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Reservoir pore fluid pressure that is not similar to normal saltwater gradient pressure. The abnormal
term is usually associated with higher than normal pressure, increased complexity for the pressure
well designer and an increased risk of well control problems.
A valve usually used in well control operations to reduce the pressure of a fluid from high adjustable
pressure in the closed wellbore to atmospheric pressure. choke
To drill using gases (typically compressed air or nitrogen) to cool the drill bit and
lift cuttings out of the wellbore, instead of the more conventional use of liquids. air drill
A drilling technique whereby gases (typically compressed air or nitrogen) are used to cool
the drill bit and lift cuttings out of the wellbore, instead of the more conventional use of air drilling
liquids.
A large valve used to control wellbore fluids. In this type of valve, the sealing element annular
resembles a large rubber doughnut that is mechanically squeezed inward to seal on either blowout
pipe (drill collar, drillpipe, casing, or tubing) or the openhole. preventer
The space between two concentric objects, such as between the wellbore and casing or
between casing and tubing, where fluid can flow. annulus
Plural form of annulus. annuli
The speed at which drilling fluid or cement moves in the annulus. annular
velocity
A drill bit, usually polycrystalline diamond compact bit (PDC) type, designed such that the
individual cutting elements on the bit create a net imbalance force. antiwhirl bit
Any water-bearing formation encountered while drilling. aquifer
The compass direction of a directional survey or of the wellbore as planned or measured by azimuth
a directional survey.
To unscrew drillstring components downhole. back of
Another term for reverse circulation, the intentional pumping of wellbore fluids down
the annulus and back up through the drillpipe. back wash
An average or baseline measure of gas entrained in circulating mud. This baseline trend background
pertains to gas that is liberated downhole while drilling through a gas (BGG)
uniform lithologic interval at a constant rate of penetration.
Referring to openhole or without casing, as in barefoot completion or barefoot drillstem barefoot
test.
A tool run into the wellbore to retrieve junk from the bottom of the hole. basket sub
An enlarged pipe at the top of a casing string that serves as a funnel to guide drilling tools
into the top of a well. bell nipple
The lower portion of the drillstring, consisting of (from the bottom up in a vertical well) bottomhole
the bit, bit sub, a mud motor (in certain cases), stabilizers, drill collar, heavy- assembly
weight drillpipe, jarring devices ("jars") and crossovers for various threadforms. (BHA)
bottomhole
The temperature of the circulating fluid (air, mud, cement or water) at the bottom of the circulating
wellbore after several hours of circulation. temperature
(BHCT)
bottomhole
The pressure, usually measured in pounds per square inch (psi), at the bottom of the hole. pressure
(BHP)
bottomhole
static
The temperature of the undisturbed formation at the final depth in a well. temperature
(BHSP)
The tool used to crush or cut rock. Everything on a drilling rig directly or indirectly assists
the bit in crushing or cutting the rock. The bit is on the bottom of the drillstring and must
be changed when it becomes excessively dull or stops making progress. Most bits work by
scraping or crushing the rock, or both, usually as part of a rotational motion. Some bits, Drill bit
known as hammer bits, pound the rock vertically in much the same fashion as a
construction site air hammer.
A historical record of how a bit performed in a particular wellbore. The bit record includes
such data as the depth the bit was put into the well, the distance the bit drilled, the hours bit record
the bit was being used "on bottom" or "rotating", the mud type and weight, the nozzle
sizes, the weight placed on the bit, the rotating speed and hydraulic flow information.
A blowout preventer (BOP) closing element fitted with hardened tool steel blades designed
to cut the drillpipe or tubing when the BOP is closed, and then fully close to provide blind shear
isolation or sealing of the wellbore. it is normally used as a last resort to ram / shear
regain pressure control of a well that is flowing. Once the pipe is cut (or sheared) by the ram
shear rams, it is usually left hanging in the BOP stack, and kill operations become more
difficult.
A set of pulleys used to gain mechanical advantage in lifting or dragging heavy objects. block
An uncontrolled flow of reservoir fluids into the wellbore, and sometimes catastrophically
to the surface. A blowout may consist of salt water, oil, gas or a mixture of these. blow out
blow out
A large valve at the top of a well that may be closed if the drilling crew loses control preventer
of formation fluids.
(BOP)
A set of two or more BOPs used to ensure pressure control of a well. A typical stack might
consist of one to six ram-type preventers and, optionally, one or two annular-type BOP stack
preventers. A typical stack configuration has the ram preventers on the bottom and the
annular preventers at the top.
The wellbore itself, including the openhole or uncased portion of the well. borehole
Borehole direction. Borehole orientation may be described in terms of inclination and borehole
azimuth. orientation
The sample obtained at the bottoms-up time or a volume of fluid to pump, as in "pump
bottoms-up before drilling ahead." bottoms up
A metal strip shaped like a hunting bow and attached to a tool or to the outside of casing.
Bow-spring centralizers are used to keep casing in the center of a wellbore or casing bow-spring
centralizer
("centralized") prior to and during a cement job.
A female threadform (internally threaded) for tubular goods and drillstring components. box
The mechanism on the drawworks that permits the driller to control the speed and motion
of the drilling line and the drillstring, or the brake handle that the driller operates to control brake
the brake mechanism.
To establish circulation of drilling fluids after a period of static conditions. Circulation may break
resume after a short break, such as taking a survey or making a mousehole connection, or circulation
after a prolonged interruption, such as after a round trip.
To unscrew drillstring components, which are coupled by various threadforms known as
connections, including tool joints and other threaded connections. break out
A clutching mechanism that permits the driller to apply high torque to a connection using breakout
the power of the drawworks motor. cathead
breakout
Large capacity self-locking wrenches used to grip drillstring components and apply torque. tongs
The gangplank or stairway connecting a jackup rig to a fixed platform. / To intentionally or
accidentally plug off pore spaces or fluid paths in a rock formation, or to make a restriction
in a wellbore or annulus. A bridge may be partial or total, and is usually caused by solids bridge
(drilled solids, cuttings, cavings or junk) becoming lodged together in a narrow spot or
geometry change in the wellbore.
To forcibly pump fluids into a formation, usually formation fluids that have entered the bullhead
wellbore during a well control event.
An electromechanical device used to connect an electrical tool string to a logging cable, cable head
electrical wireline or coiled tubing stringequipped with an electrical conductor.
A method of drilling whereby an impact tool or bit, suspended in the well from a cable-tool
steel cable, is dropped repeatedly on the bottom of the hole to crush the rock. drilling
A representation of the measured diameter of a borehole along its depth. Caliper logs are
usually measured mechanically, with only a few using sonic devices. caliper log
A test performed by the mudlogger or wellsite geologist, used to calculate sample lag. The
lag period can be measured as a function of time or pump strokes. Acetylene is commonly carbide lag
used as a tracer gas for this purpose. test
The portion of the wellbore that has had metal casing placed and cemented to protect the
openhole from fluids, pressures, wellbore stability problems or a combination of these. cased hole
Large-diameter pipe lowered into an openhole and cemented in place. The well designer
must design casing to withstand a variety of forces, such as collapse, burst, and tensile casing
failure, as well as chemically aggressive brines.
casing
A mechanical device that keeps casing from contacting the wellbore wall. centralizer
The threaded collar used to connect two joints of casing. casing collar
A short length of pipe used to connect two joints of casing. A casing coupling has internal
threads (female threadform) machined to match the external threads (male threadform) of casing
the long joints of casing. coupling
The adapter between the first casing string and either the BOP stack (during drilling) or
the wellhead (after completion). casing head
A short assembly, typically manufactured from a heavy steel collar and profiled cement
interior, that is screwed to the bottom of a casing string. The rounded profile helps guide
the casing string past any ledges or obstructions that would prevent the string from being casing shoe
correctly located in the wellbore.
An assembled length of steel pipe configured to suit a specific wellbore. The sections of
pipe are connected and lowered into a wellbore, then cemented in place casing string
A relatively thin cable used with other equipment to move
small rig and drillstring components and to provide tension on the tongs for tightening or cat line
loosening threaded connections.
A clutched spool connected to the drawworks power system used to tension chains, cables
and softline rope. cathead
A long, rectangular platform about 3 ft [0.9 m] high, usually made of steel and located
perpendicular to the vee-door at the bottom of the slide. This platform is used as a staging catwalk
area for rig and drillstring tools.
A dug-out area, possibly lined with wood, cement or very large diameter (6 ft [1.8 m]) thin- cellar
wall pipe, located below the rig.
The binding material in sedimentary rocks that precipitates between grains
from pore fluids. cement
A representation of the integrity of the cement job, especially whether the cement is
adhering solidly to the outside of the casing. The newer versions, called cement evaluation cement
logs, along with their processing software, can give detailed, 360-degree representations of evaluation log
the integrity of the cement job, whereas older versions may display a single line
representing the integrated integrity around the casing.
To prepare and pump cement into place in a wellbore. cementing
The colloquial term for the crew member in charge of a specialized cementing crew and cementing
trucks. engineer
A rubber plug used to separate the cement slurry from other fluids, reducing
contamination and maintaining predictable slurry performance. Two types of cementing cementing
plug are typically used on a cementing operation. The bottom plug is launched ahead of the plug
cement slurry to minimize contamination by fluids inside the casing prior to cementing.
A type of pipe wrench used for hand-tightening various threaded connections around the
rigsite. chain tongs
A high-pressure pipe leading from an outlet on the BOP stack to
the backpressure choke and associated manifold. During well-control operations, the fluid choke line
under pressure in the wellbore flows out of the well through the choke line to the choke,
reducing the fluid pressure to atmospheric pressure.
A set of high-pressure valves and associated piping that usually includes at least two choke
adjustable chokes, arranged such that one adjustable choke may be isolated and taken out manifold
of service for repair and refurbishment while well flow is directed through the other one.
The loss of drilling fluid to a formation, usually caused when the hydrostatic circulation
head pressure of the column of drilling fluid exceeds the formation pressure. loss
circulation
The complete, circuitous path that the drilling fluid travels. system
Saline liquid usually used in completion operations and, increasingly, when penetrating
a pay zone. clear brine
A long, continuous length of pipe wound on a spool. The pipe is straightened prior to
pushing into a wellbore and rewound to coil the pipe back onto the transport and storage coiled tubing
spool. (CT)
come out of
To remove the drillstring from the wellbore. the hole
company
The representative of the oil company or operator on a drilling location. representative
The hardware used to optimize the production of hydrocarbons from the well. completion
Having the same center, such as when the casing and the wellbore have a common center
point and, therefore, a uniform annular dimension. concentric
The casing string that is usually put into the well first, particularly on land wells, to prevent conductor
the sides of the hole from caving into the wellbore. pipe
Any threaded or nonthreaded union or joint that connects two tubular components. connection
A brief influx of gas that is introduced into the drilling fluid when a pipe connection is
made. Before making a connection, the driller stops the mud pumps, thereby allowing gas connection
to enter the wellbore at depth. gas
contamination
Gas that is introduced into the drilling mud from a source other than the formation. gas
The depth in a drilling well at which the drilling contractor receives a lump-sum payment contract depth
for reaching a particular milestone.
To deepen the wellbore by way of collecting a cylindrical sample of rock. A core bit is used
to accomplish this, in conjunction with a core barrel and core catcher. core
Antiquated term for a deviated wellbore, usually used to describe a well deviated
accidentally during the drilling process. crooked hole
The flow of fluid across the bottom of the bit after it exits the bit nozzles, strikes the bottom crossflow
or sides of the hole and turns upwards to the annulus.
The fixed set of pulleys (called sheaves) located at the top of the derrick or mast, over crown block
which the drilling line is threaded.
The rubblized rock just below the tooth of a rock bit. Rock in the crushed zone fails due to
the high compressive stress placed on it by the bit tooth (in the case of a roller-cone bit). crushed zone
Small pieces of rock that break away due to the action of the bit teeth. cuttings
The daily cost to the operator of renting the drilling rig and the associated costs of
personnel and routine supplies. This cost may or may not include fuel, and usually does not
include capital goods, such as casing and wellheads, or special services, such as logging or day rate
cementing. In most of the world, the day rate represents roughly half of the cost of the
well. Similarly, the total daily cost to drill a well (spread rate) is roughly double what
the rig day-rate amount is.
