Well Control Cont'd

PETE 661
Drilling Engineering
Lesson 10
Well Control, cont’d
10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 1

Lesson 10 - Well Control, cont’d
 Shut-in Procedures after Taking a Kick

 Kick Occurs While Drilling
 Kick Occurs While Tripping
 Casing Pressures During
Well Control Operations
 Kick on Bottom
 Kick at surface
 Kick Migration During Shut-in Conditions

Controlling A Kick when On Bottom
Procedure:
1. Raise the kelly to clear
the tool joint
above the rotary
2. Shut down the pump
3. Check for well flow

Controlling A Kick when On Bottom
4. If well is flowing, immediately close the

blowout preventer and shut in the well
completely, (except on shallow gas
kicks).
5. Notify supervisory personnel.
6. Read and record the stabilized shut-in

drill-pipe pressure. (SIDPP)
Controlling A Kick When On Bottom

casing pressure (SICP)
8. Read and record the pit gain
(pit-level increase = kick size)
9. Record the time
10. Record depth
11. Record mud weight
Controlling A Well Kick While
Making A Trip
1. Stop trip operations. Set slips

with tool joint at rotary.
2. Install inside blowout

preventer and release
valve stem or close the
valve if drill-stem valve is
employed.
Making A Trip
3. Immediately close the blowout

preventer and shut in the
well completely (except on
shallow gas kicks).
4. Install kelly, open drill-pipe

valve, or pump through
back-pressure valve.
Controlling a Well Kick While
Making A Trip
5. Notify supervisory personnel

drill-pipe pressure or equivalent
(SIDPP)

casing pressure (SICP)
Making A Trip
8. Read and record the pit gain

(Kick Size)
9. Record the time
10. Record the current well depth
11. Record the current mud weight

Well Control
 Avoid kicks if possible
 Catch them early if they do occur
 Know how to control kicks

if they do occur

Avoiding Kicks While Tripping:
 Keep the hole full.
 Avoid excessive surge pressures.
 Avoid excessive swab pressures

Tripping Out Of Hole
If well is not taking enough fluid to replace

volume of steel pulled from hole, fluid may
have been swabbed into well.
Measure fluid volume to fill hole:

1. By counting pump strokes, or
2. By direct measurement from trip tank.
Note: The second method is best.

Recommendations
 Do not break circulation with bit and

BHA just above the casing seat.
When breaking circulation,

 Start the pumps slowly,
 Rotate the drill string,
 Pick up on the drillstring at the same time
This will reduce the initial pressure

required to get the mud moving
Well Control-Variable Geometry
 Initial Shut-In Conditions

• Driller’s Method
 Kick at Casing Seat
 Kick at Surface
• Wait and Weight Method
 Kick at Casing Seat
 Kick at Surface

Example Problem
1. Determine the pressure at the casing seat

at 4,000’ when using the old mud
(Driller’s) versus using the kill mud
(Wait and Weight) to circulate a gas
kick out of the hole.
2. Determine the casing pressure at the
surface when the top of the gas
bubble has just reached the surface,
for the same two mud weights used
above.
Example Problem
Well depth = 10,000’

Hole size = 10.5”
Drill pipe = 4.5”, 16.60 #/ft
Drill Collars = 8” * 3.5” * 500 ft
Surface casing = 4,000’, 13-3/8”, 68 #/ft
Mud Weight = 10 ppg
Fracture gradient @ 4,000’ = 0.7 psi/ft

Example Problem
1. Drillers Method (two circulations)
Drop the Z terms

but consider Temperature
T at surface = 70 deg. F
Temperature gradient = 1.2 deg.F/100 ft

Initial (Closed-In) Conditions:
SIDPP  200 psi

SICP  400 psi
Pit Level Increase  20 bbl
Initial Mud Weight  10 # /gal
Initial mud gradient = 0.520 psi/ft

(0.052 * 10 = 0.520)
Initial (Closed-In) Conditions:
Bottom Hole Pressure,

psi
P10,000  (10,000 ft ) * (0.520 )  200  5,400 psi
ft
Annular Vol/ft outside Drill Collars,

  gal  bbl 
v dc,ann  (10.5  8 )in (12 in)
2 2 2

2 

4  231 in  42 gal 
 0.04493 bbl/ft
vdp.csg = 0.13006 bbl/ft
4,000’
vdp,hole = 0.08743 bbl/ft
9,500’
vdc,hole = 0.04493 bbl/ft
10,000’
Height of Kick Fluid,
20 bbl
h10,000   445 ft
0.04493 bbl/ft
Hydrostatics in the Annulus,

