Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control

Secondary Well Control Surface Stack

SHALLOW GAS HAZARDS

Content Page
Shallow Gas Hazard Introduction ......................................................................... 1

Conditions that Favor Shallow Gas Kicks ............................................................. 2

Causes of Shallow Gas Kicks While Drilling ......................................................... 4

Causes of Shallow Gas Kicks While Tripping ....................................................... 7

Causes of Shallow Gas Kicks While Cementing ................................................... 10

Warning Signs of Shallow Gas Kicks .................................................................... 13

Diverter Equipment Arrangement and Operation .................................................. 16

Recovery of Mud/Water While Diverting ............................................................... 17

Flow-Check & Diverter Procedures While Drilling ................................................. 18

Flow-Check & Diverter Procedures While Tripping ............................................... 19

Pre-Spud Shallow Gas Investigation .................................................................... 20

Pre-Spud Detection of Shallow Gas Hazards ....................................................... 21

Pre-Spud Preparations & Recommendations ............................................... 22

Surface Hole Drilling Preparations & Recommendations ..................................... 23

Preparations & Recommendations for Pulling Out of the Hole ............................. 24

Preparations & Recommendations for Opening the Pilot Hole .............................. 25

 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
SHALLOW GAS HAZARDS
Introduction:
Shallow Gas Hazard - A permeable gas-bearing formation drilled at
Diverter
some depth between spud-in and the setting depth of the first
10” Steel Line casing shoe capable of pressure containment; usually the surface
casing string (+/-1000m; +/-3000’).
Mud Cross

Low fracture strength at the structural pipe and conductor casing

10” Diverter
Valves shoe depths is not sufficient to contain shut-in pressure. With the
close proximity to surface, kick shut-in pressure would likely broach
to surface from around the casing. To avoid this high potential
situation, kicks above surface casing shoe must be diverted.

Structural Pipe
Diverting - A method of directing the gas kick flow down-wind of the
100m (330’) location while attempting to fill the wellbore with mud and re-
establish Primary Well Control.
Water Sand
150m (492’)
Diverting is not a well control procedure, per se. A shallow gas
event is better defined as a diverted blowout. Gas flow into the
wellbore is not controlled until the open hole caves-in, kick zone
pressure depletes and/or sufficient hydrostatic pressure is re-
established.
Historically, the shallow gas blowout will deplete and/or bridge in
less than 12-hours. If the shallow gas blowout is not controlled in 1
to 2-days, gas flow will likely continue for an extended time; weeks,
months, some have continued for years.
Published studies from around the world consistently report an
Water Sand
400m (1312’) alarming failure rate of diverter systems; typically in the range of
50% - 70%. Assuming the diverter system was properly designed,
Conductor Shoe installed and operated, sonic gas flow rates with high sand content
450m (1476’)
can erode the ID of the diverter line at 0.64cm/hr (1/4”/hr).
Gas Sand
The diverter system is not intended to prevent blowouts. It is
540m (1772’) designed to contain and divert the gas flow down wind of location to
allow time for remedial attempts and to start personnel evacuation.

Gas Sand
800m (2625’)

Surface Csg Seat

2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Conditions that Favor Shallow Gas Kicks
Low Overbalance:
Although surface hole mud weights may seem significant, the shallow depths of the surface
hole produces a relatively low hydrostatic overbalance pressure. The graph below shows the
change in overbalance pressure relative to depth considering normal formation pressure of 1.0
sg (8.3 ppg) with 1.14 sg (9.5 ppg) mud weight.

500m
100 psi Overbalance

1
DEPTH (1000 m)

1.14
sg M
W(
1.0 9.5 p
2 sg F pg)
P (8
.33
ppg
)
3
3048m (10,000’)
606 psi Overbalance
0 1 2 3 4 5

FORMATION PRESSURE (1000 psi)

At 3048m (10,000’), a 1.14sg mud will overbalance the formation pressure by 606 psi. While at
500m (1640’), the same mud weight provides only 100 psi overbalance. Just a small loss of
hydrostatic pressure or a small increase in formation pressure could produce a kick.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Conditions that Favor Shallow Gas Hazards

High Flow Rate from Kick Zone:

Shallow unconsolidated surface formations can be very prolific
with 30%+ porosity and 1+Darcy permeability. If caving of the
unconsolidated sand was not controlled, hole enlargement
increases the permeable area exposed to the wellbore.
After a kick is induced into the wellbore, gas flow rate will
accelerate very quickly. This reduces the time the crew has to
detect the kick and respond to the event.

Rapid Gas Expansion:

Gas expansion occurs more rapidly in the lower pressures as it
approaches surface. This also serves to reduce kick detection
and response time.

