IPM IDPT

WELL CONTROL

Well Control
IPM
 Hydrostatic Pressure
In which vessel is the hydrostatic pressure the highest

They are the same in all cases

BECAUSE

Well Control
IPM
 Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic Pressure is a function of vertical depth and density

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

Well Control
IPM
 Hydrostatic Pressure

6240 psi 7800 psi 5616 psi 6058 psi

Well Control
IPM
 Hydrostatic Pressure

6240 psi 5616 psi

6000 psi Well Control 6000 psi

IPM
 Kicks – Cause

There is ONE condition that allows a kick to occur:

The pressure in the wellbore becomes less than the
pressure in the formation

Well Control
IPM
 Causes of Kicks

There are 5 major causes of kicks

1. Failure to fill the hole

2. Swabbing
3. Lost Circulation
4. Insufficient mud weight
5. Loss of riser drilling fluid column

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

Well Control
IPM
 Kicks – Causes and Prevention
Most Cause Best Prevented By:
Common
1. Failure to keep hole full Measurement of fill-up
volume when tripping -
of proper weight fluid
Trip Tank!!
2. Drilling into zones of Good engineering & well
known pressure with procedures and an alert,
questioning attitude by WSS
mud weight too low
- READ THE PROGRAM
3. Drilling into unexpected, Careful engineering, proper
abnormal formation well design -
Least STUDY OFFSET WELLS
pressure
Common

Well Control
IPM
 Kicks – Causes and Prevention
Most Cause Best Prevented By:
Common
4. Lost Circulation (Fluid Careful engineering,
Level, not rate of loss is proper well design -
Case off Loss Circ ASAP!
critical in well control)
5. Unloading mud by Measurement of fill-up
volume when pulling drill
pulling balled assembly
string – TRIP TANK!

6. Mud weight high enough Measurement of fill-up

volume when pulling drill
to drill, but not to trip
Least string – TRIP TANK!
Common

Well Control
IPM
 Uncontrolled Kicks = Blowouts

e n
p p
H a
t it
L e
n ’ t
Do

Well Control
IPM
 Kick Detection
A kick cannot occur without a warning sign or variations with return

Important warning signs are Also consider

• Increase in return flow • Drilling BREAKS
• Well flowing with pumps off • Decrease in pump pressure
• Increase in pit volume • Increase in pump strokes
• Change in drilling fluid prope
• Hole not taking correct volume while POOH

Well Control
IPM
 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

Well Control
IPM
 Kick Detection Equipment

What is the most important piece of well

control equipment on the rig?

The Trip Tank

Well Control
IPM
 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

Well Control
IPM
 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

Well Control
IPM
 Shut in Procedures

Depends on which operation is taking place

Drilling, tripping, casing, etc

Depend on the type of stack (surface or sub sea)

Well Control
IPM
 BOP Equipment
Consists of 4 main components

1. The BOP stack

2. The accumulator unit

3. The choke manifold

4. The kill line

Well Control
IPM
 Well Control Equipment - Overview

LOW Pressure HIGH Pressure

Pump
Mud Mud
Storage Mixing Trip Tank
PVT D
P

Gas BOP
Suction Degasser Choke
Buster Stack
To Pump Well
Accum
Head

CSG
Well Control
IPM
 BOP Stack
The BOP stack is located over the well head and under drill floor in su

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 requir

Well Control
IPM
 Surface BOP Stack Configuration

ANNULAR

TOP RAMS

BLIND RAMS

Choke Line
Kill Line HCR
Replace with Double Gate
BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS
(Pipe Rams – Blind
Rams) in Selected Cases

Well Control
IPM
 Sub-Sea BOP Stack Arrangement

UPPER ANNULAR

LMRP CON

Inner Outer
LOWER ANNULAR

Choke Choke
BOTTOM RAMS
SHEAR RAMS
Outer Inner
Choke Choke BLIND RAMS
BOTTOM RAMS

