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Well Control Methods: Wait & Weight vs Driller's

This document compares the wait and weight method and driller's method for circulating a kick out of the wellbore. The wait and weight method involves pumping kill weight mud into the annulus to increase bottomhole pressure while keeping surface pressures constant. The driller's method keeps bottomhole pressure constant by adjusting the choke while circulating the original mud out of the well and then circulating kill mud in. Pressure profiles are shown indicating that if the casing shoe is close to the kick point, there may be little advantage to using wait and weight over the driller's method in terms of lower shoe pressures. The driller's method is simpler and faster to implement in many cases.

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317 views10 pages

Well Control Methods: Wait & Weight vs Driller's

This document compares the wait and weight method and driller's method for circulating a kick out of the wellbore. The wait and weight method involves pumping kill weight mud into the annulus to increase bottomhole pressure while keeping surface pressures constant. The driller's method keeps bottomhole pressure constant by adjusting the choke while circulating the original mud out of the well and then circulating kill mud in. Pressure profiles are shown indicating that if the casing shoe is close to the kick point, there may be little advantage to using wait and weight over the driller's method in terms of lower shoe pressures. The driller's method is simpler and faster to implement in many cases.

Uploaded by

sitemaster60
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Wait & Weight Method

Resulting Pressure Profiles


260

Pressure at Key Wellbore Locations


Weight & Wait Method
495

2500

Fracture Pressure = 2500 psi


Maximum Pressure
at shoe = 2058 psi

2000

13-3/8 csg
Shoe @ 3000
PIT = 16 ppg
MW = 9.5 ppg
New MW = 10 ppg
Bit Diam = 12.25
Pit Gain = 50 bbls
TVD = 10,000
BHP = 5200 psi

1500
Pressure
(psig)
1000

Casing Annulus Pressure


Drill Pipe (Standpipe) Pressure
Casing Shoe Pressure

500
0
0

500

1000

1500

Barrels Pumped

1 Circulating Well Control Methods

Surface Casing Pressure profile while circulating out


a LIQUID kick

Top of kick @ BOP

Casing Pressure

Kick above collars

Figure 5.1

Kill mud starts


into annulus

Kick removed

Strokes or Time
2 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method of Well Control


SIDPP
SICP

Simple and relatively fast to implement


The influx must be pumped out of the well
through the choke...while keeping the bottom
hole pressure constant and equal to (or
slightly greater than) formation pressure
BHP = SIDPP + mud hydrostatic in drill string

3 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method - Details

Use present mud to circulate kick

Keeps BHP constant at all times

During first circulation use the choke to:

keep casing pressure constant while pumps brought on-line


keep drill pipe pressure constant after reaching slow pump rate
allow gas to expand as needed to keep BHP constant

Use second circulation to introduce kill mud


- keep casing pressure constant while pumps brought on-line
- follow the kill sheet schedule from ICP to FCP

4 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method First Circulation


Drillpipe

Casing

300
psi

400
psi

Gas at Surface
Old mud

Old mud

700
psi

1200
psi

Old mud

Kick

Gas Out

1200
psi

Old mud

C
5 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method - Second Circulation


Drillpipe

Casing

1200
psi

300
psi

Kill mud

Kill Mud at Bit


Old mud

1000
psi

Kill mud

Kill Mud at Surface

D
Kill mud

F
6 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method - Resulting


Pressure Profiles
260

Pressure at Key Wellbore Locations


Driller's Method
495

2500

Fracture Pressure = 2500 psi


Maximum Pressure
at shoe = 2150 psi

2000

13-3/8 csg
Shoe @ 3000
PIT = 16 ppg
MW = 9.5 ppg
Bit Diam = 12.25
Pit Gain = 50 bbls
TVD = 10,000
BHP = 5200 psi

Casing Annulus Pressure

1500
Pressure
(psig)
1000

Drill Pipe (Standpipe) Pressure


Casing Shoe Pressure

500
0
0

500

1000

1500

Barrels Pumped

7 Circulating Well Control Methods

Casing Shoe Pressures While


Circulating Out a Gas Kick
1000 psi

5000 psi

3000 psi

2000 psi

5000 psi
?

4000 psi

2000 psi

6000

7000

3000 psi

5000

5000 psi

Constant BHP = 10,000 psi being maintained in all three cases

8 Circulating Well Control Methods

Wait and Weight vs Drillers


Well geometry must allow kill weight mud to be introduced into
the annulus before the top of the bubble reaches the casing
shoe (or weakest point).

Annular capacity in open hole > Drillstring volume.

If casing shoe is close to point where kick was taken there is no


advantage (comparing shoe pressures) to using the Wait &
Weight over the Drillers Method.
The W & W will normally give lower annular (casing)
pressures. Exceptions may be in slimhole drilling.

9 Circulating Well Control Methods

Summary Review

Priority is: people, environment, rig and well

Philosophy:

catch kicks early, empower driller, experience on the choke


kicks should be circulated from the wellbore

Keep bottom-hole pressure constant

constant, slow pump rate


control bottom hole pressure with the choke
use drill pipe as the link to measure bottom hole pressure

Use Drillers Method (original mud) when in doubt

Strip back to bottom if the well kicks while tripping


10 Circulating Well Control Methods

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