Multiphase Flow During Kicking and Killing in Deepwater Drilling

Deepwater drilling is different from onshore drilling in terms of equipment and techniques. The well control theory and method is one of the key techniques for deepwater drilling. The killing process for the deepwater drilling is special. This chapter first introduces the hydraulic parameter calculations for the common killing methods such as dynamic killing method, advanced Driller's Method and additional flow rate method. The chapter then discusses the multiphase flow model for deepwater drilling. The boundary conditions are different during shutting in, gas injecting to the riser and flow through the choke line for deepwater drilling. Definite conditions need to be given for the annulus and the riser in different working conditions. The chapter also demonstrates the application of multiphase theories for dynamically simulating the deepwater well control in order to better understand the deepwater kicks and killing process.