IWCF Surface Well Control

Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

SURFACE WELL CONTROL EXERCISE NO. 9

PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ___________________

Well Data

Hole size 8 1/2 inch

Hole depth 14000 feet TVD / 14800 feet MD
Casing 9 5/8 inch, casing set at 10,000 feet TVD / MD
Drill pipe 4 1/2, 13800 feet long, capacity 0.0142 bbls / ft
Drill collars 6 1/4 inch, 1000 ft long, capacity 0.0081 bbls / ft
Mud density 12.5 ppg

Capacities

Drill Collar / Open Hole 0.030 bbls

Drill Pipe / Open Hole 0.046 bbls
Drill Pipe / Casing 0.050 bbls

Mud Pumps Displacement = 0.102 bbls / stroke

SCR 740 psi at 40 spm

Fracture mud density at casing shoe = 16.6 ppg

The well has been shut in after a kick

Kick data

SIDPP 700 psi

SICP 1150 psi
Pit Gain 30 bbl

The well will be killed using the Drillers Method at 40 spm

Answer the following nine questions from the data above.

The attached kill sheet may be used to assist you with your calculations.

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

1. How many strokes are required to pump kill mud from surface to bit?

______________ strokes 4 points

2. How many strokes are required to pump from the bit to the casing shoe?

______________ strokes 4 points

3. How many strokes are required to pump from the bit to the surface?

______________ strokes 4 points

4. What is the kill mud density?

______________ ppg 4 points

5. What is the Initial Circulating Pressure?

______________ psi 4 points

6. What is the Final Circulating Pressure?

______________ psi 4 points

7. What is the MAASP at the time the well was shut in?

______________ psi 4 points

8. What is the MAASP after circulation of the kill mud?

______________ psi 4 points

9. What is the time for one complete circulation?

_____________ minutes 4 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

10. A driller comes on shift while the rig is drilling ahead the section will be drilled
ahead. The section will be drilled ahead to target depth above the reservoir and
there is a possibility that TD will be reached during the drillers shift.

What should the driller do at the start of this shift?

a) Stop the pumps and flow check the well.

b) Continue to drill ahead until 500 ft (150m) of hole has been made since the last
Kill Rate Circulating Pressure were taken and then take new ones.
c) Take new kill Rate Circulating Pressures.
d) Wait a further 6 hours than take Kill Rate Circulating Pressures.

2 points

11. A kick is shut in on a surface BOP stack. No Kill Rate Circulating Pressures are
available. What procedure should be used to obtain the correct Initial Circulating
Pressure (ICP)?

a) Only use the Driller’s Method. As the drill pipe pressure does not change during
the entire circulation it is only required to observe that the drill pipe pressure
remains constant and equal to the SIDPP.
b) Contact the mud logger and request the best possible calculation of the Initial
Circulation Pressure intended for use during the well kill.
c) Check the records and choose the Kill Rate Circulating Pressure taken with the
last BHA in the hole nearest to the depth where the kick took place. Add 100 psi
to this valve as a precautionary pressure.
d) When starting to kill the well, keep the choke pressure as close as possible to
the Shut-In Casing Pressure. When the selected kill pump rate has been
reached, read the drill pipe pressure and use that as the ICP.

3 points

12. When should a leak-off test be carried out?

a) Immediately before drilling out casing shoe.

b) Immediately after running and cementing casing.
c) Immediately before running casing.
d) After drilling out the casing shoe and 5 to 15 feet of new formation.

2 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

13. A well is full of 12 ppg mud and a leak-off test has been performed at 5000 feet
TVD. A leak-off pressure of 875 psi has been recorded.

Calculate the maximum allowable mud density.

a) 14.5 ppg
b) 15.3 ppg
c) 13.2 ppg
d) 12 ppg

2 points

14. When drilling TOP HOLE, formation strengths are comparatively weak and total
losses a common occurrence.

How can the risk of total losses be minimised?

a) By keeping the penetration rate under control to prevent loading of the annulus
with cuttings.
b) By keeping the circulation rate low to reduce the pressure loss in the circulating
system.
c) By using a high over balance.

2 points

15. Which of the following statements are good operating practices when drilling TOP
HOLE formations where there is as risk of shallow gas?
(Select TWO answers)

a) Maintain high rate of penetration to ensure mud viscosity level is as high as

possible.
b) Use an oil based mud.
c) Pump out of the hole on trips.
d) Drill a pilot hole at a slow controlled rate.
e) Use a heavy density mud to create maximum overbalance.

3 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

16. Calculate the reduction in bottom hole pressure when circulating gas cut mud in the
following well.
Vertical depth 5900 feet
Surface to 650 feet mud density of 11.2 ppg
650 to 1300 feet mud density of 11.8 ppg
1300 feet to bottom mud density of 12.5 ppg
Original mud density was 12.5 ppg

a) 24 psi
b) 68 psi
c) 88 psi

3 points

17. While drilling ahead through a faulted formation, the flow meter drops from 50 % to
42 %

What is the most likely cause of this?

a) Total lost circulation has occurred.

b) Partial lost circulation has occurred.
c) A kick has been swabbed on the last connection.
d) There was a washout in the string.

