CH 6 Well Control

SKPP 3413 - DRILLING ENGINEERING
Chapter 6 Well Control

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail
Petroleum Engineering Dept.
Faculty of Petroleum & Renewable Energy Eng.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM
Contents
Types of well control
Causes of well kicks
Warning signs of kicks
Methods of killing kicks
Blowout prevention equipment and well control
procedures
What is Well Control?

The technique used in oil and gas operations to
maintain the fluid column hydrostatic pressure and
formation pressure to prevent influx of formation
fluids into the wellbore
Technique involves the estimation of formation fluid
pressures, the strength of the subsurface formations
and the use of casing and mud density to offset those
pressures in a predictable fashion
Understanding of pressure and pressure relationships
are very important in well control
What is kick?
An unscheduled entry of
formation fluid(s) into the
wellbore
The pressure found within the
drilled rock is greater than the
mud hydrostatic pressure acting
on the borehole or face of the rock
Therefore, the formation pressure
has a tendency to force formation
fluids into the wellbore
If the flow is successfully
controlled the kick has been
killed, if not BLOWOUT !!!
What is Blow Out ?

Any uncontrolled pressure
or formation fluids that
enter into the well during
drilling operation and starts
to explode
What turns a kick into a blowout?

Lack of proper control !!
The key objectives in blowout prevention are:
To detect the kick as soon as possible
To take steps to control the circulation of the kick out of the
well
To take steps to increase the density of the fluid in the well
to prevent further fluids from entering the well
All kicks in some way are related to drilling fluid

Why a kick occur?
The pressure inside the

wellbore is lower than the
formation pore pressure (in a
permeable formation):
Pw < Pf
How a kick occur?
Mud density is too low

Fluid level is too low - trips or
lost circulation
Swabbing on trips
Circulation stopped - ECD too
low
10
The severity of the kick depends upon

several factors:
The ability of the rock (porosity, permeability) to
allow fluid flow to occur
A rock with high porosity and permeability has a greater
potential for severe kick (e.g. sandstone is considered to
have a greater kick potential than shale)
The amount of pressure differential involved
11
How do we prevent kicks?

Maintain the Pw > Pf
Do not allow the Pw to exceed the fracture pressure
This is done by controlling the Phyd of the drilling
fluid, and isolating weak formations with casing
12
Causes of kicks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Insufficient mud weight

Improper hole fill-up during trips
Swabbing
Cut mud
Lost circulation
13
1. Insufficient mud weight

One of the predominant causes of kicks
Pressure imbalance fluids begin to flow into the wellbore
Normally associated with abnormal formation pressures
Very high mud weight (overbalance) cannot be used because:
High mud weight may exceed the fracture gradient of the
formation and induce an underground blowout
Slightly reduce penetration rates
Pipe sticking
Therefore, maintain the mud weight slightly greater than the
formation pressure until that time the mud weight begins to approach
the fracture gradient requiring an additional string of casing
14
2. Improper hole fill-up during trips

As the drill pipe is pulled out of the hole, the mud
level falls because the drill pipe steel had displaced
some amount of mud
With the pipe no longer in the hole, the overall mud
level will reduce, therefore, the hydrostatic pressure
of the mud will decrease
Therefore, it is necessary to fill the hole with mud periodically

to avoid decreasing of hydrostatic pressure
15
3. Swabbing
Swab pressures are pressures created by pulling the
drill string from the borehole
This action will reduce the effective hydrostatic
pressure throughout the hole below the bit
If this pressure decrease is large enough, there will be
potential kick
Reasons
Pipe pulling speed

Mud properties
Hole configuration (large swab pressure for small hole)
Bit balling effect
16
4. Cut mud
Gas contaminated mud will occasionally cause a kick
although this occurrence is rare
Mud density will decrease
As gas is circulated to the surface, it may expand and
decrease the overall hydrostatic pressure to a point
sufficient to allow a kick to occur
Although the mud weight is cut severely at the
surface, the total hydrostatic pressure is not decreased
significantly since most of the gas expansion occurs
near the surface and not at the bottom of the hole
17
5 Lost circulation
Decreased hydrostatic pressure occurs due to a
shorter column of mud
When a kick occurs as a result of lost circulation, the
problem may become extremely severe since a large
amount of kick fluid may enter the hole before the
rising mud level is observed at the surface
18
Warning signs of kicks

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Flow rate increase

Pit volume increase
Flowing well with pumps off
Pump pressure decrease and pump stroke increase
Improper hole fill-up on trips
String weight change
Drilling break
Cut mud weight
19
1.
Flow rate increase
2.
Pit volume increase
3.
When pumping at a constant rate, the flow rate increase more than
normal i.e. formation is aiding the rig pumps in moving the fluid up
the annulus by forcing formation fluids into the wellbore
If the volume of fluid in the pits is not changed as a result of surface

controlled actions, therefore, an increase in pit volume indicates that
a kick is occurring
The fluids entering the wellbore as a result of the kick displace an
equal volume of mud at the flow line and result in a pit gain
Flowing well with pumps off
When the rig pumps are not moving the mud, a continued flow from
the well indicates that a kick is in progress
20
4. Pump pressure decrease and pump stroke increase