Surface Pressure Cannot be Imposed:

Due to low fracture integrity, surface pressure cannot be
imposed to prevent further kick flow into the wellbore and
Conductor Shoe
expansion of the gas approaching surface.
450m (1476’)

Reliability of the Diverting Operation:

Gas Sand To regain control of the well, mud must be pumped into the
wellbore at a rate faster than the formation can flow gas into
the wellbore. Considering a typical surface hole operation with
normal rig circulating equipment, a diverting operation has only
a minimal chance of success.
In most cases, the shallow sand depletes and/or the hole
bridges (avg 12 hrs). Pumping at maximum rate, surface
Gas Sand mud/water volume will deplete in 2 to 3-hours. Depending on
diverter system design, failure can occur at anytime and will
likely occur (60% probability) before the shallow gas blowout
stops.
Surface Csg Seat
2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Causes of Shallow Gas Kicks While Drilling
Introduction:
Statics indicate +/-25% of recorded shallow gas kicks occurred
during the drilling operation. While drilling, wellbore pressure
is higher due to annulus friction pressure and the cuttings load
carried in the annulus mud column. The higher hydrostatic
pressure (HSP) reduces the possibility of kicks.
Causes of shallow gas kicks while drilling are listed below in
Loss of order of probability.
Mud Column
Height •Loss of Circulation
•Core Volume Gas Cut Mud Weight
•Abnormally Pressured Gas Sand
Loss of Circulation
Total Loss of Circulation - Wellbore fluid level can not be
maintained due to the total loss of the circulating volume.
Total loss of circulation can occur immediately or possibly
begin with patrial losses and eventually escalate to total loss
of circulation.
Partial Loss of Circulation - Wellbore fluid level can be
maintained while circulating as only part of the circulating
volume is lost. If circulation is stopped, however, fluid level will
fall down hole.
The loss of fluid column height results in a loss of hydrostatic
pressure drawing the well underbalance and inducing a kick.
Shallow unconsolidated surface formations can have very high
porosity and permeability. While drilled, partial circulation can
be lost to the naturally existing permeability; a common
The Loss of HSP
Induces a Gas Kick
occurrence in surface hole.
Gas Sand Shallow formations also exhibit low fracture strength.
Excessive wellbore pressure can fracture the formation
resulting in total loss of circulation to the pressure induced
permeability.
While drilling, the loss zone will likely occur at bottom. If a
shallower gas zone exist, the loss of hydrostatic pressure
induces a kick into the wellbore.
In this situation, the kill mud circulated down the drillstring is
Kill Mud is Lost to lost to the loss zone while the shallower gas zone is flowing
the Loss Zone
freely to surface.
Loss Zone

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Core Volume Gas Cut Mud (Drilled Gas)
•

Drilled Gas - The volume of gas contained in the pore spaces of the drilled rock.
As the rock is drilled into cuttings, the pore gas is released into the drilling fluid and circulated
to surface along with the cuttings.
Overbalance pressure cannot prevent drilled gas from entering the wellbore. The pore fluid is
part of the total core-volume that is excavated by the bit and circulated to surface. Just like the
cuttings, core gas must be circulated out of the wellbore.

70% 30%
Rock Pore Fluid 70% Cuttings
6% Water
+ 24% Gas
= Core Volume

Gas
Hole
Water

• Core volume gas cut mud is not a serious problem in deep hole operations where lower
formation porosity, slower ROP, thin sand layers and faster annular velocities (AV) limits the
concentration of core gas in the returning mud volume.
Surface hole conditions, however, favor the potential of inducing a kick from the core gas
volume drilled into the wellbore.
•Higher formation porosity (30%+) produces more core gas volume per length of hole drilled.
•Thick sand sections.
•High ROP produces more core gas volume per unit volume of mud circulated.
•Slow AV allows a higher concentration of core gas in the returning mud volume.
•Relatively low overbalance with the shallow surface hole depths.
With these conditions present, a shallow gas kick can be induced due to core volume gas
drilled into the wellbore.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Abnormally Pressured Gas Sand
Formation pressure in the surface hole section is usually considered to be Normal.
Normal FP - Formation pressure equal to the hydrostatic pressure of a full column of native
formation water at the true vertical depth (TVD) of interest.
Higher-than-normal (abnormal) formation pressure can develop in shallow formations under
certain conditions.
•A thick layer of gas bearing sand or a tilted gas sand structure.
•Drilling in a field where past underground blowout(s) has charged shallow zones.
•Drilling in a old field with wells that are leaking gas to the shallower zones.

FPTop = (GasBott - GasTop) x 1.42 x (FPsg - Gassg) + (Fpsg x 1.42 x GasTop)

(750 - 500) x 1.42 x (1.0 - 0.23) + (1.0 x 1.42 x 500)
Surface (270) + (710) = 980 psi FP
0
FP 980 psi - HSP 810 psi = 170 psi Underbalance
1.14
1.0 s

sg M

250
g FP

W (9
DEPTH m

810 psi HSP at

.5 pp
(8.33

Top of Sand Lense

g)
ppg)

980 psi FP at
Top of Sand Lense
Shallow 500
Gas Bearing HSP of
Sand Lense Gas Column
250m
in Sand Lense
(820’)

750
0 1 2
FORMATION PRESSURE (1000 psi)

In the example, if the well penetrates near the crest of the tilted sand lense, HSP is under
balance by 170 psi; an Underbalance Kick is now in progress.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Causes of Shallow Gas Kicks While Tripping
Introduction:
•

Statics indicate 60%+ of recorded shallow gas

kicks occurred during the tripping operation.
This is logical as minimum wellbore pressure
occurs while pulling out of the hole. The hole
Conductor Shoe has been circulated clean of cutting, the pipe is
450m (1476’) POOH on the elevators (loss of annulus friction
Patrial Loss of
Circulation pressure) and the swabbing effect decreases
hydrostatic pressure.
Causes of shallow gas kicks while tripping are
listed below in order of probability.
•Swabbing
Balled-up Stabilizers •Improper hole fill procedure
and Bit
•Total loss of circulation

