Stuck Pipe Prevention

Prentice & Hill, LLC

First Day
Hydrostatic Pressure
Where:
MW = Mud Weight (ppg)
TVD = True Vertical Depth (ft)
P = Hydrostatic Pressure (psi)

MEMORIZE THIS EQUATION!!
TVD MW P 052 .
Hole Volumes
1029
2
D
V
V = Hole Volume in BBL/FT
D = Hole Diameter in INCHES
1029
2 2
i o
Annulus
D D
V

Pressure - Area Forces

F P x A
F = Force (lbs)
P = Pressure (psi)
A = Area (sq-in)
F F
f n

F
f
= Force Due to Friction (lbs)
= Coefficient of Friction or Friction
Factor
F
n
= Normal Force (lbs)
Stuck Pipe
Most Common Trouble in Overspent Wells
Avoiding Stuck Pipe
Understand Different Mechanisms
Plan to Avoid Problems
Recognize Symptoms Real Time
Take Proper Actions While Drilling
Use Recovery Procedures, if necessary
Solids Induced Pack-off
Formation Movement

Inadequate Hole Cleaning
CAUSES
Solids Induced Pack-off
Formation Loose w/ Little or No Bonding
Insufficient Hydrostatic to Hold Back
Formation


UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATIONS
Causes
Pack-off Due to
Unconsolidated Formations
Prevention
Gel up Mud / Run Hi Vis Sweeps
Control Drill
Spot Gel Pill Prior to TOH

Plan / Anticipate:
Solids Induced Pack-off
Increase Mud Weight, if possible
Use Under-saturated Water Base Mud
Pump Fresh Water Sweeps
Design Casing to Handle Collapse Loads
Causes
MOBILE / PLASTIC FORMATIONS
Formation Extrudes Into Well Bore Due to
Overburden Forces.
Prevention
Proper Well Planning:
Solids Induced Pack-off

Causes
Control Drill & Ream Connections
Anticipate Reaming on Trips
FRACTURED / FAULTED FORMATIONS
Prevention
Loose Chunks of Rock Fall into Well Bore
Plan / Anticipate
Solids Induced Pack-off

Causes
Raise Mud Weight, if possible
Set Casing Appropriately
OVER-PRESSURED SHALE COLLAPSE
Prevention
Shale Pops Off Wall Due to Pressure
Plan / Anticipate
Solids Induced Pack-off

Causes
Use Inhibited Mud System
Minimize Exposure Time
Be Prepared for Gumbo Attack
REACTIVE FORMATIONS
Prevention
Mud Filtrate Reacts Chemically with Formation
Plan / Anticipate
Solids Induced Pack-off

Causes
Increase Annular Velocities
Better Mud Properties

Subject of another section
POOR HOLE CLEANING
Prevention
Not Removing Cuttings From Well Bore
Differential Sticking
Causes
High Differential Pressures
Excessive Mud Weight
Drawn Down Formations
Poor Well Planning
Well Bore Contact
Poor Filter Cake
Little or No Pipe Motion
Bad Filter Cake
Differential Sticking - Prevention
Minimize Mud Weight
Improve Filter Cake
Select Proper Casing Seat
Minimize Contact Area
Stabilizers
Heavy Weight Drill Pipe
Spiral Drill Collars
Keep Pipe Moving
Plan / Anticipate
Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
KEYSEATING
Minimize Dog Leg Severity
Case Off Curves Soon After Building
Use Keyseat Wiper
Make Frequent Wiper Trips
Back Ream Out of Hole
Abrupt Change in Well Bore Path (Dog Leg)
Long Hole Section Below Dog Leg

Prevention
Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
UNDERGAUGE HOLE
Always Gauge Bit & Stabilizers IN and OUT
Run Gauge Protected Bits & Stabilizers
Ream Suspected Undergauge Sections
Undergauge Bit and/or Stabilizers
Coring (Core heads slightly U.G.)
Prevention
Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
LEDGES & DOGLEGS
Run Packed Hole Assemblies
Ream on Trips Through Problem Zones
Limber BHAs
Hard - Soft Interbedded Formation
Prevention


Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
SHOE JOINT BACKS OFF
Do Not Overdisplace Cement
Thread Lock Bottom 3 Joints of Casing
Drill Out Carefully

