Distinguishing Wellbore Breathing From Formation Influx

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx
February, 2012

presented by
Mark Herkommer
Geopressure Technology Center Geoservices, A Schlumberger Company Conroe, Texas
February, 2012 www.geoservices.com
Central Theme Wellbore Breathing

Wellbore breathing (ballooning) or Formation Influx are identified during connections when mud flowback is observed. Wellbore Breathing: If the mud weight is too high, when the pumps are switched on pressure applied to the formation can open fractures, which then take fluid. Shutting the pumps off relieves the downhole pressure allowing the fractures to close and causes the mud to flow back into the wellbore. Formation Influx: If the mud weight is too low, when the pumps are switched off the loss of pressure can permit permeable formations to flow into the wellbore. An inappropriate response can worsen the problem and lead to lost circulation or a dangerous kick. Early diagnosis is the key. 2
Copyright, 2012. All Rights Reserved. Geoservices, A Schlumberger Company Conroe, Texas
February, 2012
Central Theme Wellbore Breathing vs. Kick
Volume of Fractures
Fracture Volume in Barrels per 10' of Formation Thickness

radial depth of penetration fracture width inches
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 4 1.0 length length length length length 5 feet 10 feet 20 feet 40 feet 80 feet area area area area area 200 400 800 1600 3200 sqft sqft sqft sqft sqft 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0 1.6 2.4 3.2 4.0 4.7 5.5 6.3 7.1 7.9 3.2 4.7 6.3 7.9 9.5 11.1 12.7 14.2 15.8 4
February, 2012
Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx: Detection Methods
Pit Volume - Small to Severe Losses Detection Synchronized Event Display - Fingerprinting Pressure While Drilling ECD Management Early Kick Detection - Differential Flow Rates Gas and Gas Ratios - Compositional Analysis
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PVT behavior during a connection

Note rounding of Pit Volume Totalizer (PVT) curve as the wellbore returns and accepts fluid when pumps are turned off and on Legend:
Flow Rate (FR) Active Vol.
First indication of wellbore breathing
February, 2012
PVT Behavior While Drilling and During a Connection

Legend: Flow Rate (FR) Active Vol. Losses at 4635m: high FR + high RPM Losses at 4646m: incr. FR + high RPM Suspected Well Breathing at 4647m Losses at 4646m: high FR + high RPM 9
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February, 2012
Assessment of Normal Flow Back During Connection: Flowback Fingerprinting

Differential flow shows amount of fluid returned after the pumps are stopped
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Abnormal Flow Back during Connections: Well Breathing

Well Breathing
Abnormal Flow Back
Normal Flow Back

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February, 2012
Abnormal Flow Back during Connections: Well Kicking
Well Kicking
Abnormal Flow Back
Normal Flow Back

4 minutes
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February, 2012
Abnormal ECD Response: Well Breathing

Normal, square shaped ECD during connection
With increased ballooning the ECD adopts a more curved appearance during flow back
As ballooning worsens, the loss and gain become more rounded

Courtesy Sperry 17
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Abnormal ECD Response: Well Kicking

Increasing Connection Gas during each connection
Increasing active pit levels during influx and corresponding ECD response
Courtesy Sperry 18
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February, 2012
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Abnormal EKD response: Well Breathing

Return volume increasing with depth: consistent with fracture enlargement.
Abnormally high return at pump stop. Warning status. The flow given by the flowmeter matches the theoretical flow out
The alarm is green : nothing to notice.
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Losses mitigated with LCM : Fractures only opening when pump start.
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February, 2012
Abnormal EKD Response: Well Kicking
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February, 2012
Underbalanced drilling: Swabbing/Influx

Formation at higher pressure than static mud column During connection, All the gases are exchanged between formation and mud in hole No or minor change in gas ratio because the gas is the same composition as the drilled gas Time of exchange is limited to Pump Off time : 5-10 min
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Conditions for Well Breathing

Some mud losses must have occurred, prior the well breathing. Losses are due to fractures induced by the ECD (not losses in a permeable formation with lower pressure) Hydrostatic pressure (ESD) at TD is below the closing fracture gradient. Increasing MW does not stop the PCG, and possibly make them worse. Severe or total losses can be expected, if MW is raised above the fracture closing pressure.
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February, 2012
What Happens During Well Breathing

