Hole Cleaning While Drilling

Best Practice TOTALFINAELF

Best Practice -Martial BRANGETTO, 28th August 2002 Page1

Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
TOTALFINAELF
Best Practice

CONTENTS

ðIntroduction

ðPrinciples : Three major considerations

ðPre - Planning - Well design

l Wellbore Instability
l Drilling Fluids design
l Recommendations

ðWell site monitoring / Drilling practices

l Cuttings monitoring
l Hydraulic considerations
PWD / ECD monitoring / Predicted torque / Drag vs. Actual/ Pick up
weight / slack off trend
l Tripping Procedures
Circulation clean , back reaming , trips

ðSweeps :
Frequency , volume , type , method pumping etc… .

ðSummary of Best Practice

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
TOTALFINAELF
Best Practice

< Introduction :
When planning or drilling a deviated well or ERD well , one of the
key parameters which must be determined , is the minimum flow rate
required to transport drilled cuttings to the surface . Different
parameters are involved in optimising hole cleaning . It ‘s seems
obvious but many incident so far are linked with poor Hole cleaning
practices .The goal of this Guide is to understand , prevent & solve
Hole cleaning problems while drilling

CAUSE: DRILLED CUTTINGS SETTLE DOWN

ON THE LOW SIDE OF THE HOLE, & FORM A
CUTTINGS BED.THE CUTTINGS BED SLIDES
DOWN HOLE PACKING OFF THE D/STRG.

ESCALADING FACTORS :
HOLE ANGLE >40 O . DRILLING WITH A DOWN HOLE
MOTOR & NO ROTATION
HIGH ROP, LOW PUMP RATE, INCREASED TORQUE
& DRAG, ERRATIC PUMP PRESSURE & LOW
CUTTINGS RETURNS.

INDICATIONS:
LIKELY WHEN POOH, POSSIBLE WHILE DRILLING.
INCREASED OVER-PULL ON TRIPS, CIRCULATING
PRESSURE RESTRICTED OR IMPOSSIBLE.

PREVENTIVE ACTION:
MONITOR TREND INDICATORS. CONTROL ROP.
MAINTAIN MUD PROPERTIES, CIRCULATE AT
OPTIMUM RATE, MAXIMISE STRING ROTATION.
CIRCULATE BOTTOMS UP WITH STRING ROTATION
BEFORE POOH. ESTABLISH AN O/PULL LIMIT,
HIGH DENSITY/LOW VIS SWEEPS.

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
Best Practice TOTALFINAELF

n Principles
Beds of cuttings are usually formed on the bottom of large , high angle wellbores
during drilling.
When the drill string is moved axially along the wellbore , large bottom-hole
assembly elements such as drill bit and stabilizers tend to plow the cuttings bed ,
thereby causing the formation of plugs of cuttings which give rise to high overpulls ,
loss of circulation , continuous need for operations such as back-reaming , and
STUCK PIPE .
To reduce the likelihood of these costly hole problems occurring , it is necessary to
minimise the height of the cuttings bed which forms while drilling.
This can be done by applying three major considerations :

Ø First , promote Rotary drilling as far as possible than Sliding , but when
sliding operations are necessary for trajectory control a special attention
is requested.
Ø Second , use the maximum Hydraulic capacity ( pump flow rate )
available considering the well bore constraints or stability , optimize the
Mud Velocity .
Ø Third , Establish a strategy to choose the optimal combinations for Hole
Cleaning practices

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
Best Practice TOTALFINAELF

n Pre - Planing - Well design

A major problem for drilling operations on high angle / horizontal wells is inadequate
cuttings transport .Predicting hole cleaning problems is critical to effective well planning for
high angle wells .
A list of drilling variables is given as a reference to plan and design a well to choose optimal
parameters to avoid hole cleaning .

Ü Avoid ‘S’ well designs with middle section greater than 40 °

Ü Assume cuttings beds cased hole >40 ° open hole >35 °
Ü Consider rotary steerable tools when difficult wells profile are planned
Ü For uninhibited drilling fluids in directional wells - Hole cleaning is critical
Ü Use 3D well plots to highlight critical sections
Ü Hole cleaning integral part of stuck pipe avoidance
Ü Use wellbore stability models plus dielectric constant measurement to predict
mud weight requirement - avoid hole collapse.( rock mechanic study is
mandatory )
Ü Adjust mud motor or Turbine ( nozzles ) for the optimum flow rate to improve
hole cleaning

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
Best Practice TOTALFINAELF

Ü Wellbore Instability
In general increasing inclination of well will increase risk of borehole instability in
formations with weak cohesion forces (Shales in general , coal formations ) and
submitted to downhole stresses. Therefore borehole stability problems will be very
often associated with hole cleaning, cavings coming from the hole breakout will add
to the difficulty of removal drilled cuttings :
Hole stability CANNOT be ensured without BOTH proper mud weight AND adequate
chemical inhibition.

