Stuck Pipe

CASING
 OBJECTIVES

On completion of this module you will be able to:

Understand the main stuck pipe mechanisms causes

Explain the preventive actions to avoid sticking

Indentify the stuck pipe mechanism

Describe the first actions to free the pipe

 STICKING MECHANISMS

Cause
Solids Induced Packoff
Occurrence
Differential Sticking Rig Site Warnings

Wellbore Geometry Preventative Action

Freeing Guidelines
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFFs
Hole Cleaning
Unconsolidated Formations
Reactive Shales
Naturally & Induced Over-Pressured Shales
Fractured and Faulted Formations
Tectonically Stressed Formations
Overburden Stress
Junk in the Hole
Green Cement and LCM Treatment
Cement Blocks
 SOLIDS IN THE WELLBORE
Cuttings

PDC Roller Cone

Cavings

Blocky/Platy
Splintery Angular
COAL & BITUMEN
SOLIDS OUT OF THE WELLBORE
HOLE CLEANING
Cause:
Low annular velocity
Poor mud properties
Insufficient rotation
Occurrence:
All the time but critical between 30-60
degrees.
Rig Site Warnings:
Increase in Torque and Drag
Increase in Pump Pressure / ECD
Preventative Action:
Maximize Annular velocity
Maximize Pipe Rotation
Pumping adequate pills
Ensure circulation times are adequate
Optimize mud properties (YP, LSRYP)
FLOW RATES AND RPM PER K&M
HOLE MAX GPM MIN GPM BEST RPM MIN
SIZE RPM

17½” 900 – 1200 800 gpm, with ROP at 20 120 – 180 120
m/hr (65’ / hr)

12¼” 800 – 1100 650-700 gpm, with ROP at 150 – 180 120
10-15m/hr (30-50’/ hr)
800 gpm, with ROP at 20-30
m/hr (65-100’ / hr)
9⅞” 700 – 900 500 gpm, with ROP at 10-20 120 – 150 100
m/hr (33-65’ / hr)

8½” 450 – 600 350-400 gpm, with ROP at 70 – 100 60

10-20 m/hr (33-65’ / hr)

These are Ideal Parameters and may not be achievable in every condition
CONCEPT OF DRILLING IN THE BOX

Torque and Drag

Mud Type
Hole Diameter

Hole Angle

• VERY IMPORTANT ! Define the box size and what it will allow us to do………
• Apply a systems approach. Parameters cannot be singled out and optimized
separately
• Box dimensions determined by various factors (Rig equipment, Solid control
equipment, well design, BHA, design, drilling practices and most importantly
personnel competency.
UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATIONS
Cause:
The formation can not be supported by the hydrostatic
overbalance as the fluid simply flows into the formation
Occurrence:
While drilling shallower unconsolidated formations

Rig Site Warnings:

Increase in Torque and Drag
Increase in Pump Pressure / ECD
Fill on bottom
Shaker blinding

Preventative Actions:
Control-drill the suspected zone to allow time for the
filter cake to build up.
Avoid unnecessary reaming and backreaming
Use sweeps to help keep the hole clean
Slowdown trip speed across those formations
REACTIVE FORMATIONS
Cause:
Water sensitive shale /clays drilled with less
inhibition than required
Occurrence:
Poor shale inhibition (Occurs more often w/WBM
and less often with OBM)
The reaction is time dependent, from hours to
days depending on mud and formation
interaction

Rig Site Warnings:

Increase in LGS, filter cake thickness, PV, YP, MBT
Increase in T&D / Pump Pressure / ECD
Shale Shakers blind off

Preventative Actions:
Use inhibitive mud system
Perform wiper trips regularly
Monitor MBT
 REACTIVE FORMATIONS

Barbados Shale Dry Sample Barbados Shale in 10.8 ppg CaCl2 (24 hrs)