Swabbing
Swab Pressure - The reduction in hydrostatic
pressure caused by upward string movement.
Considering a typical surface hole situation,
The potential of swabbing a kick can be very
high.
Gas Sand
•Low overbalance (25 psi to 200 psi)
•BHA balled-up with sticky clays
•Fast pipe pulling speed
With 60%+ of shallow gas kicks occurring while
pulling out of the hole, swabbing is the number
one cause of shallow gas kicks.
Great care must be taken to minimize or
Gas Sand
eliminate swab pressure and to ensure hole fill
procedures are strictly applied.
With the bit off bottom, it would be impossible
to regain control of the well until the gas sand
depletes or the hole bridges.

Surface Csg Seat

2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Improper Hole Fill Procedure

1-m3 Improper Hole Fill Procedure - Failure to

•

Steel Out maintain a complete column of present mud

weight while pulling out of the hole.
1-m3 Improper hole fill is the indication of swabbing;
Mud In the primary cause of shallow gas kicks. As the
steel volume is pulled out of the hole, an equal
volume of mud is required to fill the hole.
If the hole fill volume is less than the steel
volume pulled, swabbing of gas into the wellbore
must be assumed.
Also, proper hole fill procedure may not be
implemented: trip tank pump not running; no trip
sheet used; improperly calculated trip sheet;
improperly tallied hole fill volume; filling the hole
with light mud weight; etc.
Proper hole fill procedure is much more critical
while pulling out of surface hole due to the low
overbalance.
Filling the hole with the rig pump after pulling a
few stands allows the fluid level to drop down
hole. The resulting loss of hydrostatic pressure
coupled with swab pressure greatly increases
the potential of a shallow gas kick.
To avoid the loss of column height, some Drillers
will keep the mud pump running while pulling
out. This will keep the hole full but will also mask
the possibility of swabbing a kick into the well.
The Circulating Trip Tank is the ideal
equipment to maintain a complete column of
mud in the well while pulling out of the hole.
The trip tank pump keeps the hole full while the
decrease in trip tank volume versus steel volume
pulled indicates if swabbing is occurring.

Mud from above the BHA

must fill the area once
occupied by the BHA

Gas Sand

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Total Loss of Circulating While Tripping
Running Total Loss of Circulation - The loss of
Casing wellbore hydraulic integrity allowing the mud
column level to drop down hole.
With the loss of mud column height, hydrostatic
pressure is loss and quickly draws the well
Loss of underbalance to formation pressure inducing a
Mud Column
Height kick into the wellbore.
Total loss of circulation is more likely to occur
while drilling when wellbore pressure is highest
with the cuttings load and annulus friction
pressure imposed. Also, newly drilled
formations exposed to the wellbore may have
high permeability and/or low fracture strength.
While pulling out of the hole, wellbore pressure
is the lowest providing the least chance of loss
of circulation. All formations to depth have
been exposed to higher pressure during the
drilling operation.
The potential for loss of circulation while
tripping occurs while running in the hole. A
round trip with the drillstring may be necessary
to change the bit, fix BHA problems or drillstring
washout.
The greatest potential, however, occurs while
running the conductor or surface casing string.
High surge pressure fractures the formation
causing the fluid level to fall down hole and
draws the well underbalance.

The Loss of HSP

Induces a Gas Kick
Gas Sand

High Surge Pressure

Fractures the Formation

Loss Zone

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Causes of Shallow Gas Kicks While Cementing
Cementing Introduction:
Surface Statics indicate +/-5% of recorded shallow gas
Vacuum Casing kicks occurred during the casing cementing
operation. In this situation, the casing string is on
bottom and the kick is induced by a reduction in
hydrostatic pressure.
During the dynamic kill operation, the large OD of
the casing string will produce more annulus friction
Mud and pressure. This factor increase the possibility of
Cement falling regaining control of the well.
Down Casing The safer approach, however, is understanding the
causes of kicks during the cementing operation and
taking the necessary action to prevent this
potentially critical event.
Causes of shallow gas kicks during cementing
operations are listed below in order of probability.
•Total Loss of Circulation
•Excessive volume of spacer, mud wash and/or
Excessive light lead slurry
Spacer
Volume •Failure of the float valve
•Gas flow through pre-set cement

Excessive Volume of Spacer, Mud Wash

The Loss of
AFP and HSP and/or a Light Lead Slurry
Induces a Gas Kick The loss of hydrostatic pressure caused by an
Gas Sand excessive volume of spacer, chemical wash and/or
a light lead slurry pumped ahead of the cement.
As the spacer, wash and lead slurry are pumped
above a gas sand, the loss of overbalance allows
gas to flow into the wellbore.
Also, while cementing, the cement slurry falls down
the casing, into the annulus and stalls before the
pumping volume can catch up. Annulus friction
pressure (AFP) is lost during this momentary stall
of the cement slurry adding to the loss of
overbalance pressure.
If the top of the cement is not circulated into the
last casing, high fluid loss to a permeable sand
can drain the spacer and mud wash out of the
wellbore. The loss of fluid column height draws the
well underbalance and induces a kick.
Surface Csg Seat
2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Failure of the Float Valve While Waiting on Cement to Cure
Cementing
Head During the operation of setting the casing slips, the
Removed float valve fails allowing the still-liquid cement to U-
Tubes back into the casing.
The loss of annulus column height draws the well
underbalance and induces a shallow gas kick.