Ø Usually they are larger pieces than drilled cuttings and may fall in at any time , even
once well has been circulated clean .
Ø Mud flow is reduced in caves where cavings, cuttings may accumulate and fall down
and create pack offs.

Changing parameters like mud weight , chemistry during the course of a section is quite difficult therefore PRE
PLANNING is the key :

ð Recommendations :

Initiate a rock mechanic study to determine the minimum mud weight to prevent bore hole collapse through
the zone of interest as a function of ( inclination, Azimuth, regional stresses ). Applying the right mud weight
from the beginning is by far more efficient than increasing once instability has started. A different well path
(more favorable direction, inclination) different casing program (reduced time of exposure) may be necessary
to solve the problem and drilling engineers must be involved. In the same time determine the right mud
chemistry.

ð Re-inforce hole cleaning procedures in case of major risks of instability.

ð Plan for mud weight increase.

ð Very unconsolidated formations may require higher rheology /gels and lower mud
flows (reduce hydraulic erosion, still ensure hole cleaning )

ð Caution if drilling with an highly inhibitive mud and an insufficient mud weight : the
hole will continue to break out but cavings and cuttings will remain in their original
(large) shape and hole cleaning will be even more difficult. In such a case having a
dispersive mud is more favorable (cavings will dissolve in the mud).

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
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n Drilling Fluids design :

Hole cleaning considerations when using OBM’s versus WBM :
Ü Drilling cuttings removal is more critical when using OBM’s for 3 main
reasons :

-The apparent cutting density is higher , cuttings being less wetted and
swelled than with WBM
-It is difficult to modify the rheological profile : PV are higher with invert oil
based mud because firstly brine droplets act like solids particles and
secondly solids go only in the oil phase
-A good inhibition is provided by these muds . With WBM , a significant part
of the drilled formation is degraded in very fine colloidal particles . With
OBM’s however , cuttings are more mechanically intact and by the way
bigger quantity must be removed from the hole .
Ü A close monitoring of the cuttings is required to notice any variations in
the size and the amount of cuttings during a critical section .
Ü In order to recommend all classic techniques for hole cleaning ( High flow
rate , high dens- pill / Low vis pill etc… ) , it's recommended also the use
of new product call "Super Sweep Plug" This technique has been field
proven in ERD and Deep Water wells .
n Recommendations :
Ü Rheology:
Ü Depending on flow rate, YP should lie in the range 15-25. A yield stress in the range 12-
15 will assist hole cleaning, if attainable.
Ü Mud rheology defined as 6 rpm range not yield point
Ü An increase of low end rheology is very effective in enhancing deviated hole cleaning .
Rules of Thumb :
Hole size < 3 RPM reading < 1.5 Hole size .
Transport Index : 2 x Fann 3 - Fann 6 > 10 ( ref. study ERD Artep Project)
Under downhole conditions : Rheological properties are reduced and fluid
rheology should be closely examined .

Ü Mud Weight:
Ü Lifting capacity of the mud is improved by increasing the mud weight

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
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n Well site monitoring / Drilling Practices :

Ü Cuttings monitoring

ð Measure kgs. / min for all shakers every hour (tray plus spring balance)
ð Shaker hand measures, Mud loggers, and Mud engineers input
ð Retort solids (1 / day) to determine proportion drill solids
ð Show hole cleaning efficiency daily and for hole section
ð Report rotary/sliding, lag, angle, l/min, rop, pickup/slack off weight
ð Mixed formation 60 - 100% - effective hole cleaning N.B. - trends
ð Over 100% efficient can be indication of enlargement
ð Reporting has three measures of hole cleaning
ð mud report (one measurement each piece of equipment per day)
ð sweep report (up to 3 sweeps per day)
ð hole cleaning monitor (up to 24 measurements per day plus sweeps)
ð Monitor cuttings on shakers for indication of borehole instability : size,
shape, relative amount. and in case of indication of borehole instability

