Kick Prevention, Detection, and Control: Planning and Training Guidelines for Drilling Deep High-Pressure Gas Wells

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conoco has developed generalized planning and training guidelines for well control on deep, high-pressure gas wells. These guidelines include a thorough review of gas behavior, causes of kicks, pressure indicators, and kick indicators as they are applied to high-pressure gas wells. The guidelines also emphasize the fundamentals associated with constant bottomhole pressure methods of well control. After the basic principles are reviewed, the characteristics of oil base mud are discussed. These characteristics are then related to all of the basic principles. Following this review, there is a practical example based on experiences Conoco had on a deep, high-pressure gas well drilled with oil base mud. Finally, there is the development of procedural and equipment requirements that are the result of having systematically addressed well control principles for deep, high-pressure gas wells.