Alternative Shut-In and Pump Start-Up Procedures for Kicks Taken During MPD Operations

Chirinos, Jose Eduardo; Smith, John R.; Bourgoyne, Darryl A.

doi:10.2118/143094-ms

Cited by 3 publications

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

A Proposed Method for Planning the Best Response to Kicks Taken During Managed Pressure Drilling Operations

Smith

Patel²

2011

All Days

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An industry-supported research project has investigated well control methods for managed pressure drilling (MPD) using the constant bottom hole pressure (CBHP) method. This paper proposes a method for pre-selecting the best initial response to be taken when a kick occurs during CBHP MPD based on conclusions from the research. That research (Davoudi et al 2010) concluded that the three most widely applicable initial responses to kicks during MPD were increasing casing pressure until flow out equals flow in, shutting the well in, and using an adaptation of a MPD pump shut down schedule to detect and shut in a low rate kick. Increasing pump rate until flow out equals flow in was concluded to have limited, but potentially still important applications. The proposed method uses a decision tree to pre-select the best response to be used if an influx of formation fluid is detected. This selection is based on the desired tolerance to kicks, equipment being used, well geometry and conclusiveness of the kick warning signs. The equations necessary to calculate decision parameters, example calculations for an application of the decision tree and comparison of simulation results to application of the decision tree are included. The decision tree indicates the response that maximizes kick tolerance within the well design, gives a basis for revising equipment or well design to maximize kick tolerance, and supports calculation of the expected kick tolerance advantage of the increasing casing pressure response versus a shut in response.

show abstract

A Proposed Method for Planning the Best Response to Kicks Taken During Managed Pressure Drilling Operations

Smith

Patel²

2011

All Days

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

A Proposed Method for Planning the Best Initial Response to Kicks Taken During Managed-Pressure-Drilling Operations

Smith

Patel

2012

SPE Drilling &Amp; Completion

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary An industry-supported research project has investigated well-control methods for managed-pressure drilling (MPD) using the constant-bottomhole-pressure (CBHP) method. This paper proposes a method for planning the best initial response to be used when a kick occurs during CBHP MPD on the basis of conclusions from the research. That research (Davoudi et al. 2010) concluded that the three most widely applicable initial responses to kicks during MPD were increasing casing pressure until flow out equals flow in, shutting the well in, and using an adaptation of an MPD-pump shutdown schedule to detect and shut in a low-rate kick. Increasing pump rate until flow out equals flow in was concluded to have limited, but potentially still important, applications. The proposed method uses a decision tree during the planning phase of a well to select the best kick response to be used for each hole interval for inclusion in the drilling program. This selection is based on the desired tolerance to kicks, equipment being used, well geometry, and conclusiveness of the kick warning signs. The equations necessary to calculate decision parameters, example calculations for an application of the decision tree, and comparison of simulation results to application of the decision tree are included. The decision tree indicates the response that maximizes kick tolerance within the well design, gives a basis for revising equipment or well design to maximize kick tolerance, and supports calculation of the expected kick-tolerance advantage of the increasing-casing-pressure response vs. a shut-in response.

show abstract

Automated Well Control Decision-Making during Managed Pressure Drilling Operations

Vajargah

Hoxha

Oort

2014

Day 1 Wed, September 10, 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Blow-out prevention and formation gas/fluid influx control is a major concern in any drilling operation. In conventional drilling, the only widely accepted response to a gas influx is to shut the well in on the BOPs. New Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technology using the constant bottom-hole pressure (CBHP) technique allows for circulating small and medium-sized influxes out without the need to shut in the well, either by increasing casing back-pressure and/or adjusting pump flow rate. Evident benefits include a faster response to the influx (with clear safety benefits) and a considerable time and cost savings compared to the conventional approach. Unfortunately, there is currently no method available to decide upon the best MPD-CBHP response during an influx, because such a response depends on many parameters, such as Maximum Allowable Surface Pressure (MASP), wellbore geometry, fracture pressure of any weak zones exposed in open hole, type of drilling fluid, influx size, etc. To remedy this situation, we present a fast and accurate decision-making method that overcomes the traditional difficulties and automatically selects a best well control response. The method incorporates a transient multi-phase model based on mass, energy and momentum conservation. A sophisticated numerical simulator was developed for this purpose. Comparing the actual well response with simulated results during an influx event and following the proposed algorithm allows the best response to be taken in a quick, convenient, and accurate manner. Moreover, the approach lends itself well to fully automated control. Here, we describe the new method and its validation using available two-phase experimental data for annular air-mud flow for a wide range of flow rates and flow regimes. We believe that the method provides a powerful new decision-making and design tool in MPD operations that ensures delivery of safer wells with lower non-productive time and associated trouble cost spent on well control operations.

show abstract

Alternative Shut-In and Pump Start-Up Procedures for Kicks Taken During MPD Operations

Cited by 3 publications

References 7 publications

A Proposed Method for Planning the Best Response to Kicks Taken During Managed Pressure Drilling Operations

A Proposed Method for Planning the Best Response to Kicks Taken During Managed Pressure Drilling Operations

A Proposed Method for Planning the Best Initial Response to Kicks Taken During Managed-Pressure-Drilling Operations

Automated Well Control Decision-Making during Managed Pressure Drilling Operations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About