ESSENTIALS

WELL CONTROL

Courtesy
IADC
DrilingFormulas.com
 Definition
• Well-control means methods used to minimize the potential for the well to flow or kick and to maintain control
of the well in the event of flow or a kick.
• Well-control applies to drilling, well-completion, well-workover, abandonment, and well-servicing operations.
• It includes measures, practices, procedures and equipment, such as fluid flow monitoring, to ensure safe and
environmentally protective drilling, completion, abandonment, and workover operations as well as the
installation, repair, maintenance, and operation of surface and subsea well-control equipment.
 Formation Pressure from Kick Analysis
• Once the well is shut in obtain shut in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP)
• Estimate formation pressure by applying the hydrostatic pressure concept.
• This following equation demonstrates you how to figure out formation pressure from the kick analysis.
Formation Pressure = SIDDP + (0.052 x Hole TVD x Current Mud Weight)
 Formation Pressure from Kick Analysis

• Formation Pressure in psi

• SIDDP (shut in drill pipe pressure) in psi
• Hole TVD (true vertical depth) in ft
• Current Mud Weight in ppg
• Example: Well depth = 8,500’MD/8,000 TVD.
• SIDPP = 300 psi
• Current mud weight = 10.0 ppg
• What is the formation pressure in psi?
• Formation Pressure = 300+ (0.052 x 8000 x 10.0)
• Formation pressure = 4,460 psi
 Maximum Surface Pressure from Gas Influx in Water Based Mud

• When a well is shut in due to well control operation, the casing pressure will increase due to gas migration and
gas expansion.
• In water based mud, you are able to estimate the maximum surface pressure with this following formula.
• Where;
• Max surface pressure in psi.
• P is expected formation pressure in psi.
• V is pit volume gain in bbl.
• KWM is kill weight mud in ppg.
• An is an annular capacity in bbl/ft.
• Estimate surface pressure in water-based mud because gas kick is not soluble in water-based mud.
(with oil-based mud, you will not be able to use this equation because you will not see the real volume of gas
kick due to gas solubility in oil.
• Determine the maximum surface pressure.
• Drill well with water-based mud.
• Pit gain = 25 bbl
• Stabilized casing pressure = 600 psi
• Initial drill pipe pressure = 450 psi
• Current mud weight = 12.0 ppg
• Hole depth = 10,000’MD/9,500’TVD
• Hole diameter = 8.5 inch
 Maximum pit gain from gas kick in water-based mud
• In water based mud, you can not only estimate the maximum surface casing pressure, but you are also be able to determine the maximum pit
gain due to gas influx.
• The following formula demonstrates how to figure out the maximum pit gain from gas influx in water-based mud system.
• Where
• Maximum Pit Gain in bbl
• P is formation pressure in psi.
• V is original pit gain in bbl.
• C is annular capacity in bbl/ft.
• Kill Weight Mud in ppg
Example :-
• Drill well with water-based mud.
• Pit gain = 20 bbl
• Initial shut-in casing pressure = 600 psi
• Initial shut-in drill pipe pressure = 500 psi
• Current mud weight = 12.5 ppg
• Hole depth = 6,000’MD/4,800’TVD
• Hole diameter = 12-1/4 inch
• Drill pipe = 5 inch
• According to the data, determine Kill Mud Weight , formation pressure, and annular capacity.
 Kill Weight Mud
• Kill Weight Mud or Kill Drilling Fluid Density is the mud weight required to balance formation pressure.
• The kill weight mud may be pumped into the well at different time depending on kill methods (Driller’s method, Wait and
Weight, Bull head, etc).
• Where,
• Kill Weight Mud (KWM) in ppg
• Current Mud Weight in ppg
• SIDP stands for “Shut In Drill Pipe Pressure” in psi.
• Well TVD is true vertical depth of the well in ft.
• Example:
• Drilling with 9.5 ppg mud and current depth at 9,500’MD/9,000’ TVD. The well takes influx. Operation is stopped and the
well is shut in.
• Shut in drill pipe pressure = 500 psi.
• Shut in casing pressure = 700 psi.
• What is the kill weight mud?
 Metric system
Where,
Kill Weight Mud (KWM) in Kg/m³
Current Mud Weight in Kg/m³
SIDP stands for “Shut In Drill Pipe Pressure” in KPa.
Well TVD is true vertical depth of the well in m.
Example:
Drilling with 1,140 Kg/m³ mud and current depth at 3,000 m MD/2,700
m TVD. The well takes influx. Operation is stopped and the well is shut
in.
Shut in drill pipe pressure = 3,450 KPa
Shut in casing pressure = 4,500 KPa
What is the kill weight mud?
The kill weight mud required to balance formation pressure:
Kill Weight Mud (KWM) = 1,140 + (3,450 ÷ 0.00981 ÷ 2,700) Kg/m³
Kill Weight Mud (KWM) = 1271 Kg/m³ (round up number)
The kill weight mud required to balance formation
pressure:
Kill Weight Mud (KWM) = 9.5 + (500 ÷ 0.052 ÷ 9,000)
Kill Weight Mud (KWM) = 10.6 ppg (round up number)
Kill Mud Weight
Oilfield
Shut in Drillpipe Pressure 500 psi Input Cells
Current Mud Weight 9.5 ppg Calculated Cell
Hole TVD 9000 ft
Kill Mud Weight 10.6 ppg

