Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors

Module – 8
Drilling Problems
& Solutions

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S i –6
Section
Well Control Methods - II
 Well Control Methods for Special
p Conditions:

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Pipe off bottom / out of hole. No circulation possible

BHP Constant
C t t

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 2/26

 Contents

• Volumetric Method (Static) – Gas migration from bottom to surface

• Lubricate and Bleed (2nd stage of Volumetric) – Gas Evacuation

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• Stripping (Conventional) – Driving pipe to bottom (no gas migration)

• Combined Volumetric and Stripping - Driving pipe to bottom and

simultaneous g
gas migration
g from bottom to surface

• Bullheading – Reversing fluids back to the formation (BHP MAY NOT BE

KEPT CONSTANT)

• Bullheading H2S

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 3/26

 Volumetric Method
• Applicable only when migration of a gas kick is detected
• Brings the gas influx to surface without circulation from bottom
• Assumes the gas influx ascends as a bubble in water base fluids

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• Cannot be applied in Oil Base Mud, OBM, as the influx of gas is mixed
(di l d) with
(dissolved) i h the
h fl
fluid
id iin the
h wellll bbore and
d ddoes not migrate.
i

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 4/26

 Volumetric Method
Used only when circulating methods cannot be applied and gas kick is
migrating (i.e. casing pressure is increasing above the initial SICP)
11. As gas migrates,
migrates keep the well shut in allowing the SICP to increase a selected
amount, P (50 to 200 psi as per well conditions). BHP will increase also in P

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2. Use the choke to hold the new casing pressure constant until bleeding a volume
of mud that exerts in annulus a hydrostatic pressure equal to the pressure increase
in Step 1, P. It permits the expansion of the gas bubble while migrates and BHP is
reduced in P returning g to its original
g value (i.e. BHP ~ constant)

Volume to bleed = SICP increase (psi) x Annulus DP to Casing capacity (bls/ft)

(barrels) Mud gradient (psi/ft)

3. Shut well in again and repeat steps 1 & 2 as necessary until the gas bubble is at
surface or above the bit so it can be circulated out
Do not Bleed Gas..!
C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 5/26
 Volumetric Method
Bleed V
900
Choke open

800
CP - pssi

Bleed V Choke closed

Choke open
700

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Ch k closed
Choke l d
600

bleeding
HP – psi

5800
bleeding
BH

5700

5600
0 100 200 300
Elapsed time - minutes
C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 6/26
 Volumetric Method

Volumetric method Constant BHP circulating

((W&W or Driller’s))

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Casinng pressuure

Casinng pressuure

Time BBLS pumped (time)

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 7/26

 Volumetric Method (special case)
Th
There is
i communication
i i Drill
D ill Pi
Pipe / A
Annulus.
l G
Gas migration
i i ddetected
d
Drill String is on bottom or near bottom but no circulation is possible

1. Keep the choke closed to allow the initial SIDPP to be increased in a

given value (from 50 to 200 psi, as per well conditions) as a safety

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factor over the BHP to avoid additional kicks into the well bore

2. Keep constant the new SIDPP by continuously bleeding mud from

the annulus,
annulus via choke manifold,
manifold until the gas kick reaches the
surface and locates in the top section of annulus

Do not bleed Gas..!

3. Evacuate the gas out of the well bore by applying the Lubricate and
Bleed Method already discussed.

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 8/26

 Volumetric Method
Additional Notes:
• When gas is in the top of annulus (at surface),

• Stop the bleeding process. If gas is bled from the annulus at this point,
without having pumped first a given mud volume in the well, the BHP

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will drop below formation pressure and another influx will result.

