COOPER ENERGY LTD.
REDESIGN OF BASED DRILLING MUD ADDITIVE THAT IS DETERMINED TO
OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF PIPE STICKING AT FIELD Y WELL X
Mud Engineer Team of Cooper Energy Group, Department of Petroleum Engineering, UPN “Veteran”
Yogyakarta
Abstract
Pipe sticking is a condition where a partly of drill
pipe or drill collar stuck in the borehole. In the drilling
process, there is a problem that often occurs. On a field "Y"
there is a layer structure consisting of sand, shale, limestone.
There has been a problem drilling at depths 152.6 ft, the drill
pipe can not be moved and rotated, and the circulation is not
running anymore.
In this paper we design appropriate drilling mud to
depth of 150-160 ft. Where the depth of 788 ft is also
narrowing the borehole to a depth of 899 ft. Where in depth of
788 ft narrowing of the borehole occur until a depth of 899 ft.
In this experiments, we make two types of drilling
mud, the surface section mud and the intermediate section
mud. On the surface and intermediates additive used are
bentonite, spersen, soda ash, PAC-L, and water with different
dose between the surface and intermediates. Some parameters
are measured are the value of density, plastic viscosity, gel
strength, filtrate, and mud cake on drilling mud. Data of the
parameters measured at the surface is obtained density = 9.2
ppg, µp = 7 cp, Yp = 28 lb/100ft2, GS 10’ = 13 lb/100ft2,GS
10” = 24 lb/100ft2, filtration loss = 8.8 ml, mud cake = 0.125
cm, pH = 9. While at the intermediate obtained density = 11.3
ppg, µp = 9 cp, Yp = 22 lb/100ft2, GS 10’ = 15 lb/100ft2,GS
10” = 28 lb/100ft2, filtration loss = 9.5 ml, mud cake = 0.17
cm, pH = 8
With the design of the drilling mud that we made, is
expected to solve problems of pipe sticking and can normalize
circulation drilling mud.
Background
Cooper energy company have a mud evaluation in
field “Y”, there are some problem happen in that field.
Formation in field “y” are standstone, shale, and limestone.
The problems happen in 2 interval, first is in depth 150-161 ft
pipe can’t move or rotate and also circulation is stop (exactly
in 152.6 ft). This first problem we conclude as differential
pipe sticking it shown by pipe can’t move and circulation is
stop. Second, in depth 788-899 ft there is hole constriction. In
this secodn problem we make conclusion that this hole
constriction happen because of the thickness of mud cake. So
what we have to do is decrease the mud cake. The
spesification of previous mud are:
 GS 10 second = 8.9 lb/100ft2
 GS 10 minutes = 14 lb/100ft2
 Permeability of sandstone in 10-100 ft = 149 md
 Permeability of sandstone in 100-1021 ft = 1102 md
 Yield point = 21 lb/100ft2
 Plastic Viscosity= 8.5 cp
 Q mud pump= 197 gpm
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this experiment was to redesign the
drilling mud to be able solve problems of pipe sticking and
return the circulation drilling mud in order not to have
problems that interfere with the process of circulation. And
also to design the drilling mud to match the conditions at
certain wellbore depth. By knowing the depth of the wellbore
conditions we can make the composition of the mud by using
additives, so that the problem can be resolved.
Theoritical Basic
Definition of Drilling Fluid
Analysis of Drilling Mud is a part of the analysis
conducted in the various drilling operations. The drilling
operation is a common procedure and techniques implemented
in a complex modern rotary drilling and to drill oil or gas
wells. A drilling seem an easy thing that makes the wellbore
which penetrate layers that are rich in oil. This analysis will be
introduced to the basic drilling operations are carried out in a
well bore, which include a review of some basic formulation
of the nature a drilling mud, causes, and the problems it
causes.
The Functions of Drilling Fluid
1. Transport cutting to surface
2. Prevent well-control issues
3. Preserve wellbore stability
4. Minimize formation damage
5. Cool and lubricate the drillstring
6. Provide information about the wellbore
7. Minimize risk to personel, the environment, and
drilling equipment.
2 INDRILLCO SOUTH LIRIK LTD.
Definition of Lost Circulation
Lost circulation or loss of circulation is the
uncontrolled flow of whole mud into a formation.
Type of Lost Circulation
1. Partial Loss : in partial lost circulation mud
continues to flows to surface with some loss to the
