Bullheading

© 2013 Chevron
 Objective

 Identify and explain each step of the bullheading procedure.

 Use the necessary bullheading calculations required to kill a well by
completing an example.
 Recognize and be able to clarify the pressure limits when bullheading.
 Recognize how friction can affect bullheading

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 Bullheading definition

 Pumping into a shut-in well in order to increase BHP and

cause injection of fluid into the formation.
 Fracking is a form of bullheading over fracture pressure

© 2013 Chevron
 Well Control Methods

Well Control
Methods

Relatively Non
Constant
Constant Constant
BHP
BHP BHP

Circulating Non
Bullheading
(Drillers) Circulating

Forward Reverse Lube and Volumetric

Circulation Circulation Bleed Method

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 Pump pressure

Pump
Pressure
What are the components of pump
pressure?
FrPsurf
ON Pump Pressure=
+ Friction Pressure in Surface Lines
+ Friction Pressure in Tubing String
+ Friction Pressure Across Perforations
+ Friction Pressure in Formation
FrPtub + Reservoir Pressure
- Tubing hydrostatic pressure

 Friction pressure loss is generally ignored and acts

as a “safety factor”.
 If high rates are required, friction pressure can be
Tbg HP
empirically estimated to reduce the “safety
factor”
FrPperfs + FrPform

Reservoir pressure

© 2013 Chevron
 Pump pressure

 Factors affecting pump pressure:

– Formation / perforations exposed
– Formation permeability
– Formation plugging / skin
– Formation fluid
– Pump rate
– Casing & tubing size and length
– Reservoir pressure
– Kill fluid density and composition

© 2013 Chevron
 Pump pressure limitations

 Surface pressure limitation for bullheading down tubing / casing:

– Formation fracture pressure
– Tubing / casing burst rating (adjusted for condition)
– Wellhead or tree rating
– BOPE rating

© 2013 Chevron
 Considerations

– Planning:
• Poor permeability may prevent bullheading

• Inability to handle formation fluid may require bullheading

• Determine if fracturing the formation is an option

– Operational:
• Pressure differential across packer and seal assembly could be a
concern

• Pump speed must exceed gas migration rate.

• Consider possibilities for reducing required surface pressure

© 2013 Chevron
 General Procedure for Bullheading

1. Calculations:
• Determine required density (ppg) and volume (bbl) to bullhead.
• Establish surface pressure limitations (psi).
2. Pressure test all equipment lines.
3. Bring the pump on slowly.
4. Once injectivity is established, increase the pump speed without
exceeding the surface pressure limit.
5. Monitor and record pressures and volumes during the procedure.
6. Shut down when sufficient volume has been pumped.
7. Read, record and monitor SITP.
8. If SITP exists, determine if it is due to trapped pressure or
underbalanced.
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 Bullheading Example – Prework

Prework Calculations
SITP = 2,500 psi
1. Formation Pressure

2. Formation Fracture Pressure

• BHP must stay between 4,410 psi and 6,370 psi or the well will
either go underbalanced or fracture.
• Since , an increase or decrease in either SP or HP or the relationship
between the two can cause the BHP to change and exceed the limits.
Packer@
9,300 ft

EOT = 9,500 ft

Top Perfs = 9,800 ft

Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example – Prework

Prework Calculations
SITP = 2,500 psi
3. Initial hydrostatic pressure
where BHP is Formation Pressure in the initial state

4. Average fluid density (Initial Hydrostatic pressure)

The current state of the well

Packer@
9,300 ft

EOT = 9,500 ft

Top Perfs = 9,800 ft

Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example – Prework

Prework Calculations
SITP = 2,500 psi
5. Kill Weight Mud

• Why use the top perf instead of the bottom perf?

If pumped the well may not be killed

• Use top perf TVD when calculating pressures and KWM

Packer@ • Use bottom perf MD when calculating volumes and
9,300 ft
displacement
EOT = 9,500 ft

Top Perfs = 9,800 ft

Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example – Identifying Pressure Limits

Prework Calculations
SITP = 2,500 psi • Once pumping begins, what SP + current HP will exceed fracture? What will
be the maximum surface pressure at every point KWM is being pumped?

