When Tonot To Backream

ADS-142 - When to/not to Backream 16-Jul-1999 12:38:19 file:///D|/Documents/Drilling/Info/ox97g_ads_142_when_to_not_to_backream.
html
ADS-142 - When to/not to Backream

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 12:30:26 +0100
To: tecnewsbb@slb.com
From: Ali M. Bakici
Organization: oilfield in Gatwick
Subject: ANAT-ADS:ADS-142 - When to/not to Backream
Here are the replies sent to Ali Bakici concering the practice of backreaming out of the hole.
Thanks Ali for putting this very interesting information together and thanks to all who
contributed. The last response from Georges Loustale is particularly well constructed.
We would still like to hear what practices were used on the former World
Record well in Argentina!
From: charles Ingold

Backreaming, especially with high loads puts extra strain on connections (Connections suffer
less load in compression in most cases) Endless backreaming can induce key seating
(especially with high loads). Regards,
From: Paul Reid

I agree that backreaming is an easy option and one too often used. > I'd say one place where
it should be avoided if possible is in fractured shales (or indeed anywhere there the wellbore
may have undergone compressive failure). BP Colombia is a classic example. Dick Plumb in
Houston has a lot of thoughts on the subject.
There are other instances.....particularly where you are worried about eroding filtercake, but
the fractured/failed rock example is my favourite.
From: spaxton@youngsville.anadrill.slb.com (Scott Paxton)

All sorts of thoughts in this arena. As a directional driller I have the following views.
Don't do it unless necessary. Lower inclination wells (<40) should not need it.
If the thought is to clean out cuttings it is a good plan. If it is to open a hole that is closing in
do it this time but get the mud to help in the future.
A lot of rigs cannot give adequate flow during drilling so back reaming may be required.
Areas prone to swabbing may benefit from back reaming.
Motors fail quicker when used in back reaming though I do not know why
· ..bearing failure.
Clients often hamper the process by wanting reduced flow rate and pulling slowly. If it is just
to clean out some cuttings it can be a quick process. ECDs can be monitored with Anadrill's
APWD measurement..
I like to back ream out prior to running casing if I can prevent a conditioning run with a hole
opener.
From: "MounteerJim"
1 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
ADS-142 - When to/not to Backream 16-Jul-1999 12:38:19 file:///D|/Documents/Drilling/Info/ox97g_ads_142_when_to_not_to_backream.html
Cuttings beds and mud slump cannot be prevented using practical means in hole angles over
45 degrees. Backreaming is the reason we can drill so much further in high angle holes than
we could before top drives. > Drill string only sees the increase in tension component as it
always is in tension. Drill collars see greater stress, but selection of proper connections make
it a moot point
Best cake is in the pore throats. The part on the hole is what you are trying to get rid of as it
will stick you. If you have a big fluffy high spurt cake you have a mud problem. If you run
the mud correctly back reaming will not hurt the cake deposit. Besides the only way to have
a stable well bore is to return the in situ stress to the condition before drilling. That is done
with pressure (Mud wt), not filter cake. Cake stops filtrate, which chemically reacts with the
formations to cause reactive material to swell. You need permeability to form cake. Shales
will react and back reaming removes the swollen goop under controlled conditions before it
sloughs.
OTHER:
In GOM gumbo drilling you could spend days trying to get balled up BHA's out of the hole if
it were not for back reaming
When you back ream it is very difficult to swab the well in, as you have circulating
backpressure on the well while the pipe is moving. As 85% of all blowouts occur on trips
maybe we should back ream by policy? Especially in areas where drillers cannot read a trip
tank.
Back reaming practically eliminates key seats and one sided trip wear in hole Back reaming
removes short radius bends and ledges as the bending radius of the bha moving up is totally
different than that of the string in compression Beckreaming reduces casing wear as the
sideloading of a rotating pipe is less than the static load imposed by pure tension.
From: Daan Veeningen

My experience in limited to vertical holes. In principle I don't like back reaming other than
before making a connection while drilling. 1) I think you loose the information the hole is
telling you when you make a short trip for example. 2) In many cases, when you do start
backreaming through a tight spot during a trip, you are most of the times committed to
continue backreaming the entire interval. 3) The combined tensile and torsion load might fail
the pipe, and washouts are more likely to occur. 4) Backreaming is not recommended when
using bi-center bits, although DPI claims that with their drill-out bicenters it is not a problem.
When anticipating backreaming, select a bit with cutters on the shoulder! 5) Naturally
fractured and jointed formations might be disturbed causing hole stability problems
There are occasions that require backreaming. 1) Like when the hole is real tight when
dealing with hydrated/mobile shales. In these cases I prefer to pump out of hole: pump only
the displacement volume, in order to minimize the risk of blowing out the bottom. 2) When
the filter cake is getting thick due to seepage in high permeable formations, it might be
beneficial to scrap off the "old" cake. The new formed cake will be thin and more rigid. 3) To
stir up cuttings on the low side of a high inclination/horizontal well to promote hole cleaning.
Interested to hear more about the directional considerations and effects for different types of
bits,
From: Peter Ireland

