DRILLING ENGINEERING (CGE577)

TUTORIAL 4
Name

Student ID

1. Whilst drilling the 12 1/4" hole section of a well the mudloggers were recording the data as
shown in the table below.
Depth (ft)

ROP (ft/hr)

RPM

WOB (,000 lbs)

7500
7600
7700
7800
7900
8000
8100
8200
8300
8400
8500
8600
8700

125
103
77
66
45
37
40
42
41
44
34
33
32

120
120
110
110
110
110
110
110
100
100
100
100
110

38
38
38
38
35
37
35
33
33
38
38
40
42

Mud weight
(ppg)
9.5
9.5
9.5
9.6
9.6
9.8
9.8
9.9
10.0
10.25
10.25
11
11

Assume a normal formation pressure of 0.45 psi/ft, an overburden gradient of 1.0 psi/ft and a
normal mud weight for this area of 9.5 ppg.
a) Plot the d and dc exponent and determine whether there are any indications of an
overpressured zone.
b) If an overpressured zone exists, what is the depth of the top of the transition zone.
c) Use the Eaton equation to estimate the formation pressure at 8600 ft.
2. A leakoff test was carried out just below a 13 3/8" casing shoe at 7000 ft. TVD using 9.0 ppg
mud. The results of the tests are shown below. What is the maximum mudweight for the 12
1/4" hole section ?
BBLS PER PUMPED
SURFACE PRESSURE (psi)
1
400
1.5
670
2
880
2.5
1100
3
1350
3.5
1600
4
1800
4.5
1900
5
1920
3. If the circulating pressure losses in the annulus of the above well is 300 psi when drilling at
7500ft with 9.5ppg mud, what would be the ECD of the mud at 7500ft.
4. If a mudweight of 9.5ppg is required to drill the 12 1/4 hole section of the above well (Q2),
what would the MAASP be when drilling this hole section?