Wild Well Control offers all facets of well control related modeling. This modeling is an integral part of the well control engineering services that can assist the client in the well planning and execution. This modeling can be used in the pre-planning process, in real-time well control event support, or in a post-event evaluation. The modeling suite used is based on the OLGA and Drillbench multiphase software engines. These software packages are considered to be the industry standard in the evaluation of multi-phase flow dynamics in a wellbore.
DYNAMIC KILL MODELING
Dynamic kill modeling is the core analysis that drives every aspect of regaining hydrostatic control of a blowout, when other surface control may not be available. Dynamic kill simulations are used to evaluate the requirements necessary to kill a well where the back-pressure cannot be controlled, or control is limited. The process involves the injection of a kill fluid into a continuous flow stream. The frictional force and hydraulic head generated by the mixture density must create enough pressure on the flowing formation to cease flow, and any subsequent pressure buildup to a static formation pressure for the well to remain overbalanced. This mixture density is driven primarily by the following items: The dynamic kill modeling software used by Wild Well is a fully transient suite capable of assisting with the identification of the requirements to facilitate a dynamic kill. This information is vital in the planning and execution of the kill. The software is generally used to determine the following parameters:
Required kill fluid density
Volume of kill fluids required to execute a kill operation
Storage capacity for the kill
Excess kill fluid volume required
Management requirements of the kill fluids on site
Required pump rate for the kill
Hydraulic horsepower requirements
Number of pumping units and contingency requirements
Surface line configuration for fluid delivery
Predicted surface pressures
Wellbore pressure generated at the last casing shoe during the kill
Depth of injection required for the kill
Time required to facilitate the kill
Sensitivity analysis to the associated kill parameters
The dynamic kill modeling can be related to a relief well environment, or to a concentric kill through the wellbore where the active flow is ongoing. Wild Well Control’s engineering staff is well versed at modeling and the onsite execution of a dynamic kill in any environment. Contact our staff for further information, or to discuss any aspects of a potential dynamic kill, or the associated modeling.
KICK MODELING
Well Control Simulation is becoming a very useful tool for managing risks and making critical well control decisions. The well control risks are especially high in expensive and increasingly popular projects such as deep water, deep gas drilling, or multi-well pad drilling. It can be a vital portion of pre-planning for any wellbore, or can assist as a real-time tool in well control event response efforts. In well planning, it is used for evaluating well design by modeling and developing a circulating kick tolerance, based on casing shoe fracture gradient, gas handling capacity of surface equipment, or other specified limits. In operations, it is used to support well control decisions with updated kick tolerance when changes occur in the shoe fracture gradient, mud weight range, or size and depth of hole and casing. The simulation results are displayed in simple graphics that are easy to understand and use in the field.
The software used by the Wild Well engineering staff can be used for many different aspects during planning or drilling a wellbore, in any environment. The following is a general list of where kick modeling can be used to enhance or improve well operations:
Dynamic kick tolerances for hole sections
Assist in determination of the wellbore’s design to allow circulation of a kick, as opposed to simply shutting-in a well
Can be used to assist in the determination of casing points based on dynamic kick tolerances and other well control related issues
Identify critical kick limitations for crew awareness for various hole sections during the drilling process
Updating kick tolerances based on unexpected wellbore parameters
Reduced casing shoe integrity
Increased pore pressure from previous predictions
Data from these simulations can also be used to evaluate casing design and surface well control equipment
Evaluation of the viability of off-bottom well kill/circulations
Post-event kick analysis
Assist in the review of a well control event to determine what may have occurred and what procedures can be change to better assist on-site personnel in future events
Real-time kick resolution support
Assist in determination of the best kick handling methods for a given scenario
Assist in the prediction of various pressures that may occur in a kick resolution effort on an ongoing well control event
Evaluate interruptions to the kill process for changing
Pump rate
Fluid density
Evaluate extended shut-in periods
Volumetric control operations
Sensitivity analysis to various wellbore parameters for kick resolution
Kick modeling can be an extremely useful tool in the execution of any drilling project. There may be additional scenarios where this tool can be helpful in making various predictions related to a project. Feel free to contact our well control engineering staff with any further questions about kick modeling.
BULLHEAD MODELING
Bullheading is a technique used to displace a wellbore with pumped fluids from the surface. There are various instances where bullheading may be desired. The software suite used by the Wild Well’s engineering staff can be used to determine the following aspects of a bullheading operation:
Required fluid density
Predicted surface pressure schedules
Pumping and hydraulic horsepower requirements
Optimization of bullheading rates
BROACH MODELING/ANALYSIS
A major well control concern on many projects is the potential for broaching to the surface. This occurrence can lead to catastrophic consequences, should it occur. This issue has led for the necessity to provide an engineered solution to assist with the prediction of broaching.
Broaching occurs when a fracture propagates all the way to surface (or seabed) outside of the casing. This generally occurs during an underground blowout, when wellbore fluids flow into an unintended horizon. Historically, there has not been an engineered approach to assess the potential risk of broaching resulting from a well control incident. The industry has relied on loose guidelines defined by past incidents that do not accurately account for the risk based on a well's construction and pertinent lithology.
Wild Well can provide the personnel and software necessary for broaching simulations and analysis. Wild Well conducts the analysis using a transient 3D numerical model that has been field proven within the hydraulic fracturing sector of the industry for over 30 years.
