PETE 625

Well Control
Lesson 4
Gas Solubility
2
Contents
Solubility of Hydrocarbon Gases in Oil
Solubility of Non-Hydrocarbon Gases
in Oil
Solubility in Water
Solution Volume Factors
Oil Mud Recommendations
Assignments
Homework #2:
Ch 1, Problems 11-21

Homework #3:
Ch 2, Problems 1-10

Read: Chapter 2 to p.45
4
Gas Solubility
Gas will dissolve to some extent in any
drilling fluid, but this can generally be
ignored with a water base fluid.
Gas dissolves readily in oil base muds.
An operator drilling with a diesel or
mineral oil must understand this!
5
Gas Solubility
The solubility of a gas/liquid mixture
may be expressed as the amount of
free gas (scf/bbl) that can go into
solution at a given temperature and
pressure.
In general, solubility will increase as
the pressure increases, and as the
temperature decreases.
6
Gas Solubility
Solubility also increases as the
molecular similarity between the gas
and liquid composition increases.
The bubble point pressure is the
pressure at which the first bubble of
free gas breaks out of solution with a
given solution gas/liquid ratio at a
given temperature.
7
Gas Solubility
Free gas cannot coexist with the liquid
at pressures in excess of the
bubble point
At pressures above the bubble point,
gas solubility approaches infinity.
Only liquid is present.
8
Example 1.10
Using the data from Fig. 1.17,
determine the amount of free gas
remaining if
8,000 scf of methane are blended with
10 bbl of diesel.
p = 3,000 psia and
T = 100
o
F.
9
Example 1.10
The system gas/oil ratio,
R = 8,000 scf/10 bbl = 800 scf/bbl
From Fig. 1.17, at 3,000 psia, the gas
solubility is 530 scf/bbl (at 100
o
F)
Therefore, 800 - 530 = 270 scf/bbl
remain free
i.e. 2,700 scf of gas remain free (10*270)
10
Solubility of Methane in diesel (Fig. 1.17)
T = 100
o
F
530
S
o
l
u
b
i
l
i
t
y
,


s
c
f
/
b
b
l

Pressure, psia
11
Methane solubility in # 2 diesel (Fig. 1.18)
Is anything wrong here?
At lower temperature, the
solubility is higher (p.14)!
S
o
l
u
b
i
l
i
t
y
,


s
c
f
/
b
b
l

Pressure, psia
12
Methane solubility (Figs. 1.19 & 1.20)
Methane is
most soluble in
Conoco LTV oil,
least in Mentor 28
Mentor 28
Higher solubility at
lower temperature
Conoco LTV oil
100
o
F
300
o
F
Mentor 28
100
o
F
13
Solubility
of Gases
in
Mentor 28
(Fig. 1.21)
Ethane
Methane
14
Solubility in various fluids
13 ppg
Oil base mud
18 ppg
Oil base mud
Mentor 28
15
Solubility of Methane in
distilled water (Fig. 1.22)
Solubility
Correction
Factors
(Fig. 1.23)
70
o
F
Total Dissolved Solids, %


Temperature,
o
F

16
Solubility of Gases in Diesel at 250
o
F
S
o
l
u
b
i
l
i
t
y

i
n

1
,
0
0
0

s
c
f
/
b
b
l

17
Example 1.11
A 13.0 ppg 70:30 invert emulsion oil
mud consists of (by volume) 54%
diesel, 23% CaCl
2
, 4% emulsifier,
and 19% solids.
Estimate the natural gas solubility in
the mud at 150
o
F and 2,000 psia
Assume the gas is 95% hydrocarbon
and 5% CO
2

Water salinity is 200,000 ppm TDS
Gas specific gravity is 0.65
18
Solution
First determine the carbon dioxide
solubility in the oil and emuslifiers
In oil,
c
b
so
aT
p
R
|
.
|

\
|
=
a, b and c are constants listed in the next slide
19
Solution
TABLE 1.3 EQ. 1.45 CONSTANTS
20
CO
2
Solubility
bbl scf R
oil in CO
so
/ 950
150 * 059 . 0
000 , 2
1
7134 . 0
2
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
c
b
so
aT
p
R
|
.
|

\
|
=
bbl / scf 241
150 * 135 . 0
000 , 2
R
Emulsifier the in CO
1
8217 . 0
so
2
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
For CO
2
, c = 1.0
21
Hydrocarbon Solubility in Oil
Next determine the hydrocarbon
solubility in the oil and emulsifiers.
The constant c must first be calculated.
c
oil
= 0.3576 + 1.168
g
+ (0.0027 - 0.00492
g
)T
- (4.51*10
-6
- 8.198*10
-6

g
)T
2

22
Hydrocarbon Solubility in Oil
c
oil
= 0.3576 + 1.168(.65)

+ (0.0027 - 0.00492(.65))150
- (4.51*10
-6
- 8.198*10
-6
(.65))150
2
c
oil
= 1.0605
bbl scf R
so
/ 408
150 * 922 . 1
000 , 2
0605 . 1
2552 . 0
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
c
b
so
aT
p
R
|
.
|

