This paper was pfepared for presentation at the 1SS4 lADC/SPE Drlliing Conference held in Dallas, Texas, 15-18 February 19S4.This papsr was selected for presentation by an IADC7SPE Program Committee followkq review of information contained in an abstract eubmiftad by the aUtfW(S). C0ntWW3Of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Scwiiy of Petroleum Engineam of the International Asacn?iatiinof OWing Contractors and are aubjecf to wrectii by the author(s). The material, as prasented, does not necessarily reflect any pc.e.iticm of the IADC or SPE, thair offiiers, or mambem, Papers fweaantad at IwSPE rnaatlngs are subject to publicafkm rwiaw by Editorial Commiffaes of the IADC and SPE. Permission to copy is restricted to an abatract of not more than 3Xl words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abSfr9Ct should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom tha paper is prmentad. Write Librerian, SPE, PO, Eox SSSSSS,RiihardwJn, TX 75WS-SSSS, U.S.A. Te!ex, 16SS45 SPEUT.
AbstractA gas kick is removed from a weiibore by appiyhig well control procedure. The large volume of flammable gas brought to the surface is directed toward the mud-gas separator, MGS, where it is separated from the mud and safely disposed of. However, the gas flow rate may become so large that the MGS overloads. Under these circumstances, significant amounts of hydrocarbon will be released onto the rig floor causing a risk of explosion. This situation poses a serious danger to rig personnel and equipment. Advanced gas kick simulators are now available that can predict the flow properties of the fluids entering the MGS as functions of time during the well control procedure. The availability of such detailed information presents an opportunity to understand the response of the MGS to well control procedure. This detailed information allows the d$%~iQpW.C%t Qf m.odeis Of the .MGS th~t~.d-iC! .MGSparameters with greater precision than existing methods will allow. In this paper, models of the physical processes that occur at the MGS are developed. These models have been combined to produce an algorithm which, together with simulated well control data, can estimate MGS parameters as functions of time during the well control procedure. This algorithm will be useful to office based drilling engineers preparing rig safety cases during the well planning stage of drilling a well. The use of this algorithm will result in better seiection Ofweil control procedure, MGS operation and sizing, and better contingency plans for altering the well control procedure or MGS operation should the need arise.
