Lecture# 08

Well Control
Methods
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Well Control Operation

Data Sheet
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Well Data
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Well Data
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Well Data
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Liner Size
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Stroke Length
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Well Data
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Circulating Techniques

o Driller’s Method, Wait & Weight Method and

Concurrent Method

o Differences between these are when to circulate kick

out, and when to pump kill fluid

o All are constant BHP methods

o Mean after well is shut in, until time well is killed,

pressure at bottom of well must be maintained at, or
slightly above, formation pressure
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Choke Response

Critical times when proper action must be taken:

I. Pump start up

II. Proper choke adjustments

III. Gas at choke

IV. Fluid following gas through choke

V. Pump shut down

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I. Pump Start Up

o As pump is brought on line, a pressure increase felt

throughout system will be imposed

o As pressure on casing begins to increase, choke must

be rapidly opened from a closed position to allow
fluid to bleed through, but only opened enough

o If wellbore pressure increases too much, losses or

damage to formation may occur.

o If pressures are allowed to decrease below shut in

value, additional influx may occur
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II. Proper Choke Adjustments

o If drillpipe pressure is too high, determine excess

amount as accurately as possible

o Determine casing pressure to be bled in order to

correct circulating pressure

o Only when this is known, carefully adjust setting of

choke toward more open position

o If circulating pressure is too low, choke will be adjusted

towards more closed position
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III. Gas at Choke

o Fluid type, flow rate, and choke sizes are related to

maintaining correct pressures

o If different fluid type goes through choke, its frictional

coefficient & flow rate either increase or decrease

o When gas hit or follow fluid through choke, abrupt

decrease in pressure across the choke may occur

o If happen, pressure decrease throughout well,

potentially causing another kick
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IV. Fluid following gas through choke

o When fluid following gas hits choke, result in abrupt

increase in friction and pressure build-up

o This increase in pressure may cause formation failure

o Adjust casing pressure to last recorded value prior to

fluid hitting choke toward more open position

o Give proper lag time to correct pressure throughout

system, and readjust as needed
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V. Pump Shut Down

o When pump speed is decreased, circulating pressure

decreases and flow across choke decreases

o If casing pressure begins to decrease, adjust choke

toward more closed position

o Once pump is stopped, choke may have to be closed

rapidly to maintain a planned pressure

o If pressure fall below planned values, additional influx

may occur
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Lag/Transit Time

o When choke pressure is altered, a pressure wave is

initiated that will be felt throughout circulating system.

o Not produce immediate response on drillpipe pressure

gauge, but will lag behind

o Transit delay should be taken into account before

another attempt is made to alter drillpipe pressure
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Lag/Transit Time
Rule of Thumb
Wait approximately 2 seconds for every 1,000’ (304.8 m)
of string length that is in well

o On 10,000’ (3048 m) well, take 20 seconds for pressure

change made on choke to be seen on drillpipe or
tubing gauge

o 10 seconds for change to travel from choke down

annulus to end of the drillpipe

o 10 seconds for change to travel up drillpipe & back to

surface
Choke
Adjustment
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Bringing Pump Online

I. Communications

II. Start pump slowly

III. Hold casing pressure constant initially

IV. Initial Circulating Pressure or ICP

V. Maintain Kill Rate

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I. Communications
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II. Start Pump Slowly

o Brought pump up to speed slowly, or in stages

o Process should take several minutes

o Need to be discussed prior to pump start up

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III. Hold Casing Pressure

Constant initially
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IV. Initial Circulating Pressure or ICP

o Circulating Pressure seen on pump gauge is typically

called Initial Circulating Pressure or ICP

o Combination of pressure to circulate well @ given rate

& prevent well from flowing

ICP = SIDPP + KRP

o SIDPP is shut in drillpipe pressure

o KRP is pump pressure at desired kill rate

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V. Maintain Kill Rate

o Once kill rate speed is chosen, it should not be

changed

o If pump speed is changed, then calculations such as

initial circulating pressure, final circulating pressure,
and pressure chart or graph must be changed as well.
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Driller’s Method

o At first, kick is circulated out of hole

o Then, if well is underbalanced

o Replace fluid in hole with fluid exerting more pressure

than kicking formation
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Driller’s Method
o Cause higher casing pressures and require more time

