Pressure-Depth Diagrams

U-tube Model

Gas Migration and Expansion

Pre-read for Sasol – MERIC

Date : 28 July 2021

Rev. no. : 1.0
The ModuResources Group (MR Group) comprises of entities that operate both individually and
collectively world-wide to provide specialist, quality and cost-effective technical and engineering
consultancy and training services to the energy industry. Our business is founded on the principle of
valuing long term relationships with our clients, partners, and suppliers, and does so by offering distinct
areas of expertise from its operational offices in Australia, Singapore, The Netherlands, United States
and a range of agents and partners world-wide. Our experience is proven to add value to the operations
of drilling contractors and operators, working closely with both to find efficient and effective solutions to
optimize operations.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 1 of 19
Table of Contents
1 Learning Objectives and Outcomes ................................................................................................. 3
2 Pressure-Depth Diagrams ................................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 4
2.2 Pressure-Depth Diagrams for Wells with a Single Fluid ......................................................... 4
2.3 Pressure-Depth Diagrams for Wells with Multiple Fluids ....................................................... 6
3 The U-tube model ............................................................................................................................. 7
3.1 U-tube for an Open Well ......................................................................................................... 7
3.2 U-tube for a Shut-in Well ........................................................................................................ 8
3.3 U-tube during a Well Kill ......................................................................................................... 9
4 Gas Migration and Expansion Concepts ........................................................................................ 10
4.1 Gas Laws .............................................................................................................................. 10
4.2 Migration and Expansion ...................................................................................................... 10
4.3 Migration Rate ...................................................................................................................... 12
5 Examples ........................................................................................................................................ 14
5.1 Fluid Displacement ............................................................................................................... 14
5.2 Gas Migration ....................................................................................................................... 15
5.3 Constructing Well Kill Graphs ............................................................................................... 17
5.4 Boyle’s Law ........................................................................................................................... 19
5.5 Gas Migration ....................................................................................................................... 19

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 2 of 19
1 Learning Objectives and Outcomes

In this module you will learn about pressure-depth diagrams, the U-tube model and gas migration and
expansion concepts.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Explain what a pressure-depth diagram is.

• Construct a pressure-depth diagram for a well with a single fluid.
• Construct a pressure-depth diagram for a well with multiple fluids.

• Explain what the U-tube model is.

• Describe a well using the U-tube model.
• Formulate the U-tube equations for an open well and for a shut-in well.
• Formulate the U-tube equations for a well kill.

• Formulate and explain Boyle’s law.

• Explain migration in an open well and a shut-in well.
• Explain what happens to the wellbore pressure when gas migrates in an open well.
• Explain what happens to the wellbore pressure when gas migrates in a shut-in well.
• Explain and calculate the gas migration rate.

• Apply the pressure-depth diagram, the U-tube model and gas migration and expansion concepts to
some common drilling and well control situations.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 3 of 19
2 Pressure-Depth Diagrams

2.1 Introduction

A pressure-depth diagram is a tool that can assist to visualise and understand the situation and the
pressures in a wellbore. It can be applied during drilling, completion and well control operations. It can
even be used to graphically find the solution for complex well design issues. Pressure-depth diagrams
may also help to understand how well pressures will evolve over time. E.g., it can explain what happens
to pressures in a well when gas migrates up the well.

In a pressure-depth diagram, pressure is displayed on the horizontal axis and true vertical depth is
displayed on the vertical axis. Lines in a pressure-depth diagram therefore represent the pressure
gradient(s) of the fluid(s) in the well. A point in a pressure-depth diagram is the pressure at a particular
true vertical depth, e.g., the pressure at the casing shoe. A line in a pressure-depth diagram shows how
the pressure in the well changes as a function of the true vertical depth.
Compressibility effects are ignored and all lines in a pressure-depth diagram are straight lines. A
pressure-depth diagram is sometimes referred to as a PZ-diagram.

2.2 Pressure-Depth Diagrams for Wells with a Single Fluid

Figure 1 below shows the pressure-depth diagram for an open well with a total depth of 3000 ft TVD
and a 10 ppg drilling fluid.
• The pressure gradient can be calculated by multiplying the fluid density with 0.052:
Pressure gradient = 10 ppg x 0.052 = 0.520 psi/ft.
• The well is open and pressure at the top must therefore be zero.
• The bottom hole pressure (BHP) is 3000 ft x 0.520 psi/ft = 1560 psi.
• Note that it is possible to use the pressure-depth diagram to read the pressure at any other depth.

