Drilling problems

Dr. Ali Farag

Geoscientist
Dr. Ali Farag
 Lost Circulation General

• To categorize the loss zone type is vital

• Related causes
• Coarse sand and gravel beds with extreme permeability
• Natural fracture zones
• Cavernous formations in limestone and dolomite areas
• Excessive overbalance

Presentation Title
 Conditions that can result in lost circulation

• Low fracture gradient

• Unconsolidate formation
• Fractured formations
• Cavernous formations

Lost circulation is an undesirable event for the following reasons:

• Loss of hydrostatic head may lead to the well kicking

• The cost of replacement mud may be quit considerable
• Problems trying to accurately monitor the hole

Presentation Title
 Causes of lost circulation

• Drilling too fast

• Drilling with high overbalances
• Setting intermediate casing too high
• Surge pressure when running pipe
• Mud cake build up

Presentation Title
 Lost circulation classification

A GENERAL GUIDE TO LOSS SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION IS AS FOLLOWS

• Seepage losses (Normally up to 20 bbls/hr)

• Partial losses (20 to 50 bbls/hr)
• Sever (50 to 500 bbls/hr)
• Complete losses (500 + bbls/hr)

Presentation Title
 Preventive measures in combating lost circulation

Two of the most common avoidable causes of lost circulation are :

• EXCESSIVE DOWN HOLE PRESSURE.

1. EXCESSIVE HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE.

2. EXCESSIVE CIRCULATION RATE.

3. INEFFICIENT HOLE CLEANING.

4. PUMP SURGING.

5. FILTER CAKE BUILD-UP.

6. RUNNING IN HOLE TOO FAST (SURGING).

7. EXCESSIVE VISCOSITY.

8. PULLING PIPE TOO FAST (SWABBING).

9. SWELLING OF CASING PROTECTORS.

• SETTING INTERMEDIATE CASING TOO HIGH.

Presentation Title
 Classification of lost circulation material

FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLASSIFICATIONS, LOST CIRCULATION MATERIALS (LCM) CAN BE

CATEGORISED AS FOLLOWS.

• Fibrous materials
• Animal hair
• Wood hair
• Wood fibre
• Mineral wool
• Glass fibre
• Straw
.

Presentation Title
Classification of lost circulation material

LAMINAR OR FLAKE MATERIALS GRANULAR MATERIALS

MICA. GROUND NUTSHELLS.

CELLOPHANE. GROUND PLASTICS.

VARIOUS PROCESSED PLASTICS.
SEED GRAINS.

COARSELY GROUND BENTONITE.

ASPHALT.

LIMESTONE.

VARIOUS BLENDS AND MIXTURES OF THE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE

UNDER DIFFERENT TRADE NAMES.

Presentation Title
Classification of lost circulation material

Plugs

• Reinforcing or soft plugs

• Cement plugs

Presentation Title
Lost circulation during well control

WELL CONTROL TECHNIQUES

1. DO NOT PULL BACK TO THE PREVIOUS CASING SHOE SINCE ALL REMEDIAL
METHODS WILL REQUIRE THE BIT ON BOTTOM.

2. TRY AND ENSURE THE DRILLSTRING DOES NOT BECOME PLUGGED.

3. ORDER SUPPLIES OF LCM, HAEMATITE ETC. IMMEDIATELY IF THERE IS A

POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MAY BE REQUIRED.

Presentation Title
 Cure Losses

• Hole will be filled with water or base oil until a fluid column is
returned to surface

• Recorded volume and density of the fill up fluid

• Estimated depth of the loss zone can calculate the maximum

allowable mud weight

Presentation Title
 LCM Pills : Solid and Soluble

• Loss zone to be treated is not of the cavernous or large

fracture zone types

• Solids

Presentation Title
 LCM Pills - Non-Reservoir
• Seepage losses 10 bbl/hr (1.6 m3/hr)
• Add fine mica 220 lb/hr (100 kg/hr)

• Losses 10-20 bbl/hr (1.6-3.2 m3/hr)

