ARPO IDENTIFICATION CODE PAGE 124 OF 234

ENI S.p.A.
REVISION
Agip Division
STAP-P-1-M-6140

11. LEAK OFF TEST PROCEDURE

A Leak-Off Test (LOT) will be performed On Wild-Cat wells at each casing shoe after setting
the surface casing. LOTs are also recommended to be carried out on both appraisal and
development wells.
Leak Off Test and Formation Integrity Test (FIT), also termed the Limit Test, are for
formation strength pressure tests made just below the casing seat prior to drilling ahead.
These tests are carried out to:
• Investigate the cement seal around the casing shoe which should be at least as
high as the predicted fracture pressure for the area.
• Investigate the wellbore capability to withstand pressures below the casing shoe
in order to allow proper well planning with regard to the setting depth of the next
casing, mud weights and alternatives during well control operations.
• Collect regional information on formation strengths and stress magnitude for
different applications including optimisation of future well planning, hole stability
analysis and modelling, reservoir application.

Prior to a test, a decision should be made to either increase the pressure until leak off
occurs (as in the LOT) or to stop at a predetermined pressure for a (FIT). It should be noted
that:
• FIT does not obtain information on stress magnitude.
• A LOT is designed and should be performed to determine, in a better way, the
desired data without breaking down the formation.

When a Formation Integrity Test is required, the maximum pumping pressure is often
expressed in terms of ‘Equivalent Mud Weight’ (EMW):
P
Im perial units EMW = + MW
0. 052 x TVD
where:
P = Pumping Pressure (psi)
TVD = True Vertical Depth (ft)
MW = Actual Mud Weight (PPG)
P x 10
Metric units EMW = + MW
TVD
where:
2
P = Pumping Pressure (kg/cm )
TVD = True Vertical Depth (m)
MW = Actual Mud Weight (kg/l)
 ARPO IDENTIFICATION CODE PAGE 125 OF 234
ENI S.p.A.
REVISION
Agip Division
STAP-P-1-M-6140 0

Lots or FITs can be carried out in any open hole section and at any time while drilling the
hole, even if it is customary to have it performed some metres (6-15 metres) below the
casing. For instance, the casing seat can be in a shale and the first sand formation may be
encountered several hundred feet deeper. This will certainly be more permeable than the
shale, and a test can be performed to ascertain the maximum pressure this sand can hold. If
it is lower than the shale just below the casing seat, this sand becomes the limiting factor.

11.1. TEST PROCEDURE

Prior to performing a formation strength test, prepare a sheet of graph paper to record
pressure versus cumulative mud volume.
1) Drill out the float equipment, clean the rat hole and drill 5m of new hole.
2) Circulate a mud quantity equal to the internal string volume plus the new hole plus 50m
internal casing volumes. This mud shall be cleaned and conditioned to the density and
filtrate as indicated in the Mud Programme to be used for the next drilling phase.
3) Pull the bit back into the casing shoe.
4) Rig up the cementing unit to the drill pipe. The unit shall be equipped with high
precision, low pressure gauges.
The range of the pressure gauge shall be selected based on the actual mud weight
and the estimated (LOT) or predetermined (FIT) pressure.
A pressure recorder should be used during the test. The use of the rig pumps for
making these tests are unsuitable.
5) Fill and test the lines with mud.
6) Break circulation with the cementing unit to make sure that the bit nozzles are clear.
Stop pumping when circulation is established.
7) Close the top pipe rams or the annular.
8) Open the annulus of the previous casings.
9) Pump slowly until pressure builds up.
10) Once pressure is established, pump uniform volumes of mud and wait for the pressure
1
to stabilise; flow rates range from /8 bbl/min (20l/min) up to a maximum of 1bbl/min
1 1
(160 l/min), however values of 0.25bbl (12 /4” and smaller holes) or 0.50bbl (17 /2”
hole) are commonly used, and wait for two minutes, or the time required for the
pressure to stabilise.
11) Note the cumulative mud volume pumped, the final pumping and final static pressure.
12) Repeat steps (9) and (10) above and plot pressure versus cumulative mud volume for
each increment of pumped volume.
13) Continue this procedure until:
• Two or three points on the plot are reached where the pressure deviates and
falls below the approximate straight line (or if the pressure does not increase with
the injected volume). The point on the plot where the curve begins to bend away
from the straight line is called Leak Off Point (Refer to figure 11.a).
• Or the predetermined test pressure is reached.
 ARPO IDENTIFICATION CODE PAGE 126 OF 234
ENI S.p.A.
REVISION
Agip Division
STAP-P-1-M-6140 0

