Kill Rate Selection

I just got the question regarding kill rate selection while performing the well control operation. Why is the kill rate quite low while circulating influx out of the well?

Typically, most people select the kill rate of 2 – 5 bbl/min because of the following reasons.

More flow you have, more gas will come out. It may cause the flow rate over specification of the mud gas separator. You may end up with blow though of gas into your pit system while circulating kick out of hole.

You will have more time to think and react while circulating. The higher rate you use, the less reaction time you will have.

Most of the rigs are able to pump at this low rate without any hassle.

The most important thing is the ECD (equivalent circulating density). You don’t want to create at lot of frictional pressure because you may break the formation resulting in unbalance U-Tube.

From my experience, the low rate will give more time and I will be more comfortable to see what is going on in slow mode instead of fast. Please do not save the rig time by just only cranking your pump rate up. It will not work very well when you are in the well control situation.

Reference book: Well Control Books

Tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

About DrillingFormulas.Com

Working in the oil field and loving to share knowledge.

5 Responses to Kill Rate Selection

  1. ujwal shetty says:

    hello,
    This is very good information from you. Special thank to your team. Looking forward for more intresting stuff from your team

  2. ujwal shetty says:

    hello,
    This is very good information from you. Special thanks to your team. Looking forward for more intresting stuff from your team.

  3. Waled AL Fares says:

    Thank u really a useful infromations

  4. Ahmed says:

    Thanks a lot; really good information; in well control issue don’t think about saving rig time.

  5. Ahmad Jafari says:

    There are a few factors effecting kill rate : some of them
    Rig equip capacity & efficiency
    performance of crew to mix & availability of kill materials
    type of kick
    experience of crew
    weather conditions
    hole geometry
    …….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.