Stuck Pipe

Causes, Prevention &

Treatment

By
Professor Dr. Abdel Sattar Dahab
Cairo University
P U M P P R E S S U R
4
5
6 0
0
0 WE E I G H T 0
0
0

3 7 0 0 0 0
5 0 0
4 6 0 0 0 0
3
2
0 0
0 0
5 0 0
7 1 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 0
1 0 0

3 7 0 0 0 0
5 0 0
4 6 0 0 0 0
2 0 0
3 7 0 0 0 0
5 0 0

3 0
2 0
0
1 0 0 0
1 0 0

1 0 0

1 0 0
Tight Hole Conditions

1. Differential Pressure
2. Hole Pack-off/Bridging 40 50 60
30
500
70
3. Wellbore Geometry 40
0 0
20 Martin 60
80
Decker

300
10

700
0

200

0
10

80
10
0
20 0
30 50
40
Differential Pressure
The pore pressure in a permeable formation is much less
than the hydrostatic pressure of the mud column.

This pressure differential creates a force that holds the

bottom hole assembly (BHA) against the side of the
wellbore.

Drill
Collar
Sticking
Force
 Well-Bore Geometry

Sticking occurs, when changes in

the shape of the well bore cause the
movement of the string to be
impeded.
If the make up of the BHA is
changed, a similar effect can occur.
Sticking can occur when the
string is moving up or down.
Ledges, keyseats, doglegs,
squeezing salts, and breakouts
are means by which hole shape
can change.
Heavy Weight Drill String

• Provide a smooth size transition between Conventional Spiraled Heavy Tri-Spiraled

drill collars and drill pipe Heavy Weight Weight Heavy Weight
• Suited for directional drilling owing to its
flexibility and strength
• Reduces the concentrated stress at the
top of the collar section
• Allows for higher RPM drilling while
reducing torque and minimizing
differential sticking
• Used to apply bit weight in drill strings
which do not use any drill collars

The spiraled versions further reduce the chance

of differential sticking and improve circulation
around the BHA.

Courtesy of Grant Prideco

Drill Collars

 Heavy-walled, heavy-weight pipe

used as bottom hole assembly
components
 Prime function: apply weight to the
bit while drilling
 Types: non-spiraled and spiraled
 Available with hard facing to
minimize excessive wear when
drilling hard, abrasive formations
Spiral Drill Collars

Spiral drill collars may be used in wells where there is an appreciable

risk of differential sticking. Spiral collars present less contact area
with the wall of the hole as compared to non-spiralled collars.
Reamers

Roller reamers run between the bit and drill collars

 maintain the hole in-gauge when drilling hard
formations
 little area contact reduce chance of ticking
 selected based on the hardness and abrasiveness
of the formations to be drilled

Hard faced teeth for Hard facing for Tungsten carbide inserts
soft formations medium-hard formations for hard formations
 Key Conditions

1. Permeable Formation – allows for filtrate movement from the

wellbore to the formation
2. No Pipe Movement – static pipe against a permeable
formation provides the time required for filter cake to build
around the pipe and, the filter cake to thicken and dry, creating
a seal between the wellbore and the formation and allowing a
differential pressure to be created
3. String in Contact – the pipe must be in contact with the wall
of a permeable formation
4. Thick Wall Cake – a thick wall cake increases the contact
area – this can be minimized with efficient solids control
5. Overbalance MW – mud hydrostatic pressure excessively
greater than the formation pressure of a permeable zone
Sticking Force
The amount of force holding
the pipe against a 3” Wall Contact
permeable formation is
based on the degree of
Contact = 3 x 12 x 30
overbalance, the contact Area = 1080 sq in
area and the friction factor Overbalance = 2,200 psi

30 ft Sand Section
of the mud in the hole. P – Overbalance psi
A – Contact Area sq in
C – Mud friction factor
(0.2 - 0.3 water base
0.1 - 0.2 oil base)
Sticking Force = P x A x C
Sticking = 2200 x 1080 x .2
Force = 475,200 lbs
 Differential Sticking
The differential pressure is based on the difference
between mud hydrostatic pressure and the formation
pressure of the zone in question. Differential pressure
can be estimated by:

  MW  .052  Formation Gradient   Vertical Depth

The contact area is based on the area of the pipe in contact

with the formation in two dimensions: length and width. It
can be estimated:
ContactWidth  12 In / Ft  Contact Length Feet  Contact Area Sq In
 Differential with High Angle
Potential differential sticking increases when drilling high angle
well.
In a deviated well, there will be a sidewall force proportional to the
weight of the BHA and the deviation angle.