Fortune Bay Dry Sample Fortune Bay 24 hrs in Fresh water

NATURALLY OVER-PRESSURED
SHALES
Cause:
commonly caused by geological phenomena ( under-
compaction, naturally removed overburden and
uplift).
Occurrence:
Using insufficient MW
Removal of ECD

Rig Site Warnings:

Cavings (splintery) at shakers
Increase in T&D / Pump Pressure / ECD / Gas level
An increase in ROP

Preventative Actions:
Use sufficient mud weight
Minimize hole exposure
After exposing shale, do not reduce MW
INDUCED OVER-PRESSURED
SHALES
Cause:
Shale pore pressure becomes charged by
hydrostatic overbalance
Occurrence:
After a reduction in MW or a long exposure time
with constant MW
High ECD (small hole size) / While surging
In casing “rat hole”

Rig Site Warnings:

Cavings at shakers
Increase in T&D / Pump Pressure / Hole fill
Ballooning effect
Preventative Actions:
Control ECD properly to minimize ballooning and
inducing over pressure to sensitive formations
Do not reduce MW
FRACTURED/FAULTED FORMATIONS
Cause:
Rock near faults can be broken into small or large
pieces, and if lose can fall into the hole and
jam the drill string
Occurrence:
In tectonically active zones
Fractured limestone

Rig Site Warnings:

Possible losses or gains (or ballooning)
Fault damaged cavings at shakers
Hole fill on connections
Sticking can be instantaneous

Preventative Actions:
Limit the rotary speed and tripping speeds
Monitor ECDs
TECTONICALLY STRESSED
FORMATIONS

E. Folding and faulting

associated with Salt
dome diapirism
TECTONICALLY STRESSED
FORMATIONS
Cause:
Due to the movement of earth’s crust, natural lateral
stresses are present
Occurrence:
In mountainous locations / tectonic active zones

Rig Site Warnings:

Cavings at shakers
Increase in T&D / Pump Pressure

Preventative Actions:
Maintain mud weight and ECD within planned mud
weight window
If possible drill these formations in smaller hole sizes
Plan to case off these formations as quickly as
possible
OVER BURDEN STRESS
Cause:
The overburden or vertical stress, sV , is usually a
principal stress. MW is insufficient to support the
overburden and is not adjusted as hole angle
increases.
Occurrence:
In deviated wells mainly

Rig Site Warnings:

Increase in Torque and Drag
Increase in Pump Pressure / ECD
Fill on bottom
Preventative Actions:
Maintain mud weight and ECD within planned mud
weight window
JUNK IN THE HOLE
Cause:
Down hole equipment failure
Poor housekeeping on the rig floor
Hole cover not being installed
Inattention
Occurrence:
Any time!!

Rig Site Warnings:

Sudden erratic torque
Inability to drill ahead
Circulation not restricted

Preventative Actions:
Inspect all handling tools regularly, especially rig
tongs and slips.
Practice good housekeeping
Install drill pipe wiper
JUNK IN THE HOLE
GREEN CEMENT OR LCM TREATMENT
Cause:
Circulation attempted with the bottom of the drill string
in soft cement which dehydrates the cement due to
differential pressure
Cleaning LCM treatment with insufficient flow rate and
high penetration rates.
Occurrence:
When using LCM or cement (Dress cement plug)

Rig Site Warnings:

Increase in pump pressure leading to inability to circulate
Loss of string weight
Green cement in mud returns, discoloration of mud

Preventative Actions:
Give cement enough time to set and estimate the TOC
Start circulation several joints above the TOC and run
down slowly. Do not rely on WOB to show TOC.
Drill out cement with low WOB and high flow rate
GREEN CEMENT OR LCM TREATMENT
CEMENT BLOCKS
Cause:
Hard cement chunks fall into the well bore and jam the
drill string
Occurrence:
Around the casing shoe
Open hole squeeze plugs
Kick-off plugs

Rig Site Warnings:

Large Cement fragments at the shakers
Rotation and downward movement may be possible.
Erratic torque