The work shift of a drilling crew that commences at about the sunrise hour. Drilling
operations usually take place around the clock because of the cost to rent a rig. As a result,
there are usually two separate crews working twelve-hour tours to keep the operation daylight tour
going. Some companies prefer three eight-hour tours: the daylight tour starts at daylight or
8 AM; the graveyard tour is the overnight shift or the shift that begins at midnight.
(Pronounced "tower" in many areas.)
An individual trained in the science and art of intentionally drilling a well along a
predetermined path in three-dimensional space, usually involving deviating the well from
vertical and directing it in a specific compass direction or heading. The Directional
directional drillerconsiders such parameters as rotary speed, weight on bit, control drilling Driller (DD)
and when to stop drilling and take surveys of the wellpath, and works closely with
the toolpusher.
A device that removes air or gases (methane, H2S, CO2 and others) from drilling liquids.
There are two generic types that work by both expanding the size of the gas bubbles
entrained in the mud (by pulling a vacuum on the mud) and by increasing the surface area
available to the mud so that bubbles escape (through the use of various cascading baffle degasser
plates). If the gas content in the mud is high, a mud gas separator or "poor boy degasser" is
used, because it has a higher capacity than standard degassers and routes the evolved
gases away from the rig to a flaring area complete with an ignition source.
The structure used to support the crown blocks and the drillstring of a drilling rig. They are
usually pyramidal in shape, and offer a good strength-to-weight ratio. If the design does not
allow it to be moved easily in one piece, special ironworkers must assemble them piece by derrick
piece, and in some cases disassemble them if they are to be moved.
The relatively small work area in which the rig crew conducts operations, usually adding or
removing drillpipe to or from the drillstring. It is the most dangerous location on the rig
because heavy iron is moved around there. Drillstring connections are made or broken on derrick floor /
it, and the driller's console for controlling the major components of the rig are located rig floor
there. Attached to it, it is a small metal room, the doghouse, where the rig crew can meet,
take breaks and take refuge from the elements during idle times.
One of the rig crew members who gets his name from the fact that he works on a platform
attached to the derrick or mast, typically 85 ft [26 m] above the rig floor, during trips. On
small land drilling crews, the derrickman is second in rank to the driller. Larger offshore
crews may have an assistant driller between the derrickman and the driller. In a typical trip
out of the hole (TOH), the derrickman wears a special safety harness that enables him to
lean out from the work platform (called the monkeyboard) to reach the drillpipe in the
center of the derrick or mast, throw a line around the pipe and pull it back into its storage derrickman
location (the fingerboards) until it is time to run the pipe back into the well. In terms of
skill, physical exertion and perceived danger, a derrickman has one of the most demanding
jobs on the rig crew. Some modern drilling rigs have automated pipe-handling equipment
such that the derrickman controls the machinery rather than physically handling the pipe.
In an emergency, the derrickman can quickly reach the ground by an escape line often
called the Geronimo line.
A hydrocyclone device that removes large drill solids from the whole mudsystem. The
desander should be located downstream of the shale shakers and degassers, but before the
desilters or mud cleaners. A volume of mud is pumped into the wide upper section of the
hydrocylone at an angle roughly tangent to its circumference. As the mud flows around and
gradually down the inside of the cone shape, solids are separated from the liquid by
centrifugal forces. The solids continue around and down until they exit the bottom of the
hydrocyclone (along with small amounts of liquid) and are discarded. The cleaner and desander
lighter density liquid mud travels up through a vortex in the center of the hydrocyclone,
exits through piping at the top of the hydrocyclone and is then routed to the mud tanks and
the next mud-cleaning device, usually a desilter. Various size desander and desilter cones
are functionally identical, with the size of the cone determining the size of particles the
device removes from the mud system.
A hydrocyclone much like a desander except that its design incorporates a greater number
of smaller cones. As with the desander, its purpose is to remove unwanted solids from
the mud system. The smaller cones allow the desilter to efficiently remove smaller desilter
diameter drill solids than a desander does. For that reason, the desilter is
located downstream from the desander in the surface mud system.
The intentional deviation of a wellbore from the path it would naturally take. This is
accomplished through the use of whipstocks, bottomhole assembly (BHA) configurations,
instruments to measure the path of the wellbore in three-dimensional space, data links to
communicate measurements taken downhole to the surface, mud motors and special BHA
components and drill bits, including rotary steerable systems, and drill bits. The
directional driller also exploits drilling parameters such as weight on bit and rotary speed to
deflect the bit away from the axis of the existing wellbore. In some cases, such as drilling
steeply dipping formations or unpredictable deviation in conventional drilling operations,
directional-drilling techniques may be employed to ensure that the hole is drilled vertically.
While many techniques can accomplish this, the general concept is simple: point the bit in deviated
the direction that one wants to drill. The most common way is through the use of a bend drilling /
near the bit in a downhole steerable mud motor. The bend points the bit in a direction directional
different from the axis of the wellbore when the entire drillstring is not rotating. By drilling
pumping mud through the mud motor, the bit turns while the drillstring does not rotate,
allowing the bit to drill in the direction it points. When a particular wellbore direction is
achieved, that direction may be maintained by rotating the entire drillstring (including the
bent section) so that the bit does not drill in a single direction off the wellbore axis, but
instead sweeps around and its net direction coincides with the existing wellbore. Rotary
steerable tools allow steering while rotating, usually with higher rates of penetration and
ultimately smoother boreholes. Directional drilling is common in shale reservoirs because it
allows drillers to place the borehole in contact with the most productive reservoir rock.
A completed measurement of the inclination and azimuth of a location in a well (typically
the total depth at the time of measurement). In both directional and straight holes, the
position of the well must be known with reasonable accuracy to ensure the correct
wellbore path and to know its position in the event a relief well must be drilled. The
measurements themselves include inclination from vertical, and the azimuth (or
compass heading) of the wellbore if the direction of the path is critical. These deviation
measurements are made at discrete points in the well, and the approximate path of the survey /
wellbore computed from the discrete points. Measurement devices range from simple directional
pendulum-like devices to complex electronic accelerometers and gyroscopes used more survey
often as MWD becomes more popular. In simple pendulum measurements, the position of
a freely hanging pendulum relative to a measurement grid (attached to the housing of the
tool and assumed to represent the path of the wellbore) is captured on photographic film.
The film is developed and examined when the tool is removed from the wellbore, either
on wireline or the next time pipe is tripped out of the hole.
A tool for drilling rock that works by scraping industrial grade diamonds against the bottom
of the hole. The diamonds are embedded into the metal structure (usually a sintered or
powdered carbide base matrix) during the manufacture of the bit. The bit designer has
virtually unlimited combinations of bit shape, the placement of hydraulic jetting ports, the
amount of diamonds and the size of the diamonds used (usually expressed as diamonds diamond bit
per carat). In general, a diamond bit that drills faster has a shorter lifetime. Similarly, a bit
designed for extremely long life will typically drill at a slower rate. If a bit has a relatively
high number of diamonds compared with other bits, it is said to be "heavy-set" and has
higher durability. A "light-set" bit, on the other hand, drills more aggressively, but wears
out faster because fewer diamonds do the work.
In general, a measurement of fluid force per unit area (measured in units such as pounds
per square in.) subtracted from a higher measurement of fluid force per unit area. This diferential
comparison could be made between pressures outside and inside a pipe, a pressure vessel,
before and after an obstruction in a flow path, or simply between two points along any pressure*
fluid path, such as two points along the inside of a pipe or across a packer.
A condition whereby the drillstring cannot be moved (rotated or reciprocated) along the
axis of the wellbore. Differential sticking typically occurs when high-contact forces caused
by low reservoir pressures, high wellbore pressures, or both, are exerted over a sufficiently diferential
large area of the drillstring. Differential sticking is, for most drilling organizations, the pressure
greatest drilling problem worldwide in terms of time and financial cost. It is important to sticking/
diferential
note that the sticking force is a product of the differential pressure between the wellbore sticking / wall
and the reservoir and the area that the differential pressure is acting upon. This means that sticking
a relatively low differential pressure (delta p) applied over a large working area can be just
as effective in sticking the pipe as can a high differential pressure applied over a small area.
A wellbore that requires the use of special tools or techniques to ensure that the wellbore directional
path hits a particular subsurface target, typically located away from (as opposed to directly well
under) the surface location of the well.
The shortest distance from the surface location of a well to the vertical projection of the
bottom of the well (or other point in the well) to the Earth's surface. Horizontal wells often displacement*
have total displacements of 1000 ft [305 m] or more from the surface location, and the
world record exceeds 10 km [6.2 miles] of displacement.
The fluid, usually drilling mud, used to force a cement slurry out of the casing string and displacement
into the annulus. fluid
The steel-sided room adjacent to the rig floor, usually having an access door close to
the driller's controls. This general-purpose shelter is a combination tool shed, office,
communications center, coffee room, lunchroom and general meeting place for the driller dog house
and his crew. It is at the same elevation as the rig floor, usually cantilevered out from the
main substructure supporting the rig.
A particularly crooked place in a wellbore where the trajectory of the wellbore in three-
dimensional space changes rapidly. While a dogleg is sometimes created intentionally by dog leg*
directional drillers, the term more commonly refers to a section of the hole that changes
direction faster than anticipated or desired, usually with harmful side effects.
A specially formulated blend of lubricating grease and fine metallic particles that prevents
thread galling (a particular form of metal-to-metal damage) and seals the roots or void dope / pipe
spaces of threads. The American Petroleum Institute (API) specifies properties of it, dope
including its coefficient of friction. The rig crew applies copious amounts of it to
the drillpipe tool joints every time a connection is made.
drag bit /
A drilling tool that uses polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters to shear rock with a Fixed-cutter
continuous scraping motion. These cutters are synthetic diamond disks about 1/8-in. thick bit /
and about 1/2 to 1 in. in diameter. PDC bits are effective at drilling shaleformations, polycrystalline
especially when used in combination with oil-base muds. diamond
compact bit
The machine on the rig consisting of a large-diameter steel spool, brakes, a power source
and assorted auxiliary devices. The primary function of the drawworks is to reel out and
reel in the drilling line, a large diameter wire rope, in a controlled fashion. The drilling line is
reeled over the crown blockand traveling block to gain mechanical advantage in a "block
and tackle" or "pulley" fashion. This reeling out and in of the drilling line causes the drawworks
traveling block, and whatever may be hanging underneath it, to be lowered into or raised
out of the wellbore. The reeling out of the drilling line is powered by gravity and reeling in
by an electric motor or diesel engine.
A term to describe the inclination from vertical of a wellbore. / To guarantee the inside
diameter of a pipe or other cylindrical tool by pulling a cylinder or pipe (often called a drift*
rabbit) of known outside diameter through it.
A component of a drillstring that provides weight on bit for drilling. Drill collars are thick-
walled tubular pieces machined from solid bars of steel, usually plain carbon steel but
sometimes of nonmagnetic nickel-copper alloy or other nonmagnetic premium alloys. The
bars of steel are drilled from end to end to provide a passage to pumping drilling fluids drill collar*
through the collars. The outside diameter of the steel bars may be machined slightly to
ensure roundness, and in some cases may be machined with helical grooves ("spiral
collars").
Tubular steel conduit fitted with special threaded ends called tool joints.
The drillpipe connects the rig surface equipment with the bottomhole assembly and
the bit, both to pump drilling fluid to the bit and to be able to raise, lower and rotate the drill pipe
bottomhole assembly and bit.
A maritime vessel modified to include a drilling rig and special station-keeping equipment.
The vessel is typically capable of operating in deep water. A drillship must stay relatively
stationary on location in the water for extended periods of time. This positioning may be
accomplished with multiple anchors, dynamic propulsion (thrusters) or a combination of drill ship
these. Drillships typically carry larger payloads than semisubmersible drilling vessels, but
their motion characteristics are usually inferior.