Sidewall Force =
Weight x COS Angle*

*90 degree hole angle

 Preventing Differential Sticking
 Minimize pipe static time
• Keep the pipe moving
• Brainstorm w/driller and crew for operations at hand
• Minimize BHA and maximize string movement
• Use under gage stabilizer at BHA top
• Prevent wall contact with stabilizers and drill collars
• Rotate the string on connection before tripping out of hole
• Placing the jar in HWDP can help

 Mud management is key

• Monitor cuttings returns, mud properties, and the
functioning of the solids control equipment
• Keep circulation going
• Plug permeable zones
• Limit penetration & allow sealing time
• Lower ROP to reduce cuttings
Hole Pack-Off/Bridge

 Hole Pack-off: the actual

mechanism works through:
1. a combination of contact
between the string and a build
up of material in the annuls
2. the effect of compaction
caused by the subsequent
restriction of flow.

 Bridge: Bridging often refers to

the hole being blocked by
material off bottom when the
string is out of the hole.
Causes of Settled Cuttings
Low Angle Holes < 35°

 Excessive ROP

 Insufficient Annular Velocity

 Poor Mud Parameters

High Angle Holes > 35° • YP, Gels

 Insufficient Circulating Time

 High Hole Angle

• 55 Most Difficult
Difficulty vs Angle
Relative Difficulty

I II III IV

0 30 Inclination 60 90
Easy 1

0
Hole Cleaning Guidelines

Angle Hole Size

Interval 26” 17 1/2”- 16” 12 1/4” 8 1/2”
0 - 35 60 110 155 240
ROP 35 - 55 40 85 125
75
Max (ft/hr)
55 + 60 75 100

Circulating 0 - 35 700 500 400 300

Rate 35 - 55 1250 950 650 450
Min (gpm) 55 + 1100 750 500

Circulating 0 - 35 2 1.7 1.4 1.4

Strokes Factor 35 - 55 2.5 2.5 1.8 1.6
(CSF) 55 + 3 2 1.7
Hole Cleaning vs. Flow rate (> 35º)

Hole cleaning rate

at 120 rpm rotation
Point of diminishing benefit
CUTTINGS FLOW

Minimum threshold flow rate Hole cleaning rate with no rotation

needed for hole cleaning

FLOW RATE

The illustration above points out the benefit of rotation in conjunction with
circulation when attempting to clean a deviated hole. Rotation should always be
used in conjunction with a sweep – especially in deviated holes.
 Hole Cleaning Guidelines (> 35º)

 Maintain sufficient MW for hole stability

 Circulate at maximum rate for hole size
 Limit ROP to the max. recommended value
 Back ream each stand drilled with motor
 Rotate at high RPM (120+)
 Continue back reaming if hole conditions dictate
 Consider wiper trip after long hole section drilled
w/motor
 Consider low viscosity/ high viscosity tandem sweeps
Troublesome Formations

Mobile Like toothpaste, can flow into the wellbore. This can cause
geometry related stuck pipe. Soft clays and squeezing salts.

Reactive Reacts with water and swells. Gumbo. Soft clay and shale.

Shale which contains geopressured fluids. Commonly appear as

Pressured splintery shale and sharp caving over shakers.

Sands which have been produced to the point that the pressure is
Depleted depleted. Overbalance hydrostatic can cause differential sticking

Sharp sands can wear bit and stabilizers down and cause the hole
Abrasive to become undergauged. Leads to tight hole conditions.

