Blowout Capping Fracturing Relief Well Workflow

This article presents a technical report on the workflow associated with blowout capping and fracturing relief wells. It discusses the implications of failed well-capping attempts following offshore blowouts, particularly focusing on the risks of fluid-driven tensile failures that can lead to hydraulic fracture initiations. The report outlines a numerical modeling approach applied to a hypothetical case study in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, evaluating the likelihood of fracture propagation and its potential environmental impacts. The workflow integrates various aspects, including post-blowout worst case discharge flowrate and volume estimations, fracture initiation and propagation modeling, and a 'cap-and-contain' strategy. It also addresses the necessary conditions for successful well intervention, including sensitivity analyses on casing-shoe depth and overburden-rock formation stiffness. The report concludes with a quantitative assessment of the mud density and pump flowrate required to effectively manage a blown well situation, emphasizing the importance of operational safety and environmental considerations.