SPE

SPE 14182

A Simulator for Gas Kicks in Oil-Based Drilling Muds

by S. Ekrannand R. Rommetveit,
Rogalanci Research Inst.
SPE Members

WWght 19S5, Soriety of Petroleum Engineers

rhis paper was prepared for preaentatiin st the 60fh Annusl Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in Las
Iegaa, NV September 22-25, 19S5.

~Is paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of information contained in an abatract submitted by the
mlhor(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Sociity of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the
mfhor(s).The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any positionof the S@ety of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or mambera. Papera
weeded at SPE meettnga are subject to publicafiin review by Ediiorial Committees of the society of Petroleum Engine&e. Permission to copy ia
astrictedto an abstract of not more than 200 words. Illustration may not be copied. The abstract shouldcontain oonapicuouaacktK@3dgmSfIt of where
md by whom the paper ia presanted. Write Publicetiins Manager, SPE, P.O. Sax SSSS36, Richardson, TX 7S06S-SS26. Telex, 7S09SS SPEDAL.

?J3STRACT

Mathematicaltechniquesused in a newlydeveloped A gas kick representsone of the most dangerous

simulatorfor gas kicks in oil baseddrillingfluids situationsin the drillingof an oil well.Detection
are presented. and control of gas kicksare very importanttasks.
~~rre~ttechn
“------- i sues
~--- ~Ee basedon a numberof SIMlplY-

The simulator works in one spatialdimension.BY fyingassumptions.

For oil baseddrillingmuds,some
deleting the material derivative term in the of thkse assumptionsbreak down, notably the
momentum equation,a quasi-stationary
approximation assumption that gas does not dissolve in the
is obtained,which does not contain (hyperbolic) drillingmud. Gas dissolubilityradically affects
1,2
pressurepropagation
effects. the surface effects of a kick , and couldalso
affectcontrolprocedures.
The equations are solvedusinga finitedifference
predictor-corrector
shootingtechnique.Simplefront A computer programhas been developed,to simulate
trackingis employedfor mud frontsand gas front. gas kicksin oil baseddrilling muds. Mainly, the
simulator is intendedto be a researchtool,faci-
The simulatoris very modularin its structure.For litatingdetailedquantitative
studyof the process.
severaleffects,a number of alternativeformula- This will have significant bearing on the
tions are programmed.Effects included in the developmentof metiiocis anti ~i~~~~ii~~~ fez S=zly

simulatorare frictionalpressurelosses [one- and detection of gas kicksin oil baseddrillingmuds.

two-phase),pressure loss in bit and choke,rise The simulatoris interactive,
enablingthe gas kick
velocityof free gas, dissolutionof gas in mud process to be observed and controlled.
Thus,the
(includingnon-equilibriumeffects), pressureand simulatoralso can be used fox testing of control
temperature
dependentdensities. procedures,
and as an advancedtrainingsimulator.

The simulatoris equippedwith interactive

graphics, In this paper, we first give an overview of
allowing the processto be observedand controlled simulatorcharacteristics.
The bulk of the paper
(BOP,choke,pump rate,mud type pumped). will discussthe overallnumericalmethodconstruc-
ted for the approximatesolution of the governing
Referencesand illustrations
at end of paper.
 ..
2 A ti..-,
-a
CTM1lTAIIInD
I?nncallWrt-wcTN r-irr.
.Vm
”u”m”m Vm.1 ‘\A&m”
nacvnnRTT.T.TNG
“=.” . .
.,. “*-
mulls “--------- -----
cP1714182
.?. - . ----

