Section 04 - ECD and S&S

ECD Fundamentals
Drilling ECD, Surge & Swab ECD
© K&M Technology Group 2022
Topics to be covered
• ECD Fundamentals
• Factors Impacting ECD
• ECD Implications
• Understanding PWD
• Planning and Execution
© K&M Technology Group 2022 2
2
Objectives
─ What is Drilling ECD and Surge & Swab ECD

─ What drives ECD
─ Why ECD is so important in ERD wells
─ How can we mitigate high ECD
ECD Basics
What is ECD?
ESD: ECD:
Equivalent Static Equivalent Circulating
Density (pumps OFF) Density (pumps ON)
Static Pr ΔP
ESD = ECD = ESD +
g x TVD g x TVD
Static Pr Static Pr
ΔP
4
Surge
Whatand Swab& Swab?
is Surge
(With Pumps OFF)
Surge: Swab:
Results from Results from upward
downward pipe pipe movement
movement
PD-PS PD-PS
ECD = ESD + ECD = ESD +
g x TVD g x TVD
PDynamic
PStatic
PStatic
PDynamic
ECD Basics
Hydrodynamic loads on the well
Cementing
Fracture
Running Casing Pressure
Drilling
Tripping In
Hydrostatic
Pressure
Tripping Out
Pore or Collapse
Pressure
6
ECD
ECDBasics
fundamentals
1 Casing @
2 10,000’ MD/4,000’ TVD (3,000/1,200m)
ECD = 11.7 ppg EMW (1.40 sg)
3
5
10.0 ppg (1.20 sg) mud & 350 psi (24 bar) annulus P
6 when circulating
ECD is much greater in shallow-TVD ER well than vertical
7 well at same MD
8
9 Casing @
10 10,000’ MD/TVD (3,000m)
ECD = 10.7 ppg EMW (1.28 sg)
11
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Surge
Surgeand SwabFundamentals
& Swab
1
10,000’ MD/ 4,000’ TVD
2 0.3 ppg over-balance = 62 psi
Swab @ 100 fpm = 160 psi = 9.2 ppg
3
6 Both wells were drilled with 0.3 ppg over balance mud.
7
Swab margin is not sufficient in shallow horizontal well.
8
9 10,000’ MD/TVD
0.3 ppg over-balance = 160 psi
10
Swab @ 100 fpm = 160 psi = 9.7 ppg
11
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
10
ECD
ECDBasics
fundamentals
1 Casing @
2 10,000’ MD/4,000’ TVD (3,000/1,200m)
ECD = 11.7 ppg EMW (1.40 sg)
3
5
10.0 ppg (1.20 sg) mud & 350 psi (24 bar) annulus P
6 when circulating
ECD is much greater in shallow-TVD ER well than vertical
7 well at same MD
8
9 Casing @
10 10,000’ MD/TVD (3,000m)
ECD = 10.7 ppg EMW (1.28 sg)
11
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Surge
Surgeand SwabFundamentals
& Swab
1
10,000’ MD/ 4,000’ TVD
2 0.3 ppg over-balance = 62 psi
Swab @ 100 fpm = 160 psi = 9.2 ppg
3
6 Both wells were drilled with 0.3 ppg over balance mud.
7
Swab margin is not sufficient in shallow horizontal well.
8
9 10,000’ MD/TVD
0.3 ppg over-balance = 160 psi
10
Swab @ 100 fpm = 160 psi = 9.7 ppg
11
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
10
Surge and Swab
Perception Basics& Swab
of Surge
• The typical perception of “what causes swab” is the following:
─ That the bit creates most of the swab (piston effect)
─ That the swab suction is not felt all the way to TD (i.e. it is local to just
below the bit)
11
Surge
Whatand Swab&Basics
is Surge Swab ECD made off?
1. Bit/ BHA components creates a piston / plunger effect
• Bit / Stab balled up
• Pulled into a tight spot
• Low clearance BHA components
2. But there are also overall drillstring effects…
This is the more critical portion
12
Surge & Swab Impact
Let’s review what happens when the string is run in hole
As the drill pipe moves down, the fluid moves up

along the entire length of the string…
The effect is exactly the same as circulating…
This effect increases the downhole

pressure all way down to bottom
13
Surge & Swab Impact

So, what happens when the string is pulled out of hole?
As the drill pipe moves up, the fluid moves down along the
entire length of the string…
This creates now a “negative pressure” (like a suction pump)
This effect reduces the downhole

pressure all way down to bottom
14
15
Surge & Swab Impact
Also, the bit and BHA may exacerbate

the surge and swab effect
Low clearance BHA components (low JSA), bit/stab balling up and

pulling into a tight hole can worsen the surge and swab impact
16
The Drillstring
Drill “Pump”
string pump effect
Surge loads in this well

up to 1 ppg EMW
17
Factors Impacting ECD
18
21
Impact of well path

• Trend Behavior Is Not Linear
a) Unlike vertical wells, ECD is
not expected to be constant
b) ECD is expected to change
with change in Wellpath
c) MD:TVD ratio plays a critical
role
22
21
Impact of well path

