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    Ballooning

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    Mygroup 5544
    Ballooning

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Ballooning

    Uploaded by

    Mygroup 5544
    23 views11 pages
    Ballooning

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    Ballooning

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    23 views11 pages

    Ballooning

    Uploaded by

    Mygroup 5544
    Ballooning

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 11

    Ballooning in the

    Gulf of Thailand

    What is Ballooning and


    How We Handle It

    © Chevron 2008 1
    What is Ballooning

    • Ballooning
    Ballooningis a
    is phenomenon
    a phenomenon that occurs
    that when
    occurs
    the formation
    when takes takes
    the formation mud when the pumps
    mud when the are
    pumps aregives
    on - then on - then gives
    it back it back
    when when the
    the pumps are
    pumps are off (a
    off (a function of function of the Equivalent
    the Equivalent Circulating
    Circulating Density - ECD)
    Density - ECD)
    • Rock mechanics shows that ballooning
    occurs as a result of small fractures in sands
    and shales (usually thin bedded), opening
    and closing as the pumps are turned on and
    off (micro fracture phenomenon)

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 2


    How We operate

    • Hole size in production zone 6 ¼” OH

    • Annular velocities for hole cleaning during fast


    drilling equates to high ECDs
    ECDs =1.0 to 1.5+ PPG

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 3


    How To Identify Ballooning

    • First time or any time you are not sure it is


    Ballooning – treat back flow as a kick
    • You must Identify normal operations
    - Volume increase when stopping pumps
    - Volume decrease when starting pumps
    • You must identify mud losses (must lose mud
    before ballooning can occur)
    - Losses occur with pumps on
    • Flow back when the pumps are turned off
    - Decreasing over time

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 4


    How To Identify Ballooning

    • If the well is shut-in quickly SICP = SIDPP


    (Cuttings loading and gel strengths may cause
    pressures to differ SICP < SIDPP)
    • When circulating bottoms up, you may have a
    gas peak or water contamination from the
    depth of ballooning (possible dispersion).
    • Measure volume pumped for peak to reach the
    surface and back calculate depth of ballooning
    or kick

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 5


    Ballooning Rules

    UNTIL YOU’RE ABSOLUTLY SURE –


    TREAT EVERY FLOWBACK AS A KICK
    •Shut-in the well
    •Circulate it out using the Driller’s Method

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 6


    Ballooning Procedures
    What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

    • Always Treat Initial Flow back as a KICK!!!!


    • If ballooning was established previously
    - Record SIDPP and SICP (SIDPP may be
    impractical due to DP float & gels)
    - Contact Superintendent and discuss what
    has happened
    - Accurately Gauge Flow Back (Should have
    been done on every connection prior)
    - Determine total BBLS lost to formation
    - Do not POOH when well is Ballooning

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 7


    Ballooning Procedures
    What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

    1. With well shut-in, record SICP and SIDPP


    (may be impractical due to DP float & gels)
    2. Record pit volume used for kick tolerance
    calculation
    3. Through choke line, bleed off a pre-
    determined volume of mud or designated
    pressure - but less volume that used to
    calculate kick tolerance

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 8


    Ballooning Procedures
    What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

    4. Allow pressure to stabilize and record SICP,


    SIDPP and volume bleed
    − If pressure is greater than the first reading
    proceed with the first step of the Driller
    Method
    − If pressure is less than the first reading,
    proceed to
    step #5
    − If the pressure is equal to the first reading, it
    may or may not be ballooning (volumes bled
    and pressure will influence next decision

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 9


    Ballooning Procedures
    What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

    5. Bleed off an additional pre-determined


    volume of mud or pressure increment
    − If total volume to be bled is greater than kick
    tolerance volume and /or pressures have not
    dropped, you need to treat as a kick)
    6. Allow pressure to stabilize and record SICP
    and SIDPP
    − If pressure is greater than the first reading
    proceed with the first step of the Driller
    Method
    − If pressure is less than the first reading,
    proceed to step #7
    − If the pressure is equal to the first reading, it
    may or may not be ballooning (volumes bled
    and pressure will influence next decision)
    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 10
    Ballooning Procedures
    What To Do IF The Well May Be Ballooning

    7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 increasing bleed


    volumes or pressures, confidence increases
    that Ballooning is occurring when pressures
    and return bleed rate decreases
    8. Open Annular and observe well, continue
    operations.

    © Chevron 2008 D&C Chevron Thailand 11

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