I am not certain about the relevance of this to your investigation - it regards back-reaming for
logging purposes (LWD). Anadrill have imaging tools that they run while drilling - e.g.
Azimuthal Density Neutron (ADN) and Restivity at the Bit (RAB). These measurements
have a sensor which measures in a single transverse direction. When rotating, it scans the
2 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
whole borehole and can generate quadrant measurements or images. However, when sliding,
the sensor might be pointing upwards - with a large gap between the sensor and the mud,
giving a bogus reading. Thus, there might be gaps in the log while drilling, so the client will
want to backream out to fill in the gaps. > This logic is flawed as the rock will have changed
from when it was drilled and when it was backreamed (invasion, alteration etc.). A better
solution is to use a sub called an ADN Orienting Sub which allows the sensor to be aligned
with the motor - so that it will be pointing down when sliding. The sensors then have good
contact with the formation. This is not foolproof as the toolface for a slide is not always
constant, but this sub is generally very underused.
Other reasons customers might chose to backream is to get a second pass of good data - to
analyze timelapse effects. This is a valid application.
From: Andrew Foster

Thank you for your e-mail ragarding when/not to backream. We had an interesting job here
in Norway on the Valhall platform (2/8A-3C) last year. Valhall has been subject to numerous
wellbore instability problems over the last few years, and during this job we had to work hard
to convince Amoco not to backream at the end of each stand whilst using the Cambridge
Drilling Automation rotary steerable unit. The main reason for this was that backreaming
appeared to "ovalise" the wellbore to the extent that the tool could not maintain angle. In the
process, we discovered that maintaining constant rotation & drilling parameters with not too
high ROP gave us very good results. A traditional motor assy was used towards the end of
the section, along with backreaming every stand, and things were much more difficult with
this set-up. I know Schlumberger Cambridge Research collected a lot of wellbore stability
data during the project, and this may be useful to you. You may try contacting Ian Bradford
<bradford@cambridge.scr.slb.com > for further information.
From: Gary Pidcock

I would suggest that you review an article written by Michael Mimms in the May 99 edition
of World Oil.
"Directional drilling performance improvement" It has some good references to backreaming

and lots of other practices!
Please note Anadrill have used K&M for DD training to great effect and have great respect
for their opinions
From: Robert Fontenot

I received a tripping procedure for ERD wells from Greg Conran that might be of interest.
He is also one that is very much against backreaming. > By the way, once you get all the
responses, I would very much like to put it in the InTouch database as well. Possibly, what
you will need to do along with compiling a list a reason not to backream, would be to put
together a list of alternatives to backreaming....essentially a "best practices"
From: Stephen Edwards

I know Dick Plumb has a lot of experience on the detrimental effects of back reaming on
wellbore stabilty from South America (mainly Cusiana). In fact this experience was
influentuial in similar considerations for the BP ETAP documentation you mention. I'm not
sure that Dick is on the Drill BB so you may want to contact him seperately. He is on
vacation this week and in Cambridge next week.
From: barber@singapore.sedco-forex.slb.com (Scott Barber)

Standard oilfield rule I follow,
3 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
If you need to backream out of hole, you are not sure of hole condition to run casing -
pumping out is OK , not backreaming. Also, it is much slower to backream out than straight
pull.
From: Jacques Bourque

The BP Cuisiana wellbore stability study performed by SLB Cambridge had demonstrated
that backreaming was doing more harm than good.
From: David Hill

