Snubbing Kill Simulations

For the snubbing kill simulations, we assume that a new pipe can be snubbed into the well and used for pumping of kill fluid into the flowing well. This option, if feasible, can be used instead, or in combination with a relief well kill pumping.

Blowout cases

The following scenarios have been defined and run for the snubbing kill option.

Alpha wells

  1. Assumes 13 3/8" is set at 3100 m with 12 ¼" hole drilled to 4650 m with all of Sand 2 and 5 m of Sand 3 open. The blowout initiates through the DP to surface. After unsuccessful attempts to get DP valves to seal, the DP is sheared. The flowing pressure in the DP is instantly transferred to the top of the 1.3sg mud column in the annulus. The 133/8" (and outer casings) fails at 550 m due to casing wear and the resulting pressure exceeds the fracture pressure at the 13 3/8" shoe. The underground blowout is initiated through the casing split at 550 m flowing against a fracture pressure of +/- 1.4 sg emw. A string of 5½" tubing (id=4.669") or 7" tubing (id=5.921") is snubbed in to the well at the 13 3/8" casing shoe point. 15 ppg mud or 18 ppg mud is used as the kill fluid.

  2. The same as Scenario 1a except the flow is going into a highly permeable surface sand with a seawater gradient of +/- 1.03 sg emw.

  3. Assumes 9-7/8" is set at 4650 m with 8 ½" hole drilled to TD with all sands open. The blowout initiates through the DP to surface. After unsuccessful attempts to get DP valves to seal, the DP is sheared. The flowing pressure in the DP is instantly transferred to the top of the 1.85sg mud column in the annulus. The 97/8" (and outer casings) fails at 550 m due to casing wear and the resulting pressure exceeds the fracture pressure at the 9-7/8" shoe. The underground blowout is initiated through the casing split at 550 m flowing against a fracture pressure of +/- 1.4 sg emw. A string of 5½" tubing (id=4.669") or 7" tubing (id=5.921") snubbed in to the well at the 9-7/8" casing shoe point. 15ppg mud or 18 ppg mud is used as the kill fluid.

  4. The same as Scenario 2a except the flow is going into a high permeable surface sand with a seawater gradient of +/- 1.03 sg emw.