3 points

18. Which of the following conditions increase surge pressures when running in?
(Select TWO answers)

a) Large annular clearance.

b) Large sized nozzles in the drill bit.
c) Low viscosity and gel strength of the drilling mud.
d) High viscosity and gel strength of the drilling mud.
e) Running – in speed greatly reduced.
f) Small annular clearance.

3 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

19. Which of the following increase the risk of swabbing?

(Select THREE answers)

a. Viscous mud.
b. Spiral drill collars in the BHA.
c. Tripping out too fast.
d. Balled up stabilizers.
e. Low permeability formation.

4 points

20. What is the correct definition of “Primary Well Control” during normal drilling
operations?

a) Preventing the flow of formation fluid into the well bore by maintaining the sum of
drilling mud hydrostatic pressure and dynamic pressure loss in the annulus
equal to or greater than formation pressure.
b) Preventing the flow of formation fluid into the well bore by maintaining drilling
mud hydrostatic pressure equal to or greater than formation pressure.
c) Preventing the flow of formation fluid into the well bore by using BOP equipment
when the hydrostatic pressure in the well bore does not balance or exceed the
formation pressure.
d) Preventing the flow of formation fluid into the well bore by maintaining the
dynamic pressure loss in the annulus equal to or greater than formation
pressure.

2 points

21. A 25 bbl heavy slug with a density of 12 ppg is pumped prior to pulling out of the
hole from 10500 feet TVD. The level in the pipe falls by 215 feet.

What is the change in Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) if the original mud density was
10.4 ppg?

a) 1180 psi
b) 0 psi
c) 20 psi
d) 140 psi

3 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

22. What action should a driller take after observing a drilling break?

a) Circulate bottoms up.

b) Increase pump speed.
c) Flow check.
d) Reduce weight on bit.

4 points

23. Which of the following are indicators that a well might be going under balanced?
(Select TWO answers)

a) A change in the shape and size of cuttings.

b) Increasing background gas levels.
c) A reduction in the drilling rate.
d) A slight increase in the flow line mud density.
e) A significant increase in the pump pressure.

4 points

24. Which of the following are good practice when connection gas is observed?
(Select TWO answers)

a) Raise the mud yield point.

b) Control drilling rate so that only one slug of connection gas is in the hole at any
time.
c) Minimize the time during a connection when the pumps are switched off.
d) Pull out of hole to change the bit.
e) Pump a low viscosity pill around the bit to assist in reduction of balled bit or
stabilizers.

3 points

25. Which of the following are positive warning sighs of a kick while drilling?
(Select TWO answers)

a) Increase in pit volume.

b) Increase in flow rate with constant pump stoke rate.
c) Decrease in flow rate with constant pump stoke rate.
d) Decrease in pit volume.
2 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

26. Which of the following may be a warning of abnormal pressure at constant rotary
RPM, constant WOB and constant pump rate? (Select THREE answers)

a) Change of outing shape on the shakers.

b) Variation of penetration rate.
c) Increase trip tank level.
d) Increase connection gas in returns.
e) Increase in pump pressure.
f) Reduced trip tank level.

3 points

27. If the pit level increases when the pumps are off, but stays constant when the
pumps are running what is the problem?

a) Pumps pressure is greater than mud hydrostatic pressure.

b) APL are creating an overbalance that prevents the well from flowing.
c) The pump needs to be repaired.
d) Mud hydrostatic is greater than formation pressure.

3 points

28. The following statement describes one of the differences between drilling with oil
based mud and water based mud.

“Hydrocarbon gas is generally more soluble in oil-based mud than in water

based mud”.

a) True
b) False

1 point

29. The following statement describes one of the differences between drilling with oil
based mud and water based mud.

Hydrocarbon gas is generally less soluble in water based mud than in oil based mud

a) True
b) False

1 point

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

30. Is the following statement true or false?

While circulating out a kick, gas volume in the annulus increases at the same rate in
oil and water based mud.

a) True
b) False

1 point

31. A vertical well has been drilled to a depth of 8000 feet

Overbalance 170 psi

Mud gradient 0.72 psi / ft
Casing capacity 0.157 bbls / ft
Drill pipe metal disp 0.008 bbl / ft

How many complete stands can be pulled dry before an overbalance is lost (assume
one stand = 90 feet)

a) 50 stands
b) 48 stands
c) 49 stands

5 Points

32. While pulling out of the hole it is noticed that the mud filling the hole from the trip
tank is less then calculated.
What action should be taken?

a) Flow check, if there is no flow then continues to POOH to surface.

b) Flow check, if there is no flow run back to bottom and monitor returns.
c) Shut the well in and circulate the hole clean.
d) Pump remaining stands out of the hole.
e) Flow check, if there is no flow displace a 100 feet heavy slug to the annulus and
continue to POOH.