UPPER RAMS
Inner Outer
MIDDLE RAMS Choke Choke
BOTTOM RAMS

Outer Inner
Choke Choke BOTTOM RAMS
LOWER RAMS

Stack Connector
Well Control
IPM
 BOP Stack

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

Well Control
IPM
 Ram Preventers

Ram preventers close on the drill pipe by moving rams from a retracte
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
Also come in different sizes, makes and pressure ratings

Well Control
IPM
 Ram Preventers

Well Control
IPM
 Accumulator

Well Control
IPM
 Accumulator Sizing
SLB STANDARD
SPECIFICATION:
The accumulator volume of the
ANNULAR
BOP systems should be sized to
keep a remaining stored
accumulator pressure of 1380 TOP RAMS
kPa (200 psi) or more above the
minimum recommended 2
BLIND RAMS
1 3 4
precharge pressure after
conducting the following
• Close all (rams and annular) functions and Open all HCRs valves
operations (with pumps
BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS
• inoperative
Open all (rams
):
and annular) functions and Close all HCRs valves
• Close Annular 5 6
• Open choke line remote operated valve

Well Control
IPM
 Accumulator Bottle

Bladder Assembly

Shell

Fluid Port Assembly

Well Control
IPM
 Accumulator Sizing
VOLUME AT MIN OPER PRESS
PRECHARGE ACCUMULATOR 200 psi ABOVE
OPERATING PRECHARGE
PRESS PRESS
1000 psi 3000 psi
Non-Flammable Gas

1200 psi

Accumulator
Fluid
USABLE
VOLUME

- MOST ALL MODERN ACCULULATORS ARE 3000 psi WORKING

PRESSURE
Well Control
IPM
 Accumulator Sizing
1000 psi 3000 psi
Non-Flammable Gas
1200 psi

Accumulat
or Fluid
USABLE
VOLUME
1 2 3
Calculation of Usable (Bottle) Volume
Pre-Charge Operating Useable

Pressure 1000 3000 1200

Gas Vol 10 3.33 8.33

UV = 6.67 –
PxV 10,000 10,000 10,000
1.67
Liquid Vol 0 6.67 1.67 UV = 5
Well Control
IPM
 Accumulator Sizing
SLB STANDARD
EXAMPLE:

BOP Equipment: 1 Annular + 3 Rams + HCR Valve

Closing Volume (CV): 20 + (3 x 10) + 1 =
Opening
56 GalVolume (OV): 20 + (3 x 10) + 1 =
Closing Volume (CV):
56 Gal 20 =
Open
20 Choke
Gal Line Valve (OV): 1 =
1 GalVolume (UV):
Usable =
133 Gal
Nominal Reservoir Volume : 2 x UV = 266
Gal

Well Control
IPM
 Hydraulic Pumps

SPECIFICATION:
The unit will include one (1) electric pump and two (2) back-up
air pumps for accumulator charging. With the accumulator
system removed from service, the pumps should be capable of:
• Closing annular preventer (excluding diverter) on
minimum size drill pipe being used
• Opening hydraulic operated choke line valve
• Obtain a minimum of 1380 kPa (200 psi) pressure above
accumulator precharge pressure on closing unit within
two (2) minutes or less
Well Control
IPM
 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

Well Control
IPM
 Choke and Standpipe Manifold
FLOW PATHS
At least three flow paths must be provided that are
capable of flowing well returns through conduits that are
76.14 mm (3”) nominal diameter or larger. At least one
flow path:
• Shall be equipped with a remotely controlled, pressure
operated adjustable choke. Simplified choke manifolds without
remote control choke may be acceptable on light rigs with 2-3k
psi stacks.
• Shall be equipped with a manually operated adjustable choke.
• Must permit returns to flow directly to the pit, discharge
manifold or other downstream piping without passing through a
choke. Two gate valves with full rated working pressure must
be provided in this unchoked path.
Well Control
IPM
 Choke and Standpipe Manifold
COMPONENT SPECIFICS
• Working pressure should be = > working pressure of ram
preventers
• Chokes, valves on un-choked flow path and all equipment
upstream must be of full rated working pressure
• Two full rated gate valves upstream of choke in each path
• One gate valve down stream before discharge manifold
(need not be full working pressure)
• Pressure gauge to measure inlet pressure. Gate valve up
stream of pressure gauge rated to full working pressure
• Only right angle block turns allowed (lead targeted)
• Chokes discharge directly into an erosion nipple. (min 3’
long & 3” thick
• Hydrate inhibition (glycol) system set up as necessary
Well Control
IPM
 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

