Stuck Pipe Prevetion & First Actions

Quartz School for Well Site Supervisors
Module – 11
Drilling Problems
& Solutions
Schlumberger Private
Section – 1
Stuck Pipe:
Prevention & First Actions
Quartz School. Module 11: Drilling Problems & Solutions / Section 1: Stuck Pipe: Prevention & First Actions 1/82
Pipe Sticking Mechanisms
Cause
1. Solids Induced Pack Off
Occurrence
2. Differential Sticking Rig Site Warnings
Preventative Action
3. Wellbore Geometry
Freeing Guidelines
Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

1. Poor Hole Cleaning
2. Unconsolidated Formations
3. Reactive Formations
4. Naturally Over-Pressured Shales
5. Induced Over-Pressure in Shales
6. Fractured and Faulted Formations
7. Tectonically Stressed Formations
8. Overburden Stress
9. Junk in the Hole
10. Green Cement and LCM Treatment
11. Blocks of Hard Cement
Solids generated in the well bore
Cuttings
PDC cuttings Roller Cone bit cuttings
Cavings
Angular Blocky/Platy
Splintery
Coal and Bitumen
PDC Cuttings
Solids coming out of the well bore

9. Junk in the Hole
Poor Hole Cleaning
Causes:
• Drilled cuttings are not transported out of the
hole due to low annular velocity , poor mud
properties and / or insufficient rotation
• When circulation is stopped, the cuttings fall
back down the hole and form cuttings beds
• Avalanching with pumps “ON” at high deviations
(30-60 deg)
• Drill string is packed off with solids
Occurrence:
• When hole cleaning is not adequate (inadequate
flow and / or rotation)
• Most common in deviated wells (30-60 deg)
• When well is drilled faster than the hole is
cleaned
Poor Hole Cleaning
Preventative Actions:
• Maximize annular velocity
• Maximize rotation and reciprocation- cuttings bed agitation
• Ensure circulation times are adequate
• Monitor the cuttings returns at the shakers
• Ensure low/ high/ weighted pills are adequately used
• Consult the hole cleaning calculations for confirmation
• Optimize mud properties- increase YP in near vertical wells
• Consider using larger drill pipe and/or third mud pump
Warnings Signs :
• Increasing Torque and Drag while drilling
• Reduced cuttings returns at shakers
• Increasing pump pressure / ECDs
• Poor weight transfer to bit
• Presence of re-ground cuttings on shakers
• Difficult in orienting tool face
• Increasing over pulls while POOH
• Over pulls inside casing

• Poor Hole Cleaning
• Unconsolidated Formations
• Reactive Formations
• Naturally Over-Pressured Shales
• Induced Over-Pressure in Shales
• Fractured and Faulted Formations
• Tectonically Stressed Formations
• Overburden Stress
• Junk in the Hole
• Green Cement and LCM Treatment
• Blocks of Hard Cement
Unconsolidated Formations
Causes:
• No bonding between particles
• Little or no filter cake
• The formation can not be supported by the
hydrostatic overbalance as the fluid simply flows
into the formation
• Sand/Gravel falls into the hole
Occurrence:
• While drilling top hole sections
• While drilling shallower unconsolidated
formations
Warning Signs:
• Increasing in circulating pressure
• Increasing in Torque and Drag values
• Over Pull on Connections
• Solids fill on bottom after connections
• Shale Shaker blinded / paved, fluid overflow
Unconsolidated Formations (Mitigation)
• Design mud to build a cohesive, low permeability
filter cake.
• Pump at the flow rate to clean the hole
• Control drill due to limitations of the solid control
equipment and be prepared for fluid overloading
• Avoid unnecessary reaming and backreaming
• Check and Clean out bottom prior to drilling ahead
• Use sweeps to help keep the hole clean
• Consider soaking viscous pills
• Control-drill through the suspected zone to allow
time for the filter cake to build up.
• Minimize overloading annulus with cuttings (ECD)
• Keep BHA simple and short
• Trip carefully across troublesome formations to
minimize filter cake removal

Reactive Formations
Causes:
• Water sensitive shale /clays drilled with less
inhibition in the mud system than it is required
• Shale swells into the well bore and restricts annulus
• Poor drilling practices
Occurrence:
• 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
• While tripping
• Possible while drilling
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