Figure 2 below is a slightly more complex pressure-depth diagram. It shows a comparison between
three fluid types with different pressure gradients.
• The red line represents the pressure gradient of a typical gas influx and has a value of 0.1 psi/ft.
• The grey line is the pressure gradient for freshwater and has a value of 0.433 psi/ft.
• The blue line is the pressure gradient for a drilling fluid with a value of 0.650 psi/ft.

Note that the gas gradient line stays quite close to the vertical. The pressure gradient of the gas is
small, and the 3000 ft long gas column only generates a hydrostatic pressure of 300 psi. The pressure
gradient line for the fresh water is less steep. It generates more hydrostatic pressure per foot. The
freshwater column generates a hydrostatic pressure of 1299 psi. The pressure gradient line of the
drilling fluid generates even more hydrostatic pressure. The drilling fluid column generates a hydrostatic
pressure of 1950 psi.

In general, it can be said that fluids with a higher density are drawn as lines that are less steep. They
generate a higher hydrostatic pressure per foot than fluids that are less dense.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 4 of 19
 ess e s

al e

s
e e

B s

Figure 1: A simple pressure-depth diagram with one fluid type.

ess e s
al e
e e

s s s

B s B s B s

Figure 2: A pressure-depth diagram that compares 3 different fluid types.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 5 of 19
2.3 Pressure-Depth Diagrams for Wells with Multiple Fluids

When a well contains multiple fluids then the individual lines must be connected. Figure 3 below shows
the annulus side of a well. The top 1000 ft contains fresh water and remaining 2000 ft contains drilling
fluid with a pressure gradient of 0.65 psi/ft.

Note how the blue 0.65 psi/ft line starts where the red freshwater line stops. Also note that the blue line
is less steep. When the individual hydrostatic heads for the fresh water and drilling fluid are added, a
BHP of 1733 psi can be calculated.

ess e s

s
al e
e e

B s

Figure 3: A pressure-depth diagram for a wellbore with multiple fluids.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 6 of 19
3 The U-tube model

The U-tube model is another important concept that can be used to understand pressures in the well
during drilling, completion and well control operations. It is particularly useful to derive the underlying
principles of well control methods such as the Drillers Method or the Wait and Weight Method.

In the U-tube model a well is drawn as a U-tube with one leg of the U-tube being the drill string and the
other leg being the annulus.

Note that the pressure-depth diagram and the U-tube model are comparable and show the same
information in a different way. In some situations, it may be better to use the pressure-depth diagram
and in others it may be better to use the U-tube model.

3.1 U-tube for an Open Well

Consider an open and static well with the drill string run to the bottom of the well and the same drilling
fluid in the drill string and the annulus, see Figure 4.

It is common to refer to the drill string side as the drill pipe (DP) side and to the annulus as the casing
(CSG) side.

Figure 4: U-tube for an open well.

The well is static which means that there is no flow of fluid from one leg into the other leg. It also means
that the pressure at the bottom of the drill pipe leg must be equal to the pressure at the bottom of the
casing leg.

The drill pipe leg and the casing leg thus share the same bottom hole pressure. This is a very important
concept that comes back in all well control methods.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 7 of 19
In this case the bottom hole pressure is equal to the hydrostatic head (HH) of the drilling fluid in drill
pipe and casing leg.

𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 𝐻𝐻𝐶𝑆𝐺 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

3.2 U-tube for a Shut-in Well

Now consider a well that has been shut-in after taking a gas kick. The drill string is filled with drilling
fluid. The bottom part of the annulus is filled with gas and the remainder is filled with drilling fluid. Both
legs have a surface pressure at the top.
At the drill pipe leg, the surface pressure is commonly referred to as the shut-in drill pipe pressure and
abbreviated as SIDPP. At the casing leg the surface pressure is commonly referred to as the shut-in
casing pressure and abbreviated as SICP. When the influx is a gas then SICP is larger than SIDPP.
Assume that the shut-in pressures have stabilised.

