Stuck Pipe Prevention

Prentice & Hill, LLC

Second Day
 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
 Solids Induced Pack-off
Causes

UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATIONS
 Formation Loose w/ Little or No Bonding
 Insufficient Hydrostatic to Hold Back
Formation
 Pack-off Due to
Unconsolidated Formations
Prevention

Plan / Anticipate:

 Gel up Mud / Run Hi Vis Sweeps

 Control Drill
 Spot Gel Pill Prior to TOH
 Solids Induced Pack-off
Causes
MOBILE / PLASTIC FORMATIONS
Formation Extrudes Into Well Bore Due to
Overburden Forces.
Prevention
Proper Well Planning:
 Increase Mud Weight, if possible
 Use Under-saturated Water Base Mud
 Pump Fresh Water Sweeps
 Design Casing to Handle Collapse Loads
 Solids Induced Pack-off
Causes
FRACTURED / FAULTED FORMATIONS
Loose Chunks of Rock Fall into Well Bore

Prevention

Plan / Anticipate
 Control Drill & Ream Connections
 Anticipate Reaming on Trips
 Solids Induced Pack-off
Causes
OVER-PRESSURED SHALE COLLAPSE
Shale “Pops” Off Wall Due to Pressure

Prevention

Plan / Anticipate
 Raise Mud Weight, if possible
 Set Casing Appropriately
 Solids Induced Pack-off
Causes

REACTIVE FORMATIONS
Mud Filtrate Reacts Chemically with Formation

Prevention
Plan / Anticipate
 Use Inhibited Mud System
 Minimize Exposure Time
 Be Prepared for “Gumbo Attack”
 Solids Induced Pack-off
Causes
POOR HOLE CLEANING
Not Removing Cuttings From Well Bore
Prevention

 Increase Annular Velocities

 Better Mud Properties

 Subject of another section

 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
KEYSEATING
• Abrupt Change in Well Bore Path (Dog Leg)
• Long Hole Section Below Dog Leg
Prevention
 Minimize Dog Leg Severity
 Case Off Curves Soon After Building
 Use Keyseat Wiper
 Make Frequent Wiper Trips
 Back Ream Out of Hole
 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
UNDERGAUGE HOLE
• Undergauge Bit and/or Stabilizers
• Coring (Core heads slightly U.G.)
Prevention

 Always Gauge Bit & Stabilizers IN and OUT

 Run Gauge Protected Bits & Stabilizers
 Ream Suspected Undergauge Sections
 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
LEDGES & DOGLEGS
• Limber BHAs
• Hard - Soft Interbedded Formation

Prevention

 Run Packed Hole Assemblies

 Ream on Trips Through Problem Zones
 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
SHOE JOINT BACKS OFF

Prevention

 Do Not Overdisplace Cement

 Thread Lock Bottom 3 Joints of Casing
 Drill Out Carefully
 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
JUNK
Something Manmade is Loose in the Hole

Prevention

 Good Housekeeping on Rig Floor

 Keep Hole Covered
 Inspect Equipment Frequently
 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
CEMENT BLOCKS
Hard Cement Falls In From Casing Shoe or From
Open Hole Cement Plug

Prevention

 Set All Casing As Close To TD As Possible

 Ream Casing Shoe & Open Hole Plugs
Before Drilling Ahead
 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
GREEN CEMENT
Run BHA Into Un-set Cement

Prevention

 Wash Down Carefully to “Top of Cement”

 Pre-Treat Mud Before Drilling Green
Cement
 Mechanical / Wellbore Geometry Sticking
Causes
LINER & SQUEEZE CEMENTING
Cementing Yourself in the Hole

 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)
 Trend Analysis

 Plot Property -vs- Depth or Time and Analyze

 Drag on each Connection
 Torque -vs- Depth
 PWD -vs- Time
 Soap Box
 Pressure While Drilling
120
100
80
Pressure

60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5
Time
 Pressure While Drilling
120
100
80
Pressure

60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5
Time
 Pressure While Drilling
120
100
80
Pressure

60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5
Time
 Drag on Trip
Weight

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

200000
40000

60000

80000
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
Depth

5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
 Recovery
Our Best Preventive Efforts Have FAILED

WE’RE STUCK !!

