Kick Detection and Control in Oil-Based Mud: Real Well-Test Results Using Microflux Control Equipment

Abstract

TX 75083-3836 U.S.A., fax 1.972.952.9435. AbstractKick detection in oil and synthetic-based fluids has been a major concern for the industry for decades. Due to solubility issues, kick detection may be delayed and resulting well control operations may be problematic. Use of the Micro-Flux Control (MFC) method potentially offers a better way to address this problem in the same way it has been successfully demonstrated to work using water-based fluids (WBM).To check the performance of the MFC method while using oil-based mud (OBM), a series of full-scale tests were conducted at Louisiana State University PERTT Laboratory using natural gas injected into test wells containing an 11-ppg 70/30 diesel/water OBM. Performance results were compared with results previously obtained with WBM gathered at the same facility.The excellent and consistent character of the test results obtained encouraged the use of the MFC on a well to be drilled in Texas for Chevron. The well plan called for using OBM with mud density up to 17.4 ppg, at an anticipated depth of 13,000-ft. This would be the second well drilled with the MFC method, following one drilled in Brazil for Petrobras using WBM.The paper presents the results obtained during the oneweek long live well testing at LSU as well as details of the first field test of the MFC system on the actual well drilled with OBM in Texas. The results confirmed the ability of the MFC system to detect very small influxes of natural gas into OBM with subsequent control of the influx accomplished in a way very similar to that used with WBM. Several other tests were also performed in both wells to explore possible additional uses of the MFC system. These included dynamic leak-off and formation integrity tests, behavior with multiple kicks inside the wellbore simultaneously, identification of ballooning or "breathing" during connections, and early detection of loss of circulation. All of the results obtained in both test scenarios confirmed the potential value of the MFC system for identifying and dealing with the above listed issues when conducting drilling operations utilizing OBM.

Kick Detection and Influx Size Estimation during Offshore Drilling Operations using Deep Learning

“…A gas kick alarm system is presented in [11] where the principle is to measure the propagation time of a pressure pulse through the well by using a sonic technique. A new drilling method was developed in [12], [13] by using the concept of micro-flux control, which is based on detecting a loss or influx of fluids, and instantly adjusting the return flow and the bottomhole pressure to regain control of the well.…”

Pressure regulation with kick attenuation in a managed pressure drilling system

“…However, since the BOP is closed, the pressure will start to increase as more fluids enter the well until the downhole pressure balances the reservoir pressure. Several methods for kick detection have been presented, see [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], however, there is a significant potential to improve existing control, estimation schemes, and kick detection methods. It is of particular interest to improve performance of the schemes during critical drilling operations such as pipe connections, as well as to add kick attenuation capabilities.…”

“…Assuming that q res is an unknown constant, V a is slowly varying, and β a , V a are known prior to kick, an observer is designed for kick detection based on the dynamics of p 1 as given in (13)- (14). Forming the error dynamics by defining p 1 = p 1 −p 1 andq res = q res −q res , we havė…”

Drilling seeking automatic control solutions

“…An automatic solution can improve this. Automatic well control during MPD is addressed in (Riet andReitsma, 2003 andSantos et. al., 2007b).…”