PGE 430 Drilling Mid-Term Exam Solution

Name: _____________________

This is a closed book, closed notes test. You must work alone. You will need a pen or pencil and a calculator. You may write on the back of pages. You may not bring in any other paper. Please turn in all paper at the end of the exam. Please show your work.

(1) (+1 pts) We routinely neglect the upstream velocity in the BHA in computing the kinetic energy loss through the bit nozzles. Using the data below please show what percentage difference of error this assumption introduces. The flow rate is 500 gpm, the mud density is 12 ppg, the bit has 12/32", 14/32", and 16/32" nozzles, and the BHA internal diameter is 2.5".

(2) (+3 pts) Is the following drill string, which includes the bit, being used correctly? Please support your answer. Depth = 10,000 ft Mud weight = 10 ppg

The bit is a tri-cone bit with a maximum rating of 30,000 lbs WOB and has a bearing rating of 800,000 revolutions. The drill string is being rotated 100 rpm and a down hole motor is turning 200 rpm and has been drilling at a rate of 40 ft/hour for two and one half (2.5) days with a WOB of 25,000 lbs. Down time to make connections and service the rig is roughly 6 hours per day at this drilling rate. (1) The bit has accumulated recommended number of revolutions. (+1 pt) The drill string consists of 4.5", 16.6 lb/ft, Grade E drill pipe with a BHA of 270 ft of 6.25" OD x 2.875" ID steel drill collars. , so the bit is over the

So, more than 80% of the buoyed drill collar weight is being used to provide the 25,000 lbs of weight on bit. This means some of the drill pipe is in compression, which is very poor practice. (+1 pt) (3) This drill string is not being used correctly. (+1 pt)

(3) (+1 pt) Please circle all answers which are correct. The safety factor used in calculating the burst loads on casing is traditionally set equal to one (1.0) because: (a) Burst loads are not as significant as collapse and/or tensile loads which normally drive the final design. (b) Barlow's equation which is used to calculate the tube rating is a conservative equation by the way it is derived. (c) Barlow's equation includes a 0.875 safety factor to allow for manufacturing variance in the tube wall thickness. (d) Burst loads can be accurately predicted without the use of a safety factor. (e) The rating of the tube is to the minimum yield stress of the steel, not the ultimate strength.

Answers (b), (c), and (e) are correct.

(4) (+1 pt) Please circle all answers which are correct. The requirements for the best use of liquid drilling mud, whether it is water or oil base fluid, include: (a) Density that is high enough to offset pore pressure. (b) Viscosity that is very low to improve the rock chip carrying capacity and maximize hole cleaning. (c) Low gravity solids content that is high enough to provide the required density. (d) Water loss that is always very low to prevent filtrate loss to permeable rock. (e) A thick, soft mud cake so that it is easily removed for cementing operations.

Answer (a) is correct.

(5) (+2 pts) Using the free body diagrams shown below, please write two equations that show the force felt by the fast line (which is moving) and by the dead or static line (which is static). The number of lines strung through the traveling and crown blocks are a number "n".

(6) (+2 pts) Circle all statements which are true. (a) When working at the maximum capacity, pump flow rate decreases if pump pressure increases because the pump is a constant speed device. (b) When working at the maximum capacity, pump flow rate decreases if pump pressure increases because the pump is a constant horsepower device. (c) The total force supported by the derrick is the hook load. (d) Generally speaking the maximum power used by a drilling rig is for hoisting operations, followed by pumping, followed by rotating the bit. (e) There is no difference between the general set up of a land drilling rig and an off shore rig where the well head is above the water. (f) Differential sticking of drill pipe can occur if the pressure created by the mud weight in the bore hole equals the pore pressure of a permeable zone. (g) The pressure exerted by the mud weight at the bottom of a well that has been deviated from vertical is calculated using the formula 0.052(mud ppg)D, where the variable D is the measured depth of the well. (h) A water reactive shale will be stable when using an oil base mud if the activity of the mud is less than the activity of the shale. (i) Salt layers can cause very high collapse pressures against tubulars because the salt is extremely soluble in fresh water and rapidly saturates the water. (j) An oil base mud can create osmotic pressure if the mud is a water in oil emulsion, there is excess emulsifier carried in the mud, and the salinity of the water is different from the salinity of formation waters found in the layers being drilled. Answers (b), (d), (e), (h), and (j) are correct.