CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

Table of contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................................................................................... 3
CALCULATION OF COST RATIO FOR POTENTIAL SIDE-TRACK:................................................................................. 4
Key to deviation of constants used in the equations............................................................................................ 4
CALCULATION OF COST RATIO FOR WELLS REQUIRING RE-SPUD ........................................................................... 5
Graphical Determination of Optimum Fishing Time (OFT).............................................................................. 5
CASE EXAMPLE (PART 1) ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Calculation of Optimum Fishing Time - DEVELOPMENT WELL .................................................................. 6
Calculation of side-track costs. ............................................................................................................................ 7
The Combined Equation: ..................................................................................................................................... 8
CASE EXAMPLE ( 2 ) ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Anticipated Side-track Costs(£): .......................................................................................................................... 9
Optimum fishing time.......................................................................................................................................... 10

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

Introduction

The decision to stop fishing and initiate a side-track or re-spudding operations

in most cases is based on minimising the cost of the incident. A statistical
analysis of previous incidents was used to develop a tool to estimate optimum
fishing time.

e.g. An analysis of 209 stuck pipe incidents resulted in the formulation of the following
fishing equation. The equation is based on economics and on statistical analysis.

It is recommended that the following summary be used to calculate the

optimum fishing time as soon as the pipe becomes stuck.

There is also an equation which has been deducted from the statistics
analysed to predict side-track costs. This equation may also be used to
determine the optimum fishing time.

Case examples are included in this operational summary of a recent report

produced.

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

RECOMMENDATIONS

• The equation should be used to calculate optimum fishing time before side-
track options are considered.

• Alternatively the side-track costs can be estimated using the normalised

equation. From knowledge of the operations planned, a cost can be
calculated. The optimum fishing time can also then be deduced from the
cost ratio graph.

• The knowledge gained in a development area, from the offset data or from
the actual situations, should always be considered when deciding if there
are any overriding factors that affect the decision to fish for a shorter or
longer period of time.

• The equation must be ignored if safety considerations or Government

regulations call for a different course of action.

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

Calculation of Cost Ratio for Potential Side-track:

1.43R
_________________________________ (1)
Cost Ratio = V + 56R + 5D + (7RD/1250) + 7,000 + TR

R = Hourly Rig Operating Rate (£).

D = Estimated Measured Depth of Stuck Point (ft )

V = Value of Drillstring Below Stuck Point ($ or £).

T = Time Taken to Drill Original Hole from Stuck Point to

Depth where Sticking took place (Hours).

Key to deviation of constants used in the equations.

1.43R - On investigation of cases when pipe was freed the time taken
to get back to the same depth prior to getting stuck consisted of
43% remedial work.

56R - Time taken for post sticking operations.

Severance, certain plug, kick-off etc.

5D - Back-off depth related costs.

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

Calculation of Cost Ratio for Wells Requiring Re-spud

If failure to retrieve the fish will result in a re-spud and not a side-track, the
following equation may be used:

1.43R
Cost ratio = ---------------------------- ... ( 2 )
V + Cost of Re-Spud

Graphical Determination of Optimum Fishing Time (OFT)

Using the calculated Cost Ratio, draw a line vertically upwards on the graph,
i.e. Figure 1 until it meets the curve

i.e. A - B. Draw a horizontal line from this point (i.e. B - C) and read off the value
of Optimum Fishing time ( OFT ) this gives the time (in hours) which should be used
for fishing before starting a side-track.

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

CASE EXAMPLE (Part 1)

Calculation of Optimum Fishing Time - DEVELOPMENT WELL

As per formula in Section 2:

1.43R
Cost Ratio = -------------------------------------------------------
V + 56R + 5D + (7RD/1250) + 7,000 + TR

R = Operating Rate (£2,059.)

D = Stuck Point (1781m).

V = Value of Lost Drillstring (£281,192).

T = Time taken to Drill from stuck point to TD (24 hours).

Therefore Cost Ratio = 0.0061.

