Drilling Equipment Technology - Lab

Scientific Field Trip along Erbil – Shaqlawa main Road

Prepared by :

Shivan A.Sabir
Introduction :-
Shaqlawa area is tectonically located a in High Folded Zone on unstable shelf, and
according to geography it is located of NE part of Hawler. Safin anticline is
considered that of main folds belong this zone, and it isasym metrical anticline
which it is characterized generally for folds that located includes this zone, and
extending in the directed of (NW-SE) parallel to the Zagros Fault Thrust
Zone.Exposed in the study area (Kolosh,Khurmala, Gercus, Avanah, Pila Spi, Lower
and Upper Fars) Formations, age of them is Tertiary period.The topographic area is
representing geological structure directly and effected bythe nature of rocks for
these formations with difference in degree of resistance for erosion.Khurmala
Formation is shown in the Shaqlawa area in the lenticular shape includes clastic
deposite for Kolosh Formation which in conformable and gradational with Gercus
Formation ,and inter bedded. Avanah Formation with clastic deposite for Gercus
Formation. Pila Spi Formation is unconformable over deposites of Gercus
Formation which charactered by (basal conglomerate), and Pila Spi Formation iscon
formable with Lower Fars Formation and in the last exposed clastic deposited for
Upper Fars Formation conformable over Lower Fars Formation.Kolosh Formation in
the study area consists of sandstone (ball sand), siltstone, and shale and thin
bedded of marly limestone. But Khurmala Formation is formed of limestone which
is consisting of fossils in addition to chert nodules. Gercus Formation consists of
red beds of claystone, sandstone, siltstone and marly limestone. But Avanah
Formation is stratigraphic unit of limestone. Pila Spi Formation is formed of
dolomitic limestone and chalky limestone and these bedded rocks are consisting
off ossils.
Location of study area:-
Objectives:
Geological field work for a petroleum Geology (Drilling) purpose.

• Geological field instruments practically that are used in research and

geological studies.
• Geological feature in close distance especially concerning the geological
structure and different geological Formations.
• Geological survey throw preparing the geologic map, geological column and
geological cross-section for the field.
• Drilling Equipment for a rock types and their problems with their solution.

• Students will demonstrate acceptable knowledge of geologic information by

scoring a minimum grade on a standardized test of geologic knowledge
during their senior year.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to correctly interpret geologic maps.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to identify and explain the formation of
a suite of common rocks and rock-forming minerals.
• Students will demonstrate their ability to read, write and speak cogently
using the language of geology.
Historical back ground - Previous work :-

Structure of Study Area :-

Safin anticline is considerable that is of main anticline in the high folded zone ,and it
is asymmetrical anticline and south part and it is characteristic generally for folds
that includes high folded zone, double plunging, non-plane, and axial surface is
directed (NW) parallel to axial surface other fold of the Zagros Thrust Zone.

Geomorphology of Study Area :-

Pointed of the geomorphological shapes are finished in the studied area according to
geological structures and nature of sediments in addition to climate and erosion
states. The erosion processes have great and distinct trace of the area. The
formation and soft beds unresistant, to erosion for example (Kolosh and Gercus
Formation), and remained the formations that have greater resistant to erosion for
example (Pila Spi Formation), in the shape of riffs and high ridges.
Methodology:-

Field work :-
Geology is a field science. Even though much work is done in the laboratory and all
data (including field data) are analyzed in the office, geological samples and
information must initially be obtained from the context in which they occur in
nature. This necessitates geological field work. Earth scientists use a number of field
(including laboratory and numerical modeling) methods to decipher Earth history
and understand the processes that occur on and beneath the Earth’s surface. In
typical geological investigations, geologists use primary field data related to resource
studies, petrology, stratigraphy, and structural geology. In many cases, geologists
also study modern soils, rivers, landscapes, and glaciers; investigate past and current
life and biogeochemical pathways, and use geophysical methods to investigate the
subsurface.

Depending upon the objectives of the study, there are numerous specialized
methods of geological field investigations. However, there are certain basic
procedures that any field geologist will have to adopt. These basic field methods in
geology may be considered in four main categories:

• Obtaining and marking samples and describing and measuring where they
came from in an outcrop.
• Measuring and recording orientation (i.e., altitude) of strata or other planar
features.
• Measuring dimensions (height and width).
• Constructing geological maps.
Given the diversity of interests, geological field work varies
depending on the task at hand. Typical fieldwork could
consist of:

1. Geological mapping:-

a. Structural mapping: the locations of the major rock units and the faults and folds
that led to their placement there.
b. Stratigraphic mapping: the locations of sedimentary facies (lithofacies and bio
facies) or the mapping of isopaches of equal thickness of sedimentary rock
c. Surficial mapping: the locations of soils and surficial deposits

2.Surveying of topographic features: -

a. Creation of topographic maps

b. Work to understand change across landscapes, including:
Patterns of erosion and deposition
River channel change through migration and avulsion
Hillslope processes.

