WELL CONTROL MANUAL

SECT 9 - Horizontal Well Control

SECT 9.1 Introduction

SECT 9.2 Fundamental Well Control Principles

SECT 9.3 A Classification System for Horizontal Wells

SECT 9.4 The Advantages of Drilling Horizontal Wells

SECT 9.5 Types of Kicks and Kick Components

9.5.1 Kicks Due to Swabbing

9.5.2 Kicks due to Penetration of a Pressure Barrier
9.5.3 Kicks Due to Error in Mud Weight

SECT 9.6 The Flow Equation in the Context of Horizontal Wells

SECT 9.7 Recognising Kicks and Evaluating Kick Length

9.7.1 Kick Recognition in Horizontal Hole Compared with Normal Well

9.7.2 Effects of Mud Type
9.7.3 Kick Fluids

SECT 9.8 Kick Scenarios for Horizontal Wells

9.8.1 SwabKicks
9.8.2 Penetration Kicks
9.8.3 Secondary Kicks

SECT 9.9 Migration

SECT 9.10 Segregated and Distributed Kicks

 WELL CONTROL MANUAL

SECT 9 - Horizontal Well Control (Cont/d)

SECT 9.11 Methods of Well Control for Horizontal Wells

9.11.1 Key Differences from Normal Well Kill

9.11.2 Advantage of Drillers Method
9.11.3 Need for High Circulation Rate
9.11.4 Problems with High Kick Circulation Rate
9.11.5 Monitoring Casing Pressure on Floaters
9.11.6 Rotating BOP on Surface BOP Installation
9.11.7 The Special Case of a Pressure Kick in the Horizontal Hole
9.11.8 Need to Reduce Swab Risk

SECT 9.12 Safety Factors in Horizontal Well Control

SECT 9.13 Kick Prevention Considerations

9.13.1 Prevention During Drilling

9.13.2 Prevention During Tripping

SECT 9.14 Kick Detection in Horizontal Wells

SECT 9.15 Kick Sheets for Deviated / Horizontal Wells

SECT 9.16 Examples of Casing Pressure Profiles

9.16.1 Swab Kicks

9.16.2 Effect of Well Profile on Casing Pressures and Pit Gain

SECT 9.17 The Effect of Angle on Kick Hydrostatic

SECT 9.18 Special Procedures

9.18.1 Bullheading
9.18.2 Stripping
9.18.3 Top Kill
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9.1 INTRODUCTION

Conventional well control assumes a vertical well bore. In development

drilling offshore, substantial deviation is usually required and recent
deviated techniques have been extended to include a horizontal well bore in
the reservoir section. Horizontal drilling to precise targets is now possible
with 3,000 - 4,000 ft. long producing intervals.

9.2 FUNDAMENTAL WELL CONTROL PRINCIPLES

The fact that a well is deviated or has been drilled with its final section
horizontal does not change the fundamental principles of well control
during the circulation from the well of a kick.

•Kick Procedure

Circulation is established and maintained at a constant drill pipe pressure

sufficient to maintain the bottom hole pressure higher than the formation
pressure. The drill pipe pressure is controlled by adjusting the choke at a
selected pump rate.

If the procedure requires the use of a kill mud weight higher than the drill
mud weight the heavier mud is displaced at constant rate into the drill pipe
making adjustments as necessary to ensure that the drill pipe pressure
decreases in proportion to the amount of kill mud pumped until the new
mud reaches the bit and the SIDP is reduced to zero.

•Kick Monitoring

The kick procedure must be monitored throughout the circulating period to

ensure that flow from the formation is suppressed. This is done by
observing the trend of casing pressure and pit gain.

Deviated/Horizontal wells have casing pressure profiled during kick

circulation which are specific to:

a) The kick fluid and kick size;

b) The profile of the well, in particular the amount of vertical hole above the
kick off point (KOP).

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As nearly all horizontal wells are development wells the kick fluid is known
and its characteristics readily built into the planning of the well. Similarly
the profile of the well should be used to predict the kill characteristics which
should be incorporated into the plan for well control in the form of a
predicted casing pressure profile for a typical sized kick.

•Measured Depth and True Vertical Depth

An obvious feature of deviated and horizontal wells is that the measured

depth is substantially different for the true vertical depth because of the
horizontal components of the well geometry.

This fundamental fact can best be kept in mind by the use of the directional
profile of the well for all well diagrams. See Figure 9.1

MD TVD

PRESSURE
(psi)

VOLUME
(strokes)

Fig. 9.1

This is because:

• Pressure is a function of True Vertical Depth (TVD) but

• Volume (pumped) is a function of Measured Depth (MD).

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The shape of the well must always be considered when understanding well
behaviour during a kill cycle.

Always plot the horizontal and vertical components of the well depth on the
same scale, this helps to project an image of the borehole shape.

9.3 A CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR HORIZONTAL WELLS

The degree to which control of horizontal wells differs from conventional

practice depends on the well bore geometry particularly the depth at which
deviation commences (the kick off point KOP). There are four types of well.

a) Short radius horizontal wells using special equipment to achieve a build

up rate of 1 to 3 degrees per foot.

b) Medium radius horizontal wells using flexible down-hole motors to

achieve build up rates of 10 to 50 degrees per 100 feet

c) Long radius long reach horizontal wells - KOP shallow

d) Long radius long reach horizontal wells - KOP deep

a. b.

c.

c.

d.

Fig. 9.2

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Type (a) :

The first group of wells (a) has most of the well bore in the vertical mode
and the horizontal part can be treated as a minor appendage. This group of
wells can be treated as a minor appendage. This group of wells can be
treated as normal wells except for the difference in measurement between
TVD and MD. However, the technology is allowing greater horizontal
reaches to be achieved which means that this type of well will attain many
of the characteristics of the Medium Radius Well.

Type (b) :

More and more horizontal wells are being drilled using the techniques
associated with the Medium Radius Well (b). Horizontal sections are being
drilled longer and longer, such that it is not uncommon for the horizontal
element to be as long as the vertical part of the well.

Type (c) :

Many horizontal wells belong to the third group (c) with shallow TVD and
kick off point ranging from a few hundred feet below rotary table to
considerable depths. Extended Reach Drilling is a special application in this
group of wells. Deviation is started at the top of the hole and developed into
a long tangent section of 70 - 75 degrees inclination.

Type (d) :

The fourth group of wells (d) involves deeper reservoir with greater lengths
of vertical hole before the deviation commenced (more than 4000 ft). Since
gas kick expansion takes place mainly in the vertical section of the well,
control response approximates closely to conventional practice.

The wells in groups (b) and (c) have geometry which is dominated by the
deviated and horizontal sections (TVD is less than 6000ft). Therefore in this
class of wells the kick will show the greatest difference from conventional
experience.

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Borehole Geometry Can Be Simplified For Well Control

A typical well has three distinct components-

• The vertical section from RKB to KOP.

• A deviated section turning the well from vertical to horizontal.
• The horizontal penetration of the producing formation.

