9/29/12

Leak Of f Test

Leak Off Test

By Rachain Jetjongjit

Leak Off Test (LOT) is conducted in order to find fracture gradient of a certain formation. The result of the leak off test also dictates the maximum equivalent mud weight that can be applied to a well during drilling operations. Leak Off Test (LOT) guide line procedures are as follows; 1. Drill out new formation few feet, circulate bottom up and collect sample to confirm that new formation is drilled to and then pull string inside the casing. 2. Close annular preventer or pipe rams, line up a cement pump and circulate through an opened choke line to ensure that surface line is fully filled with drilling fluid. 3. Stop the pump and close a choke valve. 4. Gradually pump small amount of drilling fluid into well with constant pump stroke and recommended pump strokes are 5 to 10 strokes per minute.. Record total pump strokes, drill pipe pressure and casing pressure. Drill pipe pressure and casing pressure will increase continually while pumping drilling fluid in hole. When plotting a graph between strokes pumped and pressure, if formation is not broken, a graph will demonstrate a straight line relationship. When pressure exceeds formation strength, formation will be broken and let drilling fluid permeate into formation, therefore a trend of drill pipe pressure and casing pressure will deviate from the straight line trend. The first casing pressure that deviates from the straight line trend is called as leak off test pressure. 5. Bleed off pressure and open up the well. Then start drilling operation. Equivalent mud weight in pound per gallon for LOT is listed below: Leak off test in equivalent mud weight (ppg) = (Leak off test pressure (psi) 0.052 casing shoe true vertical (ft)) + current mud weight in a wellbore (ppg) The following formula is a pressure gradient calculation. Pressure gradient (psi/ft) = Leak off test pressure (psi) casing shoe true vertical depth (ft)
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9/29/12

Leak Of f Test

Note: The acronyms are as follows; psi = pound per square inch ppg = pound per gallon ft = feet psi/ft = pound per square inch per foot The calculation below demonstrates how to determine the leak off test pressure and the pressure gradient. Leak off test pressure = 1600 (psi) Casing shoe TVD = 4000 ft Current mud weight in wellbore = 9.2(ppg) Leak off test in equivalent mud weight (ppg) = (1600 0.052 4000) + 9.2= 16.9 ppg Pressure gradient = 1600 4000 = 0.4 psi/ft Rachain J. is working in drilling operations and he would like to share basic knowledge about drilling formulas and drilling operations. For more information about drilling formulas, please read on his blog Drilling Formulas and Calculations Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachain_Jetjongjit

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