• Pill 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) fine mica
• 15ppb (43 kg/m3) medium mica

• Losses in excess of 20 bbl/hr (3.2 m3/hr)

• Pill 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) fine mica
• 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) medium mica
• 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) pre-blended fibrous and granular

Presentation Title
 LCM Pills - Non-Reservoir

If this is unsuccessful
• 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) fine/medium mica
• 25 ppb (71 kg/m3) blended medium and coarse granular
LCM

Presentation Title
 LCM Pills - Reservoir
Option
– Seepage Loss < 10 bbl/hr (1.6 m3/hr)
• 50 micron CaCO3 at 250 lbs/hr (113 kg/hr)

– Loss rate 10-20 bbl/hr (1.6-3.2 m3/hr)

• Pump a pill with 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) 50 micron CaCO3

– Loss rate 20-40 bbl/hr (3.2-6.36 m3/hr)

• Pump a pill with
• 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) 50 micron CaCO3
• 15 ppb (43 kg/m3) 150 micron CaCo3
• 15ppb (43 kg/m3) 600 micron CaCO3

Presentation Title
Calcium carbonate LCM is acid soluble
 LCM Pills Soft (Gunk, Gunk-Cement, etc.)

• Serious or moderately serious lost circulation, cavernous

fractured zones

• Cement plug may be placed after a gunk plug

Presentation Title
 High Fluid Loss Slurry Placement Method

–To inject the slurry into the “fracture”

• 50-100 bbl (7950 – 15,900 liters) of slurry
• locate bit at top of loss zone
• circulate and perform injectivity

–Displace slurry with mud

• If returns, squeeze/hesitation squeeze, once all the slurry is in place
hold pressure for at least 30 minutes
• If no returns, a second slurry should be placed

Presentation Title
 Kick Control Barite Plug

• Where a high pressure kick zone exists below a weak zone

• Kill the lower zone

• treat the loss zone above
• Spot a Barite plug in the lower section
• Hydrostatically kill the lower zone

Presentation Title
 Lost circulation during well control

Slight losses
Symptoms: 2
1 0 1
2
3 LOSS 3

Pit levels fall below the expected trend.

GAIN
4 4
5 5

Drillpipe and casing pressure fall during circulation and

do not respond to choke operations.
5 5
4 6 4 6

3 DRILLPIPE  GAUGE 7 3 CASING  GAUGE 7

PSI X 1000 PSI X 1000
2 8 2 8

1 9 1 9
0 0

Presentation Title
Lost circulation during well control

SEVERE TO TOTAL LOSSES OR AN UNDERGROUND BLOW-OUT.

SYMPTOMS OF AN UNDERGROUND BLOW-OUT WHEN THE WELL IS SHUT IN

1. DRILLPIPE PRESSURE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN CASING PRESSURE.

2. DRILLPIPE OR CASING ON VACUUM.

3. PRESSURE BUILD UP FOLLOWED BY REDUCTION CLEARLY INDICATES FORMATION FRACTURE.

4. ANNULUS PRESSURE FLUCTUATING.

Presentation Title
Lost circulation during well control

SYMPTOMS OF AN UNDERGROUND BLOW-OUT DURING THE KILL OPERATION.

1. PIT LEVELS FALL BELOW EXPECTED TREND.

2. FLUCTUATING DRILLPIPE PRESSURE THAT DOES NOT REACT AS

EXPECTED TO CHOKE ADJUSTMENTS.

3. ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS MENTIONED WITH THE WELL SHUT IN.

