Tutorial Sheet No.

3
Leak off test and MAASP.
Attentions !!!-Review
Attentions !!!
Review
 Formation Fracture pressure :
 is the borehole pressure required to initiate fracturing and lost circulation
 These pressures could be one or more of the following pressures:
• Hydrostatic pressure
• Circulating pressure
• Or any enclosed surface pressure (SICP).
• To keep the drilled formation from fracturing a LEAK-OFF-Test should be
made.

LEAK OF TEST(L.O.T)
• What is the meaning of LEAK OF TEST?
Leak of test is the test on formation strength.
• This test done to help us for
1. Fmw
2. MAASP(Maximum Allowable Annular surface pressure)
 For More details review the Recap Lecture No.2
at 27-4-2021

• Leak Off Test – you pressure test shoe and formation until formation break down.

• Formation Integrity Test– you test strength of shoe and formation to designed pressure.
 MAASP Vs. Leak off

Fraction pressure = MAASP+HP

 Leak off test and MAASP.
1.Using the following data from Leak off test results. Calculate Maximum Allowable Mud
Weights:

2.Calculate new M.A.A.S.P. from the following Data:

3.Which three of the following conditions in the well increase the risk of exceeding the
MAASP during the well kill operation?
a) Long open hole section.
b) Large difference between formation breakdown pressure and mud hydrostatic pressure.
c) Small influx.
d) Short open hole section.
e) Large influx.
f) Small difference between formation breakdown pressure and mud hydrostatic pressure.
 CAUSES OF KICKS

Tutorial -3
SCORE

1. There are a variety of mechanisms that can cause abnormal

formation fluid pressures. List 4 of the principle causes below.

Answer (a) ————————

(b) ————————
(c) ————————
(d) ———————— 2

2. Shown below is a pressure versus volume plot of a leak off test.

1200
PRESSURE (PSI)

1000

800
600

400
200

0
VOLUME
The leak off was carried out with a 10.6 ppg mud. The casing shoe is at
4000ft TVD.

a. What is the maximum pressure that the exposed formations

below the shoe can support?
ANSWER................. 2

b. What is the “Fracture Gradient?”

ANSWER................. 2

c. What is the maximum mud weight?

ANSWER................. 2

d. If drilling was resumed and the mud weight was increased to

12.6 ppg. Calculate M.A.A.S.P
ANSWER................. 2

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CAUSES OF KICKS

SCORE
3. M.A.A.S.P. The maximum allowable annular surface pressure
should be re-calculated..

a. At the start of each shift

b. As soon as possible after a drilling break
c. When approaching a suspected transition zone
d. When the mud weight has been increased in the system
e. If a kick has occurred and the well is shut-in

ANSWER................. 2

4. The calculated M.A.A.S.P. value is relevant..

a. When the influx is in the open-hole section

b. As the influx approaches the surface

ANSWER................. 2

SCORE
5. Given the following data:

Depth 10000ft TVD

Bit size 8 1/2"
Shoe depth 8500ft TVD
Mud weight 12.6 ppg

Collars - 600ft. capacity = 0.0077 bbl/ft

Metal displacement = 0.03 bbl/ft
Drill-pipe 5" capacity = 0.0178 bbl/ft
Metal displacement = 0.0075 bbl/ft
Casing/pipe annular capacity = 0.0476 bbl/ft
Casing capacity = 0.0729 bbl/ft
One stand of drill-pipe = 94ft.

Assuming the 12.6 ppg mud gives an over-balance of 200 psi.

a. If 10 stands of pipe are removed “dry” without filling the hole,

what would be the resultant reduction in bottom-hole pressure?

ANSWER........................... 3

b. If 5 stands of pipe had been pulled “wet” without filling the

hole, the resultant reduction in bottom-hole pressure would be.

ANSWER........................... 3

c. If prior to tripping a 20 barrel slug of 14.6 ppg mud was

displaced to prevent a wet trip, what would be the expected
volume return due to the U-tubing of the heavy mud?

