W ELL C ONTROL M ETHODS

7-19

The necessary data collection can prove to

CONCURRENT METHOD
The Concurrent Method, which involves
weighting up fluid while in the process of
circulating out the kick, has also been called
the Circulate and Weight Method or Slow
Weight-up Method. It is a primary constant
bottomhole pressure well killing method.
To execute the Concurrent Method some
bookkeeping and calculations are required
while in the process of circulating out the
kick because there may be several different
fluid weights in the string at irregular intervals.
Because some of the calculations must be done
on the fly, operational personnel have often
opted for either the Driller’s or the Wait and
Weight Method, dismissing the Concurrent
Method as too complicated.
The following discussion and examples
demonstrate how the necessary data collection
and subsequent calculations can be simply
accomplished. It is not such a formidable task as
to cause a summary dismissal of the Concurrent
Method from consideration. Normally the data
keeping is centralized at the choke operator’s
panel on the rig floor.
be a valuable tool in that it can help organize
the kill operations and lend confidence to
those on the job. In short, they can know what
is going on and feel in control of the situation.
Two extra columns of recorded data are needed
in addition to what is normally kept (namely,
pressure changes required as fluid weight
changes versus when the different fluid enters
the string and will reach the bit).
Some operators require Concurrent
Method data to be recorded even if they intend
to use the Driller’s or the Wait and Weight
Method. In this way, with the necessary data
always available, the Concurrent Method can
be resorted to in case of problems in the
fluid weighting-up process without shutting
down and then re-establishing circulation. (It
is during start-up and shut-down that either
lost circulation or secondary kicks are most apt Some operators
to occur.) Therefore, in view of the potential require
advantages offered by the Concurrent Method, concurrent
it is recommended that adequate records be method data
kept during the process of circulating out any to be recorded
kick. A sample worksheet is used in this section even if they
and is offered as a guide. intend to use
other methods.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Note: The procedure outlined below is for use in straight holes where measured depths are essentially the same as true
vertical depths. As with procedures for Wait and Weight and Driller's Methods, special treatment required by high angle
holes can be found later in this chapter. The same well and kick data used in the previous examples for the Driller's
Method and Wait and Weight Method will now be used in the following Concurrent Method.
1. The well has been shut in on a kick. Kick size, stabilized shut in drillpipe (SIDPP) and casing pressures (SICP) are
recorded on a worksheet. At this time sufficient data is available to perform standard well control calculations.

Kill Mud Weight (KMW)ppg = (SIDPPpsi ÷ TVDft ÷ 0.052) + Original Mud Weight (OMW)ppg
= (520 ÷ 10,000 ÷ 0.052) + 12.5
= 13.5 ppg

Kill Mud Weight (KMW)kg/m³ = (SIDPPbar ÷ TVDm ÷ 0.0000981) + Original Mud Weight (OMW)kg/m³
= (35.85 ÷ 3048 ÷ 0.0000981) + 1498
= 1618 kg/m³
 C HAPTER 7
7-20
A. Initial Circulating Pressure (ICP)psi = SIDPPpsi + Kill Rate Pressure (KRP)psi
= 520 + 770
= 1290 psi

Initial Circulating Pressure (ICP)bar = SIDPPbar + Kill Rate Pressure (KRP)bar

= 35.85 + 53.09
= 88.08 bar

B. Final Circulating Pressure (FCP)psi = KRPpsi × KMWpsi ÷ OMWppg

= 770 × 13.5 ÷ 12.5
= 832 psi

Final Circulating Pressure (FCP)bar = KRPkg/m³ × KMWbar ÷ OMWkg/m³

= 53.09 × 1618 ÷ 1498
= 57.34 bar
C. Drill string internal volume (usually expressed in pump strokes).
D. Circulating drillpipe pressure must be adjusted from the ICP to FCP as heavier fluid weights are
pumped to the bit. Usually the pressure adjustments are calculated as psi per point of fluid weight.

Density/Pressure Correction Adjustment psi/pt = (ICP – FCP) ÷ ([KMW – OMW] ÷ 10)

= (1290 – 832) ÷ ([13.5 -12.5] ÷ 10)

= 45.8 psi/pt

Density/Pressure Correction Adjustment bar/10 kg/m³ = (ICP – FCP) ÷ ([KMW – OMW] ÷ 10)
= (88.08 – 57.34)÷ ([1618 – 1498] ÷ 10)
= 0.023 bar/10 kg/m³
Note: drillpipe pressure schedule can be expressed graphically as shown.
2. Circulation is started by pumping original fluid weight, taking returns through choke which is
controlled so as to hold casing pressure constant as detailed in the Bringing the Pump Online
portion of this chapter.
3. After the pump has been brought up to the desired kill rate with choke backpressure held at
the stabilized shut in casing pressure, note and record the initial circulating pressure, ICP.
Compare it with the calculated ICP and if there is a difference of more than 50 psi (3.45
bar), investigate.
Adjust circulating
drillpipe pressure 4. Holding drillpipe pressure at established ICP and pump rate as in Step 3, start weighting
from the ICP to up the active pits. As each point of fluid weight increase (one point equal one tenth of a
FCP as heavier pound per gallon) starts into drillpipe, the choke operator should be informed. The time
fluid weights and total pump stroke count along with new fluid weight going in is recorded on the data
are pumped to form. The number of strokes to get this heavier fluid to the bit is calculated (by adding
the bit. total drill string internal capacity expressed in pump strokes to the total stroke count when
the new fluid weight was started in) and recorded on the worksheet. When this heavier fluid
reaches the bit the choke is adjusted by Density/Pressure Correction Adjustment amount,
which in this example is 45.8 psi/pt (0.023 bar/10kg/m³).
W ELL C ONTROL M ETHODS
7-21