Ü Hydraulic considerations
ð PWD / ECD Monitoring

u Maximum allowable ECD and maximum allowable Standpipe Pressure will dictate the maximum flow rate
- this can be modelled using ECDELF. If a flow rate of 4000 to 4500 L/min in 17 1/2" i.e . is not feasible,
then pipe rotation plus hole cleaning sweeps will be required to minimise or clean out cuttings beds while
drilling.
u A lot will depend on whether the hole remains in gauge. If the hole washes out, then cuttings bed
formation will occur at a higher flow rate.
u If rapid rates of penetration are anticipated, controlled drilling is likely to be required to prevent
overloading of the annulus (and exceeding ECD limits) an overloading the shale shakers with potential
for loss of whole mud.

u During periods of sliding / orientation (if required), it is recommended that sufficient time is allocated to
rotating the drillstring while circulating prior to making a connection. This will assist in lifting any cuttings
from the low side of the hole and transporting them away from the region of the BHA, reducing the risk
that they may slide downhole during the connection sticking the drillstring.

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
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Best Practice

Ü Tripping Procedures
ð Circulating Clean
u When circulating clean, the drill string should be rotated at least one single off bottom, ideally at a
minimum of 120 - 150 rpm, and reciprocated.
u Circulating to clean up the hole must be carried out at drilling flow rate to be effective.
u Deviation Circulation Required
u 0 - 10 degrees 1.5 x bottoms-up
u 10 - 30 degrees 1.7 x bottoms-up

u 30 - 60 degrees 2.5 x bottoms-up

u The bottoms up factors only apply to that section of the hole that is at that particular angle. Thus to
determine the actual time, the deviation of the wellbore along its entire length must be considered.
ð If the string contains a motor, the first stand should be pulled off bottom to avoid
under-cutting the well-bore.
ð Back Reaming
u It is recommended that back-reaming only be undertaken if absolutely necessary. It should not be
performed as a matter of course as it can result in well bore instability. The first course of action if the
hole is tight should be to attempt to pump out. Only if this is not possible should back-reaming be
undertaken. It is preferable to take the time to properly clean the hole before beginning the trip out.
u While pumping out or back-reaming, it is recommended that the circulation rate is maintained as near to
normal circulation rate as possible. If this is not done, any cuttings bed is merely moved back up the hole
by the top stabiliser until a point is reached where the bed packs off around it. An additional
consequence of a slow pump rate whilst back-reaming may be the inducement of barite sag.
u Pumping out of the hole to above the sands would assist in avoiding a pack-off which might result in
damaging weak sands and possibly causing losses and hole problems.
u If feasible, use of 6 5/8” and 5 1/2” drill pipe will allow a higher flow rate in this and the previous section,
ECD permitting.
u Trends in the correlation with penetration rate of cuttings generated at the bit and observed at the
shakers can provide an indication of the effectiveness of hole cleaning practices used in conjunction with
torque and drag monitoring. Close attention should be paid to the torque and drag plots as these will give
a good indication of the rate of cuttings bed development.

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
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ð Trips
Wiper trips help disturb cuttings beds further up the hole .
u When tripping out of the hole care must again be taken to avoid dragging cuttings bed accumulations up
the well bore where they may pack-off around the BHA. Close attention must be paid to the torque and
drag plots. This will give a good indication of the rate of cuttings bed development.

u When pumping out of the hole, use of maximum allowable pump rate is encouraged, less than this and
the assembly will only be lubricated over any cuttings bed, effectively packing the cuttings and increasing
the drag during the next trip in the hole.
u Prior to tripping, if any concern exists in regard to hole cleanliness, consideration should be given to
pumping a high weight pill while on bottom. This is especially important if no pills have been pumped
during the section drilled. Returns of all such pills at the shakers should be monitored to gauge their
effectiveness

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
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n Sweeps :
Use of Lo / hi-vis
hi-vis pills is no longer considered as best practice
Ü Weighted pills are a better option.
u Tandem pills have proven very effective in extended reach and horizontal drilling. They typically consist
of a 8 – 10 m3 low viscosity scouring pill (water, base oil or un weighted mud premix) followed by a 8 m3
1.8 -1.9 SG weighted viscous pill.
Ü Volume will be adjusted in large section
u The low viscosity pill in turbulent flow, coupled with pipe rotation, will scour cuttings from the cuttings bed
into the main annular flow path. The weighted pill with its increased buoyancy will help in lifting the
disturbed cuttings out of the hole as they fall out of the low viscosity pill. The pills must be pumped at
drilling flow rate so as to achieve turbulent flow in the low viscosity pill for maximum cuttings bed
disturbance and to prevent high-side channelling.

