OBJECTIVE:
Extended reach, ERD, wells are those wells where the wellbore is kicked off from vertical near the surface, inclination is built to allow sufficient horizontal displacement from the surface to reach the target zone some distance away, and the angle is again built to near horizontal. The wellbore is then extended horizontally into the reservoir. This technology allows the operator to reach portions of the reservoir at a much greater distance than possible with conventionally drilled directional wells, and allows greater contact between the reservoir and the wellbore.
Multilateral wells are wells in which a single wellbore is drilled to a pre-determined depth, then multiple branches are drilled out from the original wellbore. These laterals may extend in opposite directions from each other in the same zone, or they may be drilled into different zones or formations. As with extended reach wells, multilateral wells allow much more contact with the target formation than vertical wellbores. These technologies allow the reservoir to be depleted with fewer wells than with vertical or conventional directional wells.
When kicks or other well control events occur during the drilling of extended reach and multilateral wells, conventional well control procedures are usually attempted. Many assumptions that are made during well kill operations (e.g. negligible annular friction, straight line drillpipe pressure decline, etc.) may not be valid in these long or multiple wellbores. Surface casing and drillpipe pressures during well kill operations will be considerably different than vertical and conventional directional wellbores. Kicks from a single lateral from a multilateral well will undoubtedly have some effect on well kills. Other phenomena that need to be studied and compared (but not limited to) are:
1. Kicks without drillpipe in the hole (or one of the laterals).
2. Kick migration in multiple laterals and near horizontal wellbores.
3. The effect of the compressibility factor, z, on casing and drillpipe pressure.
4. The effect of the compressibility of the drilling fluid and formation.These differences and the effects that they have on well control operations have not yet been fully studied and compared between ERD, and multi-lateral wells and more conventional wells.
APPROACH:
We propose to perform an assessment of the state of the art in well control for extended reach and multilateral wells. This project will be performed by completion of four inter-related tasks described below.
Task 1 - Perform a literature search of the state of the art in well control for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells. This will include land drilling operations, and offshore drilling operations utilizing both surface BOP stacks from platforms and jack-up rigs as well as from floating rigs.
Progress to date: Literature review is complete for conventional, ERD, and Horizontal wells. Approximately 70% complete for Multilateral
Task 2 - Modify an existing Windows-based well control simulator that has been developed by Dr. Jonggeun Choe for use in more conventional wellbores to model extended reach and multilateral wells. To our best knowledge, there are no known well control simulators that will model multilateral wells.
Progress to date: The model has been modified to simulate ERD wells, and is approximately 90% modified for Multilateral wells (needs beta testing). The trip simulator is approximately 60% complete.
Task 3 - Use the simulator to evaluate, compare, and contrast the current well control procedures utilized for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells. These simulations will include land, shallow water, intermediate water, deep water, and ultra-deepwater. A wide range of pore pressure and fracture gradients, well depths, varying geometries, and formation fluid types will be modeled. These results will be presented to the MMS and the petroleum industry via workshops and conferences.
Progress to date: The simulator has been extensively used to develop a kick matrix for vertical, directional, horizontal and ERD wells. We are currently completing a study of multiphase flow in horizontal (and near horizontal) wells to determine the most efficient circulation rate to remove gas from horizontal sections. From this study, we will make recommendations for improved kick killing in horizontal wells. In the coming year we will utilize the simulator to perform a similar study for multilateral wells. We will also utilize the trip simulator and well control simulator to study pressure profiles in multiple lateral sections during trips, drilling, and kick situations. From results of this study we will make recommendations well control recommendations for multilateral wells.Task 4 - Based on the results of the simulation study, recommendations will be made to improve well control for any situations that warrant improvement, especially for the extended reach and multilateral wells. The simulator will again be used to validate the procedures.
Progress to date: Approximately 10% complete.
DEPLOYMENT OF RESULTS:The results of this project will be conveyed to the MMS and the petroleum industry via a final report written to the MMS, thesis written by the graduate students, industry workshops, presentations made at conferences, and through publication in trade journals.
The MMS and the industry will be provided with newer and safer well control procedures for kicks taken while drilling extended reach and multilateral wells.
The MMS and industry will have a better understanding of wellbore pressures during well control operations for kicks taken while drilling extended reach and multilateral wells.
