Gas Kick Simulation Study for Horizontal Wells

Wang, Zhihua; Peden, J.M.; Lemanczyk, R.Z.

doi:10.2523/27498-ms

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…Santos (1991) further developed the kick simulator in horizontal wells and applied it to the well control phase. Wang et al (1994) considered the effects of gas solubility and applied the simulator in OBM (oil-base mud)/SBM (synthetic-base mud). Choe (2001) compared the results of this simulator and considered the area changes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrodynamic modeling of gas influx migration in slim hole annuli

Nwaka

Ji-tong

Kunju

et al. 2019

Exp. Comput. Multiph. Flow

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Existing well control prediction techniques have not yet found wide acceptance in slim holes. This study investigates the two-phase transient pressure behavior when a gas kick occurs in slim holes. This paper presents an improved two-phase model that will account for the change in annular pressure transients. The two-phase model is based on the drift-flux model. Newly developed drift-flux correlations with specific target to narrow annuli are applied. An explicit scheme is adopted to solve the two-phase model. Results show the high inaccuracies that occur from using conventional models instead of this new model. The velocities of each phase are seen to increase tremendously with assumption of slim holes. This in turn causes significant increase in the equivalent circulating densities (ECDs) and underestimation of bottom hole pressures. On the other hand, the hydrostatic pressures are seen to decrease as well leading to a counterbalance. Pressure signatures for slim holes are seen to shift to the right consequently affecting the void fraction distribution and other fluid properties. Case studies are performed in the simulations to examine the effect of varying annulus ratio on results for constant influx and mud rate. From the results, as annulus ratio goes beyond 0.8, the changes in bottom hole ECDs become much more substantial. The understanding of hydraulics in narrow annuli is vital for real-time pressure prediction during a gas influx. This study provides an improved simulation tool for more accurate prediction of influx behavior in slim holes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrodynamic modeling of gas influx migration in slim hole annuli

Nwaka

Ji-tong

Kunju

et al. 2019

Exp. Comput. Multiph. Flow

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Kick detection and remedial action in managed pressure drilling: a review

et al. 2020

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An Advanced Kick Simulator for High Angle and Horizontal Wells-Part I

Vefring

Wang

Rommetveit

et al. 1995

SPE/IADC Drilling Conference

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This paper presents an advanced kick simulation model for high angle and horizontal wells. The model is based on an existing kick simulator for vertical and inclined wells developed over several years. This paper describes the extension of the simulator to handle kicks in high angle and horizontal wells. The new important developments include:consideration of the long horizontal section exposed to the reservoir and therefore the coupling of fluid flow in the horizontal section with the influx from the formation;new models for the gas slip and rise velocities in near horizontal wells, andvarious models for different gas removal mechanisms. Typical simulation results are also presented to highlight the potential problems when circulating out kicks. The new models for the gas slip velocities in near horizontal wells are based on the experimental and theoretical work. The gas removal mechanisms include the transportation of gas as large bubbles, in the form of entrained gas, and through gas dissolution in the drilling fluid. Type of gas removal mechanism depends upon circulation rate and mud properties. Models for these mechanisms have been developed based on theory and results from laboratory experiments. Introduction A gas kick represents one of the most dangerous situations during drilling operations. To prevent such incidents, extensive studies have been conducted to address this safety concern and to improve the understanding of the kick development and control mechanisms. These studies include full scale experiments, development of kick simulators, and the related physics, e.g. gas rise velocity. However, studies on kick control in horizontal wells so far have been relatively few. Santos performed computer simulation studies on the circulation out of a kick in a perfectly horizontal well. He assumed that the horizontal section is truly 90 and the entire kick volume remains in the horizontal section during the influx period. He further assumed that the kick was distributed as a uniform gas-mud mixture extending from the drill bit back to a point in the annulus defined by the pit gain and gas void fraction (user-specified). From his simulation studies, he argued that for horizontal wells, shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP) and shut-in casing pressure (SICP) are roughly equal. The choke pressure in horizontal wells remains constant and at a value close to the SICP for a longer period than it does in a vertical well during kick circulation. The effects of horizontal section length and angle build rate are small on the pressure behaviour in horizontal wells. Some of his arguments, especially those regarding the SIDPP, SICP and choke pressure behaviour are direct consequences of the assumptions used in his simulations. The actual well control operations are more complicated to implement for horizontal wells when the Wait-and-Weight method is used to circulate out of the kick. When the bottomhole pressure is held constant, which is a basic aim of all well control operations, the pump pressure schedule becomes more complex due to unique well trajectories of horizontal wells. This requires an extension to the existing standard kick sheet as discussed by Currans et al. Currans et al. have also discussed some other practical aspects of good well control procedures in high angle and horizontal wells, e.g. kick avoidance and minimising swabbing. P. 123

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Gas Kick Simulation Study for Horizontal Wells

Cited by 3 publications

References 4 publications

Hydrodynamic modeling of gas influx migration in slim hole annuli

Hydrodynamic modeling of gas influx migration in slim hole annuli

Kick detection and remedial action in managed pressure drilling: a review

An Advanced Kick Simulator for High Angle and Horizontal Wells-Part I

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