equations.The choice of mathematical

modelsfor When starting to develop the simulator,it was
each separatephysicaleffectis not discussed. realizedthat for each of the separate physical
effectsincluded,thereexistsno singleuniversally
IEW OF SIMULATOR acceptedmathematical
model.For each effect, the
need was foreseen to be able to test and compare
The physical system modelled is shownin fi9. 1. several formulations.In developingthe overall
Essentially, the system consists of a flow line numerical techniques,therefore,the main emphasis
extending from inlet !p~=p) via drillstring,bit was on modularity.Presently,for some effects,
and annulusto outlet(BOP,choke).For simplicity, several alternativesare programmed.
Choiceof ai-
kill and chokelinegeometriesare not modelledin ternativeis made from input.
the currentversionof the simulator.
GOVERNINGEOUATION~
All geometric quantitiesare freelychoosable,but
remainfixedduringa simulation.
Thus,the drilling The problem at hand is a cm d two phasefl@
process itself is not modelled.Also,the tripping problem.The firstapproximation
will be to restrict
processis not modelled.In orderto accountfor one ourselves to one spatialdimension,i.e. position
effectof drillingon a gas kick,however,reservoir along flow line. In this approach, of course,
heightcan be made to vary with time. effects fromcrosssectionally
non-uniform
velocity
and mass distributions
are lost. Also, temperature
In the simulator,the independent
variabiesare tize ~~ z~~u~.ed ~Q be? known. Thus, the governing
and positionalongflow line. The main dependent equationsare thoseexpressingconservation
of mass
variablesare pressure,flow velocities,
and content and momentum:
of freeand dissolvedgas. Effectsincluded in the
formulationare frictionaland hydrostatic
pressure Conservation
of mud mass:
losses, pressure losses at flow area changes,
pressurelossesin bit and choke,pressurelossesin
at(A(l-a)Qm)
= - 35(A(l-a)pmvm)
+ Atig
......... (1)
kill and chokelines,rise velocity of free gas,
viscosity and density variationswith composition
Conservation
of mass of free gas:
(including
contentof dissolvedgas), pressure and
temperature,gas inflow, dynamics of gas disso-
lution. at(AaQg)= -~5(Aa@gvg)-Mg+q ............ (2)

The simulatoris equippedwith graphicaloutput.The Conservation

of mass of dissolvedgas:
outputis of two categories.i) Outputof observable
variables versus time, such as PUMP and choke 3t(A(l-a)XQm) = - a5(A(l-a)XQmVm)+AIiIg
......(3)
pressure,inletand outletflow rates, pit volume.
ii) Output of normally non-observablevariables
Conservation
of totalmomentum:
versuspositionin flow line,suchas pressure, mud
and free gas velocities,volumefractionof free
3t(A(l-a)Qmvm+AaQgvg) = - ~s(Ap)- Afl- Af2
gas, mass fractionof dissolvedgas.
+ A((~-a)Qm+ aQg) g cosO
The simulator is interactive.
Operationsperformed
in real life can simulated,such as closingtopening - a5{A(l-a)Qmvm2
+ AaQ V 2} .... (4)
99
ef !?0?, chokemanipulationpump speedregulation,
and adjustmentof nud properties.
—.
SP!?14182
--- - -— Ekrann,S. & Rommetveit,
R. 3

In theseequations,A is flow crossseCtiOn,&g Eq.s (l)-(3) and eq. (5)now constitutea quasi-
is rateof gas dissolution,
q is gas influx, ‘1 ‘s stationaryapproximation
to the full flowproblem.
the frictionalpressureloss tern and f2 contains
localizedpressuredrops. For further definitions,
In these4 equations,thereare 11 unknowns;a, Qm,
see nomenclature.
vm, bg, Qgl xl Vgt q, Pt fll ‘2” The set of equati-
ons must therefore be augmented with seven
When mud propertiesare changed, the simulator
constitutiveequations.or submodels, Normally,
treatsthisas an introduction
of a new mud. Several
these submodels each consists of one or a set of
muds nay be presentin the systemsimultaneously.
algebraicequations.From the literature,a number
Eachmud is treated individually.For claritY of
of formulationsis available for each submodel.
exposition,however,eq.s (1)-[4)have assumedthat
General functionalrelationshipsare listed and
only one mud is present, as will the discussionto
brieflydiscussedbelow.
follow.

Eq.s (l)-(4)containhyperbolicpressurepropagation Qm =Pm(P,T,X) ............................... (6)

effects(soundwaves).Theseeffectsare of interest
in kick controlsituations.For instance,they will
Mud density Qm is a function of pressure,
determinedelaytime betweena chokeadjustmentand
temperatureand mass fraction of dissolved gas.
the time its effect is feltat an inletpressure
Also,mud viscosity,needed in the pressure loss
gauge.Theseeffectshave been modelledby Hoberock
terms,is a function of these sameparameters.
and Stanbery3’4,
usingspecialnumericaltechniques.