Prevention
Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
GREEN CEMENT
Wash Down Carefully to Top of Cement
Pre-Treat Mud Before Drilling Green
Cement
Prevention
Run BHA Into Un-set Cement
Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
JUNK
Good Housekeeping on Rig Floor
Keep Hole Covered
Inspect Equipment Frequently
Prevention
Something Manmade is Loose in the Hole
Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
CEMENT BLOCKS
Set All Casing As Close To TD As Possible
Ream Casing Shoe & Open Hole Plugs
Before Drilling Ahead
Hard Cement Falls In From Casing Shoe or From
Open Hole Cement Plug
Prevention
Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
LINER & SQUEEZE CEMENTING
Hazards in Liner Cementing
Too Much Excess
Overdisplacement
Squeeze Cementing
Hold Pressure on Back Side, If Possible
Use Cement Retainers
DO NOT Cement Up a Squeeze Packer (RTTS)
Cementing Yourself in the Hole
MUD
Mud Types / Constituents
Water Base Mud
Oil Base Mud
Synthetic Base Mud
Primary Functions (Review)
Remove Cuttings
Lubricate and Cool Bit
Provide Hydrostatic

Mud (continued)
Filter Cake 2/32
Fluid Loss
API Fluid Loss
Room Temperature
100 psi differential

Mud Filter Press
Mud (continued)
Filter Cake 2/32
Fluid Loss
API Fluid Loss
Room Temperature
100 psi differential
High Temperature, High Pressure (HTHP)
300 F or as specified
500 psi differential

Mud (continued)
Rheological Properties
Measured with Fann Viscometer
Funnel Viscosity
Plastic Viscosity
Yield Point
Mud (continued)
Mud Additives
Gel (Wyoming Bentonite)
Barite
Chemicals
Lost Circulation / Stuck Pipe Preventatives
Sized Particulate Matter
Fibrous Material
Asphalt
Snake Oil
Influence of Mud Properties on
Various Stuck Pipe Mechanisms
Inadequate Hole Cleaning
Near Vertical Wells (Incl < 30 deg)
Stabilize Hole
Maintain Good Annular Velocity
Keep Low Shear Rate Viscosities High
Yield Stress = 2 (
6
-
3
)
Gel Strength
Do Not Overload Hole Due to Too High ROP
Clean Hole Prior to Trip
Inadequate Hole Cleaning
Most Difficult Angle to Clean Hole
Unstable Cuttings Beds Form
Beds May Avalanche Even With Pumps On
Raising Mud Viscosity Alone Will Not Solve
M-I Video of Hole Cleaning
Moderate Angle Wells (30 <Incl < 60)
Inadequate Hole Cleaning
Moderate Angle Wells (30 <Incl < 60)
Anticipate Problem - Alert for Symptoms
Erratic Pump Pressure
Reduced Returns at Shaker for ROP
Erratic PWD Data
Increasing Overpull 5-10 Stands Off Bottom
It Is Possible to Get Stuck In Cased Hole
Problem Prevention
Inadequate Hole Cleaning
Moderate Angle Wells (30 <Incl < 60)
Take Preventive Actions
Agitate Cuttings Beds
Rotate DP at 150+ RPM if possible
Reciprocate & Rotate While Circulating Bottoms Up
Maximize Annular Velocity
Larger Drill Pipe
Larger Jets
Make Wiper Trips
Back Ream Out Of Hole - Carefully!
Problem Prevention
Inadequate Hole Cleaning
High Angle Wells (Incl > 60)
Cuttings Beds Form, But Are Stable
Hole Cleaning Usually Not A Problem in High
Angle Section
Cuttings Beds Potential Problem on Trips
Back Ream Out of High Angle Section
Reminder - All High Angle Wells Have a
Moderate Angle (Problematic) Section
Problem Prevention
Inadequate Hole Cleaning
Causes
Inadequate Mud Flow Properties
Too Low an Annular Velocity
Cuttings Beds in Directional Holes
Angle < 30 - Minimal Problems
Angle > 60 - Minimal Problems
30 < Angle < 60 Problem Area
Inadequate Hole Cleaning
Prevention
Keep Mud in Good Shape
Watch Shale Shaker for Too Few Cuttings
Pump More Fluid (Increase AV)
Run High / Low Viscosity Sweeps
Use Larger Drill Pipe
Avoid long 30 to 60 Angle Sections
Make Wiper Trips (Ream Out w/ Top Drive)