Reactive Formations (Mitigation)
• Use an inhibited mud system. If severe / highly reactive, use OBM
• Drill and case reactive formations as quickly as possible
• Perform frequent “wiper trips” when drilling sensitive formations
• Keep mud properties within specifications
• Minimize the BHA length and design
• When using WBM, monitor MBT closely. An increase of MBT
indicates the clay formation is reacting with the mud.
Warnings Signs :
• Hydrated or mushy cavings on shale shakers
• Shakers screens may become blind off & formation of “clay balls”
• Increase in LGS, filter cake thickness, PV, YP, MBT
• Increasing pump pressure
• Circulation is highly restricted or impossible
• Generally occurs while BHA is passing the reactive formation

Naturally Over-Pressured Shales
Causes:
• Naturally over-pressured shales are most
commonly caused by geological phenomena
such as under-compaction, naturally removed
overburden and uplift
• Using insufficient mud weight in these
formations will cause the hole to become
unstable and collapse
• Fractured shales and cavings fall into the well
bore
Occurrence:
• Removal of ECD
• Most likely while tripping out ( Swabbing)
• Possible while drilling when pumps are off
Naturally Over-Pressured Shales (Mitigation)
• Monitor shale shakers for cuttings and cavings
• Use sufficient mud weight to control pore pressure
• Use pore pressure analysis and confirm with gas readings
• Plan to minimize hole exposure time
• Do not reduce the mud weight when the shale is exposed
• Optimize MW for directional wells
Warnings Signs:
• Cavings (splintery) at shakers
• Cuttings and cavings are dry (not hydrated or mushy)
• Increased Torque and Drag values
• Increase in gas levels
• Circulation restricted or impossible
• Bottom hole fill after trips
• An increase in ROP due to under balanced conditions

Induced Over-Pressured Shales
Causes:
• Shale pore pressure is charged by hydrostatic
overbalance
• High values in ECD
• Shale cracks and falls into the wellbore
Occurrence:
• After a reduction in MW or a long exposure
time with constant MW
• It can happen in any type of mud
• While drilling or running pipe (surge)
Induced Over-Pressure in Shales (Mitigation)
• Control ECD to minimize ballooning and induced over
pressures in sensitive formations
• If cavings occur, utilize good hole cleaning practices
Warnings Signs :
• Cavings (splintery) at shakers
• Cuttings / cavings show no sign of hydration
• Ballooning effect
• Increasing Torque and Drag
• Circulating restricted or impossible
• Bottom hole filled with solids after connections / Trips
• Tight hole in “rat hole” below casing shoe

Fractured and Faulted Formations
Cause:
• Rocks near fault planes can be broken into small
or large pieces, fall into the hole and jam the drill
string
Occurrence:
• In tectonically active zones
• In fractured limestone
• As the hole is being drilled
• While tripping the drill string
Fractured and Faulted Formations (Mitigation)
• Plan the well properly to minimize exposure
• Keep the annulus as clean as possible & avoid overloading
• Monitor ECD while drilling to avoid inducing losses
• Limit rotary and tripping speeds across fractured formations
• Carefully wash and ream when run pipe in hole and clean out
hole bottom prior to continue drilling
• If coal present, reduce ROP and control ROP in the coal section.
Warnings Signs:
• Bottom hole filled with solids on connections
• Possible losses or gains (or formation “ballooning”)
• Fault damaged cavings at shakers
• Sticking can be instantaneous
• Spot acid if stuck in limestone.

Tectonically Stressed Formations
Causes:
• Horizontal stresses are present inside formations
due to the movement of earth’s crust
• Shales may fracture and fall into the well bore
Occurrence:
• In mountainous locations
• While drilling or tripping
E. Folding and faulting

associated with Salt
dome diapirism
Tectonically Stressed Formations (Mitigation)
• Establish optimum inclination and azimuth from offset wells
• Maintain MW and ECD within planned mud weight window
• Run casing to cover these formations as quickly as possible
• Drill through these formations with the smaller hole size
• Apply hole cleaning practices and be prepared for increased
amount of cuttings and cavings
Warnings Signs:
• Pack-offs and bridges in the annulus may occur
• Presence of cavings at the shakers
• If stuck, circulation is highly restricted or impossible.
• HIGH volume of cuttings on shakers relative to the hole
volume drilled
Overburden Stress
Overburden:
• The overburden or vertical stress, σV , is usually
the principal stress
• At any point in the earth, the overburden stress is
equivalent to the weight of the overlying formations
(rock and fluids)
• Weight of water, with a gradient of 0.43 psi/ft,
becomes significant at high depths
Causes:
• MW is insufficient to support the overburden and is
not adjusted as hole angle and depth increase
• Walls of wellbore collapses and falls onto the low
side or bottom
Occurrence:
• In deviated wells, while drilling or tripping
Overburden Stress (Mitigation)
Preventative Actions = Those for Stressed Formations:

