Reverse Out Circulation Exercises

IWCF WELL INTERVENTION

COMPLETION OPERATION
 Reverse Circulation
Killing the well by reverse circulation is accomplished by displacing the tubing
and annulus fluids by pumping a kill fluid down the ‘A’ annulus and returning
fluids through a choke on the tubing side.

Advantages

• It utilizes natural U tubing effect resulting in lower circulating

pressures,
• Lesser chances of mixing of gas and oil, that are lighter and
remain above the completion and fluid during reverse circulation.
• More predictable as every thing comes out in order. Hence
strokes for different points of circulation can be calculated
• Little risk of accidentally fracturing formation like in bull heading.
• Little or no damage to formation by contaminants from tubing or
annulus.

It is therefore the most preferred method. If not mentioned, it must

be presumed that killing method is reverse circulation.

Disadvantages
Slower than bull heading
 Reverse Circulation
• Connect the pump to the side outlet of
tubing head spool and choke manifold to the
production side outlet of Xmas tree.
• Method requires a circulation path to be
STAGE -1 opened by operating a circulation device, SSD or
INITIAL CONDITIONS
SPM, or punching hole using explosive tubing
OUT
perforators or punch.
IN
• This depth is used for all volume calculations
• Higher pressure on the ‘A’ annulus differential
pressure may blow up wire line tool string
Circulating device • Lower pressure on the ‘A’ annulus may make
(closed)
.
shifting of the SSD or pulling gas lift dummy
valve difficult.
PACKER
KILL
• It is important to install a wire line set plug
below the packer like the packer tail pipe to
isolate formation from completion and kill fluid
In case a plug is not installed, maintain 200
psi over- balanced pressure from surface
through choke as per IWCF requirement .
 Reverse Circulation
STAGE - 2
GAS IS OUT, OIL AT SURFACE
• Pump is started slowly to approx 2 BPM keeping
OUT
tubing pressure constant (or increasing by 200 psi,
IN
if mentioned) with the help of choke .

• As the kill fluid is pumped down the annulus,

tubing pressure is reduced in accordance with
Circulating device
(open) Reverse Circulation graph to keep BHP constant .

• STAGE 2 - Total gas has been pumped out.

STAGE - 3
OIL IS OUT, COMPLETION FLUID AT SURFACE
• Tubing pressure becomes zero when
OUT
completion fluid reaches surface.
IN

• Casing pressure value may or may not be

zero depending on the weight of kill fluid
Circulating device compared to the weight of completion fluid*.
(open)
(lower weight is required due to pressure
GAS
OIL regression).
PACKER

KILL

• STAGE 3 - Completion fluid reached surface.

 Reverse Circulation
STAGE - 4
ANNULUS FULL OF KILL FLUID

OUT Choke remains wide open as tubing pressure

IN continues to be 0 psi while kill fluid is
pumped down the annulus.
Circulating device
(open) STAGE 4 - Annulus is full of kill fluid.
GAS
OIL
PACKER

KILL

STAGE - 5
KILL FLUID AT SURFACE

OUT

IN
STAGE 5 - Kill fluid has reached the surface.

Circulating device
When kill fluid reaches surface well is
(open) completely killed.
GAS

OIL
PACKER

KILL
 Reverse Circulation Exercise 1
Find SITHP and SICP at different stages of reverse circulation. graphs. Draw Tubing and Casing
pressure

Tubing Capacity = 0.01458 bbl/ft Annulus Capacity = 0.0252 bbl/ft

Gas = 2,000 ft, 0.04 psi/ft Oil = 4,000 ft, 0.38 psi/ft
SSD = 6,000 ft TVD Pump output = 0.0157 bbl/stroke
Packer fluid = 0.6 psi/ft Kill fluid = 0.5 psi/ft

Gas 2000 ft, Kill fluid

0.04 psi/ft 0.5 psi/ft

Oil 4000 ft,

0.38 psi/ft
SSD Packer fluid
6000 ft 0.6 psi/ft

STAGE-1 STAGE-2 STAGE-3 STAGE-4

INITIAL STAGE GAS OUT OIL OUT ANN FULL OF KILL FLUID

OUT
IN Assuming Formation is initially balanced by Brine
Pressure = BHP = 6,000 ft x 0.6 psi/ft = 3,600 psi
Initial Tbg Pressure = Formation Pressure – Tbg hydrostatic press.

GAS
= 6,000 ft x 0.6 psi/ft – (2000 ft x 0.04 psi/ft + 4,000 ft x 0.38 psi/ft)=
OIL = 3600 psi – (80 psi + 1520 psi) = 2,000 psi
PACKER

KILL

STAGE-1 Initial Casing Pressure = 0 psi

INITIAL STAGE
 Reverse Circulation Exercise 1 contd.
OUT •Tubing Pressure when gas is out = Formation P – Tubing Hyd. P =
IN 6,000ft x 0.6 psi/ft – (4,000 ft x 0.38 psi/ft + 2,000 ft x 0.6 psi/ft) = 880 psi

• Kill fluid Vol Pumped in = gas vol. out = 2,000 ft x.01458 bbls/ft = 29.16 Bbls
•Kill fluid height = Kill fluid vol / Ann vol = 29.16 bbls /0.0252 bbls/ft= 1,157 ft

GAS •Completion fluid height t = 6,000 ft – 1157 ft = 4,843 ft

OIL

PACKER
•Casing Pressure when gas is out = Formation P – Casing Hydr. Press =
KILL
STAGE-2
= 3,600 psi – (1,157 ft x 0.5 psi/ft+ 4,843 ft x 0 .6 psi/ft) = 115.7 psi
GAS OUT

