Chapter 4 - Methods of control
• Generalities on methods of control
• Driller's method
• Wait and Weight method
• Comparison Driller's / Wait & Weight
• SCR selection
• PLSCR measurement
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Methods of control
• Methods keeping constant BHP
– With direct circulation at constant flow rate when bit on bottom
* Driller's Method : evacuation of the influx with original mud then
circulation with kill mud
* Wait and Weight Method : circulation with kill mud since the
beginning
– Without circulation (bit on or off bottom)
* Volumetric Method when gas migrating in annulus (method
which can be used anytime but not very accurate)
* Lubricating Method to evacuate the influx when below the BOP
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– BHP = FP for IWCF but in fact BHP maintained slightly > FP while
circulating a kick
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Methods of control
• Bull - heading : BHP not maintain constant
– If problem with influx at surface (H2S, pressure too high, ...)
– If problem of circulation (string plugged, ...)
Caution :
– Need to fracture a formation in the open hole, it will be the weakest
(not necessary the kicking zone)
risk of internal blow out could be a very dangerous method
– Need to know the well strength (could be applied in a deep well with
a short open hole !!)
– Procedure to start rapidly after the kick (to reduce the volume to be
squeezed)
– Pumping rate enough to have mud speed in the annulus > gas
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migration speed
Remark : bull-heading commonly used in workover (cased hole)
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Circulation with BHP constant - Bit on bottom
• In the following, assumptions are :
– Kick while drilling : kicking zone on bottom
– Direct circulation at a constant flow rate
– Gas kick without dissolution in mud
– Surface BOP case : PLCL = 0
– Pressure losses in annulus negligible (PLA = 0)
– No safety margin on bottom (BHP = FP)
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Circulation with BHP constant - Bit on bottom
• Four phases to consider :
– Transition phase : flow rate not constant
* When starting circulation
* When stopping circulation
* When changing SCR value
– Circulation with OMW (original mud pumped in the string)
* Drill string full with OMW
* Almost a complete cycle with Driller's method
* Displacement of original mud in surface lines only with W and W
– Replacement of original mud by kill mud in the drill string
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– Replacement of the fluids in the annulus by the kill mud
* Drill string full with KMW
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Transition phase
• In static, before starting circulation :
– SICP + PHA = FP
• In circulation :
– BHP = PHA + CP
– The aim is to have BHP = FP all the time
• On a short while, PHA constant
while starting, to have BHP equal FP, need to maintain
CP constant and equal to SICP
• When starting, stopping circulation, changing pump
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speed, to maintain BHP constant and equal to FP,
maintain CP value constant (value read on the gauge at
the considered time)
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Circulation with OMW
• In static (drill string full with OMW) :
– SIDPP + PHI = FP (1)
• In circulation at SCR (drill string full with OMW) :
– BHP = PHI + DPP - PLI (2)
– BHP maintained equal to FP (constant value) (3)
• Combining (1), (2) and (3) :
DPP must be equal to (SIDPP PLI )
P L SCR = P LI + P LA
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P L SCR P LI
but PLA 0 at SCR
PL SCR = pressure losses in the circuit at SCR with OMW
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Circulation with OMW
• To have BHP constant and equal FP, need to have
DPP SIDPP PL SCR
• (SIDPP + PLSCR) : constant value called initial circulating
pressure (ICP)
• While circulating with OMW, to maintain BHP constant and
equal to FP, DPP must be maintained constant and equal
to ICP with ICP = (SIDPP + PLSCR)
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Replacement of fluid by Kill Mud in annulus
• In static with drill string full of KMW :
– PHI = FP (1)
• In circulation at SCR :
– BHP = PHI + DPP - PLI (2)
– BHP maintained equal to FP (constant value) (3)
• Combining (1), (2) and (3) :
DPP must be equal to PLI with KMW
KMW
But PL I PL SCR .
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OMW
KMW
So DPP must be equal to PL SCR .
OMW
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Replacement of fluid by Kill Mud in annulus
• To have BHP constant and equal FP, need to have
KMW
DPP PL SCR .
