23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 1 of 53
PETE 411Well Drilling
Lesson 23Gas Cut Mud
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 2 of 53
What is Gas Cut Mud?
After drilling through a formation containing gas, this “drilled gas” will show up in the mud returns at the surface.
Gas cut mud is mud containing some gas - from any source.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 3 of 53
Lesson 23 - Gas Cut Mud
Effect of Drilling Rate Effect of Circulation Rate Mud/Gas Ratio at the bottom of the Hole Mud/Gas Ratio at the Surface Density of Gas Cut Mud Reduction of Bottom Hole Pressure due to Gas Cut Mud Safe Drilling Practices
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 4 of 53
Read:Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch. 6
HW #11Slip Velocity due 10-24-01
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 5 of 53
How Critical is Gas Cut Mud?
(1) Most people tend to overreact when gas reaches the surface.
It is at this time one should be calm and determine where the gas units came from.Monitor the gas units response before reacting.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 6 of 53
How Critical is Gas Cut Mud? cont’d
(2) It is true that gas at the surface will tend to cut the mud weight substantially. This cut can be as much as 5 to 7 PPG. But, it should be further realized that these cuts occur mainly in the top 200 feet of the hole with the worst cuts occuring in the top 50 feet. Therefore, the overall hydrostatic head is only reduced by a small margin.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 7 of 53
How Critical is Gas Cut Mud? cont’d
(3) Many times when large volumes of gas reach the surface the well will appear to be flowing. This is not necessarily due to a formation flowing or a kick, but represents the extreme expansion of the gas near and at the surface.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 8 of 53
How Critical is Gas Cut Mud? cont’d
(4) The following example problem gives an indication of the effect of reduction of mud weight at the surface on the reduction of hydrostatic head.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 9 of 53
How Critical is Gas Cut Mud?
Example Problem
Well depth = 15,000 ftHole size = 7 7/8”Drill pipe size = 4 1/2”Mud weight = 15 ppgDrilling Rate = 20 ft/hrCirc. rate = 7.0 bbl/min
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 10 of 53
How Critical is Gas Cut Mud?
Formation Properties
F100 T
F250 T
1.35 Z1 Z
25% Porosity Sand70% saturation gas Sand
S
B
B
S
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 11 of 53
Bottom-Hole Ratio of Mud Volume to Gas Volume:
This indicates there are 1990 volumes of mud to 1 volume of gas at the bottom of the hole.
1990
hrbbl0.2110
hrbbl420
gs 0.7*porosity 25.0*cu.ft 61.5
bbl*hr
ft 20in/ft 12
in 877
4
hrmin 60*
minbbl 7
GasMud
2
MudGas
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 12 of 53
Ratio of surface volume of gas to bottom-hole volume of gas:
This shows there are 465 volumes of gas at the surface per volume of gas at the bottom of the hole
465 )R(710psi)(1.35) 7.14()R0psi)(1)(56 (11,700
law) (gas TT
ZZ
PP
VV
B
S
B
S
S
B
B
S
(PV = ZnRT)
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 13 of 53
Mud/gas Volume Ratio at the Surface:
279.4465
1990 VolumeGas VolumeMud:surface At
990,1VolumeGasVolumeMud:BottomAt
465BottomatGasSurfaceatGas:Expansion
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 14 of 53
Mud Density at the Surface:
So the mud weight has been cut 2.84 ppg (from 15 to 12.16) ppg
ppg 16.121279.4
ppg0)*1(ppg 15*(4.279)
Volume Density) udsurface)(M @ vol vol/gas(
Total
Mudsurf
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 15 of 53
It should be noted that in actual situations the mud cut would probably be less because we have assumed all gas stays in the mud-gas mixture. A certain amount of gas will break out.
The effects of gas cut mud on the hydrostatic head:
S
SB
SS
AASred.gas P
PPln TC)Z(100
TZCPΔP
Mud Density at the Surface:
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 16 of 53
R re, temperatuSurface - T
factorility compressib Surface - ZR re, temperatuAverage - T
factorility compressib Average - Zpsi pressure, Surface - P
surface at the fluid totalof % Gas - C wellof bottomat pressure cHydrostati - P
S
S
A
A
S
B
S
SB
SS
AASred.gas P
PPln TC)Z(100
TZCPΔP
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 17 of 53
18.94%4.2791100%*1
mud of vol.gas of Vol.