5. The described choke adjustments in Step
4 are repeated as each point of fluid weight
increase reaches the bit. After the final kill
fluid is at the bit, the drillpipe pressure
should be at the calculated final circulating
pressure which should be maintained until
kill weight fluid is recovered in the returns
at the surface. With the well full of kill
weight fluid, check to see if the well is
dead.
Using the Concurrent Method as outlined
will result in some extra backpressure above
that which is required to balance formation
pore pressure. This is because no decrease in
drillpipe pressure is allowed for the heavier
fluid until it reaches the bit. In most cases,
this should not be a problem because it only
amounts to 100 psi (6.89 bar) or less. However,
if fluid weight can be increased rapidly, or in
the case of deep wells, it may be desirable to
control the rate of fluid weight increase to limit
the amount of backpressure.
In the example problem, if all increments
of required weight increase were inside the
string before a pressure adjustment decrease
was due, the excess backpressure would amount
to approximately 275 psi (18.96 bar). One way
to prevent this excess backpressure would be
DRILL PIPE PRESSURE SCHEDULE
1300
ICP = 1290
to only weight up part way, say to 12.8 ppg
(1534kg/m³), then hold the weight going in at
12.8 ppg (1534 kg/m³) until it clears the bit.
The appropriate circulating pressure should
then be 1,060 psi (73.87 bar) and excess Using the
backpressure would be limited to less than 100 concurrent
psi (6.89 bar). method may
The advantages of the Concurrent Method result in extra
are summarized below. backpressure
w Circulation may begin immediately above that
after stabilized surface pressures have been required to
determined. This may keep the pipe free balance the
as well as prevent the need for employing formation.
the Volumetric Method to avoid excessive
surface pressure build up due to gas
migration that might occur during the time
required to weight up the fluid pits for the
Wait and Weight Method.
w Circulation may continue throughout
kill operation since no shut in periods
are required for fluid pit weight up. This
can be beneficial in those wells where
circulation helps keep the pipe free and
helps prevent the hole from packing off
around the drill string.
w There are no planned pump shut-downs
and start-ups (as in other methods) thus
reducing the likelihood of a secondary kick
or of exerting excessive backpressure that
could result in lost circulation. Pressure chart for
the concurrent
method

1200

1100

1000

900

800 FCP = 832

New Mud Wt. In. ppg 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5
New Mud Wt. In @ Strokes 0 50 290 530 770 890 1010
New Mud Wt. @ Bit - Strokes 905 955 1195 1435 1675 1795 1915
DP Press - New Mud @ Bit - psi 1290 1244 1198 1153 1107 1061 1015 969 924 878 832
 C HAPTER 7
7-22

w The Concurrent Method provides a backpressure to be held, ensuring that no

systematic method of dealing with fluid additional formation fluid feeds in, or that
weight variations, either heavier or lighter, no formation break down occurs. This
without interrupting circulation. These could be especially beneficial on those
techniques can be applied during the rigs with limited fluid mixing capability
Driller’s or Wait and Weight Methods and the fluid weight increase is 1.0 ppg
as a way of fine-tuning the amount of (119 kg/m³) or more.

Recording information is necessary in the concurrent method.

Well Control Operation Data Sheet
STROKES THEORETICAL ACTUAL PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT ACTUAL FLUID IN FLUID OUT CHOKE POSITION PIT
TIME OR VOLUME CIRC. PRESS. CIRC. PRESS. +/- PSI @ STKS ADJ. PRES. AFTER CASING PRESS. WT. VIS WT. VIS % OPEN LEVEL REMARKS

0200 Shut In 520 820 12.5 48 12.5 5555 0 +16 Took kick, stabilized SI pressures

0205 50 1290 820 12.5 50 12.5 57 40 +16 Start circ thru choke @ 24 spm

0210 170 1290 -46 1075 1244 820 12.6 52 12.5 60 40 +16 12.6 start in hole

0215 290 1290 -92 1195 1152 830 12.8 54 12.5 58 40 +16 12.8 start in hole

0225 530 1290 -136 1435 1016 840 13.1 56 12.5 58 38 +17 13.1 start in hole

0235 770 1290 -46 1675 970 850 13.2 58 12.5 60 36 +18 13.2 start in hole

0245 890 1290 --92 1795 878 870 13.4 58 12.5 60 36 +19 13.4 start in hole

0250 1010 1290 -46 1915 832 870 13.5 56 12.5 58 35 +20 13.5 start in hole

0253 1075 1244 860 13.5 54 12.5 58 40 +22 1st DP press. adj. at 12.6 @ bit

0258 1195 1152 860 13.5 54 12.5 6 42 +23 2nd DP press. adj. at 12.8 @ bit

0303 1435 1016 865 13.5 52 12.5 54 44 +24 3rd DP press. adj. at 13.1 @ bit

0318 1675 970 870 13.5 52 12.5 54 45 +26 4th DP press. adj. at 13.2 @ bit

0328 1915 878 870 13.5 52 12.5 54 46 +28 5th DP press. adj. at 13.4 @ bit

0333 2500 832 880 13.5 54 12.5 54 50 +29 6th DP press. adj. at 13.5 @ bit

0400 2750 932 +136 3405 900 13.2 54 12.5 54 55 +31 Barite line plugged. 13.2 In.

0438 3300 832 -136 3655 1250 13.5 54 0 25 +80 Mud In back to 13.5

0500 3405 968 200 13.5 54 12.5 50 70 0 12.5 ppg @ choke

0505 3655 832 350 13.5 52 12.5 60 65 0 DP Press adjust for 13.2 @ bit

0515 3810 832 150 13.5 52 12.5 50 85 0 13.5 back at bit

0522 120 13.5 52 100 0 13.5 back @ surface