• Establish optimum inclination and azimuth from offset wells
• Maintain MW and ECD within planned mud weight window
• Run casing to cover these formations as quickly as possible
• Drill through these formations with the smaller hole size
• Apply hole cleaning practices and be prepared for increased
amount of cuttings and cavings
Warnings Signs :
• Pack-offs and bridges in the annulus may occur
• Presence of cavings at the shakers
• If stuck, circulation is highly restricted or impossible.
• HIGH volume of cuttings on shakers relative to the hole
volume drilled

Junk in the Hole
Causes:
• Down hole equipment failure
• Poor housekeeping on the rig floor
• Not installing cover while string is out of hole
• Lack of attention of rig crew members
• Junk left or fallen may jam & stuck the drill string
Occurrence:
• Any time!
• While drilling, tripping, logging, well testing, rig
repairing, rig-up / rig down equipment, etc.
Junk in the Hole
Junk in the Hole (Mitigation)
Preventative Action:
• Use only inspected / certified equipment and tools
• Visually inspect all tools before running
• Inspect regularly power tongs, slips, elevators & hand tools
• Keep hole covered whenever possible. Be careful working
around the hole when it is open
• Close blind rams whenever pipe is out of hole. Alert crews
• Install drill pipe wiper whenever possible when tripping in/out
• Practice good housekeeping
Warnings Signs:
• Missing hand tools / equipment
• Metal shavings at shaker
• Scratches and junk damage on BHA components
• Sudden / erratic torque value
• Inability to drill ahead
• Circulation is not restricted

• Green Cement or LCM Treatment
Green Cement or LCM Treatment
Causes:
• Poor operational practices
• Start circulation with the drill string inside soft
cement or LCM plugs
• “Green” cement dehydrates due to differential

pressure applied & accelerates the setting
• Cleaning LCM treatment with insufficient flow

rate and high penetration rates.
Occurrence:
• When cleaning out green cement or LCM
Green Cement or LCM Treatment (Mitigation)
• Give cement enough time to set and estimate the
theoretical top of cement inside the casing, TOC
• Start circulation several joints above the Top of
Cement or the LCM plug and run down slowly. Do not
rely on the weight indicator to show hard cement or
LCM plug; it may still soft or liquid
• Drill out cement with low WOB and high flow rate
• If using WBM consider pre-treating mud with 0.25-0.5
lb/bbl sodium bicarbonate before drilling out to
minimize mud contamination
Warnings Signs:
• Increase in pump pressure leading to inability to
circulate
• Loss of string weight and possible reduction in torque
• Green cement in mud returns, discoloration of mud

• Green Cement or LCM Treatment
Cement Blocks
Cause:
• Hard cement chunks fall into the well bore and
may jam the drill string
Occurrence:
• When hard cement becomes unstable
• Behind the casing shoe
• Intervals with open hole squeeze plugs
• When deviating from Kick-off plugs
• Can occur any time
• When leaving excessive “rat hole” below casing
shoe.
Cement Blocks (Mitigation)
• Allow enough setting time for cement before attempting
to kick off or drill out.
• Drill the cement with sufficient flow rate and rotation and
preferably with controlled ROP
• Thoroughly ream casing shoe and rat hole before drilling
ahead.
• 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.
Warnings Signs:
• Circulation unrestricted
• Large pieces of hard cement are seen on the shakers
• Rotation and downward movement may be possible.
• Erratic torque
Conditions for Pack Off with Solids – RECAP:

9. Junk in the Hole
2. Differential Sticking
Conditions for Differential Sticking
1. High over balance in front of a given zone
2. The zone exposed to the high over balance is permeable
3. Drill string moving very slow or left stationary
4. Large contact area between drill string and hole walls
5. Thick filter cake formed in the wellbore
Filter cake
Overbalance
pressure Mud
Drill pipe Porous
and
Permeable
Porous
and zone
Causes: Permeable
zone
• The differential pressure between mud column and
formation pressure develops a high force against the
surface of drill string
• The drill string is pushed to contact a permeable zone
• When motion stops, static a filter cake is formed and
the sticking force is developed. F = ΔP x Area
Occurrence:
When all 5 factors are given simultaneously:
• High overbalance is present in the hole
• High permeable or depleted zones are exposed in the wellbore
• The drill string is left stationary or with a very slow motion
• Large contact area between the drill string and the permeable formation
• Thick filter cake or cuttings bed is formed on the low side of well
Warnings Signs:
• Increasing of Over Pull and attempts of sticking during connections
• Increasing of Torque and Drag values
• Long periods of time with pipe stationary in surveys, connections, rig
repairs, well control incidents, etc.
• Once the string becomes stuck, circulation is unrestricted
2. Differential Sticking (Mitigation)
Preventative Actions :
Well design
• Optimize casing setting depths to minimize overbalance
across potential sticking zones
• Design adequate overbalance for hole stability and well
Porous
control
and
Permeable Mud
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 every
time the BHA is opposite to high risk zones (CAUTION)
2. Differential Sticking (Mitigation)
Preventative Actions – continued
Well bore contact:
• Minimize BHA length when possible
• Maximize BHA stand off. Use spiral drill collars and
HWDP
Porous • Use bridging material in the mud system
and
Permeable Rig team awareness:
zone
• Made the rig crew aware of depth of permeable
formations when having high overbalance and the
associated risks
Warnings Signs:
• Increasing over pull on connections and after surveys
• Full unrestricted circulation
• High overbalance
• Fluid losses
2. Differential
2. Pegadura Sticking
por Presión (Sticking
Diferencial Force)de pega)
(fuerza
Sticking Force = S.F. = Pressure x Area x Friction Factor = ΔP x A x FF
Where, ΔP = (over balance) = Ph-Pf ; A = Contact Area; FF = Friction Factor
Example, if ΔP = 1000 psi; A = 5 in x 30 ft = 1800 in2 ; FF = 0.15

ÆS.F. = 1000 psi x 1800 in2 x 0.15 = 270,000 lbs
ΔP = Over balance in psi
100 ft of Permeable
HP= Hydrostatic Pressure

formation
Fp= Formation Pressure

A = Wall contact area (in2)
FF = Friction Factor
FF in WBM = 0.2 - 0.4
5 inch of circumference
In contact with formation FF in OBM = 0.15 - 0.25
Conditions for Differential Sticking – RECAP:
1. High over balance in front of a given zone
2. Permeable zone exposed to high over balance
3. Drill string moving very slow or left stationary
4. Large contact area between drill string and hole walls
5. Thick filter cake formed in the wellbore
3. Well Bore Geometry
Well Bore Geometry Conditions for Mechanical Stuck
1. Ledges & Doglegs
2. Under gauge hole
3. Mobile formation
4. Stiff Assembly
5. Key Seating
1. Ledges & Doglegs
2. Hole Under Gauge
3. Mobile formation
4. Stiff Assembly
5. Key Seating
Ledges and Doglegs
Causes:
• Ledges at interface of hard / soft formations
• High “dog-legs”
• BHA jammed in doglegs
• Stabilizer blades may get stuck under ledges
Occurrence:
• When having hard / soft interbedded layers
• In faulted / naturally fractured formations
• When angle / direction are frequently changed
• When drilling / sliding with steerable motor
Warning Signs:
• Sudden / erratic over pull or set down
• Problems found at recurring depths
• Hole problems not eliminated with circulation
• When stuck, is frequent to have full circulation
Ledges and Doglegs (Mitigation)
• Run packed hole assembly (if applicable)
• Minimize excessive directional changes
• Minimize BHA changes in inter bedded formations
• Consider performing wiper trips
• Keep record of depths of ledges and other
anomalies
• Survey with sufficient frequency
• Trip the BHA at low speed in front of suspected
ledge or DL
• Avoid long circulation across soft inter bedded
formations
• Do not start building angle too close to the shoe
• Consider the use of Rotational Steering System
assemblies
• Optimize sliding and rotating based on lithology
1. Ledges & Doglegs
2. Hole Under Gauge
3. Mobile formations
4. Stiff Drilling Assemblies
5. Key Seating
Under Gauge Hole
Causes:
• Hard abrasive rock wears bit gauge and results
in an under gauge hole
• If run fast without reaming, new bit jams inside
the under gauge section
Occurrence:
• While running a new bit
• Running a PDC after a tricone
• While running a new BHA
• When drilling abrasive formations
• After coring a section
• Drilling without sufficient flow rate
Under Gauge Hole (Mitigation)
• Use proper gauge protection in bits and stabilizers
• Record tight spots while tripping in and out
• Ream suspected under gauge sections
• Slow speed when entering a suspected under gauge zone
• Consider the use of roller reamers, or watermelon mill
• Gauge all BHA components before RIH and after POOH
• Use spiral blade stabilizers instead of straight blade stabilizers
Warnings Signs:
• Pulled bit or stabilizers came out under gauge
• Occurs only when RIH a new bit of BHA
• Sudden set down weight
• Circulation is usually unrestricted or slightly restricted
• Stuck point is near the bottom of the hole or at the top of a
cored section
1. Ledges & Doglegs
2. Hole Under Gauge
5. Key Seating
Mobile Formations
Causes:
• Mobile formations behave in a plastic manner, deforming