OMW
• PLSCR . KMW / OMW : constant value called Final
Circulating Pressure (FCP)
• While replacing fluids by kill mud in the annulus, to
maintain BHP constant and equal to FP, DPP must be
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maintained constant and equal to FCP
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Replacement of OMW by KMW in the string
• In static :
– DPP + PHI = FP (1)
• In circulation at SCR :
– BHP = PHI + DPP - PLI (2)
– BHP maintained equal to FP (constant value) (3)
• Combining (1), (2) and (3) :
DPP must be equal to (FP - PHI ) PLI
• DPP = ICP when KMW arriving on rig floor
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• DPP = FCP when KMW passing the bit
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Replacement of OMW by KMW in the string
• In this phase, according to drill string and well profile, PHI
and PLI do not vary at the same rate
– In vertical well :
* PHI increases regularly with depth
* Larger variation of PL in bit and DC than in DP
– In horizontal well :
* PHI increases until horizontal drain entry, then remains constant
* PL increases all along the string, variation according to the
string used
• Necessary to calculate PHI and PLI at different points :
– At each change of well inclination (KOP, end of build up, etc..)
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– At each change of drill string inside diameter (DC, bit entry, etc..)
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Replacement of OMW by KMW in the string
• Straight line corresponds to a vertical well with DP from
bottom to surface
• Line 1 corresponds to a vertical well
• Line 2 corresponds to a deviated well
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Replacement of OMW by KMW in the string
• Difference between straight line and real line : few bar
• Small difference if low SCR and KMW close to OMW
• To be taken in account in deviated wells specially if low
safety margin
• In practice :
– Maintain DPP = ICP until arrival of Kill Mud on rig floor ( volume of
surface lines must be known)
– Reset strokes counter at 0 when Kill Mud on rig floor
– With Driller's Method, during this phase :
* No need to make accurate calculation
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* If all influx has been removed, CP will remain constant and
equal to SIDPP
* Normally no need to touch the choke, DPP will take the correct
values
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Circulation keeping BHP constant - Summary
• Starting / stopping or changing flow rate :
– Keep CP constant (keep same CP value in static and in circulation)
• Circulating with original mud weight :
– Keep DPP constant and equal to ICP
• Replacing original mud by kill mud inside the string :
– Follow variation from ICP to FCP, or with Driller's keep CP = SIDPP
– Maintain DPP = ICP until kill mud arrives at the rig floor
• Replacing fluids by kill mud in the annulus :
– Keep DPP constant and equal to FCP
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© 2004 ENSPM Formation Industrie - IFP Training
Driller’s method - First part
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Driller’s method - Second part
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Driller's Method
• First part : evacuation of influx with Original Mud :
– Phase 2 :
* When pump at SCR, DPP should be equal to ICP. If not, keep DPP
equal to the value given by the circuit
• Second part : replacement of Original Mud by Kill Mud :
– Phase 3 :
* If annulus clean and choke well adjusted
nothing to do (if annular clean and full of original mud !)
* However check that DPP follows the correct value and that CP
remains constant and equal SIDPP
* If something wrong, refer to DPP and follow the line ICP - FCP
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© 2004 ENSPM Formation Industrie - IFP Training
Wait and weight method
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Wait and weight method
• Influx evacuation with Kill Mud
– phase 2 :
* When pump is at SCR, DPP should be equal to ICP. If not, keep
DPP equal to the value given by the circuit
– phase 3 :
* If influx still far from surface almost not necessary to touch the
choke
* Easier to draw a straight line from ICP to FCP and stay few bar
above this line rather than doing by step
* Exact evolution of pressure from ICP to FCP to be followed if
fragile deviated well
• When starting circulation, if possible, better :
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– To start circulating with OMW and to adjust correctly choke opening
– Then to check that all values are correct
– Then to start injection of the kill mud
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Advantages and drawbacks
• Driller's method advantages :
– Easier (always a constant value; if problem, easier to detect and analyse)
– Can be started very quickly just after pressure “stabilisation”
• Driller's method drawbacks :
– Maximum pressure in the annulus (mainly below BOP !!)