• At this time the Lubricate and Bleed method is applied to allow the
controlled evacuation of the gas bubble by alternatively pumping mud into
the well through the kill line and bleeding off gas from the annulus through
the choke line

• If after all gas has been evacuated there is still pressure in the annulus, it is
an indication of an under balance condition and the mud weight has to be
increased.
C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 9/26
 Lubricate and Bleed Method (2ª stage of Volumetric)
- Controlled evacuation of gas at surface -
No communication DP/ casing: Sequentially pump mud and bleed gas

1
1. mud V,
Pump (lubricate) a given volume of mud, V into the annulus through the kill
line (it could be the same V bled in each step of Volumetric Method).
BHP is then increased in a hydrostatic P due to V in the annulus

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2. Close the well in and wait enough time to allow gravitational segregation of
mud through the gas cap

3. Open the choke to bleed gas relocated on top of the annulus in the amount
necessary to reduce the SICP in the value P increased by the mud volume
pumped in 1. BHP is also reduced in P and returns to its original value

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until all gas has been bled off or the desired annular
surface pressure is reached

Do not bleed mud..!

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 10/26
 Lubricate and Bleed Method (2ª stage of Volumetric)
- Controlled evacuation of gas at surface -
Special Case: Pipe Off Bottom & There is circulation from DP to annulus

1
1. mud V,
Pump (lubricate) a given volume of mud, V into the drill pipe (it could be
the same V bled in each step of Volumetric Method). BHP is then
increased in a hydrostatic P due to V inside the Drill Pipe

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2. Open the choke to bleed gas located on top of the annulus in the amount
necessary to reduce the SICP in the value P increased by the mud volume
p in 1. BHP is also reduced in P and returns to its original
ppumped g value

3. Repeat steps 1 to 2 until all gas has been bled off or the desired annular
surface pressure is reached

Do not bleed mud..!

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 11/26

 Lubricate & Bleed – Controlled Gas Evacuation at Surface

2a. Lubricate and Bleed (Volumetric Control)

1. Well shut-in. Pump through annular a fluid volume, Vstep to

increment the annular pressure to Pstep (from 50 to 200 psi).

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2. Wait for fluid segregation in the annulus (fluid falling through the
gas).
3. Measure the volume p pumped
p and calculate the equivalent
q
hydrostatic pressure increase in the annular:
HP = (volume pumped to annulus) x (HP per barrel), psi
HP per barrel
b l = Mud
M d Gradient
G di / Annular
A l capacity
i = psii / bbl
4. Open choke and bleed dry gas to reduce pressure by Pstep + HP
5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 until all gas is removed from the well bore

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 12/26

 Lubricate & Bleed – Controlled Gas Evacuation at Surface
2a. Lubricate and Bleed (Volumetric Control)

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C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 13/26
 Lubricate & Bleed – Controlled Gas Evacuation at Surface
Special Case: Pressure Readings instead of Volumetric Control
2b. Lubricate and Bleed (Pressure Control)

Pump a V through the annulus, wait, calculate Pressure and bleed.

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The process is based on annular pressure readings before and after
pumping V, as shown in the following equation:

P1 = Annular pressure before pumping V

P2 = Stabilized annular pressure after pumping V
P3 = Pressure to bleed off via choke:
P3 = (P1)2 / (P2)

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 14/26

 Lubricate & Bleed – Controlled Gas Evacuation at Surface
2b. Lubricate and Bleed (Pressure Control)

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Notes:
1. The procedure is valid only if annular pressure is due to gas swabbed
and not due to under balance
2. After removing the gas from the annular, the pressure must fall to zero

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 15/26

 Conventional Stripping Procedure (UPforce < DSweight)
Drill Pipe
p is returned to bottom byy its own weight
g through
g BOP closed
No Gas Migration or Gas Kick already evacuated using Volumetric Method
Drill pipe is forced through annular BOP when SICP < 500:

1. Make up an Inside BOP above the Full Opening Safety Valve already

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installed in the Drill String in the hole. Open the safety valve
2. Check that the force from below the string due to the well pressure can be
over come by the weight of the string in the mud. Take in consideration the
frictional force due to the closed packing element of BOP against the pipe
3. Reduce the closing pressure on the annular BOP to the point of observing
light leak and “boiling” of fluids around the pipe
4. Use BOP pressure regulator or a “surge bottle” pre-charged with 750 psi of
nitrogen directly connected to the close line of the annular BOP
5. Take off rubber p
protectors installed in the DP,, g
grind all marks and dents of
tongs and slips and polish hard banding on tool joints