A sudden increase in the rate of penetration during drilling. When this increase is
significant (two or more times the normal speed, depending on local conditions), it may
indicate a formation change, a change in the pore pressure of the formation fluids, or both.
It is commonly interpreted as an indication of the bit drilling sand (high-speed drilling)
rather than shale (low-speed drilling). The fast-drilling formation may or may not contain
high-pressure fluids. Therefore, the driller commonly stops drilling and performs a flow
check to determine if the formation is flowing. If the well is flowing, or if the results are drilling break
uncertain, the driller may close the blowout preventers or circulate bottoms-up. Depending
on the bit being used and the formations being drilled, a formation, even if sand, may
sometimes drill slower rather than faster. This slowing of drilling progress, while technically
also a drilling break, is usually referred to as a "reverse drilling break", or simply "reverse
break."
The company that owns and operates a drilling rig. The drilling contractor usually charges a
fixed daily rate for its hardware (the rig) and software (the people), plus certain
extraordinary expenses. Under this arrangement, the cost of the well is largely a function of
the time it takes to drill and complete the well. The other primary contracting methods are drilling
footage rates (where the contractor receives an agreed upon amount per foot of hole contractor
drilled), or turnkey operations, where the contractor may assume substantial risk of the
operations and receives a lump sum payment upon supplying a well of a given specification
to the operator.
Personnel who operate the drilling rig. The crew typically consists of roustabouts,
roughnecks, floor hands, lead tong operators, motormen, derrickmen, assistant drillers,
and the driller. Since drilling rigs operate around the clock, there are at least two crews drilling crew
(twelve hour work shifts called tours, more common when operating offshore), or three
crews (eight hour tours, more common onshore).
The location supervisor for the drilling contractor. The toolpusher is usually a senior,
experienced individual who has worked his way up through the ranks of the drilling
crew positions. His job is largely administrative, including ensuring that the rig has drilling
sufficient materials, spare parts and skilled personnel to continue efficient operations. The foreman
toolpusher also serves as a trusted advisor to many personnel on the rigsite, including
the operator's representative, the company man.
The engineering plan for constructing the wellbore. The plan includes well
geometries, casing programs, mud considerations, well control concerns,
initial bit selections, offset well information, pore pressure estimations, economics and drilling
special procedures that may be needed during the course of the well. Although drilling procedure
procedures are carefully developed, they are subject to change if drilling conditions dictate.
The engineering plan for constructing the wellbore. The plan includes well
geometries, casing programs, mud considerations, well control concerns, drilling
initial bit selections, offset well information, pore pressure estimations, economics and program
special procedures that may be needed during the course of the well.
The speed at which the drill bit can break the rock under it and thus deepen the wellbore.
This speed is usually reported in units of feet per hour or meters per hour. drilling rate
The machine used to drill a wellbore. In onshore operations, the rig includes virtually
everything except living quarters. Major components of the rig include the mud tanks, the
mud pumps, the derrick or mast, the drawworks, the rotary table or topdrive, drilling rig /
the drillstring, the power generation equipment and auxiliary equipment. Offshore, the rig rig
includes the same components as onshore, but not those of the vessel or drilling platform
itself. The rig is sometimes referred to as the drilling package, particularly offshore.
A procedure to determine the productive capacity, pressure, permeability or extent (or a
combination of these) of a hydrocarbonreservoir. While several different proprietary
hardware sets are available to accomplish this, the common idea is to isolate the zone of
interest with temporary packers. Next, one or more valves are opened to produce the
reservoir fluids through the drillpipeand allow the well to flow for a time. Finally, drillstem test
the operator kills the well, closes the valves, removes the packers and trips the tools out of
the hole. Depending on the requirements and goals for the test, it may be of short (one
hour or less) or long (several days or weeks) duration and there might be more than one
flow period and pressure buildup period.
A wellbore that has not encountered hydrocarbons in economically producible quantities.
Most wells contain salt water in some zones. In addition, the wellbore usually encounters
small amounts of crude oil and natural gas. Whether the well is a "duster" depends on
many factors of the economic equation, including proximity to transport dry hole
and processing infrastructures, local market conditions, expected completion costs, tax and
investment recovery conditions of the jurisdiction and projected oil and gas prices during
the productive life of the well.
Slang term for dry hole duster
The stationing of a vessel, especially a drillship or semisubmersible drilling rig, at a specific
location in the sea by the use of computer-controlled propulsion units called thrusters.
Though drilling vessels have varying sea and weather state design conditions, most remain
relatively stable even under high wind, wave and current loading conditions. Inability to dynamic
maintain stationkeeping, whether due to excessive natural forces or failure of one or more positioning
electromechanical systems, leads to a "drive off" condition that requires emergency
procedures to disconnect the riser from the subsea BOP stack, or worse, drop the riser from
the vessel altogether.
Off-center, as when a pipe is off-center within another pipe or the openhole. it is usually
expressed as a percentage. A pipe would be considered to be fully (100%) if it were lying
against the inside diameter of the enclosing pipe or hole. A pipe would be said to be eccentric
concentric (0% eccentric) if it were perfectly centered in the outer pipe or hole. it becomes
important to the well designer in estimating casing wear, wear and tear on the drillstring,
and the removal of cuttings from the low side of an inclined hole.
The term used to describe how off-center a pipe is within another pipe or the openhole. It eccentricity
is usually expressed as a percentage.
An electric motor that acts as a brake. Braking is accomplished by reversing the electric
fields on the motor, effectively turning it into a generator. The usage of the generated electrodynami
power, either in useful applications or dissipation as heat, restrains the motor-turned- c brake
generator and provides a braking action.
A hinged mechanism that may be closed around drillpipe or other drillstringcomponents to
facilitate lowering them into the wellbore or lifting them out of the wellbore. In the closed
position, the elevator arms are latched together to form a load-bearing ring around the
component. A shoulder or taper on the component to be lifted is larger in size than elevator
the inside diameter of the closed elevator. In the open position, the device splits roughly
into two halves and may be swung away from the drillstring component.
The process whereby steel components become less resistant to breakage and generally
much weaker in tensile strength. While embrittlement has many causes, in the oil field it is
usually the result of exposure to gaseous or liquid hydrogen sulfide [H2S]. On a molecular embrittlement
level, hydrogen ions work their way between the grain boundaries of the steel, where
hydrogen ions recombine into molecular hydrogen [H2], taking up more space and
weakening the bonds between the grains.
Another term for coiled tubing, a long, continuous length of pipe wound on a spool. The
pipe is straightened prior to pushing into a wellbore and rewound to coil the pipe back onto endless tubing
the transport and storage spool.
Mobil Oil Company first used this term in the early 1980s for drilling directional wells in extended-
which the drilled horizontal reach (HR) attained at total depth (TD) exceeded the true reach drilling
vertical depth (TVD) by a factor greater than or equal to two. it is particularly challenging (ERD)
for directional drilling and requires specialized planning to execute well construction.
To cause or undergo erosion, the wearing away of material, usually rock or steel, by the
continuous abrasive action of a solids-laden slurry. For erosion to occur usually requires a
high fluid velocity, on the order of hundreds of feet per second, and some solids content, erode
especially sand.
The wearing away of material, usually rock or steel, by the continuous abrasive action of a erosion
solids-laden slurry.
A steel cable attached to the rig derrick or mast near the work platform for the derrickman.
This cable is anchored at surface level (on a vessel or the Earth) away from the mast in a
loose catenary profile, and fitted with a handle and hand brake that is stored at the top.
The escape line provides a rapid escape path for the derrickman should well conditions or escape line
massive mechanical failure warrant. In such a case the derrickman would disconnect his
safety belt from the rig, rehook it over the escape line if time permitted, firmly grip the tee-
bar handle and ride the trolley down the cable while holding on to the handle with his
hands. The escape line is also known as the "Geronimo line."
The work shift of a drilling crew that starts in the evening or late afternoon. Drilling
operations usually occur around the clock because of the cost to rent a rig. As a result, evening tour
there are usually two separate crews working twelve-hour tours to keep the operation
going.
The speed the drilling fluid attains when accelerated through bit nozzles. The exit velocity is
typically in the low-hundreds of feet per second. It has been reported that in
certain shaly formations, an impingement velocity on the order of 250 feet per second is
required to effectively remove newly created rock chips from the bottom of the hole. This
impingement velocity is not, however, the same as the exit velocity, since the high-energy exit velocity
fluid jet loses velocity through viscous losses and conversions from kinetic energy to forms
of potential energy occur once the fluid leaves the bit. For this reason, the well designer
generally seeks to maximize the fluid velocity (or other measure of jet energy) to achieve
maximum cleaning at the bottom of the hole.
Anything left in a wellbore. It does not matter whether it consists of junk metal, a hand
tool, a length of drillpipe or drill collars, or an expensive MWD and directional
drilling package. Once the component is lost, it is properly referred to as simply... Typically, fish
anything put into the hole is accurately measured and sketched, so that
appropriate fishing tools can be selected if the item must be fished out of the hole.
A general term for special mechanical devices used to aid the recovery of equipment lost
downhole. These devices generally fall into four classes: diagnostic, inside grappling,
outside grappling, and force intensifiers or jars. Diagnostic devices may range from a simple fishing tool*
impression block made in a soft metal, usually lead, that is dropped rapidly onto the top of
the fish so that upon inspection at the surface, the fisherman may be able to custom design
a tool to facilitate attachment to and removal of the fish.
A check valve that has a spring-loaded plate (or flapper) that may be pumped through,
generally in the downhole direction, but closes if the fluid attempts to flow back through
the drillstring to the surface. This reverse flow might be encountered either due to a U-tube flapper valve
effect when the bulk density of the mud inthe annulus is higher than that inside
the drillpipe, or a well control event.
A full-sized length of casing placed at the bottom of the casing string that is usually left full
of cement on the inside to ensure that good cement remains on the outside of the bottom
of the casing. If cement were not left inside the casing in this manner, the risk of float joint /
overdisplacing the cement (due to improper casing volume shoe joint /
calculations, displacement mud volume measurements, or both) would be significantly shoe track
higher. Hence, the well designer plans on a safety margin of cement left inside the casing to
guarantee that the fluid left outside the casing is good-quality cement.
Alteration of the far-field or virgin characteristics of a producing formation, usually by
exposure to drilling fluids. The water or solid particles in the drilling fluids, or both, tend to formation
decrease the pore volume and effective permeability of the producible formation in the damage
near-wellbore region.
The working platform approximately halfway up the derrick or mast in which
the derrickman stores drillpipe and drill collars in an orderly fashion during trips out of the
hole. The entire platform consists of a small section from which the derrickman works fingerboard
(called the monkeyboard), and several steel fingers with slots between them that keep the
tops of the drillpipe in place.
A common and inexpensive measurement of the natural emission of gamma rays by
a formation. They are particularly helpful because shales and sandstones typically have gamma ray log
different gamma ray signatures that can be correlated readily between wells.
Drilling fluid whose bulk, unpressurized density is reduced as a small volume of gas
displaces an equivalent volume of liquid. The derrickman periodically
measures mud density and communicates the results to the rig team via an intercom. is
inferred only if the mud returning to the surface is significantly less dense than it should be. gas cut mud
In the case of the mud logger's measurement, "units" of gas (having virtually no absolute
meaning) are reported.
Gas that rises to the surface, usually detected because it reduces the density of the drilling
mud. Gas detectors, which the mudlogger monitors, measure combustible gases (methane,
ethane, butane and others). The mud logger reports total gas, individual gas components, gas show
or both, on the mud log. In extreme cases, gas visibly bubbles out of the mud as it returns
to the surface.
A wellbore that is essentially the same diameter as the bit that was used to drill it. It is
common to find well-consolidated sandstones and carbonate rocks that remain gauge after
being drilled. For clays, it is common for the hole to slowly enlarge with the passing of time,
especially if water-base muds are being used. Bit gauges, rings of defined circumference, gauge hole
are slipped around drill bits to detect and measure wear, which reduces the circumference
of the bit during drilling.
