Method and system for identifying a self-sustained influx of formation fluids into a wellbore
First Claim
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1. In a well monitoring system (10) comprising:
- an annular shut-off device (31) arranged to close a wellbore annulus (18) of the well (12) from atmosphere;
a flow control device line (56) coupled between said wellbore annulus and a surface fluid reservoir (42), said flow control device line including a flow control device (70);
a fluid injection line (48) in fluid communication with an upper end (24) of a drillstring;
an inlet flow rate measurement device (52) disposed in said fluid injection line, said inlet flow rate measurement device arranged to measure a flow rate in said fluid injection line and to generate a signal Fin(t) representative of actual fluid injection line flow rate as a function of time (t);
a flow check line (57) disposed downhole from said annular shut-off device and coupled between said wellbore annulus and said surface fluid reservoir; and
an outlet flow rate measurement device (58) disposed in said flow cheek line, said outlet flow rate measurement device arranged to measure flow rate in said flow check line and to generate a signal Fout(t) representative of actual flow check line flow rate as a function of time (t),a well monitoring method comprising the steps of,closing said annular shut-off device and diverting an annular return flow from the wellbore through said flow check line and outlet flow rate measurement device;
measuring a flow rate of said annular return flow with said outlet flow rate measurement device;
measuring an inlet flow rate of fluids entering the wellbore with said inlet flow rate measurement device; and
upon determining that the measured annular return flow rate is greater than the measured inlet flow rate, identifying the presence of a self-sustained influx of formation fluids based upon a non-decreasing measured annular return.
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Abstract
A method of identifying a self-sustained influx of formation fluids into a wellbore includes the steps of closing an annular shut-off device and diverting an annular return flow from the wellbore through a first flow rate measurement device, measuring a flow rate of said annular return flow, measuring an inlet flow rate of fluids entering the well through a second flow rate measurement device in a fluid injection line, and identifying a self-sustained influx of formation fluids if a non-decreasing measured annular return flow rate is greater than said measured inlet flow rate.
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10 Claims
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1. In a well monitoring system (10) comprising:
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an annular shut-off device (31) arranged to close a wellbore annulus (18) of the well (12) from atmosphere; a flow control device line (56) coupled between said wellbore annulus and a surface fluid reservoir (42), said flow control device line including a flow control device (70); a fluid injection line (48) in fluid communication with an upper end (24) of a drillstring; an inlet flow rate measurement device (52) disposed in said fluid injection line, said inlet flow rate measurement device arranged to measure a flow rate in said fluid injection line and to generate a signal Fin(t) representative of actual fluid injection line flow rate as a function of time (t); a flow check line (57) disposed downhole from said annular shut-off device and coupled between said wellbore annulus and said surface fluid reservoir; and an outlet flow rate measurement device (58) disposed in said flow cheek line, said outlet flow rate measurement device arranged to measure flow rate in said flow check line and to generate a signal Fout(t) representative of actual flow check line flow rate as a function of time (t), a well monitoring method comprising the steps of, closing said annular shut-off device and diverting an annular return flow from the wellbore through said flow check line and outlet flow rate measurement device; measuring a flow rate of said annular return flow with said outlet flow rate measurement device; measuring an inlet flow rate of fluids entering the wellbore with said inlet flow rate measurement device; and upon determining that the measured annular return flow rate is greater than the measured inlet flow rate, identifying the presence of a self-sustained influx of formation fluids based upon a non-decreasing measured annular return. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification