Underground Blowout

Control

By: Larry H. Flak P.E

Engineering Manager
Boots & Coots
International Well Control, Inc.
 Underground Blowouts
• Diagnostics (indications of underground flow)
– CIDPP and CICP rise followed by loss in pressure without circulation
– gas, oil saltwater in drill pipe without reverse circulation
– no mud returns in gas , oil or salt water present at surface on annulus
– strip up or down without annulus pressure changes
– anomalies in Temperature Logs and Noise Logs
– no pressure communication between drill pipe and annulus
– lower than expected shut-in pressure
– producing well annulus pressure and change in GOR or water cut
– sudden drag or vibration when pipe is lowered past point in well
– matching pressures between inner and outer annuli w/ open hole
– shallow super-charge encountered
– wellhead or BOP vibration
– broached flow
 Underground Blowouts
• Initial Action Steps
– secure drill pipe
• consider pump-in manifold
– determine exit point w/ log
• temp log down @ 550 m/ hour
• noise log up in stations
– inject down annulus to keep gas off BOPs and
determine pressure at flow exit point
– if exit depth is shallow (<1000 m), monitor for
surface broaching: up dip, cellar, rathole, nearby
water wells and nearby deep wells.
 Underground Blowouts
• Initial Action Steps (cont.)
– place Special Services on alert
– attempt “Quick Kill”
• conform annulus is open
• load annulus with light mud
(density based on frac gradient)
• mix up kill mud (maximum
density possible without loss
circulation if well was dead)
• inject down drill pipe as fast as
possible
• if flow is killed surface annulus
injection pressure should drop to
zero. Drill pipe should be stabile
or on slow loss
 Underground Blowouts
• If “Quick Kill Fails”
– high underground flow rate
– consider perforating BHA or
blowing up bit to allow faster
pumping
– flow sample of blowout fluids out
annulus. Determine water / oil cut
and chemistry
– consider running rate gyro on drill
pipe
– consider pulling rig off
– mobilize Specialists
 Underground Blowouts
• Alternate Control Actions
– Evaluate “Quick Kill” pressure and rate data
– Use dynamic kill simulator calibrated with prior kill attempt data
to predict required kill hydraulics
– Can the designed kill be implemented down existing drill pipe
or tubing
• perforate for less pressure loss
• use slick brines for less friction
• use a reactive mud for a kill fluid (reacts with blowout fluids)
• can a barite plug kill flow and plug flow path
– If no, evaluate two part reactive plugs, snubbing or relief well
kills
 Underground Blowouts
• HTHP Blowout
– well shut-in pressure = 795
kg/cm2
– 2-7/8” failed (corrosion)
– 7” failed (connection
problem?)
– 11-3/4” failed
– ran spinner, Noise / Temp logs
– determined flow path
 Underground Blowouts

Move rig over platform Load out on supply boat

 Underground Blowouts

Above: 15,000 psi HT400 PSL

Remote controlled 16V-92TA

Right: 7 PSL units remote

controlled from dog house on left,
note snubbing unit in derrick
 Underground Blowouts
• Attempted Dynamic
Kill
– Note kill graphs
– Able to get well
dynamically dead
– But unable to
transition to static kill
– Snubbed in 1.660”
Hydril CS to just
below tubing hole
 Underground Blowouts
• Two-Part Reactive Plug Kill
• Mixed 200 lbs / bbl bentonite and
150 ppb Class “H” in diesel with
water wetting surfactant using batch
mixer (99 bbls)
• Started pumping 18.5 ppg mud
down 1.660” x 2.875” annulus at low
rate
• Lead with diesel spacer followed
with gunk. Pump gunk at maximum
rate of 1 BPM.
• Reacted gunk with 18.5 ppg water
based mud at 4:1 down to 1:1 ratios.
• Squeezed off annulus flow path
and bullheaded well dead. Cement
squeezed perforations for P & A.
 Underground Blowouts
• Reactive Plug Mixtures
– Gunk
• 300 ppb bentonite in • Polymers (pH controlled)
diesel •Invert Gunk
• soft plug • 250 ppb amine treated clay
• reacts w/ fresh water • mixed in water with typical
muds mud to form mud
– Guar Gum Gunk • reacted with oil
• Sodium Silicate
• 250 ppb Guar Gum • 30% Sodium Silicate
• salt muds or brines • reacts with CaCl2 soft plug
– DOBC • react with portland cement
• 150 ppb bentonite for hard plug
• 150 ppb portland cement • New polymers and other
catalyzed reactions under
• reacts with fresh water
development
muds
 Underground Blowouts
• Conclusions
– train field personnel in early detection
– prepare for drill pipe kick if annulus bridges
– if entry zone is shallow monitor for surface
broaching
– run temperature / noise log to define flow path
– attempt “Quick Kill” collect kill rate and pressure
data
– if unsuccessful - mobilize specialists
– consider opening hydraulic path for higher rate or
reactive plugs
– consider mechanical plugs if flow path is in casing