Well Control School, -JDT-ONGC

3.7.4 Trapped Gas Below Preventer After Killing

After the kill operation, some gas will remain trapped below the closed preventer.
Volume of this gas can be significant if the closed preventer is an annular preventer. ln
surface operations this trapped gas does not pose any problem because pressure of the
gas (being at surface) is nrinirnal. Vl$rereas in Subsea stacks pressure of the gas
trapped below tlie pi'eventer is equal to the hydrostatic head of the kill mud in the choke
line. ln order to p;event a rapid unloading of risei- mud due to trapped gas when the
preventer is opened, following actions are advised.
ai Close the upper nrost rarn below the choke line.
b) Circulate chore and kill lines with water .
c) Close the Clvert,:r and open il're preventer and allow the riser mud to
reverse flow up the choke line due to difference in hydrostatic head.
d) Fill the risei-froni t:p rruith kili mud, so that the gas can be quickly flushed
i into choke line.
e) After ail the trapped gas has been removed through choke line, displace
the riser with l..iil n:ud thi'ough kiil !ii.ie.

3.8 STRIPPING AND SNUBBING OPERATICT.TS

The operation is teri;':ed as stripping r,vheii the resuitant of upv,rai"d and downward forces
is acting downward, tlrus forcing the string into the well.
The operation is terrned as snubbing v;hen the resultant of upward and down forces is
i acting upward, thus fcrcing the string or-ri of the rryell. Additionai force will be required in
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\/ this case to force the st:'lng into the weli. The snubbing operations require the use of a
I snubbing unit.
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r 3.8.1 Selecti ono f BOP for
o Stri n
[t .. S.N, Well nressure Lenqth for st;'ippinq Preventer required
1. 1000 psi or less Anv lenqth Annular preventer
IY 2. -
1000 1500 psi 1000 ft Annular preventer
i':
p J. -
1000 1500 psi Mo;'e than i000 fI Annular pi'eventer +Ram
tt. preventer
t 4, 1500 psi oi' above Anv lenqth Ram oreventer +Ram preventer
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While stripping in the hole to maintain bottom hole pressure constant, mud is to be bled
off at regular interval. The amount of mud which is to be bled off should be equal to the
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I closed end volume of the pipe striped in. lf more mud is bled off than the calculated
volume the hydrostatic pressure in the annulus decreases causing the bottonr hole
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a. pressure to reduce. The string is also to be kept full by filling mud at regular intervals.
t Care should be taken when the bit starts entering into the influx, as the increase in
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height of the infiux shall increase the surface casing pressure.
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