Loss of
In this situation:
Column •The cement has been pumped in place;
Diverter Height
Disconnected •The cementing stinger (conductor casing) or
cement head (surface casing) has been removed
and;
•The diverter has been disconnected and raised up
to set the casing slips.
Unfortunately there will not likely be enough time to
reconnect the diverter and the circulating head to
initiate a diverter operation.
The location will have to be abandon and allow the
well to blowout.

The Loss of HSP

Induces a Gas Kick
Gas Sand

Float Valve
Failure

Surface Csg Seat

2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Gas Flow Through Pre-Set Cement
The loss of slurry density just as thickening time is reached and the cement particles become
self-supporting.
Prior to thickening time, the cement particles are suspended by the mix water. This produces a
slurry weight equal to the density of the mix water plus the density of the cement concentration.
In the transition from a liquid slurry to a solid cement, the cement particles began to hydrate
(absorb water) and attach to each other. Just as thickening time is reached, the cement
particles are sufficiently locked together and become self-supporting. The hydrostatic pressure
of the cement column decreases to only the mix water density drawing the well underbalance.
At this point in the curing process, the cement is still sufficiently permeable to allow gas flow
through the cement column. If the casing slips have not yet been installed, a shallow gas kick
is now in progress.

Before Thickening Time Thickening Time is Reached

Slurry Weight = 1.9 sg (15.8 ppg) Slurry Weight = 1.0 sg (8.3 ppg)

Casing

Cement Particles Self-Supporting

Suspended Cement Particles
by the Mix Water
Gas Flowing
Through Pre-Set
Cement

Gas Sand

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Warning Signs of Shallow Gas Kicks
Introduction:
With shallow gas kicks, it is absolutely vital to initiate the diverting operation soon after well
flow is detected. Within only 15+minutes after the kick starts, half the well depth can be
displaced with gas causing mud to erupt into the derrick. Surface hole conditions contributing
to this rapid escalation are:
• High porosity and permeability of the shallow sand can produce a prolific gas flow rate;
• In the short time for the initial influx volume to reach ½ of well depth, gas volume has double.
When the gas reaches 3/4 of well depth, gas volume has quadrupled.
• The rapid loss of hydrostatic pressure increases gas flow rate into the wellbore.
• Gas can reach surface is less than 30 minutes after the kick occurs.
The crew must be trained in kick detection and diverter operations with frequent diverter drills
to reduce the potential of a shallow gas blowout.

Warning Signs of Shallow Gas Kicks While Drilling

The causes of shallow gas kicks while drilling:
• Total Loss of Circulation;
• Core Volume Gas Cut Mud (Drilled Gas);
• Abnormally Pressured Gas Sand.
Total loss of circulation - The complete loss of circulating volume allowing the mud column
level to drop down hole. Even with full circulation, the wellbore cannot be maintained full of
mud. Total loss of circulation may begin with partial loss and escalate to total loss. In some
cases, full returns can immediately be lost when drilling into a permeable, vugular zone.
Indications:
• (Possible cause) high rate of penetration loads the annulus with cuttings.
• Partial loss of circulation may occur first. When circulation is stopped, the hole must be kept
full through the fill-up line.
• Complete loss of returning mud volume while circulating.

Core Volume Gas Cut Mud (Drilled Gas) - In surface hole operations, the volume of gas
drilled into the wellbore can be sufficient to gas-cut the mud density and induce a kick.
Indications:
• Background gas content increases in the returning mud.
• Returning mud weight is reduced (gas cut) and continues to decrease in density.
• Free gas is observed breaking out of the mud (foaming) in the pit.
• The smell of gas is strong over the mud pit.
• The Driller observes an increase in percent of return flow.
• The Driller observes a pit gain and possibly, a decrease in circulating pressure.
• A flow-check indicates a positive flow.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Abnormally Pressured Gas Sand - A thick gas sand or a tilted sand structure is drilled with
insufficient mud weight. The hydrostatic pressure is underbalance to the gas sand pressure
allowing gas flow into the wellbore (an Underbalance Kick).
Indications:
• Gas-cut mud weight may be observed.
• Possible drilling break. Depending on the drillability of the surface formations, a drilling break
(increase in ROP) may or may not be observed.
• The Driller observes an increase in percent of return flow.
• The Driller observes a pit gain and possibly, a decrease in circulating pressure.
• A flow-check indicates a positive flow.
Warning Signs of Shallow Gas Kicks While Tripping
Causes of shallow gas kicks while tripping:
• Swabbing
• Improper hole fill procedure
• Total loss of circulation
Swabbing - The reduction in hydrostatic pressure caused by upward string movement. With
the low overbalance in surface hole, swabbing is the most common cause of shallow gas kicks.
Indications:
• The Driller may observe overpull caused by tight hole and/or a balled-up BHA.
• The Driller may be pulling out of the hole too fast.
• Hole fill volume from the trip tank tally is less than the of steel volume pulled.
• A positive flow-check is observed.
Improper Hole Fill Procedure - Using a procedure that cannot determine an accurate hole fill
volume while pulling out of the hole.
Improper procedures include:
• Not using a Circulating Trip Tank (CTT) to fill the hole (filling the hole with the mud pump).
• No Trip Sheet prepared or used while pulling out of the hole.
• Improper calculation of the trip tank volume while pulling out of the hole.
• Improper use of the CTT (i.e., not leaving the CTT pump running while pulling out of the
hole, improper valve arrangement, etc).
• Drain line from the Mud Box not returning to the trip tank while pulling a wet string.
• Filling the hole with light mud weight.
Swabbing cannot be detected if an incorrect procedure is use or the correct procedure is not
properly applied. The only indication of a kick is a positive flow-check.
In this case, a kick is induced with the drillstring several stands off bottom. Killing the kick
through a diverter with the bit off bottom would be next to impossible.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Diverter Equipment Arrangement and Operation
Introduction:
With the shallow low fracture strength shoes of the structural pipe and conductor casing,
shallow kicks cannot be contained by shutting in a BOP. The formation will likely fracture
allowing gas to broach to surface from around the casing.
Instead, a diverter system is used to contain and divert the gas flow down-wind of the location
while attempting to fill the wellbore with mud and re-establish Primary Well Control. The diverter
must be designed to function quickly and direct gas flow through a large straight-as-possible
diver line to impose minimum pressure to the wellbore.
Diverter Control Panel
Diverter
Open Close