Well Control
IPM
 Inside BOP
Kelly Cock or FOSV

Well Control
IPM
 Inside BOP
Gray Valve

Well Control
IPM
 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

Well Control
IPM
 Mud Gas Separator
Vent Line
No Valves!!

GAS
1. Diameter and length controls the
amount of pressure in separator

Breaker
Siphon
Baffle Plates

Impingement
Plate
No Valves!!

From Choke

2. Height and diameter and internal

design control separation efficiency
MUD
d

Mud
D

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

from bottom of separator to top of ‘U’-
Tube controls fluid level and stops gas
Drain Line from going out of the bottom
w/Valve
Well Control
IPM
 Mud Gas Separator

Well Control
IPM
 Exercise - MGS Design
EXAMPLE:
Well Depth: 10, 000’
Hole/CSG Size (12-1/4” x 13-3/8”): 0.125
Drill bbl/ft
Pipe (5”, 19.5#): 0.025 bbl/ft
MW: 12 ppg KMW: 14 ppg
Kick Vol: 50 bbl
Kill Speed: 3 BPM
Well Killed by Driller’s Method
Csg Press when gas reaches surface: 1987 psi
Csg Press when gas out: 1057 psi
Avg Gas Rate during 1st minute of venting: 3,202 MCF/D
Avg Gas Rate during last minute of venting: 1,722
AvgMCF/D
Gas Rate while venting: 2,462 MCF/D

Well Control
IPM
 Exercise - MGS Design
Pressure Loss in 100

25
ft Gas Temp =
75º F
Upstream Pressure – psi
20
Downstream
Pressure =
15

4” ID 6” ID Atmospheric
10

8” ID
10” ID
5
30

12” ID

0
0 5
5 10
10 15
15 20

Gas Flowrate – MMSCF/D

20 Well Control
IPM
 Well Control Equipment - Overview

LOW Pressure HIGH Pressure

Pump
Mud Mud
Storage Mixing Trip Tank
PVT D
P

Gas BOP
Suction Degasser Choke
Buster Stack
To Pump Well
Accum
Head

CSG
Well Control
IPM
 Shut-In Procedure while Drilling
Paths on Choke Manifold Closed (Hard
Shut-In),
Float in Drill string
1. Stop rotation
2. Raise string to shut-in position (time permitting)
3. Stop the pumps and flow check; if well
proceed without delay to next step
flows,
4. Close annular/ open remote controlled choke line valve (HCR)
5. Notify man in charge
6. Check space out and close pipe rams
7. Bleed off pressure between pipe rams and annular (if possible)
8. Record annulus and drill pipe pressure and pit gain

Well Control
IPM
 Shut-In Procedure while Tripping
Paths on Choke Manifold Closed (Hard
Shut-In),
Float in Drill
1. Set slips string
below tool joint (No tool next to shear ram)
2. Install full opening safety valve and close same
3. Close annular/open remote controlled choke line valve
4. Notify man in charge
(HCR)
5. Make up kelly or top drive
and open safety valve
6. Read annulus and drill pipe pressure and pit gain

Well Control
IPM
 Hard Shut-In vs. Soft Shut-In

Hard Shut-In

Advantages:
• Influx stopped in shortest possible time
• Quick and simple procedure

Disadvantages:
• Perceived pressure pulse or ‘Water Hammer’ effect that is
thought to damage formation

Well Control
IPM
 Hard Shut-In vs. Soft Shut-In

Soft Shut-In
Advantages:
• Perceived pressure pulse is reduced

Disadvantages:
• A larger influx is obtained due to the delay in fully
shutting the well in
• More complex due to requirement of ensuring valve
alignment before closing BOP