PROCEDURES

• PUMP LCM

• HYDROSTATICALLY KILL THE WELL THEN CURE THE LOSS ZONE

• BARYTE PLUG

• CEMENT PLUG
Presentation Title
Decision analysis for flow to a surface or loss zone above
high pressure zone

IMPLEMENT STANDARD
NO EVIDENCE OF
TECHNIQUES TO KILL
SHUT IN THE WELL MONITOR SURFACE PRESSURES UNDERGROUND
THE WELL
BLOW-OUT

AN UNDERGROUND
RE-ASSESS THE SITUATION BLOW-OUT IS SUSPECTED BECAUSE
1. DRILLPIPE ON VACUUM
2. PRESSURE BUILD UP CLEARLY RUN POSITIVE TEST
INDICATES FORMATION HAS FRACTURED
3. ANNULUS PRESSURE FLUCTUATING

UNDERGROUND RUN TEMPERATURE AND/OR NOISE

N BLOW-OUT LOG TO IDENTIFY FLOW IF REQUIRED
CONFIRMED

Presentation Title
Decision analysis for flow to a surface or loss zone above
high pressure zone

1. DO NOT BLEED FLUID FROM THE ANNULUS

2. LINE UP ONE PUMP TO THE ANNULUS , LINE UP
MUD AND IF NECESSARY WATER TO THE SUCTION

MONITOR ANNULAR
PRESSURES

IF ANNULUS PRESSURE IS BUILDING

IF NOT EXCESSIVE THEN
PUMP MUD AT A SLOW RATE DOWN
LEAVE ANNULUS SHUT IN
THE ANNULUS. IF ANNULUS CANNOT
SUPPORT MUD THEN PUMP WATER

CONTINUALLY
MONITOR ANNULAR
PRESSURES

Presentation Title
Decision analysis for flow to a surface or loss zone above
high pressure zone

PREPARE 2 X THE ANNULUS VOLUME OF KILL WEIGHT MUD

(AT MINIMUM PV AND YP - USE FRICTION REDUCER IF AVAILABLE).
REMOVE KELLY/TOP DRIVE AND INSTALL HIGH PRESSURE CIRCULATING LINE

IMPLEMENT DYNAMIC KILL USING BARYTE PLUG.

 PUMP KILL MUD AT MAXIMUM RATE
 KEEP PUMPING UNTIL ALL MUD IS USED
 STOP ONLY IF SURFACE PRESSURES BECOME EXCESSIVE

1. CHECK MUD IS AT KILL DRILLPIPE TAKE STEPS TO SECURE WELL

WEIGHT
2. REDUCE MUD VISCOSITY
3. REDUCE DRILLSTRING
INTERNAL FRICTION
4. PUMP LARGER PLUG
TRY AND ANNULUS PRESSURES OPTIONS.
INDICATE THAT THE UNDERGROUND Y 1. CEMENT BHA IN PLACE
AGAIN FLOW HAS CEASED 2. POOH TO PLUG FRACTURE
3. POOH TO RUN CASING

N
Presentation Title
Decision analysis for flow to a surface or loss zone above
high pressure zone

1. MIX LCM PILL (100bbls min) FOR A LARGE ANNULUS

2. MIX 2 X ANNULUS VOLUME OF KILL WEIGHT MUD
3. PUMP LCM PILL DOWN ANNULUS UNTIL JUST ABOVE FRACTURED ZONE

IMPLEMENT DYNAMIC KILL

 PUMP KILL MUD AT MAXIMUM RATE DOWN DRILLPIPE
 PUMP LCM PILL DOWN ANNULUS INTO FRACTURE ZONE
 KEEP PUMPING UNLESS SURFACE PRESSURE LIMITS ARE REACHED

DRILLPIPE TAKE STEPS TO SECURE WELL

1. CHECK MUD IS AT KILL TRY AND ANNULUS PRESSURES OPTIONS.
1. CEMENT BHA IN PLACE
WEIGHT INDICATE THAT THE UNDERGROUND Y
2. REDUCE MUD VISCOSITY AGAIN FLOW HAS CEASED 2. POOH TO PLUG FRACTURE
3. REDUCE DRILLSTRING 3. POOH TO RUN CASING
INTERNAL FRICTION
4. PUMP LARGER PLUG

Presentation Title
Decision analysis for flow to a surface or loss zone above
high pressure zone

IS THE PIPE STUCK

Y N

OPTIONS OPTIONS
1. BACK OFF, STRIP UP INTO CASING, 1.STRIP UP INTO CASING, HAVING INSTALLED
SQUEEZE HIGH FILTER LOSS CEMENT DART SQUEEZE HIGH FILTER LOSS CEMENT
SLURRY TO PLUG THE WELL. SLURRY TO PLUG THE WELL.
2. IF CIRCULATION IS POSSIBLE ON 2. PUMP FRESHWATER AT MAXIMUM RATE
BOTTOM. PUMP FRESHWATER AT TO SLOUGH HOLE.
MAXIMUM RATE TO SLOUGH HOLE.