RKB

TVD
=
VERTICAL
MD

MD cos O = TVD
O DEVIATED

MD cos ∝ = TVD
∝ HORIZONTAL

MD TD
NO TVD

Fig. 9.3 Simplified Geometry For Horizontal Well

For an understanding of well control behaviour, the deviated section can be

depicted as one or more straight line sections connecting the vertical to the
horizontal sections. Although the actual well bore will turn progressively
with build up angles between 2 and 6 per 100 ft. It is sufficiently accurate for
well control to use the simpler straight line geometry provided the MD of
the actual well:

• In the vertical section the MD = TVD;

• For the deviated section the MD x Cosine Deviation Angle = TVD;
• For the horizontal section there is MD only with no TVD.

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9.4 THE ADVANTAGES OF DRILLING HORIZONTAL WELLS

Horizontal wells are drilled to improve production, it follows that a kick in

a horizontal well could inflow more rapidly than the corresponding vertical
well.

30 ft
3,000 ft +

Normal Horizontal
Well Well

Fig. 9.4

Productivity increases either because the longer penetration of the

production sand or, in the case of fractured reservoirs, because more
fractures have been intersected by the longer well bore. It is important to
know which of these alternatives is involved prior to drilling the well.

VISCOUS OIL
SAND
EXPOSES MORE SAND

GAS
THIN OIL
COLUMN

FRACTURED
CHALK
INTERSECTS MORE FRACTURES

Fig. 9.5 Horizontal Well Objectives

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A special case for horizontal drilling occurs when a thin oil reservoir exists
with both an oil gas contact and an oil water contact. The horizontal well
bore allows production at lower drawdown reducing the “coning”
tendency.

9.5 TYPES OF KICKS AND KICK COMPONENTS

The function of horizontal wells is to enhance productivity of known

reservoirs in the development stage. It follows that a lot more is known
about the nature of potential kick fluids than is the case with exploration
drilling.

This simplifies well control procedures which are often imprecise because
the nature of the inflow is not known and the pore pressure can only be
estimated.

If the potential well fluid is known before hand its behaviour can be
predicted. For instance an oil kick will have only a small amount of gas
relative to a gas kick and in most cases the gas oil ratio (cu.ft per bbl) will be
accurately known. Expansion of the gas will only commence when the
pressures are less than the bubble point pressure see Fig. 9.6

Alternatively if a gas well is being drilled the gas behaviour will be entirely
predictable from the bottom (end) of the well to surface.

Given that a kick will be either oil or gas there are a number of kick
scenarios which may occur.

9.5.1 KICKS DUE TO SWABBING

This is the most likely type of kick to occur in any well. Swab kick
behaviour in horizontal bore holes will depend on the position of the bit at
the time of the incident.

The rate of entry for a typical swab kick will be very similar to a normal well
swabbing action if the event occurs as the pipe is pulled off bottom. Only a
short section of the hole is exposed and affected by the swab pressure as the
bit is pulled away from bottom.

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If the bit is pulled away from the end of the hole, for instance for a
connection, the far end of the well will be the main contributor to the inflow.
In this case the swabbing effect is similar to a normal vertical well.

3000 ft

100 ft

Fig. 9.6

If swabbing occurs when the pipe is at the beginning of the horizontal hole
then the entire length of the horizontal section is exposed to the differential
swab pressure and a high rate of entry occurs.

If due to error in pit monitoring the pipe is pulled out several stands from
the end of the hole without realising that the well is being swabbed the
entire section passed by the bit can contribute to the inflow and a much
faster build up of a swab kick can occur.

The well will only swab when the pipe is moved since the vertical
component of the mud weight is still available in the vertical and deviated
part of the well. Flowing conditions will only be induced if the swabbing
action continues past the beginning of the horizontal section.

Regardless of how large the swabbed influx may be, it will only influence
and reduce bottom hole pressure when it moves into the vertical or deviated
section of the well.

9.5.2 KICKS DUE TO PENETRATION OF A PRESSURE BARRIER

This type of kick could occur if the well bore crosses a fault into a zone
which had not previously been depleted or had a different oil water content.

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Such an event is more likely to occur if the well is drilled late in the
development programme to improve productivity at low (depleted)
reservoir pressures.

A similar situation can occur if an existing development well is deviated to a

new target with or without a horizontal component.

9.5.3 KICKS DUE TO ERROR IN MUD WEIGHT

Despite good information from prior wells a kick may develop because of
insufficient mud weight or barite sag. This will occur either at the beginning
of the horizontal well at time of first penetration of the producing zone or it
may occur in the pilot hole which is often drilled as a projection of the
deviated section to check the formation thickness before choosing the
optimum horizontal path.

In either alternative the kick only involves the deviated and vertical sections
of the well. The kick may develop in the well before the first casing string
5
(usually 9 - /8”) is set. This type of kick involving a long open hole section
will follow conventional treatment except for the allowance to be made
between MD and TVD because of high angle.

If pipe has already been set, the open hole will be very short albeit at high
angle. Well control will approximate to conventional with little risk of shoe
breakdown.

Fig. 9.7 Wrong Mud Weight Detected Before Horizontal Hole Drilled

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9.6 THE FLOW EQUATION IN THE CONTEXT OF HORIZONTAL

WELLS

Kicks occur because the well is flowing. The rate of flow Q is dependent on
∆p the differential pressure into the well bore, the relationship of the well
radius and reservoir radius and the function Kh / µ. Thus :

Q = ∆P x CONSTANT x Kh / µ [9.1]
Where

K is the permeability of the rock and usually dominates the equation

because h the exposed sand thickness is normally less than 100 ft.
µ is the viscosity of the fluid and does not vary for a given reservoir.

In a horizontal well h may be over 3000 ft compared with say one

hundredth of this normal well kick. From this it is apparent that if a vertical
well would have inflowed a kick at 1 bbl per minute then the horizontal
well bore would theoretically deliver 30 bbls per minute for the same
differential pressure.

9.7 RECOGNISING KICKS AND EVALUATING KICK LENGTH

9.7.1 KICK RECOGNITION IN HORIZONTAL HOLE COMPARED WITH

NORMAL WELL

Normal well control procedures include assessment of kick length from

knowledge of kick density and difference between DP and casing pressures.
In a horizontal well all the mud in the section can be displaced without
there being any difference between DP and casing pressure because the kick
has no component of vertical depth. If the kick is within the horizontal
section there is no difference between the SIDP and the SICP (see Fig. 9.8).
SIDP SIDP

1216 psi 0 psi

0 psi SICP 0 psi SICP

PITS PITS
VERTICAL WELL
6000 ft DEEP
200 bbl KICK 200 bbl KICK
VERTICAL HORIZONTAL
SIDP = SICP SIDP = SICP
PLUS 1416 psi HORIZONTAL WELL
MEASURED DEPTH 10142 ft
DP
SAME TVD AS VERTICAL WELL

HW
11 ppg MUD
DC
KICK DENSITY 0.1 psi/ft

Fig. 9.8

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The only indication of kick size is pit gain. No deduction can be made as to
whether oil or gas has entered the well. Fortunately in most cases the prior
knowledge of the well objective will indicate which fluid is involved but
there are exceptions.