Well Control
IPM
 Hard Shut-In vs. Soft Shut-In
Conclusions
Soft Shut-In
• Little improvement to pressure pulse
• Significant effect from additional influx

Hard Shut-In
• ‘Water Hammer’ smaller than shut-in pressure rise
• Formation exposed to lower net pressure
• Results favor Hard Shut-In
• Minimum confusion, Less influx volume, Lower annular pressure
• Safety of personnel and equipment without risk to well

Well Control
IPM
 Shut-In Procedure while Drilling
Paths on Choke Manifold Closed (Hard
Shut-In),
Float in Drill string
1. Stop rotation
2. Raise string to shut-in position (time permitting)
3. Stop the pumps and flow check; if well
proceed without delay to next step
flows,
4. Close annular/ open remote controlled choke line valve (HCR)
5. Notify man in charge
6. Check space out and close pipe rams
7. Bleed off pressure between pipe rams and annular (if possible)
8. Record annulus and drill pipe pressure and pit gain

Well Control
IPM
 Shut-In Procedure while Tripping
Paths on Choke Manifold Closed (Hard
Shut-In),
Float in Drill
1. Set slips string
below tool joint (No tool next to shear ram)
2. Install full opening safety valve and close same
3. Close annular/open remote controlled choke line valve
4. Notify man in charge
(HCR)
5. Make up kelly or top drive
and open safety valve
6. Read annulus and drill pipe pressure and pit gain

Well Control
IPM
 Hard Shut-In vs. Soft Shut-In

Hard Shut-In

Advantages:
• Influx stopped in shortest possible time
• Quick and simple procedure

Disadvantages:
• Perceived pressure pulse or ‘Water Hammer’ effect that is
thought to damage formation

Well Control
IPM
 Hard Shut-In vs. Soft Shut-In

Soft Shut-In
Advantages:
• Perceived pressure pulse is reduced

Disadvantages:
• A larger influx is obtained due to the delay in fully
shutting the well in
• More complex due to requirement of ensuring valve
alignment before closing BOP

Well Control
IPM
 Pressure Test Frequency
The pressure tests of all blowout preventers, wellhead components
and their connections, BOP operating unit, choke manifold, kill and
choke lines, standpipe manifold, kelly and kelly cocks, safety valves
and inside BOPS shall be made:
ƒ During the first trip after the14-day interval with a maximum interval of 21 days
or before as specified by local regulations
ƒ Prior to installation where possible
ƒ After installation of wellhead and BOP assembly and prior to drilling
ƒ When any component change is made
ƒ Prior to drilling into a suspected high pressure zone
ƒ At any time requested by the Operator’s Drilling Representative
ƒ After Repairs
ƒ Prior to the initial opening of the drill stem test tools
ƒ When bonnets have been opened solely for the purpose of changing rams prior
to running casing, a body test to ensure the integrity of the bonnet seals will
suffice Well Control
IPM
 BOP Test 11 12 13

To Poor Boy
8 9 10

To manifold 5 6 7

1 2 3 4

From Choke line

From Dowell Unit

Pressure Test Procedure - All Choke Manifold valves open

- Make sure hole is full - Close choke line outside valve and pressure test
- Pressure Test Dowell surface lines - Reopen Choke Line outside valve - END DOWELL
- Reopen shear rams
- Close shear rams - Pick up 1 jt HWDP
- All kill line valves open, all choke line valves open
- Close Annular
Pressure Test Choke Manifold: - Open Dowell valve
- Close Kill Line inside valve, close Choke Line Middle valve and pressure
• 8 - 11 - 12 - 13 CLOSED test
• 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 9 - 10 OPEN - Reopen Kill Line inside valve, reopen Choke Line Middle valve

• 5 - 7 - 9 - 10 - 12 CLOSED - Close Kill Line outside valve, Close HCR valve and pressure test
• 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 8 - 11 - 13 OPEN - Reopen kill Line outside valve, Reopen HCR valve
- Reopen Annular
•6-1-4 CLOSED
• 2 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 9- 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 OPEN - Close pipe ram and pressure test