Metric
Shut in Drillpipe Pressure 3450 KPa Reference
Current Mud Weight 1140 Kg/m3 http://www.drillingformulas.com/kill-weight-mud/
Hole TVD 2700 m
Kill Mud Weight 1271 Kg/m3
 Slow Pump Rate (SCR)
• Well control operations are performed at reduced pump speeds or slow circulation rate in order to:
• Allow weighting up and degassing of the drilling fluid
• Reduce loads on surface equipment
• Increase reaction time for correct choke adjustments.
• Operation of the pump at a pressure too close to the setting of its relief valve is dangerous.
• If the relief valve opens, drilling fluid will flow back through the drill pipe and standpipe manifold.
• Circulation pressures at the reduced pump speeds must be known in advance of a well-killing operation.
• Before starting to drill with a new bit and at the beginning of each shift, the driller should therefore observe pump pressures
at selected slow circulation rates and record the results in the daily drilling report and kick control worksheet (check
also: Kick warning signs).
• Circulation pressures may differ considerably when using a different equipment hook-up (e.g. circulating head/chicksans vs.
kelly or top drive TDS top drive in drilling rig).
• SCR should be taken with the equipment hook-up which is planned, or most likely to be used during the well killing
operation.
• Slow circulation rates and pressures can be plotted as a straight line on a graph using log-log paper.
• Appropriate mud pump pressures for any pump rate can then be estimated using this graph, provided the drilling fluid
properties and drill string components configuration do not change.
• When using different drilling fluid properties, the slow circulation rates should be repeated.
• If necessary, provided the rheology has not changed too greatly, pressure losses may be approximated using the original
figures as follows:
•
Where :
• P1 = circulating pressure with original drilling fluid
• P2 = circulating pressure with new drilling fluid
• ρ1 = original drilling fluid gradient
• ρ2 = new drilling fluid gradient
• Ref: Shell Well Control Manual
When To Take
Every tour changed
After repairing the pumps or when the liner is
When the mud properties are changed Every 500 ft of new hole drilled
BHA changes
When the bit nozzles are changed
 Flow Check
• Flow check is the period that you stop operations such as drilling, tripping pipe and circulating and
monitor the well in order to see whether the well is static or not.
• The time for flow check should be enough to confirm the status of a well.
• It might be few minutes or it could be as long as 30 minutes depending on the well situation.
• Normally, many operators require 15 minutes flow check if the well is in normal condition.
How to execute the flow check?
• 1. Stop the current operation as stop drilling, circulating, tripping pipe, etc.
• 2. Space out pipe at rotary table. We need to do it because if the well is flowing while flow checking,
we can immediately shut the well in.
• 3. Monitor a well either on a trip tank or without trip tank. I personally prefer to monitor the well on
the trip tank because it can tell me that well is giving me fluid or l am losing fluid while monitor well.
• 4. Ensure the well condition. If the well is in static condition that means no increase in volume in trip
tank or flow at flow line, you can continue your current operation.
• If the well is flowing (volume increase in the trip tank), stop and attempt to figure out how to kill the
well or do something else.
 SIDPP
The surface force per unit area exerted at the top of a wellbore when it is closed at either the Christmas tree or
the BOP stack.
The pressure may be from the formation or an external and intentional source.
The SIP may be zero, indicating that any open formations are effectively balanced by the hydrostatic column of fluid in
the well.
If the pressure is zero, the well is considered to be dead, and can normally be opened safely to the atmosphere.

Shut-in DP Pressure is the measure of the and the hydrostatic column of the mud in the drillstring pressure .

• Why use SIDPP?

• Taking a kick (wellbore influx), the density of fluid in the annulus is very hard to predict because it is a mixture between
drilling mud and influx.
• Don’t know exactly what the density in the annulus is.
• Moreover, if you take gas kick, shut in casing pressure will increase over time, and you will NOT be able to identify the
right shut in pressure to determine formation pressure.
• Looking at the drill pipe side, there is only one pure fluid column so you know exactly its density.
• With the precise mud density, apply hydrostatic pressure concept in order to get the formation pressure and kill weight
mud.
• Note: If your drilling string has a solid float:- not be able to read SIDPP right away.
o Bump the float to get SIDPP.
 Float Bumping Procedures To Get Shut In Drill Pipe Pressure
• In order to get the correct value of drill pipe pressure, have the correct floating bumping procedure.
1. Ensure well is properly shut in. No leak or whatever.
2. Record shut in casing pressure (SICP)
3. Pump as slowly as possible (5-10 stroke per minute) at constant pumping speed down into the drill pipe and
keep monitoring the drill pipe pressure and the casing pressure.
4. Drill pipe pressure increase while pumping. Monitor carefully for a “lull” in the drillpipe pressure, which will
occur when the float is opened. The drillpipe pressure showing when the lull is first seen is your shut in drill
pipe pressure (SIDPP).
5. Verify that the float has been opened by continuing to pump down the drillpipe slowly until an increase in
the casing pressure. It should happen very quickly after the lull was seen on the drillpipe gauge.
6. Shut down the pumping operation as soon as increase in casing pressure is detected.
7. Check the shut-in casing pressure again. If there is any excess casing pressure, bled-off some pressure in
small increments until it equates or a little bit above SCP in steps no 2.
• Trapped pressure on drill pipe after bumping the float, calculate the actual shut in drill pipe pressure with this
following formula.
o Shut in drill pipe pressure = shut in drill pipe pressure after bumping the float – Shut in casing pressure
increase while bumping float
 Shut-in casing pressure (SICP)
• The shut-in casing pressure (SICP) is a measure of the difference between the formation pressure and the HSP
in the annulus when a kick occurs.
• The pressures encountered in the annulus can be estimated using the following mathematical equation:
FP = HSPmud + HSPinflux + SICP
where
FP = formation pressure (psi)
HSPmud = Hydrostatic pressure of the mud in the annulus (psi)
HSPinflux = Hydrostatic pressure of the influx (psi)SICP = shut-in casing pressure (psi)

• Not an good indicator of the formation

FP = HPmud + HPkick + SICP
 Bottom-hole pressure (BHP)
Bottom-hole pressure (BHP) is the pressure at the bottom of a well.
The pressure is usually measured at the bottom of the hole.
This pressure may be calculated in a static, fluid-filled wellbore with the equation:
• BHP = D × ρ × C,
• where
• BHP = bottom-hole pressure
• D = the vertical depth of the well
• ρ = density
• C = units conversion factor(or, in the English system,
• BHP = D × MWD × 0.052).
• In Canada the formula is depth in meters x density in kgs x the constant gravity factor (0.00981), which will give
the hydrostatic pressure of the well bore or (hp) hp=bhp with pumps off.
• The bottom-hole pressure is dependent on the following:
o Hydrostatic pressure (HSP)
o Shut-in surface pressure (SIP)
o Friction pressure
o Surge pressure (occurs when transient pressure increases the bottom-hole pressure)
o Swab pressure (occurs when transient pressure reduces the bottom-hole pressure)
• Therefore, BHP can be said to be the sum of all pressures at the bottom of the wellhole, which equals:
BHP = HSP + SIP + friction + Surge - swab
 Overburden pressure
• Overburden pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of the rocks and contained fluids above the zone of
interest.
• Overburden pressure varies in different regions and formations. It is the force that tends to compact a formation
vertically.
• The density of these usual ranges of rocks is about 18 to 22 ppg (2,157 to 2,636 kg/m3).
• This range of densities will generate an overburden pressure gradient of about 1 psi/ft (22.7 kPa/m). Usually, the
1 psi/ft is not applicable for shallow marine sediments or massive salt.
• In offshore however, there is a lighter column of sea water, and the column of underwater rock does not go all
the way to the surface.
• Therefore, a lower overburden pressure is usually generated at an offshore depth, than would be found at the
same depth on land.
• Mathematically, overburden pressure can be derived as:
• S = ρb × D × g
• where
g = acceleration due to gravity; S = overburden pressure; ρb = average formation bulk density; D = vertical
thickness of the overlying sediments
• The bulk density of the sediment is a function of rock matrix density, porosity within the confines of the pore
spaces, and pore fluid density.
• This can be expressed as
• ρb = φρf + (1 – φ)ρm
• where
• φ = rock porosity; ρf = formation fluid density; ρm = rock matrix density
 Fracture pressure
Fracture pressure can be defined as pressure required to cause a formation to fail or split.
• As the name implies, it is the pressure that causes the formation to fracture and the circulating fluid
to be lost. Fracture pressure is usually expressed as a gradient, with the common units being psi/ft
(kPa/m) or ppg (kg/m3).
• To fracture a formation, three things are generally needed, which are:
o Pump into the formation. This will require a pressure in the wellbore greater than formation
pressure.
o The pressure in the wellbore must also exceed the rock matrix strength.
• And finally the wellbore pressure must be greater than one of the three principal stresses in the
formation.
 Pump pressure (system pressure losses)

