ADVANCED DRILLING

MODULE-24
WELL CONTROL PRINCIPLES & PROCEDURE
ANATOMY OF A KICK
 KICK
A well kick is an unwanted flow of formation fluids into the well bore
which may (if not controlled) develop into a blowout.
• A kick is defined as an
intrusion of unwanted
fluids into the wellbore.
This can happen when the
formation pressure
exceeds the effective
hydrostatic pressure of
drilling fluids
 CAUSES OF KICK
• Failure to fill the hole properly while Tripping out

• Swabbing

• Lost circulation

• Insufficient Drilling Fluid Density

• Mud cut by gas, water or oil

• Loss of Riser Drilling Fluid Column

Failure to fill the hole properly while Tripping out
• As the drill string is pulled out, the mud level in hole drops due to
the steel volume of pipe being removed.

• As the mud level drops the hydrostatic pressure may be reduced

enough to cause loss of primary control, allowing formation fluids
to enter the well bore.
 Swabbing
The hydrostatic pressure in the well bore will always be reduced to
some extent when drill string or full gauge tools are being pulled out
from the hole. This reduction may be sufficient to cause loss of
primary well control. Swabbing is caused due to :

a) High speed of pulling pipe.

b) Mud with high viscosity and high gels.

c) Reduced annular clearance.

 Lost circulation
When lost circulation occurs the mud level will drop and reduction in
hydrostatic pressure in the well bore may cause the loss of primary
control over formation pressure.

Loss of circulation may be due to natural or induced causes. Natural

causes include.

a) Cavernous formations

b) Vugular formations

c) Subnormally pressured zones

d) Pressure depleted formations

 Lost circulation (Contd.)
• Induced loss can occur from mechanical fracturing of formations
due to :

a) High surge pressure developed from fast running of pipe into

the hole.

b) A restricted annulus due to balling of BHA or sloughing of

shales.

c) Excessive annular friction losses.

d) Excessive pressure caused by breaking circulation when gel

strength of drilling fluid is high.
 Insufficient Drilling Fluid Density
• When the hydrostatic pressure due to drilling fluid density is less than
formation pressure of a permeable zone, formation fluid will enter the
well bore. This may occur due to:

a) Drilling into an abnormal pressure zone

b) Dilution of drilling fluid

c) Reduction in drilling fluid density due to influx of formation fluid

particularly gas

d) Settling of weighted material in mud

e) Failure to displace kill mud in the riser after circulating out a kick
 Cut Mud
• Gas-cut mud has always been considered a warning signal, but
not necessarily a serious problem.

• Calculations demonstrate that severely gas-cut mud causes

modest reductions in bottomhole pressures because of the
compressibility of the gas.

• An incompressible fluid such as oil or water can cause more

severe reductions in total hydrostatic and has caused serious well
control problems when a productive oil or gas zone is present.
 Loss of Riser Drilling Fluid Column
• On floating rigs, the loss of mud column in riser may result in
reduction of hydrostatic pressure in the hole and may cause loss
of primary control. This loss of riser hydrostatic column could be
due to :

a) Accidental disconnection of riser

b) Riser damage

c) Displacement of riser fluid volume with sea water

 Indicators of Kick
• Increase in pit level

• Increase in penetration rate

• Decrease in circulation pressure

• Gas, oil or salt water-cut mud

• Reduction in drillpipe weight

• Chloride increase
 Increase in pit level
• A variation of bit type may mask a drilling break.

• In that event, the first warning may be an increase in flow rate or

pit level caused by the influx of formation fluids.

• Depending on the productivity of the formation, the influx may be

rapid or virtually imperceptible.

• Therefore, the influx could be considerable before being noticed.

No change in pit level or flow rate should be ignored.
 Increase in penetration rate
• Generally, the first indication of a well kick is a sudden increase in
drilling rate or a Drilling break,” which is interpreted that a porous
formation may have been penetrated.

• Crews should be alerted that, in the potential pay interval, no more

than some minimal interval (usually 2 to 5 feet) of any drilling
break should be penetrated.

• This is one of the most important aspects of pressure control.

• Many multimillion dollar blowouts could have been avoided by

limiting the open interval
 Decrease in circulation pressure
• During a well kick, fluids such as salt water, oil or gas enter the well bore
and intermix with the existing drilling mud. This mixing often results in a
new fluid of reduced viscosity and density, which, in turn, results in lower
annular pressure losses.

• The decrease in circulation pressure is very pronounced when gas invades

the well bore, since gas has a much lighter density than that of mud.

• The decrease in pump pressure is also accompanied by an increase in

pump speed, as the same input power is now available to circulate the
same volume of fluid against the reduced pressure losses. An obvious and
definitive surface indication of a kick is "WELL FLOW" with pumps off.
 Gas, oil or salt water-cut mud
• Caution should be exercised when gas, oil, or water-cut mud is
observed. Normally, this indicator is accompanied by one of the
other indicators if the well is experiencing an influx.