A pump pressure change may indicate a kick
The initial entry of the kick fluids into the borehole may cause the
mud to flocculate and temporarily increase the pump pressure
As the flow continues, the low density influx will displace the heavier
mud and the pump pressure may begin to decrease
As the fluid in the annulus become less dense, the mud in the drill
pipe will tend to fall and the pump speed may increase
5. Improper hole fill-up on trips

When the drill string is pulled out of the hole, the mud level should
decrease by a volume equivalent to the amount of steel removed
If the hole does not require the calculated volume of mud to bring the
level back to the surface, a kick fluid has entered the hole and filled
the displacement volume of the drill string
21
6. String weight change
7.
Drilling break
8.
The mud provide a buoyant effect to the drill string, heavier muds
have a greater buoyant force than less dense muds
When kick occurs, the mud density will decrease and as a result, the
string weight observed at the surface begin to increase
An abrupt increase in bit penetration rate (shows a new rock type),

called a drilling break, is a warning sign of possible kick
Although the drilling break occur, it is not certain that a kick will
occur, therefore, it is recommended to drill 3 5 ft into the sand and
stop to check for flowing formation fluids
Cut mud weight
Decreased mud weight observed at the flow line has occasionally

caused a kick to occur
Possible causes is gas (also oil and water) entering the formation
However cut mud weight have small effect
22
Typical Kick Sequence

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Kick indication
Kick detection - (confirmation)
Kick containment - (stop kick influx)
Removal of kick from wellbore
Replace old mud with kill mud (heavier)
23
Procedures in the event of a kick

At the first indication of a kick
Stop drilling
Raise the bit off the bottom of the well (to shut in the well)
Stop the pumps and check to see if there is a flow from the well
If the well does flow, close the BOP and shut in the well
Readings are taken to stabilize shut in drill pipe and

casing pressures
Calculation are made to determine the density of the
mud that will be used to kill the well
Calculations are also made to determine the kick out,
and to fill the hole with new mud
24
Handling procedures of a kick may vary, and no one

method can be employed to each kick situation
Factors affecting kill procedures are:
The area where the well is being drilled

The depth of the well
The operational procedures adopted by the contractor
The equipment available
25
Typical Fluid Gradient
Depth
Pressure
Gas 0.075 0.150 psi/ft
Oil
0.3 0.4 psi/ft
Water 0.433 0.520 psi/ft
26
Kick Detection and Control
Kick
Detection
Kick
Detection
Kick
KickControl
Control
27
1. Circulate kick out of hole
Keep the BHP constant throughout

28
2. Circulate Old Mud out of hole
Keep the BHP constant throughout

Chapter
6: Well
Control
Assoc. Prof.
Abdul
Razak Ismail, UTM
29
Dynamic Kick Control

[Kill well on the fly]
For use in controlling shallow gas kicks
No competent casing seat
No surface casing - only conductor
Use diverter (not BOPs)
Do not shut well in!
30
Dynamic Kick Control

For use in controlling shallow gas
kicks
Keep pumping. Increase rate!
(higher ECD)
Increase mud density, 0.3 #/gal
per circulation
Check for flow after each
complete circulation
If still flowing, repeat 2-4.
31
Conventional Kick Control

(Surface Casing and BOP Stack are in place)
Shut in well for pressure readings

Remove kick fluid from wellbore
Replace old mud with kill weight mud
Use choke to keep BHP constant
32
Calculations
Example: What overbalance would there be in a hole
drilling at 7,000 ft if the mud weight is 9.5
ppg and the formation pressure is 3,255 psi?
Solution:
DP = 0.052 (9.5) (7,000) 3,225 = 203 psi
33
Example: A well is drilling at 5,000 ft using 10 ppg mud. A kick

occurs and the well is closed in. The SIDPP builds up to 400 psi.
What is the bottomhole formation pressure and what mud weight
will be required to balance? What mud weight will be required to
enable us to drill ahead using 150 psi overbalance?
Solution: Pf = Phyd + SIDPP
= 0.052 (10) (5,000) + 400 = 3, 000 psi
P = 0.052 h
Pf
3, 000
=
=
= 11.54 ppg
0.052 h
0.052 (5,000)
Pob = Pf + P
= 3,000+ 150 = 3,150 psi
P = 0.052
=
P
3,150
=
= 12.1 ppg
0.052 h
0.052 (5,000)
34
Example:
A well was cased at 4,500 ft. using 9 in. casing and then cemented. The
drilling was continued using 8 in. bit. Drill collars are 6 in. O.D., 2 in.
I.D. and 500 ft. long and the drillpipe is 4 in. OD, 3 in. ID, 16.6 lb/ft. The
mud density used in drilling this well is 9.5 ppg. When the drilling approaches
5,500 ft., a gas kick occured and the influx is 6 bbl of gas having a pressure
gradient of 0.075 psi/ft. were recorded. The well is shut-in and the surface
shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP) builds up to 250 psi.
Based on the above information, calculate:
a. The bottomhole formation pressure.
b. The height of gas column.
c. The annular surface pressure/casing shut-in pressure (CSIP).
d. The pressure on the formation at the casing shoe.
e. The mud density required to just balance the formation pressure.
f. The mud density required to give 400 psi overbalance pressure.
35
Solution:
(a)
Pf = Phyd + SIDPP
= 0.052 (9.5) (5,500) + 250
= 2,967 psi
(b)
A d/c open hole = A hole - A d/c