3.High-resolution stratigraphy: -

Measuring and describing stratigraphic sections on the surface

Well drilling and logging.
Geological setting :-
• Geological formation

(Baxtiary, Fars, Pilaspi, Gercus, and Kolosh Formation)

Baxtiary formation is conglomerate

Fars formation is sandstone

Pilaspi formation is limestone

gercus formation is mudstone

kolosh formation is shale

Petroleum Technology – Drilling purpose:

• Problem with this rock:

1. Pipe Sticking:

During drilling operations, a pipe is considered stuck if it cannot be freed and pulled
out of the hole without damaging the pipe and without exceeding the drilling rig ’ s
maximum allowed hook load. Differential pressure pipe sticking and mechanical pipe
sticking are addressed in this section .

Have two type of stick pipe :

• Differential-Pressure Pipe Sticking.

• Mechanical Pipe Sticking.

2. Loss of Circulation:

Lost circulation is defined as the uncontrolled flow of whole mud into a formation,
sometimes referred to as thief zone, In partial lost circulation, mud continues to flow
to surface with some loss to the formation. Total lost circulation, however, occurs
when all the mud flows into a formation with no return to surface. If drilling
continues during total lost circulation, it is referred to as blind drilling. This is not a
common practice in the field unless the formation above the thief zone is
mechanically stable, there is no production, and the fluid is clear water. Blind drilling
also may continue if it is economically feasible and safe.
3. Mud Contamination:
A mud is said to be contaminated when a foreign material enters the mud system
and causes undesirable changes in mud properties, such as density, viscosity, and
filtration. Generally, water-based mud systems are the most susceptible to
contamination. Mud contamination can result from overtreatment of the mud
system with additives or from material entering the mud during drilling.

4. Producing Formation Damage:

Producing formation damage has been defined as the impairment of the unseen by
the inevitable, causing an unknown reduction in the unquantifiable. In a different
context, formation damage is defined as the impairment to reservoir (reduced
production) caused by wellbore fluids used during drilling/completion and workover
operations. It is a zone of reduced permeability within the vicinity of the wellbore
(skin) as a result of foreign-fluid invasion into the reservoir rock.

5. Hole Cleaning:

Throughout the last decade, many studies have been conducted to gain
understanding on hole cleaning in directional-well drilling. Laboratory work has
demonstrated that drilling at an inclination angle greater than approximately 30°
from vertical poses problems in cuttings removal that are not encountered in vertical
wells.
Propose solution:

1.Causes and prevention of stuck pipe:

Complications related to stuck pipe can account for nearly half of total well cost,
making stuck pipe one of the most expensive problems that can occur during a
drilling operation. Stuck pipe often is associated with well-control and lost-
circulation events—the two other costly disruptions to drilling operations—and is a
significant risk in high-angle and horizontal wells , Drilling through depleted zones,
where the pressure in the annulus exceeds that in the formation, might cause the
drillstring to be pulled against the wall and embedded in the filter cake deposited
there .The internal cake pressure decreases at the point where the drillpipe contacts
the filter cake, causing the pipe to be held against the wall by differential pressure. In
high-angle and horizontal wells, gravitational force contributes to extended contact
between the drillstring and the formation. Properly managing the lubricity of the
drilling fluid and the quality of the filter cake across the permeable formation can
help reduce occurrences of stuck pipe.

2.Prevention of lost circulation:-

The complete prevention of lost circulation is impossible, because some formations,

such as inherently fractured, cavernous, or high-permeability zones, are not
avoidable if the target zone is to be reached. However, limiting circulation loss is
possible if certain precautions are taken, especially those related to induced
fractures. These precautions include:

▪ Maintaining proper mud weight.

▪ Minimizing annular-friction pressure losses during drilling and tripping in
▪ Adequate hole cleaning.
▪ Avoiding restrictions in the annular space.
▪ Setting casing to protect upper weaker formations within a transition zone.
▪ Updating formation pore pressure and fracture gradients for better accuracy
with log and drilling data.
 Conclusion

Erbil - Shaqlawa road area is a suitable area for field studies, because the formation
cropped out clearly and the geological structures and geomorphologic features are
common . Determining and differentiating the formation from one another in the
field by sight investigation (color ,lithology, macro fossil content…etc.) and
predicting their deposition conditions. Drawing topographic map in the field and
determining the position on the map by bearing, back bearing . The contact between
Kolosh and Gercus Formation is gradational and conformable. The contact between
Gercus and Pila Spi Formation is the basal conglomerate that can be observed clear
lyin the field . . The green to grey color of clastic sediment in Kolosh Formation show
the environment of this formation is reduced while red to reddish brown color for
Gercus Formation tell us this formation was deposited at oxidized environment. The
thickness of the formations were studied are Baxtiary, Fars, Pilaspi , Gercus, and
Kolosh formation in the study area . we studies that baxtiary formation is
conglomerate , Fars formation is sandstone , Pilaspi formation is limestone , gercus
formation is mudstone and kolosh formation is shale .
References :
• Short Report about (Field Work Geology in Sork Mountain at Shaqlawa Area) ,
Slahaddin University .
• Petro wiki.org

• GEOLOGY OF I RAQ Edited by Saad Z. Jassim and Jeremy C. Goff .

• wikipedia.org .
• First record of bedded limestone inside Upper Bakhtiari Formation,
Kurdistan Region, NE-Iraq .
• Adnan A.M., Andrew, D.H, Jeremy C.G., Fadhil N.S., 2010.The Petroleum Geology
Of Iraq P.424.