‘= P9(P,T)....4............................ (7)
In the presentstudy,however,we are interestedin ‘9
~ dynamiceffects.Also,we will employ a
Giventhe type of gas, gas densityand viscosityare
finite difference method for the approximate
functionsonly of pressureand temperature.
solution of the governing equations.witinthis
background,the existence of soundwavesis very
Free gas velocityVg is modelledas
inconvenient.For an explicit finite difference
++iam“fi,,l~
method, the standardcFL stabilitycofid~..=..
----
=CoVm+Vs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :: s,,... (8)
readsAt ~ As/(v+c),whereAt is ti=e ~@l i As is ‘9
spatial increment,v is flow velocity and c is
velocityof sound.Usingtypicalvalues,this would whereCo dependson duct geometryand
imply a time step At in the orderof 0.1s.The
typicaltimespan of interestis in the order of vs =Vs(p,T,x,a,s)........................... (9)
. Th\us
hoiirs j unacceptablylarge computing times
wouldresult.Also,it was felt to be difficult to The first3 Parametersin ($) ififltiefi~e
Vs via f~~id
construct implicitmethodswith ordersof magnitude properties.s influencesvs via duct geometryand
betterstabilityproperties.Thus,we concludedfrom flow lineanglewith the vertical.SlipvelocityV$
the outset that hyperbolicpressure propagation is stronglyinfluencedby void fractiona.
effectsshouldbe removedfrom the equations.This
was done by deletingthe materialderivativefrom q= Q (P,s,t)............................... (lo)
the momentumconservation
equation,i.e. the first
and last terms in eq. (4).The resultingequation Inflow of gas from the reservoir is crudely
becomes mdelled, and will mainlydependon well pressure.
The dependenceon s and t is causedby the limited
and timedependentthicknessof the reservoir.
~s(Ap)= - Aft - Af9 +A{(l-a)@m+ aQg} g COS9 (5)
G
4 A SIMULATORFOR GAS KICKSIN OIL BASEDDRILLINGMUDS
zhg=Mg(p,T,x,a,vm,vg,S)
.................... (11)
Rate of gas dissolutionwill be a functionof
distancefromequilibrium,and henceP,T, and x, as
well as of flow characteristics.
It is assumedthat piscretization
the dissolutionprocess is diffusion controlled.
Thus, flow velocities(laminar/turbulent
flow)and
gas bubblesize are of primaryimportance.A crude
correlationbetweenbubblesizeand void fractiona
is utilized.
=Fl(p,T,x,a,vm,vq,S)................... (12)
‘1
Again,P, T and x influencefluidproperties,while
a, Vm and Vg are the flowvariables.Thereis avail-
able a largenumberof correlations for frictional
pressureloss from the literature.
f2 = F2(p,T,x,a,vm,vg,s)6
................... (?3)
Localizedpressuredropsare modelledat bit, choke,
and changesin flowcrosssection.Pressuredropsin
kill and chokelinesare currentlytreatedas loca-
lizedpressuredrops.For the choke, one- and two
phase, critical and subcriticalflowis nodelled.
Wk
.,,e~oc=~ized~at~reQf f2isachievedformally via
the Dirac 6-function, which we take to be non-zero
only at the positionsmentionedabove,
. .
darv co~
At the inlet, a pump model gives the boundary
condition
Vm =vp(pdis,@) ............................. (i4)
Here,
‘dis is pump dischargepressure.B is pump
parameter(s),
e.g. throttle position, speed, pump
power.
At the outlet,with BOP or chokeopen,
P= pab .................................... (15)
With BOP and chokeclosed,
SPE 14182
v =V = 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (16)
m 9
The equationsare discretized
on a finitedifference
grid,as illustrated in fig. 2. Localized pressure
drops,as well as changesin flow crosssection,are
assumedto take placeat grid blockboundaries.
The mass conservation
equationsare integratedover
each grid block,therebyobtaininggrid blockmasses
as primary variables., Also, pressureand mixture
velocity vM , vM= avq+ (l-a)vm,are used as primary
variables.Otherparametersknown,vmand Vg can be
obtainedfromVM via eq.s (8)and (9).
Velocitiesand pressureare computedat grid block
boundaries.
Due to possiblediscontinuities,
double
values must be computed, e.9. Pi+ and pi+l_.pi+
is pressureat downstreamedge of grid blockno.
i, and pi+l_is pressureat UpStream edge of grid
blockno. i+l.
Front trackim
A simple front tracking techniqueis employedto
trackintermudfrontsas well as the front of the
rising gas. Only gas frontwill be discussedhere.
Note that the gas frontis trackedwhetherthere is
free gas at the front or not. The following
variablesare neededfor the fronttrackingtask:
Sg - positionof gas front,relativeto
upstreamedge of grid blockno. 19
These front variables are updated by moving the
frontswith downstreamvelocity,e.g.:
S: =S~-l+vn n-l Atn...................... (17)
gIg +
 E3Krann,
S. & Rommetwit,R. 5
SPE 14182