Presentation Title
Decision analysis for flow to a surface or loss zone above
high pressure zone

 DRILLING AHEAD SHUT DOWN ROTARY

 LOSSES EXPERIENCED CURE LOSSES AND DRILL AHEAD
OR TOP DRIVE

 CANNOT CONTROL LOSSES

 WELL STARTS TO FLOW
 SHUT THE WELL IN

POSSIBLE UNDERGROUND BLOW-OUT INDICATORS

 NO SURFACE PRESSURE
RUN POSITIVE TEST
 ANNULUS AND DRILLPIPE ON VACUUM
(ANNULUS
PRESSURE MAY BUILD UP)

RUN TEMPERATURE AND/OR NOISE

LOG TO IDENTIFY FLOW IF REQUIRED

UNDERGROUND
Y BLOW-OUT N RE-ASSESS THE SITUATION
CONFIRMED

Presentation Title
Decision analysis for flow to a surface or loss zone above
high pressure zone

 DO NOT BLEED FLUID FROM THE

ANNULUS
 LINE UP ONE PUMP TO THE ANNULUS.
 SUPPLY MUD AND IF REQUIRED WATER .

CONTINUALLY
MONITOR ANNULAR
PRESSURES

OPTIONS TO CONTROL THE FLOW

 PUMP LCM PILL
 SET CEMENT PLUG ON BOTTOM
 CIRCULATE THE HOLE TO LIGHT MUD,
 DRILL UNDER PRESSURE WITH A
 ROTATING HEAD

SURFACE
PRESSURES/LOGS
N INDICATE THAT THE UNDERGROUND Y TAKE STEPS TO SECURE THE WELL
FLOW HAS CEASED

Presentation Title
 Reasons why failure to cure lost zone occurs

• Unable to identify the depth of the loss zone

• Type and concentration of LCM
• Technique not matched to loss zone
• Unbalanced fluid columns in cementing operation
• Insufficient information

Presentation Title
 Drilling blind

Drilling ahead without mud returns is forbidding

unless approved by the operations manager

Presentation Title
Well controls

Presentation Title
 Causes of Kicks

• Failure to keep the hole full

• Swabbing
• Insufficient density of drilling fluid
• Drilling into Abnormal pressure

Presentation Title
Causes of Kicks - Others

• Annular flow after cement job

• Lost control during DST
• Drilling into adjacent wells
• Drilling through (shallow) gas zones at excessive rates

Presentation Title
Kick Warnings - Drilling

• Drilling break
• Increase in flow rate
• Pit gain
• Decrease in circulating pressure
• Increase in pump rate
• Well flows with pumps off

Presentation Title
 Detecting the Kick

Indicators of a Well Kick While Drilling:

• Drilling break
• Flow increase: (Pit volume increase should not be the
primary alarm, flow sensor is a much quicker and more
sensitive tool).
• Pit volume increase: When in doubt, shut off the pump and
see if the well flows.
• Decrease in circulating pressure or increase in pump strokes
• Water or gas cut in the mud.

Presentation Title
 Detecting the Kick

Indicators of a Well Kick While Tripping

Causes:
• Pump turn off reduces BHP.
• Pulling pipe causes more reduction in BHP.
• Hole must be kept full of mud.
1- Hole stays full.
2- Hole does not take the proper amount of mud
3- Hole flows. Danger! flow sensor and alarm systems are turned off during
a trip.