• Pump pressure, which is also referred to as system pressure loss, is the sum total of all the pressure losses from
the oil well surface equipment, the drill pipe, the drill collar, the drill bit, and annular friction losses around the
drill collar and drill pipe.
• It measures the system pressure loss at the start of the circulating system and measures the total friction
pressure.
 Slow pump pressure (SPP)
Slow pump pressure is the circulating pressure (pressure used to pump fluid through the whole active fluid
system, including the borehole and all the surface tanks that constitute the primary system during drilling) at a
reduced rate.
• SPP is very important during a well kill operation in which circulation (a process in which drilling fluid is
circulated out of the suction pit, down the drill pipe and drill collars, out the bit, up the annulus, and back to
the pits while drilling proceeds) is done at a reduced rate to allow better control of circulating pressures and to
enable the mud properties (density and viscosity) to be kept at desired values.
• The slow pump pressure can also be referred to as "kill rate pressure" or "slow circulating pressure" or "kill
speed pressure" and so on.
 Maximum Initial Shut-In Casing Pressure (MISICP)
• Maximum Initial Shut-In Casing Pressure (MISICP) or Maximum allowable shut in casing pressure is the initial shut-in casing
pressure that will exceed formation strength at the casing shoe resulting in broken formation at the shoe.
• How can we know and calculate the MISICP?
• Leak Off Test (LOT) will tell you the maximum pressure which the shoe can withstand before breaking formation at the shoe.
The LOT is the combination of surface pressure and hydrostatic pressure therefore you can apply this principle to calculate
the MISICP.
MISICP formula
MISICP, psi = (LOT, ppg – Current Mud Weight, ppg) x 0.052 x TVD of shoe, ft
Example :
• LOT = 15.0 ppg
• Current mud weight = 10.0 ppg
• Casing shoe depth = 4526’MD/4200’TVD
• MISICP, psi = (15 – 10) x 0.052 x 4200
• MISICP = 1,092 psi
 Leak Off Test (Procedures and Calculation)
• Leak Off Test is conducted in order to find the fracture gradient of certain formation at casing shoe depth.
• The results of the leak off test also dictate the maximum equivalent mud weight that should be applied to the
well during drilling operations.
 Oilfield Unit
• Leak Off Test pressure in mud density
• Leak off test in equivalent mud weight = (Leak Off Test pressure ÷ 0.052 ÷ Casing Shoe TVD ) + (Current Mud
Weight)
• Where;
• Leak off test in equivalent mud weight in ppg
• Leak Off Test pressure in psi
• Casing Shoe TVD in ft
• Current Mud Weight in ppg
• Note: Always round down for LOT calculation.
Example:
• Leak off test pressure = 1,600 psi
Casing shoe TVD = 4,000 ft
Mud weight = 9.2 ppg
Leak off test in equivalent mud weight (ppg) = (1,600 psi ÷ 0.052 ÷ 4,000 ft )+ 9.2ppg = 16.8 ppg
 Metric Unit
• Leak Off Test pressure in mud density
• Leak off test in equivalent mud weight = (Leak Off Test pressure ÷ 0.00981 ÷ Casing Shoe TVD ) + (Current Mud
Weight)
• Where;
• Leak off test in equivalent mud weight in kg/m3
• Leak Off Test pressure in KPa
• Casing Shoe TVD in m
• Current Mud Weight in kg/m3
• Note: Always round down for LOT calculation
Example:
• Leak off test pressure = 1,740 KPa
Casing shoe TVD = 1,300 m
Mud weight = 1,100 Kg/m3
Leak off test in equivalent mud weight (Kg/m3) = (1,740 KPa ÷ 0.00981 ÷ 1,300 m)+ 1,100 Kg/m3 = 1,236 Kg/m3
• Leak Off Test (LOT) guide line procedures are as follows (note: this is just only guide line).
• You may need to follow your standard procedure in order to perform leak off test):
• 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 into the casing.
• 2.Close annular preventer or pipe rams, line up a pump, normally a cement pump, and circulate through an open 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.
o Record total pump strokes, drill pipe pressure and casing pressure.
o Drill pipe pressure and casing pressure will be increased continually while pumping mud in hole.
o When plot a graph between strokes pumped and pressure, if formation is not broken, a graph will demonstrate
straight line relationship.
o When pressure exceeds formation strength, formation will be broken and let drilling fluid permeate into formation,
therefore a trend of drill pipe/casing pressure will deviate from straight line that mean formation is broken and is
injected by drilling fluid.
o We may call pressure when deviated from straight line as leak off test pressure.
• 5.Bleed off pressure and open up the well.
• Then proceed drilling operation.
Leak Off Test Pressure Converted to Equivalent Mud Weight (LOT)
Oilfield
LOT pressure 1600 psi Input cells
Mud Weight 9.2 ppg calculated cells
Shoe Depth (TVD) 4000 ft Back to the first page
LOT equivalent mud weight 16.8 ppg
Reference
Metric http://www.drillingformulas.com/leak-off-test-procedures-and-calcuation-2/
LOT pressure 1740 KPa
Mud Weight 1100 kg/m3
Shoe Depth (TVD) 1300 m
LOT equivalent mud weight 1236.0 kg/m3
 U Tube
U-tube effect
• In a U-tube manometer, the height of one leg of fluid changed
by altering the density of some of the fluid in the other leg.
• In a well with drillpipe in the hole, the string of drillpipe is one
leg and the annulus between the drillpipe and the wellbore is
the other. Drill String
• If a denser mud goes into the drillpipe, mud flows up the
annulus, and vice versa.
• The practice of putting a dense slugging pill in the drillpipe in Annulus
order to pull a dry string makes use of the U-tube effect.
 Gas Expansion
• During a kill the gas is not allowed to expand freely, since this would result in the well 'unloading’.
• Therefore a CONSTANT BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE slightly above FORMATION PRESSURE is maintained throughout the kill.
• Next two slides show theoretically how casing pressure and pit volume vary during the circulating out of a gas kick, using
the Wait and Weight method, while holding BHP constant.
• The dispersion of many small bubbles, spread along a considerable length of the annulus, results in a 'smearing out' of
the graph.
• The peak pressures are reduced and pressure variations slower than indicated.
• A-B Gas bubble moves from around Drill Collars to around Drill Pipe in the open hole. B-C Small expansion occurs as gas
circulates up the annulus.
• C-D Gas is still slowly expanding, but the effect of kill mud entering the annulus is greater, hence a small pressure
reduction occurs.
• D-E The increasingly rapid gas expansion effect now exceeds the effect of kill mud in the annulus and an increasingly rapid
rise in casing pressure occurs.
• E-F As gas is bled off from the annulus, and replaced by heavy mud, the casing pressure falls.
• F-G Light mud from the drillpipe is steadily replaced by heavy mud
Casing Pressure v Barrels Pumped (Wait & weight Kill) Pit Volume Increase to Barrels Pumped
 Constant BHP – Controlled Kick Expansion
• During the well killing operations constant bottom hole pressure must be maintained to ensure successful
killing, using controlled expansion of the kick volume as it is being displaced up the annulus.
• Toe criteria must be implemented:-
o 1. the BHP must not exceed the the fracture gradient of open hole formations below the last set casing
shoe.
o 2. The maximum allowable pressure must be maintained.
• This is achieved by proper manipulation of chocke pressure during killing operation when slow pump rate is
employed to kill the kicking well
• Cconstant bottom-hole pressure' kill methods
o Driller's method, the kill is split into two circulations.
q During the first, the kick fluid is circulated without changing the mud weight; once the kick is out, the
mud is weighted up and pumped around the well on the second circulation.
o Wait and Weight method achieves both of these operations simultaneously.
q Kill mud is prepared before starting the kill, and the kick fluid is circulated out while this mud is
circulated into the well.
o Concurren method, a compromise is adopted between these two methods.
q The kick fluid is circulated out while the mud being circulated in, is weighted up in stages, towards the
kill weight.
 Initial Circulating Pressure (ICP)
• ICP = system pressure loss at kill rate
• Note:
• When we start to circulate, the DP will increase due to the friction loss and the pressured drop
across the bit.
• BHP = HSPDP + Circulating DPP – DP press loss
• In order to utilize the DP gauge we have to know the DP press loss.
• The DP press loss = SPP
• Circulating DPP = BHP – HSPDP + SPP
• Since SIDPP =BHP – HSPDP
• Circ DPP = SIDPP + SPP
 Final Circulating Pressure (FCP)