To control the direction of a well based on the results of
downhole geological logging measurements rather than three-dimensional targets in
space, usually to keep a directional wellbore within a pay zone. In mature areas, it may be geosteer
used to keep a wellbore in a particular section of a reservoir to minimize gas or
water breakthrough and maximize economic production from the well.
The intentional directional control of a well based on the results of
downhole geological logging measurements rather than three-dimensional targets in
space, usually to keep a directional wellbore within a pay zone. In mature areas, geosteering
geosteering may be used to keep a wellbore in a particular section of a reservoir to
minimize gas or water breakthrough and maximize economic production from the well.
A steel cable attached to the rig derrick or mast near the work platform for the derrickman.
This cable is anchored at surface level (on a vessel or the Earth) away from the mast in a
loose catenary profile, and fitted with a handle and hand brake that is stored at the top. Geronimo line
The escape line provides a rapid escape path for the derrickman should well conditions or
massive mechanical failure warrant.
An inverted "U" shaped section of rigid piping normally used as a conduit for high-
pressure drilling fluid. In particular, the term is applied to a structure that connects the top
of a vertical standpipe running up the side of a derrick or mast to a flexible kelly hosethat in goose neck
turn is connected to another gooseneck between the flexible line and the swivel.
The overnight work shift of a drilling crew. Drilling operations usually occur around the
clock because of the cost to rent a rig. As a result, there are usually two separate crews graveyard tour
working twelve-hour tours to keep the operation going.
Toolface angle used for deviated wells. Gravity toolface is the angle of the borehole survey
instrument within the wellbore measured clockwise relative to up and in the plane gravity
perpendicular to the wellbore axis; the high side (maximum build), maximum right, low toolface / high
side (maximum drop) and maximum left directions have gravity toolface angles of 0°, 90°, side toolface
180° and 270°, respectively.
A tapered, often bullet-nosed piece of equipment often found on the bottom of
a casing string. The device guides the casing toward the center of the hole and minimizes guide shoe
problems associated with hitting rock ledges or washouts in the wellbore as the casing is
lowered into the well. It differs from a float shoe in that it lacks a check valve.
A generic term for soft, sticky, swelling clay formations that are frequently encountered in
surface holes offshore or in sedimentary basins onshore near seas. This clay fouls drilling gumbo
tools and plugs piping, both severe problems for drilling crews.
An extraordinarily poisonous gas. hydrogen
sulfide (H2S)*
A connection common in the oil industry consisting of two joints coupled by a threaded
nut. Protrusions on the nut are hit with a sledgehammer to tighten the connection and hammer
energize the seals. Hammer unions are commonly used on treating iron because of their union
ability to be quickly made up or broken down.
A process in which a wear-resistant alloy is applied to the tool joints of drillpipe or drill
collars to prolong the life of oilfieldtubulars. Hardbanding is applied where rotational and
axial friction associated with drilling and tripping create excessive abrasive wear
between drillstring and casing, or between drillstring and rock. Some processes take a hardbanding
different approach to reducing wear in tubulars, using materials that achieve a low
coefficient of friction used to protect the drillstring from abrasion.
A type of drillpipe whose walls are thicker and collars are longer than conventional heavyweight
drillpipe. HWDP tends to be stronger and has higher tensile strength than conventional drillpipe
drillpipe, so it is placed near the top of a long drillstring for additional support. (HWDP)
A measure of the energy per unit of time that is being expended across the bit nozzles. It is hydraulic
commonly calculated with the equation HHP=P*Q/1714, where P stands for pressure in horsepower
pounds per square in., Q stands for flow rate in gallons per minute, and 1714 is a (HHP)
conversion factor necessary to yield HHP in terms of horsepower.
The total force pulling down on the hook. This total force includes the weight of
the drillstring in air, the drill collars and any ancillary equipment, reduced by any force that
tends to reduce that weight. Some forces that might reduce the weight include friction hook load
along the wellbore wall (especially in deviated wells) and, importantly, buoyant forces on
the drillstring caused by its immersion in drilling fluid.
In general, a funnel-shaped device used to transfer products. The hopper is often at the
bottom of any container for holding or using bulk products, especially drilling fluid additives hopper
and cementing material.
A subset of the more general term "directional drilling," used where the departure of the
wellbore from vertical exceeds about 80 degrees. Note that some horizontal wells are horizontal
designed such that after reaching true 90-degree horizontal, the wellbore may actually start drilling
drilling upward.
A particularly difficult set of well conditions that may detrimentally affect steel,
elastomers, mud additives, electronics, or tools and tool components. Such conditions hostile
typically include excessive temperatures, the presence of acid gases (H2S, CO2), chlorides, environment
high pressures and, more recently, extreme measured depths.
The vertical height of a fluid column, regardless of the length or other dimensions of that
fluid column. For example, a deviated wellbore has a longer length than vertical depth. It is
also commonly used as a measure of the output of centrifugal pumps, usually expressed in hydrostatic
"feet of head" or psi. Since this type of pump is a centrifugal (or "velocity") device, the head
capability of the pump as expressed in feet of head is independent of the density of the
fluid being pumped.
The normal, predicted pressure for a given depth, or the pressure exerted per unit area by a
column of freshwater from sea level to a given depth. Abnormally low pressure might occur
in areas where fluids have been drained, such as a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir. hydrostatic
Abnormally high pressure might occur in areas where burial of water-filled sediments by pressure
an impermeable sediment such as clay was so rapid that fluids could not escape and
the pore pressure increased with deeper burial.
The deviation from vertical, irrespective of compass direction, expressed in degrees.
Inclination is measured initially with a pendulum mechanism, and confirmed
with MWD accelerometers or gyroscopes. For most vertical wellbores, inclination is the inclination
only measurement of the path of the wellbore. For intentionally deviated wellbores, or
wells close to legal boundaries, directional information is usually also measured.
A valve in the drillstring that may be used to prevent the well from flowing uncontrollably inside
up the drillstring. blowout
preventer
A length of pipe used below the surface casing string, but before
the production casing is run, to isolate one or more zones of the openhole to enable
deepening of the well. There may be several intermediate casing strings. Depending on well intermediate
conditions, these strings may have higher pressure integrity than the prior casing strings, casing string
especially when abnormally pressured formations are expected during the drilling of the
next openhole section.
is towed onto location with its legs up and the barge section floating on the water. Upon
arrival at the drilling location, the legs are jacked down onto the seafloor, preloaded to jackup*
securely drive them into the seabottom, and then all three legs are jacked further down.
A mechanical device used downhole to deliver an impact load to another downhole
component, especially when that component is stuck. There are two primary types,
hydraulic and mechanical jars. While their respective designs are quite different, their jar*
operation is similar. Kinetic energy is stored in the hammer as it is swung, and suddenly
released to the nail and board when the hammer strikes the nail.
A small-diameter tungsten carbide nozzle used in drill bits to produce a high- jet
velocity drilling fluid stream exiting the bit.
A mixing system used to mix dry powder materials with a base liquid, such
as cement slurry or drilling muds. A funnel for the dry powder is mounted above a profiled
bowl that incorporates one or more jets through which the liquid is pumped. The venturi jet mixer
effect created by the jets draws the powder into the turbulent stream, providing a rapid
and efficient mixing action.
The part of the bit that includes a hole or opening for drilling fluid to exit. The hole is
usually small (around 0.25 in. in diameter) and the pressure of the fluid inside the bit is
usually high, leading to a high exit velocity through the nozzles that creates a high-velocity jet nozzle
jet below the nozzles.
The exit velocity of the drilling fluid after it accelerates through bit nozzles jet velocity
A length of pipe, usually referring to drillpipe, casing or tubing. While there are different
standard lengths, the most common drillpipe joint length is around 30 ft [9 m]. For casing, joint
the most common length of a joint is 40 ft [12 m].
Anything in the wellbore that is not supposed to be there. The term is usually reserved for
small pieces of steel such as hand tools, small parts, bit nozzles, pieces of bits or other junk
downhole tools, and remnants of milling operations.
A tool run into the wellbore to retrieve junk from the bottom of the hole. A large,
rectangular steel box, usually with sides made of expanded metal to facilitate seeing what junk basket
is inside. it is used by the rig crew to store an assortment of relatively small parts of the
drilling rig, ranging from drill bits to crossover subs to lifting subs to spare kellys
An adapter that serves to connect the rotary table to the kelly. it has an inside
diameter profile that matches that of the kelly, usually square or hexagonal. It is connected kelly bushing
to the rotary table by four large steel pins that fit into mating holes in the rotary table. The (KB) / rotary
rotary motion from the rotary table is transmitted to the bushing through the pins, and bushing
then to the kelly itself through the square or hexagonal flat surfaces between the kelly and
the kelly bushing.
A long square or hexagonal steel bar with a hole drilled through the middle for a fluid path.
The kelly is used to transmit rotary motion from the rotary table or kelly bushing to kelly
the drillstring, while allowing the drillstring to be lowered or raised during rotation.
Referring to the condition that occurs when the kelly is all the way down, so drilling
progress cannot continue. A connection must be made, which has the effect of raising the kelly down
kelly up by the length of the new joint of drillpipe added, so drilling can resume.
A large-diameter (3- to 5-in. inside diameter), high-pressure flexible line used to connect
the standpipe to the swivel. This flexible piping arrangement permits the kelly (and, in turn, kelly hose /
the drillstring and bit) to be raised or lowered while drilling fluid is pumped through the rotary hose
drillstring. The simultaneous lowering of the drillstring while pumping fluid is critical to the
drilling operation.
A mechanical device for rotating the kelly. it is typically pneumatic. It is a relatively low
torque device, useful only for the initial makeup of threaded tool joints. It is not strong
enough for proper torque of the tool joint or for rotating the drillstringitself. it has largely kelly spinner
replaced the infamous spinning chains, which were responsible for numerous injuries on
the rig floor.
A small-diameter channel worn into the side of a larger diameter wellbore. This can be the
result of a sharp change in direction of the wellbore (a dogleg), or if a hard formation ledge
is left between softer formations that enlarge over time. In either case, the diameter of the
channel is typically similar to the diameter of the drillpipe. When larger diameter drilling
tools such as tool joints, drill collars, stabilizers, and bits are pulled into the channel, their keyseat
larger diameters will not pass and the larger diameter tools may become stuck in the
keyseat. Preventive measures include keeping any turns in the wellbore gradual and
smooth. The remedy to keyseating involves enlarging the worn channel so that the larger
diameter tools will fit through it.
A flow of formation fluids into the wellbore during drilling operations. The kick is physically
caused by the pressure in the wellbore being less than that of the formation fluids, thus
causing flow. This condition of lower wellbore pressure than the formation is caused in two
ways. First, if the mud weight is too low, then the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the
formation by the fluid column may be insufficient to hold the formation fluid in the
formation. This can happen if the mud density is suddenly lightened or is not to kick
specification to begin with, or if a drilled formation has a higher pressure than anticipated.
This type of kick might be called an underbalanced kick. The second way a kick can occur is
if dynamic and transient fluid pressure effects, usually due to motion of
the drillstring or casing, effectively lower the pressure in the wellbore below that of the
formation. This second kick type could be called an induced kick.
Intentionally deviate a vertical well. The point at which a vertical well is intentionally
deviated. kick of
To stop a well from flowing or having the ability to flow into the wellbore. This procedures
typically involve circulating reservoirfluids out of the wellbore or pumping higher density
mud into the wellbore, or both. In the case of an induced..., where the mud density is
sufficient to kill the well but the reservoir has flowed as a result of pipe movement, kill
the driller must circulate the influx out of the wellbore. In the case of an underbalanced
kick, the driller must circulate the influx out and increase the density of the drilling fluid. In
the case of a producing well, a kill fluid with sufficient density to overcome production
of formation fluid is pumped into the well to stop the flow of reservoir fluids.
