter (in)

Pipe Displacement (bbl/ft)

Displacement(bbl / ft) =

22.

- Pipe Inside Diameter (in)

1029
2

Total Pipe Displacement Including Capacity (bbl/ft)

Pipe Outside Diameter (in)

Disregarding tool joints.

2

1029

Height of Influx (ft)

Height(ft) =

24.
25.

Disregarding tool joints.

Pipe Outside Diameter (in)

Displacement(bbl / ft) =

23.

- Pipe Outside Diameter (in)

1029
2

Pit Gain (bbl)

Annulus Capacity Factor (bbl / ft)

Pressure Gradient of Influx (psi/ft)

Bit on bottom.
SICP (psi) - SIDPP (psi)
Height of Influx (ft)

Influx Gradient(psi / ft) = Pressure Gradient of Mud (psi / ft) -

26.

Rate of Kick Rise (ft/hr)

R.O. R.(ft / hr) =

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Well Shut-In.

Change in SICP (psi)

0.052 Mud Wt (ppg) Elapsed Time for Change in SICP (hr)

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

27.

Weight per Foot of Drill Collars (lb/ft)

lbs / ft = 2.67 OD(in) ID(in)

28.

Force (lb)
Force(lbs) = Pressure (psi) Area (in 2 )

29.

Area (in2)
Diameter (in)
, 3.142
4
2

Area(in 2 )

30.

Degrees API (@ 60oF)

O

31.

API =

141. 5
- 131. 5
Specific Gravity

Specific Gravity (@ 60oF)

Specific Gravity =

32.

141. 5
API + 131. 5

Mud Weight from Specific Gravity (ppg)

Mud Weight(ppg) Specific Gravity 8.33 ppg

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(Fresh Water weighs 8.33 ppg)

Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

33.

Hang Off Weight (lb)

Weight of Block
+ Kelly Weight
+ Weight of Compensator
+ Air Weight of Drill Pipe (KB to Hang - Off Ram)
+ 10, 000 lbs
Weight on Indicator after hangoff (lb)

34.

Barite Requirement For Weight-up (100 lb sxs)

15 Increase in MW

35.0 - KWM

Barite (sxs) = Volume to weight up (bbls)

35.

Cutting Back or Weighting Up One Fluid with Another to Obtain Desired Fluid Density

Volume of Mixing Fluid to Add (bbls)

Starting Fluid Wt (ppg) Desired Fluid Wt (ppg)

Vol of Starting Fluid (bbls)

Desired Fluid Wt (ppg) Mixing Fluid Wt (ppg)

36.

Final Density of a Mixture of Fluids, (ppg)

Final Fluid Wt (ppg)

Fluid Wt 1 (ppg) Volume Fluid 1 (gals) Fluid Wt 2 (ppg) Volume Fluid 2 (gals)
Volume Fluid 1 (gals) Volume Fluid 2 (gals)

37.

Final Density of a Mixture of a Fluid and a Solid, (ppg)

Final Fluid Density (ppg)

Fluid Density (ppg) Volume Fluid (gals) Weight of Solid Added (lb)
Weight of Solid Added (lb)
Volume Fluid (gals)

True Density of Solid (ppg)

38.

Weight of Solid to Add to a Fluid to Obtain Desired Fluid Weight, (lb)

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

Weight of Solid to Add (lb)

Volume of Starting Fluid (gals) True Density of Solid (ppg)
Desired Fluid Wt (ppg) Starting Fluid Wt (ppg)

True Density of Solid (ppg) Desired Fluid Wt (ppg)

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

VOLUMETRIC CONTROL EQUATIONS
39.

Pressure Increment, PI (psi)

PI =
40.

Safety Factor (psi)

= psi
3

Fluid Increment, MI (bbl)

MI =

41.

Rate of Bubble Rise, ROR (ft/hr)

ROR =

42.

PI (psi) Annulus Capacity Factor (bbl / ft)

= bbl
0. 052 Mud Wt (ppg)
See Equation 25 above.

Change in Casing Pressure (psi)

0.052 Mud Wt (ppg) Elapsed Time for Change (hr)

ft
hr

Time to Bubble Penetration, BPT (hr)

BPT =

Depth of Bubble (ft) - Depth of Bit (ft)

= hr
ROR (ft / hr) + Stripping Speed (ft / hr)

LUBRICATE AND BLEED

43.