I have no particular preference on the issue, as I don't have enough experience to make a
decision. So I asked our most experienced ERD client . He has drilled the 3rd and 4th longest
wells in the world, the first of which was a World Record at the time. He also has an
extremely good record drilling in the North Sea.
His response was:
I have a strong preference for backreaming in certain situations, specifically high angle or
high ROP. I agree there are downsides to backreaming - its slower than normal tripping, the
risk scenario changes so that the driller needs to be on his toes, and its harder on equipment -
the top drive in particular.
I think backreaming is always going to be beneficial for hole cleaning - I believe that there
will still be cuttings beds in a high angle well regardless of how long you circulate before
starting out of the hole. These cuttings may not be a problem if you trip conventionally, but
that doesn't mean they aren't there. Backreaming increases the probability of getting them out
of the hole.
I also like the reduced tension you get as a result of backreaming - there is a lot of difference
in hookload between rotating and not rotarting - why pull 400k when you can pull 270K with
20,000 ft-lbs. There is a reason that you instinctively twist things (like a beer can into the
cosey) when you push them in or pull them out of a tight spot - the friction is lower. > I like
analogies - ever drive in the Rocky Mountains in the wintertime - did you use 4 wheel drive?
I view backreaming like using 4 wheel drive. Conventional tripping is like 2 wheel drive, you
can go faster and have less wear and tear as long as the conditions are good. But if you are in
2 wheel drive and hit a slick spot you can find yourself in trouble - maybe in the ditch and in
trouble you can't get out of even with 4 wheel drive. If you had been in 4 wheel drive from
the beginning you would never have even noticed that there was a slick spot as you would
have gone right past it. But if you have started in 4 wheel drive you need to understand you
can get stuck in places you couldn't have got to in 2 wheel drive so you need to stop before
you get into trouble you can't back out of.
The driller needs to understand this. If he's backreaming he will be less likely to get into
trouble, but if he gets into trouble it will be serious. He needs to know what to look for so he
can back off before he gets into trouble. Our guys have a great feel for this.
Argument against: Prevention is better than the cure.

This doesn't hold water - backreaming does not prevent you from circulating before starting
the trip. If you think circulating is a good preventative measure,do it, backreaming is just
another precaution against a dirty hole > Argument against: Filter cake is a primary
combatant for a stable wellbore. Why backream and destroy it ?
This is a new one on me. I've never heard anyone espouse filter cake for wellbore stability
before. There is a valid argument that filter cake prevent losses, but I think thats a stretch in
most ERD applications because we are pretty careful about fluid loss properties in ERD wells
- the cake that is destroyed would be rebuilt almost instantaneously. I would also argue that
4 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
dragging the BHA - with the increased drag that is present when pipe is not rotating - is also
going to be hard on filter cake.
Argument against: The drillstring can be placed in 100% more combined stress when
backreaming.
This is a trade off - if you backream the tension is lower, but you torsional stresses. I don't
buy a 100% increase in stress unless torque is really highFrom: gerard cuvillier
Backreaming technique appeared with the use of top drives, which allow doing so,
as opposed to drilling with kelly/rotary table. It really offered new horizons, especially in key
seat situations, hole collapse, when you try to pull out of hole.
However, like always, it has lead to exageration and it is now often a misused technique,
primarily due to a lack of basic understanding of mechanics. By exageration, I mean that
backreaming is used even if it is not necessary, and it then only contribute to excessive
fatigue of drillpipes (high torque associated with tension in the top section), which
considerably reduces the usable life of drillpipes. People often ignore the limitations tension
coupled with torque, and even if they do not ignore them, they look at the problem at surface
(top drillpipe) although there may be a shallow severe dogleg which may be limiting further
this practice. Now back to 'when is backreaming necessary ?'. What we read on the Martin
Decker (A+B+C) when we pull out of hole contains 3 contributors : A : free in mud hanging
weight of drill string plus the block. B : natural drag generated by the geometry of the hole
C : actual overpull
The problem is that drillers do not differentiate B and C, and do not know how much B is :
they consider B+C as being the overpull. The objective of back reaming is to reduce C so
that you can pull out of hole without breaking your drill string (or at least limit tension to
acceptable levels). But back reaming will never reduce B, which will always exists and that
we have to live with (only a better - or say a more appropriate well geometry can reduce it).
What I would recommend : with a drag model (commonly available on computers), we can
figure out at every depth of a trip out of hole what A+B should be, and set a maximum C
over which backreaming would be required. Come back to me if I have been unclear.
From: Iain Donald

I hope you will consolidate the replies and send them back to technewsbb. We expect to
include one from a Perform engineer, one from one of the team on Wytch Farm and one from
Anadrill in Tierra del Fuego. I know there are some strong opinions on this subject.
From: "Riley, Graham J (Anadrill)"

We have a policy of not backreaming here at Wytch Farm, as for the other areas the detailed
engineering behind it is not well documented : >
· It can mask some important information that the hole is trying to tell you (poor hole
cleaning or instability).
· We can not do it at greater stepout because the torque is too high when we put the
pipe in tension and it puts a lot of stress on the pipe.
· Some of the formations we have here do not react well if we spend time circulating in
them so continually reaming through them can cause them to deteriorate and make
things worse.
We do it on occasions but always ensure we can trip freely through a section without
rotation before we leave it.
From: Steve Montgomery

The "BR" experience we discussed generated 3M3 of OBM hole enlargement "cuttings" and
we "found" 8 tight spots going in; probably some were caused by creating mini-bridges when
5 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
circulating(@ drilling rates). Seems to be a lazy default here.