~,=? ‘“’-- - ‘:-- ‘h-

Considerfig. 6, lJLli5tLiiwiy =i+u2*i@n
--- at time
u,.-.,--
n= tn-1
I I
9 9 + bt [at the aamentGas frmt passesout of the
grid block).Mud volumetransported
in the interval
(tn-’ + bt, tn) is
If S; 2 As ~-1 then
I
~
‘v = ‘v~i+-a’v :i+)
‘Atn-*t)Ai . . . . . . . . . . . . . (21)

In = 1:-1+ 1
9
Here, a’ = a:-’ Asi/S;-’ , i.e. real void fraction
behindgas front.Now 12 is computed to make mud
Sn = S; - ASIn-l ““””’’””””””””””””””-”(18) volumebetweenpoints1 and 2 in fig. 3 equalto AV.
9 ‘“
g
Let
n Atn ~ AS
assuming v n-1 ~ n-l+,
gIg +
9 Al = Max (O , S~-l -Asi +11+12) ......... (22)

For the grid block containingthe gas front,gas Then transported

dissolvedgas mass is
(dissolvedand free) is assumed homogeneously
distributedbehindthe gas front.Otherwise,9as 1s
AMn
gdi = inn-!
gdl A1/S;-l .................... (23)
assumedhomogeneously
distributedin the entire grid
block. When the gas front passes a grid block
boundary during a time step,mud velocityVm will Similarity,
transported
free gas mass is
change, since mixture velocityVH is assumedcon-
stantduringa time step.In this case, the time n n-1 ..........
M;;; (Atn- 6t)v;i+I Sg
‘“gfi = (24)
step is split, with Vm = vM priorto passage and
v = (vM-avg)/(l-a)afterpassageof gas front.
m conservation

Discretizedversionsof the mass conservation

eq. s
(1)-(3)will read
The ~iiccip~e GSed for mass transportis: Old time
Level RB.SLSL ~i = M~~l + A~i-l - AF$i +6<; ........... (25)
. .
Womtle %1 making the methodexplicitin masses,
Assumethe situationdepictedin fig. 3 to be valid
for grid blockno. i at time tn-1 . Now, duringti8e .(26)
step no. n the mud mass, including possible dis-
solved gas, betweenpoint2 and the downstreamedge
# =M;~:+AB$di-l -A14;di+ 6$ ........ (27)
of the block,is transported
out of the grid block. gdi
With

Fiere,mass transport terms (AM) are computedas

6t = Uin {(Asi- S~-l )/v:i+,Atn} ......... (19) describedin eq.s (19)-(24).Note that 9as mass
inflowed or dissolved during a time step is not
11 is computedas transported
duringthat time step.

n
11 ‘v~i+~t ”””””””’”””””””” ““”””””””””””-”- ’20) Gas inflowis computedas (compareeq. 10)

.
 6 A SIMULATORFOR GAS KICKS IN OIL BASEDDRILLINGMUDS SPE 14182

can be substituted
back intothe mass conservation

6M:=;1 Q(pn,s,tn)ds..................... (28) equations.

