PETE 661

Drilling Engineering Lesson 19

Kick Detection and Control
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Kick Detection and Control

Primary and Secondary Well Control What Constitutes a Kick Why Kicks Occur Kick Detection Methods Kicks while Tripping
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Kick Detection and Control

Shut-in Procedures Soft Shut-in Hard Shut-in Water Hammer

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Kick Detection and Control

Read: ADE Ch. 6 Reference: Advanced Well Control Manual, SPE Textbook, ~2003... Homework # 11 - due November 25
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Kick Detection and Control

The focus of well control theory is to contain and manage formation pressure. Primary well control involves efforts at preventing formation fluid influx into the wellbore. Secondary well control involves detecting an influx and bringing it to the surface safely.
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Kicks
A kick may be defined as an unscheduled influx of formation fluids. Fluids produced during underbalanced drilling are not considered kicks Fluids produced during a DST are not considered kicks
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Kicks
For a kick to occur, we need:
Wellbore pressure < pore pressure A reasonable level of permeability A fluid that can flow

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Kicks
Kicks may occur while:
Drilling Tripping Making a connection Logging Running Casing Cementing N/U or N/D BOP, etc.
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Causes of Kicks
Insufficient wellbore fluid density
Low drilling or completion fluid density
Reducing MW too much Drilling into abnormally pressured formations Temperature expansion of fluid

Excessive gas cutting

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Causes of Kicks - contd

Reduction of height of mud column
Lost circulation because of excess static or dynamic wellbore pressure Fluid removal because of swabbing Tripping pipe without filling the hole
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Causes of Kicks - contd

Excessive swab friction pressure while moving pipe Wellbore collision between a drilling and producing well Cement hydration
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Kick indicators
Indicator
Drilling break Increase in mud return rate Pit gain Flow w/ pumps off
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Significance
Medium High High Definitive
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Kick indicators
Indicator
Pump pressure decrease / rate increase Increase in drillstring weight Gas cutting or salinity change
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Significance
Low Low Low
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Kick Influx Rate

This equation would where rarely be strictly q = influx flow rate, applicable in the event of a kick since k = formation permeability fluid compressibility h = formation thickness, is not considered p e = pore pressure at the drainage radius and transient p w = pore pressure at the wellbore relationships better = influx viscosity describe influx flow re = drainage radius behavior.
rw = wellbore radius
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kh( pe pw ) q= ln ( re rw )

Kick Influx Rate

Extremely important to detect a

kick early, to minimize its size. If a kick is suspected,

run a flow check!!!

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Circulation path for Drilling Fluid

What goes in Must come out unless a kick occursor

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As drilling proceeds, mud level in pit drops slowly. Why?

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Mud Return Rate

Set alarm for high or low flow rate If a kick occurs, flow rate from the well increases - an early indicator

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Pit Volume Totalizer, PVT shows pit gain or loss. Pit level is a good kick indicator

System should detect a 10 bbl kick under most conditions onshore

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Kick size
Under most conditions a 10 bbl kick can be handled safely. An exception is slimhole drilling, where even a small kick occupies a large height in the annulus. In floating drilling, where the vessel moves, small kicks are more difficult to detect
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Mud pulse telemetry - pressure pulses detected at the surface

High amplitude positive pulse Compare signals from drillpipe and annulus Low amplitude negative pulse
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Acoustic kick detection

Gas in the annulus will attenuate a pressure signal, and will reduce the velocity of sound in the mud
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Minimum kick size that can be detected by an acoustic system

Kick volume, bbl

Temperature = 212 degrees F. Mud density = 16.7 lbm/gal Influx rate = 32 gal/min Pump rate = 317 gal/min Collar diameter = 6 inches Hole diameter = 8-1/2 inches

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Pressure, psi

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Delta flow indicator

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Delta flow indicator

Delta flow = qout - qin
Delta Flow Indicator
Upper Alarm Threshold Kick detected

Lower Alarm Threshold

Time
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Delta flow indicator

Field Examples of Kick Detection and Final Containment Volumes using the Delta Flow Method
Hole Size in. Depth ft. Influx Rate gal/min Volume Detected bbl Volume Contained bbl

5 7/8 5 7/8 5 7/8

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15,770 14,005 17,152

35 7 60

0.72 0.70 1.00

2.0 1.5 5.0

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BOP stack

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BOP Control Panel

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Choke Manifold

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Choke panel

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If a kick is suspected
Lift the drillstring until a tool joint is just above the rotary table Shut down the mud pumps Check for flow