N.B. Any time the hole does not take the proper amount of mud, the pipe
should be run back to bottom, the kelly put on, and the hole circulated
clear.
4- Pit volume increase. Trip tanks and pump strokes are efficient tools for
measuring hole fill-up
Presentation Title
 Detecting the Kick

Indicators of a Well Kick When Going Back in the Hole:

• Hole does not stop flowing between stands.

• Pit volume increase too much "Use trip tank".

Presentation Title
 Kick as a Result of Loss Circulation

• Surge pressure "pipe speed, bit balled.“

• Flow sensor, pit volume totalizer and trip tanks "or pump
stroke fill" are necessary drilling tools to warn of well kicks

Presentation Title
 Shallow gas

Shallow gas is a potentially dangerous situation as the gas

can travel to surface with little warning.

Blowouts are avoidable with training, firm procedures and

good supervision.

If a kick occurs during a trip, every attempt should be made

to get the drillpipe on bottom.

Presentation Title
Shallow Gas

• Many shallow gas sands are abnormally pressured.

• Total pressure (psi) may be low.
• e.g. FP = 452 psi (8.7 ppg eq.) at 1000’
• Drill with 9.0 ppg mud, 0.3 ppg overbalanced only 16 psi

Presentation Title
Shallow Gas

• If we shut-in on kick
• we lose circulation and
possibly gas reach to surface

Presentation Title
Shallow Gas Kicks

• Pick up Kelly until lower kelly cock clears rotary

• Shut down pumps
• Check for flow
• If flowing, open the down wind diverter valve
• Close annular

Presentation Title
Shallow Gas Kicks

• Start circulating heavy mud with both pumps

• If all heavy mud used up, pump all mud in mud pits
• When this mud is gone, pump sea water
• Continue until well is under control
• may deplete
• or bridge

Presentation Title
 Gas Cutting

Gas cut drilling mud normally does not reduce BHP enough to
cause a well kick because of gas compression.

Mud gradient ( psi / ft )

Change in BHP ( psi ) 
AnnularVol ume (bbl / ft )

Presentation Title
 What Causes Gas-Cut Mud?

gas bearing formation. It has nothing to do with mud weight.

1. If low permeability formation has higher pressure than mud

column. It causes trip gas.

2. If mud pressure and formation pressure are close and pump

is turned off and pipe is pulled.

The best way to measure gas cutting is pit volume increase.

Never increase mud weight just because gas-cut mud.

If in doubt, shut off the pump and see if the well flows.
Presentation Title
 Well Shut-in Regulations

Once a kick has been detected, the well should be shut-in as quickly as
reasonable.

• If there is not enough CSG to control the pressures, closing the well will
cause LOC.

• If there is only conductor, gas or salt water may break out around CSG
and surface. This could cause loss of rig, platform, and loss of lives in
the crew.
If 3000' (900 m) of CSG is set and properly cemented, there is little danger
of LOC.

• If 2000' (600 m) of CSG is set and properly cemented, there should be

little danger in hard rock area, but this is a questionable depth for soft
marine drilling.

• If CSG is set at less than 1000' (300 m) in hard rock, there is a great deal
of question about the limits of closing the well in.
Presentation Title
Well Shut-in Regulations.

• If the well is in soft marine shales or sands, it cannot be

safely shut in and the diverter must be used until heavier
mud can be circulated into the hole.

• The decision not to shut the well is a very serious and

important.

• The potential for crew death, loss of the rig and pollution
must be balanced against the danger of operating the
diverter system and its potential for fire and pollution.

Presentation Title
Shut In Procedures - Drilling
• Soft Shut In
1- Pick up the kelly until
the tool joint clears the
floor.
2 - Shut down the pumps.
3- Check for flow.
4- If flowing, open the
HCR valve.
5- Close BOP.
6- Close choke.
Presentation Title
• Hard Shut In
1 - Pick up the kelly until
the tool joint clears the
floor.
2- Shut down the pumps.
1 - Check for flow.
1 - If flowing, Close BOP.
5- Open HCR valve.
6- Close choke.
Shut In Procedures - Drilling

• Soft Shut In • Hard Shut In

7- Notify supervisors
8- Read & record SIDPP,
SICP, Pit Gain, Time,
Date
9- Prepare to implement
kill.
1 - Notify supervisors
1 - Read & record SIDPP,
SICP, Pit Gain, Time,
Date
1 - Prepare to implement
kill.

