Baroid Well Control Supervisory Level

U-Tube Theory
Well control is based on the U-tube theory. The theory states that pressures on both sides
(drill pipe and annulus) of a well are equal. The U-tube helps show the importance of
maintaining a constant bottom hole pressure at a level greater than or equal to the
formation pressure.

U-Tube Theory example 1:

In Figure 1-8, both sides of the U-tube are filled with 10 lb/gal mud and the system is
closed at the top on both sides. The bottom hole pressure is equal to the sum of the mud
hydrostatic pressure (5,200 psi at 10,000 ft) plus any gauge pressures at the surface (0
psi). Both sides of this system exert the same amount of pressure, so the system is
balanced and is in equilibrium.

0 0
SIDPP PSI PSI SICP

10 lb/gal 10 lb/gal

Drill pipe Annulus

side side 10,000 ft

5,200
PSI

Figure 1-8: U-Tube Theory Example 1

Where:

MW = 10 lb/gal
TVD = 10,000 ft
SIDPP = 0 psi
SICP = 0 psi
Drill pipe side: BHP = Mud HP + SIDPP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 5,200 psi

Drill pipe side: BHP = 5,200 psi + 0 psi = 5,200 psi

Annulus side: BHP = Mud HP + SICP

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MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 5,200 psi

Annulus side: BHP = 5,200 psi + 0 psi = 5,200 psi

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U-Tube Theory example 2:

In Figure 1-9, the system is closed at the top on both sides and 6,000 psi of pressure is
exerted at the bottom. The mud hydrostatic pressure is equal to 5,200 psi on both sides. A
formation pressure of 6,000 psi is enough to force the 10 lb/gal mud out of the u-tube (if
one or both sides of the u-tube were left open). To balance the closed u-tube, the required
gauge pressures, for both sides, at the surface are 800 psi.
800 800
SIDPP PSI PSI SICP

10 lb/gal 10 lb/gal

Drill pipe Annulus

side side 10,000 ft

Formation pressure = 6000 psi

Figure 1-9: U-Tube Theory Example 2

Where:

MW = 10 lb/gal
TVD = 10,000 ft
SIDPP = 800 psi
SICP = 800 psi
FP = 6,000 psi
Drill pipe side: BHP = Mud HP + SIDPP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 5,200 psi

Drill pipe side: BHP = 5,200 psi + 800 psi = 6,000 psi

Annulus side: BHP = Mud HP + SICP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 5,200 psi

Annulus side: BHP = 5,200 psi + 800 psi = 6,000 psi

U-Tube Theory example 3:

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In Figure 1-10, the system is closed on both sides at the top. The drill pipe side has 10
lb/gal mud and the annulus side has 9 lb/gal mud. The mud hydrostatic pressure on the
drill pipe side is 5,200 psi and the mud hydrostatic pressure on the annulus side is 4,680
psi. To balance the bottom hole pressure at 5,200 psi will require 0 psi gauge pressure at
the surface on the drill pipe side and 520 psi gauge pressure at the surface on the annulus
side.

0 520
SIDPP PSI PSI SICP

10 lb/gal 9 lb/gal

Drill pipe Annulus

side side 10,000 ft

BHP
5,200
PSI
Figure 1-10: U-Tube Theory Example 3

Where:

MW in the Drill Pipe side = 10 lb/gal

MW in the Annulus side = 9 lb/gal
TVD = 10,000 ft
SIDPP = 0 psi
SICP = 520 psi
BHP = 5,200 psi
Drill pipe side: BHP = Mud HP + SIDPP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 5,200 psi

Drill pipe side: BHP = 5,200 psi + 0 psi = 5,200 psi

Annulus side: BHP = Mud HP + SICP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 9 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 4,680 psi

Annulus side: BHP = 4,680 psi + 520 psi = 5,200 psi

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U-Tube Theory example 4:

In Figure 1-11, the system is closed on both sides at the top. The drill pipe side has 10,000
ft of 10 lb/gal mud and the annulus side has 7,000 ft of 10 lb/gal mud plus 3,000 ft of gas
at approximately 2.31 lb/gal. The formation pressure is 6,000 psi. The mud hydrostatic is
5,200 psi on the drill pipe side and the mud hydrostatic is 3,640 psi on the annulus side
plus 360 psi hydrostatic from the gas. To balance the bottom hole pressure at 6,000 psi
will require a shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP) of 800 psi and a shut-in casing pressure
(SICP) of 2,000 psi.