The kick length can be deduced from pit gain given two assumptions;

• That the hole is circular and on gauge;

• That the inflow has displaced the mud evenly across the annular area
of the hole.

These assumptions are reasonable if a kick has occurred during drilling or

by swabbing off the end of the hole.

When entry occurs across the entire horizontal section as with a secondary
kick or with a swab kick considerably off bottom, the bore hole mud may
not all be displaced. The shape of the bore hole may be oval over part of the
section. The degree of ovality will depend on formation strength and the
number of trips. Each time a trip is made some material is scraped off the
low side of the hole, with poorly consolidated sands the effect may be
substantial.

Clearly volumetrics based on “standard” hole geometry may be suspect.

9.7.2 EFFECTS OF MUD TYPE

Many horizontal wells are drilled with OBM for reasons of lubrication and
protection of the formation. When oil is the objective any kick will mix
freely with the OBM either because of circulation or because of migration or
to contamination during inflow.

In a gas well, gas solubility in oil base or pseudo oil base muds changes
with temperature and pressure and at low pressure the discrepancy
between the measured pit gain for a dissolved gas influx and a true gas
influx volume is much higher than at high pressures.

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EXTRA GAS HELD IN SOLUTION

OBM COMPARED TO WBM
FOR THE SAME PIT GAIN
4.0
INFLUX : PIT GAIN VOLUME RATIO

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE (PSI)

Fig. 9.9

9.7.3 KICK FLUIDS

Oil

Oil has already been mentioned as a common kick fluid in a programme

involving horizontal wells. Crude oil normally contains gas in solution, the
amount being dependent on the type of crude oil, its pressure and
temperature. The amount of gas measured in cu ft per bbl of oil separated at
the surface is known as the gas oil ration GOR.

Gas dissolves in crude oil as pressure increases and for a given pressure
more gas is retained in solution at lower temperatures.

The typical solubility relationship between oil and gas shows about 500
cu.ft. of gas per bbl. of oil can be dissolved at a typical reservoir pressure of
3,000 psi and a temperature of 180° F. The lighter the crude oil gravity the
greater the amount of gas that will dissolve. Heavy viscous crude oils may
have very small amounts of gas in solution.

If there is not sufficient gas available to achieve the GOR indicated by the
pressure temperature balance the oil is said to be undersaturated. Many
North Sea crude oils are of this type. Until the pressure is reduced
sufficiently so that it is below the solution pressure (bubble point pressure)
corresponding to the amount of gas per bbl, no gas is released from solution
and the kick behaves as a single phase exactly as if it consisted of diesel oil
only.

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If no gas is released there is little possibility of significant expansion and the

kick retains to its initial size virtually the same until the pressure /
temperature regime in the well or surface system initiates gas coming out of
solution.

In circulation of kick from horizontal wells a significant part of the

circulation may be contained in the horizontal part of the well. If the bubble
points are likely to be reached in the well, the probability is that this will
occur near the top of the vertical section.

If OBM is in use, the dilution of the kick by the base oil of the mud further
reduces the bubble point pressure and gas release may be even closer to
surface.

The low mobility and low gas content of viscous crude oils inhibit inflow
into a well bore, consequently kicks involving crude oil are more likely to
occur when the reservoir fluid is a light oil with a moderate gas oil ratio.

RESERVOIR PRESSURE

BUBBLE POINT
PRESSURE
No gas released
from solution DEPTH
BUBBLE POINT INCREASING
PRESSURE

BUBBLE POINT PRESSURE

NO GAS NO GAS

Gas releases
from solution as
pressure reduces

CRUDE OIL CRUDE OIL + O B M

Fig. 9.10 Fig. 9.11

Undersaturated Kick Dissolved In OBM

Hydrocarbon Reduces Bubble
System Point Pressure

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2000

1500

°F
00
e1
G.O.R. CFT PER BBL

ud
Cr
PI

F
°A

0°
10
40
1000

de
ru
C
F

PI
0°

A
20

°
e

24
ud
I Cr
° AP
24
500

0
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

BUBBLE POINT PRESSURE

Fig. 9.12
The Solubility Of Gas In Crude Oil

Gas Kicks

Horizontal wells drilled into gas bearing formation usually have the
objective of compensating for low permeability therefore gas kicks from
such wells are not likely to be spectacular, however remembering that under
some circumstances the kick can inflow from the entire well bore a relatively
large volume of mud may be contaminated by the gas. Light gas will mix
with the atmosphere when vented from open mud pits. If confined in an
enclosed offshore rig tank room there is a risk of explosion, consequently all
kick gas should be separated in the poor boy separator or vented overboard.
If a very thin oil column is being developed by horizontally drilled wells a
situation may occur when error in directional control projects the well bore
either close to or into the gas zone overlying the oil column. Such conditions
could result in a gas kick even although the expected reservoir fluid is oil. If
a dissolved gas kick is circulated, expansion will start deeper in the well
because the effective bubble point pressure of the OBM / oil / gas mix is
higher than for the crude oil alone. This could be misleading if an oil kick
had been expected.

Water

Salt water is an unlikely kick fluid in the context of horizontal well drilling,
but the possibility needs to be kept in mind as a well may inadvertently be

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close to or at the oil water interface. If swabbed, salt water may be induced
preferentially to oil, particularly if the oil phase is viscous. Another scenario
which may be encountered involves penetrating a fault into a reservoir
block which has a different oil water content to the expected objective. Salt
water kicks are non expanding kicks. If salt water kicks contaminated oil
based mud a difficult emulsion problem may occur.

Behaviour of Gas in a Horizontal Well Kick

Free gas in the well will follow the gas laws in its behaviour moving up the
well. In the horizontal section there will be no volume change as it is moved
by the mud circulation at constant pressure along the borehole. In the
deviated middle section of the well and in the vertical section the reducing
value of the TVD causes the gas to expand in accordance with Boyles Law at
the same time there will be minor volume change due to the reduction in
temperature and the change in compressibility factor “Z”. Boyles Law states
that the volume of a given mass or amount of gas varies inversely with its
absolute pressure P.
P
1
V = V x –– [9.2]
2 1
P
2

The absolute pressure is gauge pressure plus one atmosphere (14.7 psi). It
can readily be seen that this equation results in rapidly increasing volume as
the pressure becomes close to atmospheric.

Temperature "T" on the other hand affects volume in direct proportion to

the absolute temperature which is obtained by adding 460°F to the well bore
temperature in °F. Thus 80°F is 540° Absolute. A small shift in well bore
temperature has only a minor affect on volume, thus a change to 70° would
reduce the volume by the ration 530 to 540 or less then 2%.

