Shut-in Methods
When a kick is detected, the objective is to shut the well in safely with minimum influx
volume. The shut in procedure and choke manifold alignment will be agreed with the
drilling contractor in advance, and practised in drills until every crew member is familiar
with his responsibilities. There are two basic shut-in procedures; Soft and Hard shut in
procedure.
Procedure for Shutting in the Well
If we are drilling ahead and for any reason we have cause to think that a kick may be
developing, the well must immediately be checked for flow. If there is no flow and
everything is in order we go back to drilling. If the well is flowing, we shut the well in
either using a soft shut-in or a hard shut-in procedure.
Soft Shut-in Procedure:
1. Pick-up from bottom and position drill string,
shut down mud pumps and rotation.
2. Open hydraulic side outlet choke valve.
3. Close BOP (Ram or Annular preventer).
4. Close adjustable hydraulic choke.
5. Record SIDPP – SICP – Pit Gain.
Hard Shut-in Procedure:
1. Pick-up from bottom and position drill string, shut down mud pumps and rotation.
Flow check. Well flowing.
2. Close BOP (Ram or Annular preventer).
3. Open hydraulic side outlet choke valve.
4. Record SIDPP – SICP – Pit Gain.
If it is a positive kick indication that is observed keep in mind that no flow check is
carried out, but the well is shut in instantly.
Any unexplained pit gain is a sure sign of a kick and is also called a “positive kick
indicator” where the necessary precaution and steps must be carried out immediately.
The different between the two existing methods to close the well in is that the Hard
Shut-in Procedure reduces the amount of influx into the wellbore with resulting lesser
annulus pressure and surface pressure when circulating out the kick.
The purposes of the shut-in procedure are to:
1. Stop the influx into the wellbore.
2. Provide a safe rig environment.
3. Start kill procedures.
The purposes of raising the bit from bottom of the well are to get:
a. Less chance to get stuck.
b. Easier to get free if stuck ( you can go up or down ).
c. The Kelly cock is above rotary table. (if Kelly is used)
d. Ram type preventer can be used when it is secured that there is not a tool joint
opposite this.
e. The Kelly can be removed.
Selection of shut in procedure depends on:
1- MASSP
2- Hammer effect
3- Kick tolerance calculation.
Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure ( MAASP )
MAASP means the highest surface pressure that can be allowed at the top of the casing
in excess of hydrostatic pressure that is likely to causes losses at the shoe formation if
exceeded.
MAASP = Maximum Allowable Shoe Pressure –Hydrostatic Pressure Inside
Casing
Or
MAASP = Formation fracture pressure - Hydrostatic Pressure inside Casing
As illustrated in the above equation the MAASP will increase if pressure hydrostatic
inside the casing decrease for whatever reason and vice versa.
In other ward MAASP is the pressure that if exceeded the formation at the shoe will
fractured
What is the advantage of the hard shut in procedure?
It is faster; to minimize the volume of kick allowed to enter the wellbore
What is the advantage of the soft shut in procedure?
It is slower; to reduce the possibility of causing fracture in formation due to kick the
volume of kick allowed entering the wellbore.
SHOE PRESSURE CHANGE DURING WELL KILLING
What will happen to shoe pressure as gas is passing the shoe?
Well data:
Well TVD=10000 ft
Shoe TVD= 6000 ft
Mud weight =10 ppg
Gas influx gradient = 0.1 psi/ft
Gas influx height = 400 ft
Formation pressure= 5700 psi
When the kick is entering the well at position (A)
Total pressure below the shoe = Mud hydrostatic pressure + Gas influx hyd.
Pressure
- Mud hydrostatic pressure = 10 * 0.052 * 3600= 1872 psi
- Gas influx hyd. Pressure = 400 * 0.1 * = 40 psi
- Total pressure below the shoe = 1872 + 40 = 1912 psi
Now, the pressure at the shoe is equal to the difference between formation pressure
and total pressure exerted by fluid inside the annulus.
Pressure at the shoe (shoe pressure) = 5700 -1912 = 3788 psi
Now when the kick is moving upward (B)
Gas influx height = 1200 ft
Mud height = 4000-1200= 2800 ft
Mud hydrostatic pressure= 0.052 * 2800 * 10= 1456 psi
Gas influx hyd. Pressure =0.1* 1200 =120 psi
Total hyd. Pressure below the shoe = 1456+120= 1576
psi
Pressure at the shoe = 5700 – 1576 = 4124 psi
When the kick is passing the shoe (C)
Gas influx height 600 ft
Mud height = 4000-600= 3400 ft
Mud hydrostatic pressure= 0.052 * 3400 * 10= 1768psi
Gas influx hyd. Pressure =0.1* 600 =60 psi
Total hyd. Pressure below the shoe=1768+60=1828 psi
Pressure at the shoe = 5700 – 1828 = 3872 psi
When the kick passed the shoe (D)
Mud height = 4000 ft
Mud hydrostatic pressure
= 0.052 * 4000 * 10= 2080psi
Pressure at the shoe = 5700 – 2080 = 3620 psi
LEAK OFF TEST (LOT):
The first factor you need to understand is Leak of test pressure (LOT). LOT is the
surface pressure that breaks down formation at a casing shoe for each section of the
well.
Why usually measured LOT at the casing shoe?
Because it is the weakest point in the wellbore as it carries the whole weight of the
whole casing pipe.
LOT procedure:
1- Drill below the casing shoe approximately 15 feet in new formation
2- Test the surface line.
3- Circulate to get uniform mud in the hole ( mud in = mud out).
4- Measure exact vertical depth (TVD) of the casing shoe.
5- Calibrate pressure gauges.
6- Close the annulus and start pumping drilling mud.
Leak off test pressure formula is listed below;
Leak off test pressure (psi) = Surface pressure to break formation( psi ) +
Hydrostatic pressure ( psi)
Leak off test pressure is describe in equivalent mud density term
The formulas will be like this
Leak off test pressure (ppg) = (Surface pressure to break formation (psi)
÷ 0.052 ÷ shoe TVD (ft) )+ Mud weight (ppg)
WHAT IS BLEEDING PROCESS?
The Wellbore has taken kick.
Due to some reason circulation cannot be established.
The only possible way to remove kick is to allow kick to migrate up the annulus.
When the kick migrates up the annulus, casing pressure starts rising.
The kick lifts the annulus column above it.
We open the choke in a controlled way and bleed some mud from the
Annulus. This decreases the annulus pressure, ie. casing pressure
We perform this process of bleeding several times till the kick reaches
The surface. This process is termed as BLEEDING.
Remember:
No mud has been pumped. We have only bleed mud from Annulus.
Calculations are to be performed to calculate how much mud is to be bleed.