Table Of ContentUNIVERSAL WELL CONTROL
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UNIVERSAL WELL CONTROL
GERALD RAABE
SCOTT JORTNER
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TypesetbySTRAIVE,India
We dedicate this book to oil and gas professionals everywhere who have
dedicatedtheirlivestoproducingtheenergywhichaffordstheworldthehigheststandard
oflivinginthehistoryofmankind;andtorigcrewsandsupportpersonnelwhoseessen-
tial careers and diligent efforts are such an integral part of the success of our industry.
Finally, we dedicate this book to our wives, Peggy and Sheila, and our families.
Your unending love and support illuminated a clear path paved with creative energy.
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Contents
Authorsbiography xiii
Foreword xv
Quicktips:Whattodonow? xvii
1. Well control discussionand theories 1
Introduction 1
Commentaryandsuggestions 1
Localandgovernmentalrequirements 7
Teamandindividualresponsibilities 7
Blowoutpreventionequipment(BOPorBOPE) 7
Wellcontrolresponses 8
Prerecordeddatasheet 8
Slowpumpratedata 9
Postinginformation 9
Riskmanagementandriskassessments 9
Bridgingdocument 10
Barriers 10
Criticalwellcontrolskills 12
Managementofchange 13
Emergencyresponseplan(ERP) 13
Incidentcommandsystem(ICS) 13
Standardizedunitsofmeasure 15
Densityandweightrelationship 15
Hydrostaticpressure 16
Surfacepressure 17
Bottom-holepressure 17
Chokepressure 17
Capacity(volume) 17
Maximumfeetornumberofstandspulledpriortofillingthehole 20
Chargedformations(abnormalpressure) 25
MASP—Maximumallowablesurfacepressureatstaticconditions 26
Ballooningtheory 30
Kicktolerance 32
Simplifiedwelldiagramming(U-tube) 33
Simplifiedwellcontrolequations 34
Equivalentmudweight 36
Slowcirculatingrate 36
vii
viii Contents
Gasexpansion 36
Kickdetection 38
Wellconstructionprocess 41
Multiplewellpads 42
Classificationsofblowouts 52
Causesofkicks 53
Abnormalformationpressure 57
Drillingfluids 62
Water-baseddrillingfluids 64
Oil-baseddrillingfluids 66
Synthetic-baseddrillingfluids 66
Air/aeratedfluid/foamdrillingfluids 67
Lostcirculationmaterials 67
Diverting 68
Divertersystem 70
Shallowgas 75
2. Routine well controlmethods 79
Warningsigns 79
Shut-inproceduresandcrewresponsibilities 80
Prerecordedinformationsheet 91
Fluidsmanagementduringwellcontrol 101
Off-bottomwellcontrol 102
Trippingwellcontrolmethod 105
Wellcontrolforhorizontalandhighlydeviatedwells 110
Wellkillmethodsforhorizontalwells 116
Wellkillmethodsforhighlydeviatedwells 118
Summaryofequationsforhorizontalanddeviatedwells 119
Driller’smethod 124
Driller’smethodactionplan 133
Waitandweightmethod 140
Waitandweightmethodactionplan 146
ComparisonofDriller’smethodandwaitandweightmethod 154
Casingpressures 155
Bullheadingmethod 155
Stepactivity 160
3. Nonroutine well control methods 167
Lubricateandbleedmethodwellcontrol 167
Generalchecklistforlubricateandbleedmethod 170
LubeandbleedmethodforNOlossesdownhole(variablemudvolume) 175
Contents ix
LubricateandbleedforNOlossesdownhole(variablemudvolume)example 177
LubricateandbleedforNOlossesdownhole(setmudvolume)example 183
LubricateandbleedmethodWITHlossesdownhole(pressure) 187
Lubricateandbleedactionplan 195
Checklistforlubricateandbleed 195
Volumetricwellcontrolmethod(passive) 202
Volumetriccontrolmethodexample 207
Strippingwellcontrolmethod 213
Strippingrecap 234
Detailedstrippingprocedure 235
Example1:Strippingwithbleedexample(oil-basedmud) 239
Example2:Strippingwithbleedexample(water-basedmud) 248
Strippingdrill(beforedrillingoutcasing) 257
Reversecirculatingwellcontrolmethod 261
4. Well control using specialized equipment 267
Commentary 267
Wirelineoperationswellcontrolmethods 267
Wirelineoperationscommentary 268
Wirelinewellcontroloperations 268
Wirelineequipment 272
Wirelinepressurecontrolequipment 276
Coiledtubingwellcontrolmethod 290
Introductiontocoiledtubing 291
Coiledtubingwellcontrolmethods 292
Coiledtubingspecializedequipment 297
Snubbingwellcontrolmethod 321
Snubbingwellcontroloperations 321
Remedialoperations 323
Snubbingoperations 323
Snubbingunitequipment 324
Managedpressuredrilling(MPD)wellcontrolmethod 340
Variationsofmanagedpressuredrilling 342
MPDIADCclassificationcodes 345
PlanningMPD 347
Connections 350
MPDwellcontrolmethods 353
Dynamickill 353
Driller’smethod 356
Wellcontrolmatrix 357
Managedpressuredrillingequipment 361