s.
1-1 . .
C-utatio n of veloclti
A linear pressure profile is assumedin the grid
n can be computedfrom
block,betweenvaluesp;. and P!+ at the uPstreaQ If V:i+ is known, vii+and vgl+
.
1-.-4
and downstreamboundaries,
respectively. eq.s (8) and (9).The time lagged value ai”-’for
void fractionis used for this computation.
Now, all
For gas dissolution,
assumehere for simplicitythat righthand side terms in eq.s (25)-(27)can be
the gas frontis downstreamof the grid block. Gas computed.Also,frontparameterscan be updated.
dissolutionis performedfor old time levelmasses,
exceptthat inflowedgas during the time step is Assume further that an approximationto average
included. Thus, at the startof the time stepwe grid blockpressurep; is available.Then,via eq.s
have (6) and (7),totalvolume~ of fluidsin the grid
block can be computed. Thus,< is a functionof
n
Since,at the completionof the time step,we
: ~n-l ‘Mi+”
Totalmud mass mi should have~ = AsiAi,an equationfor v~i+ has
been constructed
n-1
Mass of dissolvedgas:Mgdi
v; ‘v~i+)= AsiAi ........................... (32)

Mass of freegas : B!n-!+ 614;~

gfl In the one phaseno gas case this equationcan be
solveddirectly.In the generalcase, however, the
Eq. (11)can be rewritten equation is non linear,and requiresan iterative
techniquefor its solution.

atu~di=+( M;di) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . (29)

..
where superscript n indicates that non-mass
variablesare taken at the advanced time level. Assuming p~_ to be known,p:+ can be foundby a
Superscript ‘ indicatesthat mass transportis not straightforwardintegration
of eq. (5
taken into account. Eq. (29) is a non-linear
ordinary differential
equation.Takentogetherwith p:+ = p:- - F;i ASi + (M;i+dgfijgcos~i;hi.
. (33;
the initialconditionsdescribedabove,W. (29) can
be integratedforwardin time.A numberof methods
is availablefor this task. Currently,a simple With gas frontpresentin the grid block,frictional
implicitmethodis implemented: pressuredrop is treatedseparatelyfor the one and
two phase regions, with totalfrictionalpressure
drop computedas the weighted sum of these two
R;;i = ?$~;+#r@fr4f1’. ) ................. (30)
9 ‘-gall’
contributions.
Superscript
n on Fli indicates that
advanced time ievei values of all variablesare
utilized.
Eq. (30)is a scalar non-linear‘~ation ‘n ‘~dl.
once it is solved,
With a localized pressure drop at the downstream
eifgeGf -*’A
~.1” hlneknQ,
“----- i: we have
5*= F$di-P$;: .......................... (31)

P:+l-= P:+ ‘F;i...............”......

‘..-.’34)
-~~ 4A4Q? m..... c x.nnmme+vei+..
R.
7
~r~ 171vG L.n4. .A . . . . . “. - ..- —------, ---

With front(s)passingthe downstreamboundaryduring Predictor

step:
-------------
the time step, a time average is utilized for
computation
of localizedpressuredrop. k* k-1 Mk-l
P. ‘-’Asi+ (Mmi+ ~fi)gcos8i/Ai
1+ = P:- - Fli
%lution of scalarnon-“
lmn (eq. (33))

In the present formulation,a number of scalar s.

~HIk*
(eq. (28))
non-linearequationshas to be solved,notably eq.s gi = s
~1 Q (Pf-,P~!, s, tn)ds
(30) and (32). We utilize a modification of the i-l
standardRegulaFalsimethod6for this task.At the
Dk*
expenseof havinga ratherslow rate of convergence, Compute 614gi, as described in eq.s (29)-(31),
tfii~
~zthadis yerY r~b~~t:Civenstartingvalueson usingbest available values for advanced time
each side of the zero, it will in factalways levelvariables.
convergefor a continousfunction.
‘* fromeq. (32), using best available
ComputevMi+
tie steD valuesfor advancedtime levelvariables.

