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FACULTY OF ENERGY AND OIL & GAS INDUSTRY

Petroleum Workover (PET1303)

Assignment 2 – Causes of Kicks

Date due 31.01.2024

Submitted by: Zhanibekkyzy Madina

m_zhanibekkyzy@kbtu.kz

Checked by : Zholmurzayeva Aliya Batyrbayevna

Almaty 2024
Kazakh British Technical University
School of Energy and Petroleum Industry
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Assignment 2 - CAUSES OF KICKS

1. There are a variety of mechanisms that can cause abnormal formation fluid pressures.
List 4 of the principle causes below.

 Under-compaction in shales

 Salt Beds

 Mineralisation

 Tectonic Causes

 Diaprism salt domes

2. Shown below is a pressure versus volume plot of a leak off test. The leak off was carried out
with a 10.6 ppg mud. The casing shoe is at 4000ft TVD.

Surface pressure= 1100 psi (leak off pressure)

a. What is the maximum pressure that the exposed formations below the shoe can support?
Solution: (Casing shoe TVD * Mud WT * 0.052) +Surface pressure= (4000ft*10.6 ppg *0.052)
+1100 psi = 3304.8 psi or 3305 psi
ANSWER: maximum pressure is 3304.8 psi or 3305 psi
b. What is the “Fracture Gradient?”
Fracture gradient is obtained by dividing the true vertical depth into the fracture pressure. The
fracture gradient is the upper bound of the mud weight; therefore, the fracture gradient is an
important parameter for mud weight design in both stages of drilling planning and operations.
Solution: Frac g = Max pressure / Casing shoe TVD = 3305 psi / 4000 ft = 0.826 psi/ ft
ANSWER: 0.826 psi/ ft
c. What is the maximum mud weight?
Solution: Max Mud WT= Frac g / 0.052 = 0.826 / 0.052 = 15.88 ppg
ANSWER: 15.88 ppg
d. If drilling was resumed and the mud weight was increased to 12.6 ppg. Calculate M.A.A.S.P
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(maximum allowable annular surface pressure) M.A.A.S. P= (Max equiv. mud wt – Drilling mud
wt) * (0.052 * Casing shoe TVD) = (15.88 ppg-12.6 ppg) * (0.052*4000 ft)= 3.28 ppg* 208ft=
682.24 psi
ANSWER: 682.24 psi
3. M.A.A.S.P. The maximum allowable annular surface pressure should be re-calculated..
a. At the start of each shift
b. As soon as possible after a drilling break
c. When approaching a suspected transition zone
d. When the mud weight has been increased in the system
e. If a kick has occurred and the well is shut-in
ANSWER: D

4. The calculated M.A.A.S.P. value is relevant.

a. When the influx is in the open-hole section
b. As the influx approaches the surface
ANSWER: A

5. Given the following data:

Depth 10000ft TVD
Bit size 8 1/2"
Shoe depth 8500ft TVD
Mud weight 12.6 ppg
Collars - 600ft. capacity = 0.0077 bbl/ft
Metal displacement = 0.03 bbl/ft
Drill-pipe 5" capacity = 0.0178 bbl/ft
Metal displacement = 0.0075 bbl/ft
Casing/pipe annular capacity = 0.0476 bbl/ft
Casing capacity = 0.0729 bbl/ft
One stand of drill-pipe = 94ft.
Assuming the 12.6 ppg mud gives an over-balance of 200 psi.
a. If 10 stands of pipe are removed “dry” without filling the hole, what would be the
resultant reduction in bottom-hole pressure?
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Pressure gradient=
Solution:
Mud Gradient=12.6ppg*0.052 = 0.6552 psi/ft
Pressure gradient = 0.6552psi/ft*0.0075bbl/ft / 0.0729 bbl/ft -0.0075 bbl/ft = 0.004914 / 0.0654
= 0.07513 psi/ft
For 10 stands of pipe: One stand of drill-pipe*10* Pressure gradient= 94 ft x 10 × 0.07513 psi/ ft
= 70.62 psi=71 psi

ANSWER: resultant reduction or pressure gradient is 70.62 psi or 71 psi

b. If 5 stands of pipe had been pulled “wet” without filling the hole, the resultant reduction
in bottom-hole pressure would be.