14) Stop pumping, shut in the well, record and plot pressure versus time until stabilisation
(usually it takes 15-20min). In the early stage (2-3min) one value every 15-30sec
should be collected while for the remaining a value of pressure every 30-60sec may be
sufficient. The use of PACR or an equivalent device, if available, is preferred.
15) Bleed off the pressure and record the quantity of fluid returned into the cementing unit.
Compare it to the volume used for the test to obtain the amount of fluid lost to the
formation.
16) Open the BOP and calculate the formation strength in terms of ‘Equivalent Mud
Weight’ using the lowest between leak off point pressure and stabilised pressure.
17) Collect the data recorded during the test in a data sheet together with the following
information: borehole diameter, depth of test, depth and type of the last casing, mud
density, plastic viscosity, filtrate and gels (refer to the example on the next page).

Note: The pumping rate should be kept within the limits described in step 9). If
the rate is too low, filtration losses will mask any leakage loss, or, if the
rate is too high the formation may suddenly break and the leak off
pressure will not be determined. Also, the longer the open hole section,
the higher should be the injection rate. If the initial pumping rate is not
sufficient, the well should be depressured and the test restarted with a
higher rate.

Note: If a float valve is used in the drilling string, the test can not be carried out
by pumping down the drill pipe. In this case rig up the cementing unit to
the choke or kill line, fill and test the lines against the fail-safe and
establish circulation through the riser. Close the BOP and perform the
formation strength test pumping down the annulus.
 ARPO IDENTIFICATION CODE PAGE 127 OF 234
ENI S.p.A.
REVISION
Agip Division
STAP-P-1-M-6140 0

SPER Report N°
33 LEAK-OFF TEST REPORT
Date:

WELL NAME: WELL CODE: CONTRACTOR: RIG NAME: RIG CODE:

Open hole depth (m): 825 Mud Type: FWGELS Rig type: J.UPs
Hole Diameter (in): 12”1/4 Weight (Kg/l): 1.3 R.K.B. elevation (m): 26
Last Csg. Shoe (m): 797 Marsh Viscosity (sec/Qt): 44 Water Depth (m): 24
Csg. diameter (in): 13”3/8 P.V.(cps): 19 Pumps: 12-P-160
Grade: J-55 Y.P.(lb/100 ft2): 5 Liners (in): 6.5”
Weight (lb/ft): 61 Gels(lb/100 ft2): 2/8 Flow Rate (bpl): 0.25
Max. Burst pres (psi): 3103 W.L (cc/30 min): 10.5
Litology: Shale
2
Expected EMW 1.68 Kg/cm /10 m
Time Volume Pressure Time Volume Pressure Time Volume Pressure
(min) (bbl) (Psi) (min) (bbl) (Psi) (min) (bbl) (Psi)
1 0.25 50 9 2 490 16 2 435
2 0.50 100 9.5 2 480
3 0.75 250 10 2 470
4 1.00 380 10.5 2 463
5 1.25 450 11 2 455
6 1.50 480 11.5 2 450
7 1.75 520 12 2 445
8 2.00 550 13 2 440
8 2.00 520 14 2 437
8.5 2.00 505 15 2 435
Note:
Pumped with a costant flow rate of (bbl):
Volume pumped (bbl):
Volume returned (bbl):

(psi)
Time (min)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
1000 20

900

800
stop pump
P 700
re
s 600
shut in curve
s
500
ur
e 400
8 minutes
300

200

100

0
0 0,25 0,5 0,75 1 1,25 1,5 1,75 2 2,25 2,5 2,75 3 3,25 3,5 3,75 4 4,25 4,5 4,75 5

Flow Rate (bbl)

RESULTS: (Press. mud + Press. L.O. )x10/Depth=[(1.3 x 797 / 10) + (430 x 0.07)] x 10 / 797 = 1.68 (Kg/cm /10 m) 2

Note: Company Representative

Figure 11.A - Leak-Off Test Report