Wellbore Pressure Testing System for Gas-Kick and Loss-Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack an effective experimental system and method for wellbore pressure testing under the complex conditions of gas-kick and loss-circulation in deep-sea, deep, and ultra-deep oil and gas wells, which can lead to safety and economic issues due to the coexistence of formation fluid intrusion and working fluid loss.
Innovation Solution
An experimental system comprising a drill string simulator, a transparent wellbore simulator, and a complex stratigraphic structure simulator, along with a data acquisition system, liquid and gas conveying modules, and medium return and leakage pipelines, allows for controlled testing of wellbore pressure under gas-kick and loss-circulation conditions by adjusting equivalent density differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional drilling operations are performed in deep-sea, deep and ultra-deep oil and gas wells, then production efficiency is improved, but the risk of gas-kick and loss-circulation increases due to complex geological conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by conducting comprehensive wellbore pressure testing before actual drilling operations using the experimental system. The system simulates various drilling scenarios including gas-kick and loss-circulation conditions in advance, allowing operators to establish pressure control parameters and emergency response procedures before encountering real geological hazards during drilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the complex deep-sea drilling environment through the experimental system. The system includes a scaled-down wellbore model, simulated formation structures, and controlled fluid injection mechanisms that replicate real drilling conditions. This copying approach allows safe testing and validation of pressure control methods without risking actual drilling operations.
2Loss of information
If existing theoretical methods are used to analyze gas-kick and loss-circulation, then some analytical insights are obtained, but comprehensive wellbore pressure testing under coexistence conditions cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary experimental system that bridges the gap between theoretical analysis and practical drilling operations. The system includes intermediate components such as controllable formation fluid injection devices, adjustable wellbore pressure monitoring systems, and simulated loss-circulation structures. These intermediaries enable controlled experimentation that validates theoretical models while providing practical operational guidance.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive wellbore pressure testing under complex conditions is conducted, then accurate pressure control parameters are obtained, but the complexity and cost of the experimental system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the experimental system into segmented functional modules: a wellbore simulation module with controllable pressure zones, a formation fluid injection module, a loss-circulation simulation module, and a data acquisition module. Each module can be independently configured and tested, allowing comprehensive pressure testing while managing system complexity through modular design. The segmentation enables targeted testing of specific pressure control scenarios without requiring the entire system to be maximally complex.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides experimental results that are consistent with actual conditions, covering three complex scenarios, reducing costs, and enabling comprehensive testing across various stages of wellbore pressure control, making it applicable to all stages of drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid conveying module for providing the liquid used in the experimental system
Implementation Method 2
a gas conveying module for providing the gas used in the experimental system, both with the head end connected to the nitrogen cylinder and the rear end connected to the upper position of the complex stratigraphic structure simulator
Implementation Method 3
Some scholars have also studied the coexistence of gas-kick and loss-circulation due to gravity displacement
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses an experimental system and a method for wellbore pressure testing under the coexistence of gas-kick and loss-circulation, comprising a drill string simulator, a wellbore simulator and a complex stratigraphic structure simulator communicated in sequence from top to bottom; further comprising a medium return pipeline for collecting the returning test liquid and a medium leakage module for collecting the leaking test liquid; further comprising a data acquisition system for collecting data during testing. In the present invention, the experimental system has a simple structure, and the experimental method can comprehensively cover the three stages of circulating, well shut-in and well killing during the occurrence of coexistence of gas-kick and loss-circulation, multiple groups of experiments can be conducted by changing a single variable at the same stage, thus making the experimental test results applicable to all stages of wellbore pressure control in drilling operation.