Hydraulic Workover /

Snubbing

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Hydraulic Workover Unit
• Applications

• Considerations (Rigging Up)

• Components

• Operations

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HWO Applications
• Running / pulling kill strings
• Fishing operations
• Well kill with pipe off bottom / no pipe
• Cementing
• Stimulating
• Cleaning-out fill
• Plug and abandonment for redrills

Routine production service work where there

is a reason not to kill the well
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Snubbing / Stripping (Applications)
Snubbing: (Pipe Light)
The act of forcing tubulars into the wellbore or controlling the pipe coming
out (in ‘pipe light’ condition) when blowout preventers (BOPs) are closed
and pressure is contained in the well.

Stripping: (Pipe Heavy)

The act of running tubulars into and pulling tubulars from the wellbore (in
‘pipe heavy’ condition) when blowout preventers (BOPs) are closed and
pressure is contained in the well.

The premise of this lecture will be discussed as working in a pressure

containment environment.
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Hydraulic Workover Unit (HWO)
Control Panels
• System is capable of moving
pipe in or out of the well with or
Work
Platform
Counterbalance without wellbore pressures
Winch
Traveling
Slips

• HWO units are classified by

– Lifting capacity
Telescoping
Jack
Cylinders
Guide Tube – BOP / pressure control rating

Telescoping
Gin Pole

Stationary
Guide Tube Slips

Window
For Stripper

BOP
Stack

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Common Hydraulic Unit Sizes
H y d r a R ig S n u b b in g U n it s
M odel HRS150 HRS225 HRS340 HRS460
S n u b c a p a c it y ( lb s ) 6 5 .9 4 0 1 2 0 .0 0 0 1 8 8 .4 0 0 2 2 0 .0 0 0
L if t c a p a c it y ( lb s ) 1 5 0 .7 2 0 2 3 5 .5 6 0 3 4 0 .0 0 0 4 6 0 .0 0 0
M a x p ip e O D ( in c h ) 2 7 /8 5 l/2 7 5 /8 8 5 /8

C a p a c it ie s a r e q u o t e d f o r 3 0 0 0 p s i h y d r a u lic p r e s s u r e .

O t is E n g in e e r in g S n u b b in g U n it s
M odel 120 200 250 400
S n u b c a p a c it y ( lb s ) 6 0 .0 8 0 1 0 3 .6 7 0 1 0 3 .6 8 0 1 8 2 .6 1 0
L if t c a p a c it y ( lb s ) 1 1 7 .8 1 0 1 9 9 .1 0 0 2 4 8 .8 7 0 3 8 1 .7 0 0
M a x p ip e O D ( in c h ) 2 7 /8 5 l/2 7 5 /8 8 5 /8

C a p a c it ie s a r e q u o t e d f o r 3 0 0 0 p s i h y d r a u lic p r e s s u r e .

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Stripping and Snubbing Considerations

• Surface Casing setting depth and cement

• Corrosion / Wear to Surface Casing
• Weight of Surface Equipment (Wellhead, BOP
System, Snubbing Unit)
• Weight of Tubulars being lifted
• Required Overpull Weight (for fishing, etc)
• Snubbing Force
• BOP and emergency drills
• Christmas tree condition (valves, etc)

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HWO / Snubbing Equipment

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HWO Unit Components

– Gin Pole
– Work Basket
– Hydraulic Cylinders
– Traveling Slips
– Rotary Table
– Guide Tubes
– Stationary Slips
– Well Control Stack
– Closing Unit / HPU

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HWO Unit Components

Gin Pole:
Used to raise and lower tubulars and
other tools to the work basket

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HWO Unit Components
Work basket:
Work basket contains
• Controls for the jack
• BOP remote control
• Pipe handling equipment

Height concerns:
• Typically located in an elevated position
• Height ranges from 30 ft to 100 ft above
the top deck

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HWO Unit Components
Pipe tongs:

• Used to make up and break out tubulars

and other tools

• Proper make-up is critical to workstring

integrity

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HWO Unit Components
Slips:
• Traveling (upper) Slips,
• Stationary (lower) slips

Used in tandem to lower and raise

tubulars and other tools.

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HWO Unit Components
Traveling slips
• hold the tubulars when moving
the string up or down.

Stationary slips
• hold the tubulars when the
hydraulic lifting pistons are
moving to allow the traveling
slips to get another bite.

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HWO Unit Components
Control panel:
Used to control all hydraulic
functions of the HWO and
BOP.

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HWO Unit Components
Circulation System:
Pumps, Kelly Hose, Circulating head (swivel) and flow line used to control the
flow of fluids into and out of the well

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HWO Unit Components
Hydraulic Lifting Pistons:

• Provide power to raise or lower

tubulars that are being held in
the traveling slips

• For lighter loads, only 2 pistons

may be used allowing for faster
tripping

• When more power is needed, all

4 of the pistons are used.