Pressure gradient =
Solution:
Using info:
Mud g=0.6552 psi/ft
Met Disp= 0.0075 bbl/ft
Drill-pipe 5" capacity = 0.0178 bbl/ft
Casing/pipe annular capacity = 0.0476 bbl/ft
We find Pressure Gradient: (0.6552 psi/ft *(0.0075 bbl/ft+ 0.0178 bbl/ft))/ 0.0476 bbl/ft) = 0.
0.3482 psi/ft
For 5 stands of pipe: One stand of drill-pipe*5* Pressure gradient= 94 ft x 5 × 0.3482 psi/ ft =
163.65 psi=164 psi
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ANSWER: resultant reduction or pressure gradient is 163.65 psi or 164 psi

c. If prior to tripping a 20 barrel slug of 14.6 ppg mud was displaced to prevent a wet trip,
what would be the expected volume return due to the U-tubing of the heavy mud?

Dry pipe volume: 20 barrel * (14.6ppg /12.6 ppg-1) =3.17 barrels

ANSWER: Dry Pipe Volume is 3.17 bbls

6. Prior to tripping out of the hole a trip tank and pump are lined up to keep the hole full as the
pipe is removed. The trip tank contains 30 barrels of mud. After pulling 10 stands of pipe the
level in the trip tank is 27 barrels. (Use data given in Question 6). Would the safest option be..
a. To continue tripping but flow-check when bits at shoe.
b. Stop and shut the well in. If no pressures seen open the well up and continue tripping.
c. Flow-check. If no flow, go back to bottom and circulate.
d. Flow-check. If no flow, continue tripping
ANSWER:C

7. A well can be induced to flow by swabbing. Swabbing is the reduction of bottom hole
pressure due to the effects of pulling pipe. List below 3 conditions that can cause swabbing.
(a) Mud properties (density, viscosity and etc. ) -> gel strength
(b) Wellbore geometry-> Hole profile
(c) Pulling speed

8. A fixed rig is set in 300ft of sea water. The marine conductor has been set X ft below the sea-
bed. The flow line is 65ft above the mean sea-level. The strength of the sub-sea formations is
0.68 psi/ft. Sea-water gradient is 0.445 psi/ft. It is proposed to drill with 9.2 ppg mud. What is
the minimum depth that the conductor has to be set below sea-bed to prevent losses?

Min depth=
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ANSWER Min depth = ((9.2 ppg * 0.052 * 365ft) - (0.445 psi/ft * 300ft)) / (0.68 psi/ft -9.2 ppg
* 0.052) = (174.616-133.5)/0.2016 = 41.116/0.2016 = 203.95 ft
ANSWER.: minimum depth is 203.95 or 204 ft

9. An over-balance or trip margin is added to the mud. When tripping this will prevent a loss of
B.H.P. due to the swabbing effect of pulling the pipe.
ANSWER: FALSE

10. Assume casing is set at 4800ft TVD/MD and that gas sands were encountered at 5000ft and
at 8500ft. If the formation pressure gradient at 5000ft is 0.47 psi/ft and at 8500ft it is 0.476 psi/ft.
What mud weight is required to give an over-balance or trip margin of 200 psi?
Solution:
Mud weight = Mud gradient / 0.052;
1)P hydr = 5000 ft * 0.47 psi/ft = 2350 psi
2350+200 = 2550 psi
2550 psi/ 5000ft= 0.51 psi/ft
Mud weight = 0.51 / 0.052= 9.81 ppg

2)If P hydr = 8500ft * 0.476 = 4046 psi

4046 + 200 = 4246 psi
(4246 psi / 8500 ft) =0.5 psi/ft
Mud weight = 0.5 / 0.052 = 9.61 ppg

ANSWER: this will overbalance the sands at 5000 ft by 148 psi