Pressure that can be bled off after lubricating in a given volume of fluid, (psi)
Volume Lubricated (bbl)

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0.052 Fluid Wt (ppg)

= psi
Capacity Factor (bbl / ft)

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

STRIPPING AND SNUBBING EQUATIONS

STRIPPING
OD (in)

44.

Pressure-Area Force, Fp (lb)

45.

Buoyed Weight of Tubulars, W (lb)

W WAIR (lb)

46.

Barrels to Bleed per Stand, (bbls/stand)

2
OD (in)

BBL / Stand

47.

Volumetric Control Considerations

Fp

Well Head Pressure (psi)

65 .4 Mud Wt (ppg)

65 .4

1029

Stand Length (ft)

Pressure Increment, PI (psi)

See Equation 37 above.

Fluid Increment, MI (bbl)

See Equation 38 above.

Surface Pressure Increase due to Penetration of the Bubble, SPINCR (psi)

L K ( DP OH ) L K ( OH ) PG MUD PG GAS psi

Open Hole Kick Length, LK(OH) (ft)
L K ( OH )

Kick Volume at penetration (bbl)

ACFOH (bbl / ft)

DP by Hole Kick Length, LK(DPOH) (ft)

L K ( DP OH )

Kick Volume at penetration (bbl)

ACFDP OH (bbl / ft)

Rate of Bubble Rise, ROR (ft/hr)

See Equation 40 above.

Time of Bubble Penetration, BPT (hrs)

See Equation 41 above.

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

SNUBBING
48.

Snub Force, SF (lb)

SF Fp Friction Force W

49.

Neutral Point

SF 0;

50.

Effective String Weight, WE (lb/ft)

WE (lb / ft)

51.

Calculating Effective String Weight and Change in Effective String Weight after Filling

a)

Effective String Weight with no fluid in the workstring:

Fp W

W (lb)
L (ft)

WE (Effective String Wt, lb / ft)

Air Wt (lb / ft)

OD(in) 2 Fluid Wt WELL (ppg)

24.5

Note that WE and Air Wt both have units of lb/ft. For example, the air weight of 2-7/8 tubing
normally would be 6.5 lb/ft.
b)

Increase in the Effective String Weight after the pipe is filled with the same Fluid
Weight that is in the well:
WE (lb / ft)

c)

Fluid Wt WELL (ppg)

24 .5

Increase in the Effective String Weight after the pipe is filled with a different Fluid
Weight than the Fluid Weight that is in the well:
WE (lb / ft)

d)

ID ( in) 2

ID ( in) 2

Fluid Wt FILL (ppg)

24 .5

After filling the pipe, the Effective String Weight will be:

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

WE (AFTER FILLING) (lb / ft) WE WE

Air Wt (lb / ft)

OD (in)

Fluid Wt WELL (ppg) ID (in) Fluid Wt FILL (ppg)

24.5
24.5
2

In this case, note that Fluid WtFILL in the last term above will be Fluid WtWELL if filled with the
same fluid.
NOTE: This the GENERAL EQUATION for the Effective Buoyed Weight of the String. It works
regardless of the fluid that is inside or outside the pipe. If the fluid is gas at fairly low
pressure, use 0 lbs/gal for the fluid wt.
52.

Predicting the Neutral Point

Combining Equations 47 and 48 above gives an equation for the length L (ft) of pipe that must
be run into the well to reach the Neutral Point:

Fp (lb) W (lb)
L (ft)

a)

and

W (lb)
L (ft)

Fp (lb)
WE (lb / ft)

The Neutral Point occurs in unfilled pipe when the length of pipe run into the well is:
Fp (lb)

L (ft)
AIR Wt (lb / ft)

b)

WE (lb / ft)

OD (in )

Fluid Wt WELL (ppg)

24.5

The Neutral Point occurs in filled pipe when the length of pipe run into the well is:

L (ft)
AIR Wt (lb / ft)

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OD (in)

Fp (lb)

Fluid Wt WELL (ppg) ID (in) Fluid Wt FILL (ppg)

+
24.5
24.5
2

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Revised 12/18/16

WELL CONTROL EQUATIONS

Accumulator Sizing
52.

Bottle Capacity Required (gals)

Bottle Volume (gals)

Volume Fluid Required(gals)

Precharge Pressure
Precharge Pressure
Minimum Operating Pressure
Maximum Operating Pressure

53. Volume Useable Fluid Available (gals)

Volume Useable Fluid (gals)

Precharge Pressure
Precharge Pressure

Minimum
Operating
Pressure
Maximum
Operating
Pressure

= Bottle Volume (gals)

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Revised 12/18/16