A high-pressure pipe leading from an outlet on the BOP stack to the high-pressure rig
pumps. During normal well control operations, kill fluid is pumped through the drillstring
and annular fluid is taken out of the well through the choke line to the choke, which drops
the fluid pressure to atmospheric pressure. If the drillpipe is inaccessible, it may be kill line
necessary to pump heavy drilling fluid in the top of the well, wait for the fluid to fall under
the force of gravity, and then remove fluid from the annulus.
Any gas deliberately introduced into the mud system to help a mudlogger or
wellsite geologist track the amount of time or the number of mud pump strokes it takes lag gas
to circulate mud from the kelly downhole through the drillstring to the bit, and back uphole
to the gas trap at the shale shaker. This interval is used to calculate the lag period.
Solid material intentionally introduced into a mud system to reduce and eventually prevent
the flow of drilling fluid into a weak, fractured or vugular formation. This material is
generally fibrous or plate-like in nature, as suppliers attempt to design slurries that will lost circulation
efficiently bridge over and seal loss zones. Examples of it include ground peanut shells, material
mica, cellophane, walnut shells, calcium carbonate, plant fibers, cottonseed hulls, ground (LCM)
rubber, and polymeric materials.
The magnitude of pressure exerted on a formation that causes fluid to be forced into the
formation. The fluid may be flowing into the pore spaces of the rock or into cracks opened
and propagated into the formation by the fluid pressure. This term is normally associated leak of
with a test to determine the strength of the rock, commonly called a pressure integrity
test (PIT) or a leakoff test(LOT). During the test, a real-time plot of injected fluid versus fluid
pressure is plotted.
A test to determine the strength or fracture pressure of the open formation, usually
conducted immediately after drilling below a new casing shoe. During the test, the well is
shut in and fluid is pumped into the wellbore to gradually increase the pressure that the
formation experiences. At some pressure, fluid will enter the formation, or leak off, either leakof test
moving through permeable paths in the rock or by creating a space by fracturing the rock. (LOT)
To maintain a small safety factor to permit safe well control operations, the maximum
operating pressure is usually slightly below the leakoff test result.
A casing string that does not extend to the top of the wellbore, but instead is anchored or
suspended from inside the bottom of the previous casing string. There is no difference liner
between the casing joints themselves.
To continuously measure formation properties with electrically powered instruments to log
infer properties and make decisions about drilling and production operations.
The measurement of formation properties during the excavation of the hole, or shortly
thereafter, through the use of tools integrated into the bottomhole assembly. LWD, while logging while
sometimes risky and expensive, has the advantage of measuring properties of a formation drilling (LWD)
before drilling fluids invade deeply. Further, many wellbores prove to be difficult or even
impossible to measure with conventional wireline tools, especially highly deviated wells.
A long, high-pressure pipe fitted to the top of a wellhead or Christmas tree so that tools
may be put into a high-pressure well. The top of it includes a high-pressure grease-injection lubricator*
section and sealing elements.
Toolface angle used for near-vertical wells. Magnetic toolface is the angle, or azimuth, of
the borehole survey instrument within the wellbore measured clockwise relative to magnetic
magnetic north and in the plane perpendicular to the wellbore axis toolface
To add a length of drillpipe to the drillstring to continue drilling. In what is called jointed
pipe drilling, joints of drillpipe, each about 30 ft [9 m] long, are screwed together as the make a
well is drilled. When the bit on the bottom of the drillstring has drilled down to where the connection
kelly or topdrive at the top of the drillstring nears the drillfloor, the drillstring between the
two must be lengthened by adding a joint or a stand (usually three joints) to the drillstring.
A clutched, rotating spool that enables the driller to use the drawworks motor to apply makeup
tension to a chain connected to the makeup tongs. This tensioned chain, acting at right cathead
angles to the tong handle, imparts torque to the connection being tightened.
Large-capacity, self-locking wrenches used to grip drillstring components and apply torque.
As with opposing pipe wrenches for a plumber, it must be used in opposing pairs. As a
matter of efficiency, one set of it, is essentially tied off with a cable or chain to the derrick, makeup
and the other is actively pulled with mechanical catheads. The breakout ones are the active tongs / tongs
ones during breakout (or loosening) operations. The makeup ones are active during
makeup (or tightening) operations.
An adaptive drilling method used to precisely control the annular pressurethroughout managed
a wellbore. After determining the downhole pressure environment, drillers manage pressure
wellbore pressure constrained by the limits of formation properties. drilling (MPD)
The structure used to support the crown block and the drillstring. Masts are usually
rectangular or trapezoidal in shape and offer a very good stiffness, important to land rigs mast
whose mast is laid down when the rig is moved.
The length of the wellbore, as if determined by a measuring stick. This measurement differs
from the true vertical depth of the well in all but vertical wells. Since the wellbore cannot
be physically measured from end to end, the lengths of individual joints of drillpipe, drill measured
collars and other drillstringelements are measured with a steel tape measure and added depth (MD)
together.
The evaluation of physical properties, usually including pressure, temperature and wellbore
trajectory in three-dimensional space, while extending a wellbore. it is now standard
practice in offshore directional wells, where the tool cost is offset by rigtime and wellbore smeasurement
while drilling
stability considerations if other tools are used. MWD tools that measure formation (MWD)
parameters (resistivity, porosity, sonic velocity, gamma ray) are referred to as logging-while-
drilling (LWD) tools.
A measure of drilling efficiency. Mechanical specific energy (MSE) is the energy required to mechanical
remove a unit volume of rock. For optimum drilling efficiency, the objective is to minimize specific
the MSE and to maximize the rate of penetration (ROP). To control the MSE, drillers can energy (MSE)
control the weight on bit (WOB), torque, ROP and drillbit revolutions per minute (rpm).
The limiting or prevention of motion of the drillstring by anything other than
differential pressure sticking. Mechanical sticking can be caused by junk in the hole, mechanical
wellbore geometry anomalies, cement, keyseats or a buildup of cuttings in the annulus. sticking
A tool that grinds metal downhole. A mill is usually used to remove junk in the hole or to
grind away all or part of a casing string. In the case of junk, the metal must be broken into
smaller pieces to facilitate removal from the wellbore so that drilling can continue. the mill
intent is to cut a window through the side of the casing or to remove a continuous section
of the casing so that the wellbore may be deviated from the original well through the
window or section removed.
A variation of air drilling in which a small amount of water trickles into the wellbore from
exposed formations and is carried out of the wellbore by the compressed air used for air
drilling. The onset of mist drilling often signals the impending end of practical air drilling, at mist drilling
which point the water inflow becomes too great for the compressed air to remove from the
wellbore, or the produced water (usually salty) becomes a disposal problem.
mobile
A generic term for several classes of self-contained floatable or floating drilling machines ofshore
such as jackups, semisubmersibles, and submersibles. drilling unit
(MODU)
The opening in the hull of a drillship or other offshore drilling vessel through which drilling
equipment passes. moon pool
The work shift of a drilling crew that starts in the morning. Drilling operations usually occur
around the clock because of the cost to rent a rig. As a result, there are usually two morning tour
separate crews working twelve-hour tours to keep the operation going.
The member of the rig crew responsible for maintenance of the engines. While all
members of the rig crew help with major repairs, the motorman does routine preventive motorman
maintenance and minor repairs.
An opening in the rig floor near the rotary table, but between the rotary table and the vee-
door, that enables rapid connections while drilling. The mousehole is usually fitted
underneath with a length of casing, usually with a bottom. A joint of drillpipe that will be mousehole
used next in the drilling operation is placed in the mousehole, box end up, by the rig crew
at a convenient time (immediately after the previous connection is made).
A method of transmitting LWD and MWD data acquired downhole to the surface,
using pressure pulses in the mud system. The measurements are usually converted into mud pulse
an amplitude- or frequency-modulated pattern of mud pulses. The same telemetry system telemetry
is used to transmit commands from the surface.
Pertaining to a well that has more than one branch radiating from the main borehole. The
term is also used to refer to the multilateral well itself. multilateral
To put together, connect parts and plumbing, or otherwise make ready for use. This term is
usually reserved for the installation of a blowout preventer stack. nipple up
Outside or outer diameter. Casing and tubing are commonly described in terms of inside outside
diameter (ID) and outside diameter. diameter (OD)
An existing wellbore close to a proposed well that provides information for planning the
proposed well. In planning developmentwells, there are usually numerous offsets, so a
great deal is known about the subsurface geology and pressure regimes. In contrast, rank ofset well
wildcats have no close offsets, and planning is based on interpretations of seismic data,
distant offsets and prior experience.
The uncased portion of a well. All wells, at least when first drilled, have openhole sections
that the well planner must contend with. Prior to running casing, the well planner must open hole
consider how the drilled rock will react to drilling fluids, pressures and mechanical actions
over time.
The company that serves as the overall manager and decision-maker of a drilling project.
Generally, but not always, the operator will have the largest financial stake in the project. At
the successful completion of logging the target zones, the decision to complete or plug and operator
abandon generally has partner input and potential override clauses.
The amount of pressure (or force per unit area) in the wellbore that exceeds the pressure of
fluids in the formation. This excess pressure is needed to prevent reservoir fluids (oil, gas,
water) from entering the wellbore. However, excessive overbalance can dramatically slow overbalance
the drilling process by effectively strengthening the near-wellbore rock and limiting removal
of drilled cuttings under the bit.
Slang for penetration rate, or the speed that the bit is drilling into the formation. p rate
To prepare a well to be closed permanently, usually after either logs determine there is
insufficient hydrocarbon potential to complete the well, or after production operations
have drained the reservoir. Different regulatory bodies have their own requirements for plug and
plugging operations. Most require that cement plugs be placed and tested across any open abandon
hydrocarbon-bearing formations, across all casing shoes, across freshwater aquifers, and (P&A)
perhaps several other areas near the surface, including the top 20 to 50 ft [6 to 15 m] of
the wellbore.
To plug the wellbore around a drillstring. This can happen for a variety of reasons, the most
common being that either the drilling fluid is not properly transporting cuttings
and cavings out of the annulus or portions of the wellbore wall collapse around the pack of
drillstring. The term is also used in gravel packing to describe the act of placing all the sand
or gravel in the annulus.
A device that can be run into a wellbore with a smaller initial outside diameter that then
expands externally to seal the wellbore. Packers employ flexible, elastomeric elements that
expand. The two most common forms are the production or test packer and the inflatable packer
packer.
A temporary drilling site, usually constructed of local materials such as gravel, shell or even
wood. For some long-drilling-duration, deep wells, such as the ultradeep wells of western
Oklahoma, or some regulatory jurisdictions such as The Netherlands, pads may be paved pad
with asphalt or concrete. After the drilling operation is over, most of the pad is usually
removed or plowed back into the ground.
A drilling tool that uses polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters to shear rock with a
continuous scraping motion. These cutters are synthetic diamond disks about 1/8-in. thick
and about 1/2 to 1 in. in diameter. PDC bits are effective at drilling shale formations, PDC bit
especially when used in combination with oil-base muds.
A downhole motor used in the oil field to drive the drill bit or other downhole tools during positive
directional drilling or performance drilling applications. As drilling fluid is pumped through displacement
the positive displacement motor, it converts the hydraulic power of the fluid into
mechanical power to cause the bit to rotate. motor (PDM)
The speed at which the drill bit can break the rock under it and thus deepen the wellbore. penetration
This speed is usually reported in units of feet per hour or meters per hour. rate
Any relatively small quantity (less than 200 bbl) of a special blend of drilling fluid to
accomplish a specific task that the regular drilling fluid cannot perform. Examples include
high-viscosity pills to help lift cuttings out of a vertical wellbore, freshwater pills to dissolve pill
encroaching salt formations, pipe-freeing pills to destroy filter cake and relieve differential
sticking forces and lost circulation material pills to plug a thief zone.