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 16/26

 Conventional Stripping Procedure (UPforce < DSweight)
Drill Pipe is returned to bottom by its own weight through BOP closed
No Gas Migration or Gas Kick already evacuated using Volumetric Method

Drill pipe is forced through annular BOP when SICP < 500:

6. Build a line from the choke manifold to the trip tank (or from MGS to trip tank)

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7. Put plenty grease on external surface of DP and pour heavy oil on the top of
annular BOP closed against DP
8. Make up one DP stand and slowly run in hole forced by its own weight
throughg the closed annular Bop p (+/- 2 ft/sec)
9. While the DP is being run, simultaneously bleed mud out the annulus via
choke manifold so that SICP is held constant
10. Fill each stand run in the hole
10
11. The mud volume bled can be measured in the trip tank and must be equal to
the solid string volume (check)
12. Continue running pipe and bleeding mud with SICP constant until pipe
reaches bottom or finds resistance to go
C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 17/26
 “Combined Stripping and Volumetric Method”
DP is returned to bottom with simultaneous gas migration
Migrating gas is allowed to expand / DP is run while keeping BHP constant
Drill pipe is forced through annular BOP when SICP < 500:
Recordd SICP and
R d estimate
ti t volume
l off influx
i fl
While preparing for stripping pipe to bottom, the SICP will increase until a
value given by:

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Pchoke = SICP + Pseg + Pstep
Where,

SICP = Initial Shut-In Casing Pressure

Pseg = Safety factor on BHP to compensate loss of hydrostatic pressure due to the more
length of the influx when located around the BHA

Pseg = (Vinf/Cap OH/DC - Vinf/Cap OH) x (Gmudd – Ginf

i f)

Pstep = Pressure increase in each stage of the process, P (from 50 to 200 psi)
Vinf = Volume of Influx. Capp OH/DC = Annular capacity between OH and DCs
Cap OH = Volume of Open Hole. G mud = Mud Gradient.
Ginf = Influx Gradient
C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 18/26
 “Combined Stripping and Volumetric Method”
DP is returned to bottom with simultaneous gas migration
Migrating gas is allowed to expand / DP is run while keeping BHP constant

Stripping in through annular BOP – Procedure:

1. With choke closed, allow the annular pressure to reach the value P choke
2. Strip pipe trough annular BOP and simultaneously bleed off mud

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from the annulus via choke manifold, holding constant P choke
Notes:
– Pressure in excess is reduced by bleeding off mud to the trip tank
(or to the stripping tank if installed) via choke line
– If the influx is liquid, the mud volume to bleed must be equal to the
displacement of the stripped pipe with its end closed (“solid string”)
– If the influx is gas or a mixture liquid-gas, the volume to bleed should
b higher
be hi h than
th th closed
the l d end
d pipe
i stripped
ti d due
d t the
to th gas
expansion and migration
C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 19/26
 “Combined Stripping and Volumetric Method”
DP is returned to bottom with simultaneous ggas migration
g
Migrating gas is allowed to expand / DP is run while keeping BHP constant

3. Continue stripping the string keeping constant Pchoke until the volume bled
is higher than the string volume in the value of Vstep, as per:

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Vstep
t = P step
t x Cap OH/DC / G mud
d

4. When the bled volume exceeds the solid string volume in V step, close the
choke and keep running string in the hole to increase the casing pressure to:
Pchoke2 = Pchoke1 + Pstep
Notes:
– In this step DO NOT bleed the displacement volume of the string run
– It is recommended to strip the whole stand in each step (either when
the pressure is increased to P step or when the pressure is kept at Pchoke)

