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20.well Control Guidelines For Horizontal Wells

This document summarizes well control considerations and techniques for high angle and horizontal wells. It outlines that kick detection is more challenging in non-vertical wells due to longer exposed hole sections and higher equivalent circulating densities. Upon detecting a kick, it is important to shut in the well quickly to minimize influx. Gas will migrate upwards during shut in, though the rate depends on factors like mud properties and hole angle. Well killing methods also require adjustments for non-vertical wells, like starting circulation immediately and using an optimized standpipe pressure schedule. Trapped gas pockets can form in inverted holes and require specialized techniques like temporarily increasing circulation rates to flush the gas out.

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460 views

20.well Control Guidelines For Horizontal Wells

This document summarizes well control considerations and techniques for high angle and horizontal wells. It outlines that kick detection is more challenging in non-vertical wells due to longer exposed hole sections and higher equivalent circulating densities. Upon detecting a kick, it is important to shut in the well quickly to minimize influx. Gas will migrate upwards during shut in, though the rate depends on factors like mud properties and hole angle. Well killing methods also require adjustments for non-vertical wells, like starting circulation immediately and using an optimized standpipe pressure schedule. Trapped gas pockets can form in inverted holes and require specialized techniques like temporarily increasing circulation rates to flush the gas out.

Uploaded by

Abdul Hameed Omar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IWCF Surface Well Control

BP Well Control Guidelines


High Angle or Horizontal Wells

Kick Prevention and Detection

All techniques used in vertical wells for avoiding and detecting kicks can be
applied to high angle or horizontal wells.

Kick intensity is potentially high when drilling a horizontal well due to the longer
exposed hole section to the producing formation.

The swab/surge pressure is relatively higher in a high angle or horizontal well. To


prevent swabbed kicks, it is important to ensure that:
o
o
o

The mud rheology is conditioned prior to tripping out.


The tripping speed is controlled below the maximum allowable speed.
The correct tripping procedures are followed.

The equivalent circulating density (ECD) is relatively higher when drilling a high
angle well. This means a greater bottom-hole pressure reduction when circulation
stops. Therefore it is important to flow-check the well prior to making a connection
or tripping to ensure that the well is stable without the ECD effect.

Well Shut in and Gas Kick Migration

Use hard (fast) shut-in method to shut in the well upon detecting a kick to minimise
the kick volume. Studies showed that the potential water-hammer effect associated
with the hard shut-in is negligible.

When a kick occurs in a high angle or horizontal hole section, the shut-in drillpipe
pressure (SIDPP) will be close or equal to the shut-in casing pressure (SICP). This is
because the kick only causes a small or no hydrostatic pressure reduction in the
annulus.

Zero shut-in pressures (SIDPP & SICP) does not mean there is no kick. Together
with a positive pit gain, this may indicate that the kick is still in the horizontal hole
section which may be caused by swabbing or improper hole fill up on trips.

The conventional method, which determines the influx density/type (gas/water/oil)


based on pit gain, SIDPP and SICP, can not be applied in a high angle or horizontal
well. There is no simple alternative method for field applications. However, a gas
influx can be recognised by the continuous increase in the casing pressure due to
gas expansion above the horizontal hole section, which may be caused by gas
migration during shut-in or by mud circulation.

During the well shut-in period, the free gas usually migrates up the annulus if the
angle is below 90. Experiments showed that, for a mud with PV=10 cP and YP=6
Ibf/100sqft, the gas migrates at 10,000, 9,500 and 7,500 ft/hr at vertical, 50 and
80,respectively. The migration rate will be lower if the mud has a higher yield stress
or gel/

Do not calculate the migration rate based on the increase in SICP, as it often
seriously under-predicts the migration rate.

Revised March 2008

IWCF Surface Well Control


BP Well Control Guidelines
High Angle or Horizontal Wells

Gas does not migrate if:


o
o
o

The hole angle is 90 or higher


The gas is dissolved in the OBM, or
The gas is trapped as small bubbles in the mud by its high gel strength.

Well Killing Operations

The advantages of the wait-and-weight method over the drillers method are less
important in a high angle or horizontal well. This is because the weighted mud will
not reduce the surface and casing shoe pressures until it has passed the high angle
or horizontal hole section. By then the gas influx may have entered into the casing
or been out of the well.

Do not wait for the mud being weighted up. Start to circulate using the drillers
method once detecting a kick; change over to the wait-and-weight method once the
kill weight mud is ready (circulate & weight method). This will minimise the time
dealing with the kick and reduce the risks of stuck pipe and other hole problems.

When pumping down the kill mud, use the kick sheet designed for high angle wells
to work out the standpipe pressure schedule. Do not use the kill sheet designed for
vertical wells, as it will result in excessive high well pressures and the possible
consequence of fracturing the formation.

During circulating out a gas kick, the free gas will slip through and travel faster than
the mud, even in a horizontal hole section. Studies showed that the slip velocity is
in the range of 60~180 ft/min, depending upon the mud rheology and hole angle, etc.
Therefore the gas kick may arrive at surface much earlier then the mud.

Free Gas Kicks in Inverted (>90) Hole Section

If a gas kick occurs when drilling an inverted hole section, the free gas will be
trapped at the bottom of the hole when circulation stops. Similar scenario may also
occur in washouts or undulations of a horizontal hole section. Studies showed that,
the free gas will remain being trapped unless the annular velocity exceeds about
100 ft/min, which is higher than that at a commonly used SCR during well killing
operations. Therefore special well killing techniques may have to be considered.

The trapped gas may be flushed out by gradually increasing the SCR to a
corresponding annular velocity of about 100~150 ft/min for a short period of time
(say 1/4 of bottom-up maximum). Then reduce to a normal SCR and proceed using a
conventional well killing technique (drillers or wait-and-weight). Depending on the
kick volume and the length of the hole section, the procedures may have to be
repeated in order to remove the trapped gas completely. So prior to drilling the hole
section, the pump pressure at a SCR corresponding to 100~150 ft/min should be
recorded.

If the above technique fails to remove the trapped gas, consider bullheading the gas
back into the formation. As the trapped gas should be near the kicking formation,
bullheading is more likely to succeed in an inverted hole section.

For more information please contact:


Yuejin Luo, BP Exploration, Sunbury, Tel: (0932) 76 2424 or 3323, Fax: (0932) 76 4183

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