\
|
=
23
Hydrocarbon Solubility in
Emulsifier
c
emul
= 0.4 + 1.65
g
- 1.01
g
2

= 0.4 + 1.65 * 0.65 - 1.01 * 0.65
2

= 1.0458
Thus,
bbl scf R
se
/ 252
150 * 162 . 4
000 , 2
0458 . 1
1770 . 0
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
c
b
so
aT
p
R
|
.
|

\
|
=
24
Solution
Solubility of CO
2
in oil = 950 scf/bbl
Solubility of CO
2
in emulsifiers = 241 scf/bbl
Solubility of HC in oil = 408 scf/bbl
Solubility of HC in emulsifiers = 252 scf/bbl

25
Solution
Mixture solubility in the oil
= 0.95 * 408 + 0.05 * 950 = 392 scf/bbl
Mixture solubility in the emulsifier
= 0.95 * 252 + 0.05 * 241 = 251 scf/bbl
From Fig. 1.22, at 150
o
F and 2,000 psia,
HC solubility in fresh water = 12 scf/bbl
95% Hydrocarbons
5% CO
2

26
12
Temperature,
o
F
Solubility of Methane in
distilled water (Fig. 1.22)
27
Solubility Correction Factor for Salinity
(Fig. 1.23)
200,000 ppm
28
Solution
From Fig 1.23 the salinity correction
factor is 0.4
Solubility of HC in salt water
= 12 * 0.4 = 5 scf/bbl
29
The solubility
of CO
2

in fresh water
is 145 scf/bbl
(Fig. 1.25)
150
o
F
145
30
Salinity
correction factor
is 0.45 so
solubility of CO
2

in salt water
= 145 * 0.45
= 65 scf/bbl
Fig. 1.26
31
Solution
Mixture solubility in the salt water,
= 0.95 * 5.0 + 0.05 * 65 = 8 scf/bbl

Finally, mixture solubility in whole mud

= 0.54 * 395 + 0.23 * 8 + 0.04 * 251
= 213 + 1.8 + 10
= 224 scf/bbl
oil water emulsifier
32
Example 1.12
Mud: 94% fresh water + 6% solids
Gas: 0.92 mole fraction of Methane
0.06 mole fraction of CO
2

0.02 mole fraction of H
2
S
Estimate the natural gas solubility in
the mud at 180
o
F and 5,200 psia
33
Solution
The only component capable of
dissolving any gas is the fresh water.
From Fig. 1.22, the solubility of
methane in fresh water = 21 scf/bbl
From Fig. 1.25, the solubility of CO
2
in
fresh water = 182 scf/bbl
34
Solution
The H
2
S partial
pressure = 0.02 *
5,200 = 104 psia

From Fig 1.27,
the partial
solubility of H
2
S is
about 36 scf/bbl
~36
Solubility = 0.92*21+0.06*182+36 = 66 scf/bbl
Methane CO
2
H
2
S
Solubility in whole mud = 0.94 * 66 = 62 scf/bbl
35
Gas in
solution

Some
free
gas
Domino
effect
36
Drilled gas
Rock removal rate

( ) ( ) hr / ft R
in 144
ft
in d
4
2
2
2
b
|
|
.
|

\
|
t
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
hr
ft
3 . 183
R d
3
2
b
R ft
d
b
in
37
Drilled gas
Entry rate of drilled gas
b b
b g
2
b
T Z 65 . 14 * hr min/ 60
520 * 0 . 1 p S
3 . 183
R d
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
b b
b g b
gsc
T Z
p S R d
q
9 . 309
2
|
=
min
scf
38
Drilled gas
If circ. Rate = q
m
bbl/min,
then the ratio of gas to mud
bbl
scf
T Z q
p S R d
r
b b m
b g
m
9 . 309
2
|
=
surface the at
39
Example 1.13
Gas sand thickness = 50 ft
Bit diameter = 12.25
Drilling rate, R = 250 ft/hr
Depth = 6,000
BHP = 3,000 psia
BHT = 140
o
F
Mud Density = 10.5, ppg
Sand porosity = 25%
Gas Saturation = 80%
Circulation Rate = 8 bbl/min
40
Solution
What is the drilled gas concentration?

