Mud/Gas Separator Sizing and Evaluation

MacDougall, G.R.

doi:10.2118/20430-pa

Cited by 17 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…The dispersedly distributing minute bubbles can cause a dramatic decline of drilling fluid's density, such that the density will be cut down half of the original. Furthermore, gas removal normally indicates to eliminate dispersed micro-gas-bubbles in the drilling fluid (MacDougall, 1991;Bullock et al, 2001;Bohorquez et al, 2007Bohorquez et al, , 2009. But the minute bubble-removal efficiency of a traditional gravitational separator is not obvious.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on a Surface Gas-Removing System for Weight Drilling Fluid

Zhu

Lei

Liu

et al. 2011

Petroleum Science and Technology

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A gravitational separator is often used to remove gas in contaminated drilling fluid during conventional drilling but fails to meet the gas-removing need for weight drilling fluid and to maintain the stable property of fluid by high viscosity for high-pressure gas formation. Therefore, it is essential to research the surface gas-removal system. According to the existing gravitational separator and centrifugal separator structure, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation technology is applied to show the flowfield characteristics of a gravitational separator and centrifugal separator, and a numerical simulation scheme was designed using an orthogonal design method. Range analysis and variance analysis were used to determine the independent factors, such as air bubble diameter and fluid viscosity. Then, based on the numerical simulation results under the separator structure and working condition, the laboratory simulation platform was designed. By comparing numerical calculation with in-house laboratory investigation, the results show that the calculated change tendency of gas-removal efficiency is in agreement with the obtained result from by laboratorial tests on the whole. The design of a double-stage gas-removal system is preferable to dealing with the gas-contaminated weight drilling fluid, which can remarkably raise the gas-removal efficiency. Under laboratory conditions, the doublestage gas-removal system obtained a maximal amplitude beyond 15% compared with the one-stage system, and the separated density was close to the unaerated density. Numerical simulation was helpful for optimizing the structure and determining the best working conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on a Surface Gas-Removing System for Weight Drilling Fluid

Zhu

Lei

Liu

et al. 2011

Petroleum Science and Technology

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Development of a Marine Riser Gas Management System

Kozicz¹

2012

All Days

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Drilling offshore oil and gas wells has become increasingly challenging as water and well depths have increased. In these areas drilling hazards resulting from narrow margins between pore and fracture pressures, pore pressure uncertainty, pore pressure regression, high pressure and high temperature have resulted in significant additional cost due to the time required to rectify problems associated with these hazards. As a consequence, industry has focused its efforts on developing mitigations to these challenges. Typically these developments have tended to focus on down hole solutions such as Managed Pressure Drilling and Dual Gradient Drilling; developments in drilling fluid management technologies and wellbore strengthening etc. One area which has not received as much focus recently is that of managing the drilling process and in particular the unique aspects relatedto working in deep water from Mobile Offshore Drilling Units. In particular theprobability of relatively small undetected hydrocarbon influxes abovethe subsea BOP. Depending on the drilling fluid and influx composition, unconstrained expansion of the influx (gas) may exceed the surface equipment handling capability (i.e. diverter system, capability and performance). Additionally, depending on the bubble pointof the drilling fluid / influx composition unconstrained evolution of fluid fromthe riser can result in a significant reduction in riser fluid level and thereforereduction in hydrostatic pressure which may impact the riser BOP system as wellas increase the probability of additional influxes entering the wellbore. This paper describes the design, development and construction of a riser gas managementsystem which addresses these concerns.

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The MPD Well Control Matrix: What is Actually Happening

2014

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When drilling conventionally, upon indication of an influx, the drill string is lifted off bottom, circulation is stopped, a flow check is performed, and if the well is flowing, the well is shut in. The influx is then circulated out through rig choke using a reduced circulating rate. With Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), when kicks occur, they are typically smaller, contained more quickly, and, in some cases, they may be circulated out through MPD equipment without drilling or circulation interruption. The IADC MPD sub-committee has drafted a Well Control Matrix (WCM) in an effort to offer guidelines on when it is acceptable to kill the well dynamically when practicing CBHP MPD. Rotating Control Devices (RCD) are commonly used on conventional overbalanced mud programs. To many in the industry, no specific distinction is made or special name is given to this type of operation. Confidence acquired over time has encouraged the common practice of drilling ahead while kicks are being circulated out, in appropriate circumstances. An influx, with only a very basic equipment configuration and whether it's called MPD or not, has often been handled in the industry as a routine operation without any special preparation or a formal WCM. If a WCM is to be required to be in place, it should be engineered properly. A methodology for developing a WCM will be discussed in this paper. Procedures to control influxes as well as how to determine when to revert to secondary well control equipment under these operating conditions and examples of practical applications will be discussed.

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Mud/Gas Separator Sizing and Evaluation

Cited by 17 publications

References 4 publications

Study on a Surface Gas-Removing System for Weight Drilling Fluid

Study on a Surface Gas-Removing System for Weight Drilling Fluid

Development of a Marine Riser Gas Management System

The MPD Well Control Matrix: What is Actually Happening

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