OVERPULL!!
under pressure.
• Overburden weight squeezes formation out because the
mud weight is not sufficient
• BHA gets stuck
Occurrence:
• In salt domes or plastic shales

• More likely occurs while pulling the string out of hole
Warnings Signs:
• Over pull when moving up, takes weight when running in

• Sticking occurs with BHA at mobile formation depth
• Restricted circulation with BHA at mobile formation depth
Mobile Formations (Mitigation)
OVERPULL!!
Preventative Actions :
• Maintain sufficient mud weight. Select an appropriate
mud system that will not aggravate the mobile
formation. Use the right MW at the beginning of the
section.
• With mobile salts consider using a slightly under-
saturated mud system to allow a controlled washout
• Plan frequent reaming / wiper trips when drilling this
type of formations
• Consider bicentric PDC bits or concentric reamers
• Minimize long exposure time of these formations
• Slow speed when BHA enters the suspected area
1. Ledges & Doglegs
2. Hole Under Gauge
5. Key Seating
Stiff Drilling Assemblies
Cause:
• Stiff BHA run into a previously drilled hole cannot

negotiate hole angle and directional changes
• BHA is jammed into the hole
Occurrence:
• Where doglegs are present
• With a different BHA and stabilizer design
• Most likely while running pipe in the hole
Warnings Signs:
• Erratic over pull / set down and torque
• Full circulation is regularly possible
Stiff Drilling Assemblies (Mitigation)
Preventative Action :
• Consider running same or similar BHA
configuration
• Record tight spots previously found and run
slowly into these sections
• Slow speed down before the new BHA enters
a suspected problematic zone
• Consider reaming tight spots with high flow
rate and rotation
1. Ledges & Doglegs
2. Hole Under Gauge
5. Key Seating
Key Seating
Cause:
• When drill pipe is rotated long time against the
wellbore wall creating a groove or “keyseat”
• Later, when DP tool joints or BHA components are
pulled may become jammed into the key seat
Occurrence:
• When having abrupt changes in angle or direction
• After long periods of drilling with no wiper trips in
dogleg section
• Always while pulling the string out of hole
Key Seating (Mitigation)
Preventative Action :
• Minimize dogleg severity
• Perform reaming / wiper trips if a dogleg is present
• Consider running reamers or key seat wiper if a key
seat is likely to be a problem
Warnings Signs:
• Sudden over pull / jamming while POOH
• When tripping fast the BHA through doglegs
• Free string movement downward the key seat if not
jammed or stuck while POOH
• Cyclic over pull at tool joint intervals on trip
• Most of the time unrestricted circulation after getting
stuck
Well Bore Geometry conditions for Mechanical Stuck - RECAP
1. Ledges & Doglegs
2. Under gauge hole
3. Mobile formation
4. Stiff Assembly
5. Key Seating
Pipe Sticking Mechanisms
Cause
• Solids Induced Pack Off
Occurrence
• Differential Sticking Rig Site Warnings
Preventative Action
• Wellbore Geometry
Freeing Guidelines
Stuck Pipe Freeing Techniques
(Ref Sec 4.2 of Stuck Pipe Manual)
• Solids Induced Pack-Off
• Differential Sticking
• Mechanical and Wellbore Geometry
Freeing Stuck Pipe
Stuck Pipe
Identify Stuck Pipe