5 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

33. Well data

Drill Pipe capacity 0.0178 bbls / ft

Drill Pipe metal displacement 0.0082 bbls / ft
Average stand length 93 feet

Calculate the volume of mud required to fill the hole per stand when pulled “wet”,
with no return of mud to the well.

a) 0.76 bbl
b) 1.65 bbl
c) 2.42 bbl

3 points

34. Put the following five steps in the correct sequence to shut in a well using the soft
shut in procedure (according to API RP59) on a surface BOP installation.

a) ____ Open the BOP side outlet hydraulic valve.

b) ____ With choke already open, position the drill string correctly, if so required.
c) ____ Stop the pumps.
d) ____ Close the choke.
e) ____ close the BOP.

5 points

35. Why should a well be shut in quickly after kick has been detected?

a) To minimize the size of the influx into the well bore .

b) To minimize the percolating speed of influx.
c) To minimize the SIDPP.

3 points

36. Which pressure is calculated using SIDPP?

a) Formation pressure.
b) Shoe pressure.
c) Hydrostatic pressure.
d) Fracture pressure

2 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

37. Which of the following statement are true for a surface BOP installation?
(Select TWO answers)

a) The surface line volume will affect the time at which kill mud will increase the
hydrostatic pressure in the string
b) The BP press should be maintained const while bringing pumps up to kill speed
c) The pumps must be brought up to speed holding the casing pressure constant
d) The surface line volume (pump to swivel) does not need to be considered when
starting the kill.

4 points

38. Which one of the following kill methods will minimise the risk of losses at the shoe in
a vertical well with a long open hole section?

a) Volumetric Method
b) Wait and Weight Method
c) Drillers Method
d) Bullheading

3 points

39. When killing a well using the Drillers Method what will happen to the mud pit volume
as the gas is circulated up the hole?

a) It will increase
b) It will decrease
c) It will stay the same

2 points

40. While pulling out of the hole the Duller Method what will happen to the mud pit
volume as the gas is circulated up the hole?

a) It will decrease
b) It will remain unchanged
c) It will increase

2 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

41. If a shallow gas flow is detected, which of the following steps should be taken as the
flow is diverted?

a) Increase pump rata

b) Maintain pump rate
c) Decrease pump rate

2 points

42. A well is being killed using the Drillers Method

During the first circulation, the DP psi is kept constant at 450 psi and the pump
speed at 30 SPM. Halfway through the first circulation, the operator on the choke
observes a sudden increase in drill pipe pressure. There is no significant change in
choke pressure and the pump speed is still 30 SPM.

What could have happened?

a) The bit nozzles have partially plugged.

b) The kick is about to enter the choke.
c) The choke has partially blocked.
d) Pressure has built up in the mud / gas separator.

4 points

43. Why is it important to monitor the pit volume during a well control operation?
(Select TWO answers)

a) To maintain Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) constant.

b) To adjust pump rate.
c) To follow the gas expansion.
d) To adjust Drill Pipe pressure
e) To check for mud losses.

4 points

44. While circulating out a kick, the mud pump fails.

What is the FIRST action to take?

a) Change over to another pump.

b) Shut the well in.
c) Divert the well.
d) Fix pumps as soon as possible.

4 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

45. Why is pressure built-up in the mud / gas separator (poor boy degasser) dangerous
while circulating out a kick?

a) Pressure built up may allow gas to be blown up the derrick vent line.
b) Pressure build up will increase the risk of lost circulation.
c) Pressure build up may allow gas to enter the shale shaker area.
d) Pressure build up will make choke adjustment difficult.

4 points

46. Which are the following well control problems requires the pump to be shut down
quickly to prevent over – pressuring open hole formations

a) A washout on the choke manifold

b) A lost bit nozzle
c) A plugged bit nozzle
d) A washout in the DP
e) A pump liner washout
f) A plugged choke

4 points

47. Select the products commonly used to prevent or remove hydrates:

(Select TWO answers)

a) Diesel
b) Water
c) Methanol
d) Carboxy Method Cellubse (CMC)
e) Glycol

2 points

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 IWCF Surface Well Control
Exercise No. 9 - Answers
Field Units

Drilling & Advanced Rig Training

SURFACE WELL CONTROL EXERCISE NO. 9

ANSWERS

1. 2006 strokes
2. 2008 strokes
3. 6910 strokes
4. 13.5 ppg
5. 1440 psi
6. 799 psi
7. 2132 psi
8. 1612 psi
9. 222 minutes
10. C
11. D
12. D
13. B
14. A
15. D, E
16. A
17. B
18. D, E
19. A, C, D
20. A
21. B
22. C
23. A, B
24. B, C
25. A, B
26. A, B, E
27. B
28. A
29. A
30. B
31. B
32. B
33. C
34. 4,1,2,5,3
35. A
36. A
37. A, C
38. B
39. A
40. A
41. A
42. A
43. C, E
44. B
45. C
46. A

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