Basics of well control

HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE:
• Pressure exerted by a static column of fluid due to its density.
• It depends on True Vertical Depth (TVD) of fluid column & density of fluid.
• Hydrostatic Pressure does not depend upon hole diameter or hole geometry.

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PRIMARY WELL CONTROL:
Maintained by hydrostatic pressure of mud in the
well-bore to control formation pressure.

SECONDARY WELL CONTROL:

It involves detection of kick and proper use of
B.O.P. & kill procedures for safe handling of kicks so as to re-establish the Primary Well
Control.

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KICK is Influx of formation fluid inside the well bore which can be controlled

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BLOW OUT – Influx of formation fluid inside well bore which can not be controlled

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A Typical Blow Out

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BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE (BHP):
= Static pressure + Dynamic pressure + Surface applied pressures

BHP in different Well situations:

1) When not circulating

BHP = Hydrostatic Pressure of mud column

2) While drilling
BHP = Hydrostatic Pressure of mud column + Annular pressure
losses

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 REASONS OF ABNORMAL PRESSURE

1) UNDER-COMPACTION
• In general in geological process, rate of deposition is slow and
gradual, and hence excess water gets enough opportunity to escape
to the surrounding formations and full compaction results.
• But sometimes rate of deposition is much faster and the formation
water may not be able to escape to the surrounding formations and
shall then support more part of the overburden pressure.

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• 3) FAULTING
Faulting is up-thrusting of deep rocks . Due to various
geological reasons rocks from deeper depths gets displaced up and the
displacement may range from few centimetres to kilometres. Since the
formation pressure normally increases with depth, when deep rocks get faulted
up, they have higher than normal pressure with respect to the new depth they
now occupy. Hence when drilling across a fault , there is a possibility of
encountering abnormally high formation pressure.

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LEAK OFF TEST (L.O.T.)
Conducted to determine strength of formation below casing shoe and is the pressure
at which formation begins to leak.
TEST PROCEDURE:
1) Drill 10 to 15 feet of fresh formation.
2) Circulate out cuttings thoroughly to get a homogenous mud column.
3) Pull inside last casing shoe. Close BOP. Open casing annulus valves.
4) Pump into the well in small increments of ¼ to ½ barrel by low discharge high
pressure pump (cementing unit ), waiting each time for 3-4 minutes or the time
required for pressure to stabilize.
5) Plot a graph for Volume versus Pressure simultaneously. Continue pumping in
increments until the plotted curve deviates from the straight line.

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Formation Strength = Hydrostatic Pressure of mud at casing
shoe + Surface Leak off Pressure

= 0.052 × 10 ppg × 5000’ + 1200

= 2600 + 1200
= 3800 psi
3800
Maximum Allowable Mud Weight =
0.052 × 5000’

= 14.61 ppg

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Max. Allowable Mud Wt.
= Mud Wt. in use + (Surface leak off pressure/ 0.052 × TVD of casing
shoe)

1200
= 10 +
0.052 × 5000

= 14.61 ppg

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REQUIREMENT OF A GOOD LEAK-OFF TEST (L.O.T)
1) Drill 10 to 15 feet of fresh formation.
2) Low discharge high pressure pump.
3) Accurate pressure gauge.
4) Exact mud density .
5) Exact true vertical depth (TVD) of casing shoe.
6) Burst strength of casing
7) Volume pumped and the return volume.

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EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF KICK:
These are indications of approaching higher formation pressure which means that the
well may go under-balance if no appropriate action is taken.
1. Increase in rate of penetration.
2. Increase in torque and drag.
3. Decrease in Shale density : Shale density usually increases with depth but decreases
in abnormal pressure zones.
4. Change in cutting size and shape : Cuttings are normally small in size with rounded
edges. Cuttings drilled from abnormal pressured formation are often long and
splintery with angular edges. As differential pressure is reduced due to increase in
formation pressure, the cuttings have a tendency to explode off bottom.

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5. Change in mud properties
6. Increase in chloride contents : Drilling through high pressure formations having higher
porosity results in contamination of drilling fluid with considerable volume of saline water
from pores. This increases chloride content of the drilling fluid.
7. Increase in flow line temperature : The temperature gradient in abnormal pressure
formation is usually higher than normal pressure formation.
8. Increase in trip, connection & background gas : An increase in trip, connection &
background gas should be considered as an indication that pore pressure is increasing.

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POSITIVE KICK SIGNS:
1. Increase in return flow ( Pump on )

2. Flow from the well ( Pump off )

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POSITIVE KICK SIGNS:
3. Pit gain

4. Decrease in pump pressure and increase in pump SPM

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