• FCP = System pressure loss x (Kill MW/Old MW)

• • Note:
• • As the KMW is circulated through the bit the circ DP Press will decrease until the KMW will reach
the bit.
• At the bit the SIDPP will be zero.
• The circ DP pressure with the KMW at the bit is the FCP .
 Gas Kick Behaviour, Migration & Expansion

• In well control, the gas kick is simply to be detected once enter wellbore in water base mud as once driller shut
in the well, the SICP & SIDP start to increase slowly with the same values due to gas migration.
• Of course, it may be difficult to notice such migration in oil-base mud as the gas solubility is higher in such
medium.
 Gas Kick In Oil Base Mud
1- Due to high temperatures and pressure, a small gas kick can turn into a serious well control problem with oil-
base muds.
2- Gas Kick Behavior: Solution gas can become dissolved and miscible.
• The reason for this is that the gas remains in solution until it reaches its bubble point.
• In the same way that gas in a disposable lighter remains in its liquid phase until the pressure is relieved.
• 3- Example: In the above fig three barrels of gain have entered the wellbore at 10,000 ft
o Before gas reach 2600 ft, no pit gain while drilling .
o When the gas @ 2600 ft, The gas expands rapidly and there is a real danger of blowing out sufficient
mud to put the entire well underbalance.
• 4- The problem in OBM’s is that if a gas kick has entered the wellbore undetected it is impossible to know
where the top of the gas is (Learn more about kick warning signs, Causes Of Kicks)
• 5- Conclusion: It may be prudent to count all drilling breaks as primary indicators.
o Stop drilling
o shut off the pumps and
o close the well in.
• The gas can then be circulated through the choke in a safe manner utilizing the first circulation ofthe drillers
method.
• Some procedures advise that the gas should be circulated to 2500 ft. below the BOP Stack before the well is
shut-in ( hard shut in procedures – soft shut in procedures) and the gas circulated through the choke
manifold. It may be the case that the bubble point is lower and unless this information is known, even though
the first procedure may take a little longer, remember safety is always our main concern.
 Gas Kick In Water Base Mud System

• In WBM systems because the original volume of the gas will expand much earlier as the pressure above the
gas is reduced.
 Gas Expansion
In (Uncontrolled) – (Well Open)
• If a gas bubble is allowed to expand without control of anykind it will eventually unload the well.
• With the well unloaded, kick sizes increasing, causing more unloading.
• This cycle of influx and unloading has caused the loss of many wells.
• Boyles Law is shortened version of the equation for gas expansion e.g. P V
• P1V1=P2V2
• P1 = Hydrostatic Pressure (W/Gas bubble on bottom)
• V1 = Original Pit Gain
• P2 = Hydrostatic Pressure at secondary depth
• V2 = Gas Volume at the surface or at secondary depth
 When Gas Kick In Solution – (Oil Base Mud)

• Well Control problems can result in blowouts because of the solubility of certain gases in specific types of mud
e.g. Methane dissolves in oil-base mud, and H2 dissolves in water base mud.
• This fact makes it more difficult to detect a kick.
• A large gas influx entering the wellbore may change the pit level very little if the gas dissolves in the mud.
• The influx is then circulated up the wellbore in the mud column until the hydrostatic pressure on top of the gas
decreases to a certain point then the gas flashes or bubble point is reached and gas comes out of solution.
• Detecting the kick by observing flow-line or mud pits can be very difficult until the kick is very close to the
surface and expands rapidly.
• Moreover, gas dispersed in wellbore fluids does not migrate up the hole therefore a flow check may not show.
 Gas Kick In (Well Shut-In) Situation
• When a well is shut in on a kick that contains gas the gas will migrate up the hole even if the well is
allowed to remain static.
• In Well Control, Gas Migration happens THEN Rises THEN all pressures increases
• Gas migration can cause confusion during a well control operation because it can be overlooked.
• Gas or Gas bubbles float or migrate up the hole because they are lighter than mud.
• When gas bubbles rise, they expand or if they are not allowed to expand, they cause an increase in all
wellbore pressures and surface pressures.
• Therefore, if a well is shut-in for a long time, all pressures, wellbore surface, etc. will increase causing
lost circulation, etc., if not relieved by allowing gas to expand.
• So lowering SIDPP to original value through the choke and observing, keeping SIDPP at original value,
will prevent this problem.
• All pressures will increase during the migration of gas except pressure in an actual bubble which is
usually at formation pressure.
 Kill Sheet Calculation Steps, Formulas & Calculators
• Kill sheets are used to calculate the mud weight, mud quantities, and pumping times required to bring a well
back to primary control after a gas kick.
• The kill sheet is a printed form that contains blank spaces for recording information about killing an impending
blowout, provided to remind personnel of necessary steps to kill a well.
• Kill sheets for different units are also available on the website of the International Well Control Forum.
 Importance of The Kill Sheets
• Kill sheets record information required to kill a kick in the well including mud pump rates, volumes, pressures,
densities, and formation leak-off pressure.
• Some drills use computer programs and the collected information for the calculations.
• Kill sheets can supply the following information to the driller:
o Maximum shut-in annulus surface pressure (MAASP) for the original mud density
o Required kill mud density
o Circulating pressures
o Time required for kill mud to get to the bit
o Time required to fill the annulus.
• The MAASP information is important to assist in using chokes to keep the surface annular pressure lower than
this value.
• The driller also knows when the kill mud gets to the drill bit and starts to fill the annulus.
• As the annulus fills, because of the heavier kill mud, the MAASP reduces towards an eventual final MAASP.
 Steps Of Completing The Calculations Of Kill Sheets

