Ballooning in the

Gulf of Thailand

What is Ballooning and

How We Handle It

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 What is Ballooning

• Ballooning
Ballooningis a
is phenomenon
a phenomenon that occurs
that when
occurs
the formation
when takes takes
the formation mud when the pumps
mud when the are
pumps aregives
on - then on - then gives
it back it back
when when the
the pumps are
pumps are off (a
off (a function of function of the Equivalent
the Equivalent Circulating
Circulating Density - ECD)
Density - ECD)
• Rock mechanics shows that ballooning
occurs as a result of small fractures in sands
and shales (usually thin bedded), opening
and closing as the pumps are turned on and
off (micro fracture phenomenon)

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 How We operate

• Hole size in production zone 6 ¼” OH

• Annular velocities for hole cleaning during fast

drilling equates to high ECDs
ECDs =1.0 to 1.5+ PPG

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 How To Identify Ballooning

• First time or any time you are not sure it is

Ballooning – treat back flow as a kick
• You must Identify normal operations
- Volume increase when stopping pumps
- Volume decrease when starting pumps
• You must identify mud losses (must lose mud
before ballooning can occur)
- Losses occur with pumps on
• Flow back when the pumps are turned off
- Decreasing over time

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 How To Identify Ballooning

• If the well is shut-in quickly SICP = SIDPP

(Cuttings loading and gel strengths may cause
pressures to differ SICP < SIDPP)
• When circulating bottoms up, you may have a
gas peak or water contamination from the
depth of ballooning (possible dispersion).
• Measure volume pumped for peak to reach the
surface and back calculate depth of ballooning
or kick

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 Ballooning Rules

UNTIL YOU’RE ABSOLUTLY SURE –

TREAT EVERY FLOWBACK AS A KICK
•Shut-in the well
•Circulate it out using the Driller’s Method

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 Ballooning Procedures
What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

• Always Treat Initial Flow back as a KICK!!!!

• If ballooning was established previously
- Record SIDPP and SICP (SIDPP may be
impractical due to DP float & gels)
- Contact Superintendent and discuss what
has happened
- Accurately Gauge Flow Back (Should have
been done on every connection prior)
- Determine total BBLS lost to formation
- Do not POOH when well is Ballooning

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 Ballooning Procedures
What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

1. With well shut-in, record SICP and SIDPP

(may be impractical due to DP float & gels)
2. Record pit volume used for kick tolerance
calculation
3. Through choke line, bleed off a pre-
determined volume of mud or designated
pressure - but less volume that used to
calculate kick tolerance

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 Ballooning Procedures
What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

4. Allow pressure to stabilize and record SICP,

SIDPP and volume bleed
− If pressure is greater than the first reading
proceed with the first step of the Driller
Method
− If pressure is less than the first reading,
proceed to
step #5
− If the pressure is equal to the first reading, it
may or may not be ballooning (volumes bled
and pressure will influence next decision

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 Ballooning Procedures
What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

5. Bleed off an additional pre-determined

volume of mud or pressure increment
− If total volume to be bled is greater than kick
tolerance volume and /or pressures have not
dropped, you need to treat as a kick)
6. Allow pressure to stabilize and record SICP
and SIDPP
− If pressure is greater than the first reading
proceed with the first step of the Driller
Method
− If pressure is less than the first reading,
proceed to step #7
− If the pressure is equal to the first reading, it
may or may not be ballooning (volumes bled
and pressure will influence next decision)
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 Ballooning Procedures
What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 increasing bleed

volumes or pressures, confidence increases
that Ballooning is occurring when pressures
and return bleed rate decreases
8. Open Annular and observe well, continue
operations.

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