Oil drilling is a challenging and highly mechanical profession.

Oil rig operators need to have |

Extensive knowledge of the tools they use, the correct processes for resource collection and how
to recognize potential issues or risks and mitigate them.  From drilling to worker safety, they're
responsible for many areas. One of the processes they need to know is swabbing.
Swabbing is a process that's different for every well. It depends on preexisting pressurization,
wellbore depth, fluid production from the reservoir and more. As you're drilling, you may hit a
point where you need to use a swabbing rig. At the very least, you can use the process to
rejuvenate an old well. This guide will take you through the basics of oil well swabbing, why it's

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important, how it works and some ways to decrease your chances of needing to swab a well.

What Is Swabbing?

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As far as the oil and gas industry is concerned, swabbing is the act of accessing the production zones

of wells and removing accumulated fracking fluids. It's a method of well control that drilling

companies use to release the well's bottom hole pressure, allowing them to "kick" it off. When a
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drilling company creates a new well, they use pressurized liquids to fracture the site, creating

channels and production zones where the oil and gas can travel. Swabbing follows as a second step.

To efficiently remove the remaining liquids from the well, teams use specific swabbing rigs, which

consist of a winch, cable, swab cup, foldable mast and a pulley at the top. Once they're ready to carry

out the process, the rig operator will back the machine up to the edge of the well, as close as possible

while still maintaining safety. They then adjust the rig's mast and position it over the center point of

the well. Using the winch, the operator lowers and raises the cable into and out of the well, keeping

in mind control and the well's characteristics.

In general, the standard for fluid removal is pulling about six barrels out of the well by way of the

swabbing rig. In some cases, it only takes a single run, while other wells may require multiple

repeats to remove all the fluids. As the operator pulls the fluids, the bottom pressure of the well

builds, allowing the oil or gas to flow and push out of the well. Once you've reestablished the

adequate pressure, your oilfield workers and operators can begin to pull resources from the well and

store them

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.

However, the pressure doesn't always last after the first swabbing. Over time, the pressure can
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decrease, causing the well to cease to produce oil or gas. If it depressurizes, the operator must apply

the swabbing process again to build it back up. Swabbing rig operators must be highly skilled in

their field, as they have to consider the soundness, pressure and depth of the well they're

working in, while also knowing the feel of their machine.

Why Is It Important?

Well swabbing is essential to the production of oil and gas wells. For one, the process of

swabbing and removing fluids from the production zone of the well creates the conditions

for a gas and oil yield. The method introduces the pressure necessary for the well to push

out the resources oilfield workers need to collect. If the well doesn't have the required

natural pressure to induce flowing on its own, swabbing makes it possible to access the

resources regardless.

Additionally, as wells age, they collect fluids and lose their pressurization. But this doesn't

mean the well becomes unusable. If there are still resources left to pull, oilfield crews can

use swabbing to rejuvenate the well's pressurization multiple times. It removes those liquids

that build up over time and with use.

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When you pull resources from the reservoir, it also releases fluids that then collect at the

bottom of the wellbore. As these liquids build up, they can prevent you from pulling oil or

gas from the reservoir. Swabbing uses cups to remove the fluid, regaining you access to
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the oil well and allowing you to continue pulling resources. So, the process is necessary to

get the most out of your wells.

If you aren't sure why your well has ceased production, running an oil well swab test can

provide you with a potential answer. Collecting fluid is a common reason for a reservoir

production stoppage, and with a swab test, you can tell whether or not liquid is the problem.

If it is, you can continue swabbing to pull as much as you need to remove from the reservoir

area. If it's not, you can rule it out as a possibility

However, the pressure doesn't always last after the first swabbing. Over time, the pressure

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can decrease, causing the well to cease to produce oil or gas. If it depressurizes, the

operator must apply the swabbing process again to build it back up. Swabbing rig operators

must be highly skilled in their field, as they have to consider the soundness, pressure and
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depth of the well they're working in, while also knowing the feel of their machine.

Why Is It Important?
Well swabbing is essential to the production of oil and gas wells. For one, the process of swabbing

and removing fluids from the production zone of the well creates the conditions for a gas and oil

yield. The method introduces the pressure necessary for the well to push out the resources oilfield

workers need to collect. If the well doesn't have the required natural pressure to induce flowing on its

own, swabbing makes it possible to access the resources regardless.

Additionally, as wells age, they collect fluids and lose their pressurization. But this doesn't mean the

well becomes unusable. If there are still resources left to pull, oilfield crews can use swabbing to

rejuvenate the well's pressurization multiple times. It removes those liquids that build up over time

and with use.

When you pull resources from the reservoir, it also releases fluids that then collect at the bottom of

the wellbore. As these liquids build up, they can prevent you from pulling oil or gas from the

reservoir. Swabbing uses cups to remove the fluid, regaining you access to the oil well and allowing

you to continue pulling resources. So, the process is necessary to get the most out of your wells.

If you aren't sure why your well has ceased production, running an oil well swab test can provide you
with a potential answer. Collecting fluid is a common reason for a reservoir production stoppage, and
with a swab test, you can tell whether or not liquid is the problem. If it is, you can continue swabbing
to pull as much as you need to remove from the reservoir area. If it's not, you can rule it out as a
possibility.

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 When Swabbing Is More Likely
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While swabbing is helpful in many cases, it isn't always a necessary process. Some wells

naturally have the required pressure to push oil out of themselves, and may not take on too

much liquid over time. It all depends on the presence of particular factors and

circumstances.