The full gas equation states :

P T Z
1 2 2
V = V x –– x –– x –– [9.3]
2 1
P T Z
2 1 1

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At pressures below 5000 psi the compressibility factor "Z" is less than unity,
however for most shallow depth wells the correction for the combined effect
of T and Z is not significant and need not be involved in kick calculations.
P1
V2 = V1 X
BOYLE'S P2
LAW
P IS ABSOLUTE PRESSURE
= PSIG + 14.7

P1 T2 Z2
V2 = V1 X X X
GAS P2 T1 Z1
LAW
T IS ˚ABSOLUTE =˚F + 460
Z IS COMPRESSIBILITY FACTOR

Fig. 9.13 Gas Kick Expansion

9.8 KICK SCENARIOS FOR HORIZONTAL WELLS

9.8.1 SWAB KICKS

The rate of entry for a typical swab kick will be very similar to a normal well
swabbing action if the event occurs at the bit as the pipe is pulled off bottom
as for a connection. This follows because the bit exposes only a short section
of hole as it is pulled away from bottom and only this section is affected by
the swab pressure, however it must be realised that gas can be swabbed in
behind the bit.

If swabbing occurs when the pipe is at the beginning of the hole then the
entire length of the horizontal section is exposed to the differential swab
pressure and a high rate of entry occurs. It can be readily seen that earliest
possible indication of swabbing is necessary to avoid large swab kicks with
the pipe a long way from the end of the hole.

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SWAB BEHIND BIT

IN-FLOW NOT ALWAYS

LIMITED TO END
IN-FLOW FROM ENTIRE SECTION
SECTION WHILE MAKING
CONNECTIONS BEYOND PIT MAY BE 3000ft

Fig. 9.14 Fig. 9.15

Swab Off Bottom Minor Pit Gain Well Swabbed When Making Trip

9.8.2 Penetration Kicks

If the bit penetrates a pressure barrier the resultant kick will develop in the
same way that a typical drilling kick occurs in a normal well. Only the
formation newly exposed by the bit can contribute to the inflow.

There will be a pit gain and the drill pipe pressure will build up when the
well is shut in. The Casing pressure will be the same as the drill pipe
pressure as long as the kick remains in the horizontal part of the well.

A penetration kick can become an underground flow from the higher

pressure formation to the lower pressure formation. If this occurs the SIDP
and SICP will reflect the “flowing pressure” in the horizontal well bore.

A kill mud weight based on this pressure will hold the well initially but will
be inadequate to offset the pressure increase due to the inflow charging up
the lower pressure formation.
FAULT

5000 psi
OVERPRESSURED
? psi

FAULT

Fig.9.16

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9.8.3 SECONDARY KICKS

Horizontal wells are vulnerable to secondary kicks because the entire

formation section can contribute to the inflow if, by reason of poor choke
control, pressure at the TVD of the horizontal bore is below it correct value.
Obviously great care is necessary to avoid this situation.
PRIMARY KICK
AT SURFACE

SECONDARY KICK INFLOWS

OVER WHOLE SECTION

Fig. 9.17

9.9 MIGRATION

Introduction

Practical experience shows that deviated wells experience faster migration

of low density fluids either oil or gas compared with vertical holes. This
appears to be due to segregation developing in the bore hole with the lighter
fluid tending to rise on the high side of the hole whereas heavier mud
moves down the low side of the hole.

Unfortunately there is little data available on the rates of migration which

may occur nor is the influence of angle of hole on migration rate properly
understood.

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KICK ON
HIGH SIDE

LOW SIDE

MUD DOWN
KICK UP
HORIZONTAL

Fig. 9.18

If the fluid section of the well was truly horizontal a kick contained within
this section could not migrate since there will be no gravitation factors other
than the separation to the low side of the hole of any mud contaminated by
the kick. Migration will only start when the kick is moved into the deviated
section of the hole.

HORIZONTAL KICK
CAN NOT MIGRATE

KICK

MUD

KICK FLUID MAY REMAIN

TRAPPED AT HIGH SPOTS

Fig. 9.19

It is very unlikely that 3,000 ft or more of hole can be drilled without some
undulating of the bore hole axis. The well may slope continuously in one
direction either up (deviation more than 90°) or down, alternatively the
section may have one or more minor reversals in elevation given high and
low spots similar to those on a surface pipeline.

In such conditions gravity segregation can occur as a kick is moved along

the horizontal section and parts of the kick may become stranded in high
spots if the rate of circulation is low compared with the rate of segregation.

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A situation of this type would be more of a problem in a gas kick than for an
oil kick since the latter has less density differences and if OBM is in use the
kick will disperse readily into the body of the mud.

Migration cannot be ignored but equally the effect of migration should not
be over emphasised. The best solution to any problem of migration in
horizontal well control is to get after the kick as soon as possible and move
it to the surface as fast as possible, we will talk more on this later.

9.10 SEGREGATED AND DISTRIBUTED KICKS

In well control there is a difference between kicks which inflow while

drilling and kicks which occur when circulation is shut down.

A “defused kick” will occur when drilling ahead because the mud delivered
by the pumps is mixed with the inflowing kick. A kick of this type is longer
than the equivalent kick “bubble”. A distributed oil kick in OBM will be
completely miscible and emerge from the well bore as a modified mud
mixture.

A “segregated kick” develops if the well flows without the pumps running.
In a vertical well a segregated kick tends to displace the mud column
upwards and if a large kick is taken in this way the kick fluid is virtually
uncontaminated at the initial stage of the kick. A segregated kick may occur
either by swabbing or because the well flows on removal of the ECD.

In a horizontal well bore it is not likely that a segregated kick will develop
unless a fault barrier has been breached and sufficient pressure differential
exists to cause the well to flow strongly from the end of the well bore.

In most cases of horizontal well kick some degree of mud contamination is

to be expected. The effect of this is to lengthen the kick causing early arrival
at the surface compared with conventional well control predictions.

Although more mud is contaminated there is some advantage on handling

the kick because less gas per bbl of mud is handled at the MGS.

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PUMP ON

•

PUMP OFF

KICK TAKEN WITH PUMP ON

Fig. 9.20
Defused Drilling Kick

9.11 METHODS OF WELL CONTROL FOR HORIZONTAL WELLS

9.11.1 KEY DIFFERENCES FROM NORMAL WELL KILL

KICK TAKEN WITH PUMP OFF
(ie) SWABBED

Fig. 9.21
Segregated Swab Kicks

Kill mud becomes effective in the annulus only when the annular
volume of the horizontal sections of the well is displaced. In a normal
well, kill weight mud starts to have effect as soon as it reaches the bit.

When the kick is in the deviated part of the hole it will tend to migrate
faster than in corresponding conditions in vertical hole.

If the horizontal hole has an undulating profile, kill fluids may bypass
kick fluids at the “high” spots, this is particularly likely to occur at
slow pump rates.

Heavy mud used to bull head may bypass lighter material in the
deviated section.

