The problems

that occur in
the oil well,
its causes
and methods
of dealing
with it, we
DOWN HOLE DRILLING deal with
some of them
PROBLEMS (PIPE STICKING) in this
simplified
report

RESEARCH SUBMITTED
BY THE STUDENT:
MUSTAFA ALI MUKHLIF
2019-2020
Introduction
• Problems associated with the drilling of oil and gas
wells are largely due to the disturbances of earth
stresses around the borehole.
• These are caused by the creation of the hole itself and
by drilling mud/formation interaction.
• Thus, a hole is kept open (or stable) by maintaining a
balance between earth stresses and pore pressure on
one side and well bore mud pressure and chemical
composition on the other side.
• Whenever this balance is disturbed, well bore problems
occur.
The major Downhole problems are:

Pipe sticking

Downhole problems Pipe failure

Dog legs and telescopic
holes
Key seats in holes

Key seats in holes

Shale problems

Lost circulation problems

Pipe Sticking

• One of the most common

problems, encountered while
drilling a well is pipe sticking.

• The problem is even more

serious and expensive when
drilling deep high pressure
wells in geologically complex
areas.
Mechanical Sticking

• There are mainly two types

of pipe sticking. They are
as follows:
• Mechanical sticking
• Differential sticking
• A pipe is said to be
mechanically stuck, when
the stuck up is due to
mechanical reasons.
Mechanical stuck up can be associated with anyone
of the following drilling conditions:

• Distorted well bore geometry

• Under gauge hole
• Poor hole cleaning
• Key seating
• Junk in the hole
• Cement related problems
• Collapsed casing
 Distorted Well Bore Geometry:
• Doglegs and ledges can
stick the drill string,
particularly when pulling
out because while running
in, due to less tension the
flexible string can easily by
pass the obstacles.
Under Gauge Hole:
• Under gauge hole occurs
when gauge protection on
the bit becomes ineffective
while drilling long sections
of abrasive formations.
• If care is not taken new bit
can be jammed in an under
gauge hole.
• It can also happen if
caution is not taken
following a change from a
diamond or core bit to
roller bit.
Poor hole cleaning:
• Poor hole cleaning results in
accumulation of cuttings in
the annulus, resulting
sticking of the drill string.
• This is usually in wash out or
in caved portion where
annular velocity decreases
and cuttings get accumulated.
• In deviated wells cuttings
from the low side of the hole
can migrate up hole like
shifting of sand dunes.
Key Seating:
• Key seats, grooves in the
bore hole wall cut by
rotating drill pipe can stick
larger diameter collars
when tripping out.

• A key seat wiper placed

higher in the string can
widen the key seat,
allowing collars to pass.
To free the Mechanically stuck pipe:
• If the drill string gets stuck while moving up, jar down
with maximum trip load and torque can be applied into
drill string while jarring down. Be caution while applying
torque, do not exceed make up torque.

• On the other hand, if the drill string gets stuck while

moving down, jar up with maximum trip load. DO NOT
apply torque in the drill string while jarring up.

• Flow rate must be reduced while attempting to free the

drill string. Do not use high flow rate because it will make
the stuck situation became worse and you will not be able
to free the pipe forever.