600 * 86 . 0 * 8 * 9 . 309
000 , 3 * 8 . 0 * 25 . 0 * 250 * 25 . 12
r
2
m
=
All this gas goes into solution
bbl scf r
m
/ 6 . 17 =
b b m
b g
m
T Z q
p S R d
r
9 . 309
2
|
=
41
Volume of Drilled Gas
Bubble point is reached at 70 psia and
90
o
F. What is the volume of drilled gas?
The total downhole gas volume (from drilling
through the 50 ft interval),
( ) 80 . 0 * 25 . 0
702 , 9
12
* 50 * 25 . 12
4
3
2
2
|
|
.
|

\
|
t
=
in
bbl
ft
in
ft in V
b
bbl V
b
5 . 1 =
42
Find Depth of Bubblepoint
From the gas law
bottom bubblept
ZT
pV
ZT
pV
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|
This would happen at a depth of 100
( ) ( )
bp b
bp
70
550 99 . 0
600 * 86 . 0
000 , 3 5 . 1
V
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
bbl V
bp
68 =
What happens to the mud above this point?
43
Why is this a problem for well control?
V
total
= V
1
+V
2
V
total
= V
1
+V
2
V
total
< V
1
+V
2
44
Solution volume factor
For solutions, the final volume is less
than the sum of the component
volumes.
Kick sizes are determined by pit
volume gain
A large gas kick that dissolves in oil
mud, will not result in as much pit
gain as a similarly sized kick in
water based mud.
45
Solution volume factors
821 scf/bbl of methane in diesel oil at
4,075 psia would have a volume
factor of 1.254 bbl/STB.
An increase in pressure to 5,070 psia
will reduce the volume factor to 1.225
See Table 1.4 and Fig. 1.31

[Compressibility = (1.254-1.225)/{(1.254)*(5,070-4075)}
= 23.2*10
-6
per psi ]
p V c V A = A
46
Diesel Oil
Compressibility
~ 4*10
-6
per psi
T = 100
o
F
47
Example 1.14
10 bbl of methane enters the wellbore.
No. 2 diesel oil is used as drilling mud.
Determine the surface pit gain if 400
scf/bbl is dissolved in the diesel.
At the bottom, circ. Pressure = 5,000 psia
Circulating Temp = 200
o
F
48
Solution
From Fig. 1.31, for 400 scf/bbl at 5,000
psia and 200
o
F, B
og
= 1.128 bbl/STB
From Fig 1.31, for gas free diesel at 5,000
psia and 200
o
F, B
ong
= 1.012
Expansion = 1.128 - 1.012 = 0.116 bbl/STB
49
50
Solution
400 scf of gas under downhole
conditions

|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
3
3
000 , 5
6146 . 5
1
1
029 . 1
520
660
000 , 5
65 . 14
400
ft
bbl
R
R
psia
psia
ft V
o
o
mud of bbl per gas of bbl 273 . 0 V
000 , 5
=
51
Solution
i.e. Downhole solution GOR = 0.273
bbl/bbl
Thus the pit gain is 0.116 bbl for each
0.273 bbl of free gas that has been
dissolved in the diesel
For the 10 bbl gas kick,
Pit gain = 0.116 bbl*(10 bbl/0.273 bbl)
= 4.2 bbl
expansion
52
Solution
From Fig. 1.31, for 600 scf/bbl at 200
o
F
and 5,000 psia, R
so
= 1.205 bbl/STB
1.205 1.012 = 0.193 bbl/STB
V
5,000
= 0.273*(600/400) = 0.409 bbl/bbl
So, a 10 bbl kick would result in a pit gain
of 0.193*(10/0.409) = 4.7 bbl
What happens in very deep wells, at very high pressures?
53
400 scf/bbl
or 0.273 bbl/bbl
under bottomhole
conditions
4.2 bbl pit gain
10 bbl kick
54
55
56
Oil mud recommendations
Gas wells can be drilled safely with oil
base drilling fluids.
Certain precautions must be taken, like
drilling with a rotating head, to direct
evolved gas away from the rig floor.

57
Oil mud recommendations
Set limits on quantities of drilled gas
allowed in the annulus (by limiting
the penetration rates, and the
number of gas sands penetrated)
Consider keeping annular back
pressure above the bubble point, if
possible (consider effect on
penetration rate and fracture
integrity)
58
Oil mud recommendations
Mud-gas separator must be properly
designed and sized for potential well
control procedures.
Remember that pit gain on the surface,
for a given kick size, will be smaller
than it would be for water based
drilling fluids.
59
Oil mud recommendations
Pit level alarms should be set at a
lower level
Educate crews on the differences
between oil and water based muds,
and on how kicks behave in the two
systems.
Be alert