Reduction in Drillpipe Weight

• The reduction in string weight occurs with a substantial influx
from a zone of high productivity. Again, the other indicators will
probably have manifested themselves prior to or in conjunction
with a reduction in drillpipe weight.
 Chloride increase
• The quantity of chloride in mud is a good indicator for monitoring
well kicks. The mud engineer routinely measures the quantity of
chloride (Cl−) in mud to establish a datum level for (Cl−).

• Most formation fluids contain high levels of salinity compared with

those of the drilling mud. An indication that formation fluids have
invaded the well is obtained when the measured Cl − content of
mud exceeds the datum level.
 Leak-Off Test (LOT)
• Leak off test determines the pressure
at which formation begins to take
fluid from the drilled well.

• This test is normally conducted upon

drilling out the casing shoe and
additional 3-4 metres of new hole.

• Such a test will establish the

strength of formation at the shoe or
the integrity of cement job at the
shoe.
 MAASP
• Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure is a limit that
prevents damage to the well due to presence of high annulus
surface pressure.

• MAASP is the surface pressure which, when added to the

hydrostatic pressure of the existing mud column, would result in
formation breakdown at the weakest zone of the open hole section
(Previous casing shoe).

• During well control operations, choke pressure should not exceed

the MAASP.
 Alternatives
If the casing pressure approaches the MAASP the following
alternatives should be considered.

1. Continue with kill procedures at a slower pump rate.

2. Exceed MAASP and take risk of formation breakdown.

3. Bull heading operations.

4. Open choke to prevent pressure from exceeding the MAASP but

risk additional influx.
GAS MIGRATION

SICP
CSIP

• PV =ZnRT
• P1V1=P2V2
• As gas migrates higher hydrostatic becomes
lower and gas tends to expand
ADVANCED DRILLING
MODULE-25
WELL CONTROL PRINCIPLES & PROCEDURE
KICK CONTROL METHODS
KICK CONTROL METHODS
Kick Control Methods
Dynamic kick control Other Kick control
Methods Methods
Driller’s Methods

Engineer’s
Method
 DYNAMIC KICK CONTROL
• The kill fluid is pumped to the bottom of
the hole through the drill pipe, and the
additional hydrostatic of the kill fluid
along with the increased friction
pressure resulting from the kill fluid
controls the well.

• Primitive method with little or no

technical evaluation.
 DYNAMIC KICK CONTROL
• Most of the time, well control specialists
had some arbitrary rules of thumb, like-
the kill fluid had to be 2 lbs/gal heavier
than the mud used to drill the zone, or
the kill fluid had to achieve some
particular annular velocity.

• Usually, such plans often have

increased mud density, increased
pumping rate.
 Driller’s Method
• This is a two cycle circulation method.

• In first cycle, the drill pipe pressure is maintained at constant

value until the influx is circulated out from the well bore using
original mud weight.

• In second cycle, kill mud weight is pumped to the bit maintaining

casing pressure constant.

• When the kill mud enters the annulus, final circulation (drill pipe)
pressure is maintained constant until the kill mud reaches surface.
 Driller’s Method
FIRST CIRCULATION
• Bring the pump to kill speed in steps of 5 SPM, gradually operating the
choke holding the SICP constant.

• When the pump is at kill speed, maintain the drill pipe pressure constant.

• Circulate out the influx out of well maintaining drill pipe pressure constant.

• When the influx is out, stop the pump reducing the pump speed in steps of
5 SPM, gradually closing the choke, maintain casing pressure constant.

• Record SICP, SIDPP. Both should be equal to original SIDPP.

Interpretation of recorded SIDPP & SICP

• (but more than original SIDPP)

trapped pressure in wellbore

some influx is still in the wellbore

First Circulation: Pressure Graph
 Driller’s Method
SECOND CIRCULATION
• Line up suction with kill mud.
• Bring the pump to kill speed in steps of 5 SPM, gradually operating the choke
holding the SICP constant.
• When the pump is at kill speed, pump kill mud from surface to bit,
maintaining casing pressure constant.
• Pump kill mud from bit to surface maintaining drill pipe pressure constant.
• When kill mud reaches surface, stop the pump reducing the pump speed in
steps of 5 SPM, gradually closing the choke, maintain casing pressure
constant.
• Record SICP, SIDPP. Both should be equal to zero.
Second Circulation: Pressure Graph

Stroke or Displacement
 Driller’s Method
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• Can start circulation without any • Higher annular pressure

delay if hole condition permits.
• Viable option if limited weighting • Higher casing shoe pressure in
material (barite etc.) is available. gas kick
• Less chances of gas migration. • Since two circulations are
involved, more time is required
on choke operation
 Wait & Weight Method
• In the wait & weight method, the influx is circulated out and
primary control of the well is regained in one circulation.

• It is sometimes referred to as the Engineer’s method.