100%*gas of Vol.C
psi 11,700ft 15000*ppg 15*0.052PB
Hydrostatic Pressure and C
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 18 of 53
Average T and Z
175.12
35.11Z
6352
560710T
A
A
R
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 19 of 53
Reduction in BHP
psi 30.57 ΔP
14.714.711,700ln
560)18.94)(1)((100(635).7)(1.175)(18.94)(14ΔP
red.gas
red.gas
S
SB
SS
AASred.gas P
PPln TC)Z(100
TZCPΔP
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 20 of 53
The resulting bottom hole pressure will be
p = 11,700 - 30.57
BHP = 11,669 psi
This means the gas reduced the hydrostatic head by only 30.57 psi!
Reduction in BHP
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 21 of 53
Conclusion
It can be seen that the surface gas cut of approx. 3 PPG resulted in a bottom hole pressure reduction of only 30.57 psi.
There is one other factor that reduces the effect of gas cut mud even further and that is the effect of drilled solids in the mud. Drilled solids will tend to raise the overall density of the mud.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 22 of 53
Drilled Cuttings Effect on Hydrostatic head:
factors conversion*fraction solid*ROP*4D π
unit timeper cut solids of Vol.2
gpm 0.632 generation solids drilled of Rate
in 144ft 1*
ftgal7.481*0.75*
min/hr 60ft/hr 20*
4π(7.875) 2
3
3
2
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 23 of 53
Drilled Cuttings Effect on Hydrostatic head:
ppg 15.015
gpm 294 gpm 632.0ppg 15*gpm 294 ppg 22.1*gpm 632.0
volumetotalmud of weight solids ofweight wt.mud Average
AVG
P = 12 psi
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 24 of 53
Drilled Cuttings Effect on Hydrostatic head:
In this problem, the cuttings had very little effect on the hydrostatic head. But if the rate of penetration were higher, the additional density added due to the drill solids could become significant.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 25 of 53
Summary of Gas-Cut Mud Problem
At bottom:
Gas expansion:
990,1rate generation gasraten circulatio mud
465bottomat volumesurfaceat volume
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 26 of 53
Summary of Gas-Cut Mud Problem
At surface:
i.e. At the surface, the mud mix contains one part of gas (by volume) for each 4.279 parts of good mud.
279.4465990,1
raten circulatio gasncirculatio mud
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 27 of 53
Summary of Gas-Cut Mud Problem
Density of mix
1279.4)0*1()15*279.4(
volume total weighttotal
Density of Mud at surface = 12.16 #/gal
(-2.84 lb/gal)
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 28 of 53
Summary of Gas-Cut Mud Problem
psi 31
PPPln
TZ)C100(TZCPp
S
SB
SS
AAS
A reduction in the mud density at the surface by 2.84 lb/gal resulted in a reduction in BHP of:
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 29 of 53
Note:
It is very important in any drilling operation:
To recognize the symptoms of increasing pore pressure
To be able to estimate the magnitude of the pore pressure
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 30 of 53
Note cont’d:
To know the fracture gradients of the exposed formations
To maintain the drilling practices within controllable limits
To keep in mind that any one symptom of increasing pore pressure may not be sufficient to provide the basis for precise conclusions
Look at all the indicators...
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 31 of 53
ROP F.L.Temp Cl - MUD t d Gas Units SH YP
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 32 of 53
What should be done when gas cut mud is encountered?
(1) Establish if there is any fire hazard. If there is a fire hazard, divert flow through mud-gas separation facilities.
(a) Notify any welder in area(b) Notify all rig personnel of the
pending danger
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 33 of 53
What should be done when gas cut mud is encountered?
(2) Determine where the gas came from. If the casing seat fracture gradient is being approached, and there is some concern about raising the mud weight:
Stop drilling and circulate, and observe the gas response. If source is drilled gas, the gas rate will decrease.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 34 of 53
What should be done when gas cut mud is encountered?
(a) If the gas units completely return to the original background gas, it would probably be safe to resume drilling.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 35 of 53
What should be done when gas cut mud is encountered?