Desert Valve Pit Valve

Open Close Open Close
Diverter
Preventer

Close

Open Open

10” ID Steel Line Diverter Spool

10” Diverter
Valves

30”
Structural Pipe

The diverter control panel is mounted on the drill floor for quick access by the Driller. The
diverter preventer control valve is linked to the diverter line control valves so that one function
to close the diverter preventer opens the diverter line valves.
The diverter system must provide the option of down-wind diverting. Depending on the design
of the rig and the layout of the mud pits and other equipment surrounding the sub structure, the
diverter lines may connect to the diverter spool and run in opposite directions.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Typical Land Rig Diverter System
Most land rig layouts will need to first plumb the diverter line in one direction and then connect
to a targeted Tee outside of the sub structure and then run in opposite directions to provide
down wind diverting.

Diverter Control Panel

Return Flow Line
Diverter
to Pit Open Close

Desert Valve Pit Valve

Open Close Open Close

Top View

Check Valve

Reserve Tank
Water

Cellar

Sub Structure

Diverter Control Panel

Diverter
Open Close
Side View
Desert Valve Pit Valve
Open Close Open Close

Annular 10” Diverter

Reserve Tank Preventer Valves
Water Targeted
Close Tee
Check Valve

Diverter Spool 10” ID Steel Line

Cellar

A centrifugal pump line is connected to the diverter spool to pump water from the reserve pit
into the gas flow. This will reduce the possibility of gas ignition and help reduce diverter line
erosion rate. Water is pumped only with dry gas is flowing through the diverter.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Recovery of Mud/Water While Diverting
A diverter operation may have to continue for several hours before well control can be re-
established. Historically, the shallow gas blowout will deplete and/or bridge in less than 12-
hours. This is assuming the diverter line does not wash-out with the sonic velocity of the sand
laden gas flow.
Pumping mud or even water into the wellbore will decrease the velocity of gas flow through the
diverter line. This reduces the potential of diverter line failure, reduces the ignition potential by
keeping the gas wet and reduces kick influx rate by increasing wellbore hydrostatic pressure.
Unfortunately, a land based operation will have limited mud/water reserve capacity. Two rig
pumps (5.5” x 12”) running at a total of 160 SPM will pump 2.2 m 3 per minute. A 1000 m3
surface volume would last about 8 hours. To ensure at least 12-hours of diverting time, a 1500
m3 surface volume should be maintained.
Another approach is to recovered most of the returning mud/water volume for re-circulation.
This can be easily and safely done by running the prevailing down wind diverter line to a
reserve water pit. A centrifugal pump suction line is connected to a floating suction in the water
pit to pump the recovered water to the mud pit for re-circulation.
The water or mud can be re-circulated down hole or pumped directly into the diverter spool line
to keep the gas wet.

Prevailing Wind Direction Diverted Gas

Returning Mud/Water

Diverter Line

Centrifugal Pump Reserve Water Pit

Suction Line Check
Valve Floating Suction
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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Flow-Check & Diverter Procedures While Drilling

The importance of early kick detection and quick diverter response

in surface hole cannot be over emphasized. On the other hand,
initiating the diverting operation on a false indication of a kick can
pump away most of the heavy mud reserves. The heavier reserve
mud may cause loss of circulation which in turn, may induce an
actual kick.
It is absolutely vital that the drilling crews (primarily the Drillers) are
well versed in kick warning signs and frequently drilled in diverter
operations. If the Driller is not really sure if the well is kicking, he
should flow-check the well before initiating the diverter procedure.
The Driller has full authority and the responsibility to detect the
kick, flow-check the well and initiate diverter procedure without first
asking permission from the Drilling Supervisor.
Flow-Check Procedure:
1. Maintain rotation and circulation and raise the drillstring to the
shut-in position (first tooljoint 1m above rotary table).
2. Stop circulation and maintain slow rotation (i.e., 10 RPM).
Check for flow at the flow-line for 15-minutes.
Conductor Shoe 3. If positive well flow is detected, initiate the diverter procedure.
450m (1476’)