• As fluid begins to enter the tubing, HP increases

• Calculate the relationship between SP and HP at every point in the well

• OR… calculate at distinct chosen points and interpolate
• Point 1: Initial case
• Point 2: KWM at end of the tubing
• Point 3: KWM at top perf
Packer@ • Point 4: KWM at bottom perf or other zone of interest (may not be
9,300 ft
necessary)
EOT = 9,500 ft

Top Perfs = 9,800 ft

Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example – Identifying Pressure Limits

Fracture

Desired Range

End of Tubing

Bottom Perf
Top Perf
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 Bullheading Example – Identifying Pressure Limits

Max Surface Pressure Calculation

SITP = 2,500 psi
Point 1: Max initial surface pressure

• If surface pressure exceeds 4,460 psi before KWM enters the wellbore, the
formation will be fractured.

Point 2: Max EOT Pressure

Packer@
9,300 ft

EOT = 9,500 ft

Top Perfs = 9,800 ft

Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example – Identifying Pressure Limits

SITP = 2,500 psi

Max Surface Pressure Calculation

Point 3: Max surface pressure with kill fluid at top perf

Packer@
9,300 ft

EOT = 9,500 ft

Top Perfs = 9,800 ft

Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example – Pumping Schedule

Pressure drop Calculations:

SITP = 2,500 psi • Since the initial and end of tubing max pressures are known, a trend line can
be drawn between the two points to show the max pressure at any point
between the initial and EOT pressures

• Calculations can be worked using strokes or barrels

OR

Packer@
9,300 ft Volume Stks BBLs
Tubing - Surface to EOT 1554 69.8
EOT = 9,500 ft
Casing - EOT to Top Perf 256 11.48
Top Perfs = 9,800 ft Casing - Top Perf to Bottom
170 7.65
Perf
Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example – Pumping Schedule

Pressure drop Calculations:

SITP = 2,500 psi • Pressure drop between EOT and top perforation
• Option A: If the stroke requirement is greater than the selected interval, create
a new pressure drop per stroke calculation because the ACF has changed.

• Option B: If the stroke requirement is less than the selected interval.

Not needed in this example since EOT to top perf is less than 100 strokes

Packer@
9,300 ft
Volume Stks BBLs
EOT = 9,500 ft Tubing - Surface to EOT 1554 69.8

Top Perfs = 9,800 ft Casing - EOT to Top Perf 256 11.48

Casing - Top Perf to Bottom
Bottom Perfs = 10,000 ft Perf
170 7.65
Formation Fracture Gradient = 0.650 psi/ft
Formation Pressure Gradient = 0.450 psi/ft
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 Bullheading Example

Max Initial Tubing Fracture Zone

Pressure

Max EOT Pressure

Max Final Tubing
Pressure

Bullhead
Zone

End of Tubing
Shut in Tubing

Bottom Perf
Top Perf
Pressure

Flow Zone

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 Bullheading Example

Slope Based on
Pressure Drop Per 100 Fracture Zone
Strokes (tubing)
(157.4 psi/100 strokes)

Slope Based on
Pressure Drop Per 100
Strokes (Casing)
(30.5 psi/100 strokes)

Bullhead
Zone

End of Tubing

Bottom Perf
Top Perf
Flow Zone

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 Bullheading Example

Fracture Zone

Fracture likely
Pressure increase due to
higher density fluid at
perfs

Bullhead

End of Tubing
Zone

Bottom Perf
Top Perf
Flow Zone

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 Special Considerations (Just an FYI)

 Friction may not be negligible.

– Significantly higher at higher pump rates
 Friction adds to pump pressure but not to BHP
 Max pressure limits may be higher than previously calculated

Calculating friction pressure loss at each anticipated pump rate:

1. Calculate the fluid velocity
2. Calculate the Reynolds number
3. Determine if flow is turbulent or laminar & select correct friction
equation
4. Calculate friction loss using the correct equation

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 Special Considerations

Calculate fluid velocity

Calculate Reynolds Number

If Reynolds Number is ≥ 2100 then the flow is turbulent

If the Reynolds number is ≤ 2100 then the flow is laminar

Friction loss in turbulent flow

Friction loss in laminar flow

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 Bullheading Example

Fracture Zone
Act
ual
pre
ssu
re li
Ma mit
xP to fr
SI i actu
gno re a
ring t X.
fric Xb
tion pm

End of Tubing

Bottom Perf
Top Perf
Flow Zone

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