A male threadform, especially in tubular goods and drillstring components. pin
Onshore, two elevated truss-like structures having triangular cross sections. The pipe rack
supports drillpipe, drill collars or casing above the ground. These structures are used in
pairs located about 20 ft [6 m] apart and keep the pipe above ground level and closer to
the level of the catwalk. Offshore, the storage bins for drillpipe, drill collars and casing. The pipe rack
offshore pipe rack functions similarly to the onshore version. Due to space limitations,
offshore pipe racks tend to be narrower and routinely contain many layers of pipe.
A type of sealing element in high-pressure split seal blowout preventers that is
manufactured with a half-circle hole on the edge (to mate with another horizontally
opposed pipe ram) sized to fit around drillpipe. Most pipe rams fit only one size or a small pipe ram
range of drillpipe sizes and do not close properly around drillpipe tool joints or drill collars.
A relatively new style is the variable bore ram, which is designed and manufactured to
properly seal on a wider range of pipe sizes.
Also known as leakoff test, a test to determine the strength or fracture pressure of the
open formation, usually conducted immediately after drilling below a new casing shoe. pressure
During the test, the well is shut in and fluid is pumped into the wellbore to gradually integrity test
increase the pressure that the formation experiences. (PIT)
A type of fluid pump in which the displacement volume of the pump is fixed for each
rotation of the pump. Generally associated with high-pressure applications, positive- positive
displacement pumps are commonly used in drilling operations to circulate the drilling displacement
fluid and in a range of oil and gas well treatments, such as cementing, matrix treatments pump
and hydraulic fracturing.
The evaluation of various well parameters in an attempt to identify when the pore pressure
in a drilling well is changing. A team consisting of geologists, engineers and most of the
rigsite personnel usually conducts the hunt. The purpose of it, t is to detect the pore pressure hunt
pressure transition (usually from lower to higher pressure) and safely set casing in
the transition zone to maximize wellbore strength.
The source of power for the rig location. On modern rigs, the prime mover consists of one
to four or more diesel engines. These engines commonly produce several thousand
horsepower. Typically, the diesel engines are connected to electric generators. The prime mover
electrical power is then distributed by a silicon-controlled-rectifier (SCR) system around the
rigsite
The location supervisor for the drilling contractor. it is usually a senior, experienced
individual who has worked his way up through the ranks of the drilling crew positions. His
job is largely administrative, including ensuring that the rig has sufficient materials, spare toolpusher
parts and skilled personnel to continue efficient operations. The toolpusher also serves as a
trusted advisor to many personnel on the rigsite, including the operator's representative,
the company man.
To place a stand of drillpipe in the derrick when coming out of the hole on a trip.
The rig crew do this after the stand is unscrewed from the rest of the drillstring. The floor
crew then pushes the lower part of the stand away from the rotary table to a position on
one side of the vee-door. While the floor crew is pushing the pipe, the derrickman gets racking back
ready to pull the top of the stand over into the fingerboards. Once the rig crew has the pipe pipe
in the correct location, the driller slacks off on the drawworks, allowing the stand to rest on
the drillfloor.
A device that can be used to quickly seal the top of the well in the event of a well
control event (kick). A ram blowout preventer(BOP) consists of two halves of a cover for the
well that are split down the middle. Large-diameter hydraulic cylinders, normally retracted,
force the two halves of the cover together in the middle to seal the wellbore. These covers ram blowout
are constructed of steel for strength and fitted with elastomer components on the sealing preventer*
surfaces. The halves of the covers, formally called ram blocks, are available in a variety of
configurations.
The speed at which the drill bit can break the rock under it and thus deepen the wellbore. rate of
penetration
This speed is usually reported in units of feet per hour or meters per hour. (ROP)
A storage place for the kelly, consisting of an opening in the rig floor fitted with a piece
of casing with an internal diameter larger than the outside diameter of the kelly, but less rathole*
than that of the upper kelly valve so that the kelly may be lowered into the rathole until the
upper kelly valve rests on the top of the piece of casing.
Abbreviation for rotating control device, a pressure-control device used during drilling for rotating
the purpose of making a seal around the drillstring while the drillstring rotates. The RCD is control device
intended to contain hydrocarbons or other wellbore fluids and prevent their release to the (RCD)
atmosphere.
To enlarge a wellbore. Reaming may be necessary for several reasons. Perhaps the most
common reason for reaming a section of a hole is that the hole was not drilled as large as it
should have been at the outset. This can occur when a bit has been worn down from its ream
original size, but might not be discovered until the bit is tripped out of the hole, and some
undergauge hole has been drilled
To alternately raise and lower the drillstring, casing string or liner in the wellbore.
Reciprocation is usually limited to 30 to 60 ft [9 to 18 m] of vertical travel in the derrick. The
purpose of reciprocating the drillstring is usually to clean cuttings and other debris from the reciprocate
wellbore. Reciprocating the strings can improve the chances of a good cement job in casing
or liners.
Residual gas that remains entrained in the drilling fluid despite being circulated to surface.
At the surface, it remains in the mudstream, which is suctioned from the mud pit and recycled gas
recirculated into the wellbore.
Another term for coiled tubing, a long, continuous length of pipe wound on a spool. The
pipe is straightened prior to pushing into a wellbore and rewound to coil the pipe back onto
the transport and storage spool. Depending on the pipe diameter (1 in. to 4 1/2 in.) and the reeled tubing
spool size, coiled tubing can range from 2,000 ft to 15,000 ft [610 to 4,570 m] or greater
length.
The pressure of the subsurface formation fluids, commonly expressed as the density of
fluid required in the wellbore to balance that pore pressure. A normal pressure gradient reservoir
might require 9 lbm/galUS [1.08 kg/m3], while an extremely high gradient may need 18 pressure
lbm/galUS [2.16 kg/m3] or higher.
The intentional pumping of wellbore fluids down the annulus and back up through
the drillpipe. This is the opposite of the normal direction of fluid circulation in a wellbore.
Since the inside volume of the drillpipe is considerably less than the volume of the annulus reverse
outside of the drillpipe, it can bring bottomhole fluids to the surface faster than normal circulation /
circulation for a given flow rate. Two potential hazards of it include lifting cuttings and reversing out
other junk into the drillstring and the rapid flow of reservoir fluids to the surface in
a kick situation.
To take apart equipment for storage and portability. Equipment typically must be
disconnected from power sources, decoupled from pressurized systems, disassembled and rig down
moved off the rig floor or even off location.
To make ready for use. Equipment must typically be moved onto the rig floor, assembled
and connected to power sources or pressurized piping systems. rig up
To connect pipe together and lower the connected length into the borehole in a controlled
fashion. The pipe lengths are usually screwed together either with rotary-shouldered run in hole
connections for the drillstring, or threaded and coupled connections for casing, liners and (RIH)
most tubing.
A tool designed to crush rock efficiently while incurring a minimal amount of wear on the
cutting surfaces. Invented by Howard Hughes, it has conical cutters or cones that have
spiked teeth around them. As the drillstring is rotated, it roll along the bottom of the hole
in a circle. As they roll, new teeth come in contact with the bottom of the hole, crushing the
rock immediately below and around the bit tooth. As the cone rolls, the tooth then lifts off
the bottom of the hole and a high-velocity fluid jet strikes the crushed rock chips to remove roller cone bit
them from the bottom of the hole and up the annulus. As this occurs, another tooth makes
contact with the bottom of the hole and creates new rock chips. Thus, the process of
chipping the rock and removing the small rock chips with the fluid jets is continuous. The
teeth intermesh on the cones, which helps clean the cones and enables larger teeth to be
used. There are two main types, steel milled-tooth bits and carbide insert bits.
A method of making hole that relies on continuous circular motion of the bit to
break rock at the bottom of the hole. This method, made popular after the discovery of the
East Texas Field by "Dad" Joiner in 1930, is much more efficient than the alternative, cable
tool drilling. it is a nearly continuous process, because cuttings are removed as drilling rotary drilling
fluids circulate through the bit and up the wellbore to the surface. Cable tool operations
are discontinuous and cuttings removal is inefficient. This difference in efficiency becomes
particularly significant as hole depth increases.
A tool designed to drill directionally with continuous rotation from the surface, eliminating
the need to slide a steerable motor. They typically are deployed when drilling directional,
horizontal, or extended-reach wells. State-of-the-art rotary steerable systems have minimal rotary
interaction with the borehole, thereby preserving borehole quality. The most advanced steerable
systems exert consistent side force similar to traditional stabilizers that rotate with system
the drillstring or orient the bit in the desired direction while continuously rotating at the
same number of rotations per minute as the drillstring.
The revolving or spinning section of the drillfloor that provides power to turn
the drillstring in a clockwise direction (as viewed from above). The rotary motion and
power are transmitted through the kelly bushing and the kelly to the drillstring. When the
drillstring is rotating, the drilling crew commonly describes the operation as simply,
"rotating to the right," "turning to the right," or, "rotating on bottom." Almost all rigs today rotary table
have it, either as primary or backup system for rotating the drillstring. Topdrive technology,
which allows continuous rotation of the drillstring, has replaced the rotary table in certain
operations. A few rigs are being built today with topdrive systems only, and lack the
traditional kelly system.
A floor hand, or member of the drilling crew who works under the direction of the driller to
make or break connections as drillpipeis tripped in or out of the hole. On most drilling rigs,
roughnecks are also responsible for maintaining and repairing much of the equipment
found on the drill floor and derrick. He typically ranks above a roustabout and beneath roughneck
a derrickman, and reports to the driller. / Generically, any member of the drilling crew. In
conversational use, one might claim to have "roughnecked" in one's youth. This might
actually refer to roughneck duties, or to one of the other crew positions, such as lead tong
operator, motorman, derrickman, assistant driller or even driller.
The complete operation of removing the drillstring from the wellbore and running it back in
the hole. This operation is typically undertaken when the bit becomes dull or broken, and
no longer drills the rock efficiently. After some preliminary preparations for the trip,
the rig crew removes the drillstring 90 ft [27 m] at a time, by unscrewing every
third drillpipe or drill collar connection. When the three joints are unscrewed from the rest round trip
of the drillstring, they are carefully stored upright in the derrick by the fingerboards at the
top and careful placement on wooden planks on the rig floor. After the drillstring has been
removed from the wellbore, the dull bit is unscrewed with the use of a bit breaker and
quickly examined to determine why the bit dulled or failed.
Any unskilled manual laborer on the rigsite. A roustabout may be part of the drilling
contractor's employee workforce, or may be on location temporarily for special operations.
Roustabouts are commonly hired to ensure that the skilled personnel that run an
expensive drilling rig are not distracted by peripheral tasks, ranging from cleaning up roustabout
location to cleaning threads to digging trenches to scraping and painting rig components.
Although roustabouts typically work long hard days, this type of work can lead to more
steady employment on a rig crew.
A weak spot in the drillstring. Such a weak spot sometimes is intentionally put into the
drillstring so that if tension in the drillstring exceeds a predetermined amount, it will part
and the rest of the drillstring will be salvageable. it is commonly included in fishing strings
and drillstem testing equipment, where the fish may be successfully caught by the fishing safety joint
assembly, but tension to free the fish may prove insurmountable. By having it in the hole,
the fishing company representative knows where the fishing string will part and what will
be needed to latch onto the top of this additional fish.
A short length of drill collar that has male threads on one end and female on the other. It is
screwed onto the bottom of the kelly or topdrive and onto the rest of the drillstring. When
the hole must be deepened, and pipe added to the drillstring, the threads are unscrewed saver sub
between the saver sub and the rest of the drillstring, as opposed to between the kelly or
topdrive and the saver sub.
A device for cleaning mud and mud filter cake off of the wellbore wall when cementing
casing in the hole to ensure good contact and bonding between the cement and the
wellbore wall. The scratcher is a simple device, consisting of a band of steel that fits around
a joint of casing, and stiff wire fingers or cable loops sticking out in all directions around the scratcher
band (360-degree coverage). A scratcher resembles a bottlebrush, but its diameter is
greater than its height. Importantly, for scratchers to be effective, the casing must be
moved. This movement may be reciprocal motion in and out of the wellbore, rotary
motion, or both. In general, the more motion, the better the cement job will be.