What Do We Do Now?
Identifying the Problem:
“Why are we stuck?”
 Stuck Pipe Handbook Flowcharts
 Problem Diagnosis
 Computer Intelligent System on Network at
Cambridge Facility
 Charts in Front of Sedco Forex Handbook
Solving the Problem:
“What do we do now?”
 First Actions
 Solids Induced Stuck Pipe
First Actions
Formation Movement / Poor Hole Cleaning

 Stop pumps & bleed pressure to 500 psi

 Hold pressure & cycle drill string up to MUT
with no up/down movement
 Try pumping if pressure bleeds off
 Begin working pipe up/down - max 50K
overpull
 Solids Induced Stuck Pipe
First Actions
Continued

 Do not commence jarring

 Increase standpipe pressure to 1500 psi
 Work pipe
 Commence secondary procedures
 Differential Sticking
First Actions
Overbalanced, Filter Cake, Contact Area

 Circulate at maximum allowable rate

 Set compression w/ 50% MUT
 Pull tension w/ 50% MUT
 Secondary Procedures
 Mechanical Sticking
First Actions
Dogleg, Keyseat, Junk, Undergauge

 Maintain circulation
 Jar in opposite direction of last movement
 Light loads (50K) w/ systematic increases
 Secondary procedures
Locating the Problem:
“Where are we stuck?
 Pipe Stretch Measurements
 Pipe Stretch Equation

735,000 W   L 
L 
F

L = Length of Free Pipe (ft)

L = Length of Stretch (in)
F = Incremental Force (lbs)
W = Weight of Drill Pipe (lb/ft)
 Locating the Problem:
“Where are we stuck?

 Pipe Stretch Measurements

 “Free Point” Tool

 Review Stuck Pipe Handbook Procedures
Pull On DP
Free
Measure Stretch Point
Here
Tool

Stuck Here

Measure Stretch
Here
 Solids Induced Stuck Pipe
Secondary Procedures

 Jarring
 Back off and wash over
 Differential Sticking
Secondary Procedures

Attack Filter Cake -- Spotting Fluid

 Spot within 4 hrs of sticking
 Omit after 16 hrs
 Rule of Thumb - Soak minimum 20 hrs and a
maximum 40 hrs
 Pipe Releasing Agents
Spotting Fluids
 Pump “shear thinning” spacer
 Viscosity: 100 rpm value > drilling mud
 50 to 100 bbl spacer
 Calculate volume of PRA - Example
 Spot at highest allowable pump rate
 Work pipe (up/down, torque) while soaking
 Differential Sticking
Secondary Procedures

Reduce Hydrostatic
• Cut Mud Weight
• “U Tube” - Kick it free
• Caution - Well May Come In
Back Off and Wash Over
 Mechanical Sticking
Secondary Procedures

Jar in opposite direction of last pipe

movement
Back Off and Wash Over
 Acid Pills
Secondary Procedures

Calcium Formations, Strip Filter Cake

Typically 7.5% to 15% HCl
Cover stuck zone
Pump acid quickly to bit
Large water spacers
Work pipe while soaking
Circulate out after 5 minutes
 Fresh Water Pills
Secondary Procedures