Mechanism
Estimate
Stuck Point
Start Working Pipe
Calculate Optimum
Fishing Time
Continue
Switch Freeing
Working
Cut Method
Pipe
Pipe
& Fish
End Time Give up trying
to free pipe Pipe Freed
Sidetrack or P&A Remedial Action
Recognizing Stuck Pipe Mechanism
Mechanism Pack-off Differential Geometry Instructions:
Pipe motion Prior to Sticking?
1. Answer the questions by circling all
Moving up 2 0 2
the numbers in the row with the
Rotating up 0 0 2
correct answer
Moving Down 1 0 2
Rotating Down 0 0 2 2. First and third questions have ONLY
ONE answer each
Static 2 2 0
Pipe motion After Sticking?
Down Free 0 0 2
3. The second question has two
answers:
Down Restricted 1 0 2
Down impossible 0 0 0 a. Ability to move the string
Rotate Free 0 0 2 down after sticking
Rotate Restricted 2 0 2
Rotate Impossible 0 0 0 b. Ability of rotate the string
Circulating Pressures After Sticking? after sticking
Circulate Free 0 2 2
4. Add the columns on TOTALS
Circulate Restricted 2 0 0
Circulate Impossible 2 0 0 5. The column with the highest total
TOTALS indicates the most probable sticking
mechanism
1. Solids Induced Pack-Off
3. Mechanical and Wellbore Geometry
1. Solids Pack Off Stuck Pipe : General Recommendations
Witness
First Actions: Pressure in
Drill String
• Stop pumps when seeing signs of packing off
• To establish or re-establish circulation:
• Use a low pumping pressure (200 – 400 psi) or
leave a low trapped pressure as a witness
pressure in the DS. Do not exceed the fracture
pressure at any point of the well.
• A solid float valve in the DS impairs the monitoring if
there is a higher pressure trapped in the annulus,
below the pack off.
• Put string weight to its neutral value & mark pipe.
Torque up to maximum torque, work torque down to
stuck point and then release. Repeat torque and Trapped
release until circulation is regained or pipe is free. pressure in
the Annulus
1. Solids Pack Off Stuck Pipe : General Recommendations
Secondary Actions: Witness
Pressure in
• Torque up to maximum torque, work torque down to Drill String
stuck point (by moving the string down & slacking off)
• Start jarring down / up and increase gradually to the
maximum impact 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? Jar!
• Never jar DOWN
• What is the neutral weight of the string?
Trapped
pressure in
• Consider hole drag and friction the Annulus
2. Freeing of Differentially Stuck Pipe
Differential Sticking First Action: Yes
Free ?
is confirmed Work Drill String
No
Choose one alternative Is it “U” tube
No Freeing Method possible?

Is freeing fluid
at rig site?
yes
yes
Prepare “U” Tube
Mix Freeing pill Is Over Balance No
yes
required for WC
and spacers
or Well Stability? Perform “U” Tube
Pump Spacers
and Freeing Pill No

Perform 2 nd “U” Tube Free Pipe?
yes
yes
Free Pipe?
No
No yes
Free Pipe? Condition Mud
Cut Pipe /leave fish / & Drill Ahead
P&B / Side Track
First Actions: Torque and Jarring
1. Establish that it is Differential Sticking Mechanism

2. Keep circulating to assure hole cleaning. In slim holes
consider ECD. It may not be effective in directional wells.
Porous
3. Use a low or a reasonable flow rate.
and
Permeable
4. Slack off the string weight while holding torque on surface zone
pipe. Do not exceed maximum allowed torque.
5. Pick up to just above the free weight (slight tension)
6. Apply torque and repeat steps 4. & 5. increasing the torque on
the string. Do not exceed the maximum allowed torque
7. Jar up or down depending on wellbore geometry
8. Allow sufficient time for hydraulic jars to trip in each cycle Pressure
9. If the string does not come free, hold torque in the string and Overbalance
Mud
continue jarring with the maximum trip or leave it stationary
with slack off or with tension. Prepare “free pill” Drill pipe
10. Keep circulation all time at low rate, except for jarring
Filter cake
Secondary actions: “Free Pill”, Low MW, “U-Tube”
Pressure
• After jarring for several hours, proceed to mix, pump Overbalance
Mud
and displace a “pipe free pill” to the annulus and
spot it around the BHA. Leave a volume of clean pill Drill pipe
inside de drill string.
Filter cake
• Give the pill a soaking time and displace it to the
annulus at given intervals of time, as per mud
company recommendations. Do not extend soak time.
• If the pill is ineffective, consider reducing the MW to
a safe value (pay attention to Well Control and Hole
stability). Reducing MW may take a long time.
• If well conditions, surface equipment and personnel
experience are appropriate, consider the application
of the “U – Tube” procedure. Perform HARC as per
the Company Standards.
3. Mechanical and Well Bore Geometry
• First Action: Jarring..!

