PETE 411

Well Drilling
Lesson 5
Hole Problems

Lesson 5 - Hole Problems

Lost Circulation
Stuck Pipe
Keyseat- Crooked Hole
Differential Sticking
Mechanical Sticking

Junk in Hole
Kicks and Blowouts
Crooked Hole
2

Homework
Read:
* Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch. 1
* Definitions
HW #2 ADE 1.12, 1.13, 1.14
due Friday, Sept. 13. 2002
3

Hole Problems - Lost Circulation

Indication:
Flow out < Flow in

(e.g 400 < 500)

Drop in Mud Pit Volume

Blowout

Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Causes:

High Formation Permeability (e.g. fractures)

Low Formation Pore Pressure
Poor Drilling Fluid Characteristics
Induced Fracturing of Formation
From Rapid Pipe Movement
5

Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Results:
Costly Mud Makeup
Loss of Production
Fire
Loss of Permit to Drill
6

Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Preventive Measures:
Crew Education
Good Mud Program
Study Wells in Area
to be prepared
7

Hole Problems- Lost Circulation

Remedial Measures:
Use Lost Circulation Material
as Mud Additive (fibrous or granular)
Drill Through Troublesome
Interval and Case Off
Decrease Mud Weight
Decrease Circulation Rate
8

Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

(drill pipe, drill collars, casing)
Indication:
Cannot Pick Up Pipe

(Venezuela case)

Causes:
Cave - ins
Keyseat - Crooked Hole
9

Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Causes, contd:
Differential Pressure Sticking
Filter Cake
Deposited AFTER Circulation Stops
- While Still on Bottom

10

Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Results:
Fishing Operations
Back off, POH, RIG w/fishing string

Loss of Hole
or at least part of the hole

11

Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Preventive Measures:
Use Minimum Mud Weight Required
to Control Formation Pressures.
Use Special Drill Collars

(spiral)

Use Centralizers on Casing

Periodically Establish Circulation
while Running Casing or Drillpipe
in Deep Hole
12

Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Remedial Measures:
If Circulation Can Be Established:
Erode Mud Filter Cake - at High Fluid
Velocity (speed up pumps)
Spot Special Fluid; Oil, Acid
Reduce Mud Weight as Far as Possible
Rotate Pipe - Keep Moving Pipe
13

Hole Problems - Stuck Pipe

Remedial Measures:
If Circulation Cannot Be
Established:
Cut Pipe or Unscrew Joint
- and Fish

14

KEY
SEAT

15

P1 >> P2

P1
P2

16

F = N

Thick Filter Cake

N = P A
Thin Filter Cake

F = P A
How is filter cake formed?

Pipe Stuck in Wall Cake

17

Hole Problems - Junk in Hole

Indication:
Bit Parts Missing
Items from Surface Dropped
into Hole
Erratic Torque

18

Hole Problems - Junk in Hole

Cause:
Negligence of Crew
Result:
Fishing Operation

19

Hole Problems - Junk in Hole

Preventive Measure:
Crew Education
Remedial Measures:
Run Junk Basket
Run Basket with Collapsible Teeth
(Poor Boy Basket)
Run Magnet
20

Hole Problems - Blowout

(oil, gas or water)
Indication:
Returns to Surface after Circulation is
Stopped (KICK!)
Well Out of Control - Big Problem!
Lost Circulation . . .
21

Hole Problems - Blowout

(oil, gas or water)
[surface or underground]

Causes:
Loss of Hydrostatic Head
due to Lost Circulation
Poor drilling Fluid
Swabbing Effect while Pulling Drillpipe
Insufficient Mud Weight
22

Hole Problems - Blowout

Results:
Possible Loss of Life and Property
Legal and Financial Problems

23

Hole Problems - Blowout

Preventive Measures:
Crew Education
Be Alert
Blowout Control Equipment on RIG
including Pit Volume Indicators
24

Hole Problems - Blowout

Remedial Action:
If on Bottom:
Use proper Mud Weight
Add Lost Circulation Materials

In Extreme Case of Blowout:

May Have to Directionally
Drill a Relief Well
25

Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Indication:
Periodic Directional Surveys
Stuck Drill String
Casing Problems

26

Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Causes:
Too much Weight on Bit
Dipping Formation
Anisotropic Formation
Too Small Drill Collars
No Stabilizers
27

Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Results:
Uneven Spacing (on bottom)
Legal Problems
Production Problems
Cementing Problems

28

Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Preventive Action:
Avoid Buckling of Drill Pipe by
using sufficient number of drill
collars
Use Oversize Drill Collars
Use Reamers and Stabilizers
Start the Hole Vertically
29

Hole Problems - Crooked Hole

Remedial Action:
Plug Back and Sidetrack
Use Whipstock
Use Reamers in 3 Locations

30

Lost Circulation Example

This Example shows how to determine the mud weight
that can be supported by the formation and also the mud
weight that will control the subsurface pressure.

Well depth = 16,000 ft

Protective casing seat = 12,500 ft
Mud Weight = 17.0 lb/gal
Drillpipe size = 4.5 in.
Hole size, casing I.D. = 8.5 in.
Annulus volume = 0.05 bbl/ft
Water required to fill hole = 20 bbl
31

Before Water

After Water

Water - 20 bbls
400 ft

Mud - 17.0 lb/gal

12,500 ft

16,000 ft
BHP = ?

BHP = 13,963 psig

32

Example - Solution
Determine: The effective hydrostatic head
and mud weight in lb/gal.
Solution:

20 bbl
400 ft of water
0.05 bbl / ft
Water gradient = 0.052 * 8.33 = 0.433 psi/ft
Mud gradient = 0.052 * 17 = 0.884 psi/ft
33

Example 3.1
Pressure imposed at total depth:
400 ft of water x 0.433 psi/ft

= 173 psi

15,600 ft of mud x 0.884 psi/ft

= 13,790 psi

Total pressure at 16,000 ft

= 13,963 psi

13,963
Effective mud weight
16.78 lb/gal
(16,000)(0.052)
34

Example 3.1
Pressure imposed at the casing seat:
400 ft of water x 0.433 psi/ft
=
173 psi
12,100 ft of mud x 0.884 psi/ft = 10,696 psi
Total pressure at 12,500 ft
= 10,869 psi
10,869
Effective mud weight
16.72 lb/gal
(12,500)(0.052)
35

After Water

Before Water

Water - 20 bbls
400 ft

Mud - 17.0 lb/gal

10,869 psig

BHP = 13,963 psig

12,500 ft
EMW = 16.72 lb/gal

16,000 ft
EMW = 16.78 lb/gal

36

END
of
Lesson 5
Hole Problems
37