A user friendly Windows based well control and hydraulics simulator which will model ERD and multilateral wells, as well as more conventional wellbores, will be provided to the MMS (at no additional charge) and the petroleum industry at a price to be determined. The industry will be able to use this simulator in training in the safe handling of kicks, as well as in well planning.
ANTICIPATED PROJECT DURATION: 2 years
PROJECT PLAN FOR YEAR 1 (2002-2003):
Scope of Work: We anticipate beginning work in September, 2002. The literature search (Task 1) will be complete. We will begin using the conventional simulator to run simulations on kicks taken while drilling conventional wells (Task 3). This will include both vertical and deviated wells.
Dr. Choe and his student will come to College Station for approximately eighteen days to begin work on modification of the simulator (Task 2). After returning to Korea, simulator will be modified to model ERD and Multilateral wells.
Once modification of the simulator is sufficiently complete, it will be used to run kick cases for ERD and multilateral kicks by Dr. Schubert and his student. We will begin and significantly complete the comparison of these kicks to kicks taken in more conventional wells. These kicks will be in identical formations as the conventional kicks that have been previously simulated. Comparisons between kicks taken in more conventional wells and the less conventional wells will be compared and contrasted. This study will also be used to test the simulator for accuracy and ease of use. Suggestions will be made to improve the simulator
Anticipated Results: The literature search for tasks should be complete. Work on the simulator should be significantly complete. Most of the simulation work and comparison to conventional kicks should be complete.
PROJECT PLAN FOR YEAR 2 (2003-2004):
Scope of Work: Pending continued funding, we anticipate the continuation of the work already begun in the 2002-2003 year.
Dr. Choe and his student will come to College Station for approximately eighteen days to finish work on modification of the simulator (Task 2) in the summer of 2003. Documentation for the simulator will be completed, and a report will be issued.
We will complete the work on well control in horizontal and ERD wells (funding will come from 2002-2003 funds)
We will begin and complete the well control study for multilateral wells.
Anticipated Results: A simulator which will model wellbore hydraulics, tripping, and kicks taken in ERD and Multilateral wells will be available as well as a comparison of well control between conventional wells and the less conventional ERD/Multilateral wells. Well control procedures for ERD and Multilateral wells will have been modified to provide more safety for operators and contractors while drilling ERD and Multilateral Wells. The results of this work will be made available to the industry through a report written to the MMS and through presentations at conferences, published papers, and thesis written by the students.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S) & OTHERS INVOLVED IN PROJECT:
PI: Jerome J. Schubert, Ph.D., P.E. – Texas A&M University
Dr. Jerome J. Schubert, P.E. will be the Principal Investigator for this project. Dr. Schubert has a B.S. (1978), M.Eng. (1995), and Ph.D. (1999) all in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University, and is currently employed as Lecturer/Assistant Research Engineer by the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University. Dr. Schubert has worked as a Drilling Engineer for over eight years with Pennzoil Company and Enron Oil & Gas, over four years as a Well Control Instructor with the University of Houston/Victoria, and as a faculty member at Texas A&M University for over seven years. At Texas A&M University, Dr. Schubert is involved in teaching graduate and undergraduate drilling courses and in drilling research. Related research activities that Dr. Schubert has been involved with are kick detection, shallow water flows, underbalanced drilling, development of well control procedures for the SubSea MudLift Drilling JIP (Dissertation title: Well Control Procedures for Riserless/Mudlift Drilling and Their Integration Into a Well Control Training Program), and development of a dynamic kill simulator and blowout containment procedures for dual gradient wells being drilled in ultra-deepwater. He also serves on the IADC Training and Well Control Committees, and on the IADC WellCAP Review Panel.
Others: Jonggeun Choe, Ph.D. – Seoul National University
Dr. Jonggeun Choe will be Co-PI for the project. Dr. Choe is an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Geosystems Engineering at Seoul National University where his duties include teaching and research. He has more than 11 years experience on the well control research and simulation programming. Dr. Choe developed a Windows-based well control simulator, which is applicable in onshore and offshore wells (surface and subsea BOP stacks). The simulator can handle vertical, directional, and horizontal wells. He also developed a Subsea Mudlift Drilling (SMD) well control simulator for the SMD JIP. This simulator was used in well control simulation and hydraulic analysis in this “dual-gradient” system. The SMD simulator was developed by modifying the conventional Windows based well control simulator and is currently in used in the SMD well control training program. Dr. Choe has published more than 54 papers including 22 journal papers. He also won AIME Raymond Memorial Award in 2000 for the best paper in SPE, TMS, SME, and ISS societies. He has a B.S. (1988) and a M.S. (1990) in Mineral and Petroleum Engineering from Seoul National University, and a Ph.D (1995) in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University. (Dissertation title: Dynamic Well Control Simulation Models for Water-Based Muds and Their Computer Applications). He is a review committee member of SPE D&C, KIME, KoSEE and also a member of AGU, PS of CIM.
