WELL CONTROL

- Well control is done to ensure that fluids such oil, gas, and water does not flow in an
uncontrolled way from the formation being drilled into the borehole and to the surface. In
drilling, it is important to note that the borehole pressure must exceed the formation pressure
at all times because if the formation pressure is greater than the borehole pressure, an influx of
fluid into the wellbore will occur which is also known as a kick. Moreover, if the influx of fluid
will continue, all the drilling mud will be pushed out of the borehole and the formation fluids will
be flowing in an uncontrolled manner at surface which is known as Blowout. With that, there
are two types of well control known as Primary control and Secondary control. Primary control
ensures that the borehole pressure is greater than the formation pressure while Secondary
control is done when primary control has failed and it is achieved by closing off the well at
surface with valves which is the Blowout Preventer, also, it is basically in charge in keeping the
pressures in the well under control.

TWO PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

1. To kill the well safely. One of the objectives of well control is to safely kill a well by
balancing the pressure, prevent uncontrolled influx of formation fluids, and regain control of
the well in order to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment during drilling and
production operations.
2. To minimize borehole stresses. Minimizing borehole stresses is essential to prevent
wellbore instability, which can lead to costly operational problems such as hole collapses,
stuck pipe, and loss of drilling fluids. Also, it is done to maintain wellbore integrity and
prevents damage to the well, equipment, and casings.

WELL CONTROL IS DESIGNED TO:

1. Detect a kick. Sudden increase in the level of mud in the pits

2. Close-in the well surface.
3. Remove the formation fluid which has flowed into the well. A choke manifold with an
adjustable choke is used to control flow rates during the circulation.
4. Make the well safe

Primary control may be lost in 2 ways: (1) if the FP in a zone which is penetrated is higher than that
predicted by the reservoir engineers. (2) if the pressure due to the colom of mud decreases and the BHP
drops below the FP.

MUDWEIGHT

- It is essential that the mudweight is monitored to ensure that the mud being pumped is the
correct density. If the mudweight decreases, it must be increased in the programmed value
before it is pumped downhole.
 - Mudweight is the specific weight of drilling mud wherein if it is too low, it may not provide
enough pressure to counteract formation pressure which may lead to blowout. However, if it is
too high, it will lead to wellbore instability which may result in loss circulation of fluid into the
formation thus damaging the wellbore.

- MUDWEIGHT WILL FALL DURING NORMAL OPERATIONS DUE TO:

-
1. Solids removal. Drilled cuttings must be removed from the mud. If solids removal
equipment is not designed properly, a large amount of weighting solids must be removed,
and if it is removed, it must be replaced before the mud is circulated downhole again.

2. Excessive dilution of the mud (due to watering-back). Mud is diluted with water when the
mud is being treated to improve some property and during this operations, mud weight
must be monitored

3. Gas cutting of the mud. If gas seeps from the formation into the circulating mud, it will
reduce the density of the drilling fluid.

REDUCED HEIGHT OF MUD COLOM

- The height of the mud colom in a drilling wellbore must be continuously monitored to ensure
proper well control and prevent potential blowouts. Maintaining the correct mud colom height
helps balance the formation pressure, this is essential for controlling the well and preventing the
uncontrolled release of oil, gas, or drilling fluids.

THE MUD COLOM HEIGHT MAY BE REDUCED BY:

1. Tripping. This is done by displacing drilling fluid from the wellbore with a lighter fluid to prevent
excessive pressure imbalances as the drill string is removed or reinserted.
2. Swabbing. It is the process by which fluids are sucked into the borehole, from the formations,
when the drillstring is being pulled out of hole.
3. Lost circulation
SLOW PUMP RATE: WHEN TO TAKE

1. Every tour
2. After repairing the pumps or when liner is changed
3. When the mud properties are changed
4. Every 500 ft of new hole drilled
5. BHA changes
6. When the bit nozzles are changed

SHUT-IN DP PRESSURE – measure of the difference between the FP nad the hydrostatic column of the
mud in the drillstring.

SHUT-IN CASING PRESSURE – measure of the difference between the FP and the hydrostatic column of
the fluids in the annulus during a kick

MATERIALS TO WEIGHT UP MUD

(Weighted drilling mud or drilling fluids is employed to facilitate wellbore stability, prevent blowouts and
carry cuttings to the surface)

1. Barite
2. Ilmenite
3. Fe oxide (hematite)
4. Galena

MATERIALS TO WEIGHT UP COMPLETION FLUIDS

(Completion fluids are weighted up to match or exceed downhole formation pressures, ensuring wellbore
stability and preventing blowouts during well completion and workover operations.)

1. Kcl
2. NaCl
3. Cacl2
4. CaBr2
5. ZnBr