Presentation Title
Shut In Procedures - Tripping

1. Set slips below top tool joint.

2. Stab a full opening safety valve and close it.
3. Open the HCR and close the BOP, and choke.
4. Pick up and stab the kelly.
5. Open the safety valve
6. Notify the supervisors.
7. Read and record SIDPP, SICP, Pit gain, TVD of Well, TVD of
bit, time, and date.
8. Prepare to implement kill.

Presentation Title
Shut In Procedures - Diverters

• With diverters in use (prior to setting surface casing)

• DO NOT SHUT IN WELL - DIVERT.

Presentation Title
Shut In Procedures - Casing

1. Lower casing until a swage and valve can be stabbed.

2. Close the casing rams or annular preventer.
3. Stab the swage and valve.
4. Notify supervisor
5. Read and record pressures
6. Prepare to kill well

Presentation Title
Use Diverter When:

Formation at CSG shoe will not stand a reasonable shut-in

pressure.

CSG is set shallow enough that kick will be able to surface

around the rig.
On land rigs if CSG is set deeper than 1000' in hard rock or
2000' in very soft shales, do not use diverters.

In deep water drilling, diverters may be used until CSG is

set at 3000' if water is deeper than 1000'.

Very deep waters may require diverter procedure until 4000'

Presentation Title
 Diverter Procedure:

• Pick up pipe to clear the Kelly sub.

• Shut off pump
• Check to see if the well flows
• Open the diverter line
• Close diverter packer
• Check flowline closed? Diverter packer closed? Diverter
line open down wind?

Presentation Title
 Pumps and The Kill Rate

• Pumps are one of the basic tools in well control.

• During well control operations, pump rate should be kept

constant.
•
• Additional pressures will be encountered and materials will
be added to the mud.

Presentation Title
Why Kill Rate is Less Than Normal Drilling Rate?

• Reduce circulating pressures so SIDPP will be added

without causing excessive pressures.
• Allow smoother barite addition.
• Reduce strain on the pump,
• Allow more time for reading the problem.
• Allow the adjustable chokes to work in the proper orifice
ranges.
• Reduce circulating friction loss in the hole.

• A reduction of one half in the pump rate reduces the

pressure by three-quarters.

P2 = P1 (SPM22 / SPM12)
Presentation Title
 Kill Rate Circulating Pressure

• Reduce pump rate about 1/2 for well killing operations.

• Pump rate must be kept steady.

• A predetermined circulating pressure "kill rate pressure"
should be taken each tour to use in well killing operations

Presentation Title
 Kill Formulae

ICP = K R P + SIDPP

• Time (Surface to bit) = Cdp × L /(Cp× SPM)

• No of STROKES (Surface to bit) = Cdp× L / Cp
• STROKES (bit to surface) = Ca × L / Cp

FCP = KRP × Wt2 / Wt1

Where:
ICP Initial Circulating pressure, psi
Cdp Drillpipe Capacity (bbl/ft),
L Length (ft),
Cp Total Pump Output (bbl/str) = Cp (bbl/str) × SPM
SPM Pump Rate
KRP Presentation
Pressure
Title
needed to circulate the mud in the hole
Pump Output Calculations

• Duplex pump
Output (gals/stroke) = (0.0515 x Stroke Length x ((LinerOD)2 – (RodOD)2/2)))
x 0.2642 x Efficiency
• Triplex pump
Output (bbls/stroke) = (0.000243 x Stroke Length x (LinerOD)2) x Efficiency

Presentation Title
 Why should SIDPP be used to calculate Wt2?

Mud in annulus has cuttings, gas or salt water, difficult to get

an accurate mud weight.