2
Vgas kick
6.25
8.75
=
4 12
4 12
= (A d/c open hole ) (h gas kick )
h gas kick =
= 0.2045 ft 2
Vgas kick
A d/c open hole
ft 3
5.615
6 bbl
bbl
=
0.2045 ft 2
= 165 ft.
36
(c)
Pf = CSIP + Phyd. gas + Phyd. orig. mud

CSIP = Pf - Phyd. gas = 2,967 - 0.075
= 319 psi
(d)
Phyd.orig. mud
psi
165 ft - 0.052 (9.5) (5,500 -165)
ft
before adding a new mud
P@ shoe i.e. 4,500' = Phyd. + CSIP

= 0.052 (9.5) (4,500) + 319
= 2,542 psi
(e)
(f)
P = 0.052

Pf
2,967
=
=
= 10.4 ppg
0.052 h
0.052 (5,500)
Pob = Pf + P
= 2,967 + 400 = 3,367 psi
P = 0.052
P
3,367
=
=
= 11.8 ppg
0.052 h
0.052 (5,500)
37
Example: Whilst drilling the 10 hole section of a vertical well the mud pit level
indicators indicate that the well is flowing. When the well is made safe, the
following information were gathered:
Surface readings: SIDPP = 200 psi, SICP = 400 psi, Mud wt. = 10 ppg
Pit gain = 20 bbls, Tsurface = 75oF, T gradient = 1.2 oF/100 ft
Hole/drill string: Hole size = 10 , Depth of kick = 10,500, Previous casing
shoe = 4,500, 13 3/8, 68 lb/ft, d/c = 500 of 8, d/p = 4.5
Capacities:
Drillpipe = 0.01422 bbl/ft, drillcollar = 0.01190 bbl/ft,
Collar/Hole = 0.04493 bbl/ft, Drillpipe/Hole = 0.08743 bbl/ft,
Drillpipe/Casing = 0.13006 bbl/ft
Fracture gradient: at 4,500 = 0.7 psi/ft
By using Wait and Weight method to circulate the influx out of the hole,
a. Determine what type of formation fluid has entered the wellbore.
b. What is the pressure at casing seat when the influx is still at the bottom?
c. What is the pressure at the surface when the influx is still at the bottom?
38
(a)
Height of kick, h i
Fluid influx gradient, G i
Vol. of influx
V3
G OM
20
0.04493
445 ft.
(CSIP DPSIP)
hi
(10)(0.052)
(400 200)
445
0.071 psi/ft
Types of influx fluid is a gas, which will be expanded when reach

at the surface
(b) Bottomhole pressure, BHP
P@ shoe i.e. 4,500' = Phyd. + CSIP

= 0.052 (10) (4,500) + 400
= 2,740 psi
39
(c) Pressure at surface (0) when bubble at bottom, P0

Pf = Phyd + SIDPP
= 0.052 (10) (10,500) + 200
= 5,660 psi
Pf = CSIP + Phyd. gas + Phyd. orig. mud
CSIP = Pf - Phyd. gas = 5,660 - 0.071
= 400 psi
Phyd.orig. mud
psi
445 ft - 0.052 (10) (10,500 - 445)
ft
or,
P0'
CSIP
400 psi (as recorded at the surface i.e. given)

40
Methods of killing kicks

There are many kick-killing methods, some of these
have utilized systematic conventional approach
while others were based on logical, but perhaps
unsound, principles
Commonly used methods:
1. One circulation method
2. Two circulation method
3. Concurrent method
If applied properly, each of these 3 methods will

achieve the constant pressure at the hole bottom and
will not allow any additional influx into the well
41
After the kick is shut in, weight the mud to kill density, then pump
out the kick fluid in one circulation using the kill mud
Other names: wait and weight method, engineers method, graphical
method, constant drill pipe pressure method
After the kick is shut in, the kick fluid is pump out of the hole before
the mud density is increased
Other names: drillers method
Pumping begins immediately after the kick is shut in and the

pressures are recorded
The mud density is increased as rapidly as possible while pumping
the kick fluid out of the well
42

At point 1, the SIDPP is used to calculate the kill mud weight, after which
the mud weight is increased to kill density in the suction pit
As the kill mud is pumped down the drill pipe, the static DPP is controlled
to decrease linearly, until at point 2 the DPP would be zero
This results from heavy mud having killed the DPP
Point 3 illustrate that the initial pumping pressure on the drill pipe would be
the total of the SIDPP plus the kill rate pressure, or 1,500 psi:
Initial pumping P = SIDPP + kill rate P

= 500 + 1,000
= 1,500 psi
While pumping kill mud down the pipe, the circulating pressure should
reduce until at point 4, only the pumping pressure remains
From the time that the kill mud reaches the bit until the kill mud reaches the
flow line, the choke controls the DPP at the circulating pressure while the
driller insures that the pump remains at the kill speed
43
Drill pipe pressure graph of the one circulation method of well control
Drillpipe pressure
DPSIP pOB
GK GM
d
pC 1
pC 2
DPSIP
Choke pressure
Pressure (psi)
One Circulation Method (Engineers Method)
CSIP
Phase 1
Phase 2
Time (min)
Phase 3
Phase 4
GK = Kill gradient psi/ft