Graduate Students
Two graduate students working 20 hours/week – one at Seoul National University and one at Texas A&M UniversityContacts:
Dr. Jerome J. Schubert
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Texas A&M University, M.S. 3116
College Station, TX 77843-3116
979/862-1195, j-schubert@.tamu.edu
fax 979/845-1307 fax (82-2)871-8938Dr. Jonggeun Choe
Seoul National University
School of Civil and Geosystems Engineering
Seoul 151-742, Korea
(82-2)880-8081, jchoe@geofluid.snu.ac.kr
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Date: June 2004
Project Name: Development and Assessment of Well Control Procedures for Extended Reach and Multilateral Wells Utilizing Computer Simulation
Project Number: 440 Task Order: 85222
Principal Investigators: Jerome J. Schubert, TAMU
Jonggeun Choe, SNUEstimated Completion Date: September 2004
Project Description:
An assessment of the state of the art in well control for extended reach drilling and multilateral wells (ERD/ML) is being developed. This project has four inter-related tasks as described below:
Task 1 - Perform a literature search of the state of the art in well control for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 2 - Modify an existing Windows-based well control simulator that has been developed for use in more conventional wellbores to model extended reach and multilateral wells.
Task 3 - Use the simulator to evaluate, compare, and contrast the current well control procedures utilized for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 4 - Based on the results of the simulation study, recommendations will be made to improve well control for any situations that warrant improvement, especially for the extended reach and multilateral wells.
Progress:
Task 1 Literature Search - The literature review has been substantially completed.
Task 2 Modify conventional well control simulator to model ERD/ML Wells – The ERD/ML Simulator has been completed.
Task 3 - Use of the simulator to compare and contrast well control procedures – An evaluation of gas displacement in horizontal and near horizontal wellbores to determine the most efficient flow velocities to remove all the gas from the lateral section of wells is being completed. Several runs with the OLGA 200 multiphase simulator to model gas kicks in near horizontal wells have been completed, and the results will be used to determine the mud velocity that would result in the most efficient flow regime (profile) to circulate gas from the near horizontal wellbores. He will then compare the circulation rates required to provide these efficient flow regimes and annular velocities with results previously generated by the ERD/ML simulator to determine if the horizontal and extended reaches should be killed in a single circulation rate or two rates depending on the location of the gas kick.
The ERD/ML Simulator will also be used to perform a parametric study of the effect of kicks and kills on multiple open laterals as well as the effect that multiple laterals will have on kicks and kills.
Task 4 - Recommendations Recommendations for improvements in well control will be made based on the results and evaluations completed in Tasks 1-3. .
Reports & Publications:
Gjorv, Bjorn, “Well Control Procedures for Extended Reach Wells,” M.S. Thesis, Texas A&M University, August 2003.
Date: December 2003
Project Name: Development and Assessment of Well Control Procedures for Extended Reach and Multilateral Wells Utilizing Computer Simulation
Project Number: 32558-58880C MMS Task Order: 85222 MMS Project Number: 440
Principal Investigators: Jerome J. Schubert, TAMU, Jonggeun Choe, SNU
Estimated Completion Date: May 31, 2004
Project Description:
When kicks or other well control events occur during the drilling of extended reach and multilateral wells, conventional well control procedures are usually attempted. Many assumptions that are made during well kill operations (e.g. negligible annular friction, straight line drillpipe pressure decline, etc.) may not be valid in these long or multiple wellbores. Surface casing and drillpipe pressures during well kill operations will be considerably different than vertical and conventional directional wellbores. Kicks from a single lateral from a multilateral well will undoubtedly have some effect on well kills. Other phenomena that need to be studied and compared (but not limited to) are:
1. Kicks without drill pipe in the hole (or one of the laterals).
2. Kick migration in multiple laterals and near horizontal wellbores.
3. The effect of the compressibility factor, z, on casing and drillpipe pressure.
4. The effect of the compressibility of the drilling fluid and formation.
These differences and the effects that they have on well control operations have not yet been fully studied and compared between ERD, and multi-lateral wells and more conventional wells.An assessment of the state of the art in well control for extended reach and multilateral wells will be developed by completion of four inter-related tasks described below.
