Wait & Weight Method

Resulting Pressure Profiles

260

Pressure at Key Wellbore Locations

Weight & Wait Method
495

2500

Fracture Pressure = 2500 psi

Maximum Pressure
at shoe = 2058 psi

2000

13-3/8 csg
Shoe @ 3000
PIT = 16 ppg
MW = 9.5 ppg
New MW = 10 ppg
Bit Diam = 12.25
Pit Gain = 50 bbls
TVD = 10,000
BHP = 5200 psi

1500
Pressure
(psig)
1000

Casing Annulus Pressure

Drill Pipe (Standpipe) Pressure
Casing Shoe Pressure

500
0
0

500

1000

1500

Barrels Pumped

1 Circulating Well Control Methods

Surface Casing Pressure profile while circulating out

a LIQUID kick

Top of kick @ BOP

Casing Pressure

Kick above collars

Figure 5.1

Kill mud starts

into annulus

Kick removed

Strokes or Time
2 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method of Well Control

SIDPP
SICP

Simple and relatively fast to implement

The influx must be pumped out of the well
through the choke...while keeping the bottom
hole pressure constant and equal to (or
slightly greater than) formation pressure
BHP = SIDPP + mud hydrostatic in drill string

3 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method - Details

Use present mud to circulate kick

Keeps BHP constant at all times

During first circulation use the choke to:

keep casing pressure constant while pumps brought on-line

keep drill pipe pressure constant after reaching slow pump rate
allow gas to expand as needed to keep BHP constant

Use second circulation to introduce kill mud

- keep casing pressure constant while pumps brought on-line
- follow the kill sheet schedule from ICP to FCP

4 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method First Circulation

Drillpipe

Casing

300
psi

400
psi

Gas at Surface
Old mud

Old mud

700
psi

1200
psi

Old mud

Kick

Gas Out

1200
psi

Old mud

C
5 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method - Second Circulation

Drillpipe

Casing

1200
psi

300
psi

Kill mud

Kill Mud at Bit

Old mud

1000
psi

Kill mud

Kill Mud at Surface

D
Kill mud

F
6 Circulating Well Control Methods

Drillers Method - Resulting

Pressure Profiles
260

Pressure at Key Wellbore Locations

Driller's Method
495

2500

Fracture Pressure = 2500 psi

Maximum Pressure
at shoe = 2150 psi

2000

13-3/8 csg
Shoe @ 3000
PIT = 16 ppg
MW = 9.5 ppg
Bit Diam = 12.25
Pit Gain = 50 bbls
TVD = 10,000
BHP = 5200 psi

Casing Annulus Pressure

1500
Pressure
(psig)
1000

Drill Pipe (Standpipe) Pressure

Casing Shoe Pressure

500
0
0

500

1000

1500

Barrels Pumped

7 Circulating Well Control Methods

Casing Shoe Pressures While

Circulating Out a Gas Kick
1000 psi

5000 psi

3000 psi

2000 psi

5000 psi
?

4000 psi

2000 psi

6000

7000

3000 psi

5000

5000 psi

Constant BHP = 10,000 psi being maintained in all three cases

8 Circulating Well Control Methods

Wait and Weight vs Drillers

Well geometry must allow kill weight mud to be introduced into
the annulus before the top of the bubble reaches the casing
shoe (or weakest point).

Annular capacity in open hole > Drillstring volume.

If casing shoe is close to point where kick was taken there is no

advantage (comparing shoe pressures) to using the Wait &
Weight over the Drillers Method.
The W & W will normally give lower annular (casing)
pressures. Exceptions may be in slimhole drilling.

9 Circulating Well Control Methods

Summary Review

Priority is: people, environment, rig and well

Philosophy:

catch kicks early, empower driller, experience on the choke

kicks should be circulated from the wellbore

Keep bottom-hole pressure constant

constant, slow pump rate

control bottom hole pressure with the choke
use drill pipe as the link to measure bottom hole pressure

Use Drillers Method (original mud) when in doubt

Strip back to bottom if the well kicks while tripping

10 Circulating Well Control Methods