GM = Mud gradient psi/ft
POB = Over balance pressure, psi
Phase 1: Displacing drillstring to

killer/heavier mud
Phase 2: Pumping heavy mud into
annulus until influx reaches
the choke
Phase 3: Time taken for all the influx
to be removed from the
annulus
Phase 4: Stage between all the influx
being expelled and
killer/heavier mud reaching
surface
45

Kill mud is not added in the first circulation, i.e. DPP
will not decrease during this period
The purpose of this circulation is to remove the kick
fluid from the annulus
In the second circulation, the mud weight is increased
and causes a decrease from the initial pumping
pressure at 1 to the final circulating pressure at 2
The final circulating pressure is held constant
thereafter while the annulus is displaced with the kill
mud
46
Drill pipe pressure graph of the two circulation method of well control
Drillpipe pressure
Choke pressure
Pressure (psi)
Two Circulation Method (Drillers Method)

1st circulation
2nd circulation
pC 1
pC 2
DPSIP
Gas
Oil or Water
CSIP
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
GK GM
DPSIP pOB
d
GK = Kill gradient psi/ft

GM = Mud gradient psi/ft
POB = Over balance pressure, psi
Phase 1: Time for the influx to

reach surface
Phase 2: Time to discharge influx
Phase 3: Time to fill drillstring
with killer/heavier mud
Phase 4: Time to fill annulus with
killer/heavier mud
Time (min)
48
As soon as the kick is shut-in, pumping begins immediately
after reading the pressures and the mud density is pumped as
rapidly as possible
However, it is difficult to determine mud density being
circulated and its relative position in the drill pipe
Since this position determines the DPP, it will give irregular
pressure drops
As a new density arrives at the bit or some predetermined
depth, the DPP is decreased by an amount equal to the
hydrostatic pressure of the new mud density increment
When the drill pipe is completely displaced with kill mud, the
pumping pressure is maintained constant until kill mud reaches
the flow line
49
Drill pipe pressure graph of the concurrent method of well control

50
Choice of method
Determining the best control method, suitable for the
most frequently met situations, involves several
important considerations:
The time required to execute the entire kill procedure
The surface pressures arising from the kick
The complexity of the procedure itself, relative to the ease
of carrying it out
The downhole stresses applied to the formation during the
kick killing process
All of these factors must be analyzed before a

procedure can be selected
51
Advantages and disadvantages

of drillers method
Advantages
Disadvantages
Simple to teach and

understand
Very few calculations
In case of saltwater, the
contaminant is moved out
quickly to prevent sand
settling around drilling
assembly
Higher casing shoe pressure

(kick)
Higher annular pressure
(kick)
Takes two circulations
52

of wait-and-weight method
Advantages
Disadvantages
Lowest casing pressure

Lowest casing seat pressure
Less lost circulation (if not
over killed)
Killed with one circulation
if contaminant does not
string out in washed out
sections of hole
Requires the longest noncirculating time while

mixing heavy mud
Pipe could stick due to
settling of sand, shale,
anhydrite or salt while not
circulating
Requires a little more
arithmetic
53

of concurrent method
Advantages
Disadvantages
Minimum of non-circulating
time
Excellent for large increases
in mud weight (under
balanced drilling)
Mud condition (viscosity
and gels) can be maintained
along with mud density
Less casing pressure than
drillers method
Can be easily switched to
weight-and-weight method
Arithmetic is a little more

complicated
Requires more, on-choke,
circulating time
Higher casing and casing
seat pressure than wait-andweight method
Well Killing Procedures

(One Circulation Method vs
Two Circulation Method)
When kick detected, shut-in the well
After the pressures stabilized, record DPSIP
& CSIP
Calculate the required kill mud weight, GK
(psi/ft)
Example (killing kick)

1. Determine the pressure at the casing seat at 4,000 when using the Drillers
Method versus using the Engineers Method to circulate a gas kick out of the
hole (assume ideal gas law).
2. Determine the casing pressure at the surface when the top of the gas bubble has
just reached the surface, for the same two mud weights used above.
Wellbore & formation data
Well depth
=
Hole size
=
Drill pipe
=
Drill Collars
=
Surface casing
=
Mud Weight
=
Fracture gradient @ 4,000 =
DPSIP
=
CSIP
=
Pit level increase
=
T at surface
=
Temperature gradient
=
10,000
10.5
4.5, 16.60 lb/ft
8 x 3.5 x 500 ft
4,000, 13-3/8, 68 lb/ft, ID = 12.415 in.
10 ppg
0.7 psi/ft
200 psi
400 psi
20 bbl
70 oF
1.2 oF/100 ft
Solution: Initial (closed-in) conditions:

DPSIP
CSIP
Notes:
For initial conditions,
calculation technique for
both method are the same
vdp.csg = 0.13006 bbl/ft

4,000
vdp,hole = 0.08743 bbl/ft

9,500
vdc,hole = 0.04493 bbl/ft

10,000
Drillers Method
Engineers Method
Bottom Hole Pressure, BHP

P10,000 POM POB
(0.052)(10)(10000) 200
5400 psi
POM
POB
Bottom Hole Pressure, BHP