Task 1 - Perform a literature search of the state of the art in well control for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 2 - Modify an existing Windows-based well control simulator that has been developed for use in more conventional wellbores to model extended reach and multilateral wells.
Task 3 - Use the simulator to evaluate, compare, and contrast the current well control procedures utilized for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 4 - Based on the results of the simulation study, recommendations will be made to improve well control for any situations that warrant improvement, especially for the extended reach and multilateral wells.Progress:
Task 1 - Literature review Substantially completed.
Task 2 - Modification of conventional well control simulator to model ERD/ML Wells
The following has been completed:
· Five module programs are reduced and rearranged to 3 modules for effective programming and file management
· Modification of the updated simulator to save and to open input data
· Modification and improving well control simulator in Visual Basic v. 6 to handle multilateral (ML) trajectories
o It can handle trip operations for ML
o It can simulate manual and automatic connections
o It simulates kick occurrence, kick detection, kick confinement during tripping
o It can handle both trip-out (pulling drillstring out of the hole) and trip-in (going into the hole) at any time of simulation
o Snub/strip simulation is possible after well stabilization
o Trip simulation results can be exported directly to MS Excel SpreadsheetComplete kick kill simulation is under modification and is not available to date. However, complete kick kill simulations for conventional and extended reach trajectories are available as before.
Task 3 - Use of the simulator to compare and contrast well control More than 350 simulations covering a wide range of wellbore trajectories for extended reach wells have been completed. The simulation runs cover a wide range of kick-sizes in wellbores ranging from conventional wells to extreme extended reach wells in ultra deep water with different wellbore sizes. For each kick taken, we saved the shut-in data and circulated again with different circulation rates. All simulated results have been saved as Excel files and are presented in charts for analysis. The results of this part of the study are detailed in a Master of Science Thesis completed in August, 2003 by Bjorn Gjorv.
A literature review of multiphase flow behavior and flow patterns expected in horizontal fully eccentric annuli was completed. The standard multiphase equations for annular flow are designed for fully centered annuli, and will not be valid for eccentric annuli. Learnings from the literature review will be used to estimate the circulation rates needed to obtain the flow pattern that most efficiently removes gas from the horizontal part of the wellbore in different hole geometries.
An evaluation of gas displacement in horizontal and near horizontal wellbores is being completed to determine the most efficient flow velocities to remove all the gas from the lateral section of wells. The Multilateral simulator is being used to complete a parametric study to determine the effect of kicks and kills on multiple open laterals as well as the effect of the multiple laterals on kicks and kills.
Task 4 – Recommendations Recommendations for improvements in well control will be made based on the results and evaluations completed in Tasks 1 – 3.
Reports & Publications:
Gjorv, Bjorn, “Well Control Procedures for Extended Reach Wells,” M.S. Thesis, Texas A&M University, August 2003.
OTRC PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Project Name: Development and Assessment of Well Control Procedures for Extended Reach and Multilateral Wells Utilizing Computer Simulation
Project Number: 32558-58880C Task Order: 85222
Principal Investigators: Jerome J. Schubert, TAMU
Jonggeun Choe, SNUEstimated Completion Date: May 31, 2004
Project Description:
When kicks or other well control events occur during the drilling of extended reach and multilateral wells, conventional well control procedures are usually attempted. Many assumptions that are made during well kill operations (e.g. negligible annular friction, straight line drillpipe pressure decline, etc.) may not be valid in these long or multiple wellbores. Surface casing and drillpipe pressures during well kill operations will be considerably different than vertical and conventional directional wellbores. Kicks from a single lateral from a multilateral well will undoubtedly have some effect on well kills. Other phenomena that need to be studied and compared (but not limited to) are:
1. Kicks without drillpipe in the hole (or one of the laterals).
2. Kick migration in multiple laterals and near horizontal wellbores.
3. The effect of the compressibility factor, z, on casing and drillpipe pressure.
4. The effect of the compressibility of the drilling fluid and formation.These differences and the effects that they have on well control operations have not yet been fully studied and compared between ERD, and multi-lateral wells and more conventional wells.