(b) If there has been ample circulation time and the gas units do not drop back to the original background level, but stay at a higher value, this indicates that the mud weight is approaching the pore pressure and consideration should be given to increasing the mud weight.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 36 of 53
What should be done when gas cut mud is encountered?
Establish Where did the gas come from?
(a) Drilled gas - no increase in mud weight is required
(b) Increasing pore pressure - (abnormal pore pressure) - May have to increase mud weight
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 37 of 53
Drilling Techniques
I. Balanced Drilling Balanced drilling by definition is when the hydrostatic head is equal to the pore pressure in the formation being drilled In the Gulf Coast area, if the hydrostatic head is 0 - 0.4 ppg over the actual pore pressure it is usually considered to be balanced drilling.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 38 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Balanced Drilling
Advantages to balanced drilling conditions
Optimizes the drilling rate
Lithology changes can be detected immediately from the ROP
curve
Transition zones can be detected sooner
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Drilling Techniques - Balanced Drilling
Disadvantages
There is no room for error
The wellbore must be continuously monitored for the first sign
of formation pressure increase
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 40 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Balanced Drilling
Application of balanced drilling
Balanced drilling is generally used for wildcat or exploratory
drilling
It is often used in hard rock formation drilling to optimize the rate of
penetration
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 41 of 53
Drilling Techniques
II. Overbalanced drilling Overbalanced drilling by definition is
when the pressure exerted by the hydrostatic head exceeds the
formation pore pressure
In the Gulf Coast region, if the mud weight is 0.4 ppg or more above the
pore pressure, it is considered overbalanced drilling
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 42 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Overbalanced
Advantages to drilling overbalanced
Reduces the chance of swabbing a well in or taking a kick
Disadvantages Overbalanced drilling reduces
the rate of penetration substantially
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 43 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Overbalanced
Disadvantages to drilling overbalanced -cont’d Drilling too far overbalanced can
disguise lithology changes and transition zones
Differential sticking can be caused by the excessive pressure differential between the hydrostatic and the pore pressure
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 44 of 53
Drilling Technique - Overbalanced
Application of overbalanced drilling This is most often used in areas of
development drilling. In such areas, the pore pressures are generally known and the mud weights are maintained high enough to ensure ~ never taking a kick or swabbing a well in. But, at the same time the mud weights are maintained low enough so as not to cause differential sticking
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 45 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Underbalanced
III. Underbalanced drilling
Underbalanced drilling by definition is when the pressure exerted by the hydrostatic head is less than the pore pressure
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Drilling Techniques - Underbalanced
Advantages of underbalanced drilling
Increased rate of penetration
Less formation damage due to mud filtrate or whole mud
loss
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Drilling Techniques - Underbalanced
Disadvantages of underbalanced drilling
Possible kicks
Wells can be swabbed in more readily
Wellbore formation cave-ins (wellbore stability)
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 48 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Underbalanced
Application of underbalanced drilling
Underbalanced drilling is applied in areas that are very hard to drill such as some areas in West Texas. This is done to increase the rate of penetration. Note that this technique is used in areas that have very tight and competent formations. The tight formations reduce the chance of taking a kick...
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 49 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Underbalanced
Application of underbalanced drilling cont’d
The competent formations have less tendency to slough or cave-in to the wellbore due to the absence of a sufficient hydrostatic head to hold it back.
Horizontal wells in the Austin Chalk
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Drilling Techniques - Controlled
IV. Controlled Drilling
Controlled drilling, by definition, is when a constant rate of penetration is maintained by fluctuating the weight on bit
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Drilling Techniques - Controlled
Advantages of controlled drilling
Control of gumbo problems Reduce cuttings generation rate Reduce drilled gas problems
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Drilling Techniques - Controlled
Disadvantages of controlled drilling
This drilling technique disguises lithology changes
Furthermore, and most important, it disguises transition zones
and makes it almost impossible to detect these from the
penetration rate curve.
23. Gas Cut Mud PETE 411 Well Drilling Slide 53 of 53
Drilling Techniques - Controlled
Application of controlled drilling
This should only be used when necessary and prudent, such as in troublesome gumbo sections where the pore pressures are well known
Note: This drilling technique should never be used when drilling in wildcat areas or areas where the pore pressures are not known.