P10,000 POM POB
(0.052)(10)(10000) 200
5400 psi
Old mud hydrostatic pressure, psi
Overbalanced pressure, psi
Drillers Method
Engineers Method
Annular volume/ft outside drill collars:
gal bbl
(10.52 82 )in 2 (12 in)
3
4
231 in 42 gal
0.04493 bbl/ft
vdc-oh
Height of Kick Fluid,

h10,000
Annular volume/ft outside drill collars:
gal bbl
(10.52 82 )in 2 (12 in)
3
4
231 in 42 gal
0.04493 bbl/ft
vdc-oh
Height of Kick Fluid,
20 bbl
445 ft
0.04493 bbl/ft
h10,000
Hydrostatics in the Annulus,
20 bbl
445 ft
0.04493 bbl/ft
Hydrostatics in the Annulus,
Pf = BHP CSIP POM Pkick

5400 400 + (0.052)(10)(10000 445) DPkick_10,000
Pf = BHP CSIP POM Pkick

5400 400 + (0.052)(10)(10000 445) DPkick_10,000
Hydrostatic Pressure across Kick Fluid, Hydrostatic Pressure across Kick Fluid,
DPkick_10,000 5400 400 (0.052)(10)(9,555)
31. 4 psi
Weight of kick fluid, W, in lb,

W Pressure Area
Pressure DC-OH Annular Area
lb
= 31.4 2 10.52 82 in 2
in 4
1,141 lb
DC Drill collar
OH Open hole
DPkick_10,000 5400 400 (0.052)(10)(9,555)

31. 4 psi
Weight of kick fluid, W, in lb,
F = DP * A = W
W Pressure Area
Pressure DC-OH Annular Area
lb
= 31.4 2 10.52 82 in 2
in 4
1,141 lb
Kick at Bottom
DPSIP 200 psi
CSIP 400 psi
4000'
9555'
9500'
h 445' P 31.4 psi
10000'
PBHP P10000' 5,400 psi
DPkick_10,000 31. 4 psi
Graphical illustration of kick at bottom for

Drillers and Engineers methods.
Kick at top of 4,000 casing seat

What is the pressure at 4,000 ft when the top of
the kick fluid first reaches that point?
For ideal gas law:
PV PV
T 1 T 2
Whe the gas rises, it expands due to P & T
V4,000
P10,000 T4,000
V10,000
P
T
4,000 10,000
5,400 70 48 460
0.08743h 4,000 20

P
70
120
460
4,000
h 4,000
1,098,444
P4,000
2
2
V4,000 A 4,000 h 4,000
OH
4000'
9500'
10000'
d OD p h 4,000
gal bbl
2
2
10.5
4.5
(12
in)
h 4,000 0.08743h 4,000
3
4
231
in
42
gal
Graphical illustration of
kick at top of 4,000
casing seat for Drillers
method.
Kick at Top of 4000 Casing Seat .(cont.)

Again
BHP P4,000 PK_4,000 POM
weight
weight
area
DP-OH Annulus area
1,141 lbs
16.1 psi
10.52 4.52 in 2
DPK_4,000
4000'
5400 P4,000 16 (0.052)(10)(6,000 h 4,000 )

5,384 P4,000 3,120 0.52(h 4,000 )
9500'
1,098,444
2,264 P4,000 (0.52)
P
4,000
10000'
This results in the quadratic Eqn:

2
P4,000
2,264 P4,000 571,191 0
b b 2 4ac
2
If ax bx c 0, then x
2
a
OM Old mud
DP Drill pipe
OH Open hole
kick at top of 4000
method.
Kick at Top of 4000 Casing Seat .(cont.)

This results in the quadratic Eqn:
2
P4,000
2,264 P4,000 571,191 0
With the solutions:

P4,000
2264 22642 (4)(1)(571,191)
2(1)
2493 psi
1
(2493 psi)
4000 ft
0.6233 psi/ft
0.7 psi/ft
4000'
9500'
Height of kick at 4000'
h 4,000
10000'
1,098,444 1,098,444
441 ft
P4,000
2493
b b 2 4ac
2
If ax bx c 0, then x
2
a
kick at top of 4000
method.
Kick at Top of 4,000 Casing Seat .(cont.)
P4,000 2493 psi
4000'
h 441' P 16 psi
h 4,000 441 ft
DPK_4,000 16 psi
9500'
P0,ann = ?
10000'
PBHP P10000' 5400 psi

Graphical illustration of kick at top of 4000 casing seat for Drillers method.
Top Kick at Surface

When the bubble rises, it expands. The volume of
the bubble at the surface is given by:
P
T
V0 V10,000 10,000 0
P0 T10,000
Z constant
5400 70 460
(0.13006) h 0 20
P
70
120
460
677,084
V A h d d h
4
h0
--- (1)
P0
gal
12.415 4.5 (12 in)
4
231 in
0
2
IDc
2
OD p
4000'
bbl
h 0 0.13006 h 0
42 gal
9500'
Again
BHP P0 PK_0 POM

10000'
weight
1,141 lb
10.85 psi 11 psi
area
12.4152 4.52 in 2
4
5400 P0 11 (0.052)(10)(10,000 h 0 )
DPK_0
kick at surface for
Drillers method.
Top Kick at Surface (cont)

5400 P0 11 (0.052)(10)(10,000 h 0 )
Substitute h 0 from eq. 1:
677,084
5,400 P0 11 0.52 10,000
P0
5,400 5,200 11 P0 P0 2 352,084
P0 2 189 P0 352,084 0
4000'
By solving the quadratic eqn.:
189 1892 (4)(1)(352,084)

P0
695.34 psi 695 psi
2(1)
9500'
Height of kick at surface

10000'
h0
677,084 677,084
973.74 ft 974 ft
P0
695.34
kick at surface for
Drillers method.
Top Kick at Surface (cont)

When the bubble reach at surface, the
pressure at 4000 ft is given by:
P4,000 P0 (0.052)(10)(4,000 974) PK0
695 1,574 11
2,280 psi
4000'
( 0.57 psi/ft)
9500'
Alternatively,
P4,000 P10,000 (0.52)(10)(10,000 4,000) 10000'
5,400 3,120
kick at surface for
Drillers method.
2,280 psi
Top Kick at Surface .(cont.)