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If a kick is suspected
If flowing - shut the annular, open the HCR valve, and close the choke Record SIDPP and SICP Record pit gain and depth (MD and TVD) Note the time
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Hard Shut-In
1. Assure beforehand the choke manifold line is open to preferred choke and choke is in closed position. 2. After a kick is indicated, hoist the string and position tool joint above rotary table. 3. Shut off pump 4. Observe flowline for flow.
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Hard Shut-In
5. If flow is verified, shut the well in by using annular preventer and open the remote-actuated valve to the choke manifold. 6. Notify supervisor (company drilling supervisor, toolpusher or rig manager). 7. Read and record shut-in drillpipe pressure (SIDPP).
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Hard Shut-In
8. Read and record shut-in casing pressure (SICP). 9. Rotate the drillstring though the closed annular preventer if feasible. 10. Measure and record pit gain.

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Hard Shut-In

Water hammer ?

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Soft Shut-In
1. Assure beforehand choke manifold line is open to preferred choke and choke in in open position. 2. After kick is indicated, hoist string & position tool joint above rotary table. 3. Shut off pump.

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Soft Shut-In
4. Observe flowline for flow. 5. If flow is verified, open remoteactuated valve to choke manifold and close annular preventer. 6. Shut well in by closing choke. 7. Notify supervisor (company drilling supervisor, toolpusher, rig manager).
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Soft Shut-In
8. Read and record SIDPP. 9. Read and record SICP. 10. Rotate drillstring through closed annular preventer if feasible. 11. Measure and record pit gain.

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Soft Shut-In

Larger Kick !

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Example 5.1
A kick is detected while drilling at 13,000 ft. The well is shut-in by the ram preventer in 5 seconds. 1. Determine water hammer load at surface if
influx flow rate is 3.0 bbl/min, the muds acoustic velocity is 4,800 ft/s and mud density is 10.5 lbm/gal
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Example 5.1, continued

For the same conditions: 2. Compute velocity assuming the annulus flow area corresponds to 5.0 in. drillpipe inside 8.921 in. inner diameter casing. Ignore effect of influx properties on wave travel time and amplitude.
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Example 5.1, continued

v a v pc = gc
. (5.2)

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Example 5.1, continued

The relationship is only valid if valve is fully closed before the shock wave has time to make the round trip from surface to total depth. If this condition is not met, closure is defined as slow as opposed to rapid and resultant pressure surge will be lower. Regardless of method, some pressure increase, however minor, cannot be avoided and the soft shut-in procedure may in fact be considered rapid in some cases. 43

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Example 5.1, contd

v a v pc = gc

Solution: The time for the pressure wave to traverse the system is t = dist/vel = (2)(13,000)/4,800 = 5.4 sec Hence this would be characterized as a rapid shut-in and Equation 5.2 is appropriate.
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Example 5.1 contd

v a v pc = gc

2. The velocity change in the annulus is computed as:

q (3.0 bbl/min)(5 .615 ft /bbl)(144 in /ft ) = = 2 2 2 (60 s/min) /4(8.921 - 5 ) in

3 2 2

v = 0.94 ft/s
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Example 5.1 contd

v a v pc = gc

The surface pressure increase is given by equation 5.2

(10.5 lbm/gal) ( 7.48 gal/ft3 )( 4,800 ft/s)( 0.94 ft/s) =

c

32.17 lbm - ft / lbf - s2

2

= 11,015 lbf/ft = 76 psi. c

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Off Bottom Kicks

Slugging of drillpipe Hole fill during trips Surge and Swab pressures Kick detection during trips Shut-In Procedures Blowout Case History
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Pbh = g1h1 + g2h2 = g2h3

Off Bottom Kicks

When stopping circulation, ECD is lost. Always check for flow. Slugging of Drillpipe to prevent Wet Trip AFTER Flow Check

Hydrostatic Balance

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Failure to keep the hole full

When pipe if removed from the wellbore the fluid level drops resulting in loss of HSP. To prevent kicks the hole must be re-filled with mud.
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Nominal Dimensions-Displacement Factors for API Drillpipe

Outside Nominal Nominal Average Inside Weight Approximate Factor in. Diameter, in. lbm/ft Weight 2-3/8 1.815 2-7/8 3-1/2 2.764 2.602 1.995 6.65 2.441 2.151 2.992 13.30 15.50 4.85 6.80 6.85 10.40 9.50 13.86 16.39 5.02 0.00247 7.09 10.53 10.15 0.00504 0.00596 Displacement bbl/ft 0.00182 0.00258 0.00383 0.00369 Diameter

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Nominal DimensionsDisplacement factors for API Drillpipe