A particular type of floating vessel that is supported primarily on large pontoon-like
structures submerged below the sea surface. The operating decks are elevated perhaps 100
or more feet above the pontoons on large steel columns. This design has the advantage of
submerging most of the area of components in contact with the sea and minimizing semisubmersi
loading from waves and wind. Semisubmersibles can operate in a wide range of water ble
depths, including deep water. Ccalled semisubs or simply semis can be used for drilling,
workover operations, and production platforms, depending on the equipment with which
they are equipped. When fitted with a drilling package, they may be called
semisubmersible drilling rigs
A drilling mud filled open steel or earthen berm tank that is not stirred or circulated. By
having mud slowly pass through such a container, most large drilling solids sink to the settling pit /
bottom, cleaning the mud somewhat. If the settling pit is small, as in the case of steel mud settling tank
tanks, it must be cleaned out frequently as cuttings pile up on the bottom of the tank.
The primary and probably most important device on the rig for removing drilled solids from
the mud. This vibrating sieve is simple in concept, but a bit more complicated to use
efficiently. A wire-cloth screen vibrates while the drilling fluid flows on top of it. The liquid
phase of the mud and solids smaller than the wire mesh pass through the screen, while shale shaker
larger solids are retained on the screen and eventually fall off the back of the device and
are discarded. Obviously, smaller openings in the screen clean more solids from the whole
mud, but there is a corresponding decrease in flow rate per unit area of wire cloth.
A pulley. In oilfield usage, the term usually refers to either the pulleys permanently
mounted on the top of the rig (the crown blocks), or the pulleys used for
running wireline tools into the wellbore. In the case of the crown blocks, the drilling line, a sheave
heavy wire rope, is threaded between the crown blocks and the traveling blocks in a block
and tackle arrangement to gain mechanical advantage.
The bottom of the casing string, including the cement around it, or the equipment run at shoe
the bottom of the casing string.
An abbreviated recovery of pipe out of, and then the replacement of same back into the
wellbore. Such a trip is normally limited to 10 or 20 stands of drillpipe. Since it is drillpipe
only (no bottomhole assembly for the drilling crew to handle), and is limited in length, it
can be accomplished quickly and sometimes results in additional information or improved short trip
operating conditions. it is often used to gauge whether a hole is clean or whether the mud
weight is sufficient to permit a full trip out of the hole
The force per unit area exerted at the bottom of a wellbore when it is closed at either shut in
the Christmas tree or the BOP stack. The SIBP is generated by a combination of the bottomhole
hydrostatic pressure from the weight of the liquid in the well and any additional applied
pressure. The applied pressure component may be from the formation or from an pressure
external source at the surface. (SIBHP)
To drill a secondary wellbore away from an original wellbore. A sidetracking operation may
be done intentionally or may occur accidentally. Intentional sidetracks might bypass an
unusable section of the original wellbore or explore a geologic feature nearby. In the sidetrack
bypass case, the secondary wellbore is usually drilled substantially parallel to the original
well, which may be inaccessible due to an irretrievable fish, junk in the hole, or a collapsed
wellbore.
A steel frame on which portable equipment is mounted to facilitate handling with cranes or
flatbed trucks. The skid is robust, is usually designed with attachment points for hooks,
chains, or cables, and has at least two lengthwise beams to facilitate sliding the equipment skid
into place on the rigsite
The surface force per unit area exerted at the top of a wellbore when it is closed at either
the Christmas tree or the BOP stack. The pressure may be from the formation or an
external and intentional source. The SIP may be zero, indicating that any open formations shut-in
are effectively balanced by the hydrostatic column of fluid in the well. If the pressure is pressure (SIP)
zero, the well is considered to be dead, and can normally be opened safely to the
atmosphere.
To drill with a mud motor rotating the bit downhole without rotating the drillstring from
the surface. This operation is conducted when the bottomhole assembly has been fitted
with a bent sub or a bent housing mud motor, or both, for directional drilling. Sliding is the slide
predominant method to build and control or correct hole angle in modern directional
drilling operations. Directional drilling is conceptually simple: Point the bit in the desired
direction.
An inexact term describing a borehole (and associated casing program) significantly smaller
than a standard approach, commonly a wellbore less than 6 in. in diameter. The slimhole slim hole well
concept has its roots in the observed correlation between well costs and volume
of rock extracted. If one can extract less rock, then well costs should fall.
A telescoping joint at the surface in floating offshore operations that permits vessel heave
(vertical motion) while maintaining a riser pipe to the seafloor. As the vessel heaves, the
slip joint telescopes in or out by the same amount so that the riser below the slip joint is slip joint
relatively unaffected by vessel motion.
A device used to grip the drillstring in a relatively nondamaging manner and suspend it in
the rotary table. This device consists of three or more steel wedges that are hinged slips
together, forming a near circle around the drillpipe.
The act of putting drillpipe into the wellbore when the blowout preventers (BOPs) are
closed and pressure is contained in the well. it is necessary when a kick is taken, since well
kill operations should always be conducted with the drillstring on bottom, and not snubbing /
somewhere up the wellbore. If only the annular BOP has been closed, the drillpipe may be stripping
slowly and carefully lowered into the wellbore, and the BOP itself will open slightly to
permit the larger diameter tool joints to pass through.
Oilfield slang term for rope not made of steel, such as nylon, cotton, or especially standard
manila hemp rope. soft line
Any liquid used to physically separate one special-purpose liquid from another. Special-
purpose liquids are typically prone to contamination, so a spacer fluid compatible with
each is used between the two. The most common spacer is simply water. However,
chemicals are usually added to enhance its performance for the particular operation.
Spacers are used primarily when changing mud types and to separate mud spacer fluid
from cement during cementing operations. Ideally, a cement slurry should have turbulent
flow to efficiently displace drilling fluids, but there might be pumping restrictions on fluid
velocity. Therefore, a spacer that can achieve turbulent or pseudolaminar flow might be
selected.
A length of ordinary steel link chain used by the drilling crew to cause pipe being screwed
together to turn rapidly. This is accomplished by first carefully wrapping the chain around
the lower half of the tool joint that is hanging off in the slips, stabbing another joint into spinning chain
that one, and then throwing the chain in such a manner that it wraps itself on the new
upper joint.
To start the well drilling process by removing rock, dirt and other sedimentary material with
the drill bit. / To apply weight to a troublesome drilling section, usually by moving the spud
drilling string up and down, in hopes that the section will drill faster.
To place the male threads of a piece of the drillstring, such as a joint of drillpipe, into the
mating female threads, prior to making up tight. stab
Two or three single joints of drillpipe or drill collars that remain screwed together during
tripping operations. Most modern medium- to deep-capacity drilling rigs handle three-
joint stands, called "trebles" or "triples." Some smaller rigs have the capacity for only two-
joint stands, called "doubles." In each case, the drillpipe or drill collars are stood back
upright in the derrick and placed into fingerboards to keep them orderly. This is a relatively stand
efficient way to remove the drillstring from the well when changing the bit or making
adjustments to the bottomhole assembly, rather than unscrewing every threaded
connection and laying the pipe down to a horizontal position.
A rigid metal conduit that provides the high-pressure pathway for drilling mud to travel
approximately one-third of the way up the derrick, where it connects to a flexible high- stand pipe
pressure hose (kelly hose). Many large rigs are fitted with dual standpipes so that downtime
is kept to a minimum if one standpipe requires repair.
A mud motor incorporating a bent housing that may be stabilized like a rotary bottomhole steerable
assembly. A steerable motor can be used to steer the wellbore without drillstring rotation motor
in directional drilling operations, or to drill ahead in a rotary drilling mode.
is a method of directing the wellbore trajectory of horizontal wells using 3D visualization. It
is the process of combining structural analysis and modeling capabilities with borehole
images to optimize well placement, often in real-time. it integrates deep-reading LWD
resistivity tools and high-resolution imaging devices to create structural models of often structural
steering
complex geologic conditions encountered by the drill bit. This technique helps operators
understand the formations already drilled and allows them proactively to correct wellbore
trajectories for anticipated changes.
Referring to the varying degrees of inability to move or remove the drillstring from the
wellbore. At one extreme, it might be possible to rotate the pipe or lower it back into the
wellbore, or it might refer to an inability to move the drillstring vertically in the well, stuck
though rotation might be possible.
The portion of the drillstring that cannot be rotated or moved vertically. stuck pipe
Any small component of the drillstring, such as a short drill collar or a thread crossover. /
Slang for substructure, which is the part of the rig that supports the derrick, rig floor and sub
associated equipment.
A particular type of floating vessel, usually used as a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU),
that is supported primarily on large pontoon-like structures submerged below the
seasurface. The operating decks are elevated 100 or more feet [30 m] above the pontoons submersible
on large steel columns. Once on the desired location, this type of structure is slowly flooded drilling rig
until it rests on the seafloor. After the well is completed, the water is pumped out of
the buoyancy tanks, the vessel refloated and towed to the next location.
A mud tank, usually made of steel, connected to the intake of the main rig pumping system.
The connection is commonly formed with a centrifugal pump charging the main rig pumps
to increase efficiency. Since it is the last tank in the surface mud system, the suction pit suction pit
should contain the cleanest and best-conditioned mud on location. It is also the most
representative of mud characteristics in the hole, except for temperature.
A large-diameter, relatively low-pressure pipe string set in shallow
yet competent formations for several reasons. First, it protects fresh-water aquifers
onshore. Second, it provides minimal pressure integrity, and thus enables a diverter or surface
perhaps even a blowout preventer (BOP) to be attached to the top of the surface casing casing /
string after it is successfully cemented in place. Third, it provides structural strength so that surface pipe
the remaining casing strings may be suspended at the top and inside of the surface casing.
A completed measurement of the inclination and azimuth of a location in a well (typically
the total depth at the time of measurement). In both directional and straight holes, the
position of the well must be known with reasonable accuracy to ensure the correct survey
wellbore path and to know its position in the event a relief well must be drilled. The
measurements themselves include inclination from vertical, and the azimuth (or
compass heading) of the wellbore if the direction of the path is critical.
To reduce pressure in a wellbore by moving pipe, wireline tools or rubber-cupped seals up
the wellbore. If the pressure is reduced sufficiently, reservoir fluids may flow into the
wellbore and towards the surface. it is generally considered harmful in drilling operations, swab
because it can lead to kicks and wellbore stability problems. In production operations,
however, the term is used to describe how the flow of reservoir hydrocarbons is initiated in
some completed wells.
An isolation device that relies on elastomers to expand and form an annular seal when
immersed in certain wellbore fluids. The elastomers used in these packers are either oil- or
water-sensitive. This type of elastomer works on the principle of osmosis, which allows swellable
movement of water particles across a semi-permeable membrane based on salinity packer
differences in the water on either side of the membrane.
A mechanical device that suspends the weight of the drillstring. It is designed to allow
rotation of the drillstring beneath it conveying high volumes of high-pressure drilling swivel
mud between the rig's circulation system and the drillstring.
A flange consisting of two parts—a hub and a ring. The hub contains the gasket profile, and
the ring features the bolt-hole pattern. The ring can rotate around the hub for easier swivel flange
makeup. Once the bolts are tightened, the ring is compressed against the hub via a
shoulder and secured in place.
A string of drillpipe or casing that consists of two or more sizes or weights. In most of the, a
larger diameter pipe or casing is placed at the top of the wellbore and the smaller size at
the bottom. Note that since the pipe is put into the well bottom first, the smaller pipe
is run into the hole first, followed by the larger diameter. Other than the different sizes, tapered string
which are usually chosen to optimize well economics, there is nothing distinctive about the
pipe sections.
total depth
The depth of the bottom of the well. Usually, it is the depth where drilling has stopped. (TD)
On an offshore jackup drilling rig, the deck below the rotary table and rig floor where
workers can access the BOP stack. This platform surrounds the base of the BOP stack and is
suspended from the cantilever (where the rig floor is located) by adjustable cables. It is Texas deck
accessed from the main deck of the jackup barge by a semipermanent stairwell. it is used
primarily for installing the wellhead and nippling the BOP stack up and down.