Figure 5: U-tube for a shut-in well.

To determine the BHP for a shut-in well, the surface pressure must be added to the hydrostatic head
of the fluid(s) in the leg.

The bottom hole pressure at the drill pipe leg is the sum of the shut-in pressure at the top and the
hydrostatic head of the drilling fluid inside the drill pipe leg.

𝑆𝐼𝐷𝑃𝑃 + 𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

The bottom hole pressure at the casing leg is the sum of the shut-in pressure at the top and the
hydrostatic head of the fluids inside the casing leg.

𝑆𝐼𝐶𝑃 + 𝐻𝐻𝐶𝑆𝐺 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

Note that the hydrostatic head of fluids inside casing leg consists of the two parts: the hydrostatic head
of the drilling fluid and the hydrostatic head of the gas.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 8 of 19
As before, the drill pipe leg and the casing leg share the same bottom hole pressure.

𝑆𝐼𝐷𝑃𝑃 + 𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 𝑆𝐼𝐶𝑃 + 𝐻𝐻𝐶𝑆𝐺 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

3.3 U-tube during a Well Kill

The U-tube for a well kill is basically the same. The same equations hold but the terminology changes.
At the top of drill pipe leg, the dynamic drill pipe pressure 𝑃𝐷𝑃 is recorded. At the top of the casing leg
the dynamic casing pressure 𝑃𝐶𝑆𝐺 is recorded. The equations then become as follows:

𝑃𝐷𝑃 + 𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

𝑃𝐶𝑆𝐺 + 𝐻𝐻𝐶𝑆𝐺 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

Figure 6: U-tube during a well kill.

As before, the drill pipe leg and the casing leg share the same bottom hole pressure.

𝑃𝐷𝑃 + 𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 𝑃𝐶𝑆𝐺 + 𝐻𝐻𝐶𝑆𝐺 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 9 of 19
4 Gas Migration and Expansion Concepts

Gas entering the wellbore represents one of the most dangerous scenarios that can occur when drilling
a well. A good understanding of gas migration and expansion concepts is essential to safely handle
such a scenario.

4.1 Gas Laws

Gas laws are used to predict how properties of a gas influx such as the pressure and volume will change
as it migrates up the wellbore. A gas influx can move up the wellbore due to migration or due to
circulation.

One o e gas laws a s o en se s Boyle’s law This gas law is simple to use and only considers
the pressure and volume of a gas influx. Boyle’s law ignores temperature and gas compressibility effects
and makes conservative predictions of the pressure and volume changes.

Boyle’s law s a es a e pressure of a gas multiplied by the volume of a gas is equal to some constant.

𝑃 × 𝑉 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

Effectively this means that if the volume of a gas decreases, then the pressure of the gas will increase
in such a way that the multiplication of the new pressure and volume is equal to the same constant.
When the volume of a gas increases, then the pressure of the gas will decrease in such a way that the
multiplication of the new pressure and volume is again equal to the same constant.

In practice an alternative way of s a ng Boyle’s law is used that eliminates the use of the constant. It
states that the pressure multiplied by the volume at condition 1 will be equal to pressure multiplied by
the volume at condition 2.

𝑃1 × 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 × 𝑉2

where
𝑃1 , 𝑉1 = pressure and volume of the gas influx at condition 1 (e.g. bottom of the hole).
𝑃2 , 𝑉2 = pressure and volume of the gas influx at condition 2 (e.g. shoe or surface).

To fully understand what will happen to the pressure and the volume of the gas influx it is important to
know if the influx is allowed to expand when it moves up the wellbore.

4.2 Migration and Expansion

A gas influx migrates up the well due to the density difference with the drilling fluid. It is important to
understand the differences between migration effects in an open well and a shut-in well.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 10 of 19
4.2.1 Open Well

In an open well, gas is allowed to expand when it migrates up the wellbore. An example of this would
be when swabbed gas migrates up the well during a trip out of hole.
The gas expansion rate depends on the position of the influx in the wellbore and the local hydrostatic
pressure at that depth. Deep down in the well, the local hydrostatic pressure is high, and the gas
expansion rate will be low. Higher up in the wellbore, the local hydrostatic pressure will be low, and the
gas expansion rate will be high.
Gas migration in an open well is an undesirable process. Due to the expanding influx, the total
hydrostatic head in the annulus (drilling fluid + gas influx) will decrease and could possibly lead to an
underbalanced situation.