o Suited for tripping applications

o Use where no weighting material is available

o Use to remove gas kicks where high migration rates

can cause shut in problem

o Use where personnel and/or equipment are limited

o Not used on wells where lost circulation is expected

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Driller’s Method
Procedure
1. Well is shut in after kick
2. Record Stabilized Shut In Drillpipe (SIDPP) and Shut In
Casing Pressures (SICP)
3. Kick is immediately circulated out of hole
4. When this is finished, well shut-in for second time
5. If necessary, fluid weight is increased
6. Well is circulated second time with new, heavier fluid
to regain hydrostatic control
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Example Problem 01
Driller’s Method
o Well is shut in after kick
o Recorded SIDPP, SICP, and kick size
o Using the well data
o Kill Rate Speed is 24 spm
o Kill Rate Pressure is 770 psi (53.09 bar)
o Pump, 6” × 16” (152.4mm × 406.4mm) duplex
o Fluid Weight in Hole 12.5 ppg (1498 kg/m³)
o SIDPP is 520 psi (35.85 bar)
o SICP is 820 psi (56.54 bar)
Example Problem 01
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Step 1: Start Circulation

o Bring pump up to kill rate speed (24 spm) while

maintaining casing or backpressure (maintain BHP)

o Prevent well from flowing & minimize chances for

formation damage to occur

o In this example, after pump is brought to speed,

casing pressure is adjusted to 820 psi (56.54 bar)
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Step 2: 1st Circulation

o Pump is running at Kill Rate Speed and casing pressure

has been adjusted with choke

o Drillpipe pressure at this time is called Circulating

Pressure (CP), or Initial Circulating Pressure (ICP)

o ICP is combination of SIDPP &pump pressure @ Kill Rate

Speed

o In example, Circulating Pressure is 1,290 psi (88.95 bar)

Step 2: 1st Circulation
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Step 3: Pressure Adjustments

o Circulating Pressure is held constant by using choke &
pump rate is kept constant at Kill Rate Speed until kick is
circulated out

o If kick is gas, pressure adjustments may be necessary to

maintain proper Circulating Pressure

o AS gas expands, it displace fluid and result in lost

hydrostatic pressure, which is compensated for by
increasing casing pressure

o For salt water or oil, few pressure adjustments are required

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Pressure
Adjustments
o As kick is being circulated, maintain drillpipe pressure
according to planned pressure

o If drillpipe pressure is incorrect, it must be adjusted

o Need to determine amount of pressure (high or low)

o Amount must be added to or taken away from casing

value

o Lag time should be taken into account for casing

pressure change to be reflected on drillpipe gauge
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Pressure
Adjustments

o If pressure fall below where it should be, an adjustment

should be made.
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Pressure
Adjustments

1: Determine how much pressure is needed.

2: Adjust casing pressure by only that amount

3: Allow proper lag time and re-evaluate

Note: in this Example, circulating pressure is 1,290 psi

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Pressure
Adjustments

1: Determine how much pressure is needed

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Pressure
Adjustments

2: Adjust casing pressure by only that amount

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Pressure
Adjustments

3: Allow proper lag time & re-evaluate

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Step 4: The Kick at Surface

o As kick start coming through choke, first Casing pressure,

and then drillpipe pressure (after lag time) start to drop

o Choke must be quickly adjusted to bring casing pressure

back to value it had before gas hit choke

o Then switch back to drillpipe gauge pressure and make

necessary corrections

o When fluid following kick goes through choke, casing

pressure increase and need to adjust to last value
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The Kick at Surface

Step 4:

o When gas begins exiting through choke, casing

pressure may begin to change
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Step 5: Once kick Remove

o If need to shut in the well, control point is casing
pressure while slowing down and stopping pump

o If casing pressure is allowed to drop below SICP another

kick could be taken (if well is underbalanced)

o If all influx has been removed, hydrostatic in annulus is

equal hydrostatic in drillstring around SIDPP value

o If pressures are not close, new influx may have occurred

o Need to monitor pressure buildup due to influx migration

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Once kick Remove

Step 5:

o If well is to be shut in, maintain casing pressure at least

equal to original shut in drillpipe/tubing pressure
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Shut in
Pressure Adjustment

1: Casing pressure is allowed to abruptly decrease

2: Drillpipe/ tubing pressure given lag time

3: Prevent this from happening, if casing pressure begins

to change quickly adjust choke

4: if react properly, drillpipe/tubing pressure fluctuations

will be minimal
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Shut in
Pressure Adjustment
1: Casing pressure is allowed to abruptly decrease
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Shut in
Pressure Adjustment
2: Drillpipe/ tubing pressure given lag time
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Shut in
Pressure Adjustment
3: Prevent this from happening, if casing pressure begins
to change quickly adjust choke
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Shut in
Pressure Adjustment
4: if react properly, drillpipe/tubing pressure fluctuations
will be minimal
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Step 6: Starting Second Circulation

In this example:

o kill weight fluid will be 13.5 ppg (1,618 kg/m³)

o FCP 832 psi (57.37 bar)

o Fluid weight in active pit needs to be increased to

13.5 ppg before second circulation is started
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Step 6: Starting Second Circulation

o 2nd start up procedure is identical to 1st circulation

except for pressure value held on casing

o SICP should essentially equal original SIDPP

o Once kill mud is circulating, casing pressure need to

be maintained constant at planned value, 520 psi

o When pump is at Kill Rate Speed (24 spm) with

constant casing pressure, kill fluid will displace lighter
fluid in drill string
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Starting 2nd Circulation

