Section 4 (Shallow Gas)

Advanced Well Control
Shallow Gas
ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 1

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Shallow Gas can be defined as a gas accumulation

penetrated at any depth before a string of casing has
been set to provide pressure containment. If the only
casing set is conductor pipe, then any gas influx cannot
generally be shut in for fear of the wellbore pressure
involved fracturing the formation around the conductor
pipe and causing an underground blowout or gas flow
around the conductor to surface.

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Shallow Gas
For this reason Shallow Gas accumulations present a
major hazard to onshore and offshore drilling
operations and, at the well planning stage, particular
effort needs to be directed towards identifying and
evaluating the risk of encountering Shallow Gas.
According to a study of 172 blowouts worldwide,
Shallow Gas kicks provided the most serious single
cause. 33% of all the blowouts occurred because of
encountering Shallow Gas and of these, 54% resulted
in severe damage to, or total loss of, the drilling rig.
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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
The data available on 27 Shallow Gas blowouts in the

Gulf of Mexico shows that 30% of them occurred
while drilling, 22% while cementing casing, and
48% while tripping, due to swabbing. 18 of the 27
blowouts occurred with the Diverter installed and in 7
of these cases; it was possible to divert the gas flow
successfully in the remaining 11 cases, the Diverter
system failed.

04
Shallow Gas
It can be seen, therefore, that

along with thorough well
planning, good drilling and
particularly good tripping
practices are essential for the
safe drilling of surface hole
whenever Shallow Gas could
be present.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Geology of Shallow Gas
Shallow Gas accumulations are often found in sand lenses

that are assumed to have been deposited in a shallow
marine shelf environment by tidal action. Under these
circumstances, the sands tend to be in the form of waves
and ridges resulting in a patchy and discontinuous
distribution. The sand lenses thus formed can also be
sealed by surrounding clay sediments.

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Shallow Gas
These characteristics can be very significant in that the

resulting individual Shallow Gas pockets can be very
small and have a very inconsistent distribution. In an
area of potential Shallow Gas accumulations it should
not be assumed, that because several wells have been
drilled which do not penetrate any Shallow Gas
bearing sands, then all subsequent wells will also be
problem free in this respect.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Seabed or subsurface lenses tend to be highly porous,

permeable, and unconsolidated. They can be very
prolific and can produce large flow rates in shallow
large-grained sand deposits. In these instances
substantial volumes of sand and rock debris are
produced which could cause catastrophic failure of
the Diverter system.

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Shallow Gas
Collisions between the debris

itself and the steel walls of the
casing or Diverter lines can be
an almost certain cause of
ignition when a Shallow Gas
blowout is followed by fire.

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Shallow Gas

The unconsolidated nature of many Shallow Gas
bearing formations is also a potential saviour of
Shallow Gas blowouts when the high rate of
depletion causes the borehole to collapse and bridge
off the flow. In other instances, the small volumes of
Shallow Gas in place mean that the depletion of the
reservoir can be quite rapid.

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Shallow Gas
Reservoir Structures that produce a long tilted sand lens

can also be the result of abnormal pressure. The
formation pressure at the gas/water interface in the
linticular reservoir is normal hydrostatic initially. This
can however be transmitted through the gas zone and
together with subsequent geological movement of the
lens can give rise to a abnormally high gradient at the
top of the structure.

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Shallow Gas

04
Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Shallow Gas Hazards

When considering the hazard of Shallow Gas the easiest way to
deal with it is to avoid it. It should not be part of the planning
process to decide what to do when Shallow Gas is
encountered, only if it is encountered. The policy should be to
conduct operations with the intention of preventing Shallow
Gas kicks rather than with the intention of handling them. In
some circumstances, it is not possible to drill through Shallow
Gas accumulations safely so every effort should be made to
identify and avoid such situations.