Circulation during a well kill is essentially the same as having an open well: during a well kill the choke
is (partly) open and gas is allowed to expand. The amount of gas expansion will again depend on the
position of the influx in the wellbore. Due to the expanding gas influx, the total hydrostatic head in the
annulus (drilling fluid + gas influx) will decrease. If the BHP is kept constant during the well kill, the
casing pressure at surface will increase because of the decreasing total hydrostatic head in the annulus.

4.2.2 Shut-in Well

In a shut-in well, gas cannot expand when it migrates up the wellbore because drilling fluid is
incompressible. Since no expansion takes place, the volume and pressure of the gas influx will remain
the same.
The consequence of this is that the pressure at any point in the wellbore will increase. This can easily
be seen by considering what happens to the column of drilling fluid above or below the influx. The
column of drilling fluid above the gas influx becomes less as the gas influx migrates up the well and
causes the surface pressure or the pressure at any other point above the gas influx to increase. The
column of drilling fluid below the gas influx increases as the gas influx migrates up the well and causes
the bottom hole pressure or the pressure at any other point below the gas influx to increase.

Figure 7 below shows this principle using easy numbers. The influx pressure (120) and volume remain
the same throughout. The hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid above and below the influx always
adds up to 100. The surface pressure and bottom hole pressure increase accordingly. E.g., consider
the middle figure where the surface pressure is 120 – 50 = 70 and the BHP is 120 + 50 = 170.

Note that all pressures in the wellbore increase by the same amount. When a drill string is present then
the shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP) and the shut-in casing pressure (SICP) will also increase by the
same amount.

Gas migration in a shut-in well is an undesirable process. It increases the pressure at any point in the
wellbore and could lead to failure at the shoe.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 11 of 19
 Figure 7: Gas migration in a shut-in well.

4.2.3 Volume Bleed Off

It is interesting to look at what happens in the well when drilling fluid is bled off at the choke. When
volume is bled off, the gas influx expands. The influx volume increase is equal to the amount of drilling
fluid that is bled off at the choke. Because of the reduction in drilling fluid volume, the total hydrostatic
head in the annulus reduces.
Note that the hydrostatic head of the gas influx does not change. When drilling fluid is bled off at the
choke, the gas influx expands and the influx density decreases but the total mass of the gas molecules
remains the same! The total hydrostatic head reduction in the annulus is caused by a decrease in drilling
fluid height only.

4.3 Migration Rate

Knowing the gas migration rate will help to estimate the position of the gas.

Consider the example below where the gas influx has migrated a distance H over a me n e al Δ
D ng s me n e al, es a e ess e as n ease w a al e Δ

Like all hydrostatic pressures, the surface pressure increase ∆𝑃 can be described as follows

∆𝑃 = 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 × 0.052 × 𝐻

with pressure in psi, fluid density in ppg and H in feet.

Sn e e ess e n ease ook la e o e a me n e al Δ we may e by Δ on both sides of

the equation

∆𝑃 𝐻
= 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 × 0.052 ×
∆𝑇 ∆𝑇

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 12 of 19
 Figure 8: Gas migration in a well.

e em Δ sa s an e e me n e al an s e elo y o m g a on a e o e gas

Rewriting the above gives the formula for the migration rate:

∆𝑃⁄∆𝑇
𝑀𝑖𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 =
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 × 0.052

The migration rate can only be calculated if the pressure increase over a fixed time interval has been
recorded. This implies that the migration rate can only be determined when the well is shut-in and
surface pressure is being recorded.

Note that the migration rate depends on many factors and is not constant.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 13 of 19
5 Examples

In the following a few applications of the pressure-depth diagram, U-tube model and gas migration ans
expansion concepts are discussed.

5.1 Fluid Displacement

Consider a 3000 ft vertical well that is filled with 12.0 ppg drilling fluid and open at the top.
With the bit at bottom, the drill string is fully displaced to 10.0 ppg drilling fluid.

Calculate the SIDPP at the end of the displacement when the top drive is still connected to the string
as shown in Figure 9.

