Swab/Surge Pressures

The movement of the drill string when pulling out of the hole will cause the
pressure caused by the drilling fluid on the bottom of the hole to decrease.
This caused by the friction between the movement of the pipe and the
stationary drilling mud. This is referred to as swab pressure, Psw.
The reverse is also true, running in the hole the pressure will increase due to
the pipe movement, this is called surge pressure, Psurge.
The swab and surge pressure need to be control so the well does not form a
kick or break down the formation.

Calculations
The friction gradient caused by the pipe movement using the slot flow
approach to laminar flow an equation can be derived

μ (v a − .5v p )
ΔPfsp =
1000(d h − d pod )
2

taking the Newtonian equation

μv a
ΔPfs =
1000(d h − d pod )
2

μv ae
combining ΔPfs = v ae = v a − .5v p
1000(d h − d pod )
2

For non-newtonian fluids clinging factor Kc is introduced

v ac = v a − K c v p

1 α2
Laminar Kc = +
2 ln α 1 − α 2

Turbulent Kc =
(α 4
)
+ α / (1 + α ) + α 2
1−α 2

α = d pod / d h
There are two cases to consider
Closed end pipe
Open ended pipe

For closed in pipe the flow rate in the annulus is equal to the rate of the fluid
being displaced by the pipe.

πd pod
2
vp
Qa =
4

2
d pod vp
va =
d h2 − d pod
2

Finding the annular velocity for open ended pipe is much more complicated
so it is usually ignored.

Example
Depth 10,000’ hole size is 7.875”
Drill pipe 4” OD Collars 6” OD
Mud 10#/gal θ600 65 θ300 40
Pressure gradient .5 psi/ft
Frac gradient .56 psi/ft

Determine the max pipe speed for tripping the drill string.

Assume closed ended pipe when a bit is in the hole.

2
d pod vp 42 v p
v adp = = = .35v p
d h2 − d pod
2
7.845 2 − 4 2

2
d pod vp 62 v p
v adc = = = .1.38v p
d h2 − d pod
2
7.845 2 − 6 2

α dp = d pod / d h = 4 / 7.875 = .51 α dc = d pod / d h = 6 / 7.875 = .762

For drill pipe
1 α2 1 .512
K cdp = + = + = −.391 laminar
2 ln α 1 − α 2 2 ln .51 1 − .512

K cdp =
(α 4
)
+ α / (1 + α ) + α 2
=
.514 + .51 /(1 + .51) .512
= −.484 turbulent
1−α 2 1 − .512

Kcdc=-.453 Kcdc=-.5

v ac = v a − K c v p v aedp = .35v p − ( −.391)v p = .741v p Laminar

v aedp = .35v p − (−.484)v p = .384v p Turbulent

assume a laminar flow around the drill pipe

ΔPswab ≤ ΔPHM − ΔPff = .52 − .5 = .02 psi / ft

ΔPsurge ≥ ΔPfrac − ΔPHM = .56 − .53 = .04 psi / ft

take the bingham equation

μ p v aedp τy
ΔPfa = +
1000(d h − d od ) 2
200(d h − d od )

For swab
25 ⋅ .741v p 15
.02 = +
1000(7.875 − 4) 2
200(7.875 − 4)

v p ≤ 1.5 ft / s

For surge
v p ≤ 4.3 ft / s
Other details

Remember also the pressure on the formations during drilling is increased by

the friction pressure in the annulus.

Buoyancy
The weight of the drill string in the hole is affected by the fluid in the hole.
Buoyancy effect will lower the effective weight of the string, and the weight
on the bit.
⎛ ρ ⎞
We = W ⎜⎜1 − m ⎟⎟
⎝ ρs ⎠
We effective weight
W weight in air
ρm density of the mud
ρs density of steel 65.5#/gal 490#/ft3

The neutral point in the drill string is ideally just below the top of the drill
collars.