Dynamic kill of an uncontrolled CO/sub 2/ well
In March 1982 a CO/sub 2/ well in the Sheep Mountain Unit, CO, blew out. This well was brought under control in early April 1982 by the dynamic injection of drag-reduced brine followed by mud. This paper discusses the events and field activities that followed the blowout and led to the successful kill operation. Also included is a discussion of two initial, unsuccessful kill attempts, associated mechanical problems, and the understanding gained therefrom. Analyses of wellbore and reservoir hydraulics led to an understanding of the freely flowing well. Injection of kill fluid down the drillpipe was possible, but the small pipe diameter, particularly that of the heavy wall drillpipe, significantly limited the rate of kill-fluid injection. The kill operation was further complicated by the high flow capacity of CO/sub 2/ from the reservoir. The high CO/sub 2/ flow rate efficiently gas-lifted the kill fluid up the annulus and thus tended to maintain a low bottomhole pressure (BHP). Further analysis of the hydraulics of the system suggested two alternatives for dynamically killing the well: (1) use of highly drag-reduced fluids of moderate density such as water or brine, and (2) use of non-drag-reduced mud with a density greater than about 18 lbm/gal (2100 kg/m/sup 3/). The well was killed successfully with 10.5-lbm/gal (1260-kg/m/sup 3/) brine, which exhibited 72% drag reduction in surface lines and drillpipe at an injection rate of 60 bbl/min (570 m/sup 3//h).
- Research Organization:
- ARCO Oil and Gas Co.
- OSTI ID:
- 5077557
- Journal Information:
- J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 37:8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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CONTROL
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
GAS LIFTS
OIL FIELDS
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ARTIFICIAL LIFTS
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
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MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
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020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
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