•Tubing P when brine at surface= Formation P – Tubing Hyd. P =

OUT
6,000 ft x 0.6 psi/ft – 6,000 ft x 0.6 psi/ft = 0 psi
IN
•Kill fluid Vol Pumped in = Tubing vol= 6,000 ft x 0.01458 bbls/ft
= 87.48 Bbls
•Kill fluid height = Kill fluid vol / Ann vol =
GAS
= 87.48 bbls/0 .0252 bbls/ft = 3,471 ft
OIL

PACKER •Completion fluid height = 6,000 ft – 3471 ft = 2,529 ft

KILL

STAGE-3
OIL OUT
•Casing P when brine at surface = Formation P – Casing
Hyd. P = 3600 psi – (3471 ft x 0.5 psi/ft + 2529 ft x 0.6 psi/ft) =
347 psi
Reverse Circulation Exercise 1 contd.
•Tubing P when kill fluid enters tubing
Formation P – Tubing Hyd. P = 6,000 ft x 0.6 psi/ft – 6,000 ft
x 0.6 psi/ft = 0 psi
•Kill Fluid Vol Pumped in = Annulus Vol = 6,000 ft x 0.0252
bbls/ft = 151.2 Bbls
•Casing P when kill fluid enters tubing = Formation P –
Casing Hyd. P = 3,600 psi – 6,000 ft x 0.5 psi/ft = 600 psi
 Reverse Circulation Exercise 1 contd.
Using reverse circulation well kill exercise, complete attached step down chart for
every 6 bbls pumped during the phase when the gas is going out (A-B).

Step-down chart - when gas is going out

Tubing Pressure (Initially) = 2000 psi

Tubing Pressure (After gas is out) = 880 psi
Pressure Drop (while gas goes out) = 2,000 psi - 880 psi = 1.120 psi
Volume Pumped (while gas goes out) = 2,000 ft x 0.01458 bbls/ft= 29.16 bbls
Tubing Pressure Drop in 29.16 Bbls = 1,120 psi
Tubing Pressure Drop per 6 Bbls = 1,120 psi x 6 bbls / 29.16 bbls = 230 psi / Bbls
 Reverse Circulation Exercise 2
The well in the schematic is vertical and has constant IDs and ODs. Friction pressure losses and
any fluid losses into the formation are ignored. An overbalance of 200 psi is held over formation
pressure at all times during the well kill. Using the following data and reverse circulation kill graph
answer the questions below.
 Reverse Circulation Exercise 2 contd.

a) How much kill fluid must be pumped into the annulus to circulate all the gas out of
the well?
Answer: Gas volume = 4,000 ft x 0.0083 bbls/ft = 33.2 bbls ( at point B)
b) What is the bottom hole pressure at the annulus side of the SSD before the start of
the kill operation?
Answer: Hydrostatic pressure of brine = 7,500 ft x 0.49 psi/ft x 7,450 ft = 3,650.5 psi
c) If the THP was kept at 100 psi instead of 200 psi from points C to E, which of the
following is true?

The well is still overbalanced, but the overbalance is smaller than before
The well is now in balance
The well is now underbalanced
The well is still overbalanced, but the overbalance is greater than before
 Reverse Circulation Exercise 2 contd.

d) After pumping 62 bbls, the THP stabilizes at 200 psi (point C) This pressure remains
constant until point E. What is the reason for this?

The fluid level in the tubing has fallen

The choke size remains unchanged while the oil is exiting the well
The tubing stays filled with brine and there is no change in the tubing
hydrostatic pressure
The gas is exiting the well and has stopped expanding further
e) What is the annulus volume between the surface and the sliding side door, SSD?
Answer: Annulus volume = 7.450 ft x 0.0252 bbl/ft = 187.7 bbls ( Volume at point E)

f) Find the pressure at the annulus side of the SSD at point B during killing operations
Answer: BHP before start of well killing + overbalance = 3,650.5 psi + 200 psi =
3,850.5 psi - The BHP is kept constant during the well kill operation.
 Reverse Circulation Exercise 3
The figures below show a reverse circulation kill graph, that has been generated for a
constant ID/OD tubing containing gas and oil and a heavy completion fluid in the
annulus. The kill fluid has a lighter density than the completion fluid in the annulus.
2367 (A)
Tubing pressure Casing pressure

800 psi
P Oil is out
R (E)
E
S 571 psi (D)
S Annulus full of
U Kill fluid
R
E
(psi)

(B) (C) (F)

0 284 389 500 700 1200
VOLUME PUMPED (bbls)

Completion fluid is heavier than kill fluid

GAS
OIL
PACKER
KILL

INITIAL GAS GOING OUT OIL OUT KILL ENTERS TBG KILL AT SURFACE
(A) (B) (D) (E) (F)

2367 (A) Casing pressure Casing Pressure is

maximum as annulus is
Tubing pressure
lightest at this point
P Oil is out 800 psi
R (E)
E
571 psi
S (D)
S Annulus full of Kill fluid
U
R
E
(B) (C) (F)
0 284 389 500 700 1200
VOLUME PUMPED (bbls)
Reverse Circulation Exercise 3 contd.
a) What is the annulus volume at E? Answer: Volume at E (when annulus is filled with kill
fluid = 700 bbls
b) What is the annulus pressure after pumping 700 bbls of kill fluid ? Answer: 800 psi at
point E
c) At what point does the hydrostatic pressure of fluid in the tubing equal formation pore
pressure?
A B C
D E F
Answer: At point B when tubing pressure is 0 psi

d) At what point is the annulus filled with kill brine and the tubing with completion brine?

A B C
D E F
Answer: At E, when casing pressure is at maximum