• Several calculations are required for the kill sheets, described on the following slides, along with examples of
metric and imperial kill sheets.
 1. Prerecord Information
• Prior to the kick, and at all times, your prerecorded data sheet should be completely filled out except for the
measured depth and the length of drill pipe in the hole.
• Enter these items and calculate the internal drill string capacity and the system totals.
• Transfer the slow pump rate data from the prerecorded data sheet to Driller’s Method or wait and weight
method kill sheet.
 2. Information To Be Recorded in Kill Sheet When Well Kicks
• Many items of information need to be gathered when a well kicks.
• These include:
o Old Mud Weight
o Pit Volume Increase
o Initial Shut-in Drill Pipe Pressure
o True Vertical Depth Of Hole
o Initial Shut-in Casing Pressure
o Measured Depth Of Hole
 3. Determine the maximum allowable mud density
• The maximum allowable mud density (MAMD) is calculated using the test mud density = TMD and the true
vertical Casing depth = TVD Shoe.
 4. Determine the Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure (MAASP)

• This surface pressure depends on the mud weight.

• For a light mud the MAASP can be higher and for heavy
mud it will be lower.
MAASP psi = 0.052 x (MAMD (ppg) – MD (ppg) x TVD Shoe (ft)
MAASP (kPa) = 9.81 x [MAMW (SG – MD (SG)] x TVD Shoe (metres)
• The initial MAASP is calculated with MD equal to the original mud density (OMD).
• The original mud weight
is the weight of mud before the well kick occurred.
• The final MAASP is calculated with MD equal to the kill mud density (KMD).
• Note: MAASP is rounded down in the kill sheet.
 5. Find The Kill Mud Density (KMD) In The Sheet
• This calculation uses the shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP), the original mud weight (OMW), and the true
vertical depth of hole (TVD).
6. Find The Original Mud Pressure Gradient (OMG)

• OMG (psi/ft) = OMD (ppg) x 0.052

• OMG (kPa/m) = OMD (SG) x 9.81
 7. Find the kill mud pressure gradient (KMG)

Where:
•SIDPP = shut-in drill pipe pressure
•TVD = true vertical depth.
Example of a calculated kill sheet
 8. Find The Initial Circulating Pressure (ICP)
• The drill pipe circulating pressure is the sum of all friction losses plus pressures caused by density imbalances
plus any imposed surface backpressure.
• (StandPipe Pressure Calculations).
• ICP is the drill pipe pressure required to circulate initially at the selected kill rate while holding casing pressure
at the closed-in value, numerically equal to kill rate circulating pressure, plus closed-in drill pipe pressure.
ICP = KRP + SIDPP
• Where:
• KRP = the kill rate pressure or dynamic pressure loss.
• If no slow circulating rate pressure has been taken, then the initial circulating pressure can be determined using
the start-up procedures described in the circulations of Driller’s method.
• Where the casing pressure has been held constant while the pumps are brought up to a kill rate, the drill pipe
pressure reading will be the initial circulating pressure.
• The procedure consists of:
o Noting casing pressure reading.
o Adjusting pumps to new kill rate.
o Adjusting choke to hold casing pressure constant at the value noted.
o As soon as the driller has the pumps settled on the new rate, return to the drillpipe pressure gauge.
• Note this new reading as the circulating pressure for the new pump rate and maintain this.
 9. Find the final circulating pressure (FCP)
FCP = KRP x OMD/KMD
• Where:
• OMD = Original mud density
• KMD = Kill mud density.
 10. Find Well Volumes In The Kill Sheet
• Refer to Drill Pipe Capacity Calculations Formulas & Sheets for formulae and information on how to determine
the following volumes:
o Internal volume of standard drill pipe
o Internal volume of heavy drill pipe
o Internal volume of drill collars
o Total internal drill string volume (add 1, 2, and 3)
o Volume of annulus of open hole
o Volume of annulus of casing
o Total volume of annulus.
o The volume per length (metre or ft) of all drill pipe should be recorded from the manufacturer’s
specification sheets.
o The kill rate should be between 2-5 barrels per minute for most cases.
 11. Barite Required to Weight-Up
• It’s an easy matter to determine the amount of barite, which will be required once the total volume to weight-up
is known.
• Use the following formula and record its value.
 12. Determine Pumping Time to Fill Surface Lines
• This is determined by dividing the surface line volume by the pump volume per minute.
• Pump volume per minute = volume per stroke x strokes per minute (SPM).
• If two pumps are used then the volumes are added together to calculate total pump volume per minute.
13. Determine Pumping Time To Fill Drill String
14. Determine Pumping Time To Fill The Annulus
 PRERECORDED WELL DATA
KEEP THIS DATA SHEET CURRENT AT ALL TIMES
(Vertical and Deviated Wells)
Well Name G56-NC74F Field SABAH Rig PICO#17

HOLE DATA Size(actual) 12.2500 Hole MD 3,175 ft. Hole TVD 3,175 ft.
*Use
DP PUMP DATA Liners (in.) Stroke(in.) Rod(in. ) % Eff. bbl./stk For Kill?
CSG No. 1 6.5 12 97 0.1195
No. 2 6.5 12 97 0.1195 X
* X if used, empty if not
CASING (LAST SET) DATA
13.3750 by 12.5150 Shoe MD 1,991 Shoe TVD 1,991
(in. OD) (in. Avg ID) (feet) (feet)

WELLHEAD OR CASING PRESSURE LIMITATION

The lessor of: 100% BOP Rating 10,000 psi.
100% Wellhead Rating 10,000 psi. Limitation = 7528
80% Casing Burst 7,528 psi. psi.