Also, time consuming.
Before NAfrica, I had never seen this practice.
#1 trip @ speed with respect for surge / swab calcs; watch weight indicator; accept some
o-pull.
#2 circulate when past o-pull limit.
#3 back ream( treat as NPT; solve)
From: Tony Collins

One argument AGAINST that I have seen forgotten.
If there is a stabilizer high in the string, it will generate some torsional shocks as it
backreams.
As these shock waves propagate along the string, they are POSITIVE (tightening) torques
going up hole, but NEGATIVE going downhole. It is quite possible to shake connections
loose.
This phenomenon is why the top of a kelly has a left-hand thread!
From: tedwards@brunei.sedco-forex.slb.com (Anthony Edwards)

I am a strong advocate of only backreaming or wiping a hole only when required. I have two
reasons. First, the operations take additional time to perform when the pipe coud be tripping
or the bit on bottom drilling. Second, backreaming as a matter of course can potentially mask
the onset of a hole problem. In my experience minimising the amount of backreaming in a
horizontal well is even more important than in a vertical well. > As a rule I advise a drilling
supervisor to backream or wipe a hole only if the hole dictates that the action is necessary.
From: loustale@aberdeen.anadrill.slb.com (Georges Loustale)

Back reaming is not recommended in high angle wells or ERD wells. Back reaming or
pumping in High angle well while tripping the drill string is the operation which carries out
the highest risk of a " Stuck Pipe Incident " occuring and should it occur, that incident will
have " Inadequate Hole Cleaning " as it's Root Cause.
What generally happens when Back Reaming out of the hole:
·
·
The hole is circulated.
Back reaming out of the hole starts, extra care is taken for the first 10 stands, no
overpulls occur, the Driller take confidence and increase progressively the Tripping
speed.
· 30 or 50 stands later, this is unpredictable, the Stand Pipe pressure increases suddently
and no movement is possible:the String is now " Packed Off ", definately stuck in
cuttings beds.
·
·
It will be very difficult to get free from that situation. > What we should do:
Circulate hole clean before starting a trip out of the hole.
·
·
Start tripping in the elevator, limit the Overpulls to 30 Klbs.
If Overpulls occur (more than 30 K) run back down one stand, circulate at least one
bottom's up.
· If Overpulls are encountered at same point or close, Backream slowly for 2 or 3 stands
then circulate or continue tripping in the elevator. > Conclusion:
· Backream out the hole is a waste of rig time and energy, there is no time to react, no
warning signs.
· By tripping in the elevator and limiting the overpulls, we have a good idea of the hole
conditions, we have the time and the possibility to analyse any problem.
·
·
Backreaming will destroy the filter cake and create hole stability problems.
There is less risks to Backream in low angles wells, above 80 degrees and in small hole
6 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
sizes (below 8 1/2").
Ali M. BAKICI
Drilling Advisor
OFS Malaysia/Brunei/Phillippines
7th Floor Rohas Perkasa

8, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel : 60 (3) 2694257 / 266 77 88
mailto:bakicia@gatwick.oilfield.slb.com
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Here are the replies sent to Ali Bakici concering the practice of backreaming out of the
hole. Thanks Ali for putting this very interesting information together and thanks to all
who contributed. The last response from Georges Loustale is particularly well
constructed.
We would still like to hear what practices were used on the former World Record well in
Argentina!
From: charles Ingold <ingold@caracas.anadrill.slb.com>

Backreaming, especially with high loads puts extra strain on connections (Connections
suffer less load in compression in most cases)
Endless backreaming can induce key seating (especially with high loads).
Regards,
------------------------------------------------------
From: Paul Reid <reid@cambridge.scr.slb.com>
I agree that backreaming is an easy option and one too often used.
I'd say one place where it should be avoided if possible is in fractured shales (or indeed
anywhere there the wellbore may have undergone compressive failure). BP Colombia is a
classic example. Dick Plumb in Houston has a lot of thoughts on the subject.
7 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
There are other instances.....particularly where you are worried about eroding filtercake,
but the fractured/failed rock example is my favourite.
------------------------------------------------------
From: spaxton@youngsville.anadrill.slb.com (Scott Paxton)
All sorts of thoughts in this arena. As a directional driller I have the
following views.
Don't do it unless necessary. Lower inclination wells (<40) should not need it.
If the thought is to clean out cuttings it is a good plan. If it is to open
a hole that is closing in do it this time but get the mud to help in the
future.
A lot of rigs cannot give adequate flow during drilling so back reaming may
be required.
Areas prone to swabbing may benefit from back reaming.
Motors fail quicker when used in back reaming though I do not know why
...bearing failure.
Clients often hamper the process by wanting reduced flow rate and pulling
slowly. If it is just to clean out some cuttings it can be a quick process.
ECDs can be monitored with Anadrill's APWD measurement..
I like to back ream out prior to running casing if I can prevent a