SIDPP

HHDP HHCSG

= =

BHP
Figure 9: U-tube after displacing the drill pipe leg to 10 ppg drilling fluid.

The BHP cannot be determined using the drill pipe leg since the SIDPP is not known. The BHP can be
determined using the casing leg. The casing leg does not have any surface pressure and the contents
of the leg are known. It contains 12.0 ppg drilling fluid and the BHP can be calculated as follows:

𝐵𝐻𝑃 = 12 𝑝𝑝𝑔 × 0.052 × 3000 𝑓𝑡 = 1872 𝑝𝑠𝑖

Because of the U-tube, the drill pipe leg and casing leg share the bottom hole pressure. The pressure
at the bottom of the drill pipe leg is therefore also 1872 psi.

The hydrostatic head of the drilling fluid in the drill pipe leg only exerts a pressure of:

𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 10 𝑝𝑝𝑔 × 0.052 × 3000 𝑓𝑡 = 1560 𝑝𝑠𝑖

The SIDPP at the top must therefore read the difference in pressures.

𝑆𝐼𝐷𝑃𝑃 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃 − 𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 1872 − 1560 = 312 𝑝𝑠𝑖

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 14 of 19
The pressure-depth diagram for the above situation would be as follows.

SD ess e s
s

g
s
al e

g
e e

B s

Figure 10: Pressure-depth diagram for the fluid displacement.

5.2 Gas Migration

A well is shut-in after observing a flow increase just after laying down the BHA.
Well depth = 3000 ft TV, drilling fluid gradient = 0.52 psi/ft
Reservoir pressure = 1500 psi, gas gradient = 0.1 psi/ft, influx height is 400 ft TV
Assume that the influx is still at bottom upon shut-in.

Ass me Boyle’s law e , gnore temperature and compressibility effects). Assume a constant annular
capacity.

Use a pressure-depth diagram to graphically show how the pressure in the well changes as the gas
influx migrates to surface in this shut-in well.

Draw 3 situations in the same pressure-depth diagram:

1. Gas at bottom (from TD up to 2600 ft)
2. Gas halfway up the well (from 1700 ft up 1300 ft)
3. Gas at surface (from 400 ft up to surface)

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 15 of 19
Draw your conclusions.
• What happens to the pressure and volume of a gas influx that migrates in a shut-in well?
• What happens to the surface pressure?
• What happens to the bottom hole pressure?
• Look at any arbitrary point in the well. What generic conclusion can you draw?

Answers
Please refer to Figure 11.

Situation 1
At shut-it, the gas influx is still at bottom. The pressure at the bottom of the influx will be equivalent to
the reservoir pressure of 1500 psi.
The gas influx extends 400 ft up with a gradient of 0.1 psi/ft and the pressure at the top of the influx will
be 1460 psi.
When the drilling fluid gradient is extended back to surface a SICP of 108 psi will be found.

Situation 2
The well is shut-in and gas that migrates cannot expand. When the gas is halfway up the well its volume
an eg w ll s ll be e same Us ng Boyle’s law, it can be concluded that the influx pressure must
also be the same.
The pressure at the bottom of the influx (1700 ft) will still be 1500 psi and the pressure at the top (1300
ft) will still be 1460 psi.
When the drilling fluid gradient is extended from the top of the influx back to surface a SICP of 784 psi
will be found.
When the drilling fluid gradient is extended from the bottom of the influx to TD a BHP of 2176 psi will
be found.

Situation 3
Again, due to the shut- n well an Boyle’s law e ess e a e bo om o e nl x w ll s ll
be 1500 psi and the pressure at the top (0 ft) will still be 1460 psi.
When the drilling fluid gradient is extended from the bottom of the influx to TD a BHP of 2852 psi will
be found.

Conclusion
From the figure below it can be concluded that the pressure and the volume of a gas influx that migrates
in a shut-in well remain the same. Both the surface pressure and the bottom hole pressure increase. It
can also be concluded that both increase by the same amount. The generic conclusion is that wellbore
pressure increases with the same amount at any point in the wellbore.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 16 of 19
 ess e s

s
al e
e e

B s
Figure 11: The pressure-depth diagram for a gas that migrates in a shut-in well.

5.3 Constructing Well Kill Graphs

With the U-tube model it can easily be shown how to kill a well and stay in full control. All well kill
methods have the same main objective: keep BHP constant and equal to the formation pressure.