We intend to perform an assessment of the state of the art in well control for extended reach and multilateral wells. This project will be performed by completion of four inter-related tasks described below.
Task 1 - Perform a literature search of the state of the art in well control for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 2 - Modify an existing Windows-based well control simulator that has been developed for use in more conventional wellbores to model extended reach and multilateral wells.
Task 3 - Use the simulator to evaluate, compare, and contrast the current well control procedures utilized for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 4 - Based on the results of the simulation study, recommendations will be made to improve well control for any situations that warrant improvement, especially for the extended reach and multilateral wells.
Progress:
Task 1. Literature review. Has been substantially completed. Graduate assistants have been analyzing the state of the art in Well Control, Extended Reach Technology, and Multi-lateral technology.
Task 2. Modification of conventional well control simulator to model ERD/ML Wells
The simulator has been modified to model Multi-lateral as well as extended reach wells. The ability to model tripping has begun.There have been some important changes and characteristics of the well control program in Visual Basic v. 6. The following modifications are made for better data management and increasing simulation ability. This program is under major modification and upgrading for tripping simulation of multilateral trajectories.
1. Input Data Management:
- Add API RD 13D model as one of 4 fluid models for friction loss calculation and surge/swab calculations (Fig. 1).
- Note for two additional input boxes for API RP 13D from the “Fluid and Bit Data” Tab.
- Addition of an option for single well (including extended reach well) and multilateral well (Fig. 1).
- Example of well trajectory is provided for better understanding of extended reach, horizontal, and multilateral wells (Fig. 2).
- When users select the multilateral option, note that there is trip data group in the “Choke and Formation Data” Tab (Fig. 3).
- Also note that the “Multilateral Data” Tab is accessible only when users select the multilateral option.
- There is input data section for up to six multilateral trajectories from the “Multilateral Data” Tab (Fig. 4). Note that you can use a “check box” to plug each of them.
- Drawing of multilateral is possible by clicking the “Show Well Trajectory” menu on the top of the screen.
- For the well trajectory shown, you can see current mouse position according to actual geometry and scale (Fig. 5).
- Most of programming in the part has been completed.2. From the “Drilling to Well stabilization” simulation (Fig. 6):
- From the Menus menu on the top of the screen, a user can specify colors of wellbore, mud, kick, and kill mud. Before a kick takes places, users can see mud and wellbore colors.
- This is accessible when users choose the “Single Well” option from the input menu.3. For the simulation of “Tripping”, the program has the following changes (Fig. 7)
- This is accessible when users choose the “Multilateral Well” option from the input menu.
- Basic layouts have been designed for tripping simulation.
- It shows overall wellbore and drillstring, enlarged trip section for connection, trip tank volume change, and additional plots (Fig. 7). Plots for surge/swab pressures, velocity and acceleration, pore and fracture pressures will be added later.
- This is new addition of the program and under major programming work for tripping, surge/swab calculation, kick occurrence from multilateral, kick confinement, and tripping back to the bottom.
- Most of programming in the part has not been completed.4. For output display after well control simulation, the following variables are added in the plot:
- No major changes from the last progress report
- Total 18 variables are available as the last version does.Task 3. Use of the simulator to compare and contrast well control. Most of the simulation runs for extended reach wells have been completed, so far we have more than 350 simulation runs covering a vide range of wellbore trajectories.. The simulation runs cover a vide range of kick-sizes taken in wellbores ranging from conventional wells to extreme extended reach wells in ultradeep water, with differing the wellbore sizes. For each kick taken, we saved the shut-in data and circulated again with different circulation rates. All the results have been saved as excel-files and presented in charts for analysis.
The next task was to do a literature review of multiphase behavior and the flow patterns that can be expected in a horizontal fully eccentric annuli. The standard multiphase equations for annular flow are designed for fully centered annuli, and will not be valid for an eccentric annuli. Based on this literature review we will calculate and estimate what circulation rates are necessary for different hole geometries, to obtain the flow pattern that most efficiently removes gas from the horizontal part of the wellbore.
Task 4. Recommendations. After the evaluation of the results of Task 3 has been complete, recommendations for improvements in well control will be made.