• Kill mud is prepared and is pumped from surface to bit

following a prepared drill pipe pressure schedule.

• Once the kill mud enters the annulus a constant drill pipe
pressure is maintained until the heavy mud return to surface.
 Wait & Weight / Engineer’s Method
1. Mix the kill mud.

2. Bring the pump up to kill speed in steps of 5 SPM, opening the

choke, maintaining the casing pressure constant.

3. When the pump is at kill rate speed pump kill mud from surface
to bit maintaining the step down schedule (during this step as the
kill mud reaches from surface to bit the drill pipe pressure drops
from ICP to FCP)

4. Pump kill mud from bit to surface maintaining drill pipe pressure
constant at FCP value.
 Wait & Weight / Engineer’s Method
5. When kill mud reaches the surface both string and annulus are
filled with mud

6. Gradually stop the pump in steps of 5 SPM.

7. Once the pump is stopped both SICP and SIDPP gauges should
ideally read zero.

8. If SICP = SIDPP = 0 open and observe the well.

9. Add trip margin before resuming normal operation.

Engineer’s Method: Pressure Graph
Pressure

Stroke or Displacement
 Engineer’s Method
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• Lower annulus pressure • High non circulating time

• Lower casing shoe pressure • More calculation involved
when open hole volume is more
than string volume
• Only one circulation is involved • More chances of gas migration
during the non circulating time
• Less time on choke operation

NOTE
If the open hole volume is more than drill string volume use wait & weight method
because maximum pressure at casing shoe is comparatively less.
ADVANCED DRILLING
MODULE-26
WELL CONTROL PRINCIPLES & PROCEDURE
PREPARATION OF KILL SHEET
 Create a kill Sheet
• Hole Size: 8½ in. • String data:
• Well depth: 13000 ft. • Drill Collar length: 1000 ft.
• Mud Weight: 13.7 PPG • Pump output: 0.109 bbls/stroke
• Casing Size: 9⅝ in. • Slow Pump Rate: 40 SPM
• Casing Shoe: 8500 ft. • Dynamic Pressure: 550 Psi
• Inner capacities: • Leak-Off Test Data:
• Drill Collar: 0.1776 bbls/ ft. • Test Mud Density: 11.7 PPG
• Drill Pipe: 0.1776 bbls/ ft. • Surface Pressure: 3000 Psi
• Annular Capacities: • Kick Data:
• Drill Collar in open hole: 0.0292 • SIDPP: 220 Psi
bbls/ ft. • SICP: 620 Psi
• Drill Pipe in open hole: 0.0459 • Pit Gain: 18 bbls
bbls/ ft.
• Drill Pipe in casing: 0.0505 bbls/ ft.
 Change in d-exponent
• Jordan and Shirley (1966) developed an equation for normalized
penetration rate in which it was defined as a function of measured
drilling rate, bit weight and size and rotary speed in the equation as
below

KICK INDICATOR
R: ROP (ft/hr.) N: rpm W: WOB (lbf) db: bit diameter (in.)
 Change in d-exponent
• Because ‘d’ is an indicator of drillability, a plot of ‘d’ vs. depth in
the shale section has been used with moderate success in
predicting abnormal pressures.

• Trends of d-exponent normally increase with depth but in

transition zones, values of ‘d’ decrease to lower than expected
values.

• Since the d-exponent tends to indicate the pressure differential

between formation pressures and well bore pressure, mud weight
will effect the d-exponent.
 Problem-2
• Determine the value of the dexp if the drilling rate is 35 ft/hr, the rotary
RPM is 100, and the weight on the bit is 60,000 lbf.

(Assume bit diameter as 8.5 in.)

Problem-3
• For a particular sedimentary basin, find the value of the weight on bit
(W) if the d-exponent is 1.9, the drilling rate is 30 ft./hr, the rotary RPM
is 100. (Assume bit diameter of 12.25 in.)
 Problem-4
• An intermediate hole of 12.25" size was drilled to a depth of 7,500
ft. using 9.3 ppg mud. The fracture gradient of the casing shoe at
4,500 ft. was estimated as 11.8 ppg. Drill pipe diameter was 5.0". If
the maximum anticipated kick volume and gradient are 73.0 bbls
and 0.12 psi/ft, determine the maximum allowable surface pressure
that can be applied to the annulus without fracturing the casing
shoe. Assume formation gradient is equal to 9.9 ppg.
 Problem-5
• What is the MAASP considering formation fracture strength if the
maximum allowable equivalent mud weight is 1.8 gm/cc, true vertical
depth of the last casing shoe is 1500 m and the mud weight in the
hole is 1.2 gm/cc?

Problem-6
• What is the approximate maximum pit gain expected when a 2 m 3 kick
is taken from a formation having 550 kg/cm2 pressure?

Given that 1.2 gm/cc kill mud is required and annular

capacity at the surface is 0.06 m3/m.