Underground blowouts can be difficult to control and require careful diagnosis and planning. Initial steps include securing drill pipe, logging to determine the flow exit point, and injecting down the annulus. A "quick kill" attempt uses light mud injected down drill pipe to try to kill the flow. If it fails, specialists may need to perforate or use reactive plugs like bentonite mixtures to plug the flow path. Monitoring for surface impacts and preventing further losses of well control are also important in responding to underground blowouts.
Knowledge of In-Situ Horizontal Stress Orientation For Suitable Direction of Drilling The Inclined and Horizontal Well For Well Placement and Well Completion
Underground blowouts can be difficult to control and require careful diagnosis and planning. Initial steps include securing drill pipe, logging to determine the flow exit point, and injecting down the annulus. A "quick kill" attempt uses light mud injected down drill pipe to try to kill the flow. If it fails, specialists may need to perforate or use reactive plugs like bentonite mixtures to plug the flow path. Monitoring for surface impacts and preventing further losses of well control are also important in responding to underground blowouts.
Underground blowouts can be difficult to control and require careful diagnosis and planning. Initial steps include securing drill pipe, logging to determine the flow exit point, and injecting down the annulus. A "quick kill" attempt uses light mud injected down drill pipe to try to kill the flow. If it fails, specialists may need to perforate or use reactive plugs like bentonite mixtures to plug the flow path. Monitoring for surface impacts and preventing further losses of well control are also important in responding to underground blowouts.
Underground blowouts can be difficult to control and require careful diagnosis and planning. Initial steps include securing drill pipe, logging to determine the flow exit point, and injecting down the annulus. A "quick kill" attempt uses light mud injected down drill pipe to try to kill the flow. If it fails, specialists may need to perforate or use reactive plugs like bentonite mixtures to plug the flow path. Monitoring for surface impacts and preventing further losses of well control are also important in responding to underground blowouts.
Engineering Manager Boots & Coots International Well Control, Inc. Underground Blowouts • Diagnostics (indications of underground flow) – CIDPP and CICP rise followed by loss in pressure without circulation – gas, oil saltwater in drill pipe without reverse circulation – no mud returns in gas , oil or salt water present at surface on annulus – strip up or down without annulus pressure changes – anomalies in Temperature Logs and Noise Logs – no pressure communication between drill pipe and annulus – lower than expected shut-in pressure – producing well annulus pressure and change in GOR or water cut – sudden drag or vibration when pipe is lowered past point in well – matching pressures between inner and outer annuli w/ open hole – shallow super-charge encountered – wellhead or BOP vibration – broached flow Underground Blowouts • Initial Action Steps – secure drill pipe • consider pump-in manifold – determine exit point w/ log • temp log down @ 550 m/ hour • noise log up in stations – inject down annulus to keep gas off BOPs and determine pressure at flow exit point – if exit depth is shallow (<1000 m), monitor for surface broaching: up dip, cellar, rathole, nearby water wells and nearby deep wells. Underground Blowouts • Initial Action Steps (cont.) – place Special Services on alert – attempt “Quick Kill” • conform annulus is open • load annulus with light mud (density based on frac gradient) • mix up kill mud (maximum density possible without loss circulation if well was dead) • inject down drill pipe as fast as possible • if flow is killed surface annulus injection pressure should drop to zero. Drill pipe should be stabile or on slow loss Underground Blowouts • If “Quick Kill Fails” – high underground flow rate – consider perforating BHA or blowing up bit to allow faster pumping – flow sample of blowout fluids out annulus. Determine water / oil cut and chemistry – consider running rate gyro on drill pipe – consider pulling rig off – mobilize Specialists Underground Blowouts • Alternate Control Actions – Evaluate “Quick Kill” pressure and rate data – Use dynamic kill simulator calibrated with prior kill attempt data to predict required kill hydraulics – Can the designed kill be implemented down existing drill pipe or tubing • perforate for less pressure loss • use slick brines for less friction • use a reactive mud for a kill fluid (reacts with blowout fluids) • can a barite plug kill flow and plug flow path – If no, evaluate two part reactive plugs, snubbing or relief well kills Underground Blowouts • HTHP Blowout – well shut-in pressure = 795 kg/cm2 – 2-7/8” failed (corrosion) – 7” failed (connection problem?) – 11-3/4” failed – ran spinner, Noise / Temp logs – determined flow path Underground Blowouts
Move rig over platform Load out on supply boat
Underground Blowouts
Above: 15,000 psi HT400 PSL
Remote controlled 16V-92TA
Right: 7 PSL units remote
controlled from dog house on left, note snubbing unit in derrick Underground Blowouts • Attempted Dynamic Kill – Note kill graphs – Able to get well dynamically dead – But unable to transition to static kill – Snubbed in 1.660” Hydril CS to just below tubing hole Underground Blowouts • Two-Part Reactive Plug Kill • Mixed 200 lbs / bbl bentonite and 150 ppb Class “H” in diesel with water wetting surfactant using batch mixer (99 bbls) • Started pumping 18.5 ppg mud down 1.660” x 2.875” annulus at low rate • Lead with diesel spacer followed with gunk. Pump gunk at maximum rate of 1 BPM. • Reacted gunk with 18.5 ppg water based mud at 4:1 down to 1:1 ratios. • Squeezed off annulus flow path and bullheaded well dead. Cement squeezed perforations for P & A. Underground Blowouts • Reactive Plug Mixtures – Gunk • 300 ppb bentonite in • Polymers (pH controlled) diesel •Invert Gunk • soft plug • 250 ppb amine treated clay • reacts w/ fresh water • mixed in water with typical muds mud to form mud – Guar Gum Gunk • reacted with oil • Sodium Silicate • 250 ppb Guar Gum • 30% Sodium Silicate • salt muds or brines • reacts with CaCl2 soft plug – DOBC • react with portland cement • 150 ppb bentonite for hard plug • 150 ppb portland cement • New polymers and other catalyzed reactions under • reacts with fresh water development muds Underground Blowouts • Conclusions – train field personnel in early detection – prepare for drill pipe kick if annulus bridges – if entry zone is shallow monitor for surface broaching – run temperature / noise log to define flow path – attempt “Quick Kill” collect kill rate and pressure data – if unsuccessful - mobilize specialists – consider opening hydraulic path for higher rate or reactive plugs – consider mechanical plugs if flow path is in casing
Knowledge of In-Situ Horizontal Stress Orientation For Suitable Direction of Drilling The Inclined and Horizontal Well For Well Placement and Well Completion