Presentation Title
Indications of possible problem

Presentation Title
Well Kill Methods

• Driller’s method
• Wait & Weight method
• Concurrent method
• Volumetric

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 The Driller’s Method

• Shut the well in.

• Record information. SIDPP SICP

DEPTH MUD WEIGHT PIT VOLUME INCREASE

• Start circulating by holding the CSG pressure constant with

the choke until the pump is up to the kill rate, then the drill-
pipe pressure constant using the choke.

Presentation Title
 The Driller’s Method

Circulate the kick out the well.

Stop, shut in, and mix the new mud weight.

Fill the drill pipe with the new mud by holding the casing
pressure constant at the shut-in value while pumping at a
constant rate.

When the drill pipe is full of the mud, keep the drill pipe pressure
constant by using the choke until the well is dead. Keep pump
strokes constant.

The purpose of "The Driller's Method" of well killing is to avoid

the use of calculation, graphs and written records, and to do
only things that are natural to the driller and drill crew.
Presentation Title
Driller’s Method - Advantages

• Short shut in times

• Easy

Presentation Title
 Wait and Weight Method

•Shut in the well

•Record information
SIDPP SICP
DEPTH MUD WEIGHT PIT GAIN

•Calculate or read from chart

MUD WEIGHT INCREASE, ICP, FCP, SBS

Presentation Title
 Wait and Weight Method

Increase the mud weight in the pits.

Start circulating by holding the casing pressure

Constant until the pump is up to the kill rate.

Then, adjust the drill-pipe pressure to the ICP with the choke
As the drill pipe is displaced, reduce the ICP according to the
graph by opening the choke.

When the drill pipe is displaced with the heavy mud, continue
to hold the FCP on the drill pipe.

Keep the pump at the kill rate until the heavy mud returns to
the surface
Presentation Title
Wait & Weight Method

7000
Presentation Title
Wait & Weight Method

• Check for remaining pressures

• If surface pressures are zero, check for flow by cracking
choke
• If no flow, carefully open BOP’s
• Circulate around again

Presentation Title
Wait & Weight - Advantages

• Kill well in one circulation

• Least amount of maximum casing pressures

Presentation Title
Concurrent method

• Weight up and circulate in increments

• Takes one complete circulation for each increment

Presentation Title
Concurrent Method

• Shut the well in.

• Record information SIDPP SICP DEPTH MUD
WEIGHT PIT VOLUME INCREASE

• Fill out worksheet and make calculations.

• Start circulating by holding casing pressure constant until the

pump is up to the kill rate, and then adjust to the Initial
Circulating Pressure on the drill pipe.

Presentation Title
 Concurrent Method

• Start increasing the mud weight in the pits.

• Adjust the Circulating Pressure to the value on the graph

corresponding to the mud weight going down the drill pipe.
Keep pump rate constant

• Continue until the well is dead

• It requires a little record keeping. It has the disadvantage of

having slightly higher pressures than the wait and weight
method.

Presentation Title
Advantages And Disadvantages

Methods Advantages Disadvantages

Driller's Method 1. Simplest to teach and understand
2. Very few calculations.
3. In case of saltwater the contaminant is
moved out quickly to prevent sand settling
around drilling assembly.
1. Higher casing shoe pressure (gas kick)
2. Higher annular pressure (gas kick)
3. Takes two circulations.

Wait and Weight 1. Lowest casing pressure.
method 2. Lowest casing seat pressure.
3. Less lost circulation (if not over killed).
4. Killed with one circulation if contaminant
doesn't string out in washed out sections of
hole.
1. Requires the longest non-circulating time while
mixing heavy mud.
2. Pipe could stick due to settling of sand, shale,
anhydrite or salt while not circulating.
3. Requires a little more arithmetic.

Concurrent Method 1. Minimum of non-circulating time 1. Arithmetic is a little more complicated.

