During Drilling
The second, perhaps most novel and important use of the software occurs during actual drilling operations. In addition to reminding crews of approaching anticipated critical conditions, unexpected and non-obvious changes in kick tolerance can be immediately noted that result from minor deviations from the well design necessitated by actual formation conditions or resulting from less than perfect control of drilling and fluid parameters.
For example, instead of relying on kick tolerance calculated using planned mud weight, LOT results, expected weak point location, hole geometry, and formation temperatures, SafeVision continuously monitors and recalculates kick tolerance using actual, current values of these parameters.
Before Drilling
Prior to drilling, the software can be used to assist with the design of the well, ensuring the casing shoes are located within the kick tolerance limits defined by the company. It can also be used during pre-spud reviews such as "drilling well on paper" exercises. Used in this way, all involved can comply with company policy including any MOC or relevant risk management procedures. This is a useful, if not entirely novel use of the kick tolerance functionality of the SafeKick software.
After an Influx Has Been Identified
The third, equally novel way of using kick tolerance tools involves the identification of operational margins based on current well parameters and complex kick tolerance calculations that can assist in selecting well control strategies that will be both effective and efficient. By knowing whether actual shut-in conditions threaten current well conditions or will begin to do so at some predictable time in the future (i.e. when circulating an expanding gas influx upward toward an openhole weak point) can help well control supervisors either on or off the rig properly evaluate risks and benefits of proposed control procedures.
But SafeVision doesn't stop there; using the ability to simulate while drilling, the system can be used to project current or proposed operations into the future, thereby helping supervisors see consequences of operational decisions before committing to them.
In addition, SafeVision provides supervisors of complex or critical drilling operations the ability to augment conventional kick tolerance calculations with significant, but hard to calculate details. This includes the option to consider temperature effects, fluid compressibility (including "afterflow" caused by pressurization of shut-in wellbore by additional influx), openhole weak points in addition to the casing shoe, variable influx density, and complex behavior of gases calculated using z factors. Inclusion of these optional parameters can have a major impact on kick tolerance and hence, risks being managed during the drilling operation.