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9.11.2 ADVANTAGE OF DRILLERS METHOD

The abnormal conditions outlined above can be largely overcome by using

the Drillers method as soon as the kick is secured by closing the well. A
majority of horizontal well kicks will be induced kicks, no mud weight
change is involved, consequently the Drillers method applies automatically.
The important decision is get after it and move the kick before it can
migrate.

9.11.3 NEED FOR HIGH CIRCULATION RATE

On a surface installation, slow circulating rates practised as a standard well

control procedure have the disadvantage of accentuating by-passing and the
effect of migration. If a drilling rate of say 5 or 6 bbls per minute has been in
use without loss there is no reason why the same rate should not be used to
move the kick to surface. The objective is to get the kick out with the least
mud contamination, particularly if the kick fluid is expected to be oil.

The pump rate must be slowed down to suit the mud gas separation
capacity before the kick reaches surface.

Note that most kicks will occur either before the horizontal section is drilled
or after the last string has been set before the horizontal section. “Fear of
breaking down the casing shoe is minimal”.

9.11.4 PROBLEMS WITH HIGH KICK CIRCULATION RATE

• When a kick is being circulated the bit will be off bottom. A mud motor
in this condition will tend to over speed and may be damaged. This can
be overcome by using a circulating sub in the drilling assembly,
although it will still be necessary to pump for a time through the bit to
get the opening ball to seal in its seat.

• Choke line friction will increase substantially compared with “normal”

well kill situations. This will be noticeable in floating rig applications
with long choke lines.

Choke line friction may be a limiting factor in the rate at which a kick can be
circulated. Mud gas separator capacity which may also limit the pump rate.

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However it is only necessary to adopt high pump rate to flush the kick out
of a horizontal or highly deviated well bore, slower rate can be resumed in
the upper part of the well as the kick approaches the surface.

9.11.5 MONITORING CASING PRESSURE ON FLOATERS

High kill circulation rates mean higher than normal choke line pressure
losses even if the floater is operating in moderate water depths (300 - 400 ft).

At high rate the choke line pressure loss is substantial because it is a

function of the square of the velocity of flow.

To maintain proper control it is recommended that the annulus pressure

during kill is monitored on a kill line gauge instead of the casing gauge.

This procedure will assist in avoidance of undue back pressure on the

exposed formation.

9.11.6 ROTATING BOP ON SURFACE BOP INSTALLATION

If a rotating BOP is carried whenever a surface BOP is in use pipe can be

worked back into the well bore without waiting for the first kill cycle.

Rotating BOP's provide additional protection when working in a loss / gain

situation. They can only be used with adequate surface gas disposal
equipment comprising mud gas separator and vent lines.

9.11.7 THE SPECIAL CASE OF A PRESSURE KICK IN THE HORIZONTAL

HOLE

If an undepleted zone is penetrated in the horizontal hole the W & W

method will be required but it is not necessarily practical if the earlier part
of the hole is at a low pressure and losses occur. This may happen
particularly if fractured formation is involved. Although an effective W & W
kill will remove any surface pressures from the DP and annulus there is a
strong possibility of an underground blow out continuing which cannot be
killed by conventional means such as dynamic kill or barite plug.

In many cases the practical solution is to pump cement and redrill the well
for a shorter target.

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9.11.8 NEED TO REDUCE SWAB RISK

Cleaning up a high angle / horizontal well after a swab kick takes rig time
and can result in badly contaminated mud. It is advantageous both in terms
of rig time (cost) and safety to avoid swabbing as far as possible.

• Avoiding Swabbing During Drilling Operations

Always keep the pumps running when moving pipe off bottom for hole
cleaning and keep pipe movements slow.

Keep clearances between drilling assembly and hole diameters as large as

possible consistent with drilling objectives.

• Avoiding Swabbing during trips

Move the pipe slowly until bit is above casing shoe.

Believe the trip tank at all times. Adopt routine procedures, such as always
using the same pill size and weight, so that true comparisons are possible
with previous trips.

9.12 SAFETY FACTORS IN HORIZONTAL WELL CONTROL

A safety factor must be used in horizontal well control because there is a

pressure drop over the length of the horizontal well bore annulus when
circulating out the kick. The pressure at the bit must be kept high enough to
ensure that the bore hole pressure at the beginning of the horizontal hole is
higher than the formation pressure.

When a floating rig is in use the choke line friction may be sufficient to
provide the desired safety factor.

It is customary to adjust the slow circulation rate by multiplying it by the

ratio of the kill weight mud to the drill weight mud. This provides a safety
factor which increases as the kill mud reached the bit.

This procedure can be used when mud weight is increased but gives zero
safety factor for induced kick. A more satisfactory procedure is to add an

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arbitrary amount such as 100 or 200 psi to the circulation pressure.

Alternatively the SCR can be increased by a percentage amount say 5 to

10%. The proforma kick sheet in Figure 9.23 provides for adding or
multiplying the safety factor as appropriate.

The reason for using a safety factor is to suppress a secondary influx.

9.13 KICK PREVENTION CONSIDERATIONS

9.13.1 PREVENTION DURING DRILLING

• At the phase of well planning a casing seat should be set as close to

the horizontal section as possible. This will allow adequate mud
weight to be used to prevent underbalance without risking the
integrity of the formation at the shoe.

• After the horizontal formation has been penetrated the well should
be checked to ensure a sufficient hydrostatic head is available prior
to drilling further.

• When making a connection, maintain ECD, and minimize the time

that the pipe is stationary to avoid differential sticking.

• An action plan must be ready for potential losses while drilling the
horizontal section.

• Minimize the formation of cuttings beds that can increase the risk of
swabbing - optimise hole cleaning.

• Trapped gas pockets on the high side of the horizontal section may
require more than one circulation to clean out.

9.13.2 PREVENTION DURING TRIPPING

• Use the trip sheet and trip tank to monitor the down hole condition

• The string should be pumped out of the horizontal hole section up to

a pre-determined depth pipe rotation helps during this operation.

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• When running into hole consideration should be given to circulating

through the horizontal section. Care must be taken in case the string
displaces an influx.

• Bottom up circulation may be required before continuing tripping to

bottom.

• Trip speed must be minimized to prevent surge pressure

• Minimize the number of round trips by optimising the drill string and
bit design.

9.14 KICK DETECTION IN HORIZONTAL WELLS

Flowshow Indicators

These are installed in the flow line leading from the bell nipple. This records
the return mud rate and any changes of flow within its range of detectability
will be shown. Flowshow indicators require careful maintenance. It is
1
important to ensure their proper performance before making the 8 /2” hole
section, since the previous drilling of large hole involves higher circulation
rates and large volume of cuttings which may influence the flow pattern in
the ditch/bell nipple.

Hole Volume

Theoretically any inflow volume should be detectable given the ability to

determine changes in volume of the circulating system. In practice the
detection of small inflow volumes is difficult, particularly on floating rigs.
Therefore it is important to ensure that all relevant equipment is designed
and maintained for best performance.

PVT Measurement

Sophisticated pit volume totaliser equipment is found on most rigs now in

operation. This will maintain a record of all volume changes in the surface
mud system.

