Well Control in Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) Well by Using WELLPLAN Software

• Main Author: Zainor Ashfa B. Abdul Nazir, Zainor
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Petronas 2012
• Subjects: TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/3410/1/Dissertation_Report_Zainor_Ashfa_-_12463.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/3410/

The oil and gas industry has developed rapidly by introduced new various technologies. Directional, horizontal, Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) and multilateral wells has been used in the industry for economical and technical reasons. Even though technologies are well developed in the last decade, but these wells still have high levels of risk in drilling and completion. Well control is one of the important issues because improper well control will lead to a blowout which is the most feared operational hazards and expensive cost. The key elements for the success and further development of ERD projects are the ability to continue developing new technology while at the same time adopting a technical limit approach to performance delivery. For this study, the project focused on well control in ERD well by using Halliburton‟s software, WELLPLAN. WELLPAN is very useful software which is provides various functionalities such as torque drag analysis, analyze hydraulics, analyze surge/swab pressures and ECD‟s, investigate well control and etc. This project is focused on investigate well control using the Well Control Analysis Module. The Well Control module can be used to determined predicted kick type, estimate influx volume and kick tolerance, evaluate pressure and generate kill sheet. Besides, the theoretical calculations also were performed to compare the results with WELLPLAN. Two equations are identical to find the suitable kill rate. Based on this study with literature review, well control procedures for extended-reach wells are as follows:  Once a kick is detected and confirmed, perform a “hard” shut-in of the well.  When the pressure is stabilized, record SIDPP, SICP and pit gain and start circulate immediately using the Driller‟s Method.  In order to remove the gas from the horizontal section, the kill rate should be 1/3 to ½ of the rate in drilling circulation flowrate.