The simulator is equipped with an automatictime ~k* Sk* ~k*

ComputeM~~, M~~i, gdi’ from eq.s (25)-
g ‘k*g
step regulator.The main requirement
on time stepAt (27) and (17)-(18),usingvMi+.
is

Corrector
step:
-------------

Atn< Min (Asi/Max(V;i+,v~i+))............ (35)

1 ~epeatpredictorstep,with k* * k and k-1 + k*

arisingfrom stabilityconsiderations.
Upstreamvaluesin
_____________ next grid
.===------- block:
---------

~1.lm
Pressure:

Assumethat all variablesare knownat time tn-1 .

In the following,the procedure for updating of P:+1- = P!+ - F~i (eq. (34))
variables to time tn is given. Time level
superscriptn is suppressedwheneveriterationcount Velocities:
k appears.It is understoodthat all variables
with iteration countsuperscript
referto advanced Vk
time leveltn. gi+l-=
Vk
gi+ ‘i” Pg(P~+ITi)/(Ai+lPg(p~+l-,Ti+l)).
...(36)

i.k=l
Vk
,~i+l-=
2. Guesspump dischargepressureP~- k
Ti+l, x:))
vmi+ AiPm(p~+JTif x~)/(Ai+lPm(p~+l.l
~. ~k = vP..
(Ji-,pn)(Pumpmodel,eq. (14)) ............................................. (37)
141-

4. Fori=l,Ndo (Spatialintegration
along k
5. If computedoutlet variables,p;+ ‘r ‘mN+ and
flow line) V:N+, as the case may be, approximategiven
boundary conditions within a prescribed
-1’ accuracy,time step is completed.If not
8 A SIMULATOR FOR GAS KICKS ItiGIL BNW? DRIH.JNG.M!!M SPE 14182

6. k=k+l
A . Flow line crosssectionalarea

7. Updatep~. and go to 3. co . Parameter in gas velocityequation,

definedin eq. (8)

c . velocityof sound
This computations constitutesa
sequence of
shooting method for the Frictionalpressureloss
predictor corrector ‘1’ ‘1 =
computationof advancedtime levelvariables. Localizedpressureloss
f2’ ‘2 =
9 . Accelerationof gravity
In eq.sand (37)we have assumeda constant
[36)
Ig . Grid block no. where gas front
over a localized pressure drop. This may be
inaccurate,but note that the velocitiesv~i+l. is positioned
and v~i+l_are used only in co~putingthe frictional parametersdefinedin
‘1’ 11’ 12 = Auxiliary
pressure tirop,ani nat fcx CQW~tatiQn of nass eq.s (20), (22) and fig. 3.
. .
transport.The algorithmdoes conservmass exactly.
mg, M Rate of dissolution
of freegas.
9

Iii stie2?, the modified Requla Falsimethodis

a% Mass of gas dissolvedduringtime step

utilized,regardingoutletvariable(eq.P:+) as a no. n in gritiblockfro.i

non-linearfunctionof pump dischargePressureP~-. 6?4$ Mass of gas inflowedin grid blockno.
i duringtime stepno. n
~
!4:2:yuA
Mass of dissolvedgas in grid blockno.
i at time tn
The chief attractionof the proposedalgorithmis
its modularity.
Each submodelis treatedseparately, !4’
gdi Mass of dissolvedgas in gridblockno.
and does not influencethe structureof the solution i, prior to inclusion of transport
algorithm.Thus,alternativeformulationsfor each terms.
submodelcan easilybe included. AM;di Mass of dissolvedgas transportedout
of grid block no. i duringtime step
The solution of non-linearscalarequations1S a no. n.
centralcomputational
themein our formulation.The
‘~fi Mass of freegas in grid blockno. i at
use of RegulaFalsifor this taskaims at achieving
robustness.
Evenwith such a robustmethod,however, time tn.
a non-linearfunction,whosezero is sought,should AMn Mass of free gas transported
out of
gfi
be continousand give “reasonable”values outside grid blockno. i duringtime step no. n
its rangeof definition.This is not alwaysthe case
M~i Mass of mud in grid blockno, i at time
for correlations
foundin the literature.In deve- tn.
loping the simulator,therefore,it has been n UaSS of mud transportedout of grid
necessary in several cases to modify such ‘=mi
blockno. i duringtime step no. n
formulations.
.. .*..
1.-.-G rzviA
N mu=werUL Y.AU hlnr-lr<
“.-w..= ~g. SvSteQ.
-..-.—.
Experienceto date is reasonablysatisfactory.
The P Pressure
algorithm is indeed capable of simulating the
‘atm Atmospheric
pressure
developmentof a gas kick,However,robustnessis
not perfect.Afterchoking,reopeningof choketends n.. = Pump dischargepressure
“dLS= ‘i-
to give convergence
problems.Work is in progressto q,Q = Rate of gas inflowfrom reservoir
rectifythis.
s = Positionalongflow line