– Need to circulate 2 cycles to kill the well
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Advantages and drawbacks
• Wait and Weight method advantages
– Less pressure in the annulus than with driller’s method
– Only one cycle of circulation
• Wait and Weight method drawbacks :
– Wait until kill mud ready (may need to use volumetric method during this
period)
– Seems more "complex" : (evacuation of the influx and pumping kill mud at
the same time)
– In some cases, needs to determine exact evolution of DPP between
ICP and FCP
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Method to use
• Wait and Weight method :
– Often, less advantages on pressure reduction than forecasted
* Annulus pressure could be close to the one obtained with driller's
method even if short waiting time to prepare kill mud
* Will probably (certainly !) not reduce shoe pressure except if long
open hole
– Interesting method if reserve of kill mud and / or if possibilities to get
weighted mud rapidly
• Driller's method could be used to start circulation rapidly. It
gives time to prepare the kill mud
• When kill mud is ready, Wait and Weight can be started at
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any time
• The choice can be different according to situation (weather
forecast, barite volume on board, personal skill, ..)
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• MAASP consideration :
– MAASP value with OMW to be taken into account only when gas in
open hole (until arrival of "top of gas bubble" at shoe level)
– Keep in mind :
* Influx already displaced by circulation before closing the well
* Free gas starts migrating as soon as entering the well
– Therefore, "top of gas bubble" higher than imagined when starting
circulation (could be few hundred meters above bottom !)
– If gain volume open hole volume : no sense to take MAASP in
consideration
– The shoe position has been determined considering :
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* Well full of gas no risk to overcome MAASP if correct killing
procedure
* A kick tolerance no risk to overcome MAASP if correct killing
procedure and influx volume less than kick tolerance
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• MAASP consideration :
– MAASP value could be a very pessimistic value
– Difference (MAASP - CP) gives the margin at shoe (Pfrac - Shoe
Pressure) only when cased hole full with well mud density used to
calculate the MAASP
– Reduction of Shoe Pressure as soon as free gas enters in cased hole
– Be realistic :
* Generally, if CP < MAASP when closing the well and / or when
starting circulation, no risk of fracturation
* If CP > MAASP during observation and KMW < dfrac possible to
control the well but circulate instead off bleeding the well !
* If CP > MAASP during observation and KMW > dfrac
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bull-heading and plugging of the kicking zone should be
considered
* But, always risk of "fracturation" if wrong killing procedure
applied !!
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• MAASP consideration :
– Shoe Pressure can be "controlled" using DPP if open hole's content is
well known
DPP MAX Pfrac PHA OH PHI PLI
DPPmax : maximum admissible DPP in bar
Pfrac : maximum pressure allowable at shoe in bar
PHA OH : hydrostatic pressure produced by fluid column in open hole
in bar
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PHI : hydrostatic pressure produced by fluid column in the drill
string in bar
PLI : pressure losses inside the drill string in bar
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• Action on the choke :
– To be opened progressively when starting the pump
– Need to increase choke opening slowly until arrival of gas in surface
with a gas kick
– Need to decrease choke opening when gas arriving at surface
– Need to increase choke opening when return of clean mud
– Need to increase progressively choke opening when kill mud is in the
annulus
– Delay between choke manipulation and DPP variation ( 3 s / km or 1 s
/ 1 000 ft) need to anticipate the actions
– Important to adjust the hydraulic choke regulator (if available) at
minimum value
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– If necessary to adjust all the time the choke in the same direction,
think to a circulating incident (wash out, plugged choke)
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• Safety margin :
– Necessary on rig and on simulator
– According to MAASP value
– 5 - 10 bar ( 150 psi) if possible, to allow quiet choke adjustments
• Surface line volume :
– Need to be known when pumping kill mud
– Strokes counter reset to 0 when KMW at the rig floor level
• SCR value :
– Could select a low value for tricky phases of the control
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– Could select a higher value when no more gas in the well
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• Tank level evolution :
– Increases until gas reaches the surface (no change in volume with a
liquid kick)
– Decreases while evacuating the gas
– Should be the same after influx evacuation than before the kick
(if no mud transfer, dump, excepted volume increase due to barite, etc.)