If the Driller detects obvious kick warning signs while drilling

Gas Sand
(possible drilling break, increase in return flow rate, pit gain) it is not
necessary to flow-check the well; initiate diverter procedure
immediately.
Diverter Procedure:
1. Sound the kick alarm to alert the crew and rig supervisors.
2. Maintain circulation and raise the drillstring until the first
tooljoint 1-m above the rotary.
Gas Sand 3. Stop rotation. Do Not Stop Circulation. Close the diverter
preventer (the diverter line valves will open automatically).
4. Increase circulating rate to maximum speed.
5. Open the pump suction valves to the heavy reserve mud.
Surface Csg Seat
2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Flow-Check & Diverter Procedures While Tripping

Most shallow gas kicks (60%+) have historically occur while

pulling out of the hole. These kicks were caused primarily by
swabbing and/or improper hole fill procedure. If a kick is induced
several stands off bottom, the chances of regaining control of the
well with a diverting operation is unlikely.
Running the drillstring back to bottom or stripping through the
diverter preventer is not recommended. The only hope is that the
zone will deplete and/or the hole will collapse before the diverter
line cuts out or the heavy mud volume and the reserve water is
depleted.
If/when the Drilling Supervisor is not present on the floor, the
Driller has full authority and the responsibility to detect the kick,
flow-check the well and initiate diverter procedure without first
asking permission from the Drilling Supervisor.
Flow-Check Procedure:
1. Position the drillstring with the top tooljoint 1m above the rotary.
2. If pumping out of the hole, stop circulation and check for flow at
the flow line for 15-minutes.
Conductor Shoe 3. If pull out on the elevators with the trip tank running, check for
450m (1476’)
a increase in trip tank volume for 15 minutes.
4. If positive well flow is detected, initiate the diverter procedure.
Gas Sand

Diverter Procedure:
1. Sound the kick alarm to alert the crew and rig supervisors.
2. Set the top tooljoint on the slips 1m above the rotary.
3. Close the diverter preventer (the diverter line valves will open
automatically).
Gas Sand
4. Increase circulating rate to maximum speed.
5. Open the pump suction valves to the heavy reserve mud.

Surface Csg Seat

2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Pre-Spud Shallow Gas Investigation
Shallow gas events on land-based drilling operations are rare as compared to coastal and
offshore operations. In-land surface formations are harder and stronger with less porosity and
permeability than the younger coastal and offshore formations. The lower kick flow rate would
be more easily controlled with a diverter operation.
Regardless of these advantages, drilling into a shallow gas hazard unprepared and unequipped
could be devastating with possible fatalities, injuries and complete loss of the drilling rig and
location. Without strong evidence supporting the absence of shallow gas, a full investigation
should be performed prior to spudding the well.

The history of the Drilling Area can give clues of the possible presence of shallow gas. The
records (if available) of the drilling a production operations to date may be sufficient evidences
to warrant shallow gas contingency plans.
Underground Blowouts in the drilling area, near the planned location of the well to be drilled
and near or above the depth of the planned surface casing shoe. Underground blowouts
should raise suspicion of a shallow gas potential.
Casing Leaks or Leaking Cement Jobs from old production wells in the drilling area should also
raise suspicion of a shallow gas potential. Pressure on casing annuli of the near-by production
wells, surface out corps, the smell of wet gas in the area are all possible clues of a shallow gas
potential.
Gas Injection for Secondary Recovery can also be a source for shallow gas hazards. Injected
gas can migrate to shallower depths through natural fractures and faults in the formation and/or
through failed cement jobs on near-by production wells.

Off-Set Well Data, if available, is one of the best sources of information on the presence of
shallow gas experienced while drilling. One of the problems with off-set data is that shallow
gas sands are generally not area wide. A shallow gas sand may be drilled on one location and
completely absent on the next location just a few hundred meters away.
The true advantage of off-set data is the evidence that shallow gas is indeed present in the
drilling area so that contingency plans, proper equipment, crew training and practice drills are
a part of the standard operation for the surface hole.

Shallow Seismic Surveys can be run to identify the location, depth and areal extent of a
shallow gas hazard. The sonic reflections of the lower density gas would produce a “bright
spot” on the seismic survey.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Pre-Spud Detection of Shallow Gas Hazards

Drilling a Pilot Hole is the only technique that can positively

identify a shallow gas hazard. A small diameter hole (8 ½” to
9-7/8”) drilled to the surface casing seat depth can safely
determine:
• The presence or absents of shallow gas in the well path;
• The depth of the sand(s) and thickness of the zone(s);
• The concentration of gas in the sand from drilled gas.
If a kick occurs while drilling an 8-1/2” pilot hole versus a 16”
hole, the smaller hole diameter will:
• produce only ½ the gas flow rate due to less exposed
Structural Pipe permeable area;
100m (330’)
• require +/-4 times less mud volume to fill the hole and;
Water Sand
150m (492’)
• produce +/-6 time more annulus friction pressure at the
same pump rate as compared to a 16” hole diameter.
With the data gathered while drilling the pilot hole, the well-
bore can be safely opened to the required ID with a greatly
reduced potential of inducing a shallow gas kick.
Water Sand
400m (1312’) Caution: Drilling a pilot hole can only identify the shallow
Conductor Shoe gas hazard. A kick is still possible when opening the hole if
450m (1476’)
suggested precautions are not followed and poor drilling and
tripping practices are applied.
While drilling the pilot hole, geological data must be accurately
8-1/2” Pilot Hole assessed and documented. With the small diameter hole, an
Drilled to MWD tool can be run to provide better and more accurate
Surface Casing Seat
assessment of the formations.
• The tops and thickness of each formation;
Gas Sand
• The type and geologic description of the formations;
• The formation fluid type (fresh water, salt water or gas);
• The formation pressure of the sands.