The simulation approach allows for the examination of various crossflow rates and geological conditions, to determine possible scenarios leading to broaching. The results for the simulation include not only if broaching occurs, but also the time required for a fracture to propagate to surface. This information can be vital during pre-planning for a project, or during an active well control event.
DYNAMIC KILL MODELING
Dynamic kill modeling is the core analysis that drives every aspect of regaining hydrostatic control of a blowout, when other surface control may not be available. Dynamic kill simulations are used to evaluate the requirements necessary to kill a well where the back-pressure cannot be controlled, or control is limited. The process involves the injection of a kill fluid into a continuous flow stream. The frictional force and hydraulic head generated by the mixture density must create enough pressure on the flowing formation to cease flow, and any subsequent pressure buildup to a static formation pressure for the well to remain overbalanced. This mixture density is driven primarily by the following items: The dynamic kill modeling software used by Wild Well is a fully transient suite capable of assisting with the identification of the requirements to facilitate a dynamic kill. This information is vital in the planning and execution of the kill. The software is generally used to determine the following parameters:
Required kill fluid density
Volume of kill fluids required to execute a kill operation
Storage capacity for the kill
Excess kill fluid volume required
Management requirements of the kill fluids on site
Required pump rate for the kill
Hydraulic horsepower requirements
Number of pumping units and contingency requirements
Surface line configuration for fluid delivery
Predicted surface pressures
Wellbore pressure generated at the last casing shoe during the kill
Depth of injection required for the kill
Time required to facilitate the kill
Sensitivity analysis to the associated kill parameters
The dynamic kill modeling can be related to a relief well environment, or to a concentric kill through the wellbore where the active flow is ongoing. Wild Well Control’s engineering staff is well versed at modeling and the onsite execution of a dynamic kill in any environment. Contact our staff for further information, or to discuss any aspects of a potential dynamic kill, or the associated modeling.
KICK MODELING
Well Control Simulation is becoming a very useful tool for managing risks and making critical well control decisions. The well control risks are especially high in expensive and increasingly popular projects such as deep water, deep gas drilling, or multi-well pad drilling. It can be a vital portion of pre-planning for any wellbore, or can assist as a real-time tool in well control event response efforts. In well planning, it is used for evaluating well design by modeling and developing a circulating kick tolerance, based on casing shoe fracture gradient, gas handling capacity of surface equipment, or other specified limits. In operations, it is used to support well control decisions with updated kick tolerance when changes occur in the shoe fracture gradient, mud weight range, or size and depth of hole and casing. The simulation results are displayed in simple graphics that are easy to understand and use in the field.
The software used by the Wild Well engineering staff can be used for many different aspects during planning or drilling a wellbore, in any environment. The following is a general list of where kick modeling can be used to enhance or improve well operations:
Dynamic kick tolerances for hole sections
Assist in determination of the wellbore’s design to allow circulation of a kick, as opposed to simply shutting-in a well
Can be used to assist in the determination of casing points based on dynamic kick tolerances and other well control related issues
Identify critical kick limitations for crew awareness for various hole sections during the drilling process
Updating kick tolerances based on unexpected wellbore parameters
Reduced casing shoe integrity
Increased pore pressure from previous predictions
Data from these simulations can also be used to evaluate casing design and surface well control equipment
Evaluation of the viability of off-bottom well kill/circulations
Post-event kick analysis
Assist in the review of a well control event to determine what may have occurred and what procedures can be change to better assist on-site personnel in future events
Real-time kick resolution support
Assist in determination of the best kick handling methods for a given scenario
Assist in the prediction of various pressures that may occur in a kick resolution effort on an ongoing well control event
Evaluate interruptions to the kill process for changing
Pump rate
Fluid density
Evaluate extended shut-in periods
Volumetric control operations
Sensitivity analysis to various wellbore parameters for kick resolution
Kick modeling can be an extremely useful tool in the execution of any drilling project. There may be additional scenarios where this tool can be helpful in making various predictions related to a project. Feel free to contact our well control engineering staff with any further questions about kick modeling.
BULLHEAD MODELING
Bullheading is a technique used to displace a wellbore with pumped fluids from the surface. There are various instances where bullheading may be desired. The software suite used by the Wild Well’s engineering staff can be used to determine the following aspects of a bullheading operation:
Required fluid density
Predicted surface pressure schedules
Pumping and hydraulic horsepower requirements
Optimization of bullheading rates
BROACH MODELING/ANALYSIS
A major well control concern on many projects is the potential for broaching to the surface. This occurrence can lead to catastrophic consequences, should it occur. This issue has led for the necessity to provide an engineered solution to assist with the prediction of broaching.
Broaching occurs when a fracture propagates all the way to surface (or seabed) outside of the casing. This generally occurs during an underground blowout, when wellbore fluids flow into an unintended horizon. Historically, there has not been an engineered approach to assess the potential risk of broaching resulting from a well control incident. The industry has relied on loose guidelines defined by past incidents that do not accurately account for the risk based on a well's construction and pertinent lithology.
Wild Well can provide the personnel and software necessary for broaching simulations and analysis. Wild Well conducts the analysis using a transient 3D numerical model that has been field proven within the hydraulic fracturing sector of the industry for over 30 years.
The simulation approach allows for the examination of various crossflow rates and geological conditions, to determine possible scenarios leading to broaching. The results for the simulation include not only if broaching occurs, but also the time required for a fracture to propagate to surface. This information can be vital during pre-planning for a project, or during an active well control event.