• Trend Behavior Is Not Linear
a) Unlike vertical wells, ECD is
not expected to be constant
b) ECD is expected to change
with change in Wellpath
c) MD:TVD ratio plays a critical
role
22
HORIZONTAL HOLE scenario
CLEAN hole ECDs are now expected to increase.
Don’t be worried by this!!!
• Annulus pressure grows, but TVD is
constant
• If ECDs were remaining the same, then
there would be a problem!
Notice also magnitude of ECDs compared to

previous vertical example
• Vertical hole ECDs were ±10.7 ppg (1.28
sg) EMW
• Now ±11.5 ppg (1.37 sg) EMW, at the
same flowrate and mud system

23
23
24
Exercise
ECD and well trajectory
25
ECD Basics
Impact of Drilling Parameters
• In addition to Wellpath, ECD is also sensitive to all the below
parameters
─ Annular clearance (DP and hole size)
─ Mud rheology
─ ROP
─ Flowrate
─ RPM
• However it is isn’t as simple as it seems!!!..
“Understanding this is critical for ECD management solution”
26
ECD Basics
Impact of Drilling Parameters
• Lets consider the below Wellpath – 20,000’(6,095m) MD
• Drilled with 10 ppg mud in different hole sizes – 17½”, 12¼”, 8½”, 6”
75° Inclination tangent
27
17½” Hole size

• ECD relatively unaffected by
changes
• ECD is most sensitive to ROP
 Cuttings load drives ECD
• Flowrate has a reverse effect on
ECD (counter intuitive)
• Impacts the cuttings load in the
annulus
• Better hole cleaning
• RPM and rheology have
minimal impact
• Drill pipe size has minimal
impact
28
12¼” Hole size
• ECD is most sensitive to
Rheology, ROP and DP size
• RPM and flowrate has
negligible impact
• Also sensitive to Wellpath
(TVD)
 Deeper TVD wellpath more
sensitive to ROP
Deeper TVD Wellpath
29
8½” Hole size

• ECD is very sensitive to DP
size selection
 Even more than the mud
weight
With 4½” DP
• Rheology and flowrate have
With
With 5” DP5½” DP
the next biggest impact
• The impact changes will DP size
• RPM and ROP has minimal
impact
• RPM more sensitive with
bigger DP
30
6⅛” Hole size
• ECD is very sensitive to DP
size selection
• Rheology and flowrate have
With 3½” DP
the next biggest impact
With 4” DP
 The impact changes with DP
size
• RPM and ROP have minimal
impact
• More sensitive to RPM with
bigger DP
31
Impact of rotation
• Have you noticed that ECDs go up when the RPM is
increased especially when drilling 6” or 8½” hole ?
• This is not due to lifting or suspending cuttings …
─ How do we know ?
─ This effect is seen before drilling out the shoe
─ And effect is as strong as the start, as at the end of the run
• What is happening ?
32
33
Impact of rotation
• Rotation Effect Depends on Hole & Drill Pipe Size
• Rotation ECD is only a concern in ‘Small hole with big pipe’
─ ECD is quite insensitive to rotation when hole is big compared to DP
• A “small-hole, big-pipe” situation is needed

─ RPM is a non-issue in 12¼” hole, 9½” hole, etc.
─ But ≤ 8½” sees a step change in behavior … depending on the DP
size
- 5⅞” & 5½” VERY SENSITIVE,
- 5” = quite sensitive
- 4½”, 4” = insensitive
High speed rotation in small hole may be very bad
34
ECD Implications
35
How large does ECD get?
• At 20,000’ MD, at 6,000’ TVD (6,000m / 1,800m)

─ Drill 8½” hole (5½” DP): 2.5 – 5.0 ppg (0.30-0.60 sg) EMW
─ Drill 8½” hole (5” DP): 2.0 – 4.0 ppg (0.24-0.47 sg) EMW
• Even more on longer or shallower wells

─ Maersk BD-04A: 5”x4” dp in 8½” hole
• 8.0 ppg (0.96 sg) EMW fluctuations at TD of 40,000’ (>12,000m)
• 11:1 MD/TVD Ratio
• 400-500 bbl/day losses for the last ⅓ of the well too!
36
ECD Implications on Mud Losses
ECD Directly Creates the following problems
• Lost circulation (more later)
• Wellbore Breathing / ballooning
37
ECD Basics Breathing / Ballooning