BHP  P0  ΔPMA  ΔPK0
5,400  400  0.520 * 9,555  Pkick_10,000
Hydrostatic Pressure across Kick Fluid,

Pkick_10,00 0  5,400  400  0.520 * 9,555
Pkick_10,000  31. 4 psi

Driller’s Method - kick at bottom
Weight of Kick Fluid  Pressure * area
lb 
 31.4 2 * (10.5  8 ) in
2 2 2
in 4
W  1,141 lb
F = P * A = W
SICP = 400 psi SIDPP = 200 psi
4,000’
9,555’
9,500’
31.4
445’ psi
10,000’
PB = P 10,000 = 5,400 psi
Driller’s Method - kick at csg. seat
What is the pressure at 4,000 ft when the

top of the kick fluid first reaches that point?
 P10,000   T4,000 
V4,000  V10,000 *  *
 T


P
 4,000   10,000 
 5,400   70  48  460 
 0.08743 * h4,000  20 *  *
 
 P4,000   650 
1,098,444
 h 4,000 
P4,000
Driller’s
Method
Top of
Kick at 4,000’
Casing
Seat
9,500’
10,000’
Again,
BHP  P4,000  Δ PK_4,000  Δ PMA
weight 1,141 lbs

PK_4,000  
area π
4
10.5  4.5 in
2 2
 
P K_4,000 = 16.1 psi
BHP  P4,000  Δ PK_4,000  Δ PMA
 5,400  P4,000  16  0.52 * (6,000  h4,000 )
5,384  P4,000  3,120  0.52 * h4,000
 1,098,444 
2,264  P4,000  (0.52) *  

 P4,000 
This results in the quadratic Eqn:

P 2
4,000  2,264 P4,000  571,191  0
With the solutions:
 P4,000 

2,264  2,264  4 * 571,191 2
 0.5
2
P4,000  2,493 psi  0.6233 psi/ft  0.7
Driller’s Method - Top of Kick at Casing Seat
P0,ann = ?
P4,000 = 2,493 psi
4,000’
h4,000 = 441 ft
P = 16 psi
9,500’
 1,098,444 
10,000’ h 4,000  
 P4,000 
BHP = 5,400 psi
Driller’s Method - kick at surface
When the bubble rises, it expands. The

volume of the bubble at the surface is given by:
 P10,000  T0 
V0  V10,000    (Z = const.)
P T 
 0  10,000 
 5400   70  460 
 (0.13006 ) h0  20    
 P0   70  120  460 
677,084
 h0  - - - (1)
Po
Driller’s
Method
Top of
Kick at 4,000’
Surface
9,500’
10,000’
weight 1,141 lb
Δ PK,0  
area π
4

12.4152  4.5 2 in2 
Δ PK0  10.85  11 psi

From Eq. (2), BHP  P0  Δ PK0  Δ PMA
5,400  P0  11  0.52 * (10,000  h0 )
677,084
But, from Eq. (1), h0 
P0

So,
 677,084 
 5,400  P0  11  0.52 10,000  
 P0 
  5,400  5,200  11 P0  P0  352,084
2
2
 P0  189 P0  352,084  0
Quadratic equation . . .
 
1
189  189  ( 4)(352,084) 2 2
 P0 
2
 P0  695.34 psi  695 psi
677,084
 h0   973.74
695.34
h0  974 ft
 P4,000  P0  0.52 * (4,000  974)  Δ PKO

 695  1,574  11
 2,280 psi ( = 0.57 psi/ft )
Alternativ ely,
P4,000  P10,000  (0.52) * (10,000  4,000)
 5,400 - 3,120
 2,280 psi
Driller’s Method. Top of Kick at Surface
P0,ann = 695 psi
h0 = 974 ft
PK,0 = 11 psi
4,000’ P 4,000 = 2,280 psi
9,500’
10,000’
P10,000 = ?
Wait and Weight Method
- kick at casing seat
Calculate the pressure at 4,000 ft when the

top of the bubble reaches this point.
Volume of bubble at 4,000 ft
 P10,000   T4,000 
V4,000  V10,000    
P  T 
 4,000   10,000 
Wait and
Weight
Method
Top of 4,000’
Kick at
Casing
9,500’
Seat
Old Mud 10,000’
Kill Mud BHP = 5,400 psi
W&W - Pressure at top of kick at 4,000 ft
 5,400   578 
(0.08743)h4,000  20  
  
