An Introduction

to Wellbore CleanUp
How to reduce non-productive time and
complete efficiently and cost-effectively
with modern WBCU technology

www.odfjellwellservices.com
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp

Contents
1. What Is Wellbore CleanUp?
2. Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
3. Seven common Wellbore CleanUp issues & solutions
4. Mechanical tools
5. Tool selection & placement - typical applications & solutions
6. Best practices
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
This guide will
concentrate on
the mechanical
options available,
with a brief
mention of the
chemical process.

1. What is Wellbore CleanUp?

Wellbore cleanup (also called wellbore cleaning, wellbore clean out or just WBCU) is a
combination of mechanical and chemical operations performed to remove any debris or
contaminates from the wellbore post drilling or milling.

Typically the well, wellhead, BOP stack and the marine riser is cleaned using various
tools and displacement chemicals to remove any debris, mud residue and thread
compounds. This guide will concentrate on the mechanical options available, with a
brief mention of the chemical process.

An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
2. Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
Operators around the world are
becoming increasingly aware
of the importance of a clean
wellbore and fluid system, before
installing the completion, to
ensure peak performance and
operation integrity of the well
over its lifetime in service.
With rig rates in
the hundreds
of thousands of
dollars, the time
saving of using
WBCU tools
can potentially
save millions
of dollars
Dependent on the well construction there can be number of
factors that may influence the running of the final completion.
Factors that could cause significant non-productive time (NPT),
impair hydrocarbon production and increase overall well costs.
To mitigate any potential issues while running completion
equipment, WBCU solutions (consisting of multiple operations)
can be utilised to deliver a clean well to the Completions team
once the well has been drilled, cased and cemented.
In order to thoroughly clean a well, any solid particles, mud
residue and impurities must be removed from the final
completion fluid. This can be accomplished through the use of
Mechanical Tools, Chemicals and Topside Filtration solutions.
With rig rates in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the
time saving of using WBCU tools can potentially save millions
of dollars during a drilling & completion campaign, if utilised
correctly. Investing time and money into a good WBCU operation
will pay dividends on the eventual cost of completing a well
efficiently, delivering production quicker and extending the life
of the well.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp

3. Seven common Wellbore CleanUp

issues & solutions
There are number of issues that impair the ability to run the completion
and/or impact on well production. In this chapter we will go through
seven of the more common issues:

Environmental concerns
Insufficient annular velocities
Liner lap integrity
Packer setting depths
BOP operational integrity
Mud residue & fluid mixing
Trip saving
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp

3. 1. Environmental concerns
The issue:
How can we ensure zero discharge of fluids and debris?

The solution:
Debris removal tools that capture debris in-situ and retrieve them to the surface for proper handling.

3. 2. Insufficient annular velocities

The issue:
Inability to remove debris from the wellbore effectively.

The solution:
Multi Function Circulation tools that allow communication to the annulus at different depths. These tools allow increased pump rates
and reduce torque, thereby improving circulation rate to aid debris removal and prevent chemical commingling.

3.3. Liner lap Integrity

The issue:
Leaks that impact on wellbore integrity.

The solution:
Inflow test packers packers (run in combination with the WBCU BHA) that can test the integrity of the liner connections, liner shoe
and the liner lap area under controlled conditions, without having to displace the well fully to the completion fluid.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp

3.4. Packer setting depths

The issue:
Not able to set completion / liner packers or hangers.

The solution:
Scrapers, brushes and deburring tools to remove any mud residue, scales and restrictions that can affect the safe running and setting
of packers and/or liner hangers.

3.5. BOP operational integrity

The issue:
Not able to function the BOP in an emergency situation.

The solution:
The use of jetting tools can remove any debris that may prevent safe operational use of the BOP.

3.6. Mud residue & fluid mixing

The issue:
Fluid gumbos forming that affects production and/or running in of the completion.

The solution:
Proper displacement design, pumping regime and mechanical tool activation.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp

3.7. Trip saving

The issue:
Reducing costs by combining operations into single trips.

The solution:
Using a combination of tools to that could perform one of the following scenarios:

1. Displace the well and carry out a liner integrity test

2. Displace the well and clean the BOP/Riser
3. Drilling new open hole section and preparing lower completion
casing setting areas
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
4. Mechanical tools
Drilling & Completion Engineers
can now call upon the Oil & Gas
Service industry to provide the
mechanical & chemical solutions
that will deliver a clean wellbore.
The use of casing cleaning tools, such
as scrapers, brushes and deburring
tools will remove any mud residue,
scale, cement and burrs from the inner
diameter of the well tubulars.
The use of casing debris recovery tools,
such as magnets, junk catchers and filter
tools can capture any ferrous or large
pieces of debris that cannot be easily
circulated out of the wellbore. The debris
is captured in situ, and then transported
to the surface for easy handling
and disposal.
The use of BOP/Riser debris recovery
tools, such as magnets, junk catchers
and circulation tools can be used to jet
the BOP areas and capture any debris
that may fall out. In the Riser (due to the
lower annular velocities) debris may not
be circulated out, so junk buckets
are run.
Additionally, in environmentally sensitive
areas where there is zero discharge of
any fluids dedicated riser cleaning tools
can be used to ensure the riser is cleaned
before recovery to surface.
The use of ball or weight set circulation
tools can be used to aid annular
velocities. These tools allow surface
pump rates to be increased without
exceeding standpipe pressures (SPP)
limits, bypass any pressure sensitive
equipment already in the wellbore, and
provide emergency response to any
unforeseen incidents in the well.
Other speciality tools can be used to carry
out inflow testing, prepare critical depths
and drift tubular IDs in same work string,
carrying out the main WBCU operation.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
5. Tool selection & placement -
typical applications & solutions
5.1. Displace the well and carry out liner integrity test
Scenario:
In this scenario the Operator wishes to
displace the well from drilling fluid to
completion brine and test the integrity
of their liner.
Recommended Tooling:
As minimum it is recommend to run a
heavy-duty scraper into the liner section
along with a magnet. In the casing
section it is recommended to run a liner
landing sub, scraper, inflow test packer,
circulation tool and magnet.
Simplified Operation:
Pick up and run in hole.
When entering the liner top, slow the tripping speed and use the heavy-duty scraper
to remove any excess cement inside the polished bore receptacle (PBR) that could
prevent the liner landing sub from being seated correctly.
Function the circulating sub to condition the mud prior to carrying out the inflow
test, then close.
Carry out the inflow test as per the Clients requirements.
Displace the liner with the completion fluid by pumping the displacement train at the
correct pump rates.
When the last chemical pill is above the circulation tool, open the circulation ports to
displace the wellbore at the correct annular velocity to remove any debris and allow
the correct contact time of the chemical pill to remove any debris from the
tubular ID.
A trip is saved!!
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
5.2. Displace the well and clean the BOP/Riser
Scenario:
In this scenario the Operator wishes to
displace the well from drilling fluid to
completion brine and clean out the BOP/
Riser in one trip.
Recommended Tooling:
Riser Cleaning Tool, BOP Jetting Tool,
Debris Filter (part of the main cleanup).
Simplified Operation:
Pick the main WBCU tooling as required and run in hole.
Carry out the displacement of the wellbore to the completion brine as per
the program.
Pull out of the wellbore until the Debris Filter is spaced out one stand below the BOP
(Onshore/fixed platforms), or approximately 10 meters, when cleaning the BOP
on floaters.
Run back in with the Short Trip tools: Riser Cleaning Tool & BOP Jetting Tools.
Function test BOP rams and annular preventer when cleanup assembly is just above
the BOP. (DO NOT FUNCTION TEST THE SHEAR RAMS.)
Jet the BOP stack with three or more passes whilst rotating and circulating.
Any debris dislodged will either circulate out or fall into the Debris Filter below.
A trip is saved!!
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
5.3. Drilling new open hole section and preparing lower
completion casing setting areas
Scenario:
In this scenario the Operator wishes
to drill, then prepare the liner hanger
setting depth in a single trip.
Recommended Tooling:
Main drilling bottom hole assembly
(BHA), expandable scraper tool,
magnet tool.
Simplified Operation:
Drill out the production section as per the drilling program.
Perform a wiper trip and circulate at least two bottoms up to remove any
drill cuttings.
Space out to place the expandable scraper at least 2 stands inside the last
casing shoe.
Function the expandable scraper and prepare the lower completion setting depths.
(ENSURE THE EXPANDABLE SCRAPER DOESNT ENTER THE OPEN HOLE.)
When the operation is complete pull of the hole.
Run in with the lower completion.
A trip is saved!!
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
Using an
experienced
Service Company
can allow you
to plan your
Wellbore CleanUp
operation during
the initial well
design phase of

the project.

6. Best practices
In all applications, proper pre-job Using an experienced Service Company can allow you to plan your Wellbore CleanUp

planning should be carried out to
ensure that the well objectives
are met, proper tooling is
selected and that the operation
can be carried out efficiently.
operation during the initial well design phase of the project. This will allow any issues
to be identified before time, resources, capital is used and any drilling activity com-
mences.
Dependent on the application a torque and drag along with a hydraulics analysis
should be done to determine where tools should be placed, if they can run to depth
and operated as required.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp

Odfjell Well Services

Hammaren 19
P.O.Box 152
N0-4098 Tananger
Norway

Tlf: +47 51 64 84 00
Fax: +47 51 64 71 81
email@odfjellwellservices.com

www.odfjellwellservices.com