formation
2. Total Lost Circulation: occurs when all the muds
flows into a formation with no return to surface
3. Cummulative Lost Circulation : the whole mud
that lost by partial lost circulation
Causes of Lost Circulation
Formation that are inherently fractured, cavernous, or
have high permeability
1. Improper drilling condition
2. Included fractures caused by excessive downhole
pressures and setting intermediate casing too high
Preventions of Lost Circulation
1. Maintaining proper mud weight
2. Minimizing annular-friction pressure losses during
drilling and tripping in
3. Adequate hole cleaning
4. Avoiding restriction in the annular space
5. Setting casing to protect upperweaker formation
within a transition zone
6. Updating formation pore pressure and fracture
gradients for better accuracy with log and drilling
data
Formation Damage from Swelling Clay
Swelling clays, although relatively abundant in
shales, do not accur as commonly in producing intervals.
Thus, formation damage problems with swelling clays are not
nearly as commong as those associated with fines migration.
Causes of Swelling
Convergance between clay and water.Clay swelling
can be caused by ion exchange or changes in salinity.
However, only clays that are directly contacted by the fluid
moving in the rock will react; these include authigenic clays,
some detrital clays on the pore boundaries and unprotected
clay cement.
Preventions of Swelling
To prevent clay swelling, various chemical
treatments have been designed. These include polymers
containing quaternary ammonium salts, pottasium chloride,
hydrolyzable metal ions such as zirconium oxychloride,
hydroxy-aluminium, and polymerizable ultrathin films.
Metodology
Data case collected from the field and the new data
of drilling fluid obtained from doing experimentin the
laboratory. At laboratory, we determine density of drilling
fluid by mud balance and rheology of drilling fluid such as,
plastic viscosity, yield point, and gel strength by FANN VG
Meter (viscometer).
The test with mud balance consists essentially of
filling the cup with a mud sample and determining the rider
position required for balance. The balance is calibrated by
adding lead shot to calibration chamber at the end of the scale.
Water usually is used for the calibration fluid. The density of
fresh water is 8,33 lbm/gal.
Viscometer can provide a more meaningful
measurement of the rheological characteristics of the mud
than the marsh funnel. The mud is sheared at a constant rate
between an inner bob and an outer rotating sleeve. Plastic
viscosity and yield point are calculated from 300 rpm and 600
rpm readings using following formulas :
Plastic viscosity (μp) = Φ600-Φ300 (cp)
Yield point (yp) = Φ300-μp (lb/100ft )
2
The initial gel strength and final gel strength is determined by
measuring maximum dial reading at 3 rpm after keeping the
drilling fluid at rest for 10 seconds and 10 minutes
respectively.
Based on data from the field, we can conclude that at
218 ft there is swellingclay caused by interaction between clay
and water. It can be shown by increasing of pump pressure
and decresing the flow rate. To handle this situation, we
decide to design our drilling fluid with using KCl as shale
stabilizer. At 669,1 ft deep, because the volume of mud pit
decreased a quarter after the circulation, we conclude that
there is a lost circulation at that depth. Besides the hydrostatic
pressure is greater than formation fracture pressure.To handle
this situation, we decide to decrease the hydrostatic pressure
of our drilling fluid between the formation pressure and
formation fracture pressure.Because of the value of formation
pressure is 8,6 ppg, fracture formation pressure is 9,8 and
considering the safety factor is 0,5, so we decide to design our
drilling fluid into 9,25 ppg. We design our drilling fluid using
spercene as a thinner to decrease the hydrostatic pressure from
10 ppg into 9,25 ppg.
Analysis And Discussions
At a depth of 218 ft, the pump pressure increased and
the flow rate decreased. It indicates that there is a swelling
problem at that depth. At 661,9 ft, the volume of drilling fluid
at mud pit decreased up to ¼ volume of mud pit. And t 669,1
ft, formation pressure is 299,5 psi (emw = 8,6 ppg), mud
density is 10 ppg, formation fracture pressure is 341 psi (emw
= 9,8 ppg). It indicates that lost circulation had happened.
3 INDRILLCO SOUTH LIRIK LTD.