LINER CASING DATA

by Top @ ft. Shoe @
(in. OD) (in. Avg ID) MD(feet) MD(feet) TVD(feet)

DRILL STRING DATA DRILL COLLARS

Drill Pipe 1 5.0000 in. (OD) 19.5 lb./ft. OD(in.) ID(in.)
Drill Pipe 2 in. (OD) lb./ft. 8 by 2.8100
HW Drill Pipe 5.0000 in. (OD) 50 lb./ft. 6.5 by 2.8100

INTERNAL CAPACITIES
Drill Pipe 1 2,051 ft. x 0.0178 bbl./ft. = 36.4 bbl.
Drill Pipe 2 ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.
HW Drill Pipe 459 ft. x 0.0088 bbl./ft. = 4.0 bbl.
Drill Collars 573 ft. x 0.0077 bbl./ft. = 4.4 bbl.
Drill Collars 92 ft. x 0.0077 bbl./ft. = 0.7 bbl.

Msrd Depth(bit) 3,175 ft. Total Internal = 45.6 bbl. = 382 Strokes

ANNULUS CAPACITIES (Note: Use other side for subsea)

DP1 x Csg. 1,991 ft. x 0.1279 bbl./ft. = 254.7 bbl.
DP1 x Liner ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.
DP1 x Hole 60 ft. x 0.1215 bbl./ft. = 7.3 bbl.
DP2 x Csg. ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.
DP2 x Liner ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.
DP2 x Hole ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl. length in open hole open hole volume
HW DP 459 ft. x 0.1215 bbl./ft. = 55.7 bbl. 459 55.7
DC x Hole 573 ft. x 0.0836 bbl./ft. = 47.9 bbl. 573 47.9

Kill-Sheet-SA
DC x Hole 92 ft. x 0.1048 bbl./ft. = 9.7 bbl. 92 9.7

Msrd Depth(bit) 3,175 ft. Total Annulus = 375.3 bbl. = 3,141 Strokes

System Volume (Internal + Annulus) = 420.9 bbl. = 3,523 Strokes

Volume from Bit to Shoe = 120.6 bbl. = 1,010 Strokes

Active Pit Volume 800 bbl.

MAX INITIAL SICP TO FRACTURE SHOE
[ pcf EMW - pcf MW] x 0.007 x 1,991 ft. = psi.
(Shoe Test) (Present Mud Weight) (Shoe TVD) Version 2.0 (4/15/00)

PRERECORDED WELL DATA

SUBSEA USE ONLY
(page 2)
INTERNAL CAPACITIES
(from other side)
DP
CSG
Total Internal Capacity 45.6 bbl. = 382 strokes

Choke Line

Kill Line ANNULUS CAPACITIES (replaces other side)

Choke Line ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.

RKB to ML ft.
DP1 x Csg. 1,991 ft. x 0.1279 bbl./ft. = 254.7 bbl.
DP1 x Liner ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.
DP1 x Hole 60 ft. x 0.1215 bbl./ft. = 7.3 bbl.
DP2 x Csg. ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.
annular DP2 x Liner ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl.
DP2 x Hole ft. x bbl./ft. = bbl. length in open hole open hole volume
HW DP 459 ft. x 0.1215 bbl./ft. = 55.7 bbl. 459 55.7
DC x Hole 573 ft. x 0.0836 bbl./ft. = 47.9 bbl. 573 47.9
connector DC x Hole 92 ft. x 0.1048 bbl./ft. = 9.7 bbl. 92 9.7

annular
M. Depth(bit) 3,175 ft.

blind/shear

pipe ram
Total Annulus = 375.3 bbl. = 3,141 strokes

pipe ram
System Volume = 420.9 bbl. = 3,523 strokes
pipe ram (Internal + Annulus)

connector Volume from Bit to Shoe = 120.6 bbl. = 1,010 strokes

DP MUD LINE

RISER CAPACITY
(with no pipe in the hole)

Riser ID Capacity Fact. Length Capacity

inches bbl./ft. x ft. = bbls.
inches bbl./ft. x ft. = bbls.

Total Riser = bbl. = strokes

Notes:
1. Use slow pump rate through riser for calculations on Engineers Method Worksheet
2. All barite requirements and system volume calculations exclude riser capacity.
3. If monitoring static Kill Line pressure while adjusting pump rate, ignore Choke
Line friction.

CHOKE LINE FRICTION

Psys Psys Choke Line Change in
SPM BPM (Riser) (Choke) Friction Choke Friction
 WELL DATA - DIRECTIONAL / HORIZONTAL WELL
Well No. = Data to be entered in yellow boxes only

FORMATION STRENGTH DATA : CURRENT WELL DATA :

DRILLING MUD DATA :
LEAK OFF TEST PRESSURE psi MUD WT ppg
GRADIENT psi/ft
DRILLING MUD WT AT TEST ppg
DEVIATION DATA :
CURRENT MUD WEIGHT ppg KOP1 M.D ft KOP 1

KOP1 T.V.D ft
MAX ALLOWABLE MUD WT ppg
MAX ALLOWABLE GRAD. psi EOB/KOP2 M.D ft
MAASP psi EOB/KOP2 T.V.D ft

CASING SHOE DATA: KOP 2

or
PUMPING DATA: M.DEPTH ft EOB
SHOE T.V.D ft
Pump No. 1 Output bbl/stk
Pump No. 2 Output bbl/stk
Pump No. 3 Output bbl/stk HOLE DATA :
SCR No. 1 stks psi SIZE inch
SCR No. 2 stks psi M.DEPTH ft
SCR No. 3 stks psi T.V.D ft

PRE-RECORDED LENGTH CAPACITY VOLUME PUMP

VOLUME DATA : ft bbl/ft bbls STKS Pumping Strokes Information
DP-SURFACE TO (KOP1) X = + Surface to KOP 1 Strokes =
HWDP TO ( K.O.P1) X = + Surface to EOB/KOP 2 Strokes =
DP-(KOP1)TO (EOB) X = + Surface to BHA Strokes =
HWDP-(KOP1) TO (EOB) X + Surface to DC Strokes =

HORIZNTAL WELL
DP-( EOB ) TO BHA X = + Surface to Bit Strokes =
HWDP X = + Bit to Shoe Strokes =
DRILL COLLAR 1 X = + Bit to Surface Strokes =
DRILL COLLAR 2 X = Total In & Out Strokes =
DRILL STRING CAP. FT = bbl

DC 1 X OPEN HOLE X = + Measurements - Rotary Table to BOP

DC 2 X OPEN HOLE X = + Top of Annular =
HWDP X OPEN HOLE X = + Center of Top Pipe Rams =
DP X OPEN HOLE X = Center of Blind Rams =
OPEN HOLE ANN. VOL. FT = bbl Center of Bottom Pipe Rams =