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Kick Detection

A Kick can only be detected in horizontal well bores by pit gain or well flow
since there is no pressure developed when the well is shut in.

Volumetric Discipline

This means a systematic arrangement of recordings of all events relating to

the volume of mud in the system. Without close attention to detail it is
impossible to place any reliance on PVT records to indicate small inflow
when drilling.

Two rules are involved. The first rule is to conduct planned changes to mud
volume in accordance with a prearranged schedule. The second rule is to
avoid accidental changes to the surface mud system.

Flow checks using the trip tank provide a more accurate means of
measuring changes in hole volume since other surface tankage and their
inbuilt risks of error are by-passed. Every effort must be made to improve
the sensitivity of the rig crews to pit gain since small kicks may be missed.

Differential Measurement

Recent developments in instrumentation include a means of continuously

comparing the amount of mud returning from the well, to the amount of
mud pumped in. This differential flow indicator has proved successful in
revealing relatively small inflows during drilling. On floating rigs, a
computer correction can be applied to compensate for the rig heave.
Differential flow measurements are not affected by the changes of mud
volume in the surface system which complicate the interpretation of PVT
records.

Volumetric Factors Controllable By Rig Crew

These include:

• Flowback on pump shut down;

• Mud weight changes;
• Mud treatment including degasser and solids control;
• Mud transfer.

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Flowback is a constant factor, but since the amount on some rigs may be
over 60 bbls there is room for crew intervention to ensure it is reduced as far
as possible. Careful comparison with previous flow back profile will help to
identify inflow from the formation during drilling shut downs to add pipe.

The factors associated with mud are either quantifiable by careful

supervision or can be scheduled so that variations when drilling are
avoided. This of course means unproductive use of rig time and must be
balanced against the alternative risks to rig safety by confusing kick
interpretation.

It is common situation to find that mud weight is being adjusted because of

indication of over pressure at the same time as drilling is progressing. In this
situation particular attention should be paid to the volume changes
attributable to weighting up.

Rig management should be sensitive to the risk in drilling ahead with the
amount of rig time needed for mud conditioning. It may be prudent to
delay making hole until a uniform mud system at the new weight has been
established.

Random Volume Changes

These include temporary loss of circulation, surface leaks for instance from
the slip joint or from spillage.

When slow losses occur in the well due to formation breakdown it is very
difficult to make any positive kick interpretation of small inflow volumes.
This situation gets progressively worse as mud weights increase towards
the leak off mud weight equivalent.

Other random changes such as leaks and spillage are usually avoidable
given good supervision and dedication on the part of the crew members
concerned. However sometimes water from wash down operations may
enter the mud system and be confused with bottom hole entry of salt water.
Regular checks of water percentage in the active mud tank are required to
eliminate this error.

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9.15 KICK SHEETS FOR DEVIATED / HORIZONTAL WELLS

A well profile with deviated and horizontal bore hole components has a
major effect on the kill sheet graph which is the start point in any well
control exercise involving a change of mud weight.

Since most horizontal well kicks will be swab kicks a change of mud weight
is not likely to be needed but it is important to understand the procedure if
a mud weight change is required either before setting the primary casing
string or later if a fault penetration kick is involved.

A kick sheet is prepared to guide the well control process as kill weight mud
is pumped into the drill pipe. Swab kicks are controlled with the drill
weight mud but a kick sheet is a useful guide to the progress of the kill cycle
even when there is no change in mud weight.

The simplified well geometry outlined in section 9.3 can be used as a basis
for the construction of the kick sheet.

A conventional format for a deviated / horizontal well kick is shown in

Figure 9.23.

The well bore is broken down into sections each with its specific drill string
/ casing specification and with its deviation angle.

Most wells can be divided into three sections : Vertical to Kick Off Point
(K.O.P.), K.O.P. to End of Build (E.O.B.) and Horizontal. Subdivision of each
section is required to accommodate changes in drill string dimensions (Drill
Collars etc).

The TVD of each section multiplied by the incremental mud weight

gradient gives the pressure reduction required as the new mud weight
traverses the section.

The MD of each section is used to calculate the number of strokes required

to displace the corresponding length of drill string. See typical kick sheet
graph for horizontal well.

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The kick sheet can be used to record the strokes required to displace the
annulus sections. This is a guide to the casing pressure changes which occur
as the kick traverses each section and provides the necessary guidance for
the movement of the kick up the hole.

1600
A = CIRC.
1570 PRESS. @
KOP

1500

1420
DRILL PIPE PRESSURE

1400

= 103 CO
psi NV
EN
TI B = CIRC.
ON
AL PRESS. @
1317 KI EOB
1300 LL
GR
M AP
OD
IF H
IE
D
DE
V.
1200 KIL C = CIRC.
L PRESS. @
GR 1168 FCP
AP
H

= 125
1100 psi

1043 1036
1000
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

STROKES
436 1163 1542
KOP EOB FCP

Fig. 9.22

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Fig. 9.23

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2 of 4
CAPACITIES AND VOLUMES Rev.2 Jan.98

DRILL STRING DATA Length X Capacity = Volume ÷ Pump Output = Total

(M.D.) bbl/ft bbls bbls/stk Strokes

DRILL PIPE - Surface to K.O.P.

DRILL PIPE - K.O.P. to E.O.B.

Strokes
DRILL PIPE - E.O.B. to B.H.A.

H.W.D.P.

DRILL COLLARS/ BHA

TOTAL - Surface to Bit N/A N/A

} E.O.B. to Bit

= Surface toBit
Strokes

ANNULUS DATA Length XCapacity = Volume ÷ Pump Output = Total

(M.D.) bbl/ft bbls bbls/stk Strokes

CHOKE LINE CONTENTS.

DRILL PIPE IN CASING 1

DRILL PIPE IN CASING 2

Bit to Shoe
DP/HWDP IN OPEN HOLE

DC'S/ BHA IN OPEN HOLE } Strokes

= Bit to Surface
TOTAL - Bit to Surface N/A N/A
Strokes
Note : Total Length may not equal Measured Depth if choke line is longer than Riser

Length X Capacity = Volume -:- bbls/stk = Strokes

DP/ RISER DATA = BOP to
Surface

OPEN HOLE DATA

Slow Circulating
Bit to Shoe Strokes Rate (spm) Bit to Shoe Time

÷ = min

ANNULUS DATA

Slow Circulating
Bit to Surface Strokes Rate (spm) Bit to Surface Time

÷ = min

TOTAL VOLUMES
(Excluding Surface Total Drillstring Total Annulus
Line Volumes) (Surface to Bit) (Bit to Surface) Total System Volume

+ =

COMPLETE
CIRCULATION Surface to Bit Bit to Surface Total
Strokes Strokes Strokes to Kill Well

+ =

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3 of 4
DEVIATED WELL CONTROL KICK SHEET ( Subsea BOP Stack ) Rev.2 Jan.98

