Field Validation of Transient Swab-Surge Response With Real-Time Downhole Pressure Data

Abstract

Summary This paper describes the field validation results of the transient swab-surge model with real-time downhole annular pressure data. The maximum pressures encountered during tripping or reciprocation are indispensible for making appropriate well-completion decisions. The prediction of swab and surge pressures is of critical importance in wells in which the pressure must be maintained within narrow limits of the pore and fracture pressures. It also plays a major role in running casing, particularly with narrow annular clearances. For these critical cases, a fully dynamic model is required to better estimate the maximum pressures encountered. This paper presents actual surge-and-swab field data collected with downhole-drilling-data measuring tools during tripping and circulating operations. These data were obtained from Alaska and North Sea wells with a range of hole diameters and different base-fluid muds. The data were compared and interpreted with steady-state calculations as well as a dynamic surge model, which includes the effects of fluid inertia and compressibility, wellbore elasticity, pipe axial elasticity, and temperature-dependent fluid properties. The sampling rate was specifically increased to 2 seconds and, in some cases, 1 second. This prevents downhole data attenuations and captures the full waveforms more accurately. Different operations were included in the downhole-drilling-data measuring tool runs to cover swabbing, surging, reciprocation, and simultaneous pumping operations during tripping. Model predictions for downhole pressure behavior were in excellent agreement with the measured real-time downhole pressure data.