Limestone, dolomites, and other brittle formations may be naturally

Fractured fractured. Large blocks may fall into the hole.
 Unconsolidated Formations
Cause
►Poorly cemented sands or pea gravel falls into
the wellbore and packs off the drill string
►Usually occurs at shallow depths
►Little or no filter cake and insufficient
hydrostatic support

Warning Signs
►Seepage losses
►Increase in torque/drag
►Pump pressure fluctuations
►Hole fill
►Shaker and de-sander overload
►Large overpulls at connections
 Unconsolidated Formations
Preventive Actions
 Identify sand or porous formations
 Maintain a high gel mud in the slug tank
 Monitor pump pressure and drill cuttings
 Use high viscosity sweeps (often)
 Spot gel pill prior to POOH
 Control fluid loss if applicable
 Case off known problem zones
 Control ROP
 Keep flow rate to minimum
 Ensure low permeability filter cake
 Pick off bottom and circulate
 Fractured/Faulted Formations

Causes
►Naturally occurringfractures
►Pieces of formation fall into the
wellbore and jam the drill string
Warning Signs
►Prognosed limestone or fractured
shale and/or faults
►Mud logger sample interpretation
►Blocky caving at shaker
►Hole fill on connections and trips
►Erratic and high torque and drag
►Pump pressure fluctuations
 Fractured/Faulted Formations

Preventive Actions
 Check hole condition constantly
 Control drill
 Circulate hole clean before drilling ahead
 Minimize mud seepage loss
 Minimize surge/swab pressures
 Design BHA to minimize risk of ledge formation
 Trip slowly when BHA in suspected zone
 Minimize drill string vibration
 Ream fractured zones cautiously
 Junk in the Hole Dropp
ed Unscre
object wed
Cause s shoe
joints

► Debris that has fallen into the hole

and jams the drill string
► Poor housekeeping on the rig floor
► Hole cover not being installed
► Downhole equipment failure

Warning Signs:
► Missing hand tools/Equipment
► Metal shavings at shaker
► Sudden erratic torque
► Inability to make hole
 Junk in the Hole
Preventive Actions
 Keep the hole covered
 Practice good housekeeping to keep objects from
falling in the hole
 Inspect downhole equipment before it is run in/out
of the hole
 Inspect slip and tong dies regularly
 Install drill strip wiper rubber
 Causes:
Cement Blocks ►Hard cement becomes unstable
around the casing shoe, open hole
squeeze plugs and kick-off plugs
►Blocks of cement fall into the
wellbore from casing rat holes or
Blocks
break /
cement plugs …. jamming the drill
Pocket
rattle
loose plug
string
back
Warnings:
► Cement fragments
► Rotation and downward
movement may be possible
► Erratic torque
 Cement Blocks

Preventive Actions
 Minimize rat hole below casing shoe (1-2 meters)
 Ensure good cement mixing and displacement
 Trip carefully through rat hole and past cement
plugs
 Consider using fibers in cement to reduce chance of
blocks falling
 Causes:
Green Cement ►Drill string becomes planted in soft or
“green” cement. This soft cement is
often not easily detected when running in
and will “flash set” when pressure is
applied.
►Severely contaminated mud can stick
the pipe in a similar manner.
Flash Set Warnings:
►Increase in pump pressure leading to
inability to circulate
►Loss of string weight
►Sudden increase in torque
►Green cement in mud returns, discoloration
of mud
Green Cement
Preventive Actions
 Don’t try to drill out before cement is set
 Know where top of cement (TOC) is. If channeling
has occurred or too much excess pumped, TOC will
be higher.
 Start circulation above TOC
 Drill out cement with high circulation rate and low
weight on bit
 If in doubt, circulate bottoms-up and check shakers
before continuing
 Key Seat
Cause
Abrupt change in angle or direction
in medium soft formation Formation of a Key Seat

High string tension and pipe rotation Tool Joint OD

wears a slot into the formation Side Load

While POOH, the drill collars jam into

the slot or “key seat”
Warning Signs
High angle dogleg in upper hole
section
Cyclic overpull at tool joint intervals
when POOH
Key Seat
Preventive Actions
 Minimize dogleg severity to 3°/100’
 Limit overpulls through suspected zone
 Plan reamer/or wiper trip if dogleg present
 Run string reamer or key seat wiper if suspected
 Avoid using square-shouldered stabilizers
 Minimize casing rat holes
Micro Doglegs and Ledges
Causes
 Hard soft interbedded formations
OVERPULL!!
 Frequent corrections in hole angle
or direction
 BHA jams in the successive micro
doglegs or pulls into a ledge
STUCK!!

