Pressure Control

Kill Procedures

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

The Drillers Method of controlling a kick requires two circulations. The intruding formation fluid (gas, oil or salt water) is circulated out of the hole during the first circulation while holding a constant pressure against the formation to prevent further intrusion.

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

Holding a constant pressure against the formation while circulating out the intruding formation fluid is achieved by maintaining a constant drill pipe pressure while circulating at a constant, predetermined rate through an adjustable choke.

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

This constant drill pipe pressure is controlled by pumping at a constant rate while varying the size of the opening in the choke.
The drill pipe pressure is the sum of the shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP) and the circulating pressure previously measured at a slow circulating rate.

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

The well is shut in again after circulating the intruding fluid out of the hole.
While the well is shut in, the weight of the surface mud is increased to the kill weight.

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

After the weight of the surface mud has been increased to the kill weight, the kill weight mud is circulated throughout the well while holding a constant pressure on the formation. This constant pressure on the formation is controlled as follows:

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

This constant pressure on the formation is maintained while pumping the kill weight mud down the drill string by maintaining the same constant circulating rate while using the adjustable choke to maintain a constant casing pressure.

This pressure should be the sum of the shut-in casing pressure (SICP)+ 100 psi
(the 100psi is a safety margin and is optional)

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

After the kill mud reaches the bit, the constant pressure on the formation is maintained by maintaining a constant drill pipe pressure.
This constant drill pipe pressure is maintained by adjusting the choke while maintaining a constant flow rate while.

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

The constant drill pipe pressure at this point is the new circulating pressure. The new slow circulating rate pressure is the slow circulating rate pressure increased due to the higher pressure losses resulting from the higher density of the kill weight mud.

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

The new slow circulating rate pressure is calculated as follows:

Mud Wt K PN PO Mud WtO

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

New Slow Circulating Rate Pressure (continued) Where: PN = New Slow Circulating Rate Press. PO = Original Slow Circ. Rate Press. Mud WtK = Kill Mud Weight Mud WtO = Original Mud Weight

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

After the mud in the hole is displaced by the kill weight mud, the hydrostatic pressure (PHYD) should balance the formation pressure (PFORM) and the well should be dead.

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

Advantages of the Drillers Method are: The procedure is very simple to use. After the intruding fluid has been displaced on the first circulation, the well can be shut in for an indefinite period of time if necessary

Well Kill Procedures Drillers Method

The only disadvantage of using the Drillers Method is that the pressure at the casing seat is usually higher than when using other procedures.

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

The Wait & Weight method of controlling a kick requires only one circulation.
In this procedure, the well remains shut in until the weight of the mud in the surface pits is increased to the kill weight.

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

After the surface mud is increased to the kill mud weight, the mud in the hole and the intruding formation fluid is displaced by the kill weight mud in only one circulation while maintaining a constant pressure on the formation.

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

The constant pressure on the formation is maintained by circulating at a constant slow circulating rate while maintaining the proper drill pipe pressure by adjusting the choke.

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

The initial circulating pressure is the sum of the slow circulating rate pressure and the shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP). As the kill weight mud is pumped down the drill pipe, the hydrostatic pressure (PHYD) in the drill string increases. To maintain a constant pressure on the formation, the drill pipe pressure must be reduced by adjusting the choke.

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

The proper drill pipe pressure versus time and/or pump strokes must be determined by calculations and strictly adhered to.
Failure to do so would result in letting more fluid into the well (not enough pressure) or fracturing the formation (too much pressure).

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

Specific instructions for kill procedures and necessary calculations are provided on the pressure control work sheets.
Other pressure control definitions and calculations are covered in PRESSIndicators.ppt

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

Advantages of using the Wait & Weight method are: Only one circulation is required to kill the well. The pressure at the casing seat is usually lower when using this method.

Well Kill Procedures Wait & Weight Method

Disadvantages when using the Wait & Weight method are: The method is more complicated to use than the Drillers Method An extended time to increase the density of the mud in the surface pits will result in migration of the intruding formation fluid up the hole.

Well Kill Procedures Mixing Requirements

As the kill weight mud is pumped into the hole, the lighter mud returns into the surface pits.
Therefore, the mud density in the pits will be reduced unless maintained with additions of weight material.