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HWO Unit Components
Guy Wires:
• Provide lateral stability to the hydraulic workover unit
• Minimize bending stresses on well equipment
• Critical to safe operation of the unit because of the type and width of base

Confirm that the tree / wellhead is capable of supporting the loads

imparted by the HWO / Snubbing operation
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HWO Unit Components
Power Pack (HPU):

Provides hydraulic power for the HWO unit

functions, including; lifting rams, rotary
table, and pipe tongs

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HWO Unit Components
Guide tube:
• Provides lateral stability to the tubulars
under compressive load

• Helps to avoid buckling within the jack

• Critical for working under pressure

• Must be sized to the tubing OD

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HWO Unit Components
Work Window:
• Provides an opening below the guide tube

• Tools with larger OD’s can be installed /

removed

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Well Control Equipment
Well Control Stack:

Has to be a designed package for specific

operation

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HWO / Snubbing
BOP’s are specified by:
– Working Pressure Rating
– ID

• Ram BOP’s close in on a specific size tube

• Annular BOP’s (if used) can close in and seal on virtually anything
which will pass through them

• The stripping rubber may be the primary pressure control device.

• Stripper is not hydraulically operated.

• Varying numbers of rams may be needed, depending on

requirements

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HWO / Snubbing
HWO Pressure Control Equipment
BOP’s

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 HWO / Snubbing

HWO Pressure Control Equipment

Stripper Rubber:

• Low maintenance stripping head.

• Due to it’s design, it can be utilized

until it leaks, then easily replaced

• Usually rated to 3000 psi.

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Well Control Equipment
Tubing:
• Has to be a designed for specific operation
(tri-axial stress analysis)

• Ability to contain pressure

• Smooth external upset

• Confidence in condition of tubing

(inspection?)

• Connections capable of withstanding

bending loads

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Well Control Equipment
Back pressure valve:
• Typically installed in BHA.
• Recommended to run 2 Back Pressure Valves for
redundancy.
• An “N” nipple can be run to enable a wireline plug to
be set
• Maybe installed in other places in the string in
addition to the BHA
• Should be designed to accommodate the service
performed

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Well Control Equipment
Closing Unit:

• Basically the accumulator

package for operating all
well control components.

• Skid package needs to be

located in a safe,
accessible area

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Operations - Considerations
The following is a short list of recommended items to be done / confirmed prior
to starting. It is not intended to be complete but to be used as a base for
communicating expectations for safe / efficient operations.

• Guys wires equally taut, HWO vertical

• Guide tubes, are they available(?), are they the correct size(?)
• Slip Orientation
• Buckling force
• Hydraulic system max pressure to avoid buckling 2 legs / 4 legs
• Determination of balance point

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Calculations for HWO / Snubbing

Snubbing Considerations / Calculations Prior to Start

• Initial snub force (lbs)

• Pipe Buckling (lbs)

• Balance point (ft.)

• Hydraulic Pressure (psi) limit to avoid buckling

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Pressure-Area Force
P-A Force (lbs) = 0.7854 x OD2 (in2) x Wellbore Pressure (psi)

NOMINAL SIZE ACTUAL OD (Pipe Body)

3/4” 1.050”
1” 1.315”
1 1/4” 1.660”
1 1/2” 1.900”

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Pressure-Area Force
Ram to Ram stripping
• If snubbing or stripping ram to ram, the maximum pressure-area
force is calculated using the work string OD

Stripping through Annular or Stripper

• The maximum pressure-area force would be when the tool joint is

in the sealing element
• The tool joint OD should be used to calculate the pressure area
force

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Maximum Snub Force
(When First Joint Is Snubbed)
Snub Force = Pressure-Area Force + Friction – Buoyed Weight (Wb)

GIVEN:
Wellbore pressure = 600 psi
Snubbing String - 1 1/4” (Nominal) Tubing, 1.66” OD
Ram to Ram Snubbing
Friction - 1000 Lbs.

Max. Snub Force = (0.7854 x 1.66in2 x 600psi) + 1000lbs – 0lbs

= 1300lbs + 1000lbs
= 2300 lbs

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Buoyancy
The weight of the pipe is reduced by the weight of the fluid it displaces

• Principle:
Weight of pipe in air (W)
- Weight of fluid displaced by tubing
= Buoyed weight of tubing (Wb)

• Open-ended pipe
65.4 – FD
Wb = W x
65.4
• Closed-ended pipe (no fluid in the pipe)
OD2 x FDwell
Wb = W -
24.5
• Closed-ended pipe (different FD in pipe and annulus)
ID2 x FDpipe OD2 x FDwell
Wb = W - +
24.5 24.5

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 Archimedes' Principle
2.4 lbs
1.44 lbs Archimedes' principle states that a submerged body is
subject to a buoyancy force that is equal to the weight
of the fluid displaced by that body. This explains why a
heavily laden ship floats; its total weight equals exactly
1ft the weight of the water that it displaces, and this weight
exerts the buoyant force supporting the ship.

