Analysis of Gas-Rise Velocities From Full-Scale Kick Experiments

Abstract

Abstract Gas kick experiments in oil- and water-based mud have been studied in a full scale inclined research well. One of the main objectives from these experiments has been the study of gas rise velocities. In order to analyse the gas velocities, the parameters varying during a real drilling operation have been systemized and gathered in a data base. The work represents a significant extension to existing correlations for gas/liquid flows in a full scale inclined annulus with real drilling muds. In high concentration gas kicks the gas rises faster than in low and medium concentration kicks, this is observed for both oil and water based mud. The rise velocity correlations obtained from these experiments is not significantly dependent on gas void fraction, mud density, inclination, mud rheology, and surface tension. The results are quite different from other previously reported correlations, and this has a major implication on kick simulations.