Solution for the problem is redesign the drilling mud with 2. The use of potassium chloride should be combine by
compositions : spercene, because potassium chloride can increase
TABLE I. volume of filtrate into the formation. Therefore it is
THE COMPOSITIONS OF DRILLING FLUID necessary add spercene to control volume of filtrate.
Constituents Composition 3. Furthermore, treating mud by with loss control
Bentonite 22,5 gr material such as, nut shell, limestone, and mica can
Water 350 ml overcome the lost circulation.
Barite 32 gr 4. Swelling can be prevented by adding shale stabilizer
Spercene 5 gr such as pottasium chloride. So the shale formation
KCl 3 gr does not expand and borehole size does not reduced.
5. Calcium drilling fluid or potassium based mud
The density of new drillling fluid is 9,25 ppg. So the value of should be used for drilling through the layer of
mud density between emw formation pressure and fracture gypsum or limestone. Where the drilling fluid is
formation pressure.The density should be designed with safety treated with caustic soda, anhydrite, to decrease the
factor 0,5 ppg. The value 0,2 ppg is from safety factor of water hidration of drilling fluid.
formation pressure and the value 0,3 ppg is safety factor for
trip margin which is caused by round trip activity.

TABLE II. Acknowledgments

RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER BASED MUD We acknowledgments thelaboratory assistants of drilling fluid
Properties Values analysis especially to Doni Kurniawan as coordinator of
Plastic Viscosity 4 cp laboratory assistant for Plug C who have helped in the
preparation of this paper.
Yield Point 12 lb/100ft2
Initial Gel Strength 12 lb/100ft2
10 Min. Gel Strength 22 lb/100ft2
References
From the result of density it can be seen that the drilling fluid 01. Lummus, James L., “Drilling Fluid Optimization”,
can be used to overcome lost circulation problem. Spercene as PennWell Publishing Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma,
a thinner can decrease the density of drilling fluid. Pottasium 1986.
Chloride as shale stabilizer can prevent swelling because KCl 02. “Drilling Fluid Manual”, Amoco Production Company.
polymer has an ion K+ to support the interfacial of the clay. 03. Bourgoyne, Adam T., “Applied Drilling Engineering”,
But the addition of KCl must be followed by addition of fluid Society of Petroleum Engineers, Texas, 1986.
loss control agent such as spercene to control filtrate volume 04. http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/
of the drilling fluid.

Conclusions
1. Density of drilling fluid is 9,25 ppg.
2. The drillling fluid is suitable for use at field Y well X.
3. Spercene can be used in drilling fluid to decrease drilling
fluid density, so it can prevent the lost circulation
problem. Futhermore spercene also used as fluid lost
control agent.
4. Potassium Chloride as clay stabilizer in drilling fluid
serve to prevent swelling problem.

Recommendations
Based on analysis and discussions, we recommend that :
1. To overcome lost circulation, we can add thinner
such as spercene, lignite, or Q-broxin. Thinner can
decrease the density of drilling fluid so hydrostatic
pressure can be arranged between formation pressure
and formation fracture pressure.
4 INDRILLCO SOUTH LIRIK LTD.

3. Untuk mengatasi pipe sticking yang terjadi pada

case kita , maka kita dapat mendesain lumpur
dengan menambahkan additive – additive seperti
spersen , soda ash dan pac-l.
4. Spersene dan soda ash bisa dijadikan pengganti dari
additive caustic pottash dan lignit dengan fungsi
yang sama yaitu untuk mencegah dan
menanggulangi swelling dan kontaminasi lumpur.
5. Penambahan soda ash, sebagaimana fungsi soda
ash adalah salah satunya meningkatkan pH.