WELL CONTROL

What Is Warning Signs

Information From the Well That

Tells You That the Well May Be Getting
Close to Being “Under Balanced”
Your Safety Margin Is Getting Less.

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Kick Warning Signs
1. ROP Changes
Overbalance Less
Softer Rock
2. Hole condition
Squeezing Rock
Torque / Drag / Fill
3. Data from Mud
Gas Chlorides
Cuttings Shale Property
Temperature Trip Monitor

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Major Warning Signs
Improper Fill up or Displacement During Trips
Connection Gas
Increased Background Gas
Increased Drilling Rate
Flowline Mud Temperature Increase
Increased Chloride Content of Mud
Increased Drill String Torque
Increased Drill String Drag
Increased Number and Size of Cuttings
Decreasing Shale Density

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What Is a Drilling Break
Sometimes Called ‘Fast Break’
A Sudden Increase in R.O.P
How Much
How Far to Drill ?
What About a Decrease in R.O.P ?

What Affects ROP

WOB Hydraulics
RPM Rock Type
Bit Type Overbalance

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Increased Drilling Rate

9850’
9.00
Increasing
9.15 Drill Rate
9855’ (ROP)
9.30
9860’

Geolograph Chart

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Increased Drill String Torque

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Cuttings Size and Shape

Drilled cuttings

‘Knocked Off’,
Heaving Shale Cuttings

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Cause of Connection Gas
Mud Static Mud Circulating Formation Under Control
Kick Can Occur Connection Gas being Circulated to Surface
0 3000
psi psi

Annular
Pressure Loss
= 250 psi

11 ppg
mud
BHP= BHP=
6864 psi 7114 psi
12000’

7000 psi Formation Pressure 7000 psi

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Flow Line Temperature Graph

9500’
Normal
9600’ Pressure
9700’
9800’
Abnormal
9900’
Pressure
10000’
10100’
10200’
Temperature Increase

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Shale Density Graph
Abnormal Pressure Zones Exhibited a DECREASING
Shale Density with DEPTH

Normal Trend Line

Shale
9500’
9600’ Sand Shale Normal
9700’ Pressure
Sand
9800’
Shale
9900’
Increasing
10000’
Formation Fluid
10100’ Pressure
10200’ Sand

Increasing Shale Density

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Surface Kick Indicators
Excess Flow From the Well When Tripping
Return Flow Rate Increase When Pumping
Pit Gain
Drilling Break
Decreased Pump Pressure/increased SPM
Flow From Well With Pumps Off

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What Action to Take?

First : Shut the Well In

Second : Choose and Use a Kill Method to
Restore the Mud Hydrostatic
Pressure to Level That Re-Establishes
Primary Control

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