– Important to be monitored by drilling crew continuously.(losses,
expansion of gas,…)
• Tricky phases :
– When starting, stopping, changing the pump speed,
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– When evacuating the gas at surface
– Necessary to have a good co-ordination between driller and choke
operator
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• End of control :
– Check kill mud return in surface (if not, continue circulation until in
surface !)
– When kill mud in surface, stop circulation and close the well
– Check surface pressures, pressure du to :
* Trapped pressure in the circuit
* KMW not enough
– To know the cause, bleed off through the choke :
* Trapped pressure if pressure remain 0
* If pressures increase control not completed (KMW not correct
or well not cleaned) observe pressures, analyse, circulate and
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adjust KMW if necessary
– When pressures equal to 0, bleed off through choke and stand pipe
manifolds. Then open the BOP
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Driller's and W & W common considerations
• KEEP IN MIND :
– THE CIRCUIT GIVES ALWAYS THE CORRECT VALUES
– TAKE ALWAYS IN CONSIDERATION THE VALUES GIVEN BY
THE CIRCUIT, NOT THE CALCULATED ONES (values
calculated with approximate formulas and values neglected)
– SURFACE PRESSURES SHOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
CIRCUIT
– LESS ACTION ON THE CHOKE = BETTER THE CONTROL
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String equipped with a non return valve
• Two possibilities to determine SIDPP
– First method : Pump very slowly (few strokes / min) the well being shut
When the valve opens : DPP SIDDP (when opening the valve, DPP and
CP increase at the same rate)
010JB9716
Pressure
SICP
SIDPP
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Volume pumped
Surface pressure evolution
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String equipped with a non return valve
• Two possibilities to determine SIDPP
– Second method : Start driller’s method at the planned SCR
* SIDPP obtained by (DPP - PL SCR)
DPP = value read on the drill pipe pressure gauge when pump
stabilised at SCR and CP = SICP
• Second method the easiest and fastest, but if PL SCR have
changed SIDPP value will be false
• First method needs to have accurate recorders and a very
slow pumping rate
• In the 2 cases, need to know SICP value
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SCR selection
• Reasons to use SCR :
– Easier to adjust choke opening
– Reduce risk of equipment failure
* Less pressure in the circuit
* Only one pump in use
– Limit of mud-gas separator (maximum pressure allowable in the mud-gas
separator set by the mud seal height. Pressure in the mud-gas separator
equal to gas PL in vent line)
– Necessary time to weight the mud
– PLA can be neglected simplification of control equations and
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procedures
– Less variation of BHP if an incident happens and is not detected
– Less deviation from the straight line ICP - FCP while replacing original
mud by kill mud in drill string
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SCR selection
• SCR selection :
– Around 600 l / min (160 gpm, 3.5 bbl / min) (from 1/4 to 1/2 of drilling
flow rate)
– According to the skill of the choke operator
– According to the equipment (choke, weighting capacity,...)
– According to kick volume (mud-gas separator limits)
– Can be changed during the control :
* Can be increased when gas has been evacuated (normally, no need
to adjust the choke opening when circulating liquids)
* Can be reduced during tricky phases (gas evacuation, KMW in
choke line for subsea BOP, ...)
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Only drawback of selecting slow SCR : longer circulating time
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SCR selection according to mud gas separator
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PL SCR measurement
• When to measure :
– When starting every shift
– When changing mud characteristics (density, viscosity, ...)
– When changing drill string characteristics (bit nozzle, BHA, etc...)
– Every 150 m drilled (500 ft) (API requirement)
• Should be measured :
– At different SCR (at least two)
– With each pump
– The well open with surface BOP
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PL SCR measurement
• Pressure readings :
– On gauges used while circulating the kick
• Subsea BOP :
– PL measured through riser (open well) PL riser
– PL measured through choke (choke fully open) PL choke line
– The difference between the two values give PL CL
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