Directional Drilling

The contents of this presentation are for training purposes and internal use ONLY and are NOT to be
used for customer presentations or external use as it may contain sensitive information.

Drilling Fluids - Hole Cleaning

Sperry-Sun 2004
 Competency Session Objectives
• To explain the purpose of good hole cleaning
when drilling
• To explain how good hole cleaning is achieved

• To explain problems that occur as a result of

poor hole cleaning
Hole Cleaning
Hole cleaning is directly related to:
• the inclination of the hole – 50 – 60° inclination is the most problematic due
to cutting beds sliding down the well. Higher angles tend to hold the cutting
due to frictional forces.
• the amount of cuttings to be removed – higher ROP = increased volume
• the fluid velocity – flow rates - GPM
• the cuttings carrying capacity of the mud - Rheology
• eccentricity of pipe in the annulus – flow area

High ROP’s will produce large volumes of cuttings, which if not removed lead to
tight hole conditions and stuck pipe. Once cuttings beds are formed in deviated
and horizontal wells, they are difficult to remove and therefore it is preferable to
control the ROP to maintain the hole clean.
Experience has shown that 5% by volume cuttings is the maximum allowable
annular concentration to efficiently drill vertical and near vertical wells. Many
operators prefer 4%.
Cutting Transportation.
Low-side cuttings beds
Cuttings beds do not can form in holes over
tend to form in holes 30° inclination, which
with 0-30° inclination can then slide back
with good fluid shear down the well, causing it
and velocity. to pack off. Also ripples
or dunes can form and
“saltation” can take
place where cuttings
progress long the
wellbore but will cause
beds to form and build
up in the more vertical
part of the well. This can
However, with be reduced by pumping
insufficient fluid low viscosity pills in
velocity, cuttings will turbulent (high) flow.
not be removed from
the hole.
Rheology - Models
A paper by S.Okrajhi and J.J.Azar (SPE Aug 86) described cuttings
transportations with varying mud rheology, hole inclinations, flow rates and
pipe eccentricity. Three clear hole angle ranges were identified.
• 0-45° Effects of laminar flow dominated and increased
rheology (especially yield point) aided cuttings transport.
• 45-55° Effects of laminar and turbulent flow have similar
characteristics. Cuttings bed slide occurred in this range.
• 55-90° The effects of an increased
YP/PV lacked real effect. Turbulent
flow cleaned the hole best.

Increased mud rheology only had an

effect at low mud velocities. It had no
effect in turbulent flow at any hole angle.
 YP / PV Ratio

However, at low angles under laminar flow, a raised yield As the hole angle increases, cuttings transport in laminar
point improves cuttings transport (decreases annular flow can be improved by raising the YP/PV ratio.
particle concentration).

However, the effect of increasing YP/PV ratio decreases Calculated Flow Regimes for 13.3ppg mud in 8.1/2” Hole
as the flow rate increases.
Pipe Eccentricity
This dimensionless term refers to the position
of a pipe inside another pipe. In the oil field it
usually refers to the position of the drillpipe in
an annulus. When the drillpipe lies directly in
the middles of the annulus, the drillpipe’s
position is concentric and the eccentricity
factor is 0.
As the drillpipe moves to one side of the annulus, the drillpipe becomes
increasingly eccentric. If the sides of the drillpipe come into contact with the wall of
the annulus, the drillpipe is fully eccentric and the eccentricity factor is 1.0.
In high angle or horizontal wells, the drillpipe usually lies on the low side of the hole
and its eccentricity factor is 1 > Ɛ > 0. If the drillpipe lies on the upper side of the
hole, its eccentricity factor is negative 0 > Ɛ > -1.
Drillpipe eccentricity can effect pressure drops in the annulus by reducing the
frictional forces of the fluid flow.
A fully concentric drillpipe is an annulus has the highest pressure drops and overall
fluid velocities.
Circulating / Tripping

