What is “Background Gas”?

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While we are drilling, there is a stable gas reading that is not connected with either bottoms up gas or drilled gas is generally called “Background Gas”. The background gas always shows every time while drilling and it is not a sign of considerable risk to well control situation. Nevertheless, we must always check changes in background gas value because it is able to help recognize underbalance situation while drilling, especially drilling into high pressure zone.

Remember – PLEASE ALWAYS KEEP TRACKING YOUR BACKGROUND GAS

Reference book: Well Control Books

What is “Drilled Gas”?

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While drilling, there will be a certain amount of the gas in cuttings entering into drilling fluid when we drill through porous formations that contain gas. The gas showing on the surface due to drilling through formations is called “Drilled Gas”.

When gas from the cutting comes into drilling fluid, it will expand as it is circulated out of hole, hence, you will see the gas from the monitors at the flow line. Even though we have overbalance hydrostatic pressure exerted by mud column, gas showing on the surface by this mechanism always happens. You cannot rise mud weight up to make it disappear.

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Shut in Procedures and Their Importance

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Shut in Well Procedures

The shut in procedure must be developed and practiced for every rig activity such as:

• Shut in while drilling
• Shut in while tripping
• Shut in while running casing, tubing, completion, etc.
• Shut in while performing workover operation
• Shut in while logging
• Shut in while performing drill stem test

What is the main reason why we need to have the shut in procedure and frequently practice it?

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Possible Kick (wellbore influx) Indications Part2

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This is the second part of the possible kick indications that I would like to share with you.

Decrease in d-Exponent Value

Normally, trends of d-Exponent will increase as we drill deeper, but this value will decrease to lower values than what we expect in transition zones. By closely monitored d-Exponent, d-Exponent chart will be useful for people on the rig to notify the high pressure transition zones.

Read and understand about d-Exponent and learn how to calculate d-Exponent and normalized d-Exponent (corrected d-Exponent)

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Possible Kick (wellbore influx) Indications Part1

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Possible Kick Indications mean that there is possibility to get influx into wellbore. The indications can be either kick or just formation react while drilling. You need to remember that just only a single possible indicator cannot may not good enough to identify underbalanced condition in wellbore and the possible kick indicators must be used collectively. Therefore, drilling team on the rig needs to closely monitor the well and prepare appropriate action plans.

The possible kick indications are as follows;

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