Preventative Actions:
Limit casing rat hole length to minimize a source of
cement blocks.
Slow the trip speed down before the BHA enters the
casing shoe or the plug depth.
DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
 DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
Filter cake

Overbalance
pressure Mud

Drill pipe
Porous
and
Sticking Force = ∆P x A x C Permeable
Porous
andzone
∆P = Overbalance (kg/cm2) Permeable
zone
Ph= Hydrostatic Pressure
Pf= Formation Pressure
A = Contact Area (m2)
C = Friction Factor
FF WBM = 0.2 - 0.4
FF OBM = 0.15 - 0.25
DIFFERENTIAL STICKING FORCE
(example)
70 kg/cm2 Overbalance (997.5 psi)
1) Contact Area (A) = Wall contact x Length of Permeable Formation
= 5 in x 0.0254m/in x 10 m =1.27 m2 (1968.5in2)
2) Sticking Force = 70 kg/cm2x 1.27m2x(100 cm/m)2 x 0.15
= 133 Tons=294,500 lbf approx.
 DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
Cause:
High overbalance applies a differential sticking force to the drill string contact area
Drill string contacts a permeable zone
When motion stops, static filter cake develops

Occurrence:
With a stationary or very slow moving drill string
When contact exists between the drill string and the well bore
When an overbalance is present across a permeable formation
In a thick filter cake or cuttings bed

Rig Site Warnings:

Increasing over pull on connections and after surveys
Full unrestricted circulation
High overbalance (losses, MW..)
DIFFERENTIAL STICKING (Mitigation)
Other Preventative Actions :

Well design
Optimize casing setting depths to minimize overbalance across
potential sticking zones
Design for adequate overbalance for hole stability and well control
Porous
and Mud
Permeable
zone
Use OBM where possible. Keep fluid loss to a minimum
Utilize bridging agents such as sized CaCO3 and asphalts/gilsonite
Maintain a low concentration of LGS. Keep gels low

Operations
KEEP THE STRING MOVING. Pre-plan to minimize
operational downtime that requires static drill string
(connections, surveys, minor repairs, etc.)
Consider rotating the drill string during drilling, tripping
and connections while BHA is opposite to high risk zones
(CAUTION)
DIFFERENTIAL STICKING (Mitigation)
Preventative Action :

Well bore contact

Minimize BHA length when possible
Maximize BHA stand off. Use spiral drill collars and HWDPs
Rig team awareness
Porous
and The rig team should be made aware of the depth of
Permeable permeable formations and the estimated overbalance in
zone those zones.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS FILTER CAKE ?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ONE ?
 WELLBORE GEOMETRY
Ledges & Doglegs
Under gauge hole
Mobile formation
Stiff Assembly
Key Seating
LEDGES AND DOGLEGS
Cause:
Ledges at interface hard/soft formations
Too high doglegs
Occurrence:
Hard/soft interbedded layers
Faulted/fractured formations
Frequent angle/direction changes

Rig Site Warnings:

Sudden erratic over pull or set down
Problems are at reoccurring fixed depths

Preventative Actions:
Minimize excessive directional changes in the well
bore.
Slow trip speeds before BHA enters the suspected
ledge zone or dogleg.
Avoid prolonged circulation across soft inter bedded
formations
UNDERGAUGE HOLE
Cause:
Hard abrasive rock wears bit gauge and results in an
under gauge hole
Occurrence:
After running a new bit
Running a PDC after a tricone
Drilling abrasive formations
After coring
Rig Site Warnings:
Pulled bit or stabilizers are under gauge
Occurs only when RIH
Sudden set down weight
Circulation not restricted
Preventative Actions:
Slow the trip speed
Gauge all BHA components when RIH and POOH
Ream suspected under gauge sections
 MOBILE FORMATIONS
Cause:
Overburden weight squeezes formation out because
OVERPULL!! the mud weight is not sufficient
Occurrence:
Salt or plastic shale formation

Rig Site Warnings:

Over pull when moving up, takes weight when
running in
Sticking occurs with BHA at mobile formation depth

Preventative Actions:
Maintain sufficient mud weight.
With mobile salts consider using a slightly under-
saturated mud system to allow a controlled
washout
Minimize the open hole exposure time of these
formations
STIFF ASSEMBLIES
Cause:
Stiffer BHA is run into a previously drilled hole and
can not negotiate hole angle and directional
changes
Occurrence:
Where doglegs are present
With a different BHA and stabilizer design
Most likely while tripping in hole

Rig Site Warnings:

Erratic over pull / set down and torque

Preventative Actions:
Consider running same or similar BHA configurations
Slow the trip speed down before the new BHA
enters a problematic zone
Consider reaming tight spots with sufficient flow
rate and rotation
KEY SEATING
Cause:
By the drill pipe rotating against the wellbore wall at
the same point and wearing a groove or “keyseat”
Occurrence:
At abrupt changes in angle or direction
After long drilling hours with no wiper trips in dogleg
section

Rig Site Warnings:

Cyclic over pull at tool joint intervals on trips
Sudden over-pull when BHA reaches DL depth
Free string movement below key seat depth possible
if not already stuck in key seat

Preventative Actions:
Minimize dogleg severity
Perform reaming and/or wiper trips if a dogleg is
present
Consider running reamers or a key seat wiper if a key
seat is likely to be a problem
RECOGNIZING SP MECHANISM

Group Exercise
RECOGNIZING SP MECHANISMS
Mechanism Pack-off Differential Geometry
Pipe motion Prior to Sticking?
Moving up 2 0 2
Instructions:
Rotating up 0 0 2
Answer the questions by
Moving Down 1 0 2
circling all the numbers in
Rotating Down 0 0 2
the row with the correct
Static 2 2 0
answer
Pipe motion After Sticking? Add the columns
Down Free 0 0 2 The one with the highest
Down Restricted 1 0 2 total is the sticking
Down impossible 0 0 0 mechanism
Rotate Free 0 0 2
Rotate Restricted 2 0 2
Rotate Impossible 0 0 0
Circulating Pressures After Sticking?
Circulate Free 0 2 2
Circulate Restricted 2 0 0
Circulate Impossible 2 0 0
TOTALS
RECOGNIZING SP MECHANISM
 Stuck Pipe Freeing Techniques
(Ref Sec 4.2 of Stuck Pipe Manual)

• Solids Induced Pack-

Pack-Off

• Differential Sticking

• Mechanical and Wellbore Geometry

 PACK OFF GENERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS
Back
Initial Action:
Pressure
• TO ESTABLISH CIRCULATION:
• Apply low pumping pressure (200 – 400
psi); do not exceed the fracture pressure
of any point of the well.
• Try to regain full circulation, if it is not
possible then leave back pressure in the drill
string to monitor for annulus bleed off.
• Take weight of string to neutral weight, mark
pipe. Torque up to maximum torque, work
torque down to stuck point and then release.
Repeat torque and release until circulation
is regained or pipe is free.
 PACK OFF GENERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS
Secondary Action: Back
• Torque up to maximum torque, work torque Pressure
down to stuck point (by working the string)
• Start jarring down/up and increase gradually to
maximum force.
CRITICAL POINTS:
• Did it get stuck while going UPWARDS or
with static drill string?
• Never jar UP
• Did it get stuck while going DOWNWARDS?
• Never jar DOWN
Jar!
• What is the neutral weight of the string?
• Consider hole drag and friction
 DIFFERENTIAL STICKING (Freeing)
Freeing:
Initial Action:
1. Establish that Differential Sticking is the mechanism
2. Initially circulate at the maximum allowable flow rate.
This may erode the filter cake. In slim hole conditions
this might not be possible due to ECD constraints. It Porous
may not be effective in directional wells. and
3. Slack off the string weight while holding 50% of make- Permeable
zone
up torque of surface pipe
4. Use an action similar to what would be used with a
bumper sub
5. Pick up to just above the up weight and perform step
4 again.
6. Repeat 4. & 5. Increasing to 100% make-up torque Filter cake
Allow sufficient time for hydraulic jars to trip Overbalance
7. If the string does not come free hold torque in the pressure Mud
string and continue jarring with the maximum trip
load while preparing the pipe releasing pill Drill pipe
DIFFERENTIAL STICKING - FREEING
Secondary action:
• If the string does not come free after Filter cake
5 to 10 jars blows, continue jarring
while preparing a pipe releasing pills Overbalance
pressure Mud
• Pump and soak releasing pill as per
mud company recommendations.
(Heavier or lighter pill across the
stuck zone) Drill pipe

