Mechanism and prevention method of drill string uplift during shut-in after overflow in an ultra-deep well

• Main Authors: Hu YIN, Menghan SI, Qian LI, Hongwei JANG, Liming DAI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2018-12-01
• Series: Petroleum Exploration and Development
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876380418301174

Drill string will sustain large uplift force during the shut-in period after gas overflow in an ultra-deep well, and in serious case, it will run out of the wellhead. A calculation model of uplift force was established to analyze dynamic change characteristics of the uplift force of drill string during the shut-in period, and then a management procedure for the uplift risk during the shut-in period after gas overflow in the ultra-deep well was formed. Cross section method and pressure area method were used to analyze the force on drill string after shut-in of well, it was found that the source of uplift force was the “fictitious force” caused by the hydrostatic pressure in the well. When the fictitious force is in the opposite direction to the gravity, it is the uplift force. By adopting the theory of annular multiphase flow, considering the effects of wellbore afterflow and gas slippage, the dynamic change of the pressure and fluid in the wellbore and the uplift force of drill string during the shut-in period were analyzed. The magnitude and direction of uplift force are related to the length of drill string in the wellbore and shut-in time, and there is the risk of uplift of drill string when the length of drill string in the wellbore is smaller than the critical drill string length or the shut in time exceeds the critical shut in time. A set of treatment method and process to prevent the uplift of drill string is advanced during the shut-in period after overflow in the ultra-deep well, which makes the risk management of the drill string uplift in the ultra-deep well more rigorous and scientific. Key words: ultra-deep well, drilling, overflow, shut-in, drill string, uplift force, axial load