DC 1 X CASING X = + Top of Well Head =

DC 2 X CASING X = +
HWDP X CASING X = +
DP X CASING X =
CASED HOLE ANN. VOL. FT = bbl

TOTAL ANNULUS VOLUME = bbl

SURFACE VOLUME = 3 bbl

TOTAL CIRCULATING VOLUME / IN & OUT = bbl

MUD AVAILABLE IN SURFACE SYSTEM = bbl

NOTES: For Recording Times, Actions, Pressures, etc. When a Kick Takes Place
 IWCF Surface BOP KILL SHEET 1 of 2

WELLNAME: AG-69 UNITS: FT DATE: 02-Jul-22

DEPT: 8530
FORMATION STRENGTH DATA: CURRENT WELL DATA:

SURFACE LEAK-OFF PRESSURE FROM DRILLING FLUID DATA

FORMATION STRENGTH TEST (A) 600 psi DENSITY 9.2 ppg

DRILLING FLUID DENS. AT TEST (B) 8.8 ppg GRADIENT 0.4784 psi/ft

MAX. ALLOWABLE DRILLING FLUID DENSITY =

(A) psi / 0.052 / Shoe TVD + (B) ppg = (C) ppg

600 / 0.052 / 3483 + 8.8 = (C) 12.1 CASING & SHOE DATA

INITIAL MAASP = [ (C) ppg - Curr Dens ] x Shoe TVD x 0.052 SIZE 9.625 in

=[ 12.1 - 9.2 ] x 3483 x 0.052 M. DEPTH 3483 ft

T.V. DEPTH 3483 ft

Kill-Sheet-IWCF
= 528 psi

PUMP No. 1 DISPLACEMENT PUMP No. 2 DISPLACEMENT

0.119 bbl / stk 0.119 bbl / stk
HOLE DATA

SLOW PUMP DYNAMIC PRESSURE LOSS SIZE 8.5 in

RATE DATA PUMP No. 1 PUMP No. 2 M. DEPTH 8530 ft

25 SPM 550 psi 550 psi T.V. DEPTH 8530 ft

35 SPM 620 psi 620 psi

PRE-RECORDED LENGTH CAPACITY VOLUME PUMP STROKES TIME

VOLUME DATA: ft bbl/ft bbl strokes minutes
DRILL PIPE 5" 7380 x 0.01776 = 131.1 25
HWDP 5" 910 x 0.00874 = 7.956 + VOLUME PUMP STROKES

DRILL COLLAR 6.5" 240 x 0.00803 = 1.927 + PUMP DISPLACEMENT SLOW PUMP RATE

DRILL STRING VOLUME (D) 141 bbl (E) stks 1184 47

47.37882 min

DP/HWDP x OPEN HOLE 4807 x 0.0459 = 220.6 +

DC x OPEN HOLE 240 x 0.02914 = 6.994
OPEN HOLE VOLUME (F) 227.6 bbl 1913 stks 77 min

DP x CASING 3483 x 0.04892 = (G) + 170.39 1432 stks 57 min

TOTAL ANNULUS VOLUME (F+G)=(H) 398 bbl 3345 stks 134 min
TOTAL WELL SYSTEM VOLUME (D+H)=(I) 539 bbl 4529 stks 181 min

ACTIVE SURFACE VOLUME (J) 1000 bbl 8403 stks

TOTAL ACTIVE FLUID SYSTEM (I+J) bbl 12933 stks
SURFACE LINE VOLUME 7 bbl 59 stks
CALCULATIONS CAN BE MADE USING EITHER DRILLING FLUID DENSITY OR DRILLING FLUID GRADIENT.
 Please input data into green cells:
UNIT CONVERSIONS
Version 2.0, Sept 1995

Conversion To SI Units Conversion To Customary Units

Length Length
1 inch = 25.4 mm 100 mm = 3.93701 inch
1 ft = 0.3048 m 1 m = 3.28084 ft
1 mile = 1.60934 km 1 km = 0.62137 mile
Weight Weight
1 lbf = 0.45359 kg 1 kg = 2.20462 lb
1 MT = 1000 kg 1000 kg = 1 MT
Volume Volume
1 US gal = 3.78541 litre 1 litre = 0.26417 US gal
1 bbl = 158.987 litre 100 litre = 0.62898 bbl
1 ft^3 = 28.3168 litre 1 litre = 0.03531 ft^3
Velocity Velocity
100 ft/min = 0.508 m/s 1 m/s = 196.85 ft/min
100 ft/min = 30.48 m/min 1 m/min = 3.28084 ft/min