conditioning run with a hole opener.
------------------------------------------------------
From: "MounteerJim" <mounteerj1@slb.com>
Cuttings beds and mud slump cannot be prevented using practical means in hole angles over 45 degrees.
Backreaming is the reason we can drill so much further in high angle holes than we could before top
drives.
Drill string only sees the increase in tension component as it always is in tension. Drill collars see
greater stress, but selection of proper connections make it a moot point
Best cake is in the pore throats. The part on the hole is what you are trying to get rid of as it will stick
you. If you have a big fluffy high spurt cake you have a mud problem. If you run the mud correctly back
reaming will not hurt the cake deposit. Besides the only way to have a stable well bore is to return the
in situ stress to the condition before drilling. That is done with pressure (Mud wt), not filter cake. Cake
stops filtrate, which chemically reacts with the formations to cause reactive material to swell. You need
permeability to form cake. Shales will react and back reaming removes the swollen goop under
controlled conditions before it sloughs.
OTHER:
In GOM gumbo drilling you could spend days trying to get balled up BHA's out of the hole if it were not
for back reaming
When you back ream it is very difficult to swab the well in, as you have circulating backpressure on the
well while the pipe is moving. As 85% of all blowouts occur on trips maybe we should back ream by
policy? Especially in areas where drillers cannot read a trip tank.
Back reaming practically eliminates key seats and one sided trip wear in hole
Back reaming removes short radius bends and ledges as the bending radius of the bha moving up is
totally different than that of the string in compression
Beckreaming reduces casing wear as the sideloading of a rotating pipe is less than the static load
imposed by pure tension.
------------------------------------------------------
From: Daan Veeningen <dveeningen@eex.com>
My experience in limited to vertical holes. In principle I don't like back
reaming other than before making a connection while drilling. 1) I think you
8 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
loose the information the hole is telling you when you make a short trip for
example. 2) In many cases, when you do start backreaming through a tight
spot during a trip, you are most of the times committed to continue
backreaming the entire interval. 3) The combined tensile and torsion load
might fail the pipe, and washouts are more likely to occur. 4) Backreaming
is not recommended when using bi-center bits, although DPI claims that with
their drill-out bicenters it is not a problem. When anticipating
backreaming, select a bit with cutters on the shoulder! 5) Naturally
fractured and jointed formations might be disturbed causing hole stability
problems
There are occasions that require backreaming. 1) Like when the hole is real
tight when dealing with hydrated/mobile shales. In these cases I prefer to
pump out of hole: pump only the displacement volume, in order to minimize
the risk of blowing out the bottom. 2) When the filter cake is getting thick
due to seepage in high permeable formations, it might be beneficial to scrap
off the "old" cake. The new formed cake will be thin and more rigid. 3) To
stir up cuttings on the low side of a high inclination/horizontal well to
promote hole cleaning.
Interested to hear more about the directional considerations and effects for
different types of bits,
------------------------------------------------------
From: Peter Ireland <ireland@sugar-land.spc.slb.com>
I am not certain about the relevance of this to your investigation - it regards
back-reaming for logging purposes (LWD). Anadrill have imaging tools that they run
while drilling - e.g. Azimuthal Density Neutron (ADN) and Restivity at the Bit (RAB).
These measurements have a sensor which measures in a single transverse direction.
When rotating, it scans the whole borehole and can generate quadrant measurements or
images. However, when sliding, the sensor might be pointing upwards - with a large gap
between the sensor and the mud, giving a bogus reading. Thus, there might be gaps in
the log while drilling, so the client will want to backream out to fill in the gaps.
This logic is flawed as the rock will have changed from when it was drilled and when it
was backreamed (invasion, alteration etc.). A better solution is to use a sub called an
ADN Orienting Sub which allows the sensor to be aligned with the motor - so that it will
be pointing down when sliding. The sensors then have good contact with the formation.
This is not foolproof as the toolface for a slide is not always constant, but this sub is
generally very underused.
Other reasons customers might chose to backream is to get a second pass of good data -
to analyze timelapse effects. This is a valid application.
------------------------------------------------------
From: Andrew Foster <foster@stavanger.anadrill.slb.com>
Thank you for your e-mail ragarding when/not to backream. We had an interesting job
here in Norway on the Valhall platform (2/8A-3C) last year. Valhall has been subject to
numerous wellbore instability problems over the last few years, and during this job we
had to work hard to convince Amoco not to backream at the end of each stand whilst
using the Cambridge Drilling Automation rotary steerable unit. The main reason for this
was that backreaming appeared to "ovalise" the wellbore to the extent that the tool could
not maintain angle. In the process, we discovered that maintaining constant rotation &
drilling parameters with not too high ROP gave us very good results. A traditional motor
assy was used towards the end of the section, along with backreaming every stand, and
9 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
things were much more difficult with this set-up. I know Schlumberger Cambridge
Research collected a lot of wellbore stability data during the project, and this may be
useful to you. You may try contacting Ian Bradford <bradford@cambridge.scr.slb.com>
for further information.
------------------------------------------------------
From: Gary Pidcock <pidcock@sugar-land.oilfield.slb.com>
I would suggest that you review an article written by Michael Mimms in the May 99
edition of World Oil.
"Directional drilling performance improvement" It has some good references to