• Consider reducing the MW to safe

limit (Consider Well Control and Hole
stability). Reducing This may take
long time)
When the string is free:
• Rotate and work the string
• Circulate at maximum rate to clean
the hole
• Check mud properties
• Minimize time for connections and
surveys and time required to have
pipe stationary
 Freeing Differentially Stuck Pipe
Differentially Work/ Yes
Work Free ?
Stuck Jar Pipe
No

Select alternate Is U Tubing

Spotting method Possible?
No
fluid at rig?
Yes
Yes
Is over balance Prepare U Tube
Yes No
Mix Spot & Spacer needed for
Well control/
stability U Tube

Pump Spot & Spacer

No
U Tube second Time Pipe Free??
Yes
Pipe Free??
Yes
No

Cut pipe/Fish/ No Yes

Pipe Free?? Cond Mud
Sidetrack/P&A & Drill Ahead
 MECHANICAL AND WELLBORE
GEOMETRY

Initial Action:

If MOVING UP, apply torque and start
JARRING DOWN with minimum force (if
Hydraulic jar), increase jarring down force
gradually as time progresses

If MOVING DOWN, apply torque with
caution and start JARRING UP with
minimum force (if Hydraulic jar), increase
jarring up force gradually as time
progresses

Continue jarring until pipe comes free
(may require several hours)
 MECHANICAL AND WELLBORE
GEOMETRY

Secondary actions

If stuck in limestone or chalk – spot acid

Is stuck in salt – spot fresh water

When Pipe is free

Circulate at maximum rate, rotate and
work the string

Ream/backream the hole section

Circulate the hole clean
 FIRST ACTIONS
Stuck Pipe Secondary means of
Mechanism Primary means of Freeing freeing
Work pipe up or down increasing
Hole cleaning flow Packed-off hole procedure
Slack off string rotate Maximum
Differential Sticking force Spotting fluid or U-Tube
Work string, gradually increase
Reactive Formation force Packed off hole procedure
Work pipe in opposite direction of Formation specific if
Wellbore geometry trip possible
Unconsolidated Work string up & down gradually Downward movement full
Formation Increase force circulation
Work string up with maximum Formation specific if
Under gauge hole force possible
Work string up and down, Run in hole till over gauge
Junk increasing force to lose junk
Fractured / Faulted Pump acid pill if in
Formation Work string with maximum force limestone
 FIRST ACTIONS
Stuck Pipe Secondary means of
Mechanism Primary means of Freeing freeing

Plastic clay Work string up & down

Green cement Jar up with maximum force Pump acid pill

Cement blocks Work pipe up and down Pump acid pill

Geopressured Work string, gradually Packed off hole
Formation increase force procedure
Work string down gradually Specialist job - call the
Collapsed Casing increase force office
Work opposite direction to
Salt trip Pump fresh water pill
Formation specific if
Key Seating Work string down and rotate possible
 Stuck Pipe Prevention Practices

Know good practices when:

During Handovers

During Drilling

During Circulation

During Tripping

During Survey

Emergency Procedures

During Backremaing
 Handover Notes

Handover note must be done between WSS.

All rig crew must be aware of the present operation, what happened during
the shift and what will happen next

Performing 5 min meeting with all the team prior to the shift, helps to
improve communication and avoiding problems.