P
 4,000   650 
1,098,444
 h 4,000  - - - (6)
P4,000
But,
BHP  P4,000  ΔPK_4,000  ΔPM  ΔPM1 - - - (7)
W&W - Pressure at top of kick
- kick at 4,000 ft
As before, PK_4,000  16 psi
141 bbl
PM  0.052 *10 *
0.08743 bbl/ft
 839 psi

- kick at 4,000 ft
 141 
ΔPM1  0.052 *10.38 *  6,000  h 4,000  
 0.08743 
BHP  P4,000  ΔPK_4,000  ΔPM  ΔPM1 - - - (7)
5,400  P4,000  16  839  2,368  (0.5398) h 4,000

- kick at 4,000 ft
 1,098,444 
 2,177  P4 000  (0.5398) 

 P4,000 
 P4,000
2
 2,177 P4,000  592,940  0

- kick at 4,000 ft
 P4,000 

2,177  2,177  4 * 592,940 2
 0,5
 2,422 psi  0.61 psi/ft

Wait and
Weight
Method
Top of 4,000’
Kick at
Surface
9,500’
Old Mud
Kill Mud 10,000’

- kick at surface
Capacity inside drill string = DP_cap. + DC_cap.
 bbl   bbl 
  0.01422 * 9,500 ft    0.0119 * 500 ft 
 ft   ft 
 141 bbl
#
 Quantity of 10.0 mud below the bubble.
gal
- kick at surface
SIDPP
Kill mud weight   Old Mud Wt.
0.052 *10,000
#
 0.38  10.00  10.38
gal

- kick at surface
Volume of gas bubble at surface:
 P10,000  T0 
V0  V10,000   
P T 
 0  10,000 
 5,400  530 
 0.13006 * h 0  20  
 P0  650 
677,084
h0  - - - (4)
P0
(Engineer’s Method) - kick at surface
P10,000  P0  Δ PK0  Δ PM  Δ PM1 - - - (5)
As before, Δ PK,0  11 psi
Assume all 10 lb mud is inside 13 3/8” csg.

Then the height of 10 lb mud
141.0 bbl
hM   1,084 ft
0.13006 bbl/ft
(Engineer’s Method) - kick at surface
Hydrostatic head across the mud columns:
 ΔPM  0.52 *1,084  564 psi (old mud)
ΔPM1  0.052 *10.38 * (10,000  h 0  1,084)

(kill mud)

Hydrostatics in Annulus
W&W Method - kick at surface
P10,000  P0  ΔPK0  ΔPM  ΔPM1
5,400  P0  11  564  0.5398 * (8,916  h 0 )
12.14  P0  (0.5398)h0

kick at surface
From Eq. 4, substituting for h0
 677,084 
 12  P0  (0.5398) 
 P0 
 P02  12P0  365,490  0
 
1
12  12  4 * 365,490
2 2
 P0 
2
P0  610.59  611 psi

- kick at surface
Height of Bubble at Surface
677,084 677,084
h0  
P0 610.59
 1,109 ft

Check Pressure at 4,000 ft
- kick at surface
 P4,000  P0  ΔPK0  ΔPM  ΔPM1
 611  11  569 
 0.052 *10.38 * (4,000 - 1,109 - 1,093)
 2,161 psi  0.54 psi/ft
Looks OK
Top of Kick at Surface
Old Mud P0,ann = 611 psi
Kill Mud
h0 = 1,109 ft
PK,0 = 11 psi
4,000’ POld Mud = 569 psi
9,500’
P 4,000 = 2,161 psi
10,000’ P10,000 = ?
Summary Bubble at 10,000 ft
Driller’s Engineer’s
Method Method
P4,000 2,480 2,480
P0 400 400

Summary Top of Bubble at 4,000 ft
Method Method
P4,000 2,493 2,422
P0 413 342

Summary Top of Bubble at surface
Method Method
P4,000 2,280 2,161
P0 695 611

Why the difference?