Warning Signs
 Prognosed hard/soft interbedded
DRAG formations
 Frequent angle/direction changes
 Drilling/sliding with downhole motor
 Erratic torque and drag on connections
 Sudden erratic overpull or set down
.
 Micro Doglegs and Ledges
Preventive Actions
Minimize BHA changes
Minimize direction/angle changes
Back-ream frequently when drilling hard/soft formations
Slow trip speed through suspected zones
Ledging reduced by running a packed hole assembly
Avoid prolonged circulation across soft interbedded
formations
Limit initial set-down weight to less than 50% of down
drag to minimize effects in a tight zone
Do not start angle building operations too close to shoes
(start at least 30m below old hole TD)
 Stiff Assembly

Cause
The stiff BHA can not negotiate
hole angle/direction changes
and becomes jammed.

Warning signs
Doglegs present
Pulled stabilizers out of
gauge
New BHA design is picked up
Sudden set-down weight
 Stiff Assembly

Preventive Actions
Minimize BHA changes, consider a reaming trip
Limit dogleg severity
Slow trip speed before BHA enters suspected
zone, plan to ream
Limit set-down weight
Undergauge Hole
Causes
Underguage bit and stabilizers
Abrasive formation
Soft Shale
Warning Signs
Tight hole on trip in
Low ROP due to weight not
getting to the bit
Directional control difficult
Abrasive
Sands

String Jams in Preventive Actions

irregular shaped
hole Trip in slowly
Ream to bottom
Run roller reamer above bit
 Mobile Formations - Salts
Causes
 Overburden squeezes plastic salt or shale
into the wellbore.
 BHA becomes jammed in the under-gauge
STUCK!!
hole.

Warning Signs
 Prognosed salt or plastic shale
 Sudden change in overpull or set-down weight
 Sudden torque increase with fast moving plastic formation
 Generally occurs when POOH
 Increase in mud chlorides
 Pump pressure increase
Mobile Formation Salts

Preventive Actions
Select the correct mud system
Maintain sufficient MW
Plan frequent wiper trips
Consider eccentric bits
Identify salt dome
Monitor mud chlorides and mud resistivity
Trip in slowly and ream
Freeing Techniques
Differential, Hole Pack-Off,
Wellbore Geometry
Determining Sticking Mechanism

 Movement at time of sticking – making a connection

 After sticking
– No downward movement
– No rotation
– Full circulation

Use the worksheet and establish the sticking

mechanism
Stuck Pipe ID Worksheet
Pipe Motion Prior Pack-Off/ Differential Wellbore E.G. When pulling out of the hole and rotating
To Sticking? Bridge Sticking Geometry up, on the fifth stand. 50K more than up drag
Moving Up 2 0 2 was pulled. Unable to go up, unable to go
Rotating Up 0 0 2 down,
Moving Down 1 0 2 unable to rotate, full circulation is established.
Rotating Down 0 0 2
Static 2 2 0 To Establish the Mechanism
Pipe Motion
After Sticking? Step 1
Down Free 0 0 2
Identify your answer to the first question then
Down Restricted 1 0 2 highlight the numbers on that line.
Down Impossible 0 0 0
Step 2
Pipe Rotation
After Sticking? Repeat the above for each of the remaining
Rotate Freely 0 0 2 questions.
Rotation Restricted 2 0 2 Step 3
Rotation Impossible 0 0 0 Add up the highlighted numbers in each
Circulating Pressure mechanism column and enter it opposite totals.
After Sticking?
Step 4
Circulate Freely 0 2 2
Circulation Restricted 2 0 0 The sticking mechanism is the one with the
highest score!!
Circulation Impossible 2 0 0
Totals
 Freeing Methods – Differential Pressure
Initial action
• Circulate at maximum rate to clean cuttings
from BHA.
• Work maximum torque down to the stuck
point and hold the torque in the string.
• Stop or reduce pump speed.
• Slack off to maximum set-down and allow
time for down jar blow.
• Continue working torque and jarring down.
Secondary action Down
Jar!!
• Spot pipe releasing pill and continue jarring
down. Allow time for pill to work ( 18 - 20 hours)
• When pipe is free; rotate and work the string
and circulate at maximum rate.
Freeing Methods - Differential Pressure