2. Excellent for large increases in mud 2. Requires more, on choke, circulating time.
weight (under balanced drilling). 3. Higher casing and casing seat pressure than Wait
3. Mud condition (viscosity and gels) can and Weight Method.
be maintained along with mud weight.
4. Killed with one circulation if contaminant
doesn't string out in washed out sections of
hole.
5. Can be easily switched to Wait and
Weight Method

Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Kick Tolerance is a measure of the size of a gas kick that can be

handled.
The following assumptions are made;

1- A Gas kick occurs at the next casing point or at TD.

2- The kicking formation has a pore pressure which is equal
to or greater
. than mud hydrostatic

3- Shut in casing pressure = MAASP when the top of the

.
gas is at the shoe using Drillers Method
.
From the assumptions made, we calculate a volume of gas
kick. This is the maximum size of gas influx. This is what
we call our Kick Tolerance
Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Assumptions
• For an Exploration or Appraisal well, we can assume that
the kicking formation may have a pore pressure gradient of
10% higher than the mud gradient.
• In this case a planned mud gradient of 0.5 psi/ft will
assume a pore pressure gradient at the kick depth of 0.55
psi/ft.
• For a development well in a known area, assume that the
kicking formation may have a pore pressure which is equal
to the mud gradient.
• In this case any kick taken will be a swabbed kick.

Presentation Title
 Kick Tolerance

Example

Given: casing shoe at 5,000' with a fracture gradient of 0.75 psi/ft,

plan to drill to the next casing point at 8,000' with a mud gradient
of 0.6 psi/ft in a vertical exploration well Assume a gas gradient
.of 0.1 psi/ft at the casing shoe. 12¼" hole, 5" drillpipe and 300' of
8" drill collars

Step 1: calculate the MAASP

.
MAASP = 5000 x (0.75 – 0.6) = 750 psi.
.

Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Step 2: Calculate the bottomhole pressure when the well kicks

and the maximum allowable pressure at the shoe.

Pformation = 8,000 x 0.6 x 1.1 = 5,280 psi

Pshoe = 5,000 x 0.75 = 3,750 psi.

Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Example
Step 3: We can now use simultaneous equations to solve for
the height of influx, Hi:

a: Hi + Hm = 3,000'

b: 0.1Hi + 0.6Hm = (5,280 - 3,750) = 1,530

Multiply equation a: by 0.6 to give:

c: 0.6Hi + 0.6Hm = 1,800 psi

Subtract b: from c: to give:

d: 0.5Hi = 270 therefore Hi = 270/0.5 = 540'

Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Step 4: Now, calculate the volume of this height of gas at the

casing shoe and the average pressure.

Annular capacity is 0.1214 bbl/ft therefore Vi =

540 x 0.1214 = 65.6 bbls.

Hydrostatic pressure of the gas = 540 x 0.1 = 54 psi

Hydrostatic pressure of half of the height of gas = 27 psi

Pressure in the centre of the gas bubble is 3,750 + 27 = 3,777 psi .

Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Step 5: calculate the volume of this gas at the bottom of the

hole, using Boyle’s Law

(P1 V1 = P2V2).

Pressure in the centre of the gas on bottom will be 5,280 - 27 = 5,253 psi

Using Boyles law, P1 V1 = P2V2 or rearrange to give V2 = P1 V1 / P2

Therefore V2 = 3,777 x 65.6/5,253 = 47.1 bbls , which is our kick tolerance given
the above assumptions

.
Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

13.375" Shoe
at 5,000' Mud gradient 0.6

Gas gradient 0.1

TD at 8000'
SICP = Formation pressure
716 psi = 5,280 psi

Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Safety Factors inherent in the Assumptions

n Temperature will drop as the gas expands, reducing the pressure peak at the shoe.

n The gas will disperse in the mud, reducing the pressure peak at the shoe.

n If surface to bit volume is less than bit to shoe volume, kill mud may exit the bit
before the gas reaches the shoe, reducing the peak pressure at the shoe.

Presentation Title
Kick Tolerance

Normal Expected Kick Volumes

n 50 bbls in 8 1/2” hole or below.

n 75 bbls in 12 1/4” hole.

n 100 bbls above 12 1/4” hole.

Assuming kicking formation = Pore pressure + 5%

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Question ???

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