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 20/26

 “Combined Stripping and Volumetric Method”
DP is returned to bottom with simultaneous gas migration
Migrating gas is allowed to expand / DP is run while keeping BHP constant

5. Repeat steps 3. and 4. as many times as necessary to reach one of the

following conditions:

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– Bi or string
Bit i isi on bbottom
– Gas influx is at surface
– It is not possible to continue stripping due to high annular pressure, well
bore resistance, BOPs problems, equipment damage, etc)

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 21/26

 “Combined Stripping and Volumetric Method”
DP is returned to bottom with simultaneous gas migration
Migrating gas is allowed to expand / DP is run while keeping BHP constant
Additional Notes:
• When finish stripping to bottom or tight spot,
spot attempt a conventional control
circulating from tubing to annular

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• While stripping pipe in the hole bleed mudmud-gas
gas via the mud
mud-gas
gas separator to the trip
tank. Then, from this tank bleed the displacement volume for each stand stripped in
the hole to the auxiliary tank (or stripping tank). The remainder volume is kept in the
trip tank to control the pressure Pstep
t , or vice versa

Ram to Ram Stripping

• Only allowed for surface BOPs stacks (not used for sub
sub-sea
sea stacks)
• NOT to be performed if there are only two (2) pipe rams in the BOP stack
• The position of the tool joint inside the BOPs must be known at all times
• Closing pressure on rams should be reduced to the minimum allowed value
• Performed only if CP is below 1000 psi

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 22/26

 Bullheading Considerations

Apart form the small chance of successfully squeezing the influx back
into the formation,, bullheadingg has other crucial disadvantages:
g

• Fluid will go to the weakest formation which may not be the formation

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where the influx came from.
• There is a potential risk of fracturing formation anywhere along the
open hole
h l section
ti which
hi h can lead
l d to
t an underground
d d blowout
bl t situation.
it ti
• High pressures will have to be applied to surface equipment.
• Even if squeezing is possible, it may not be possible to kill the well
completely. Different well control methods will then have to be used.

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 23/26

 Bullheading Procedure
In general, bullheading procedures can only be conducted bearing in
mind each specific situation. For drilling operations, bullheading
procedure
d should
h ld take
t k in
i consideration
id ti the th following
f ll i factors:
f t

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1. Calculate the surface pressure that will cause formation fracturing
during the bullheading operation.

2. Calculate the drill p

pipe
p and casingg burst pressure.
p

3. Calculate static drill pipe and annulus head pressure during bullheading

4. Slowly pump fluid down the drill pipe and annulus. Monitor pump and
casingg ppressure duringg the operation.
p

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 24/26

 Bullheading Operational Considerations

Operational considerations for bull heading include the following:

1. When high pressures need to be applied, the cementing unit should be

used for better control and adequate pressure rating.

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2. Large mud volumes and LCM pills should be available in case major
losses are experienced during bull heading.

3. A kill line connection above the bottom pipe rams of BOP stack should
be used to be able to isolate the annulus in case of kill line failure.

4. A check valve should be installed in the kill line.

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 25/26

 Bullheading Hydrogen Sulphide – H2S

If drilling in known H2S zones the following should be considered:

• All casing and tubing strings should be J-55, K-55, C-75, and L-80 or
special H2S resistant grades.

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• BOPs and wellhead to be H2S trimmed.
trimmed
• Use grade ‘E’ or X-95 drill pipe whenever possible and limit use of
grade ‘G’ or ‘S’ drill pipe.
• Treat mud system to a pH of 12-13 with caustic soda and maintain
6 lb/bbl of lime for corrosion protection.
• Treat mud with 5-8 lb/bbl of H2S scavenger,
scavenger 1.5-3
1 5-3 lb/bbl Zinc
Carbonate or equivalent chemicals to avoid drill pipe failures.
• Avoid drill stem testing unless with special tools.
• Know maximum allowable overpull on string and avoid it.

C. Alvarez Drilling School for IPM Well Site Supervisors 26/26