Some of the elements that make the need for a swabbing run more likely include: 

 Fast pulling speeds

 Balled-up bit or BH Large drilling tools: 

 Mud thickness and properties

 Hydrostatic vs. formation pressure

 Small hole clearance

 Formation movement 

What the Process Looks Like

The process of swabbing involves specialized equipment and well-trained operators. To

start, you should follow the recommended OSHA regulations and precautions, which

include details like conducting swabbing during daylight hours, keeping oilfield workers

significantly clear of the well and equipment at all times and locating swab tanks a proper

distance from the well site.

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First, you need to be able to recognize when swabbing is necessary. As you pull oil from

your well, it is exiting the reservoirs through perforations. The openings may also produce

fluids. But rather than travel up the pipe, they collect in the bottom of the well. As the fluid
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levels get higher, they block off the reservoir, causing it to stop producing. Swabbing

equipment will help you remove the liquid without disturbing the reserve, allowing you to

continue pulling from it.

Next, you need the right equipment. Swabbing cups are specifically for removing liquids

from wells. As you push them into the well, they allow water to push past them, dipping into

the collected fluids. However, they only allow fluids to pass in one direction. It works

similarly to a loose plunger in a syringe tube, for the sake of visual representation.

As you pull the cups back out of the well, they pull the liquids that passed with them,

effectively removing them from the wellbore. Depending on how much fluid has

accumulated, you may need to repeat the process multiple times for the well to continue

producing.

Once the fluid level is low enough, you can continue pulling from the well. The remaining bit

of liquid will rise with the oil as you proceed and return the reservoir to full productivity. Over

time, the fluid will gather again and require another swabbing treatment, but there are ways

you can minimize the number of times you need to swab a particular well.

How to Minimize Swabbing

Swabbing a well can be time-consuming and costly for your company, as well as harmful for the

environment. The act of swabbing a well can cause the well to vent a significant amount of methane

emissions per year. A single well can create anywhere from 80 to 1,600 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of

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 methane in a year, depending on how often it requires swabbing. Minimizing the chances of

swabbing is beneficial for your company and the environment.

Some of the best ways to minimize oil swabbing are: 

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 Maintaining well control: One of the best ways to prevent the occurrence of swabbing is to

retain control over the well by any means necessary. Continually monitor it and ensure all systems

are working correctly. Whenever you observe any indications that swabbing might become

necessary, it's essential to have a plan to control the conditions. Whether you find signs of swelling,

narrow access, imbalanced pressures or a difference in mud viscosity, having a way to regain control

is imperative.

 Monitoring mud condition: The conditions of the well as a whole are essential to

maintaining safety and mitigating risks, but you should also keep a close eye on the status of your

mud. The mud surrounding your equipment can make your job easier or much harder, depending on

a few factors. If your mud has a high viscosity, rheology or gel strength, you're dealing with poor

conditions that can cause bit balling and induced swab kick. If you monitor it, you can help control

these factors through proper lubrication and using the correct type of chemicals. Lowering the

viscosity of the mud will help you mitigate swabbing risks

 Preventing bit balling: There are several reasons your bit and BHA can ball up during the

drilling process. It could be due to clay and shale collecting on the equipment, too much weight on

the bit, an imbalance in pressure where the hydrostatic pressure is too high or a poor bit

design and structure. There are several ways you can recognize if your bit is balled up while

drilling, such as a low drilling torque, a decreased rate of penetration or an increased

standpipe pressure. Catching any of these early by consistent monitoring will reduce your

chances of swabbing. You can also use preventative measures to decrease your chances

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 before drilling, such as selecting reliable equipment, adding a reasonable amount of weight

to the bit, using proper drilling fluid and lubricant and ensuring you have enough hydraulic

horsepower.
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 Pull out of the well at reasonable speed: A simple way to avoid issues with swabbing is
to monitor your speeds. Pulling out of your well too fast can affect its pressure balance, causing
it to drop significantly. Well-balanced pressure is essential to keeping your oil well controlled
and minimize the potential for swabbing.

 Pumping instead of pulling: While monitoring your pulling speeds is a great way to

mitigate any risks, you can also decrease the number of times you need to remove fluids by
pumping instead. With pumping, there's less risk for the damages associated with pulling, such
as depressurization, making it useful for minimizing swabbing.

Factors which affect swab and surge pressures must be precisely selected in order to control

kicks or blowouts and to prevent loss of circulation. In this paper a sensitivity analysis is carried

out to investigate the effect of drilling fluid density, plastic viscosity, yield point, bore hole

diameter and drillcollarsto-drill pipe length ratio on swab and surge pressures. The analysis is

based on:

i. The theory of hydrostatic drilling fluid mechanics, taking the effect of mud clinging

constant into consideration.

ii. Developing a Matlab code to compute and simplify the flow equations

iii. Transforming the output of this code into graphical form from which effects of mud

properties, drillstring tripping speed, and hole and drill string configuration; on swab and

surge pressures could be predicted.

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The developed code requires fairly simple input data which can be obtained from the rig site

mud engineer. Important conclusions and industrial implications of the findings are

1. Mud weight, rheology and drill collars length and size are predetermined factors which
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have been chosen carefully and maintained at the desired level during drilling and

tripping operations in order to avoid blowout or loss of circulation problems. These can

be varied only to a limited degree.

2. Safe tripping speeds are greatly influenced by hole size.

3. The developed 1computer programme can be used to predict safe drill string tripping

References

[1] https://www.globaleee.com/global-news/-history/swabbing-in-drilling

[2] Cardwell, W. T., Jr.,(1953): “Pressure Changes Caused by Pipe Movement”, API Drilling and

Production Practices, p.97

[3] Hubbert, M and Willis, D. (1957): Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing.

[4] Goins, W. C., Weather, J. P., Burba, J. L., Dawson, D.D., and Teplitz, A.J., (1951): “Down

the Hole Pressure Surges and Their Effect on Loss of Circulation”, API Drilling and Production

Practices

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