DRILLING HYDRAULICS
PUMP
Fig. 4.6-Schematic of well control operations.
4.4 Annular Pressures During
Well Control Operations
One of the more important applications of the hydrostatic
pressure relationships is the determination of annular
pressures during well control operations. Well control
operations refer to the emergency procedures followed
when formation fluids begin flowing into the well and
displacing the drilling fluid. The flow of formation fluids
into the well is called a kick. A schematic illustrating the
hydraulic flow paths during well-control operations is
shown in Fig. 4.6. Formation fluids that have flowed in-
to the wellbore generally must be removed by circulating
the well through an adjustable choke at the surface. The
bottomhole pressure of the well at all times must remain
above the pore pressure of the formation to prevent addi-
tional influx of formation fluid. However, a com-
plicating factor is the danger of fracturing a weaker
stratum that also is exposed to the hydraulic pressure.
Fracturing of an exposed stratum often results in an
underground blowout in which an uncontrolled flow of
formation fluids from the high-pressure stratum to the
fractured stratum occurs. Thus, the proper well control
strategy is to adjust a surface choke so that the bot-
tomhole pressure of the well is maintained just slightly
above the formation pressure.
A plot of the surface annular pressure vs. the volume
of drilling fluid circulated is called an annular pressure
profile. Although annular pressure calculations are not
required for well control procedure used by most
operators today, a prior knowledge of kick behavior
helps in the preparation of appropriate contingency
plans. Since annular frictional pressure losses are
generally small at the circulating rates used in well con-
trol operations, the calculations can be made using the
hydrostatic pressure equations. 5-9
4.4.1 Kick Identification
The annular pressure profile that will be observed during
well control operations depends to a large extent on the
composition of the kick fluids. In general, a gas kick
causes higher annular pressures than a liquid kick. This
is true because a gas kick (l) has a lower density than a
liquid kick and (2) must be allowed to expand as it is
pumped to the surface. Both of these factors result in a
lower hydrostatic pressure in the annulus. Thus, to main-
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119
Fig. 4.7-Schematic of initial well conditions during well control
operations.
tain a constant bottomhole pressure, a higher surface an-
nular pressure must be maintained using the adjustable
choke.
Kick composition must be specified for annular
pressure calculations made for the purpose of well plan-
ning. Kick composition generally is not known during
actual well control operations. However, the density of
the kick fluid can be estimated from the observed
drillpipe pressure, annular casing pressure, and pit gain.
The density calculation often will determine if the kick is
predominantly gas or liquid.
The density of the kick fluid is estimated most easily
by assuming that the kick fluid entered the annulus as a
slug. A schematic of initial well conditions after closing
the blowout preventer on a kick is shown in Fig. 4.7.
The volume of kick fluid present must be ascertained
from the volume of drilling fluid expelled from the an-
nulus into the pit before closing the blowout preventer.
The pit gain G usually is recorded by pit volume
monitoring equipment. If the kick volume is smaller than
the total capacity of the annulus opposite the drill collars,
the length of the kick zone, Li , can be expressed in
terms of the kick volume, V ko and the annular capacity,
C 3. Assuming the well diameter is approximately con-
stant, we obtain
Lk=VkC3, ........•................... (4.16)
where Lk is the length of the kick zone, V3 is the volume
of the kick zone, and C 3 is the annular capacity of the
hole opposite the drill collars expressed as length per unit
volume.
If the kick volume is larger than the total capacity of
the annulus opposite the drill collars, then the length of
the kick zone, Li ; is given by
L =L +(V
k 3 k- ~: )C 2, .•...........• (4.17)
where L3 is the total length of the drill collars and C 3 is
the annular capacity of the hole opposite the drill pipe
expressed as length per unit volume. A pressure balance
?n t~e initial well system for a uniform mud density, Pm'
IS given by
120 APPLIED DRILLING ENGINEERING

blowout preventer. The volume of the kick-contaminated

zone can be estimated using

Vk =G+qtd, (4.20)

thus allowing the mean density of the kick-contaminated

zone to be computed using Eq. 4.18. The mean density
P k of the mixed zone then can be related to the density of
the kick fluid using the mixture equations. Since a
significant amount of natural mixing occurs (even if the
Co = 12.9 ftlbbl pump is not operating when formation gas enters the
a ~ well), Eq. 4.20 tends to predict a mixture volume that is
o

0
. e (

PI = 9.6 PPCl
too low.