An abbreviation on drilling reports or mud logs signifying trip for new bit. TFNB
Gas entrained in the drilling fluid during a pipe trip, which typically results in a significant
increase in gas that is circulated to surface. This increase arises from a combination of two
factors: lack of circulation when the mud pumps are turned off, and swabbing effects trip gas (TG)
caused by pulling the drillstring to surface. These effects may be seen following a short
trip into casing or a full trip to surface.
A cheap, expendable, perhaps even disposable threaded shape to mate with threads
on drillstring and casing components. it prevent harmful impacts and other contact to the thread
metal thread surfaces. Some protectors are strong enough and are fitted with lifting eyes so protector
that they may be screwed into a joint of drillpipe, a drill collar or another component and a
chain tied to the eye for lifting the joint.
A particular style or type of threaded connection, especially as used for rotary shouldered
connections. Threadforms come in a variety of sizes, pitches, tapers, threads per in., and
individual thread profiles. Fortunately, each of these varieties has a published standard, threadform
either considered public and maintained by the American Petroleum Institute (API) or
maintained by operating or service companies as proprietary information.
A section of a wellbore, usually openhole, where larger diameter components of
the drillstring, such as drillpipe tool joints, drill collars, stabilizers, and the bit, may tight hole*
experience resistance when the driller attempts to pull them through these sections.
The enlarged and threaded ends of joints of drillpipe. These components are fabricated
separately from the pipe body and welded onto the pipe at a manufacturing facility. The
tool joints provide high-strength, high-pressurethreaded connections that are sufficiently
robust to survive the rigors of drilling and numerous cycles of tightening and loosening at
threads. they are usually made of steel that has been heat treated to a higher strength than tool joint
the steel of the tube body. The large-diameter section of it provides a low stress area where
pipe tongs are used to grip the pipe. Hence, relatively small cuts caused by the pipe tongs
do not significantly impair the strength or life of the joint of drillpipe.
The angle measured in a plane perpendicular to the drillstring axis that is between a
reference direction on the drillstring and a fixed reference. For near-vertical wells, north is
the fixed reference and the angle is the magnetic toolface. For more-deviated wells, the top toolface
of the borehole is the fixed reference and the angle is the gravity toolface, or high side
toolface.
A device that turns the drillstring. It consists of one or more motors (electric or hydraulic)
connected with appropriate gearing to a short section of pipe called a quill, that in turn
may be screwed into a saver sub or the drillstring itself. The topdrive is suspended from the
hook, so the rotary mechanism is free to travel up and down the derrick. This is radically top drive
different from the more conventional rotary table and kelly method of turning the
drillstring because it enables drilling to be done with three joint stands instead of single
joints of pipe. it enables drillers to minimize both frequency and cost per incident of stuck
pipe.
A work shift of a drilling crew. tour
The set of sheaves that move up and down in the derrick. The wire rope threaded through
them is threaded (or "reeved") back to the stationary crown blocks located on the top of
the derrick. This pulley system gives great mechanical advantage to the action of the wire traveling block
rope drilling line, enabling heavy loads (drillstring, casing and liners) to be lifted out of or
lowered into the wellbore.
The vertical distance from a point in the well (usually the current or final depth) to a point
at the surface, usually the elevation of the rotary kellybushing (RKB). This is one of two
primary depth measurements used by the drillers, the other being measured depth. TVD is true vertical
important in determining bottomhole pressures, which are caused in part by the depth (TVD)
hydrostatic head of fluid in the wellbore.
A generic term pertaining to any type of oilfield pipe, such as drill pipe, drill collars, pup
joints, casing, production tubing and pipeline. tubulars
A type of financing arrangement for the drilling of a wellbore that places considerable risk
and potential reward on the drilling contractor. Under such an arrangement, the drilling
contractor assumes full responsibility for the well to some predetermined milestone such turnkey
as the successful running of logs at the end of the well, the successful cementing of casing
in the well or even the completion of the well.
To part or break the drillstring downhole due to either fatigue or excessive torque. twist of
The amount of pressure (or force per unit area) exerted on a formation exposed in a
wellbore below the internal fluid pressure of that formation. If underbalance
sufficient porosity and permeability exist, formation fluids enter the wellbore. The drilling
rate typically increases as an underbalanced condition is approached.
The uncontrolled flow of reservoir fluids from one reservoir into the wellbore, along the
wellbore, and into another reservoir. This crossflow from one zone to another can occur
when a high-pressure zone is encountered, the well flows, and the drilling crewreacts underground
properly and closes the blowout preventers (BOPs). They are historically the most blowout
expensive problem in the drilling arena, eclipsing the costs of even surface blowouts. It may
prove necessary to drill a second kill well in order to remedy an underground blowout.
To enlarge a wellbore past its original drilled size. it is sometimes done for safety or
efficiency reasons. Some well planners believe it is safer to drill unknown shallow
formations with a small-diameter bit, and if no gas is encountered, to then enlarge the pilot underream
hole. This kind of operation may also be done if a small additional amount of annular
space is desired, as might be the case in running a liner if surge pressures were
problematic.
A part at the end of tubulars, such as drillpipe, casing or other tubing, which has extra
thickness and strength to compensate for the loss of metal in the threaded ends. upset
The upside down V-shaped opening in one side of the derrick that enables long pipes and
tools to be lifted into the interior of the derrick. This opening is aligned with
the slide and catwalk of the rig. is really a hole and has no true door that can be closed or vee door
locked, so inexperienced visitors to a rigsite are sometimes asked by the rig crew to find the
key to the vee-door as a joke.
The ratio of the actual output volume of a positive displacement pump divided by
the theoretical geometric maximum volume of liquid that the pump could output under
perfect conditions. Inefficiencies are caused by gaseous components (air and methane) volumetric
being trapped in the liquid mud, leaking and noninstantaneously sealing valves in the efficiency
pumps, fluid bypass of pump swab seals, and mechanical clearances and "play" in various
bearings and connecting rods in the pumps.
To suspend drilling operations while allowing cement slurries to solidify, harden and
develop compressive strength. The drilling crew usually uses this time to catch up on
maintenance items, to rig down one BOP and rig up another one for the new casing, to get
tools and materials ready for the next hole section, and other non-drilling tasks. The time wait on
ranges from a few hours to several days, depending on the difficulty and criticality of the cement (WOC)
cement job in question.It time allows cement to develop strength, and avert development
of small cracks and other fluid pathways in the cement that might impair zonal isolation.
An enlarged region of a wellbore. this kind of condition in an openhole section is larger
than the original hole size or size of the drill bit. it can be caused by excessive bit jet
velocity, soft or unconsolidated formations, in-situ rock stresses, wash out
mechanical damage by BHA components, chemical attack and swelling or weakening
of shale as it contacts fresh water. Generally speaking, washouts become more severe with
time. Appropriate mud types, mud additives and increased mud densitycan minimize it.
In fishing operations, a large-diameter pipe fitted with an internal grappling device and
tungsten carbide cutting surfaces on the bottom. The washover pipe can be lowered over a
fish in the wellbore and to latch onto and retrieve the fish. Since the washover pipe is
relatively thin-walled and large in diameter, and may be prone to sticking itself, the washover pipe
washover operation is usually reserved as a measure of last resort before abandoning the
fish altogether.
A new, completely inexperienced member of the drilling crew. Such a crewmember is
stereotyped as prone to making mistakes and being injured, and typically endures pranks
played on him by the drilling crew. While the terms weevil and its close cousin, worm, are worm
used widely, they are labels of inexperience, rather than derogatory terms.
The repair or stimulation of an existing production well for the purpose of restoring,
prolonging or enhancing the production of hydrocarbons. workover
A continuous measurement of formation properties with electrically powered instruments
to infer properties and make decisions about drilling and production operations. The record
of the measurements, typically a long strip of paper, is also called a log. Measurements
include electrical properties (resistivity and conductivity at various wireline log
frequencies), sonic properties, active and passive nuclear measurements, dimensional
measurements of the wellbore, formation fluid sampling, formation
pressure measurement, wireline-conveyed sidewall coring tools, and others
An abbreviated recovery and replacement of the drillstring in the wellbore that usually
includes the bit and bottomhole assemblypassing by all of the openhole, or at least all of
the openhole that is thought to be potentially troublesome. This trip varies from the short wiper trip
trip or the round trip only in its function and length. Wiper trips are commonly used when
a particular zone is troublesome or if hole-cleaning efficiency is questionable.
Another term for cementing plug, a rubber plug used to separate the cement slurry from
other fluids, reducing contamination and maintaining predictable slurry performance. Two
types of cementing plug are typically used on a cementing operation. The bottom plug is
launched ahead of the cement slurry to minimize contamination by fluids inside
the casing prior to cementing. A diaphragm in the plug body ruptures to allow the cement wiper plug
slurry to pass through after the plug reaches the landing collar. The top plug has a solid
body that provides positive indication of contact with the landing collar and bottom plug
through an increase in pump pressure.
An exploration well. The significance of this type of well to the drilling crew and well
planners is that by definition, little if anything about the subsurface geology is known with
certainty, especially the pressure regime. This higher degree of uncertaintynecessitates that
the drilling crews be appropriately skilled, experienced and aware of what various well wildcat
parameters are telling them about the formations they drill. The crews must operate top-
quality equipment, especially the blowout preventers, since a kick could occur at virtually
any time. If a wildcat is especially far from another wellbore, it may be described as a "rank
wildcat."
The system of spools, valves and assorted adapters that provide pressure control of a wellhead
production well.
Wellbore direction. Wellbore orientation may be described in terms of inclination and
azimuth. Inclination refers to the vertical angle measured from the down direction—the wellbore
down, horizontal and up directions have inclinations of 0°, 90° and 180°, respectively. orientation
Azimuth refers to the horizontal angle measured clockwise from true north—the north,
east, south and west directions have azimuths of 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, respectively.
The drilled hole or borehole, including the openhole or uncased portion of the well.
Borehole may refer to the inside diameter of the wellbore wall, the rock face that bounds wellbore
the drilled hole.
The technology focused on maintaining pressure on open formations (that is, exposed to
the wellbore) to prevent or direct the flow of formation fluids into the wellbore. This
technology encompasses the estimation of formation fluid pressures, the strength of the well control
subsurface formations and the use of casing and mud density to offset those pressures in a
predictable fashion.
One of the instruments that the driller uses to monitor and improve the operating
efficiencies of the drilling operation. The actual measurement of weight is made with a
hydraulic gauge attached to the dead line of the drilling line. As tension increases in the weight
drilling line, more hydraulic fluid is forced through the instrument, turning the hands of the indicator*
indicator. The weight that is measured includes everything exerting tension on the wire
rope, including the traveling blocks and cable itself.
A new, completely inexperienced member of the drilling crew. Such a crewmember is
stereotyped as prone to making mistakes and being injured, and typically endures pranks
played on him by the drilling crew. While the terms weevil and its close cousin, worm, are weevil
used widely, they are labels of inexperience, rather than derogatory terms.
The volume occupied by one sack of dry cement after mixing with water and additives to
form a slurry of a desired density. Yield is commonly expressed in US units as cubic feet per yield
sack (cu. ft./sk). / The specified minimum yield strength of steel used in pipe. For example,
the yield of N-80 casing is 80,000 psi [552 MPa].
Drill collars (usually straight drill collars) that have been machined with a reduced diameter
at the box (up) end so that they may be more easily handled with open-and-close
elevators. The elevators close around the reduced-diameter section, latch securely, and a zip collars
shoulder on the elevators prevents the larger diameter end of the collar from passing
through the elevators, so the collars can be lifted.
A reduced-diameter section that has been machined at the box (up) end of a
drill collar (usually a straight drill collar) so that the collar may be more easily handled with
open-and-close elevators. The elevators close around the reduced-diameter section, latch zip groove
securely, and a shoulder on the elevators prevents the larger diameter end of the
collar from passing through the elevators, so the collars can be lifted.