At pump off time, fracture closes slowly, mud flows back to hole Multiples fractures at various depth may have been induced or re-opened. Mud is charged mostly with light gases High gas peak may be expected High PCG observed, but with light gases. Minor increase of the heavier gases C4C5. Time of exchange : during the pumping time, i.e. several hours 27
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Volume of Fractures
Fracture Volume in Barrels per 10' of Formation Thickness

radial depth of penetration fracture width inches
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 28 1.0 length length length length length 5 feet 10 feet 20 feet 40 feet 80 feet area area area area area 200 400 800 1600 3200 sqft sqft sqft sqft sqft 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0 1.6 2.4 3.2 4.0 4.7 5.5 6.3 7.1 7.9 3.2 4.7 6.3 7.9 9.5 11.1 12.7 14.2
28 15.8
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February, 2012
How Gas Moves From a Formation Into the Drilling Fluid

INFLUX: Darcy Flow Gas flow through a porous media under the influence of a pressure differential between the formation and the drilling fluid
WELLBORE BREATHING: Diffusion Flow Gas flow through a saturated porous media under the influence of a concentration gradient between the formation and the drilling fluid
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Gas Peaks Composition: Well Breathing
Evolution toward lighter composition with same EMW
Evolution toward lighter composition with same EMW 35
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February, 2012
Gas Peak Composition: Well Kicking
No relationship between compositions before the kick even, FG becoming lighter New (much heavier) composition for the kick 36
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Gas Ratios Well Breathing/Ballooning

Pipe Connection Gas is high and rich in light components and strong changes of gas ratios Gas Ratios
Purple Balance
Balance
Bh =
C1 + C 2 C3 + C4 + C5
Wetness
Blue Wetness
Wh = ( C 2 + C 3 + C 4 + C 5 ) 100 C1 + C 2 + C 3 + C 4 + C5
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February, 2012
Gas Ratios Well Kicking/Swabbing

Gas Ratios
Purple Balance
Bh =
C1 + C 2 C3 + C4 + C5
Balance Wetness
Blue Wetness
Wh = ( C 2 + C 3 + C 4 + C 5 ) 100 C1 + C 2 + C 3 + C 4 + C 5
Pipe Connection Gas peaks are sharp and affect all gas components without change in gas ratio
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Well Breathing Identification Conclusions

When to suspect well breathing
Section with a very tight MW window ECD is close to the weakest formation in the open hole section (weakest point not always at the shoe) Losses were observed during the section
Well Breathing Indicators

Abnormal Flowback, but stabilizing Pit behavior during medium to severe well breathing ECD shape has rounded character EKD shows losses, followed by an equal gain
PCG gas composition enriched in lighter components compared to background gas and may not arrive on time 39
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February, 2012
Well Influx Identification Conclusions

When to suspect well influx (kick)
Section with a very tight MW window ESD is close highest formation pore pressure in the open hole section
Well Influx Indicators

Abnormal Flowback and NOT stabilizing Pit behavior shows gain without prior loss ECD shape has square-ish (normal) character EKD shows gain without prior losses
PCG gas composition is similar to background gas and will tend to arrive on time
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QUESTIONS...
Thank you for your attention.

www.geoservices.com
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Distinguishing Wellbore Breathing From Formation Influx

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Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Central Theme Wellbore Breathing

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Central Theme Wellbore Breathing vs. Kick

Fracture Volume in Barrels per 10' of Formation Thickness

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx: Detection Methods

PVT behavior during a connection

First indication of wellbore breathing

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

PVT Behavior While Drilling and During a Connection

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx: Detection Methods

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Assessment of Normal Flow Back During Connection: Flowback Fingerprinting

Abnormal Flow Back during Connections: Well Breathing

Normal Flow Back

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Abnormal Flow Back during Connections: Well Kicking

Abnormal Flow Back

Normal Flow Back

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx: Detection Methods

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Abnormal ECD Response: Well Breathing

As ballooning worsens, the loss and gain become more rounded

Abnormal ECD Response: Well Kicking

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx: Detection Methods

Abnormal EKD response: Well Breathing

The alarm is green : nothing to notice.

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Abnormal EKD Response: Well Kicking

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx: Detection Methods

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Underbalanced drilling: Swabbing/Influx

Conditions for Well Breathing

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

What Happens During Well Breathing

Fracture Volume in Barrels per 10' of Formation Thickness

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

How Gas Moves From a Formation Into the Drilling Fluid

Gas Peaks Composition: Well Breathing

Evolution toward lighter composition with same EMW

Evolution toward lighter composition with same EMW 35

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Gas Peak Composition: Well Kicking

Gas Ratios Well Breathing/Ballooning

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Gas Ratios Well Kicking/Swabbing

Well Breathing Identification Conclusions

Well Breathing Indicators

Distinguishing Well Breathing from Formation Influx

Well Influx Identification Conclusions

Well Influx Indicators

Thank you for your attention.

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