PRESSURE STEP DOWN

I.C.P. FC.P.
Initial Circulating Drilling Final Circulating
P. SCR SIDPP Pressure P. SCR Kill Mud Mud Wt. Pressure

+ = x[ ÷ ]=
psi psi psi psi ppg ppg psi
CIRCULATING PRESSURE AT K.O.P. ( K.O.P. CP)
FCP P. SCR K.O.P. MD Bit MD ICP

[ - x ÷ ] + > >>
SIDPP K.O.P. TVD Bit TVD K.O.P. CP

= - [ x ÷ ]=
CIRCULATING PRESSURE AT E.O.B. ( E.O.B. CP)
FCP P. SCR E.O.B. MD Bit MD ICP

[ - x ÷ ] + > >>
SIDPP E.O.B. TVD Bit TVD E.O.B. CP

= - [ x ÷ ]=
PRESSURE STEPDOWN SURFACE TO K.O.P.
ICP K.O.P. CP Strokes to K.O.P. Pressure Stepdown psi/100 Strokes

- ÷ = x 100 =
PRESSURE STEPDOWN K.O.P. to E.O.B.
Strokes
K.O.P. CP E.O.B. CP K.O.P. to E.O.B. Pressure Stepdown psi/100 Strokes

- ÷ = x 100 =
PRESSURE INCREASE E.O.B. TO BIT
Strokes
F.C.P. E.O.B. CP E.O.B. to BIT Pressure Increase psi/100 Strokes

- ÷ = x 100 =
ADJUSTED CHOKE LINE FRICTION- KILL MUD @ SURFACE
CLFL -psi Kill Mud ppg Original Mud ppg
x ÷ =
From Surface From K.O.P. From E.O.B. SURFACE
to K.O.P. to E.O.B. to Bit
Strokes Press. Strokes Press. Strokes Press.
▲
▲

K.O.P. (KICK OFF POINT)

E.O.B. (END OF BUILD)

BIT

T.V.D. = True Vertical Depth M.D. = Measured Depth

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9.16 EXAMPLES OF CASING PRESSURE PROFILES

9.16.1 SWAB KICKS

Fig 9.24 shows the casing pressure profile for 20 bbl swab kicks. The full line
refers to a gas kick. Note that the gas is expanding as soon as it start
displacing into that part of the well bore with a component of TVD but
distinct steps in casing pressure also occur as the kick enters sections of the
well bore with different deviations. In an actual well the radius of curvature
between the deviated sections would smooth out the casing pressure profile.

No casing pressure develops as long as the kick remains horizontal.

SWAB 20 bbl KICK IN

8.5" HOLE
1000

OIL GOR 252 cft/bbl

800

GAS
CASING PRESSURE (psi)

600

VERTICAL

400

30°

200

60°

HORIZONTAL

0
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
STROKES

Fig. 9.24 Casing Pressure Profile

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The dotted line shows the corresponding behaviour for an undersaturated

crude oil kick with a bubble point pressure of 1500 psi.

In this case no expansion occurs until the kick is high up in the vertical part
of the well bore but casing pressure increases in steps (without pit gain) as
the kick traverses the angled sections.

9.16.2 EFFECT OF WELL PROFILE ON CASING PRESSURES AND PIT GAIN

Introduction

The shape of a deviated / horizontal well profile influencing both the casing
pressure trend and the pit gain during the circulation of a kick.

Wells having different TVD may have the same MD and therefore the same
total number of strokes to circulate a kick. Wells of the same TVD may have
different deviation angles and hence different MD. Each will have a unique
influence on the behaviour of a kick during circulation.

Methodology

To illustrate this point theoretical casing pressure trends and pit gain have
been calculated for each of these wells A, B and C shown in Fig. 9.25.

An induced kick is assumed to have occurred detected by an initial pit gain

of 50 bbls. Pipe has been returned to bottom an the kick circulated out
through the choke.

Calculations have been made firstly assuming a gas kick and secondly for a
low GOR crude oil influx. A calculated gas density as shown in Fig. 9.25
formed the basis for expanding the gas kick. The crude oil kick profiles were
proposed using the formation volume factors appropriate to the borehole
pressure above the assumed bubble point depth of 3000 ft TVD.

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80

60
CASING PRESSURE BBL

40

C B
A

20

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

STROKES WELL A :
WELL B :
WELL C :

Fig. 9.25

0.12

0.10

0.08
PSI PER FOOT

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

BOREHOLE PRESSURE PSI 9.6 PPG MUD

Fig. 9.26
Gas Gradients Used For Calculation Of Casing Profiles

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Pressure Profiles For Gas Kicks

The casing pressure profile for the three wells are shown in Fig .9.27 based
on an assumption of 50 bbls of gas influx.

The curves on the left of the figure are the casing pressure profiles for three
wells of equivalent TVD.

Note that the final pressure as the kick reaches surface reflect the increase of
reservoir pressure appropriate to the increasing well depths.

The corresponding profiles for the deviated / horizontal wells appear to the
right of the graph reflecting the increase pumping time required at the
longer drilled depths (MD).

The final pressure for well A is lower than that of the corresponding vertical
well because some of the kick reaches the choke. The final pressure for wells
B and C are the same as for the corresponding vertical wells because all of
the kick is vertical when the kick reaches the choke. Note that relative to
each other the final pressure still reflect the initial reservoir pressure.

1400

VERTICAL WELLS
SAME TVD
1200

1000
CASING PRESSURE PSI

800

600

400

200 DEVIATED / HORIZONTAL

WELLS
SAME MD

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

STROKES WELL A :
WELL B :
WELL C :

Fig. 9.27
Comparison Of Casing Pressure Profiles 50 Bbl Swab Kick Gas

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Gas Kicks / Pit Gain

Pit gain in excess of the initial 50 bbl influx is shown in Fig. 9.28. As in the
pressure figure the left hand side of the figure shows the equivalent vertical
wells.

As is to be expected the pit gain trench for the deviated / horizontal well
appears on the right hand side reflecting the increased number of strokes
dictated by the MD. Pit gain does not occur until the TVD starts to influence
the kick hydrostatic pressure as the main vertical part of the borehole
became involved.

This factor is more clearly seen by reference to Fig. 9.29 which shows the
respective pit gain for well B vertical and deviated / horizontal equivalent.
In this graph the pit gain is shown in terms of the percentage of the total
strokes need to circulate the kick out of the hole.

80

VERTICAL WELLS

60
PIT GAIN ON 50 BBL KICK

40

20

DEVIATED / HORIZONTAL
WELLS

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

STROKES WELL A :
WELL B :
WELL C :

Fig. 9.28
Comparison Of Pit Gain

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80

VERTICAL

60
PIT GAIN ON 50 BBL KICK

40

DEVIATED

20

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

STROKES

Fig. 9.29

Crude Oil Kicks / Casing Pressure Profiles

Expansion of a crude oil kick can only occur when the kick is moved above
the bubble point depth into lower pressures where the gas starts to come out
of solution.