backreaming and lots of other practices!
Please note Anadrill have used K&M for DD training to great effect and have great
respect for their opinions
------------------------------------------------------
From: Robert Fontenot <rfontenot@sugar-land.spc.slb.com>
I received a tripping procedure for ERD wells from Greg Conran that might be of
interest. He is also one that is very much against backreaming.
By the way, once you get all the responses, I would very much like to put it in the
InTouch database as well. Possibly, what you will need to do along with compiling a list
a reason not to backream, would be to put together a list of alternatives to
backreaming....essentially a "best practices"
------------------------------------------------------
From: Stephen Edwards <sedwards@sugar-land.oilfield.slb.com>
I know Dick Plumb has a lot of experience on the detrimental effects of back reaming on
wellbore stabilty from South America (mainly Cusiana). In fact this experience was
influentuial in similar considerations for the BP ETAP documentation you mention. I'm
not sure that Dick is on the Drill BB so you may want to contact him seperately. He is on
vacation this week and in Cambridge next week.
------------------------------------------------------
From: barber@singapore.sedco-forex.slb.com (Scott Barber)
Standard oilfield rule I follow,
If you need to backream out of hole, you are not sure of hole condition to run casing -
pumping out is OK , not backreaming. Also, it is much slower to backream out than
straight pull.
------------------------------------------------------
From: Jacques Bourque <bourque@jakarta.ipm.slb.com>
The BP Cuisiana wellbore stability study performed by SLB Cambridge had
demonstrated that backreaming was doing more harm than good.
------------------------------------------------------
From: David Hill <hill@shekou.anadrill.SLB.COM>
I have no particular preference on the issue, as I don't have enough experience to make a decision. So I
asked our most experienced ERD client . He has drilled the 3rd and 4th longest wells in the world, the
first of which was a World Record at the time. He also has an extremely good record drilling in the
North Sea.
His response was:
I have a strong preference for backreaming in certain situations, specifically high angle or high ROP. I
agree there are downsides to backreaming - its slower than normal tripping, the risk scenario changes so
that the driller needs to be on his toes, and its harder on equipment - the top drive in particular.
I think backreaming is always going to be beneficial for hole cleaning - I believe that there will still be
cuttings beds in a high angle well regardless of how long you circulate before starting out of the hole.
These cuttings may not be a problem if you trip conventionally, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.
10 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
Backreaming increases the probability of getting them out of the hole.
I also like the reduced tension you get as a result of backreaming - there is a lot of difference in hookload
between rotating and not rotarting - why pull 400k when you can pull 270K with 20,000 ft-lbs. There is
a reason that you instinctively twist things (like a beer can into the cosey) when you push them in or
pull them out of a tight spot - the friction is lower.
I like analogies - ever drive in the Rocky Mountains in the wintertime - did you use 4 wheel drive? I view
backreaming like using 4 wheel drive. Conventional tripping is like 2 wheel drive, you can go faster and
have less wear and tear as long as the conditions are good. But if you are in 2 wheel drive and hit a slick
spot you can find yourself in trouble - maybe in the ditch and in trouble you can't get out of even with 4
wheel drive. If you had been in 4 wheel drive from the beginning you would never have even noticed
that there was a slick spot as you would have gone right past it. But if you have started in 4 wheel drive
you need to understand you can get stuck in places you couldn't have got to in 2 wheel drive so you need
to stop before you get into trouble you can't back out of.
The driller needs to understand this. If he's backreaming he will be less likely to get into trouble, but if
he gets into trouble it will be serious. He needs to know what to look for so he can back off before he gets
into trouble. Our guys have a great feel for this.
Argument against: Prevention is better than the cure.

This doesn't hold water - backreaming does not prevent you from circulating before starting the trip. If
you think circulating is a
good preventative measure,do it, backreaming is just another precaution against a dirty hole 
 
Argument against: Filter cake is a primary combatant for a stable wellbore. Why backream and
destroy it ? 
This is a new one on me. I've never heard anyone espouse filter cake for wellbore stability before. There
is a valid argument that filter cake prevent losses, but I think thats a stretch in most ERD applications
because we are pretty careful about fluid loss properties in ERD wells - the cake that is destroyed would
be rebuilt almost instantaneously. I would also argue that dragging the BHA - with the increased drag
that is present when pipe is not rotating - is also going to be hard on filter cake. 
 