Mobile Salt
Cover stuck zone plus 20 bbl inside drill
string
OBM - Viscous weighted spacer
Maintain overpull while soaking
Repeat after 2 hrs
 Drilling Jars - Benefits
 Jar stuck pipe immediately
 Minimize fishing / sidetrack potential
 Minimize surface loads (safety)
 Something to do while waiting on tools
 Mechanical Jars
 Most basic type of jar
 Sliding sleeve inside shoulder sleeve
 Holding mechanism locks hammer
 Overpull stretches drill string
 Sudden release when holding mechanism is
overcome
 Mechanical Jars - Advantages
 Remain locked until loaded
 More freedom of placement in string
 No special tripping procedures
 Do not jar unexpectedly
 Short jar cycle
 Cost
 Availability
Mechanical Jars - Disadvantages
 Load may not be varied
 Jarring immediate once load is reached
 Large shock to hoisting equipment
 Rig may not pull over holding force
 Difficult to load in deviated wellbores
 Hydraulic Jars
 Oil reservoir w/ orifice & bypass valve
 Oil bleeds slowly until piston reaches
bypass valve
 Hydraulic delay
 Hydraulic Jars - Advantages
 Allows time to set drilling brake
 No torque needed to operate
 Torque does not affect load
 Varied impact force
 Use in deviated holes
 Hydraulic Jars - Disadvantages
 May jar unexpectedly
 Tripping more time consuming
 Longer jar cycle
 More expensive
 Availability
 Reasons Jars Fail to Fire
 Incorrect weight - calculation incorrect
 Pump open force exceeds compression
force
 Stuck above jar
 Jar mechanism failed
 Jar not cocked
 Drag too high to load jar
 Reasons Jars Fail to Fire (cont.)
 Jar firing not felt at surface
 Torque trapped in mechanical jar
 No patience
 Accelerators - Functions
 Compensate for short string
 Compensate for hole drag slowing
contraction
 Act as a reflector to jar shock wave
 Intensify jar blow
 Jar / Accelerator Placement
Considerations
 Sticking point
 Jar direction required
 Differential risk
 Neutral point of tension / compression
 Buckling point
 Drag in the hole section
 Depth of hole section
 Placement - Vertical Holes
 Above buckling point at maximum WOB
 Two DC’s above jars
 No stabilizers above jars
 Accelerators needed in shallow hole
sections
 Placement - Deviated Holes
 Do not run jars buckled
 Avoid tension / compression neutral point
 Calculate measured weight reading required
 Account for hole drag
 Jar Placement Programs
 Do not typically account for buckling
 Accurately calculate and account for pump
open forces
 Maximize jar impact at stuck point

 Example - Griffith Oil Tools

 Fishing - Overshots
 Catches OD of fish
 Right hand torque operated
 Always run a bumper sub
 Circulating sub
 Basket grapple
 More sturdy, Easier to release
 Spiral grapple
 Stronger hold, Use in slim hole
 Wall hooks
 Fishing - Spears
 Catches ID of pipe
 Consider stop ring
 Risk back off of wash pipe
 Rope spears
 Fishing - Taps
 Use when overshot or spear cannot be used
 Taper Tap - Screws inside fish
 Box Tap - Screws over fish
 Cannot be released & subject to breakage
 String shot cannot be run through taper tap
 Excessive torque will split box tap
 Fishing - Junk
 Magnets
 Junk Baskets
 “Confusion Blocks”
 Mills
 Pilot, Tapered, Concave, Flat-Bottom, Section,
Fluted, Watermelon
 Fishing - Milling
 Pilot
 Tapered
 Concave
 Flat-Bottom
 Section
 Fluted
 Watermelon
 Washover Operations
 Run minimum size required - ¼” clearance
inside, ½" clearance outside
 Maximum length 600' drill pipe, 300' BHA
 Conditioning trip
 Easy to differentially stick
 Run jars in deeper hole sections
 Steady feed when cutting formation
 “Jerky” feed when going over tool joints
 Washover Shoes
 Short tooth mills (mill tooth) for medium to
hard formations
 Long tooth mills for soft formations
 Cut faster
 Hang easier
 Harder to get over top of fish
 Flat bottom for stabilizers, reamers, tool
joints, etc.
Solving the Problem:
“What do we do now?”
 THE OTHER OPTION:

 SIDETRACK
• Free Point and Back Off as Deep as Possible
• Go Around the Fish
What Do We Do Now?
Sidetrack or Fish?
 It’s Purely a Matter of Economics
 Sidetrack is a good choice when:
 Fish Inexpensive or Recovery Unlikely
 Hole is Cheap (read Fast) to Drill
 Soft Formation - Easy to Kick Off
 Spread Rate (Total Daily Cost) is HIGH