IPM IDPT

WELL CONTROL

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Hydrostatic Pressure
In which vessel is the hydrostatic pressure the highest

They are the same in all cases

BECAUSE

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Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic Pressure is a function of vertical depth and density

Hydrostatic pressure in a well = 0.052 x TVD x Mud Weight
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Hydrostatic Pressure

6240 psi

7800 psi

5616 psi

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6058 psi

Hydrostatic Pressure

5616 psi

6240 psi

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6000 psi

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6000 psi

Causes of Kicks
There are 5 major causes of kicks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Failure to fill the hole

Swabbing
Lost Circulation
Insufficient mud weight
Loss of riser drilling fluid column

But in all cases it is because of hydrostatic pressure < formation pressure

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Kick Detection
A kick cannot occur without a warning sign or variations with return flow

Important warning signs are

Increase in return flow
Well flowing with pumps off
Increase in pit volume
Hole not taking correct volume while POOH

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Also consider
Drilling BREAKS
Decrease in pump pressure
Increase in pump strokes
Change in drilling fluid properties

Kick Detection Equipment

Increase in return flow Flow show
Well flowing with pump off visual or flow show
Increase in pit volume pit volume totalizers (PVT)
Hole not taking correct volume Trip Tank
Drilling Breaks can be seen by driller or drilling graphs
Pump pressure decrease pressure gauge
Mud pump speed SPM gauge
Drilling fluid properties detected by mud watcher during testing

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Kick Detection Equipment

What is the most important piece of well control
equipment on the rig?

The Trip Tank

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Flow Checks
Involves physically checking the level of fluid in the annulus
Flow check are to be done

After drilling break

Just before pulling bit off bottom prior to a trip
At the last casing shoe
Prior to pulling the BHA out of the hole
AND
ANY TIME THERE IS A DOUBT

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Kick Containment
The size and severity of a kick depends upon
the degree of underbalance
the formation permeability
the length of time the well remains underbalanced
Any suspected kick should be shut in as fast as possible

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Shut in Procedures

Depends on which operation is taking place

Drilling, tripping, casing, etc
Depend on the type of stack (surface or sub sea)

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BOP Equipment
Consists of 4 main components
1. The BOP stack
2. The accumulator unit
3. The choke manifold
4. The kill line

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BOP Stack
The BOP stack is located over the well head and under drill floor in surface BOPs
They might include
Annular preventer
Pipe ram preventer
Drilling spool
Blind/shear ram preventer
Casing head housing
The stack is assembled in many arrangements depending upon requirements

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BOP Stack

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Annular Preventer
Are available in different sizes, makes and pressure ratings
All contain a steel reinforced rubber packing that close around tubulars

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Ram Preventers

Ram preventers close on the drill pipe by moving rams from a retracted position
They operate in pairs and seal the space below them when closed
They have openings that match the diameter of pipe for which they are designed
Also come in different sizes, makes and pressure ratings

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Ram Preventers

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Accumulator

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Accumulator Bottle

Bladder Assembly
Shell
Fluid Port Assembly
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Accumulator Sizing

3000 psi

Accumulator
Fluid

1000 psi
Non-Flammable Gas

PRECHARGE

VOLUME AT
ACCUMULATOR
OPERATING PRESS

MIN OPER PRESS 200

psi ABOVE
PRECHARGE PRESS

1200 psi

USABLE
VOLUME

- MOST ALL MODERN ACCULULATORS ARE 3000 psi WORKING PRESSURE

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SPECIFICATION:

Accumulator Sizing
SLB STANDARD

The accumulator volume of the BOP systems

should be sized to keep a remaining stored
accumulator pressure of 1380 kPa (200 psi) or
more above the minimum recommended
precharge pressure after conducting the
following operations (with pumps inoperative):

ANNULAR
TOP RAMS

Close all (rams and annular) functions and Open all HCRs valves
Open all (rams and annular) functions and Close all HCRs valves
Close Annular
Open choke line remote operated valve

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BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS

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BLIND RAMS

Accumulator Sizing
3000 psi

Accumulator
Fluid

Non-Flammable Gas

1000 psi

1200 psi
USABLE
VOLUME

Calculation of Usable (Bottle) Volume

Pre-Charge

Operating

Useable

Pressure

1000

3000

1200

Gas Vol

10

3.33

8.33

PxV

10,000

10,000

10,000

6.67

1.67

Liquid Vol

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UV = 6.67 1.67
UV = 5

Accumulator Sizing
SLB STANDARD
EXAMPLE:

BOP Equipment:
1 Annular + 3 Rams + HCR Valve
Closing Volume (CV):
20
+ (3 x 10) + 1 = 56 Gal
Opening Volume (OV):
20
+ (3 x 10) + 1 = 56 Gal
Closing Volume (CV):
20
= 20 Gal
Open Choke Line Valve (OV):
1
= 1 Gal
Usable Volume (UV):
= 133 Gal
Nominal (Bottle) Volume (NV): 2 x UV

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= 266 Gal

Choke Manifold
- An assembly of HP flanged fittings
- Several lateral outlets
- Attached to the BOP stack with choke line
- Choke helps to maintain back pressure
- This prevents further influx
- The fluid from well can be diverted

- The choke is operated manually or remotely

- A choke panel is usually on rig floor

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Choke Manifold
11

12

10

From Choke line

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13

Inside BOP
Kelly Cock or FOSV

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Inside BOP
Gray Valve

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Float Valves
SPECIFICATION:
Float valves must be used while drilling and opening hole prior to setting
surface casing or any time the posted well control plan is to divert and can
also be used in deeper sections of the hole. They:

Prevent sudden influx entry into the drill string

Prevent back flow of annular cuttings from plugging bit nozzles
Either plain or ported floats are acceptable

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Mud Gas Separator

Vent Line

GAS

Baffle Plates
From Choke

MUD

Mud

2. Height and diameter and internal

design control separation efficiency

3. Height of U-Tube (D) and distance from

bottom of separator to top of U-Tube
controls fluid level and stops gas from going
out of the bottom

Drain Line
w/Valve
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1. Diameter and length controls the

amount of pressure in separator

Impingement
Plate
d

Siphon Breaker

No Valves!!

No Valves!!

Mud Gas Separator

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Kill Line
Attached to the BOP stack
Usually directly opposite choke line
Used to pump fluid into the annulus to either
keep hole full during losses
to keep balance with heavy mud

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BOP Test

11

12

13

To Poor Boy
8
To manifold

10

From Choke line

From Dowell Unit
Pressure Test Procedure
- Make sure hole is full
- Pressure Test Dowell surface lines

- All Choke Manifold valves open

- Close choke line outside valve and pressure test
- Reopen Choke Line outside valve - END DOWELL
- Reopen shear rams
- Pick up 1 jt HWDP

- Close shear rams

- All kill line valves open, all choke line valves open

- Close Annular
- Open Dowell valve
- Close Kill Line inside valve, close Choke Line Middle valve and pressure
test
- Reopen Kill Line inside valve, reopen Choke Line Middle valve

Pressure Test Choke Manifold:

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8 - 11 - 12 - 13
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 9 - 10

CLOSED
OPEN

5 - 7 - 9 - 10 - 12
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 8 - 11 - 13

CLOSED
OPEN

6-1-4
2 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 9- 10 - 11 - 12 - 13

CLOSED
OPEN

2-3-6
1 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 9- 10 - 11 - 12 - 13

CLOSED
OPEN

- Close Kill Line outside valve, Close HCR valve and pressure test
- Reopen kill Line outside valve, Reopen HCR valve
- Reopen Annular
- Close pipe ram and pressure test

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All pressure tests 500 psi low, 1000 psi high, 5 minutes
Valves 1 and 4 on choke manifold only to 500 psi

Testing BOPs
Choke
Manifold
ANNULAR

15

TOP RAMS
10

Kill Line
2

BLIND RAMS

Wellhead
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11

12

14

BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS
Test Pump

13

Testing BOPs
Wellhead

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Testing BOP
Plug Type Tester

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Testing BOPs
Choke
Manifold
ANNULAR

15

TOP RAMS
10

Kill Line
2

BLIND RAMS

Wellhead
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11

12

14

BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS
Test Pump

13

Testing BOPs
Choke
Manifold
ANNULAR

15

TOP RAMS
10

Kill Line
2

BLIND RAMS

Wellhead
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11

12

14

BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS
Test Pump

13

Testing BOPs
Cup Type Tester

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