P0,ann = 695 psi
h 0 974'PK,O 11 psi
P4,000 2280 psi
4000'
P 16 psi
h 0 974 ft
DPK_0 11 psi
9500'
P10,000 = ?
10000'
PBHP P10000' 5400 psi

Graphical illustration of kick at surface for Drillers method.
Kick at Top of 4,000 Casing Seat

What is the pressure at 4,000 ft when the top
of the kick fluid first reaches that point?
New Mud or Killer Mud, KM
For ideal gas law
Old Mud, OM
Kick
PV PV
T 1 T 2
4000'
When the gas rises, it expands due to P & T

V4,000
9500'
P10,000 T4,000
V10,000
P
T
4,000 10,000
10000'
5,400 70 48 460
0.08743h 4,000 20

P
650
4,000
h 4,000
1,098,444
P4,000
.. (6)
PBHP P10000' 5400 psi

Graphical illustration of kick at
top of 4000 casing seat for
Engineers method.
Engineers method - Pressure at top of kick

- kick at 4,000 ft
But,
BHP P4,000 PK_4,000 PM PM1
As before,
DPK_4,000 16 psi
141 bbl
DPM 0.052 *10 *
0.08743 bbl/ft
839 psi
.. (7)
Engineers method - Pressure at top of kick

- kick at 4,000 ft
141
PM1 0.052 (10.38) 6,000 h 4,000
0.08743
BHP P4,000 PK_4,000 PM PM1 ......(7)

5,400 P4,000 16 839 2,368 (0.5398) h 4,000
1,098,444
2,177 P4 000 (0.5398)
P
4,000
2
P4,000
2,177 P4,000 592,940 0
P4, 000
2,177 2,177 2 4 * 592,940
2
2,422 psi 0.61 psi/ft
Engineers method - Top of kick at surface
4,000
Old Mud
Kill Mud
9,500
10,000
Engineers method - kick at surface
Capacity inside drill string = DP_cap. + DC_cap.

bbl
bbl
0.01422
9,500 ft 0.0119
500 ft
ft
ft
141 bbl
Quantity of 10.0
lb
mud below the bubble.
gal
Kill mud weight (new mud wt.) (old mud wt.)

SIDPP
10
0.052 (10,000)
0.38 10 10.38 ppg

Volume of gas bubble at surface:
P10,000 T0
V0 V10,000
P0 T10,000
5,400 530
0.13006 h 0 20
P0 650
677,084
h0
P0
P10,000 P0 PK0 PM PM1
- - - (4)
- - - (5)
PK,0 11 psi
As before,
Assume all 10 lb mud is inside 13 3/8 csg. Then the height of 10 lb mud
141.0 bbl
hM
1,084 ft
0.13006 bbl/ft
Hydrostatic head across the mud columns:

PM 0.052 *10 *1,084 564 psi (old mud)
PM1 0.052 *10.38 * (10,000 h 0 1,084) (kill mud)
Hydrostatic in the annulus:
P10,000 P0 PK0 PM PM1

5,400 P0 11 564 0.5398 * (8,916 h 0 )
12.14 P0 (0.5398)h 0

From Eq. 4, substituting for h0
677,084
12 P0 (0.5398)
P0
P02 12P0 365,490 0

P0
12 12 4 * 365,490
2
1
2
2
P0 610.59 611 psi
Height of bubble at surface:
677,084 677,084
h0
1,109 ft
P0
610.59
P4,000 P0 PK0 PM PM1
611 11 569 0.052 (10.38) (4,000 - 1,109 - 1,093)

2,161 psi 0.54 psi/ft (looks ok)
Engineers method Top of kick at surface

Old Mud
P0,ann = 611 psi
Kill Mud
h0 = 1,109 ft
DPK,0 = 11 psi
4,000
9,500
10,000
DPOld Mud = 569 psi
P 4,000 = 2,161 psi

P10,000 = ?
Summary
Bubble at bottom
hole (10,000)
P4,000
P0
Drillers
method
2,480
400
Engineers
method
2,480
400
Top of bubble at
P4,000
casing shoe (4,000) P
0
2,493
2,422
413
342
Top of bubble at
surface (0)
2,280
2,161
695
611
P4,000
P0
77
Causes of Blowout
Underbalance (low density mud, water, foam, air)
Reduce formation damage
Save money but the risk of occur blowout increased
Overbalance
Safety but has its limitation
If overbalance pressure is too high may break the formation and
cause lost circulation lead to a blowout
Swabbing (tripping out)

Pulling the drill string too fast out of the hole will cause suction
Reduce the pressure below the bit invites a kick
Going too fast in the hole (tripping in)

Break the formation can cause lost circulation
Falling object hitting and ruining the BOP

Equipment, such as plugs, BOP, DHSV fails in a critical
moment
78
Why well control and blow out

prevention is important?
Higher drilling costs
Injuries and possible loss of life
Lost of revenue
Waste of natural resources when blow out occur
Environmental effects
Government regulation and restriction
79
How to prevent blowout?