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Shallow Gas
Shallow Gas Hazards

Experience of Shallow Gas kicks shows that there is an
initial transient stage during which the wellbore and
conductor or riser unload and that this is followed by
the steady state condition of the well blowing gas.
The transient stage may only last for a very short time
but it is the most dangerous period

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Shallow Gas
Shallow Gas Hazards

The sequence of events is the same for a Platform or Jack-up rigs
with fixed conductor as it is for a floating rig drilling surface
hole with a riser installed. Gas starts to enter the wellbore at a
rate dependent on the permeability of the exposed sand and the
differential pressure between mud hydrostatic and formation
pore pressure. Initially this differential pressure is small but it
will increase steadily as the gas moves up the wellbore and
unloads the mud ahead of it.

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Shallow Gas
Shallow Gas kicks result from one of the following:

1: Drilling into an overpressured Shallow Gas reservoir.
2: Swabbing gas into the wellbore.
3: Improper hole fill leading to loss of hydrostatic.
4: Loss of hydrostatic following formation breakdown.
5: Loss of hydrostatic when gas enters the wellbore and expands.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Swabbing gas into the wellbore and improper hole fill are a result of
poor tripping practices. They are caused by human error and are
avoidable. Human error can also cause formation breakdown if the
annulus is allowed to load up with cuttings due to too high a rate of
penetration and/or poor hole cleaning.
It is good practice to run a float in the drill string when drilling

surface hole to prevent back flow up the drill pipe.

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Shallow Gas
Too high a rate of penetration can

also cause too many cuttings gas
to enter the wellbore. As this
moves up the annulus and
expands, it reduces the
hydrostatic, allowing more gas to
enter the wellbore. The result is
a very rapidly accelerating influx
into the well.

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Shallow Gas
The important point about Shallow Gas is that while each of
these effects might only be small in numerical terms, they can
quite easily combine to overwhelm the small safety margin
that is all that is usually available when drilling surface hole.
With the human factor so vital an ingredient in causing most of
these effects, it is essential that drilling personnel are
thoroughly aware of the importance of following good
drilling practices.
Re-inforcing this requirement should be considered part of the
well planning process whenever the risk of encountering
Shallow Gas cannot be discounted.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Wells Drilled from a Platform
When planning wells that are to be drilled from a platform, there

are several special factors to be taken into account especially
concerning Shallow Gas.
A Shallow Gas kick can result in the total loss of the platform
that is generally more at risk than a floating rig in the same
situation.

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Shallow Gas
As mentioned earlier it is possible for gas to migrate behind the

casing of producing wells from lower zones and charge shallower
permeable sands. In such a case the shallower sand, which would
have been penetrated without problems on the earlier wells, can
become abnormally pressured.

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Shallow Gas
When it is planned to drill further wells from a platform where

production has been on going for a period, a review should be
made of existing wells to determine the quality of cement jobs
and any history of gas production in the annuli.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Similarly, due to the much-localised nature of offshore Shallow

Gas accumulations and the large area covered by long reach
wells, it is quite possible that one well could penetrate such a
pocket even though all previous wells had been problem free in
that respect.

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Shallow Gas
In large offshore multi-platform fields, where drilling has been

continuous for a number of years, this problem might be
overcome by reviewing existing shallow seismic data using more
up-to-date analytical techniques. If the original seismic data-
gathering tools have been superseded by ones that are more
accurate then a new survey of the area through which new wells
are to be drilled might be advisable.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
A particular danger exists therefore when large offshore fields have

experienced years of continuous drilling and no Shallow Gas has been
encountered. Under these circumstances there is a tendency to
assume that no Shallow Gas is present and that time and money can
be saved when drilling future wells by modifying the casing or
drilling program to such an extent that protection against a Shallow
Gas blowout is minimal.
Such assumptions should be avoided for the reasons stated above.

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Shallow Gas
One particular problem with a platform is that their design often

results in very high flow line elevations above the seabed
compared with Jack-up or floating rigs. Obtaining returns in this
situation can sometimes be difficult and in some instances a port
has been placed in the conductor near the seabed to try to ensure
that breakdown pressures do not occur at the conductor shoe.

