Margin of Overpull in Drillstring

by DrillingFormulas.Com on June 17, 2013

Margin of overpull is additional tension to be applied when pulling the stuck drill string without
breaking the tensile limit of the drill string. This is the difference between maximum allowable
tensile load of drill string and hook load.

The formula for margin of overpull is described below;
Margin of Overpull = Ta Th
Where;
Ta is the maximum allowable tensile strength, lb.
Th is the hook load (excluding top drive weight), lb.
The ratio between Ta and Th is safety factor (SF).
SF =Ta Th
Example: The drill string consists of the following equipment:
5 DP S-135, 4-1/2 IF connection, adjusted weight of 23.5 ppf = 8,000 ft
5 HWDP S-135, 4-1/2 IF connection, adjusted weight of 58 ppf = 900 ft
Mud motor and MWD, weight 20 Klb, = 100 ft
Expected hook load at TD = 270 Klb
Tensile strength of 5 DP S-135 (premium class) = 436 Klb
Tensile strength of 5 HWDP S-135 (premium class) = 1,100 Klb
90% of tensile strength is allowed to pull without permission from town.
Determine the margin of overpull from the information above.
Maximum tension will happen at the surface so 5DP will get the most tension when pulling and
since only 90% of tensile strength is allowed. The allowable tensile (Ta) is as follows;
Ta = 0.9 x 436 = 392 Klb
Th = 270 Klb at TD
Margin of over pull = 392 270 = 122 Klb
Safety Factor = 392 270 = 1.45