The best solution is to prevent before it happen
Develop a drilling plan, including a drilling fluid design
The proficiency of rigs crew and supervisors and their
ability to put contingency to work
Added precautions often taken in drilling exploratory wells
Identify the presence of shallow gas
80
Types of well control

The control of a well refers to the ability to prevent
formation fluids flowing up the well bore and being
released at the surface
Firstly, well control can refer to the prevention of
formation fluids entering the well bore referred to
as primary control
Secondly, should primary control fail and fluids enter
the well bore, there is the requirement to be able to
allow the influx to be discharged at surface in a
controlled manner and concurrently to prevent
additional influx of fluid into the well bore referred
to as secondary control
81
Primary control
This is the prevention of the influx of formation
fluids into the wellbore by ensuring that the
hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore is at all times
greater than the formation pressure:
Phyd > Pf
The hydrostatic pressure may be too low because of
the following reasons:
1. Insufficient fluid density
2. Insufficient height of fluid column
82
1. Insufficient fluid density

Insufficient fluid density could have been created by the
following:
Inaccurate measurement of fluid density
High temperature encountered hence a reduction in
density occurs due to fluid expansion
At watering back (after mud return, water loss due to
evaporation, filtration loss, etc) excessive dilution
may occur
Too fine mesh used at the shale shaker lead to
removal of weighting solids
83
2. Insufficient height of fluid column

The majority of blowouts occurs when the height of the
fluid column reduced:
Failure to keep the hole full when tripping out
Swabbing effect (drill pipe acts as a piston):
Pulling the pipe upwards too quickly

Using mud of very high gel strength
Having small annular clearance
Ineffective cleaning of the bit to remove drill cuttings (e.g.
bit balling)
Loss circulation occurring into the formation

Collapse of casing or leakage into the wellbore
84
Secondary control
When primary control is lost, it is not normally
possible to kill the well immediately
The well is then shut in to prevent further influx into
the wellbore; and usually, this is only a temporary
measure
Secondary control therefore refers to the use of
mechanical devices used to close off the well
This device is called a blowout preventer (BOP)
The safety and efficiency of the control depends on
the integrity of the casing strings, well head and
fittings
85
Secondary control could be lost due to several reasons:

Mechanical failure of the BOP
Late identification of the influx
Casing fails to burst which will render a loss to the
annular pressure seal, hence the BOP will be
ineffective
Bad cement bond the influx will channel through
the cement, hence it will be discharged uncontrollably
86
Operational guidelines to the maintenance of primary control

Careful attention should be paid to the following factors to ensure that primary
control is maintained:
Maintenance of the correct mud weight
Gas cutting
Solids removal
Excessive dilution
Maintenance of sufficient height of mud column
Precautions whilst drilling
Precautions before tripping
Precautions whilst tripping
Precautions whilst running casing
Lost of circulation
Drilling break
87
To bring oil and gas to the surface drill hole

When the rock on earth that hold back formation
pressures are removed:
The pressure will be released and free to flow
To control use drilling fluid (create hydrostatic column
of sufficient weight)
Generally, the deeper the well goes, the higher the

formation pressures that must be retained, therefore,
mud weight must be increased to keep the well
formation pressure
88
Some blowouts stop by themselves by one of

these reasons:
Depletion of source
Bridging of the well bore by cave-in of open hole
Choking of the formation by entrained material
Choking the well bore by entrained sand, etc
89
Who shall stop blowouts ?

When a blowout occurs, the operators shall leave the
location immediately and never make heroic attempts
to stop it. That would simply be too risky!
In the stressed situation the possibility of making
fatal mistakes is overwhelming
Any attempt to stop a blowout required proper
planning, equipment and a special type of people
90
Cooling down wellhead with

high pressure water
jets/monitors
Placement of blow out

preventer stack, complete with
remotely operated accumulator
hook up; followed by
installation of mud kill line.
91
Kuwait blowout, 1991
92
BP's Deepwater Horizon Blowout April 2010
93
Deepwater Horizon Blowout
94
Relief wells are special directional wells planned to drill to hit the blow out well.
When the blowout well is drilled into, a special well control procedure will be
conducted to control the blowout well. There are several examples as in
Macondo well (blow out incident on 20 April 2010).
A BP graphic shows how relief wells