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Shallow Gas
This provides the advantage that the hole is always full to sea
level but returns cannot be monitored and there is no certainty
that if gas were to enter the conductor, it would not continue to
rise rather than to escape via the seabed port.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas

On a platform it will be almost always the case that any gas
influx will reach the surface where it will be necessary to divert it
to keep the rig and production equipment clear of gas. The design
and operation of Diverters is therefore a vital aspect of preparing
well programs and procedures for platform drilling. One option to
consider at the well planning stage is the drilling of a pilot hole
beneath the conductor pipe.
Pilot holes provide several advantages:

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Shallow Gas
1: Small annular clearances producing a high ECD and dynamic

kill effect.
2: Lower volume of drilled gas giving rise to a smaller reduction

in bottom hole pressure due to gas cut mud.
3: Lower volume of cuttings in the annulus and hence a lower

effective mud weight.

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Shallow Gas
4: A pilot hole can be logged to identify Shallow Gas sands

before being opened up to run surface casing.
5: A smaller diameter hole is more likely to bridge off if the well

is out of control and being diverted.
6: A smaller diameter hole will produce a lower flow rate of gas

and sand.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Disadvantages of drilling a pilot hole are:
1: The additional cost
2: The possibility that the increased ECD could in some cases be
sufficient to induce losses.
3: Smaller annular clearance can also produce the risk of the hole
suddenly packing off and the formation consequently breaking
down.
4: A given volume of influx is going to occupy more height in a
smaller hole than in a larger one.
Ideally, a pilot hole should be drilled in one bit run.

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Shallow Gas
One other factor to be considered in the planning stage is the

cementing of the surface casing. The full column of cement
inside the conductor pipe can give rise to excessive hydrostatic
pressure at the conductor shoe. To reduce this effect the cement
returns should be taken to as low a level inside the conductor as
possible.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Wells Drilled from a Jack-up
Many of the well planning considerations that apply to platforms

also apply to Jack-up rigs each of them being bottom supported.
The best way to handle Shallow Gas is to avoid it. Any Shallow
Gas influx has to be allowed to reach the surface if conductor
shoe breakdown is to be avoided therefore the design and correct
functioning of the Diverter system is of paramount importance.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Wells Drilled from a Jack-up
Jack-ups are more vulnerable than platforms in that their stability

depends on seabed characteristics, which are generally
unconsolidated, vulnerable to cratering and fluidisation if an
underground flow breaks through to the seabed. There have been
several instances of a Jack-up rig being lost when the seabed
underneath it has lost its bearing capacity having been weakened
by a Shallow Gas flow outside the conductor.

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Shallow Gas
Surface Drilling
Where shallow casing strings such as drive pipe or structural
casing are set, fracture gradients are very low and wells cannot
be safely closed in on a kick without danger of lost circulation
and possible broaching to the surface. Gas from shallow sand
can be abnormally pressured and the gas expands rapidly as it
rises to the surface. Drilling, shallow sands too rapidly can
gas-cut the drilling fluid with cuttings gas to the extent that
expansion during flow to the surface lowers the hydrostatic
pressure enough to cause flow.

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Shallow Gas
Surface Drilling
Dispersal of drilled cuttings in the drilling fluid may cause the

drilling fluid density to increase to a point that circulation may be
lost, causing the hydrostatic head to drop to a point that will
allow the well to flow. A Diverter may be used in those areas
with possible Shallow Gas sands to direct well flow away from
the rig during kicks.

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Shallow Gas
Surface Drilling
The Diverter should be arranged so that
a Diverter line automatically opens or is
open when the Diverter is closed to
divert the fluids and prevent
backpressure on the hole. Diversion
is usually away from the rig, resulting in
loss of drilling fluid from the system.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Surface Drilling
With a loss of drilling fluid formation fluid flow continues during

the well control operation until the hole bridges or hydrostatic
pressure can be built enough to regain primary control and stop
formation fluid flow. Pumping at a fast rate tends to improve the
drilling fluid/gas ratio and creates a small increase in bottom-hole
pressure due to annular friction pressure.

