Formation Integrity Test is a method to test strength of formation and shoe by increasing Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) to designed pressure. FIT is normally conducted to ensure that formation below a casing shoe will not be broken while drilling the next section with higher BHP or circulating gas influx in a well control situation. Normally, drilling engineers will design how much formation integrity test pressure required for each hole section.
The formula below demonstrates you how to calculate required FIT pressure.
Oilfield Unit
Pressure required for FIT = (Required FIT – Current Mud Weight) × 0.052 × True Vertical Depth of shoe
Where
Pressure required for FIT in psi
Required FIT in ppg
Current Mud Weight in ppg
True Vertical Depth of shoe in ft
Note: FIT pressure must be rounded down.
Example:
Required FIT (ppg) = 14.5
Current mud weight (ppg) = 9.2
Shoe depth TVD (ft) = 4000 TVD
Pressure required for FIT = (14.5-9.2) × 0.052 × 4000 = 1,102 psi
Metric Unit
Pressure required for FIT = (Required FIT – Current Mud Weight) × 0.00981 × True Vertical Depth of shoe
Where
Pressure required for FIT in KPa
Required FIT in Kg/m3
Current Mud Weight in Kg/m3
True Vertical Depth of shoe in m
Note: FIT pressure must be rounded down.
Example:
Required FIT (Kg/m3) = 1740
Current mud weight (Kg/m3) = 1100
Shoe depth TVD (m) = 1300 m
Pressure required for FIT = (1740-1300) × 0.00981 × 1300 = 8,161 KPa
Formation Integrity Test (FIT) guideline is listed below: (note: this is just only guide line. You may need to follow your standard procedure in order to perform formation integrity test):
1. Drill out new formation few feet, circulate bottom up and collect sample to confirm that new formation is drilled to and then pull string into the casing.
2. Close annular preventer or pipe rams, line up a pump, normally a cement pump, and circulate through an open choke line to ensure that surface line is fully filled with drilling fluid.
3.Stop the pump and close a choke valve.
4. Gradually pump small amount of drilling fluid into well with constant pump stroke. Record total pump strokes, drill pipe pressure and casing pressure. Pump until casing pressure reaches the pressure required for formatin integrity test. Hold pressure for few minutes to confirm pressure.
5. Bleed off pressure and open up the well. Then proceed drilling operation.
Please find the Excel sheet – calculate pressure required for formation integrity test.
Ref books:
Lapeyrouse, N.J., 2002. Formulas and calculations for drilling, production and workover, Boston: Gulf Professional publishing.
Bourgoyne, A.J.T., Chenevert , M.E. & Millheim, K.K., 1986. SPE Textbook Series, Volume 2: Applied Drilling Engineering, Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Mitchell, R.F., Miska, S. & Aadny, B.S., 2011. Fundamentals of drilling engineering, Richardson, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