Step 6:

o Maintain casing pressure as pump is brought online

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Step 7:
Kill Weight Fluid Reach Bit

o By time drillpipe is full of kill weight fluid (905 strokes)

o Circulating pressure should have gradually changed

from original circulating pressure ICP to FCP, 832 psi

Note: No need to maintain drillpipe pressure due to

both friction pressure & hydrostatic pressure changes
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Kill Weight Fluid Reach Bit

Step 7:

o Maintain proper pressure as kill fluid is pumped to bit

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Step 8:
Kill Weight Fluid Reach Surface

o Circulation continue maintaining FCP, 832 psi, constant

until , kill weight fluid reach surface

o As kill fluid is pumped up annulus, increase in

hydrostatic pressure cause drillpipe pressure to increase

o Need choke adjustments to maintain FCP,

o Gradually, all backpressure is removed as kill fluid

(increasing annular hydrostatic pressure) is circulated
up annulus
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Step 8: Kill Weight Fluid

Reach Surface

o As annulus fills with kill fluid, need to adjust choke to

maintain correct circulating pressures, result in casing
pressure decline to negligible value
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Step 9: 3rd Shut-in

o Once kill weight fluid reach surface, shut in for 3rd time

o Drillpipe & casing pressures should be zero

o If, after 15 to 30 minutes, pressure is zero, well may be

dead, open choke to see if there is any flow.

o If pressures are not zero, or if flow is detected, start

circulating again
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Step 9: 3rd Shut-in

The problem may be that :

o kill weight fluid is not consistent throughout the well

o Another kick may be in hole

o Insufficient kill fluid was used

Note: Even if well is dead be aware that trapped pressure

can exist under closed BOP. Always protect personnel
when opening closed BOPs
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Step 9: 3rd Shut-in

o It may take more strokes than calculated to get a

consistent kill fluid at surface
o If no pressure buildup is seen, the well should be dead
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Driller’s Method Kill

Review

1. Shut in Well

2. Record Shut in Drillpipe/Casing pressures

3. Circulation is started by holding casing pressure

constant until pump is at kill rate

4. When pump speed is at kill rate, drillpipe pressure is

recorded & kept constant with choke adjustments
(Drillpipe pressure is sum of SIDPP & KRP pressure)
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Driller’s Method Kill

Review

5. Drillpipe pressure & pump rate are kept constant until

kick is circulated out of hole

6. Shut in well and increase fluid weight if needed

7. Heavier fluid is prepared & circulation is started

again, maintain casing pressure constant until
drillpipe is full of new heavy fluid

8. When drillpipe is full of heavy fluid, keep FCP constant

until annulus has been displaced with kill fluid
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Wait & Weight

Method

o Kill the kick in shortest time

o Keep the wellbore & surface pressures lower than

other method

o Require good mixing facilities for weighting fluid, full

crews, and additional supervisory help

o All are available on most marine rigs and on deep or

geo-pressured land operations
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Wait & Weight

Procedure

1. Well is shut in after kick

2. Record Shut In Drillpipe (SIDPP) & Shut In Casing

Pressures (SICP)

3. Pits weighted to calculated kill fluid weight

4. When pits are weighted, circulation begins.

5. Prepared circulating pressure chart is followed, kill

fluid circulated through well
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Example Problem
Wait & Weight Method
Well is shut in after kick & following information recorded
o Kill Rate Speed = 24 spm
Kill Rate Pressure = 770 psi
o Fluid Weight in Hole 12.5 ppg (1,498kg/m³)
o SIDPP = 520 psi (35.85 bar)
SICP = 820 psi (56.54 bar)
o Strokes to Displace Drillpipe = 905 strokes
Strokes for Bottoms up = 3,323 strokes
Strokes for Total Circulation = 4,228 strokes
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Step 1:
Bringing the Pump Online

o Once kill rate speed is chosen, it should NOT be

changed

o If pump speed is changed, then calculations such as

initial, intermediate and final circulating pressure must
be recalculated

o Casing pressure is 820 psi (56.54 bar) and should be

held while bringing the pump up to kill rate speed
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Bringing the Pump Online

