Transient Pressure Surges Due to Pipe Movement in an Oil Well

A pressure surge which could cause lost circulation, results from running a stand of drill pipe or a joint of casing into a hole. Similarly, a negative pressure surge, which could cause a blowout, results from pulling pipe from a hole. In past investigations, pressure surges were calculated on the basis of steady state flow. It is shown in this paper that this led to erroneous results. In thls investigation, pressure surges are calculated on the basis of transient wave propagation phenomena. A computer program was developed to that effect. Results are presented in :the first part of the paper, and the mathematics in the second