Handover notes must be done by the drillers and between the rig crews,
and should include at least the following information:

Current Depth (MD & TVD), Well Surveys

Mechanical Sketch

Current Operation

Planned operations (Remark possible risks)

Operation during the tour (include if there were a change in conditions
- increase/decrease torque, drag, pump pressure, well control, loss
circulation, stuck pipe), formation drilled, problematic zones, gas
shows, cutting descriptions etc.

Mud properties

Reduced pump pressure (Depth, MW, flow rate)

Pipe tally – joints in/joints out, BHA description. (length, OD, ID,
weight, grade, fish neck, serial number)
 Drilling Practices

Maximize the movement of the BHA or Drill string when it is in the open
hole.

Use optimum pipe rotation/wipe the hole with pumps on prior to making
connections.

Record tight spots (depth and weights) experienced during the trips in
and out of the hole.

Pay extra attention while drilling known trouble formations.

Avoid at all cost pipe stationary and/or without circulation while in open
hole.

Avoid backreaming out of the hole, unless is absolutely necessary.
Backreaming could be troublesome if not done properly.

Monitor Shale Shakers (cutting, cavings, shape, size, amount according
to ROP, cuttings concentration)

Use trend analysis for all the parameters measured on the rig

Ensure mud is in condition to do what it designed to do.

Minimize sliding section.
 Hole Cleaning Practices
While drilling:

Monitor the shakers for formation cuttings returns

While drilling. HIGH ROP = HIGH VOLUME OF CUTTINGS. If this is not
happening, then STOP!!. Circulate the hole clean before continue drilling.

If cuttings are not coming to surface as corresponding to ROP, they are
accumulating in the well and will most likely cause problems

Don’t drill faster than you can effectively clean the well.

Prior to tripping out of hole:

Circulate the hole and rotate the string until the shakers are clean, prior to
tripping out of the hole.

Circulate a minimum of 1.5 bottoms up for vertical wells, and 2 to 3
bottoms up for deviated wells.

Use adequate sweeps, rotate/reciprocate the pipe one full stand during
circulation of the hole prior to pulling out.

Pick up, slack off and rotating hook loads should be monitored during
drilling and before and after circulating bottoms up compared against the
theoretical values.
 Hole Cleaning Practices
Minimum recommended bottoms ups for various hole types
Hole Size Inclination Circulation

17 ½” to > 30 deg At least 3-4 btm-up circulations

12 ¼” at optimum parameters.

17 ½” to < 30 deg At least 2 btm-up circulations at

12 ¼” optimum parameters.

8 ½” to 6” > 30 deg At least 2 btm-up circulations at

optimum parameters.

8 ½” to 6” < 30 deg At least 1.5 btm-up circulations at

optimum parameters

Circulate as long as required until the shale shakers are clean

 Surveying Practices

Decide if the survey is absolutely necessary if there is high risk of sticking.

Ream the recently drilled hole section sufficiently to avoid any problems.

Circulate to clean cuttings around BHA upon drilling down the stand/kelly.

Ensure mud has good enough properties to suspend the cuttings above the
BHA. (very critical in directional wells)

Ensure MWD engineers are ready to take the survey.

Prior to placing the drill string stationary, ensure that you have enough room
off bottom if you need to work pipe downwards. (at least 1 joint )

Decide when is the best time to take surveys.

Discuss with MWD engineers and DDs, how the stationary time for the drill
string can be optimized.

Consider rotating and reciprocating the pipe after pumps are restarted (when
survey measurements is being sent to surface)
 Tripping Practices

Perform a pre-tripping meeting.

Circulate the hole and rotate the string until the shakers are clean, prior to tripping out of
the hole.

If cuttings are coming over the shakers, then the hole is still cleaning-up – Be patient!

Monitor pills until out of the hole and record amount of the cuttings coming out with each
pill.

Take the average hook load every stand and record it.