u In the tandem pill, the combination of the two pills is designed to balance out at the circulating system
mud weight when both pills are in the annulus.
u However, prior to pumping such a pill, careful examination is required of the effect on hydrostatic
head and wellbore stability as the pills are pumped around the bend, i.e. out of the bit into the
annulus.
u Their use should be treated with care as, if the pump rate is too low or circulation interrupted, they can
cause packing-off and stuck pipe to occur. The pills must be pumped at drilling pump rate for maximum
benefit and to prevent high-side channelling by the low viscosity pill.

u In the case of all pills do not stop or reduce the circulation rate before the pill(s) have been evacuated
from hole. To do so will result in material dropping out of the pill and possibly avalanching downhole.
u If high rpm cannot be used while a heavy weight pill is pumped around, e.g. because a bent motor
housing is in use or a short radius well is being drilled, then high density pills on their own will be
relatively ineffective and a tandem pill would give better results. The adition of 30 kg/m3 of Nut (LCM) to
the weighted pill can improve the hole cleaning ability.

u (Semi-submersibles and drill ships ) : Check hole cleaning efficiency in the riser , especially when drilling
in small diameter holes with their associated low flow rates . Boost the riser if needed .

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
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Super-Sweep™ Fiber Patented

Forta Corporation
Super-Sweep® Fiber - Hole Cleaning Agent
NeiDrive,
100 Forta l Reeves - Area
Grove City,Representative
PA. 16127-9990
Phone1-800-245-0306
- 337-457-2612or (724) 458-5221
Fax- 337-457-261
Available worl dwi
FAXde (724)
through your drilling fluids suppl ier
458-8331

Patent Pending
Super-Sweep™ Fiber
Advanced Hole Cleaning Agent
Super-Sweep™ Fiber (Patent Pending) is a specially processed 100% virgin
synthetic monofilament fiber that mechanically increases the lifting, carrying, and
suspension characteristics of fluids without affecting viscosity.
Super-Sweep™ Fiber increases the force applied to the cuttings to provide lift.
The intertwined fibers trap and suspend the cuttings to prevent channeling back
down through the fluid column. Super-Sweep prevents channeling in both
vertical and horizontal well sections, and prevents fill during trips.
TYPICAL PROPERTIES
Appearance White "hairlike" fiber
Specific Gravity 1.0 in treated form
Absorption Nil
Softening Point 315 degrees F.
Compatibility All water, oil, and
synthetic based fluids

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling
 Hole Cleaning While Drilling
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n Summary of Best Practice

Þ It is better to turn the BHA as highly as possible than circulating fast (rotating the pipes improves
greatly the transport of the cuttings, even at low flowrate, and a couple low Q/rotation high induces less
constraint at the borehole than high Q/rotation low)

Þ It is better to have a “thin mud” but with LER high (low end rheology = fann 6 & 3 rpm), than a
viscous one with low LER. This greatly improves the carrying capacities and reduce the risk of
sagging of the weighting agent (essentially for barite).

Þ As a rule of thumb, always try to maintain under downhole conditions:

1 x hole diameter drilled < Fann 6 & 3 rpm’s < 1.5 x hole drilled

Yield Stress = low shear rate YP = 2 x fann 3 – fann 6 ≥ hole diameter drilled

Þ The rheology of the mud has to be optimised WHERE IT IS NECESSARY to transport the
cuttings (hence under the bottomhole conditions P & T).

Þ Big pipes are better than small ones (the annulus velocity needed being lower)

Þ It is a lot better to generate smaIl cuttings in low quantities, than big ones in high quantity. In
other words, control the ROP and avoid the ROP “peaks” if possible, and avoid the borehole
disturbances (rock mechanics study)

Þ It is more profitable to spend some hours to clean efficiently, than spending days to try to solve
a problem. so: optimise trips and cleaning circulations (frequency and procedures).

Þ Trying to minimise the length of the 40-60° deviation range is a must. Consequently: optimise the
well profile whenever possible.

Þ Always maximise the “open” section between hole and the BHA elements, in order to reduce the
risks of pack off or stuck pipes events.

Þ A “young” cuttings bed is easier to remove than an old one. This bed must be detected ASAP
thanks to the permanent monitoring of: torque, weights and tractions-SOW, PUW, FRW, pressures,
quantities of cuttings returning to surface.

It is essential to have a reserve in terms of traction and torque (in the event of a stuck pipe incident).
therefore: optimise the rig capacities, the mechanical characteristics of the BHA, the friction coefficient of
the fluid.

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Hole Cleaning While Drilling