Gas Sand

Surface Csg Seat

2000m (6560’)

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Pre-Spud Preparations & Recommendations
Investigating the Shallow Gas Potential:
• Perform an investigation of the drilling and production history of the field to determine the
potential for shallow gas.
• If the investigation reveals the possibility of shallow gas, run a Shallow Seismic Survey to
identify the location, depth and areal extent of shallow gas zones in the surrounding area.
• If possible, Select the surface location to avoid drilling through potential shallow gas zones.
• Plan to Drill a Pilot Hole (8 ½” or 9-7/8”) from spud-in to the surface casing seat depth to
positively identify the presence or absence of shallow gas zones in the pathway of the
wellbore.
Kill Fluid Volume and Density:
• Ensure a Reserve Kill Mud Volume of 2 to 3 times the hole volume at TD.
• The Kill Mud Density should be +/-0.12 sg (1.0 ppg) greater than the spud mud density.
• The Kill Mud Funnel Viscosity should be +/-1.5 time the spud mud funnel viscosity.
• Ensure a Reserve Water Pit Volume of 4 to 6 times the hole volume at TD.
Diverter System:
• Ensure Diverter Line OD is 8” to 10” and as straight as possible to avoid sand erosion.
• Ensure Two Diverter Lines to provide down wind diverting. In the event of diverter line
failure, the second line could be used until the washed out line is patched.
• Provide a Diverter Control Panel readily accessible to the Driller that will open the diverter
valves as the diverter preventer is closed.
• Connect a 4” Centrifugal Pump Water Line with a one-way valve to the diverter spool to
wet the diverted gas and reduce sand erosion through the diverter line.
• Plumb the prevailing wind diverter line to the reserve water pit to recover diverted
mud/water volume.
• Provide a Floating Suction Line in the reserve water pit to pump the recovered mud/water
back to the mud pit.
Crew Training and Practice Drills:
• Ensure at least ½ day of Classroom Training with all drilling crews (primarily the Drillers) to
explain the hazards of drilling shallow gas, the kick indications and the need for quick diverter
response. The Diverting Procedures and the purpose for each step must be understood by
the Drillers.
• Ensure drilling and tripping Diverter Drills are practiced with all crews two to three times per
week.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Surface Hole Drilling Preparations & Recommendations
Per-Spud Pilot Hole Planning & Preparations:
• Use a Dispersed Gel Spud Mud with fine LCM material to control fluid loss (+/-10 cc/30
min). An effective filter cake will prevent the unconsolidated formations from caving into the
wellbore. Hole instability will cause stuck pipe (pack-offs), hole enlargement and cavities
(poor hole cleaning) and increase the permeable sand area (higher gas kick rate).
• Drill the pilot hole to the Conductor Casing Seat Depth. Open the hole and cement the
conductor casing. Re-install the diverter on the conductor casing and drill the pilot hole to the
surface casing shoe depth. In the event of a kick, the deeper conductor shoe would provide
greater protection against formation fracture and possible broaching to surface.
• Use a Packed-Hole BHA to maintain a straight hole. Remove the Bit Jets or use large jets
to allow high volume circulation for diverting operations.
• Install a Solid Drillstring Float Valve to prevent bit plugging and kick-flow into the drillstring.
• Install 6” Pump Liner to provide high volume circulation during diverting operations.
• Ensure the Return Flow Meter is installed and in proper working order. Ensure the Gas
Detector is installed at the shakers and is in proper working order.
• Avoid kicking off in the surface hole. A kick off assembly will restrict circulating volume in
the event a diverter operation is needed. Hole angles greater that 30o will reduce hole
cleaning efficiency which increases the possibility of hole pack-off and loss of circulation.
Also, the hole opening assembly will not likely follow the pathway of the pilot hole. The
diverted path of the hole opening assembly may drill into a gas sand missed by the pilot hole.
Drilling the Pilot Hole:
• Maintain a Constant Bit Weight of 3 tons (for example) and allow the ROP to vary with the
different (hard/soft) formation drillability to prevent micro doglegs.
• Control the Rate of Penetration to a maximum of 10m/hr (30’/hr).
• Drill 1-m into a drilling break and Flow-Check the Drilling Break for at least 15-minutes.
• Circulate Bottoms-up or for 30 Minutes before making connections to minimize drill gas in
the annulus.
• Do not stop circulation until the drillstring is at the connection depth.
• Flow-Check Before the Connection for at least 5-minutes with slow pipe rotation (+/-20
RPM). Be prepared for the connection to minimize non circulating time.
• After the connection, start slow pipe rotation (+/-20 RPM) before starting circulation to
minimize wellbore pressure surge.