Outside Nominal Nominal Average Inside Weight Approximate Factor in. Diameter, in. lbm/ft Weight 4 3.340 3.240 4-1/2 3.826 3.640 3.500 3.476 14.00 15.70 3.958 16.60 20.00 22.82 11.85 15.14 17.13 13.75 17.70 21.74 24.33 12.90 0.00551 0.00623 14.75 0.00644 0.00791 0.00885 Displacement bbl/ft 0.00469 Diameter

0.00537

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Nominal DimensionsDisplacement factors for API Drillpipe

Outside Nominal Nominal Average Inside Weight Approximate Factor in. Diameter, in. lbm/ft Weight 5 4.000 5-1/2 4.670 6-6/8 5.901 4.276 25.60 4.778 24.70 5.965 27.70 19.50 27.58 21.90 26.33 25.20 29.06 21.58 0.01003 23.77 0.00958 27.15 0.01057 Displacement bbl/ft 0.00785 0.00865 0.00988 Diameter

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Displacement Factors for High Strength Drillpipe

Outside Diameter in. 2-3/8 2-7/8 Nominal Weight lbm/ft 6.656.95 10.40 Average Approximate Weight, lbm/ft. 0.00253 11.01 14.51 15.85 18.65 Displacement Factor bbl/ft 0.00400 0.00528 0.00577 0.00678

3-1/2 13.30 15.5017.020.00619 4 14.00 15.7017.500.00637 4-1/2 16.60 20.0022.400.00815 22.8225.210.00917

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Displacement Factors for High Strength Drillpipe

Outside Diameter in. Nominal Weight lbm/ft Average Displacement Approximate Factor Weight, lbm/ft. bbl/ft 22.34 25.14 28.33 0.00813 0.00914 0.01031

5 19.50 25.6028.600.01040 5-1/2 21.90 24.7028.130.01023 6-5/8 25.20 27.7030.580.01112

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Displacement Factors for Heavy-Wall Drillpipe

Outside Nominal Connection Approx. Diameter Inside Weight in. Diameter, in. lbm/ft 3-1/2 4 4-1/2 5
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Displacement Factor bbl/ft 0.00844 0.00920 0.01080 0.01491 0.01793

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2.063 2.250 2.563 2.750 3.00

NC38 NC38 NC40 NC46 NC50

23.20 25.30 29.70 41.00 49.30

Example 5.2
Drill a well to 9,500 total depth with a 10.0 lbm/gal mud. 8.097 in. ID casing has been set at 1,500 ft. Determine the hydrostatic pressure loss if ten 90 ft stands of 4 1/2 in., 16.60 lbm/ft Grade E drillpipe are pulled without filling the hole. Also determine the losses after pulling ten stands of drillpipe if the bit is plugged and after pulling one stand of 6 1/4 x 2 1/2 in drill collars.
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Example 5.2
Solution The displacement factor for open drillpipe is obtained from Table 5.5 and the displacement volume is computed as: Vd = (0.00644) (10) (90) = 5.80 bbl
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Example 5.2
To determine the drop in fluid level, we must have capacity factors for the drillpipe and annulus. These can be obtained directly from a published table or by calculation. Inside Drillpipe: Ci = 3.8262/1,029.4 = 0.1422 bbl/ft. and Inside Annulus: Cc = (8.0972 - 4.52)/1,029.4 = 0.04402 bbl/ft.
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Example 5.2
These values are only approximate since the effect of the pipe upsets and tool joints are not considered. The mud level will fall by h = 5.80/(0.01422 + 0.04402) = 99.6 ft. and the corresponding hydrostatic pressure loss is p = 99.6(10.0/19.25) = 52 psi.
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Example 5.2
Tripping out with a plugged bit implies the string is pulled wet and, if no mud falls back in the hole, the drillstring inner capacity is being evacuated along with the steel. The volume removed after pulling ten stands wet is V = Vi + Vd = (0.00644 + 0.01422)(10)(90) = 18.59 bbl (inside drillpipe + steel in drillpipe)
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Example 5.2
The mud level drop in the annulus and pressure loss are thus h = 18.59/0.04402 = 422.3 ft. and p = (422.3)(0.519) = 219 psi.

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Example 5.2
For drill collars, we compute the displacement factor and displacement volume as Cd = (6.252 - 2.52)/1,029.4 = 0.03188 bbl/ft. and Vd = (0.0318) (1)(90) = 2.87 bbl.

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Example 5.2
The pressure loss is determined in the same manner as the open drillpipe case. Ci = 2.52/1,029.4 = 0.00607 bbl/ft Ca = (8.0972- 6.252)/1,029.4 = 0.02574 bbl/ft h = 2.87/(0.00607 + 0.02574) = 90.2 ft and p = (0.519) (90.2) = 47 psi
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