Argument against: The drillstring can be placed in 100% more combined stress when
backreaming. 
This is a trade off - if you backream the tension is lower, but you torsional stresses. I don't buy a 100%
increase in stress unless torque is really high and if torque is that high you've got other problems. 

 From: gerard cuvillier

<cuvillier@montrouge.oilfield.slb.com > Backreaming technique appeared with the use
of top drives, which allow doing so, 
as opposed to drilling with kelly/rotary table. It really offered new 
horizons, especially in key seat situations, hole collapse, when you try to 
pull out of hole. 
However, like always, it has lead to exageration and it is now often a 
misused technique, primarily due to a lack of basic understanding of 
mechanics. By exageration, I mean that backreaming is used even if it is 
not necessary, and it then only contribute to excessive fatigue of drillpipes (high torque associated
with tension in the top section), which 
considerably reduces the usable life of drillpipes. People often ignore the 
limitations tension coupled with torque, and even if they do not ignore 
them, they look at the problem at surface (top drillpipe) although there 
may be a shallow severe dogleg which may be limiting further this practice. 
Now back to 'when is backreaming necessary ?'. What we read on the Martin 
Decker (A+B+C) when we pull out of hole contains 3 contributors : A : free in mud hanging weight
of drill string plus the block. B : natural drag generated by the geometry of the hole C : actual
overpull 
The problem is that drillers do not differentiate B and C, and do not know 
how much B is : they consider B+C as being the overpull. The objective of back reaming is to
reduce C so that you can pull out of 
hole without breaking your drill string (or at least limit tension to 
acceptable levels). But back reaming will never reduce B, which will always 
11 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
exists and that we have to live with (only a better - or say a more appropriate well geometry can
reduce it). 
What I would recommend : with a drag model (commonly available on computers), we can figure
out at every depth of a trip out of hole what A+B 
should be, and set a maximum C over which backreaming would be required. 
Come back to me if I have been unclear. 
 From: Iain Donald <idonald@sugar-land.spc.slb.com > I hope you will
consolidate the replies and send them back to technewsbb. We expect to include one from a
Perform engineer, one from one of the team on Wytch Farm and one from Anadrill in Tierra del
Fuego. I know there are some strong opinions on this subject. 
 From: "Riley, Graham J (Anadrill)" <RileyGJ@bp.com > 

We have a policy of not backreaming here at Wytch Farm, as for the other 
areas the detailed engineering behind it is not well documented : 
· It can mask some important information that the hole is trying to tell you 
(poor hole cleaning or instability). 
· We can not do it at greater stepout because the torque is too high when we 
put the pipe in tension and it puts a lot of stress on the pipe. 
· Some of the formations we have here do not react well if we spend time 
circulating in them so continually reaming through them can cause them to 
deteriorate and make things worse. 
 
We do it on occasions but always ensure we can trip freely through a section 
without rotation before we leave it. 
 From: Steve Montgomery <montgomery@

cairo.oilfield.slb.com> 
The "BR" experience we discussed generated 3M3 of OBM hole enlargement
"cuttings" and we "found" 8 tight spots going in; probably some were
caused by creating mini-bridges when circulating(@ drilling rates). Seems to be a lazy default
here. Also, time consuming. 
Before NAfrica, I had never seen this practice. #1 trip @ speed with respect for surge
/ swab calcs; watch weight indicator; accept some o-pull. 
#2 circulate when past o-pull limit. #3 back ream( treat as NPT; solve) 
 From: Tony Collins <TonyCollins@slb.com > One argument AGAINST

that I have seen forgotten. If there is a stabilizer high in the string, it will generate some
torsional shocks as it backreams. 
As these shock waves propagate along the string, they are POSITIVE (tightening) torques going
up hole, but NEGATIVE going downhole. It is quite possible to shake connections loose.
 This phenomenon is why the top of a kelly has a left-hand thread! 
 From: tedwards@brunei.sedco-forex.slb.com (Anthony Edwards) I am a

strong advocate of only backreaming or wiping a hole only when required. I have two reasons.
First, the operations take additional time to perform when the pipe coud be tripping or the bit on
bottom drilling. Second, backreaming as a matter of course can potentially mask the onset
of a hole problem. In my experience minimising the amount of backreaming in a
horizontal well is even more important than in a vertical well. 
 