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Shallow Gas
Surface Drilling
Increasing the drilling fluid density at a fast rate increases hydrostatic
pressure and can eventually stop flow. Thus, when a Shallow Gas
flow occurs, the following actions should be taken
immediately:
1: Pump as fast as possible.
2: Increase drilling fluid density as rapidly as possible while
pumping.
3: If drilling fluid supply should be exhausted, continue by pumping
water.
4: Divert the well fluids if safety on the rig floor becomes a problem.
04
Shallow Gas
Summary
The steps that should be taken at the well planning stage and
written into the well program, particularly in relation to Shallow
Gas are:
1: Check all relevant seismic surveys for the presence of bright spots.
2: Check all offset well data records for the possible presence of
Shallow Gas sands.
3: Drill surface hole without a riser if possible.
4: Consider drilling a pilot hole.
5: Control the ROP.
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Shallow Gas
Summary
6: Use a float in the drill string.
7: Move the pipe slowly off bottom to minimise swabbing.
8: Keep the hole full at all times.
9: Monitor the seabed whenever possible for signs of gas

breakthrough.
10: If returns are taken to surface then monitor for gas.

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Shallow Gas

04
Shallow Gas
Summary
11: If gas is detected in the returning mud then stop drilling

and take positive action such as increasing the mud
weight before continuing.
12: Plan the cementing of the surface casing carefully.
13: Prepare effective contingency plans in the event of a

Shallow Gas kick to include winching the rig off location
and evacuating personnel.

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Shallow Gas
Summary
Once primary control of the well has been lost, reliance is placed
on the correct design, operation and use of the well control
equipment. This consists principally of the Diverter and BOPs
together with their control systems and the choke manifold. The
mud gas separator also plays an important role in handling a gas
influx once it has been circulated out of the hole and through the
choke.

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Shallow Gas

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Shallow Gas
Extract from API RP 53/16e
A Diverter system may be employed as a means of well control

during various stages of a drilling operation by directing well
flows away from the rig and personnel. The system can provide a
degree of protection prior to setting the casing string upon which
the blowout preventer stack and choke manifold will be installed.

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Shallow Gas
Extract from API RP 53/16e
The system is designed to pack-off around the Kelly, drill string,

or casing and direct flow to a safe location. Valves in the system
direct the well flow when the Diverter is actuated. A Diverter is
not designed to shut in or halt flow, but rather permits routing of
the flow to a safe distance away from the rig.

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Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems
A surface Diverter is used when the conductor pipe is set in an

incompetent formation and the well cannot be shut in for fear of
the shoe breaking down and allowing gas to reach the seabed.
Instead, the gas is allowed to come up the conductor to below the
rig floor from where it is diverted to a safe area away from the rig
equipment and personnel.

04
Shallow Gas

04
Shallow Gas
Example of a surface Diverter

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Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems
The system typically consists of an
annular preventer and two vent lines,
which should be as large as possible
(at least 14" in diameter), routed to
opposite sides of the rig. These
provide alternative locations to direct
the gas, depending on the prevailing
wind direction.

04
Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems
In order to minimise the amount of backpressure and to reduce
the risk of erosion caused by the large amounts of formation
debris usually produced with Shallow Gas kicks, the vent lines
should be as straight as practical. Any bends should be reinforced
and there should be no restrictions to the bore of the lines.
Valves should be full opening ball type.

04
Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems
Many Diverter systems on are considered over-complicated due

to the number of bends and valves in the vent lines. In an attempt
to simplify the design and make the system more reliable,
configurations such as that shown in slide 68, have been
introduced. This arrangement involves the vent line exiting the
Diverter housing at a higher elevation than the flow line and
incorporating a low-pressure rupture disc.

04
Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems (CTC 050)

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Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems (CTC 050)

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Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems
The normal regulated pressure to a Diverter system is 1500 psi,

with 500 psi being a representative operating pressure.
A typical Diverter control system permits the annular preventer
element or insert packer to be energised, the flow line isolation
valve to be closed and one of the overboard valves to be opened
with the minimum of time.