•2-3-6 CLOSED Well Control All pressure tests 500 psi low, 1000 psi high, 5 minutes
IPM • 1 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 9- 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 OPEN Valves 1 and 4 on choke manifold only to 500 psi
 Testing BOP’s
Choke
Manifold
ANNULAR 15

TOP RAMS

Kill Line 10
BLIND RAMS 11 14
1 2 3 4 9 12

BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS 8

Test Pump 7 13
5 6

Wellhead
Well Control
IPM
 Testing BOP’s
Wellhead

Well Control
IPM
 Testing BOP
Plug Type Tester

Well Control
IPM
 Testing BOP’s
Choke
Manifold
ANNULAR 15

TOP RAMS

Kill Line 10
BLIND RAMS 11 14
1 2 3 4 9 12

BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS 8

Test Pump 7 13
5 6

Wellhead
Well Control
IPM
 Testing BOP’s
Choke
Manifold
ANNULAR 15

TOP RAMS

Kill Line 10
BLIND RAMS 11 14
1 2 3 4 9 12

BOTTOM RAMS

BOTTOM RAMS 8

Test Pump 7 13
5 6

Wellhead
Well Control
IPM
 Testing BOP’s
Cup Type Tester

Well Control
IPM
 Well Control Equipment

DIVERTERS

Are NOT Well Control Equipment

Well Control
IPM
 Diverters

• Diverter Requirements

• Diverter Procedures

Well Control
IPM
 Diverters
Designed to direct UNCONTROLLED flow away from personnel

• Major weaknesses of the Diverter:

1) Plugging: 1/4 -1/2”
A large number particles of this size:
Can bridge off these flow paths:
8” 12”

2) Erosion:
• Gas/Sand mixtures flowing through diverter lines have been measured
to erode though steel at the rate of 8”/hour

• Water mixtures have been measured at 16”/hour

NO RELIABLE MEANS EXIST TO ELIMINATE THESE PROBLEMS

Well Control
IPM
 Diverter Configuration

Flow Line
Diverter

Riser Diverter Line

Surface

Casing Shoe

Entry
Well Control
IPM
 SLB Diverter Requirements
Land, Swamp Barge & Jack-Up

Relief Lines
• At least two relief lines installed to permit venting at
opposite ends or sides of the rig
• On Land a single line is permissible
• The relief line shall be at least 8” (203 mm)
• No other lines into or out of diverter lines or housing

Well Control
IPM
 SLB Diverter Requirements
Land, Swamp Barge & Jack-Up

Relief System
• The diverter relief system shall be inserted with a minimum
number of bends and all lines well secured. Each diverter
relief line will be equipped with a pressure-operated full
opening, unrestricted valve. The operating sequence of the
diverter will be as follows:
• Open selected valve
• Close diverter
These functions shall be interlocked. A means of
switching flow from one vent to the other without
closing in the system must be provided.

Well Control
IPM
 SLB Diverter Requirements
Land, Swamp Barge & Jack-Up

Relief System
• Special care should be taken to protect pipe bends from
erosion. This may include:
• Use of long radius pipe bends
• Providing extra metal thickness at bends
• Sleeve-type connections shall not be used in the diverter
system
• A power-operated valve must be installed to automatically
shut off mud returns to the pits when the diverter is closed, if
the mud return line and diverter relief outlet from the well is
a common outlet or the mud return line connects below the
diverter head

Well Control
IPM
 Diverting Procedure
Different from SHUT IN procedure

At first sign of flow

•DO NOT STOP PUMPING
•Open Diverter Line and Close Diverter (functions interlocked)
•Increase pump strokes to maximum
•Switch to heavy mud (if permitted and available)
•Raise the alarm
•Check if well stops flowing after heavy mud has been displaced
•If well continues to flow carry on pumping heavy mud or water

•DO NOT STOP PUMPING AS LONG AS WELL IS FLOW

Well Control
IPM