have been drilled to intercept the
Macondo well that had been leaking
millions of gallons of oil and gas into
the Gulf of Mexico.
95
BLOW OUT PREVENTER (BOP)
96
What is BOP?
The BOPs are a series of powerful sealing elements designed
to closed off the annular space between the drill pipe and the
hole through which the mud normally returns to the surface
Valves are installed on the pipe or wellhead to prevent the
escape of pressure either in the annular space between the
casing and drill pipe or in open hole during drilling,
completion and work over operations
By closing this valve, the drilling crew usually regains control
of the reservoir with increase the mud density until it is
possible to open the BOP and retain pressure control the
formation
They can be hydraulically, manual or air operated and in some
cases a combination of all three
97
98
99
BOPs rating
The bursting pressure of the casing will often be the determining
factor for rating the working pressure of the assembly.
API Bulletin D13 gives the pressure ratings for BOP equipment:
API Class
Working pressure
105 Pa (psi)
Service condition
2M
138 (2,000)
Light duty
3M
207 (3,000)
Low pressure
5M
345 (5,000)
Medium pressure
10 M
689 (10,000)
High pressure
15 M
1,034 (15,000)
Extreme pressure
100
Types of BOP
BOPs come in a variety of styles, size and pressure
ratings
Some BOPs can effectively close over an open
wellbore, some are designed to sealed around tubular
components in the well (drill pipe, casing and tubing)
and others are fitted with hardened steel shearing
surface that can actually cut through drill pipe
Two basic types
1. Annular type or
2. Ram type
A combination of both types are commonly used to
make up a 'BOP stack' alias X-mas Tree
101
BOP
Surface BOP
Downhole BOP
Annular Surface Blowout Prenventor Ram-Type Surface Blowout Preventor
Pipe Ram
Blind Ram Shear Ram
102
1. Annular preventers
A large valve used to control wellbore fluids
Design to shut off around any size of equipment run through
the hole
Most blowout preventer (BOP) stack contains at least one
annular BOP at the top of the BOP stack, and one more ramtype preventers below
It can close around drill pipe, drill collars and casing, and also
pack off an open hole
Is a wells master valve and normally closed first in the event
of a well kick, owing to flexibility of the closing rubbers
It can only be closed hydraulically by directing fluid under
pressure to the operating cylinder through the closing chamber
103
104
This mud-drenched annular preventer is located near the top of the BOP
stack (left). The red annular BOP (right) awaits installation
105
2. Ram-type preventer
Three types:
a. Pipe rams - which seal off around a pipe and
annulus
b. Blind rams - which completely close off the
wellbore when there is no pipe in the hole
c. Shear rams - which are the same as blind rams
except that they can cut through drillpipe for
emergency release as a last resort
A set of pipe rams may be installed below the shear rams to
suspend the severed drillstring
106
Ram-type preventer (ctd)
Blind Ram
Hydryl Vacuum Ram
Pipe Ram
Lower Shear Blade
Dual Offset Ram
Upper Shear Blade
107
Ram-type preventer (ctd)
Shear Rams in action

108
2a. Pipe rams

Design to close around a particular size of drill pipe,
tubing or casing
The pack off is provided by two steel ram blocks
containing semi-circular openings with each ram
being fitted with a two-piece rubber seal
The semi-circular openings can seal around the
outside diameter of the drill pipe, tubing, drill collar,
kelly or casing, depending on the size of the rams
chosen
It can be close manually or hydraulically to seal off
the annular
109
110
Pipe rams
111
2b. Blind rams

Quiet similar to pipe rams
Except that packer are replaced by ones that have no cutouts
in the rubber
Has no space for pipe and is instead blanked off in order to be
able to close over a well that does not contain a drill string
Designed to seal off the bore when no drill string or casing is
present
112
2c. Shear rams

A BOP closing element fitted with hardened tool steel
blades
Designed to cut the drill pipe when the BOP is closed
Normally used as a last resort to regain pressure
control of a well that is flowing
Once the drill pipe is cut, it is usually left hanging in
the BOP stack and kill operations become more
difficult
The joint of drill pipe is destroyed in the process, but
the rest of the drill sting is unharmed by the operation
of shear rams
113
114
Bottom pipe ram, shear rams & annular
13-58 BOP stack 10,000 psi rating
115
BOP safety
Well control equipment that is to be install must be rate
above the maximum expected formation pressure of the
well about to be drilled
Tested immediately after installation
Maintained ready for use until drilling operations are
completed
Control panel must be located at sufficient distance from
well head
BOP equipment must be pressure tested

CH 6 Well Control

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CH 6 Well Control

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SKPP 3413 - DRILLING ENGINEERING

Chapter 6 Well Control

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

What is Well Control?

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

What is Blow Out ?

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

What turns a kick into a blowout?

All kicks in some way are related to drilling fluid

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Why a kick occur?

The pressure inside the

How a kick occur?

Mud density is too low

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

The severity of the kick depends upon

The amount of pressure differential involved

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

How do we prevent kicks?

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Insufficient mud weight

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

1. Insufficient mud weight

2. Improper hole fill-up during trips

Therefore, it is necessary to fill the hole with mud periodically

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Pipe pulling speed

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Warning signs of kicks

Flow rate increase

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Flow rate increase

Pit volume increase

If the volume of fluid in the pits is not changed as a result of surface

Flowing well with pumps off

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

4. Pump pressure decrease and pump stroke increase

5. Improper hole fill-up on trips

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

6. String weight change

An abrupt increase in bit penetration rate (shows a new rock type),

Cut mud weight

Decreased mud weight observed at the flow line has occasionally

Typical Kick Sequence

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Procedures in the event of a kick

Readings are taken to stabilize shut in drill pipe and

Handling procedures of a kick may vary, and no one

The area where the well is being drilled

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Typical Fluid Gradient

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Kick Detection and Control

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

1. Circulate kick out of hole

Keep the BHP constant throughout

2. Circulate Old Mud out of hole

Keep the BHP constant throughout

Dynamic Kick Control

Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ismail, UTM

Dynamic Kick Control