0= 10,000 ft
• 0
Cdp= 137 bbl
o •
0
Example 4.6. A well is being drilled at a vertical depth of
10,000 ft while circulating a 9.6-lbm/gal mud at a rate of
8.5 bbllmin when the well begins to flow. Twenty bar-

I
Mud-Gas Mixture
20 bbl of Gas rels of mud are gained in the pit over a 3-minute period
--- 25.5 bbl of Mud before the pump is stopped and the blowout preventers
1081ftf
--- Co = 28.6 ft/bbl are closed. After the pressures stabilized, an initial
- drillpipe pressure of 520 psig and an initial casing
900ft
- pressure of 720 psig are recorded. The annular capacity
of the casing opposite the drillpipe is 12.9 ft/bbl. The an-
nular capacity opposite the 900 ft of drill collars is 28.6
ft/bbl. Compute the density of the kick fluid. The total
capacity of the drillstring is 130 bbl.

Solution. A schematic illustrating the geometry of this

Fig. 4.8-Schematic for Example 4.6. example is given in Fig. 4.8. The total capacity opposite
the 900 ft of drill collars is

Solving this expression for the density of the kick, Pk, 900 ft
yields ---- = 31.5 bbl.
28.6 ft/bbl

.................... (4.18) If it is assumed that the kick fluids entered as a slug, then
the volume of kick fluid is less than the total annular
capacity opposite the drill collars. Thus,
A kick density less than about 4 Ibm/gal should indicate
that the kick fluid is predominantly gas, and a kick densi- t., =20 bbl (28.6 ft/bbl)=572 ft.
ty greater than about 8 Ibm/gal should indicate that the
kick fluid is predominantly liquid. Using Eq. 4.18, the density of the kick fluid is given by
Several factors can cause large errors in the calculation
of kick fluid density when the kick volume is small. Hole 720-520
washout can make the determination of kick length dif- Pk =9.6- =2.9 Ibm/gal.
ficult. In addition, the pressure gauges often do not read 0.052(572)
accurately at low pressures. Also, the effective annular
mud density may be slightly greater than the mud density The results should be interpreted as an indication of low-
in the drillpipe because of entrained drilled solids. Fur- density kick fluid-i.e., a gas.
thermore, the kick fluid is mixed with a significant quan- If it is assumed that the kick fluids are mixed with the
tity of mud and often cannot be represented accurately as mud pumped while the well was flowing,
a slug. Thus, the kick density computed using Eq. 4.18
should be viewed as only a rough estimate. Vk =20 bbl +8.5 bbllmin(3 min)=45.5 bbl.
Some improvement in the accuracy of the kick density
calculation can be achieved if the volume of mud mixed The length of mixed zone is given by Eq. 4.17 as
with the formation fluids is known. The minimum mud
volume that was mixed with the kick fluids can be t., =900+(45.5-31.5)12.9= 1081 ft.
estimated using the expression
Using Eq. 4.18, the mean density of the mixed zone is
Vw=a!«. (4.19) given by

where q is the flow rate of the pumps, and t a is the kick 720-520
Pk =9.6- =6.04 Ibm/gal.
detection time before stopping the pump and closing the (0.052)(1,081)

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PARA COMPRAR AL DETAL O AL MAYOR, ESTE Y OTROS PRODUCTOS, FAVOR PREGUNTAR POR EL GÖAJIRO BLANCO, EN EL MERCADO LAS PLAYITAS.
DRILLING HYDRAULICS 121

Since the column of mixed zone is only 1,081 ft long and Similarly, the equivalent density at the casing seat depth
under high pressure, the mean density can be related to of 3,500 ft is given by
the kick fluid density using equations for the effective
density of incompressible mixtures. 720
Pe = +9.6= 13.56 Ibm/gal.
0.052(3,500)
20Pk +25.5(9.6)
6.04= .
45.5 After pumping 300 bbl of 1O.6-lbm/galmud, the volume
of 10.6-lbm/gal mud in the annulus at the bottom of the
Solving this equation for the kick fluid density yields hole is

6.04(45.5) -9.6(25.5) 300-130= 170 bbl.

