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A HALLIBURTON SERVICE

STUCK PIPE
Cause, Solutions
& Prevention
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A HALLIBURTON SERVICE

7908 N. Sam Houston Pkwy Floor-5 (281) 931 8884

Houston, TX 77064 1 800 Blowout
USA boots-coots.com

STUCK PIPE
CAUSE, SOLUTIONS & PREVENTION
John W. Lee

The information contained herein is supplied without representation or warranty of any kind. Boots & Coots Inc, the
author and publisher assume no liability, inferred, consequential or otherwise from the use or misuse of any material
or recommendation contained herein.

All rights of reproduction and adaptation of the text and illustrations herein, for all countries and languages, are
reserved by Boots & Coots Inc. Author/ Illustrator, John W. Lee.

Jan, 2009
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STUCK PIPE
An interruption in planned operations as excessive drag forces prevent pulling
the drillstring out of the hole. The pipe is stuck in the hole.
Tight Hole
A momentary interruption in planned operations as high drag forces restrict
drillstring movement above normal operating conditions. The pipe is not stuck
in the hole as acceptable progress is still being made.
Stuck Pipe Statistics
Industry statistics gathered since 1989 show the relative cost of non-productive
time. Stuck pipe is still the drilling industry's most costly unscheduled event.

Stuck Pipe

Hole Problems

Lost Circ.

DS Failure

Running Csg

D/Hole Equip

Cementing

Weather

Well Control

Rig Repair

Well Head
0 25 50
$MM
Page 1
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STICKING MECHANISMS & THEIR CAUSES
Although there are 20+ causes of stuck pipe, there are only 3 mechanisms capable
of producing sufficient mechanical force to stick the drillstring.
.

Mechanism - The mechanical force sticking the drillstring in the hole.

.

Cause - The condition(s) responsible for the sticking mechanism.

Pack-Off / Bridge Differential Wellbore Geometry
Settled Cuttings Differential Force Key Seat
Micro Doglegs
Geo-Pressured Shale Ledges
Thick Filter Cake

Hydro-Charged Shale Undergauge Hole

Mobile Formation
Stiff Bottom Hole Assembly
Reactive Shale
Stiff Casing Assembly

Overburden Stress
Example
"Cause" "Mechanism"
Inadequate Hole Cleaning Hole Pack-Off
Tectonic Stress

Unconsolidated Formation

Fractured Formation

Plastic Formation

Cement Failure

Soft Cement

Junk in Hole

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The Mechanism of Hole Pack-Off /Bridge
Hole Pack-Off - Small pieces of formation, cement or junk settle around the drillstring
preventing circulation with no string movement likely.

Hole Bridge - Medium to large pieces of formation, cement or junk settle around the
drillstring allowing restricted circulation with little to no string movement.
Hole Pack-Off Hole Bridge

String Motion Prior to Sticking?

Moving or Static

Circulating Pressure
After Sticking?
Impossible Restricted

Page 3
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The Mechanism of Differential Sticking
Hydrostatic overbalance pressure drives the static
drillstring into the thick filter cake of a permeable zone.
Top View at
Sand Depth Dynamic
Fluid Loss Filter Cake

Contact
Formation 6000
Pressure

4"
5000 psi PSI
Static
Filter Cake
Low Pressure
Filter Cake

String Motion Prior to Sticking? 1600 sq in

Static x 1000 psi
4" = 1,600,000 lbs
Diff. Sticking Force
1,6
00,

Contact
Area
000

400"
Sand
Lbs

Circulating Pressure
After Sticking?
Unrestricted
Page 4
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THE MECHANISM OF WELLBORE GEOMETRY
Sharp changes in hole angle/direction; an undergauge hole diameter;
or an increase in assembly stiffness will not allow passage of the string.
Wellbore Change Assembly Stiffness Change
Decrease in effective or actual hole Increase in assembly stiffness
diameter will not allow passage of the string. will not allow passage of the string.

KEY String Motion Prior

SEAT to Sticking?
POOH

Moving up or Down Flexible

Assembly POOH,
Normal Overpull

PO
OH
Top View

!!
Stuck

Top of
BHA
RIH

STIFF
BOTTOM HOLE
ASSEMBLY

STUC
K!!
Circulating Pressure
After Sticking?
Unrestricted
Page 5
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STICKING MECHANISM /FIRST ACTION WORKSHEET
STEP 1: DETERMINE THE STICKING MECHANISM
DESCRIBE THE STRING MOTION JUST BEFORE STICKING OCCURRED. PACK-OFF BRIDGE DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY
Moving Up 1 1 0 1
Circle the numbers in the row Back Reaming 1 1 0 1
with the best description. Rotating Only 1 1 0 0
Circle only 1 row of numbers. Moving Down 1 1 0 1
Pipe Static or Slide Drilling 1 1 1 0
Reaming Down or Rotary Drilling 1 1 0 1
DESCRIBE THE CHANGE IN CIRCULATING PRESSURE JUST AFTER STICKING OCCURRED.
No Change in Circulating Pressure 0 0 1 1
Circulation is Possible But Restricted and Possibly Fluctuating 0 1 0 0
Stalled Motor Pressure. Pressure Increases With Rotation 0 0 0 1
Circulation is Impossible 1 0 0 0
Add the columns of circled numbers. The column with
the sum of "2" determines the sticking mechanism. Totals =
STEP 2: SELECT THE CORRECT FIRST-ACTION TO FREE THE STRING
PACK-OFF / BRIDGE DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY
For hole angles <60O: 1. Circulate at maximum rate for +/- Stuck while moving up:
.
1. Bleed off all trapped pressure. 10 minutes (Kelly Drive) or while 1. (Top Drive) Work 80% of DP
(Top Drive) Work 80% of DP make- applying torque (Top Drive). make-up torque down to the stuck
up torque down to the stuck depth. .
.
2. (Top Drive) Work 80% of DP depth.
2. Apply low pump pressure (+/-200 make-up torque down to the stuck
.

psi). Maintain circulation if possible. 2. Jar down with maximum jar-trip

. depth. load. Hold torque & set-down
3. Jar down with max jar-trip load. .