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 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Preparations & Recommendations for Pulling Out of the Hole
Circulating the Pilot Hole Clean:
• Circulate at Drilling Pump Rate and slowly reciprocate and rotate the drillstring.
• Circulate a minimum of 1-1/2 to 2 times bottoms-up strokes. Continue circulating until the
shakers are clean of cuttings.

Pull the Drillstring Out of the Pilot Hole:

• The Drilling Supervisor Should be Present on the drill floor for the first 10-stands off
bottom and until minimum overpull is observed.
• Flow-check the well with slow rotation for 15+ minutes before pulling off bottom. Lower the
top drive to floor level to avoid a false indication of flow. If flow is checked with the top drive
near the crown, the mud draining from the stand above the floor will produce a confusing
trickle-flow.
• Limit the Initial Overpull to ½ the weight of the BHA. If overpull limit is reached, stop
pulling and run back 1 to 2-stands. Increase circulation to drilling pump rate and slowly
backream through the tight spot.
• To Prevent Swab Pressure and to Keep the Hole Full of mud, Pump out of the Hole at +/-
25% drilling pump rate. Some returns should be observed while pulling the stand.
• If a Kelly Drive is Used, pumping out of the hole is not practical. In this case, the
circulating trip tank and a trip-sheet tally must be used to ensure the hole is taking the
proper hole fill volume.
If/when the hole fill volume is 1-m3 less then the steel volume pulled, the drillstring must
be returned to bottom to circulate the swabbed volume out of the hole.
• Use the Mud Box to catch and direct the mud volume in the stands to the flow line.
• Pull the first 10-stands off bottom at +/-5 min/stand. If minimum overpull is observed, pull
the bit 2-stands into the conductor casing at +/-3 min/stand.
• With the bit 2-stands into the conductor casing, Flow-Check the Well with slow rotation for
15+ minutes. Lower the top drive to floor level to avoid a false indication of flow.
• If no-flow is observed, fill-up the trip tank and switch-on the trip tank pump. A trip sheet
must be calculated and tallied while POOH to determine if swabbing is occurring.
If/when the hole fill volume is 1-m3 less then the steel volume pulled, the drillstring must
be returned to bottom to circulate the swabbed volume out of the hole.
• Pull out of the hole on the elevators at 2 min/stand until the top of the BHA reaches the
diverter preventer. Flow-Check the Well for 15+ minutes.
• The Drilling Supervisor Should be Present on the drill floor while pulling the BHA and bit to
surface.
• Pull the bit to surface and Flow-Check the Well for 5+ minutes.
• Cover the hole and continue to monitor the well on the trip tank.

Page - 24
 Section-2 Drilling Well Pressure Control
Secondary Well Control Surface Stack
Preparations & Recommendations for Opening the Pilot Hole
Planning & Preparations to Open the Pilot Hole:
• Use a Dispersed Gel Spud Mud with fine LCM material to control fluid loss (+/-10 cc/30
min). An effective filter cake will prevent the unconsolidated formations from caving into the
wellbore. Hole instability will cause stuck pipe (pack-offs), hole enlargement and cavities
(poor hole cleaning) and increase the permeable sand area (higher gas kick rate).
• Use a Packed-Hole BHA to maintain a straight hole. Remove the Bit Jets or use large jets
to allow high volume circulation for diverting operations.
• Install a Solid Drillstring Float Valve to prevent bit plugging and kick-flow into the drillstring.
• Install 6” Pump Liner to provide high volume circulation during diverting operations.
• Ensure the Return Flow Meter is installed and in proper working order. Ensure the Gas
Detector is installed at the shakers and is in proper working order.
Open the Pilot Hole:
• Maintain a Constant Bit Weight of 3 tons (for example) and allow the ROP to vary with the
different (hard/soft) formation drillability to prevent micro doglegs.
• Control the Rate of Penetration to a maximum of 10m/hr (30’/hr). Pump
• Circulate Bottoms-up with a Hi-Vis sweep before making connections to minimize cutting
and drill gas in the annulus.
• Flow-Check Before the Connection for at least 5-minutes with slow pipe rotation (+/-20
RPM). Be prepared for the connection to minimize non-circulating time.
• After the connection, start slow pipe rotation (+/-20 RPM) before starting circulation to
minimize wellbore pressure surge.
• If a Gas Zone was detected while drilling the pilot hole, reduce the hole opening ROP to +/-
2-m/hr to minimize the drill gas volume in the returning mud. Maintain the reduced ROP until
the bottom of the gas zone is reached. Circulated bottoms-up before drilling ahead.

Tripping Out of the Pilot Hole:

• The Drilling Supervisor Should be Present on the drill floor for the first 10-stands off
bottom and until minimum overpull is observed.
• If a Gas Zone was detected while drilling the pilot hole, pump out of the open hole to 1 to 2
stands into the last casing shoe.
• Flow-check the well. If no-flow is detected, continue POOH on the elevators at 2-min/stand.
The circulating trip tank with a trip sheet tally must be used to determine if the hole is
swabbing.
• The Drilling Supervisor Should be Present on the drill floor while pulling the BHA and bit to
surface. Flow-check the well for 5+ minutes. Monitor the well on the trip tank while out of
the hole.

Page - 25