Pk = = 1.5 Ibm/gal,
20 This is true since the total drillstring capacity is 130 bbl.
The length of this region is given by
which also indicates that the kick fluid is a gas.
L. =900+(170-31.5)12.9=2,687 ft.

The region above the new mud in the annulus will con-
4.4.2 Annular Pressure Prediction tain 130 bbl of9.6-lbm/gal mud that was displaced from
the drillpipe. The length of this region is given by
The same hydrostatic pressure balance approach used to
identify the kick fluids also can be used to estimate the
L2 = 130(12.9)= 1,677 ft.
pressure at any point in the annulus for various well con-
ditions. During well control operations, the bottomhole
The region above the 9.6-lbm/gal mud will contain
pressure will be maintained constant at a value slightly
methane gas. The approximate pressure of the gas is
above the formation pressure through the operation of an
needed to compute the gas volume. The pressure at the
adjustable choke. Thus, it is usually convenient to ex-
bottom of the gas region can be computed from the
press the pressure at the desired point in the annulus in
known bottomhole pressure, which is 50 psi higher than
terms of the known bottomhole pressure. This requires a
the formation pressure.
knowledge of only the length and density of each fluid
region between the bottom of the hole and the point of
Pg =5,512+50-0.052(10.6)(2,687)
interest. When a gas kick is involved, the length of the
gas region must be determined using the real gas equa-
-0.052(9.6)(1,677)=3,244 psig.
tion. For simplicity, it usually is assumed that the kick
region remains as a continuous slug that does not slip
This pressure occurs at a depth of
relative to the mud.
10,000-2,687 -1 ,677 =5,636 ft.

Example 4.7. Again consider the kick described in Ex-

For ideal gas behavior, the volume of the gas is given by
ample 4.6. Compute the mud density required to kill the
well and the equivalent density at the casing seat for the (5,512+ 14.7)
shut-in well conditions. Also compute the equivalent V =20 bbl 339 bbl
g (3,244+ 14.7) . ,
density that would occur at the casing seat after pumping
300 bbl of kill mud while maintaining the bottomhole
pressure 50 psi higher than the formation pressure and the length of the gas region is given by
through use of an adjustable surface choke. Assume the
kick is methane gas at a constant temperature of 140°F Lg =33.9(12.9)=437 ft.
and that the gas behaves as an ideal gas.
The density of the gas is given by Eq. 4.5b.

Solution. The formation pressure is given by pM (3,244+ 14.7)16

Pg = -80-.3-z-T= -80-.-3(-1-)(4-60-+-1-40-)
Pbh =520+0.052(9.6)(10,000)=5,512 psig.

= 1.08 Ibm/gal.
The mud density required to overcome this formation
pressure is given by The region above the gas contains 9.6-lbm/gal mud.
Thus, we can compute the pressure at 3,500 ft from the
520+0.052(9.6)(10,000) 520 known pressure of 3,244 psig at 5,636 ft using
P2=
0.052( 10,000) 0.052(10,000) p=3,244 -0.052(1.08)(437)

+9.6= 10.6 Ibm/gal. -0.052(9.6)(5,636-437 - 3,500) =2,371 psig.

© 2007 COPYRIGHT MERCADO NEGRO, LAS PLAYITAS. MARACAIBO-EDO. ZULIA, VENEZUELA.

PARA COMPRAR AL DETAL O AL MAYOR, ESTE Y OTROS PRODUCTOS, FAVOR PREGUNTAR POR EL GÖAJIRO BLANCO, EN EL MERCADO LAS PLAYITAS.