Simulator improves control of kicks taken during tripping operations
- AEA Technology, Dorchester (United Kingdom)
- Health and Safety Executive, London (United Kingdom). Offshore Safety Div.
A new well control model analyzes well bore pressure when a kick occurs during tripping operations to help better determine the procedure for killing the well with the bit off bottom or with the bit stripped back to the bottom of the well. The Kicks-While-Tripping simulator has been developed to provide a greater understanding of handling kicks under circumstances where an influx is detected with the bit off bottom. It has been based on an existing gas kick computer code which provided accurate descriptions of downhole mud and gas properties that include gas slip and solubility. The development of the simulator to allow modeling of movement of the drillstring has led to a tool capable of examining the flow of mud or mud/gas mixtures during tripping and stripping operations. By linking calculations with a commercial swab/surge package to Kicks-While-Tripping simulations, it would be possible to estimate the likely size of a swabbed kick, and then to model subsequent well control actions. This article presents preliminary results from using the Kicks-While-Tripping simulator, showing how a deep well responds to control actions, particularly stripping back to bottom. This simulator will find uses in well control training, well planning, and accurate post-event analysis studies for kicks with the bit off bottom.
- OSTI ID:
- 409763
- Journal Information:
- Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 94, Issue 51; Other Information: PBD: 16 Dec 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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