Advantages of Utilizing Early Kick and Loss Detection System in High-Pressure High-Temperature Wells

Fluid kicks and losses during drilling operations are potentially dangerous, thus the early detection of these results in a significant increase in drilling safety and is one of the most important areas for improvement in well control. It’s always crucial to minimize the time taken to identify a kick which helps in, reducing the size of influx at the point of detection. When kicks and losses are accurately detected and recognized early, they can be more easily managed and stress levels on equipment and personnel can be reduced, thereby lowering the risk of adverse consequences. The need for earlier, more accurate, more reliable kick and loss detection while drilling operations has become increasingly important, as more operations are being conducted in deep wells, with increasingly tight pressure margins. Such reliable measures would allow the use of lower mud weights to drill in near balance condition, resulting in higher ROP, matigate formation damage, and assisting to lower the overall well costs. The differential flow (Flow-out minus Flow-in) and Active Volume System are continually monitored during drilling, tripping, circulation and pipe connections. These readings are processed in a computer-based, data-acquisition system to form a filtered delta-flow signal that identifies the occurrence of downhole fluid gains or losses. The system is designed to trigger an alarm when a gain or loss exceeds a user defined level. The differential flow is measured accurately through dedicated Coriolis type flowmeter with the resolution of 10 lit/min and operates for all fluid types. It is critical to monitor the well whilst tripping through such dedicated flowmeter to have redundancy for kick indication, by comparing the readings with changes in the trip tank volume. A graphical and numeric representation of both readings is given to the Driller, Company Man and Rig Superintendent, together with alarms when a consistent deviation is identified. Drilling deep wells in Kuwait are challenging due to high pressure, high temperature formations, with the Bottom Hole Pressure of +15kpsi and Bottom Hole Temperature of +150 Centigrade. Makhul formation is considered as the first highly pressurized formation and Gotnia formation with highly pressurized thin layers of carbonates trapped between thick layers of salt. Drilling Najmah Pre-Salt and Marrat Carbonate Reservoirs with very narrow pressure margins and in some cases depleted reservoirs are the other challenges to finish the well safely and successfully.