As = Spatialincrement(gridblocksize)
spE 14182 Ekrann,S. & Rommetveit,
R. 9

s Position of gas front, relative to jlCKNOWLEDG=

~
upstreamedge of grid blockno. I
9
This paperis basedon a studyinitiatedand funded
t . Time
by Statoil.The authorsthankStatoilfor permission
At
.+am Atn =tn - tn-1.
= W:.-a
LLIIIC
...==. &~G ~~b~i~hthe paper,and for partialfundingof its

6t . Fractional
time SteP preparation.

T = Temperature
REFERENCES
AV . Auxiliaryparameterdefinedin eq. (21)

. Flowvelocityof gas 1. Thomas, D.C., Lea, J.F. Jr., and Turek,E.A.:

‘9
. Volumeof fluidsin grid blockno. i at ‘GasVolubilityin Oil-Based Drilling Fluids:
v:
Effects on Kick Detection’,paper SPE 11115,
time tn
presented at the 57th Annual Fall Technical
vm . Flow velocityof mud
Conferenceand Exibition of SPE, New Orleans,
. MixtureVelOCity,VM = avg + (l”a)vm Sept. 1982.
‘M
Vp = Velocityof mud deliveredfrom pump
2. Thomas, D.C., and Lea, J.F. Jr.: “ Blowouts- A
v~, v~ . Gas slipvelocity,definedin eq.(8)
computer SimulationStudy*, paper SPE 11375
x . Mass fractionof dissolvedgas presented at the IADC/SPE 1983 Drilling
Conference,New Orleans,Feb. 1983.
a . Volumefractionof free gas
n . Average volume fractionof free gas
a. 3. Hoberock, L.L., and Stanbery, S.R.: ‘Pressure
1
in grid blockno. i at time tn Dynamicsin WellsDuring Gas Kicks: Part 1 -
a = Volume fractionof freegas behindgas Fluid Line Dynamics’,J. Pet.Techn.(Aug.1981)
front 1357-1366
= Pump parameter(s)
B
4. Hoberock, L.L., and Stanbery, S.R.: “Pressure
e . Flow line anglewith vertical Dynanicsin WellsDuring Gas Kicks: Part 2 -
Qg, Pg . Gas density Component Models and Results*,J. Pet. Techn.,
(Aug. 1981)1367-1378.
Qn, Pm = Mud density

5. Roache, P.J.: ~L L - 1 --- 1 1? , . . : A

rau~u
1-1.,..
uY~
=- ; “e

Supe=crMs
HermosaPublishers,
Albuquerque(1976)228-230.

k
.. . Iterationcount
6. n: ..”1.
DJ$ALlb, #i. , =n~ L&hlmliet
..-=..-””,-. c .. ●~r$
n . Time level
*
AB CWK GleerupBokf#rlag,Lund (1969)166.
. Indicatespredictorstep results

i . Grid blockno.
+ . Downstreamedge of grid block
. Upstreamedge of grid block
 n
PUMP

D% H #BOP, CHOKE

R
..

Fig.
1 —Geomet~ of physicel system.
n
1 —.
‘N AsN
‘r
, — —-
sN-1

.—
-J
I

Si_f

i
h
-——
ASi
Si

Fig 2—Diecretizetion
 I i
o0000000001
0000000001
)0000000000’
000000 00 00 I
~oo yoooooo o
o
0001
I
00 OO%O.OO
001
’00 OOOOOO.1
‘00+$ 0000

1GAS FRONT

Fig. 3—Grid block with gas front.

Fig. 4—Gss front leaving grid block.

.-

SPE 14182