.
3. Reduce pump spe (+/-1 bbl/min). weight until the jar trips or for +/-10
4. Do not jar up!! Continue jarring .
minutes.
down until the string is free and full 4. Jar down with maximum jar-trip .
circulation is established. load. Hold torque & set-down weight Stuck while moving down:
.
until the jar trips or for +/-10 min. .

For hole angles >60O:
1. Bleed off all trapped pressure.
(Top Drive) Work 80% of DP make-
up torque down to the stuck depth.
.
Maintain slow circulation and jar Do not apply torque. Jar up with
down +/- 20 times. maximum jar-trip load. Hold the
. overpull until the jar trips or for +/-5
5. If the string does not jar free, minutes.

2. Jar down with max jar-trip load.
.
3. Do not jar up!! Work the pipe
release string torque, maintain slow .
circulation and jar up +/-10 times If the string does not jar free:
with maximum jar-trip load.
.

with light overpulls and max down .

Maintain slow circulation (+/-1
jarring until several feet of string 6. If the string does not jar free, bbl/min) and continue jarring until
movement is established. continue jarring procedure while the string jars free or an alternative
.
preparing a pipe releasing pill. decision is made.
4. Slowly attempt to re-establish
circulation.
STUCK WITH THE BIT ON OR NEAR BOTTOM
Do not jar up!! Apply low pump Do not apply toque!! Jar up with Stuck while moving up: Maintain
pressure (+/-200 psi). Apply/release maximum jar-trip load. Continue drilling torque and re-apply bit weight
torque & set-down weight in an jarring up while preparing a pipe to re-establish rotation. Slowly back-
attempt to establish circulation. releasing pill. ream off bottom.
STEP 3: COCK AND TRIP THE JAR
Cocking From Open Position Cocking From Closed Position Jar-Up Jar-Down
Bleed trapped pressure / slow down or Bleed trapped pressure / slow down
stop the pumps to make the jar easier or stop the pump when jarring down.
Last Last
to cock. ________________ Up Wt. ________________ Down Wt.
Last
________________ Last
Down Wt.
________________ Up Wt. _ BHA Wt.
_ BHA Wt.
________________ ________________
Below Jar Below Jar
_ _ BHA Wt. _
________________ BHA Wt. ________________
Below Jar Below Jar + ________________ Jar Trip
Load
________________ Jar Trip
Load

=________________ Wt Indicator
Load
=________________ Wt Indicator = ________________ Wt Indicator
Load
= ________________ Wt Indicator
Load
Load
The trip load of a hydraulic jar is selected by the operator
Page 6
 STEP 1: DETERMINE THE STICKING MECHANISM
DESCRIBE THE STRING MOTION JUST BEFORE STICKING OCCURRED. PACK-OFF BRIDGE DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY
Moving Up 1 1 0 1
Circle the numbers in the row Back Reaming 1 1 0 1
with the best description. Rotating Only 1 1 0 0
0 0

Circle only 1 row of numbers. Moving Down 1 1 0 1

S

Pipe Static or Slide Drilling 1 1 1 0

Page 7
Reaming Down or Rotary Drilling 1 1 0 1
DESCRIBE THE CHANGE IN CIRCULATING PRESSURE JUST AFTER STICKING OCCURRED.
0 0

No Change in Circulating Pressure 0 0 1 1

Circulation is Possible But Restricted and Possibly Fluctuating 0 1 0 0
S

Stalled Motor Pressure. Pressure Increases With Rotation 0 0 0 1

Circulation is Impossible 1 0 0 0
Add the columns of circled numbers. The column with
the sum of "2" determines the sticking mechanism. Totals =
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STICKING MECHANISM EXERCISE
1. The drillstring was found stuck when pulling off the slips after a survey.
The string is totally immobilized and circulation is impossible, what is the
sticking mechanism?
Pack-Off Bridge Differential Geometry

2. During a trip out of the hole, the string became stuck on the slips while
setting back stand #25. The string cannot be rotated or moved. The top
of the BHA is in the middle of the kick-off and the bit is in the tangent section.
Circulating pressure at drilling rate has not changed. What is the sticking
mechanism?
Pack-Off Bridge Differential Geometry

3. Erratic torque and string bouncing have increased over the last 2 stands
drilled. Increasing off-bottom torque trend. When picking up for a connection
the string became stuck 3 feet from bottom. The string is totally immobilized,
circulation is unrestricted. What is the sticking mechanism?
Pack-Off Bridge Differential Geometry

4. While pulling the BHA through a cement kick-off plug, overpull suddenly
increase to 80,000 lbs. The string can be worked 10 - 20 feet with rotation
possible at mid stroke (high erratic torque). Fluctuating, restricted circulating
pressure. What is the sticking mechanism?
Pack-Off Bridge Differential Geometry

5. While slowly rotating and reaming to bottom after a trip, the mud motor
stalled out and the string became stuck. The string cannot be moved up or
down. String rotation is free and standpipe pressure increases when the
string is rotated. Circulation pressure indicates a stalled motor and torque
increases with pump pressure. What is the sticking mechanism?
Pack-Off Bridge Differential Geometry

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