As a rule I advise a drilling supervisor to backream or wipe a hole only if the hole dictates that
the action is necessary. 
 From: loustale@aberdeen.anadrill.slb.com (Georges Loustale) Back

reaming is not recommended in high angle wells or ERD wells. 
Back reaming or pumping in High angle well while tripping the drill string is the operation
which carries out the highest risk of a " Stuck Pipe Incident " 
occuring and should it occur, that incident will have " Inadequate Hole Cleaning
" as it's Root Cause. 
What generally happens when Back Reaming out of the hole: 
12 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
·
·
The hole is circulated. 
Back reaming out of the hole starts, extra care is taken for the first 10 stands, no overpulls occur,
the Driller take confidence and increase progressively the Tripping speed. 
· 30 or 50 stands later, this is unpredictable, the Stand Pipe pressure increases suddently and no
movement is possible:the String is now " Packed Off ", definately stuck in
cuttings beds. 
· It will be very difficult to get free from that situation. 
What we should do: 
- Circulate hole clean before starting a trip out of the hole. 
·
·
Start tripping in the elevator, limit the Overpulls to 30 Klbs. 
If Overpulls occur (more than 30 K) run back down one stand, circulate at least one bottom's
up. 
· If Overpulls are encountered at same point or close, Backream slowly for 2 or 3 stands then
circulate or continue tripping in the elevator. 
 
Conclusion: 
- Backream out the hole is a waste of rig time and energy, there is no time to react, no
warning signs. 
· By tripping in the elevator and limiting the overpulls, we have a good idea of the hole conditions,
we have the time and the possibility to analyse any problem. 
·
·
Backreaming will destroy the filter cake and create hole stability problems. 
There is less risks to Backream in low angles wells, above 80 degrees and in
small hole sizes (below 8 1/2"). 
</blockquote> 
Ali M. BAKICI 
Drilling Advisor 
OFS Malaysia/Brunei/Phillippines 
 
7th Floor Rohas Perkasa 
8, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur 
Malaysia 
Tel : 60 (3) 2694257 / 266 77 88 
<a href="mailto:bakicia@gatwick.oilfield.slb.com "
eudora="autourl">mailto:bakicia@gatwick.oilfield.slb.com </a> 
 
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http://www.houston.cwomnes.net/bb/anad/ads/ox97g_ads_142_when_to_not_to_backream.html
13 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM
Ali M. Bakici
14 of 14 8/2/99 9:22 PM

When Tonot To Backream

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ADS-142 - When to/not to Backream 16-Jul-1999 12:38:19 file:///D|/Documents/Drilling/Info/ox97g_ads_142_when_to_not_to_backream.

ADS-142 - When to/not to Backream

From: charles Ingold

From: Paul Reid

From: spaxton@youngsville.anadrill.slb.com (Scott Paxton)

From: Daan Veeningen

From: Peter Ireland

From: Andrew Foster

From: Gary Pidcock

"Directional drilling performance improvement" It has some good references to backreaming

From: Robert Fontenot

From: Stephen Edwards

From: barber@singapore.sedco-forex.slb.com (Scott Barber)

From: Jacques Bourque

From: David Hill

Argument against: Prevention is better than the cure.

From: Iain Donald

From: "Riley, Graham J (Anadrill)"

From: Steve Montgomery

circulating(@ drilling rates). Seems to be a lazy default here.

From: Tony Collins

From: tedwards@brunei.sedco-forex.slb.com (Anthony Edwards)

From: loustale@aberdeen.anadrill.slb.com (Georges Loustale)

What generally happens when Back Reaming out of the hole:

sizes (below 8 1/2").

7th Floor Rohas Perkasa

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From: charles Ingold <ingold@caracas.anadrill.slb.com>

I like to back ream out prior to running casing if I can prevent a

"Directional drilling performance improvement" It has some good references to

Backreaming increases the probability of getting them out of the hole.

Argument against: Prevention is better than the cure.

<br> <b>From: gerard cuvillier

<br> <b>From: &quot;Riley, Graham J (Anadrill)&quot; &lt;RileyGJ@bp.com &gt;<br>

<br> <b>From: Steve Montgomery &lt;montgomery@

<br> <b>From: Tony Collins &lt;TonyCollins@slb.com &gt;<br> </b>One argument AGAINST

<br> <b>From: tedwards@brunei.sedco-forex.slb.com (Anthony Edwards)<br> </b>I am a

<br> <b>From: loustale@aberdeen.anadrill.slb.com (Georges Loustale)<br> </b><u>Back

<br> <div align="center">

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* Anadrill TecNewsBB Bulletin Board *

<br> <b>From: "Riley, Graham J (Anadrill)" <RileyGJ@bp.com ><br>

<br> <b>From: Steve Montgomery <montgomery@

<br> <b>From: Tony Collins <TonyCollins@slb.com ><br> </b>One argument AGAINST