800 2000
SIDPP PSI PSI SICP

10 lb/gal 10 lb/gal

7,000 ft
Drill pipe Annulus
side side

Gas 3,000 ft

Formation pressure = 6,000 psi

Figure 1-11: U-Tube Theory Example 4

Where:

MW = 10 lb/gal
TVD = 10,000 ft
SIDPP = 800 psi
SICP = 2,000 psi
BHP = 6,000 psi
FP = 6,000 psi

Drill pipe side: BHP = Mud HP + SIDPP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 5,200 psi

Drill pipe side: BHP = 5,200 psi + 800 psi = 6,000 psi

Annulus side: BHP = Mud HP + Kick HP + SICP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

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MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 7,000 ft = 3,640 psi

Kick HP = Kick density x 0.052 x TVD

Kick HP = 2.31 lb/gal x 0.052 x 3,000 ft = 360 psi

Annulus side: BHP = 3,640 psi + 360 psi + 2,000 psi = 6,000 psi

U-Tube Theory example 5:

In Figure 1-12, the system is being circulated and choke back pressure is being imposed.
The annulus pressure loss at constant pump rate is 100 psi. The drill pipe has 10,000 ft of
10 lb/gal mud and the annulus side has 7,000 ft of 10 lb/gal plus 3,000 ft of gas at
approximately 2.31 lb/gal. The formation pressure is 5,700 psi. To balance the bottom hole
pressure at 5,700 psi requires choke back pressure to provide 400 psi on the drill pipe
gauge and 1,200 psi on the casing gauge.
Drill pipe 400 1,200 Casing
pressure PSI PSI pressure

10 lb/gal 10 lb/gal

7,000 ft
Drill pipe Annulus
side side

Gas 3,000 ft

Formation pressure = 5,700 psi

Figure 1-12: U-Tube Theory choke back pressure

Where:

MW = 10 lb/gal
TVD = 10,000 ft
SIDPP = 400 psi
SICP = 1,200 psi
APL = 100 psi
FP = 5,700 psi
Drill pipe side: BHP = Mud HP + APL + CBP

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 10,000 ft = 5,200 psi

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Choke Back Pressure = FP - (Mud HP + APL)

Choke Back Pressure = 5,700 psi - (5,200 psi + 100 psi)

Choke Back Pressure = 5,700 psi - 5,300 psi = 400 psi

Drill pipe side: BHP = 5,200 psi + 100 psi + 400 psi = 5,700 psi

Annulus side: BHP = Mud HP + Kick HP + Gauge + APL

MUD HP = MW x 0.052 x TVD

MUD HP = 10 lb/gal x 0.052 x 7,000 ft = 3,640 psi

Kick HP = Kick density x 0.052 x TVD

Kick HP = 2.31 lb/gal x 0.052 x 3,000 ft = 360 psi

Choke Back Pressure = FP - (Mud HP + Kick HP + APL + Gauge)

Choke Back Pressure = 5,700 psi - (3,640 psi + 360 psi + 100 psi + 1,200 psi)

Choke Back Pressure = 5,700 psi - 5,300 psi = 400 psi

Annulus side: BHP = 3,640 psi + 360 psi + 1,200 psi + 100 psi + 400 psi = 5,700 psi

The drill pipe side of the u-tube is normally uncontaminated with formation fluid. The
hydrostatic pressure exerted by the mud in the drill pipe is effective over the pressure loss
(known by prior measurement). The shut-in drill pipe pressure is also known. This means
that the bottom hole pressure on the drill pipe side is known. If we pump at a constant rate
and restrict the choke openings correctly, we can calculate the bottom hole pressure on the
drill pipe side. Since the system is balanced, we can hold the bottom hole pressure on the
drill pipe side equal to the formation pressure. The annulus side will also be balanced
relative to the formation pressure since the drill pipe side and annulus side are balanced
relative to each other. Thus, we can hold the bottom hole pressure constant by
manipulating the drill pipe pressure. Given the system pressure loss, hydrostatic pressure
of the mud in the fill pipe, and the shut-in drill pipe pressure, we can compute the
formation pressure and the necessary drill pipe pressure at all times.
The annulus side of the u-tube is frequently contaminated with an unknown weight and
volume of formation influx. The total hydrostatic pressure in the annulus is lighter in
Figure 1-12 because the drilling fluid is cut or replaced by formation fluid which has the
effect of reducing the mud weight or column length or both. Due to this, the casing
pressure cannot generally be used to compute bottom hole pressure, but any change in
casing pressure will result in a like change in drill pipe pressure. The system is balanced
and closed, so any change in the imposed pressure at the choke will be felt equally at all
points in the system. Thus, it is possible to hold the bottom hole pressure constant at the
desired level. This is the underlying principle of well control.

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January 1997