CH 15

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Drilling Well Control Guide

Section 1 - Fundamentals of Well Control

1. Fundamentals of Well Control

1.1 Categories of Well Control

Conventionally, well control practices can be conveniently subdivided into three main
categories:

• Primary Well Control


• Secondary Well Control
• Tertiary Well Control

Primary Well Control

This is the name given to the process which maintains a hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore
greater than the pressure of the fluids in the formation being drilled, but less than formation
fracture pressure. If hydrostatic pressure decreases and becomes less than formation pressure
(primary well control is lost) then fluids may enter the wellbore from an exposed formation.
If the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the wellbore exceeds the fracture pressure of the
formation then the height of the fluid column in the well could be reduced. Such a reduction
in fluid column height may, in an extreme case, lead to loss of primary well control over
another exposed formation’s pressure.

While an overbalance, or slight excess of hydrostatic pressure over formation pressure is


typically desired, the basic practice of maintaining primary well control involves keeping a
well filled with a density of drilling fluid that will be heavy enough to balance, but not break
down the combinations of formation that may be exposed at any particular time.

Secondary Well Control

If primary well control is inadequate, fluid contained in an exposed, permeable formation


may flow into the well. Once in the well, this formation fluid, of whatever type, is called an
“influx”. Once the process of flow from a formation into the well begins, hydrostatic pressure
will decrease even further. If uncontrolled, this process can lead to flow from a well that may
be uncontrollable (a blowout). The process is stopped by using a “Blowout Preventer” (BOP)
to increase pressure above that of hydrostatic pressure alone, thus preventing the intake of
additional formation fluids into the well. This use of a mechanical device to make up for
inadequate hydrostatic pressure is referred to as “secondary” well control.

Early recognition of the failure of primary well control and the rapid use of BOPs for shut-in
of the well is the key to effective secondary well control. By taking action quickly, the

October 2005 1-1

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