BP-KILL-SHEET
Volumetric Flow Rate Volumetric Flow Rate
100 gal/min = 6.30902 L/s 1 L/s = 15.8503 gal/min
1 bbl/min = 2.64978 L/s 1 L/s = 0.37739 bbl/min
1 MMscf/day = 327.774 L/s 100 bbl/min = 0.8085 MMscf/day
Pressure Pressure
100 psi = 6.89476 bar 1 bar = 14.5038 psi
100 psi = 689.476 kPa 100 kPa = 14.5038 psi
100 psi = 7.0307 kgf/cm^2 1 kgf/cm^2 = 14.2233 psi
Pressure Gradient Pressure Gradient
1 psi/ft = 22.6206 kPa/m 100 kPa/m = 4.42075 psi/ft
1 psi/ft = 2.30435 sg 1 sg = 0.43396 psi/ft
1 ppg = 0.052 psi/ft
Density Density
1 lbm/US gal = 119.826 kg/m^3 1000 kg/m^3 = 8.34543 lbm/US gal
2 lbm/US gal = 0.23965 g/cm^3 1 g/cm^3 = 8.34543 lbm/US gal
1 lbm/ft^3 = 0.01602 g/cm^3 1 g/cm^3 = 62.4278 lb/ft^3
10 ppg = 74.8052 lb/ft^3
Concentration Concentration
1 lbm/bbl = 2.85301 kg/m^3 1 kg/m^3 = 0.35051 lbm/bbl
1 lbm/bbl = 2.85301 g/L 1 g/L = 0.35051 lbm/bbl
Temperature Temperature
200 deg.F = 92.8333 deg.C 0 deg.C = 32.9 deg.F
Temperature Gradient Temperature Gradient
1 deg.F/ft = 1.82269 deg.C/m 1 deg.C/m = 0.54864 deg.F/ft
* Conversion factors are based on "The SI Metric System of Units and SPE Metric Standard", API, June 1984
For more infor, contact: YUEJIN LUO, BPX, Sunbury, UK, Tel: (44) 1932 76-2424, Fax: (44) 1932 76-4183
•ICP = Kill rate pressure + SIDPP = 1000 psi + 500 psi = 1500 psi at 0 strokes
•FCP = (Kill rate pressure x Kill MW) / Original MW = (1000 psi x 11 ppg) / 10 ppg = 1100 psi after 500 strokes
•Plot 1500 psi at 0 strokes and plot 1100 psi at 500 strokes. Connect the two points.
 Well-control procedures
• With the constant-bottomhole-pressure concept, the total pressures (e.g., mud hydrostatic pressure and casing pressure) at
the hole bottom are maintained at a value slightly greater than the formation pressures to prevent further influxes of
formation fluids into the wellbore.
• And, because the pressure is only slightly greater than the formation pressure, the possibility of inducing a fracture and an
underground blowout is minimized.
• This concept can be implemented in three ways:
o One-Circulation, or Wait-and-Weight, Method. After the kick is shut in, weight the mud to kill density and then pump
out the kick fluid in one circulation using the kill mud. (Another name often applied to this method is “the engineer’s
method.”)
o Two-Circulation, or Driller’s, Method. After the kick is shut in, the kick fluid is pumped out of the hole before the mud
density is increased.
o Concurrent Method. Pumping begins immediately after the kick is shut in and pressures are recorded. The mud
density is increased as rapidly as possible while pumping the kick fluid out of the well.
• If applied properly, each method achieves constant pressure at the hole bottom and will not allow additional influx into the
well.
• Procedural and theoretical differences make one procedure more desirable than the others.
Fig. 1—Static drillpipe pressure of the
one-circulation method of well control.
Fig. 2—Static drillpipe
pressure of the two-
circulation method of well
control.
Fig. 3—Static drillpipe
pressure of the
concurrent method.
 Time
• Two important considerations relative to time are required for the kill procedure: initial wait time and overall
time required.
• The first concern with time is the amount required to increase the mud density from the original weight to the
final kill-weight mud.
• Because some operators are very concerned with pipe sticking during this time, the well-control procedure that
minimizes the initial wait time is often chosen.
• These are the concurrent method and the two-circulation method.
• In both procedures, pumping begins immediately after the shut-in pressures are recorded.
• The other important time consideration is the overall time required for the complete procedure to be
implemented.
• Fig. 1 shows that the one-circulation method requires one complete fluid displacement (i.e., within the drillpipe
and the annulus), while the two-circulation method (Fig. 2) requires the annulus to be displaced twice, in
addition to the drillpipe displacement.
• In certain situations, extra time for the two-circulation method may be extensive with respect to hole stability or
preventer wear.
Static annular pressures for
one-circulation method vs.
two-circulation method in
a 10,000-ft well.
Static annular pressure for
one-circulation method vs.
two-circulation method in a
15,000-ft well.
Equivalent mud-weight
comparison for the one-
circulation vs. the two-
circulation kill procedure
(0.5-lbm/gal kick at
10,000 ft).
Equivalent mud-weight
comparison for the one-
circulation vs. the two-
circulation kill procedure (0.5-
lbm/gal kick at 15,000 ft).
 Volumetric Well Control Example Calculations
• Example demonstrates the calculations and the steps of the volumetric well control which whelp understand
about what calculations according to the volumetric procedures.
• Gas kick at the bottom but unable to circulate due to drillstring plugged off.
• The well control information is listed below;
o Pit gain = 10 bbl
o Shut in Drill Pipe Pressure = 0 psi (drillstring plugged)
o Shut in Casing Pressure = 400 psi
o Current mud weight = 11.0 ppg
o Casing shoe depth = 6,000’MD/6,000’TVD
o Hole TD = 9,000’MD/9,000’TVD
o Hole size = 12.25”
o Casing ID = 12.5”
o Drill pipe size = 5”, 19 ppf
o BHA consists of 6.5” drill collar
o Length of BHA = 800 ft
o Average pipe per stand = 94 ft
Figure 1 – Well Information
• The volumetric well control will be utilized in order to bring gas up to surface while maintaining bottom hole
pressure almost constant.
• Safety Factor and Pressure Increment are 100 psi.
• Assumption: Gas kick at the bottom
• Mud Increment
• Mud Increment (MI) is calculated by the following equation

Where;
MI = Mud Increment (MI), bbl
PI = Pressure Increment (PI), psi
ACF = annular capacity factor between casing and
drillstring, bbl/ft
MW = mud weight, ppg
ACF = (12.52 – 52) ÷ 1029.4 = 0.1275 bbl/ft
• Mud Increment (MI) = 22.3 bbl
• Volumetric Control Procedures
• We determine the Safety Factor (SF), Pressure Increment (PI) and Mud Increment (MI).
o Safety Factor (SF) = 100 psi
o Pressure Increment (PI) = 100 psi
o Mud Increment (MI) = 100 psi
• Wait for casing pressure to increase by Safety Factor (SF) + Mud Increment (MI).
• For this case, we will wait until casing pressure reaches 600 psi (400 + 200).
• At this point, the over balance is 200 psi and gas migrates up from the bottom of the well.
Figure 2 – Allow Casing To Increase by SF + PI
Figure 3 – Diagram Showing Gas Migration
and Casing Pressure Increases
 Figure 4 – Bleed of Mud Volume by MI

• 3. Hold casing pressure constant and bleed off fluid volume by Mud Increment (MI). For this case, the volume of
mud bled off is equal to 22.3 bbl.
• At this point, the over balance will be 100 psi.
Figure 5 – Diagram Showing Bleeding
off Mud Volume by Mud Increment (MI)
Holding Casing Pressure Constant
 Figure 6 – Allow Casing Pressure to Increase by Pressure Increment (PI)
• 4. Shut the well in and wait until casing pressure increases by Pressure Increment (PI).
• At this point, casing pressure will increase to 700 psi and the overbalance of the wellbore is 200 psi.
Figure 7 – Diagram Showing Gas
Migration and Casing Pressure
Increases
• 5. Repeat step#3 and step#4 until gas at surface (casing pressure stops increasing) or the well kill operation can
be performed with an alternative method.
• For example, if the pumps fails and the volumetric well control method is selected because you don’t want the
bottom hole pressure increase too much.
• When the pumps are back in a service, other well control methods as driller’s method or wait & weight can be
performed.
• As per this example, we will perform the volumetric well control until gas at surface.
Figure 8 – Table Demonstrates Steps of Volumetric Well Control
• Referring to Figure 8, you can see that casing pressure is allowed to increase and the mud is bled off to
compensate increase in bottom hole pressure.
• Figure 9 is a summary chart showing casing pressure and over balance during the volumetric operation.
• The overbalance of the well bore is maintained between 100 psi to 200 psi.
• In some situations when there is a chance to break formation at a casing shoe, you might consider selecting
the lower figure of safety factor as 50 psi.
Figure 9 – Pressure Summary
THANK YOU