Step 1:

o Once pump is at planned circulating speed, Initial

Circulating Pressure is noted
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Step 2:
Starting Circulation

o Pump is up to kill rate speed and casing pressure is

adjusted with choke to same pressure it had prior to
pump start up

o Drillpipe pressure, at this time called Initial Circulating

Pressure (ICP)

o ICP is merely combination of SIDPP & pump pressure

at that speed, 1,290 psi (88.95 bar)
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Step 3:
Pressure Schedule

o Drillpipe pressure decrease from Initial Circulating

Pressure (ICP) to Final Circulating Pressure (FCP)

o When drillpipe is full of kill weight fluid (905 strokes),

drillpipe pressure gauge show FCP, 832 psi (57.37 bar)

o Hold drillpipe pressure constant until kill fluid weight is

circulated throughout well & pumps are shut down
after kill operation
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Pressure Schedule
Step 3:

o Maintain correct circulating pressure as kill fluid is

pumped to bit (ICP and FCP)
o Maintain FCP up annulus & Make Pressure adjustments
accordingly
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Step 4:
Pressure Adjustments

o As kick is being circulated, maintain drillpipe pressure

according to planned pressure

o If drillpipe pressure is incorrect, need to adjust to its

proper value

o Determine amount of pressure (high or low) that must

be corrected, do not estimate

o Amount of pressure needed, must be added to or taken

away from casing value (backpressure)
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Review: Lag Time

o Lag time should be taken into account for this

pressure change to be reflected on drillpipe gauge

o Rule of thumb: Wait approximately two seconds per

thousand feet of well depth

o Many factors affect lag time

o Only after adequate amount of time should another

correction be considered if correction is not seen
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Pressure
Adjustments
1. If pressure falls below where it should be, an adjustment
should be made, determine pressure adjustment
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Pressure
Adjustments
2. Adjust casing pressure by only that amount
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Pressure
Adjustments
3. Give proper lag time & re-evaluate
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Step 5:
The Kick at Surface
o Casing pressure first, and then drillpipe pressure, start
to decrease as kick starts coming through choke

o Choke must be quickly adjusted to bring casing

pressure back to value before gas hit choke

o Swich back to drillpipe gauge for pressure corrections

o When liquid following kick goes through choke, casing

pressure begin to increase

o Again, adjust casing pressure to last recorded value

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The Kick at Surface

Step 5:

o As gas begins exiting through choke, casing pressure

may begin to change
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Step 5:
The Kick at Surface

o Don’t let this happen: If casing pressure decreases

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Step 5:
The Kick at Surface

o So will drillpipe/tubing pressure!

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Step 5:
The Kick at Surface
o Correct action prevent additional influx: if casing
pressure begins to change, quickly adjust choke
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Step 5:
The Kick at Surface
o If you react properly, drillpipe/tubing pressure
fluctuations will be minimal
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Step 6:
Continue Circulation

o In example, stabilize casing pressure at 1,200 psi to

maintain drillpipe pressure at 832 psi

o Once the kick is out of well, maintain FCP, 832 psi

(57.37 bar), until kill weight fluid reach surface

o As annulus fills with kill fluid, trend of gradually

adjusting choke to maintain correct circulating
pressures is noted.
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Continue Circulation
Step 6:

o Casing pressure should decline to negligible value

providing additional influx was not taken
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Step 7:
Shutting Back In

o If circulating pressures have not fallen below planned

values and kick has been removed, then well can be
shut in again.

o Drillpipe & casing pressures should be zero (15 to 30 mins)

o If pressure is zero, well is dead. If it is not zero, start

circulating again

o Problem may be that kill weight fluid density is not

consistent throughout well or maybe another kick!
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Shutting Back In
Step 7:

o It may take more strokes than calculated to get

consistent kill fluid at surface
o Well shut in and monitored for pressure buildup
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Wait & Weight Kill

Review

1. Well is shut in after kick & stabilized SIDPP, SICP and

kick size information recorded.

2. 1st calculation should be kill fluid density

3. Rest of worksheet is filled out while fluid density in pits

is increased

4. When ready to circulate, pump is brought to kill rate

speed while maintaining proper casing with choke
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Wait & Weight Kill

Review
5. Maintain drillpipe (or tubing) pressure according to
pressure chart. All pressure adjustments begin with
adjustment of casing (backpressure) from choke

6. When heavy fluid reaches bit, maintain drillpipe (or

tubing) pressure at FCP until kill fluid returns to surface

7. When gas, or liquid following gas, starts to go through

choke, casing pressure must be stabilized at last
recorded value. Once pressures stabilize, then
drillpipe (or tubing) pressure must be adjusted and
kept at its proper value until well has been killed
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Concurrent
Method

o Involve weighting up fluid while in process of

circulating out kick

o Also been called Circulate & Weight Method or

Slow Weight-up Method

o It is primary constant BHP well killing method

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Concurrent
Method

o To execute Concurrent Method some bookkeeping and

calculations are required as during circulating kick out,
there are several different fluid weights in string

o Operational personnel have often opted for either

Driller’s or Wait and Weight Method, dismissing
Concurrent Method as too complicated
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Sstandard vs.
Actual
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