Killing of a Gas Well: Successful Implementation of Innovative Approaches in a Middle-Eastern Carbonate Field—A Field Case

A casing collapse occurred in a gas producing well with about 2.5 million cubic meters per day gas flow rate at a depth of 216 ft due to tectonic movements. As a result, the well blew out and different serious procedures were put into play to kill the well (Figure 1). This paper aims to review the practical and innovative approach that was used to secure and extinguish the well.

Figure 1

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Gas Seepages in Kangan Field

Figure 1

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Gas Seepages in Kangan Field

Initially attempts to kill the well included pumping water and or cement into the well to kill and secure it but it was not successful. Two directional relief wells, Kanagan-23A and Kanagan-23B were drilled to secure the well, the latter one was successful. The 23B well was drilled down to total depth of 2500m and entered into drainage area of Kangan-23 gas well. Different directional surveys were tried according to geophysical and geological data for entering the target area. The well relief and intersection was done by combining the new wellpath with the old well and injecting different pills and acidizing the new well to generate connectivity between the two wells. This type of innovative techniques has never been used in killing a well successfully before. This paper presents the unique thinking and practical approach used for securing this well including the failures as well as successes. The successful procedure may be used in killing future wells under similar condition.