The BHP can be kept constant if is understood what happens to the hydrostatic pressure in the legs
during the various phases of the well kill. By adjusting the surface pressure (opening or closing the
choke), the BHP can be kept constant. Remember that:

𝑃𝐷𝑃 + 𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃 and 𝑃𝐶𝑆𝐺 + 𝐻𝐻𝐶𝑆𝐺 = 𝐵𝐻𝑃

During the 1st circulation of the Drillers Method, original drilling fluid is pumped down the drill pipe leg.
This does not change the hydrostatic head in the drill pipe leg since the drill pipe leg was already filled
with original drilling fluid. The main objective is to keep BHP constant. Knowing that 𝐻𝐻𝐷𝑃 remains
constant, the main objective can be achieved by keeping surface pressure on the drill pipe leg constant.
This should now explain why the drill pipe pressure is kept constant at the ICP value during the 1st
circulation of the Drillers Method.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 17 of 19
During the 2nd circulation of the Drillers Method, kill fluid is pumped in the drill pipe leg. In the first part
of the 2nd circulation, the drill pipe leg is displaced to kill fluid. In the second part of the 2 nd circulation,
the casing leg is displaced to kill fluid.
• During the first part of the 2nd circulation, the hydrostatic head in the drill pipe leg will increase until
the kill fluid has reached the bit. By decreasing the drill pipe pressure, the BHP can be kept constant.
This should now explain why the drill pipe pressure is decreased from ICP to FCP.
• During the second part of the 2nd circulation the hydrostatic head in the drill pipe leg stays constants
while the kill fluid is pumped up the annulus. By keeping the drill pipe constant, the BHP can be
kept constant. This explains why the drill pipe pressure is kept constant at the FCP value during
the second part of the 2nd circulation.

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 18 of 19
5.4 Boyle’s Law

A well is shut-in after taking a 18 bbl gas kick. Formation pressure is 3000 psi.

a) With the well shut-in, the gas influx migrates 300 ft. Determine 𝑃2 and 𝑉2 .

The influx pressure must be equal to the formation pressure so the pressure and volume at shut-
in conditions are: 𝑃1 = 3000 𝑝𝑠𝑖 and 𝑉1 = 18 𝑏𝑏𝑙.

The well is shut-in and drilling fluid is incompressible, the gas influx can therefore not expand
when it migrates up the well. Its volume must therefore still be 18 bbl, i.e., 𝑉2 = 18 𝑏𝑏𝑙.

The influx pressure 𝑃2 ollows om Boyle’s law: 𝑃1 × 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 × 𝑉2

3000 × 18 = 𝑃2 × 18 and thus 𝑃2 = 3000 𝑝𝑠𝑖

Note that the pressure and volume are both still the same.

b) Next, 2 bbl of drilling fluid is bled off at the choke. Determine 𝑃3 and 𝑉3 .

Because the choke is opened up, the influx is allowed to expand. The influx volume will increase
with the same amount as the bled off fluid:

𝑉3 = 18 + 2 = 20 𝑏𝑏𝑙.

The new influx ess e ollows om Boyle’s law

3000 × 18 = 𝑃3 × 20 and thus 𝑃3 = 2700 𝑝𝑠𝑖

c) The well kill is started and the influx is circulated up the wellbore. When the top influx reaches the
choke, the casing pressure is 300 psi. Determine 𝑉4 .

The influx pressure with the top of the influx at the choke is 𝑃4 = 300 𝑝𝑠𝑖. The influx volume can
now be al la e s ng Boyle’s law:

3000 × 18 = 300 × 𝑉4 and thus 𝑉4 = 180 𝑏𝑏𝑙

5.5 Gas Migration

A well has been shut-in after taking an influx. Surface pressure has increased 52 psi over a 15 minute
interval. The drilling fluid density is 10 ppg.

a) Determine the migration rate in ft/hour.

Over an interval of 1 hour the surface pressure would increase with 4 x 52 = 208 psi

Now apply the formula to calculate the migration rate.

208
𝑀𝑖𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = = 400 𝑓𝑡/ℎ𝑟
10 × 0.052

Rev. No.: 1.0

© Well Academy Page 19 of 19