ANSWER........................... 2

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CAUSES OF KICKS

6. Prior to tripping out of the hole a trip tank and pump are lined up to
keep the hole full as the pipe is removed. The trip tank contains 30
barrels of mud. After pulling 10 stands of pipe the level in the trip
tank is 27 barrels. (Use data given in Question 6). Would the safest
option be..

a. To continue tripping but flow-check when bits at shoe.

b. Stop and shut the well in. If no pressures seen open
the well up and continue tripping.
c. Flow-check. If no flow, go back to bottom and circulate.
d. Flow-check. If no flow, continue tripping

ANSWER............................ 2
SCORE
7. A well can be induced to flow by swabbing. Swabbing is the
reduction of bottom hole pressure due to the effects of pulling pipe.
List below 3 conditions that can cause swabbing.

Answer (a) ———————

(b) ———————
(c) ——————— 2

8. A drill string consist of 5" 20 lb/ft drill-pipe and 8 1/2" drill-collars.

The spare kelly cock has 4 1/2" I. F. thread connections. What
crossover sub is required for the collars?

ANSWER.......................... 2

9. A fixed rig is set in 300ft of sea water. The marine conductor has
been set X ft below the sea-bed. The flow line is 65ft above the
mean sea-level. The strength of the sub-sea formations is 0.68 psi/ft.
Sea-water gradient is 0.445 psi/ft. It is proposed to drill with 9.2 ppg
mud. What is the minimum depth that the conductor has to be set
below sea-bed to prevent losses?

ANSWER............................. 8

10. An over-balance or trip margin is added to the mud. When

tripping this will prevent a loss of B.H.P. due to the swabbing effect
of pulling the pipe.

ANSWER. TRUE/FALSE 2

11. Assume casing is set at 4800ft TVD/MD and that gas sands were
encountered at 5000ft and at 8500ft. If the formation pressure gradient at
5000ft is 0.47 psi/ft and at 8500ft it is 0.476 psi/ft. What mud weight is
required to give an over-balance or trip margin of 200 psi?

ANSWER............................ 4
CAUSES OF KICKS

WORKSHOP 2 - Answers

1. (a) Under compacted shales

(b) Thick gas sands
(c) Faults
(d) Diaprism salt domes
(e) Shape of reservoir structure

2. Surface pressure = 1100 psi

a. (CSG TVD x MUD WT x .052) + Surface pressure

= (4000 x 10.6 x .052) + 1100 = 3305 psi

b. Frac g = Max press ÷ CSG TVD

= 3305 ÷ 4000 = 0.826 psi/ft

c. Max Mud Wt = Frac g ÷ .052

= .826 ÷ .052 = 1 5.88ppg

d. MAASP = (Max mud wt - Drlg mud wt) x .052 x CSG TVD

= (15.88 - 12.6) x .052 x 4000
= 682 psi

3. d.

4. a.

5. a. Mud g x Met Disp

—————————
CSG Cap - Met Disp

= .655 x .0075 = .0049 = .0751 psi/ft

————— ———
.0729 – .0075 .0654

.0751 x 940 = 71 psi

b. Mud g x (Met Disp + pipe cap)

———————————————
Ann Cap

= .655 (.0075 + .0178) = .3525 psi/ft

—————————
.047

470ft x .3525psi/ft = 166 psi

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CAUSES OF KICKS

c. Dry pipe vol = Slug vol x (slug wt)

————— - 1
(mud wt)

= 14.6
20 X
( ———– – 1
12.6 )
= 3.17 bbls

6. c.

7. (a) Pulling speed.

(b) Mud Properties, viscosity - Gel strength.
(c) Profile of hole (Wellbore geometry).

8. 4 1/2" if box - 6 5/8" reg pin.

9. (Hyd mud to sea bed) - (Hyd sea water)

——————————————————
(Frac g - Mud g)

= (365 x 9.2 x .052) - (300 x .445)

—————————————
(.68 - .478)
= 41.1
——
.202
203 ft.

10. False.

11. Mud Wt to give 200 psi overbalance

= 5000 x .47 psi/ft = 2350 + 200
= 2550

∴ 2550 ÷ 5000 ÷ .052 = 9.8 ppg

If the 200 psi is to overbalance formation pressure at 8500ft

mud wt would be 9.6 ppg. This would overbalance the sands at
5000ft by 148 psi.