OTRC PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Date: December 19, 2002Project Name: Development and Assessment of Well Control Procedures for Extended Reach and Multilateral Wells Utilizing Computer Simulation
Project Number: 32558-58880C Task Order: 85222
Principal Investigators: Jerome J. Schubert, TAMU
Jonggeun Choe, SNUEstimated Completion Date: May 31, 2004
Project Description:
When kicks or other well control events occur during the drilling of extended reach and multilateral wells, conventional well control procedures are usually attempted. Many assumptions that are made during well kill operations (e.g. negligible annular friction, straight line drillpipe pressure decline, etc.) may not be valid in these long or multiple wellbores. Surface casing and drillpipe pressures during well kill operations will be considerably different than vertical and conventional directional wellbores. Kicks from a single lateral from a multilateral well will undoubtedly have some effect on well kills. Other phenomena that need to be studied and compared (but not limited to) are:1. Kicks without drillpipe in the hole (or one of the laterals).
2. Kick migration in multiple laterals and near horizontal wellbores.
3. The effect of the compressibility factor, z, on casing and drillpipe pressure.
4. The effect of the compressibility of the drilling fluid and formation.These differences and the effects that they have on well control operations have not yet been fully studied and compared between ERD, and multi-lateral wells and more conventional wells.
We intend to perform an assessment of the state of the art in well control for extended reach and multilateral wells. This project will be performed by completion of four inter-related tasks described below.
Task 1 - Perform a literature search of the state of the art in well control for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 2 - Modify an existing Windows-based well control simulator that has been developed for use in more conventional wellbores to model extended reach and multilateral wells.
Task 3 - Use the simulator to evaluate, compare, and contrast the current well control procedures utilized for vertical, directional, horizontal, extended reach, and multi-lateral wells.
Task 4 - Based on the results of the simulation study, recommendations will be made to improve well control for any situations that warrant improvement, especially for the extended reach and multilateral wells.
Progress:
Task 1. Literature review. Has been substantially completed. Graduate assistants have been analyzing the state of the art in Well Control, Extended Reach Technology, and Multi-lateral technology.Task 2. Modification of conventional well control simulator to model ERD/ML Wells
The simulator has been modified to model extended reach wells. Changes that have been made to the existing simulator are:
1. Five input screens are merged into one screen using a Tab component
- Similar data are gathered together for easy management
- Note for two additional options: Blowout animation and Mud compressibility for well stabilization
- Example of well trajectory is provided for better understanding of extended reach wells2. From the “Drilling to Well stabilization” simulation, it has the following major changes :
- Now, a user can select any command buttons on the top of the screen. Old version (v.3) only allows sequential simulation based on predefined scenario.
- From the Menus menu on the top of the screen, a user can specify colors of wellbore, mud, kick, and kill mud.
- For fast run, uses can use a simulation rate up to 10 times faster than real time.
- To provide fast runs and sensitivity runs, a user can save well stabilization data (with an extension *.SID), and retrieve the data for well control simulation. Therefore, a user can simulate directly well control operation after retrieving the stabilization data (without simulating from drilling to well shut in). This will save lots of time for sensitivity runs.
- One display box is added to show current activities.
- Use of mud compressibility is computed and displayed.
- Pressure at the mud line is displayed.
- Mud and gas return rates at the surface are calculated and displayed.3. For the simulation of kick circulation out, the program has the following changes (Fig. 4)
- One of the big changes is the addition of the “Simulation Speed” option. A user can increase simulation speed by choosing a faster simulation rate than real time (up to 40 times faster than real time). In this case, all plots are updated at a specified time interval.
- If a user selects the “Fast Run”, the program runs without updating the plots and accelerate the simulation further. A user can combine “Simulation Speed” and “Simulation ratio” for fast runs. This is specially designed for sensitivity runs.
- As mentioned in item 2, one display box is added to show current activities.
- Pressure at the mud line is computed and displayed.
- Mud and gas return rates at the surface are calculated and displayed.4. For output display after well control simulation, the following variables are added in the plot:
- Mud and gas return rates at the surface
- Pressure at the mud line
- Other 15 variables are still available as the old version does.Task 3. Use of the simulator to compare and contrast well control. We have begun developing a matrix of kicks that will be used to make our comparisons of conventional well kicks and kicks in ML/ERD wells.
Task 4. Have not begun.
