Detection of Kicks With Networked Drillstring and Along-String Pressure Evaluation

摘要

This paper describes efficient detection of well-control events, in both underbalanced and overbalanced conditions. This is especially relevant for deepwater operations because the reaction time is significantly less than with surface blowout preventers (BOPs). A methodology is offered to detect the annulus-fluid level in conditions of unknown hydrostatic-column height and fluid density through the use of discrete annular-pressure acquisition along a networked drillstring.