Plot and use the trend to indicate if the string is being pulled into an obstruction

The obstructions, cutting beds and tight spots, can be treated in the same way.

During tripping in/out, take the time to ream out tight spots.

Never force the string into or out of the hole. If there are tight spots, follow tight spot
recommendations.

When in directional hole, first assume it is NOT 100% clean.

While tripping limit the overpull weight to the weight of the BHA below the jars. WSS to
supervise the trip until a safe depth is reached while POOH or RIH.
 Tripping Practices

Swabbing a well not only means that a well control problem is
developing, but that a tight spot and a stuck pipe situation is developing
also. React to both problems.

As a precautionary measure, always wash and ream the last 3 to 5
stands of a trip to bottom.

Be extra careful while tripping BHAs with “locked” assemblies (string
and near bit stabilizers). If possible run similar BHAs to avoid BHA
rigidity problems.

Tight spots while tripping out may not be experienced while tripping in.
String flexibility changes.
 Tight Spots Procedure

Note the depth of the tight spot

Do not force string out of the hole with excessive over pull

Run opposite to the direction of the trip at least 2-3 stands

Rotate the pipe 30 – 40 RPM to break the gels around the pipe

Bring the pumps on at a low rate until the returns are seen

Increase pump rate to drilling rate and start rotation

Rotate as fast as hole cleaning recommendations

Circulate as much as it is necessary to clean the hole

Pull out of hole with caution, if the tight spot is still there, this may
be an indication of mechanical hole problem
Tight Spots Hole Cleaning
200

100 300

0
Tight Spots Wellbore Geometry
200

100 300

0
 Backreaming General

Do not backream as the first action unless it is absolutely necessary

Recommended when there is mechanical or wellbore geometry related
problems.

How fast do we need to backream out of the hole?????

If you start backreaming in higher angles, continue backreaming at least
until reaching <30 deg hole angles. At 30 deg, circulate hole clean prior to
continuing POOH.

Backreaming is hard on BHA and causes high vibration and shocks
(Backreaming can damage tricone bit).

Feature: Backreaming cutters

Advantage: Strategic placement of
cutters on the upside of each blade.
Allows backream in tight spots to
reduce potential of “bit snag” while
pulling out of the hole.
Benefit: This allows a degree of
backreaming sufficient to condition a
hole without major risk of gage pad
wear.
Backreaming Bit
 Emergency Practices
If an equipment on the rig breaks down and normal operations
are not possible

Maintain circulation for as long as possible. Avoid periods of pipe

stationary and/or without circulation for more than 5 – 10 minutes.

If circulation is not possible, rotate and reciprocate the pipe slowly up
and down 30ft. While reciprocating try to minimize rotation. If
reciprocating is not possible, pipe can be rotated with minimal RPMs.

If rotation or reciprocation are not possible, connect a circulating
bottle and circulate the hole until the problem is solved.

If pipe motion and circulation was not possible for sometime; once the
problem is fixed, establish circulation SLOWLY first, then rotate, and
finally move the pipe (up or down).

A secondary way to circulate should be available for emergencies.

Circulate hole clean prior resuming operation.
 FREE STUCK PIPE (GENERIC)

Move drill string in the opposite direction of the string movement prior to
sticking

Attempt to rotate, rotating can solve many problems. Rotate the string at
neutral point or while applying weight to the string

Jar opposite direction of the pipe movement prior to stuck pipe.

If differential sticking is suspected, work pipe with right hand torque and apply
weight.

Vertical Wells – More success down

In directional wells – Success down or up (depending on the hole
section).

If bit is at the bottom, work pipe with controlled torque, compression and
tension.

Ensure there is freeing agent for freeing stuck pipe mixed in the pill tanks and
ready to pump.

Work pipe knowing its limits. These limits and over pull values need to be
posted, clearly visible in the dog house and understood by all.
•Review:

IPM WCI STD 035

Backreaming procedure
Tight hole procedure