PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 5

Hole Problems

1
 Lesson 5 - Hole Problems

 Lost Circulation
 Stuck Pipe
• Keyseat- Crooked Hole
• Differential Sticking
• Mechanical Sticking
 Junk in Hole
 Kicks and Blowouts
 Crooked Hole
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 Homework

Read:

* Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch. 1

* Definitions

HW #2 ADE 1.12, 1.13, 1.14

due Friday, Sept. 13. 2002
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Hole Problems - Lost Circulation

Indication:

 Flow out < Flow in (e.g 400 < 500)

 Drop in Mud Pit Volume
 Blowout

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 Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Causes:

 High Formation Permeability (e.g. fractures)

 Low Formation Pore Pressure
 Poor Drilling Fluid Characteristics
 Induced Fracturing of Formation
From Rapid Pipe Movement

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Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Results:

 Costly Mud Makeup

 Loss of Production
 Fire
 Loss of Permit to Drill

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 Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Preventive Measures:

 Crew Education
 Good Mud Program
 Study Wells in Area
…to be prepared

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Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Remedial Measures:

 Use Lost Circulation Material

as Mud Additive (fibrous or granular)
 Drill Through Troublesome
Interval and Case Off
 Decrease Mud Weight
 Decrease Circulation Rate
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 Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe
(drill pipe, drill collars, casing)

Indication:
 Cannot Pick Up Pipe (Venezuela case)

Causes:

 Cave - ins
 Keyseat - Crooked Hole
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 Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Causes, cont’d:

 Differential Pressure Sticking

 Filter Cake
 Deposited AFTER Circulation Stops
- While Still on Bottom

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 Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Results:

 Fishing Operations
Back off, POH, RIG w/fishing string

 Loss of Hole
or at least part of the hole

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 Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Preventive Measures:
 Use Minimum Mud Weight Required
to Control Formation Pressures.
 Use Special Drill Collars (spiral)

 Use Centralizers on Casing

 Periodically Establish Circulation
while Running Casing or Drillpipe
in Deep Hole
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 Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Remedial Measures:
If Circulation Can Be Established:

 Erode Mud Filter Cake - at High Fluid

Velocity (speed up pumps)
 Spot Special Fluid; Oil, Acid
 Reduce Mud Weight as Far as Possible
 Rotate Pipe - Keep Moving Pipe

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 Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Remedial Measures:

If Circulation Cannot Be
Established:

 Cut Pipe or Unscrew Joint

- and Fish

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KEY
SEAT

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 P1 >> P2

P1
P2

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Thick Filter Cake F = mN

N = DP A

Thin Filter Cake

F = m DP A

How is filter cake formed?

Pipe Stuck in Wall Cake

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 Hole Problems - Junk in Hole

Indication:

 Bit Parts Missing

 Items from Surface Dropped
into Hole
 Erratic Torque

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 Hole Problems - Junk in Hole

Cause:
 Negligence of Crew

Result:

 Fishing Operation

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 Hole Problems - Junk in Hole

Preventive Measure:
Crew Education

Remedial Measures:

 Run Junk Basket

 Run Basket with Collapsible Teeth
(“Poor Boy” Basket)
 Run Magnet
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 Hole Problems - Blowout
(oil, gas or water)

Indication:

 Returns to Surface after Circulation is

Stopped (KICK!)
 Well Out of Control - Big Problem!
 Lost Circulation . . .

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 Hole Problems - Blowout
(oil, gas or water)
[surface or underground]

Causes:

 Loss of Hydrostatic Head

due to Lost Circulation
 Poor drilling Fluid
 Swabbing Effect while Pulling Drillpipe
 Insufficient Mud Weight
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 Hole Problems - Blowout

Results:

 Possible Loss of Life and Property

 Legal and Financial Problems

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 Hole Problems - Blowout

Preventive Measures:

 Crew Education

 Be Alert

 Blowout Control Equipment on RIG

including Pit Volume Indicators

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 Hole Problems - Blowout

Remedial Action:
If on Bottom:
 Use proper Mud Weight
 Add Lost Circulation Materials

In Extreme Case of Blowout:

 May Have to Directionally
Drill a Relief Well
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 Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Indication:

 Periodic Directional Surveys

 Stuck Drill String

 Casing Problems

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 Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Causes:
 Too much Weight on Bit
 Dipping Formation
 Anisotropic Formation
 Too Small Drill Collars
 No Stabilizers

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 Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Results:

 Uneven Spacing (on bottom)

 Legal Problems
 Production Problems
 Cementing Problems

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 Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Preventive Action:

 Avoid Buckling of Drill Pipe by

using sufficient number of drill
collars
 Use “Oversize” Drill Collars
 Use Reamers and Stabilizers
 Start the Hole Vertically
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 Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Remedial Action:

 Plug Back and Sidetrack

 Use Whipstock

 Use Reamers in 3 Locations

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 Lost Circulation Example
This Example shows how to determine the mud weight
that can be supported by the formation and also the mud
weight that will control the subsurface pressure.

 Well depth = 16,000 ft

 Protective casing seat = 12,500 ft
 Mud Weight = 17.0 lb/gal
 Drillpipe size = 4.5 in.
 Hole size, casing I.D. = 8.5 in.
 Annulus volume = 0.05 bbl/ft
 Water required to fill hole = 20 bbl
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Before Water After Water

Water - 20 bbls

400 ft

Mud - 17.0 lb/gal

12,500 ft

16,000 ft
BHP = ? BHP = 13,963 psig
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 Example - Solution

Determine: The effective hydrostatic head

and mud weight in lb/gal.

Solution:
20 bbl
 400 ft of water
0.05 bbl / ft

Water gradient = 0.052 * 8.33 = 0.433 psi/ft

Mud gradient = 0.052 * 17 = 0.884 psi/ft
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 Example 3.1

Pressure imposed at total depth:

400 ft of water x 0.433 psi/ft = 173 psi

15,600 ft of mud x 0.884 psi/ft = 13,790 psi
Total pressure at 16,000 ft = 13,963 psi

13,963
Effective mud weight   16.78 lb/gal
(16,000)(0 .052)
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 Example 3.1

Pressure imposed at the casing seat:

400 ft of water x 0.433 psi/ft = 173 psi

12,100 ft of mud x 0.884 psi/ft = 10,696 psi
Total pressure at 12,500 ft = 10,869 psi

10,869
Effective mud weight   16.72 lb/gal
(12,500)(0 .052)

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Before Water After Water

Water - 20 bbls

400 ft

Mud - 17.0 lb/gal

12,500 ft
10,869 psig EMW = 16.72 lb/gal

16,000 ft
BHP = 13,963 psig EMW = 16.78 lb/gal
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 END
of
Lesson 5
Hole Problems

37