The lower graph of Fig. 9.30 shows the casing profiles for the deviated /
horizontal wells A, B and C. At depths below the bubble point the casing
pressures are only influenced by the deviation angle. The deeper the KOP of
the well the greater the vertical section of the well and the quicker the casing
pressure increases.

The well A having the shallowest KOP reflects the lowest casing pressures
in the earliest part of the circulation. The well also shows the lowest final
casing pressure because the bubble point is in the deviated part of the well.
Well B and C have identical casing pressure profiles above the bubble point
because only the vertical part of the well is involved.

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700

600

500
CASING PRESSURE PSI

400

300

200

100

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

STROKES WELL A :
WELL B :
WELL C :

Fig. 9.30
Comparison Of Casing Pressure And Pit Gain Profiles

Crude Oil Kicks Pit Gain

This is illustrated in the upper graph of Figure 9.30. Pit gain in excess of the
initial 50 bbl influx does no occur until the kick rises above the bubble point
in this case at 1500 psi or 3000 for TVD.

Pit gain for well A begins at a lower stroke count because the bubble point
is encountered in the deviated hole. The pit gain profiles for wells B and C
are identical because in each well the kick encounters the bubble point
pressure in the vertical section
of the well.

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700

600

500
CASING PRESSURE PSI

400

300

200

100

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

STROKES

Fig. 9.31 Well A

700

600

500
CASING PRESSURE PSI

400

300

200

100

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

STROKES

Fig. 9.32 Well B

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9.17 THE EFFECT OF ANGLE ON KICK HYDROSTATIC

Kick hydrostatic is a function of TVD therefore as the angle of deviation

increases the kick hydrostatic decreases because the component of TVD
reduces.

When the well bore is horizontal there is no kick hydrostatic because the
component of TVD is zero. With no kick hydrostatic the initial SIDPP and
SICP are the same for all sizes of kick.

Movement of a kick up the hole with no expansion will still increase the
casing pressure because the kick hydrostatic progressively increases as the
angle reduces requiring a compensating increase in casing pressure to offset
the effect of the change.

Consider the effect of moving a 1000 ft kick progressively from horizontal to

vertical if the kick is a crude oil kick of 0.35 psi/ft

Component of Angle, Cosine, T.V.D., Kick Hydrostatic

Angle Horiz. Sec. Cosine Vertical Depth Pressure

90 1000 – – –
85 1000 0.0872 87 ft 30 psi
60 1000 0.500 500 ft 175 psi
30 1000 0.866 866 ft 303 psi
0 1000 1.000 1000 ft 350 psi

The casing pressure will rise without pit gain. If the choke operator
interprets the increase as an indication that the kick is expanding and alters
the choke setting he will induce a secondary kick.
CASING PRESSURE
INCREASE PIT GAIN

GAS
EXPANSION YES YES

SECONDARY
KICK YES YES
HORIZONTAL
KICK MOVED
TO VERTICAL
WELL BORE
YES NO

Fig. 9.33 Comparison Of Influxes

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VERTICAL

350 psi

CRUDE OIL SLICK 0.35 psi/ft

1,000ft LONG

303 psi
30°

175 psi

60° 30 psi
0 psi

85°
HORIZONTAL

Fig. 9.34 Effect Of Angle On Kick Hydrostatic

9.18 SPECIAL PROCEDURES

9.18.1 BULLHEADING

Bullhead procedures in horizontal wells are only effective in displacing mud

to the beginning of the horizontal section. Displacement past this point will
not change the surface pressures and may not move kick fluid if the
bullheaded fluid enters the formation near the beginning of the section.

Despite this drawback bullheading may be needed because there is no pipe

in the hole or the bit is at shallow depth. If bullheading is attempted it
should be done as soon as possible to avoid by-passing of the kill mud past
the bore hole contents in the deviated part of the well.

In most instances the casing shoe will be set in or close to the beginning of
the horizontal section therefore there is no risk of shoe breakdown due to
high bullhead pumping pressures. If in doubt on this point start the
operation slowly to get the mud column moving then increase rate for the
displacement to continue.

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9.18.2 STRIPPING

If a kick is swabbed in while tripping it is necessary to get the bit back to

bottom, that is to the end of the hole, in order to clean up any kick fluid left
in the well.

In conventional vertical well drilling there is usually sufficient drill pipe

weight available to overcome both upward pressure across the annular
(BOP) and friction through the BOP element.

In horizontal drilling nearly all the available weight is used to overcome

well bore friction leaving little margin for stripping through a BOP.

Getting pipe back to bottom in these circumstances may only be possible by

first bullheading the well to remove casing pressure. If the well is dead the
pipe can then be run back in the hole with the BOP open.

If a long section of horizontal hole is involved it will be preferable to

circulate the well in stages from an intermediate point or points before the
bit is finally repositioned on bottom.

Kick fluid displaced out of the horizontal section after bullheading and with
pipe run back will develop casing pressure due to the upending of the kick
as well as from expansion near surface. It will be necessary to close the BOP
and complete the circulation through the choke.

9.18.3 TOP KILL

This procedure may be effective in removing kick fluids from the upper part
of a well bore if circulation is not possible or there is no pipe in the hole.

The well is alternately pumped up with kill mud then rested to allow
migration to bring gas and / or oil to surface where it can be bled off.

Remember that kick fluid may still be trapped in the horizontal section. Pipe
must be run back to finally clean up the well.

In most cases bullheading will be preferable to top kill.

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Typical Bottomhole Assemblies

INCLINOMETER AZIMUTHAL UPPER

LOWER TRANSMITTER (12.7') (3.9m) GAMMA (13.8') (4.2m) TRANSMITTER

ADJUSTABLE POSITIVE
BEARING ASSEMBLY KICK OFF SUB RECIEVER SLEEVE DISPLACEMENT
BIT WITH STABILIZER (CAN ADJUST TO 9°/100') ANTENNAS (15') (4bm) STABILIZER MOTOR

Fig. 9.35

NOTE

With this system the wellpath is adjusted Hydraulically by Powered Expandible

Ribs, that generate a radial steering contact force from the borehole wall. The
steering direction is defined by the amount of pressure distributed selectively to
every stabilizer pad. Thus forming a resultant force vector. The wellpath is defined
by the three contact points, i.e. drill bit, N bit stab and top stab

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DIRECTIONAL
MWD WITH
ADDITIONAL
STEERING
POSITIVE
FUNCTIONS
DISPLACEMENT
MOTOR

SLEEVE
STABILIZER

UPPER
TRANSMITTER
ACTUATING
RECEIVER
ANTENNAS

AZIMUTHAL
GAMMA

INCLIOMETER
DATA
TRANSMISSION LOWER
TRANSMITTER

ADJUSTABLE
KICK OFF SUB

BEARING
ASSEMBLY ACTIVE
ACTIVE WITH STABILIZER STABILIZER PADS
STABILIZER PADS

BIT

Fig. 9.36 Fig. 9.37

Basic Steering Concept For Automated Drilling Systems
Automated Drilling Systems

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