Hence (reading off graph),

Optimum Fishing Time ( OFT ) = 23 hours.

In this particular case the stuck pipe scenario was such that no rotation or
circulation was possible from the point of sticking. Prior to side-tracking the
time spent attempting to work the string free was 19.5 hours.

This shows that although formula is based on statistical analysis of historic

events, there may be situations in which the drilling team can better judge and
ascertain the probabilities and risks involved.

The drilling team should therefore also estimate the risk and probabilities
involved and take advantage of previous experience in known areas in the
field as an overriding factor whether to keep on fishing or to opt straight for the
side-track operation which is based on an economic decision.

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

Calculation of side-track costs.

Of the 209 stuck pipe cases between January 1987 and June 1990, an
analysis was made of all the wells side-tracked. The results led to equations
being formulated to give a reasonable side-track cost estimate.

The cost equation omits certain costs which were deemed to be low in relation
to those rig-time related (e.g. special helicopter/personnel costs).

The results are as follows:

Back-off/Severance Cost: 17R + 5D + 4000

RD
Trip Out of Hole: --------
3R + 1250

2 RD
Cementing: --------
10R + 1250 + 2900

2 RD
Dress-Off Trip: --------
8R + 1250

2 RD
Kick-Off Cost: --------
18R + 1250

Re-drill Cost: Re-drill Time x R

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

The Combined Equation:

7RD
Side-track Cost = -------------------------------------------------------- ( 3 )
56R + 5D + 1250 + 7,000 + Re-drill Time R .

R = Hourly Rig Operating Rate (£).

D = Stuck Point (m).

Note: As expected this ties into the Optimum Fishing Time Equation.

1.43 R
Cost Ratio ------------ (4)
C

Where:

C = Value of Fish Lost Down hole + Cost of Side-track to Original

Depth.

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

CASE EXAMPLE ( 2 )

Leading on from Case Example (1 ), a comparison can be made with the side-
track costs and the costs determined by the graph.

As previously shown the side-track costs can also be used to calculate the
optimum fishing time.
This calculation has been performed, and a comparison made with that
determined by the graph in the Case Example ( 1 )

Anticipated Side-track Costs(£):

7 RD
-----------------------------------------------------------
56R + 5D + 1250 + 7,000 + Re-drill Time. R.

R = £2,059.

D = 1781m.

Re-drill Time = 24 hours.

Note: Re-drill Time is the anticipated actual time spent re-drilling the section,
after kick off
- best estimate will often be the time it took to drill the
original section.

Anticipated Side-track Cost = £201,728.

The actual anticipated was = £285,904.

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

Optimum fishing time

The Optimum Fishing Time can be calculated from:

1.43 R
Cost Ratio = -----------
C

C = Value of Fish Lost Down hole + Cost to Side-track to Original Depth.

Therefore :
C = £281,192 + £201,728 = £482,290 (Estimated Cost).

C = £281,192 + £285,904 = £567,096 (Actual Cost).

Therefore:
Cost Ratio = 0.0061 (for the Estimated Cost)
Cost Ratio = 0.0052 (for the Actual Cost)

From the curve illustrated, it can be seen that the difference between the
estimated cost optimum fishing time and the anticipated actual cost optimum
fishing time is negligible.

i.e. Optimum Fishing Time (Estimated Cost) = 23 hours

Optimum Fishing Time (Actual Cost) = 26 hours

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CALCULATION OF OPTIMUM FISHING TIME

Figure 4 Optimum fishing time

Example
Consider the following situation. Calculate how long should attempts be made to free
the pipe before side-tracking.

Well depth: 3000m , Stuck point: 2500m , Rig rate: $1500/hour

Value of drill string below stuck point: $176500
Time taken to drill from 2500m to 3000m: 24 hours

Cost ratio: CR =
(1.43 x 1500) ÷ (176500 + 84000 + 21875 + 2100 + 12250 + 36000)
= 2145 ÷ 351625 = 0.0061

Optimum Fishing Time:

From graph OFT = 24 hours

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