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Understanding Slow Circulation Rate in Drilling

Slow circulation rate (SCR) is the rate used in well kill operations and is recorded from different flow rates to represent pressure loss in the system. SCR should be recorded from the pressure gauge used for killing the well. It is better to kill the well at a slow rate rather than a drilling rate to minimize various pressures and allow time for degassing and equipment operation. SCR recorded previously may not accurately reflect current conditions due to changes in mud properties or depth. To find the initial circulating pressure without relying on pre-recorded SCR, the pump speed is increased while holding casing pressure constant until the kill rate is reached, then the actual SCR can be calculated.

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Nagaraju Jalla
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2K views3 pages

Understanding Slow Circulation Rate in Drilling

Slow circulation rate (SCR) is the rate used in well kill operations and is recorded from different flow rates to represent pressure loss in the system. SCR should be recorded from the pressure gauge used for killing the well. It is better to kill the well at a slow rate rather than a drilling rate to minimize various pressures and allow time for degassing and equipment operation. SCR recorded previously may not accurately reflect current conditions due to changes in mud properties or depth. To find the initial circulating pressure without relying on pre-recorded SCR, the pump speed is increased while holding casing pressure constant until the kill rate is reached, then the actual SCR can be calculated.

Uploaded by

Nagaraju Jalla
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

10/12/13

Slow Circulation Rate

Slow Circulation Rate is a circulation rate which will be used in well kill operation. Typically, slow circulation rate pressure (SCR) is recorded from each particular flow rate and the pressure represents pressure loss of the system while circulating. Since there are so many pressure gauges on the rig, you may get confused on the figures. In order to be at the same page for every personnel on the rig, the SCR should be recorded by the pressure gauge that we will use for killing the well.

There are a lot of reasons why we should kill the well with slow rate rather than a drilling rate as follows:

To minimize friction pressure To allow time to weight up mud if you use wait and weight method To reduce pressure on surface equipment To allow degasser to separate gas from the mud To reduce needs for fast choke operation To allow personnel to think if something goes wrong Lets get an idea how to get pre-recorded SCR.

1. Turn pump on at slow speed as 10, 20, 30 and 40 spm 2. Record pressure without rotating or moving drillstring 3. Each pressure recorded at particular pump speed is SCR.

Please always remember that SCR that you take for each time representing pressure loss at that time. I dont recommend you to use it to estimate the initial circulating pressure.

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Slow Circulation Rate

Lets me explain why There are some errors in pre-recorded SCR which can make you in a trouble. Pre-recorded SCR may not reflect current pressure due to drilling mud properties change. The depth of pre-recorded SCR is not the same as the current drilling depth. SCR may be changed due to unknown condition down hole as BHA mechanism, plugged jets, etc.

How can we get ICP without using pre-recorded SCR? In order to get the initial circulating pressure, you just simply bring the pump up to speed by holding casing pressure constant until you reach kill rate. Additionally, you will be able to calculate the actual SCR by calculation.

Lets take a look at the equation below.

ICP = SIDPP + SCR

Where; ICP is Initial Circulating Pressure. SIDPP is Shut In Drill Pipe Pressure. SCR is Slow Circulation Rate pressure. Therefore, SCR = ICP SIDPP If you would like to check SCR, the following time is when you should check SCR.

Check before drilling out of casing shoe Check after tripping back to the bottom
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Check when mud properties are changes Check at least two times each shift at the drilling depth at that time

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