Weight in air = 2.4 lbs

Buoyancy Force = 0.96 lbs
Wb in Fluid = 1.44 lbs
1ft
0.113 gal x 0.052 = 0.96 lbs of fluid

8.5 ppg
Fluid
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Balance (Neutral) Point
Given: Snubbing string = 1 1/4” (nominal) tubing
2.4 lb/ft, 1.66” od
Density of fluid = 8.5 ppg
Wellbore pressure = 600 psi
Ram to ram snubbing
Closed ended, no fluid in the string

Length (amount to snub) to reach balance point:

Pipe Length = Buoyed weight @ balance point

Buoyed Wt/ft
Note: At balance point, P-A force equals Wb
= P-A Force
Buoy. Wt/ft

= 1300 lbs
1.44 lbs/ft

= 903’
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Buckling Failures
TWO TYPES OF BUCKLING FAILURES

Local
Buckling
Unsupported Length

Column
Stability

Plastic
Deformation

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Critical Buckling Load
(1) Calculations should be made to identify the type of buckling that will occur
and the Critical Buckling load for the proposed workstring.
(2) In column (Major Axis) buckling, which can occur without yielding the pipe,
the Critical Buckling load can be increased by:
Š Reducing the unsupported length
Š Increasing workstring size- OD size
Š Increasing workstring wall thickness
Notice that the Buckling load is not influenced by yield strength in this case
Unsupported Length

C o lu m n
S t a b ilit y

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Workstring Design
Recommended Maximum Loads
In tension 80% of yield strength
In buckling 70% of critical buckling load
In collapse 80% of collapse pressure rating
In burst 80% of burst pressure rating
™ Joint Or Body Strength, Whichever Is Lower
Given
1” (nominal) 2.25 lb/ft, P-105m, IJ. Tubing
Joint yield strength = 67,000 lbs (from tables)
Critical buckling load = 23,000 lbs (calculated by vendor)
Collapse pressure rating = 24,700 psi (from tables)
Burst pressure rating = 25,000 psi (from tables)
Maximum Allowable Loads
In tension 67,000 x 0.80 = 53,000 lbs
In buckling 23,000 x 0.70 = 16,000 lbs
In collapse 24,700 x 0.80 = 20,000 psi
In burst 25,000 x 0.80 = 20,000 psi

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Regulated Hydraulic Pressure

640 psi Hydraulic Pressure

(52 – 32) x 0.7854 x 640 = 8,042 lb force

52 x 0.7854 x 640 = 12,566 lb force 3 in

5 in 5 in
640 psi Hydraulic Pressure
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Maximum Hydraulic Regulated Pressure When
Snubbing Pipe Into Well (To Prevent Buckling)

Effective Area (EA) = n X 0.7854 X (D2 - d2)

n = number of hydraulic jacking cylinders

D = cylinder I.D. in inches
d = piston rod O.D. in inches

To avoid buckling, the HPU is regulated so that the hydraulic jacks produce a
Maximum Allowable Load equal to 70% of the Critical Buckling Load.

Maximum Allowable Load = 0.7 X Critical Buckling Load

Hydraulic Regulated Pressure = Maximum Allowable Load

EA

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Maximum Hydraulic Regulated Pressure When
Snubbing Pipe Into Well (To Prevent Buckling)
EXAMPLE:
Calculate the Maximum Hydraulic Regulated Pressure. given the following:

Maximum Allowable Load for tbg in use has been calculated to be 16,000 lbs.
Snubbing unit in use has two hydraulic jacking cylinders
jacking cylinder I.D. = 5”
piston rod O.D. = 3”

Answer:
EA = 2 X 0.7854 X (52 - 32) = 25 sq. in.

Hydraulic Reg Press = Maximum Allowable Load = 16,000 lbs = 640 psi
EA 25 sq. in.

In this example regulating the main system pressure to about 650 psi will cause the
jacking system to stall out before creating a load that would buckle the workstring.

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Determining Pipe Light Condition

Prior to starting operations, it is necessary to

calculate the “pipe light” condition, i.e., when the
uplift from the well pressure acting on the string is
greater than the buoyed weight of the string.
Why? If the string should become “pipe light” the well
pressure could eject the remaining tubulars out of
the well. This would lead to a loss of well control.
The formulas for this calculation are given earlier in
this lecture.

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HWO / Snubbing Complications

Equipment Problems:
1. BOP failures, rams, external piping
2. Stripping rubber (stuffing box) failures
3. Slip failures
4. Power Pack failure
5. Tubing / tool joint failure
6. Back pressure valve failure
7. Choke System failure
8. Leak between BOP & Wellhead

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HWO / Snubbing Pressure Test
Pressure Testing:

In snubbing / HWO operations, a set of operations designed to confirm the

ability of the pressure containment system to contain well pressures.

Equipment to be tested:
1. BOPs
2. Valves, including back pressure valves
3. Connections
4. Choke lines & valves
5. Equalizing valves & lines

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HWO / Snubbing Pressure Test

Connections Connections

Valves Valves

Rams Rams

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