• If MOVING UP, apply torque and start JARRING DOWN,
increasing jarring force gradually. Pay attention to the
operating limits of DS components.
• If MOVING DOWN, apply tension and start JARRING UP,
increasing jarring force gradually. Pay attention to the
operating limits of the drill string components.
• Continue jarring until pipe comes free (it may require
several hours)
• Jarring up with torque is not always recommended due
to the reduction of pipe tensile strength
3. Mechanical and Well Bore Geometry
• Secondary actions: free pills for special conditions

• If stuck in limestone or chalk – spot acid pill in the
annulus, around the BHA. Give soak time and work
pipe. Torque and jarring up or down may help.
• If stuck in salty formation – spot fresh water pill in the
annulus around the BHA. Give soak time and work
pipe. Torque and jarring up or down may help
• When Pipe is free – For all stuck pipe mechanisms:
• Circulate at maximum rate, rotate and work the string
• Ream/backream the hole section
• Circulate the hole clean / condition mud properties
• Continue with normal operations
Stuck Pipe Freeing Techniques - Summary

a. Regain Full Circulation + Hole Cleaning
b. Work Pipe (Torque + Jarring)
a. Torque + Jarring
b. Free pill + Torque + Jarring
c. “U – Tube” (well control , hole stability)

1. Jarring
2. Pills

Stuck Pipe Prevetion & First Actions

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Stuck Pipe Prevetion & First Actions

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Quartz School for Well Site Supervisors

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Fortune Bay Dry Sample Fortune Bay 24 hrs in Fresh water

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

E. Folding and faulting

Preventative Actions = Those for Stressed Formations:

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

• Poor operational practices

• Start circulation with the drill string inside soft

• “Green” cement dehydrates due to differential

• Cleaning LCM treatment with insufficient flow

• When cleaning out green cement or LCM

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids

Conditions for Pack Off with Solids – RECAP:

Conditions for Differential Sticking

1. High over balance in front of a given zone

3. Drill string moving very slow or left stationary

4. Large contact area between drill string and hole walls

5. Thick filter cake formed in the wellbore

Where, ΔP = (over balance) = Ph-Pf ; A = Contact Area; FF = Friction Factor

Example, if ΔP = 1000 psi; A = 5 in x 30 ft = 1800 in2 ; FF = 0.15

HP= Hydrostatic Pressure

Fp= Formation Pressure

Conditions for Differential Sticking – RECAP:

1. High over balance in front of a given zone

3. Drill string moving very slow or left stationary

4. Large contact area between drill string and hole walls

5. Thick filter cake formed in the wellbore

Well Bore Geometry Conditions for Mechanical Stuck

Well Bore Geometry Conditions for Mechanical Stuck

Well Bore Geometry Conditions for Mechanical Stuck

Well Bore Geometry Conditions for Mechanical Stuck

• Mobile formations behave in a plastic manner, deforming

• In salt domes or plastic shales

• Over pull when moving up, takes weight when running in

Well Bore Geometry Conditions for Mechanical Stuck

• Stiff BHA run into a previously drilled hole cannot

• BHA is jammed into the hole

• Where doglegs are present

• With a different BHA and stabilizer design

• Most likely while running pipe in the hole

Well Bore Geometry Conditions for Mechanical Stuck

Well Bore Geometry conditions for Mechanical Stuck - RECAP

• Solids Induced Pack-Off

• Mechanical and Wellbore Geometry

Identify Stuck Pipe

Sidetrack or P&A Remedial Action

1. Solids Induced Pack-Off

3. Mechanical and Wellbore Geometry

1. Solids Induced Pack-Off

3. Mechanical and Wellbore Geometry

Choose one alternative Is it “U” tube

No Freeing Method possible?

and Freeing Pill No

1. Establish that it is Differential Sticking Mechanism

1. Solids Induced Pack-Off