Hole size and inclination will

influence the minimum “off-bottom”
circulating time prior to tripping.
Guidelines above are based on slip
velocity considerations and field
experience. In practice, some of the
section back to the surface will not
be deviated at the same angle. The
overall minimum circulation time prior
to tripping should be apportioned in
direct relation to the relative lengths
of section at each angle.
 Recommended: Hydraulic / Drilling Hole Cleaning Practices
• Select mud properties which provide turbulent flow, if possible.
• Achieve turbulence by maintaining maximum mud YP close to 10 lb/100 ft 2.
• Ensure ECD does not cause formation breakdown when drilling horizontally
• Mud weight will help to assist cuttings removal and reduce sloughing / hole collapse - Hole
washouts should be controlled by minimizing exposure to problem formations.
• Control ROP (controversial topic) where possible.
• Select BHA components / MWD / Mud Motors that do not restrict flow rates for hole cleaning.
• Closely monitor pressure fluctuations to identify deteriorating hole conditions
• Monitor hole drag, cuttings returns at the shakers (sufficient volume for the ROP)
• Take action when hole fill on bottom occurs or pipe is tight on connections or trips.
• Pipe rotation improves hole cleaning – 60 rpm minimum
• Ensure rig has sufficient pump capacity with backup 3rd pump – booster pumps on semi-subs
/ deep risers.
• Maximize the allowable pressure drop for mud motor being used – nozzle rotor.
• Plan well trajectory to avoid long sections of large diameter sections above 50°, problematic
formations, minimize oriented sections and DLS / Tortuosity.
 Recommended: Hole Cleaning Practices - Tripping
• Always circulate the hole clean prior to tripping.
• Rotate the pipe at +60 rpm while circulating prior to tripping – off bottom.
• Use low vis / low wt pills for wells >30 to clean the hole and maintain well control
• Make short trips / wiper trips after long sections drilled with Mud Motors – especially in large
hole OD’s above 12.1/4”.
• Back ream out of the hole with the top drive, if agreeable. This is problematic since it can
cause whirl and vibration issues which could possibly lead to equipment damage and / or pipe
failure.
Classic Hole Problems in Vertical, large hole section with highly reactive shale.

24” Hole / 11.1/4” Mud Motor (3/4 – 3.6 stage – no bend) - 17.1/4” Slv and 17.1/2” Motor Top
Stab.
Drilled 1885’ – 3030’ in 71 hrs – 3mm bearing wear. No physical damage visible. Incorrect stabilization!

17.1/2 Hole / 11.1/4” Mud Motor (3/4 – 3.6 stage – no bend) - 17.1/4” Slv, 17.1/4” Motor Top Stab
and Stb at 87.5’.
Drilled 3030’ –3661’ Diff. Psi 200-450 with 5-10K TQ – normal drilling above shale.
At 3661’ – increase in TQ to 12K as the shale was penetrated.
Drilled 3661’ – 3666’ - erratic torque – 3-16K with the ROP dropping from 45’/hr to 17’/hr.
Backreamed stand for survey – tight hole 5 ft from bottom in shale. Clear above 3661’.
Pump repairs on the connection – circulating with only one pump 500gpm w/ slow RPM – low AV’s
Make up std and work last 6ft to bottom – inadequate hole cleaning with erratic torque and low differential pressure. Hi
Vis sweep to clean the hole.
Drill 3666’ – 3670’ – drastic ROP reduction – 40-60 ft/hr normal. Erratic TQ 10-12K.
Shale cavings in cuttings sample. Pump goes down and is repaired with one stand racked back.
Circulate 3 hrs to repair pump at 500 gpm – low AV’s – hole did clean up with time.
Drill 3670’ – 3671’ – torque appeared normal – good 300 psi Diff but still Low ROP.
Reactive Torque check looked good. POOH
Motor Twisted off between Stator Housing and Adj. housing Adaptor. Fatigue Failure.
Whirl analysis showed over loading and Slip Stick in 24” section – possible connection damage which fatigued and
failed in the high torque, poorly cleaned hole in the 17.1/2” section.