04
Shallow Gas
Diverter Systems
integral sequencing
The controls are often
interlocked to ensure that once
the insert packer is activated it is
impossible to shut the wellbore
in completely. Other hydraulic
controls activate flow line and
overshot seals as well as the
insert packer lockdown dogs
04
Shallow Gas

04
Shallow Gas
HYDRIL ANNULAR
PREVENTER - TYPE
MSP - 2000 PSI
Operating Features:
1. Will close on open hole and hold 2000 psi
(but not recommended).
2. Primary usage is in diverter systems.
3. Automatically returns to the open position
when closing is released.
4. Sealing assistance is gained from the well
pressure.
5. Greater stripping capability of the packing
unit since (fatigue) wear occurs on the
outside of the packing unit.

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Shallow Gas

04
Shallow Gas
API Standard Diverter
1: Drillpipe
2: Diverter housing
3: Closing line
4: Insert packer
5: Diverter vent line
6: Insert packer lockdown dogs
7: Diverter lockdown dogs
8: Standard packer (outer packer)

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Shallow Gas
Diverter Procedures for Land
Rigs, Swamp Barges, Jack-ups
At first sign of flow:
1: Do not stop pumping.

2: Open the diverter line to divert/close
diverter (both functions should be
interlocked).
3: Increase pumps strokes to maximum (do
not exceed maximum pump speed
recommended by the manufacturer or
maximum pressure allowed by relief
valve).
4: Switch suction on mud pumps to heavy
mud in the reserve pit. Zero stroke
counter.

04
Shallow Gas
5: Raise alarm and announce emergency

using the PA system and/or inform the
Toolpusher.
6: Post personnel to look for gas (jack-

up, swamp barges).
7: If the well appears to have stopped

flowing after the heavy mud has been
displaced, stop pumps and observe
well.

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Shallow Gas
8: If the well appears to continue to flow

after the heavy mud has been
pumped, carry on pumping from the
active system and prepare water in a
pit for pumping and/or consider
preparing pit with heavier mud. When
all mud has been consumed, switch
pumps to water. Do not stop pumping
for as long as the well continues to
flow.

04
Shallow Gas
Typical Diverter System

Installed on a Floating
Rig

04
Shallow Gas
Typical Diverter
System
Installed on a Floating
Rig

04
Shallow Gas
Typical Diverter System

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Shallow Gas

04

Section 4 (Shallow Gas)

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Section 4 (Shallow Gas)

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Advanced Well Control

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 1

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 2

Shallow Gas can be defined as a gas accumulation

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 3

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 5

The data available on 27 Shallow Gas blowouts in the

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 6

It can be seen, therefore, that

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 7

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 8

Shallow Gas accumulations are often found in sand lenses

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 9

These characteristics can be very significant in that the

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 10

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 11

Seabed or subsurface lenses tend to be highly porous,

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 12

Geology of Shallow Gas

Collisions between the debris

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 13

Geology of Shallow Gas

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 14

Geology of Shallow Gas

Reservoir Structures that produce a long tilted sand lens

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 15

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 16

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 17

Shallow Gas Hazards

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 18

Shallow Gas Hazards

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 19

Shallow Gas Hazards

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 20

Shallow Gas kicks result from one of the following:

2: Swabbing gas into the wellbore.

3: Improper hole fill leading to loss of hydrostatic.

4: Loss of hydrostatic following formation breakdown.

5: Loss of hydrostatic when gas enters the wellbore and expands.

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 22

It is good practice to run a float in the drill string when drilling

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 23

Too high a rate of penetration can

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 24

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 25

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 26

Wells Drilled from a Platform

When planning wells that are to be drilled from a platform, there

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 27

Wells Drilled from a Platform

As mentioned earlier it is possible for gas to migrate behind the

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 28

Wells Drilled from a Platform

When it is planned to drill further wells from a platform where

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 29

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 30

Wells Drilled from a Platform

Similarly, due to the much-localised nature of offshore Shallow

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 31

Wells Drilled from a Platform

In large offshore multi-platform fields, where drilling has been

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 32

ADVWC Shallow Gas nov 33

Wells Drilled from a Platform