Well Control Engineering

Bullheading Analysis

Enhancing Wellbore Integrity with Bullheading Analysis:

Best Practices and Key Considerations

Bullheading analysis consists of multiphase simulation and analysis of the well control parameters (e.g., pressure, density, pump rate, etc.) required to successfully bullhead a well. Modeling addresses risks during bullheading (e.g., injectivity of the exposed zones, charging zones, effects on downhole activity such as well flow and formation pressure and “ballooning” or underbalanced, potential broaching of shallow casing shoe, etc.). The incorrect application of bullheading methods can lead to a range of undesirable outcomes including influx remaining in the wellbore, inadvertent breakdown of the casing shoe, underground blowout, etc.