Spotting A Diesel Pill

 Quickest pill - diesel
 Penetrates the thick filter cake, wetting it and
softening the cake
 Spot diesel around the entire BHA (unless the free
point is known)
 Diesel lighter in density than the mud being used –
make calculation with respect to BHP reduction
Freeing Methods - Differential Pressure

If the BHA is in a vertical hole the following can be performed:

 MWPPG  Diesel PPG   .052  LengthBHA

If the BHA is in a deviated hole the following can be performed

to estimate the BHP reduction:

 MWPPG  Diesel PPG   .052   LengthBHA  COS 

After the diesel or spotting agent is in place, torque up

the pipe and hold the torque. Occasionally jar down.
When using a spotting agent, follow the manufacturer’s
directions for use.
Freeing Methods - Differential Pressure

Vertical Hole Example

The mud weight in use is 11.5 ppg.
The diesel weighs approximately
6.6 ppg. The BHA length is 762’.
Based on this information, what is
the reduction in BHP?

BHP Reduction = __________ psi

Freeing Methods - Differential Pressure

Deviated Hole Example

The mud weight in use is 11.5 ppg.
The diesel weighs approximately 6.6 .
The BHA length is 762’and the BHA is
at a 32.5 degree angle. Based on this
information, what is the reduction in
BHP?

BHP Reduction = __________ psi

Make sure that the BHP reduction will not induce a kick.
 Freeing Methods – Hole Pack-Off/Bridging

Initial Action
– Attempt to regain full circulation - if
totally packed-off leave 200 - 400 psi
pressure on standpipe and monitor for
bleed off.
– Have string at free hanging weight and Down
Jar!!

work maximum torque to stuck point

300 psi
and then release. Repeat torque and
release until circulation if regained or
pipe is free.
 Freeing Methods - Hole Pack-Off/Bridging

Secondary Action
– Work torque into string and jar down with
maximum loads
– Continue initial and secondary actions until
pipe is free

Down
Jar!!

When Pipe is Free 300 psi

–Circulate hole clean, ream the

section, and continue to clean
the hole. Keep the pipe moving.
 Freeing Methods - Wellbore Geometry
Initial action
• If moving UP when sticking occurred -
apply torque and JAR DOWN with
maximum load.
• If moving DOWN when sticking
occurred - do not apply torque, JAR OVERPULL!!
UP with maximum load.
• Continue jarring until pipe comes free
(may require several hours).
STUCK!!

Secondary action
• If stuck in limestone or chalk - spot acid
DRAG
• If stuck in salt - spot fresh water pill
When pipe is free
• Circulate at maximum rate.
 Freeing Methods - Mobile Formation/Bridge
Initial Action
Have string at free hanging weight and work
maximum torque to stuck point and then
release.
Repeat torque and release until the pipe is
free.

If Still Stuck
Down
 Work torque into string and jar down Jar!!
with maximum loads.
 Continue until free or it is decided to
stop.
Spot a Fresh water pill
 Pull a little over up drag and wait for
the salt to dissolve.
Allowable Torque & Pull
API "Premium" Drill Pipe (.85 safety factor)

NOTE: 1 2 3 45

The maximum allowable

torques and pulls calculated
with maximum stress values 6 S
-1
limited to 85% of the
G

35
minimum yield. -
X
-

10 5
Minimum unit torsional yield

5
E

9
strength in shear assumed at -
57.7% of minimum unit yield

75
strength in tension.

EXAMPLE:

Grade E 5", 19.5 lbs/ft drill pipe

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
under tension load of 160,000 lbs. Torque in 1000 ft-lbs
100
Maximum torque allowed is
21,000 ft lbs. 1 is 5", 19.5 lbs/ft
2 is 4 ½", 20 lbs/ft 200
3 is 4 ½", 16.6 lbs/ft
Chart can be used to find 4 is 3 ½", 15.5 lbs/ft 300
maximum torque for given tension 5 is 3 ½", 13.3 lbs/ft 5
load or vice versa. 6 is 6 e", 25.20 4
lbs/ft 400 3
1
500 2
6
600