Maximum Casing Pressure, psi
10. Well Control cont’d

Kick Intensity, ppg
PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 61
Casing Pressure, psi Kick Intensity, ppg

Pump Strokes
PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 62
1,998 psi
CASING PRESSURE, psi
50 bbl kick 1,266 psi

20 bbl kick
989 psi
10 bbl kick
BARRELS OF KILL MUD PUMPED

Well is Shut In
Gas
Bubble
Will Bubble
Rise Rise
! Velocity
?

400 psi 200 psi
Variable
Geometry
4,000’
Kick On Bottom
- Well Shut In
9,500’
hB = 445’
10,000’
PB = 5,700 psi
Variable Geometry
1. Calculate new BHP:

PB  (0.052 *  old * depth )  SIDPP
2. Calculate height of kick
(check geometry).
3. Calculate density of kill mud:
PB SIDPP
 kill   
0.052 * depth 0.052 * depth
Variable Geometry
4. Calculate the density of kick fluid:
 SICP  SIDPP 
KICK  OLD 
MUD  
KICK  OLD MUD   
 SICP  SIDPP 

 0.052 * Kick Height B 
 0.052 * Kick Height B 
How would you derive this equation?

ho Gas Bubble
Engineer’s
D* 10.0 lb/gal
Method -
10.38 lb/gal
Gas Kick
at surface
PB  (0.052 *  old * depth )  SIDPP

P = const = 0.052 *  kill * depth
B 661 Drilling Engineering
PETE Slide 68
1. Calculate expansion
of gas bubble
 PB  Tx  Z x 
Vx  VB    
 Px  TB  Z B 
. BHP = Press
2.2BHP Pressatat
toptop
of kick  PHYD,
of kick + P HYD,Annulus
Annulus
BHP  Px  PKICK  Pm ,old  Pm ,kill
3. Solve the resulting quadratic equation to get

the pressure

Well Control Cont'd

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Well Control Cont'd

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PETE 661

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 1

 Shut-in Procedures after Taking a Kick

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 2

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 3

4. If well is flowing, immediately close the

5. Notify supervisory personnel.

6. Read and record the stabilized shut-in

7. Read and record the stabilized shut-in

1. Stop trip operations. Set slips

2. Install inside blowout

3. Immediately close the blowout

4. Install kelly, open drill-pipe

5. Notify supervisory personnel

6. Read and record the stabilized shut-in

7. Read and record the stabilized shut-in

8. Read and record the pit gain

9. Record the time

10. Record the current well depth

11. Record the current mud weight

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 9

 Avoid kicks if possible

 Catch them early if they do occur

 Know how to control kicks

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 10

 Keep the hole full.

 Avoid excessive surge pressures.

 Avoid excessive swab pressures

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 11

If well is not taking enough fluid to replace

Measure fluid volume to fill hole:

Note: The second method is best.

 Do not break circulation with bit and

When breaking circulation,

This will reduce the initial pressure

 Initial Shut-In Conditions

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 14

1. Determine the pressure at the casing seat

Well depth = 10,000’

Fracture gradient @ 4,000’ = 0.7 psi/ft

1. Drillers Method (two circulations)

Drop the Z terms

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 17

SIDPP  200 psi

Initial mud gradient = 0.520 psi/ft

Bottom Hole Pressure,

Annular Vol/ft outside Drill Collars,

vdp,hole = 0.08743 bbl/ft

Hydrostatics in the Annulus,

Hydrostatic Pressure across Kick Fluid,

Pkick_10,000  31. 4 psi

Weight of Kick Fluid  Pressure * area

What is the pressure at 4,000 ft when the

weight 1,141 lbs

BHP  P4,000  Δ PK_4,000  Δ PMA

 5,400  P4,000  16  0.52 * (6,000  h4,000 )

5,384  P4,000  3,120  0.52 * h4,000

This results in the quadratic Eqn:

With the solutions:

P4,000 = 2,493 psi

When the bubble rises, it expands. The

Δ PK0  10.85  11 psi

10. Well Control cont’d PETE 661 Drilling Engineering Slide 32

ΔPM1  0.052 10.38 (10,000  h 0  1,084)