Wellbore
• “Ballooning” does not involve “inflation” or the wellbore
like a balloon. “Breathing” is a more appropriate term…
38
ECD Basics Breathing / Ballooning
Wellbore
• If ECD exceeds fracture gradient in impermeable (or low
permeability) rock (but ESD does not)
• Losses occur when the pumps are on……but the losses flow
back into the wellbore when the pumps are off
─ The “flow back” mud tends to have entrained gas, leads to believe
that the well is underbalanced
─ Raising the mud weight only increases the flow back, and likewise,
the associated gas! (making it worse…)
Fractures filled with mud pumps Mud flow back pumps

on (ECD) off (ESD)
39
ECD Basics
40
ESD response in a ballooning well
The ESD recorded by the PWD

tool are higher than predicted
when Ballooning is occurring:
oStatic mud equilibrium is not

reach at connection
41
Ballooning connection response (APWD)
Normal square-type response of ECD on PWD (13648

ft).
Compliant (exponential tail) response of PWD

associated with borehole breathing 16255 ft.
42
Ballooning Volume increasing with ECD
Measured Depth (ft)

o The higher the ECD, the
larger the volume lost and
gained.
o The longer it take to drill a
Gains &Losses (bbls)

stand (slow ROP, extended
ECD (ppg)
survey, etc) the higher the

amount of looses (drilling)
and gain (connection).
o Will bedding plane

instability get worse with
depth in a horizontal well?
43
ECD Implications on Wellbore Instability

• Hydraulic hammer (shock type ECDs)
• Pore Pressure Penetration
─ When near wellbore is pressured up
─ Loose unconsolidated sands
• Fatigue Failure (high ECD fluctuations)
─ Think of a paper clip being bent back & forth
• If the mud engineer was to have deliberately changed the MW
by 2 – 3 ppg every stand, would you expect problems?
44
3/21/07 0:00
Gel-Breaking Spikes: 0.3 ppg / 110 psi
3/22/07 0:00
Normal ECD Fluctuation: 0.8 ppg / 300 psi
3/23/07 0:00
POOH (swab effect) ER Well Example

3/24/07 0:00 - 11¾” @ 16,500’ MD
- Drilling to 23,000’ MD
- 10⅝”x12¼” Hole
- 5⅞”x5” dp
3/25/07 0:00
- 9.7-10.5 ppg OBM
- 6rpm = 13-15
3/26/07 0:00
Packoff Event: 3.5ppg / 1300 psi

The driller pulled into “tight hole” and someone turned the pumps
3/27/07 0:00 on… this could have been avoided if procedure had been followed!
3/28/07 0:00
1.00 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50 1.60 1.70 1.80
ECD (sg) © K&M Technology Group 2022 45
45
46
Pore Pressure
Collapse Pressure
Fracture Pressure
“Irresponsible Engineer’s Instability”:
1. Constraints are provided by G&G
2. MW selected to avoid collapse
3. Well is drilled until losses become a
problem. Reducing flow gets us a
little deeper.
4. Mud weight is then cut back as low
as possible (while maintaining
overbalance). Hole collapses on
connections and trips.
A responsible plan would incorporate a

design that enables the right mud
weight all the way to TD (slimmer drill
pipe in this case).
47
Swab Implication on Wellbore Instability
• Swab ECDs also affect wellbore instability

─ The Swab ECD felt by the wellbore is exactly the same as if the mud
engineer reduced the mud weight
• Have you ever experienced the below:

─ No cavings observed while drilling, but cavings appear after a trip
when drilling is resumed
─ The trip out of hole was relatively trouble free, but the trip back to
bottom required excessive reaming, resulting in multiple pack offs
48
Surge and Swab Basics
49
Exercise
swab
50
Understanding PWD
(Pressure While Drilling)
51
ECD
WhatBasics
does PWD measure?
PWD measured ECDs are made up of 2 components

1. Overall annulus (around drill pipe, etc.)
• This is what we normally think of for the ECDs
2. But there are also Near BHA effects
• This is usually assumed negligible because
the BHA is so short
• AND because PWD rarely sees this
52
ECD Basics
What affects PWD measurements?
BHA design can greatly affect ECDs
• PWD doesn’t necessarily see the worst case loads
• Sensor is often above the sleeve stabilizer, and always the bit
Typical PWD sensor sees annulus pressure above this

point.
• How much ECD is created across the bit & stabilizers?
• Usually assumed to be negligible…
53
ECD Basics
Occasionally, we get a glimpse of this when a stabilizer

is placed above the PWD
“Remember, however, that this is going on all the

time with the bit and lower stabilizers”
54
This explains the following scenario…
1. Initial situation while drilling - no losses seen.

PWD sees 12.0 ppg
2. When drilling later on, losses occur.
Actual ECD at bit = 13.0 ppg
LCM is spotted. Can’t circulate without losses, but
can hold static.
3. Drilling continues. Losses heal after a few hours.

It is assumed that the LCM has found the right spot.
4. No more losses as drilling continues to TD.
5. But losses start again when circulating at shoe.

Why now?
- because of near BHA effect (unseen to PWD)
55
55
ECD
PWDBasics
as a Hole Cleaning indicator
• PWD Is a Poor Indicator of Hole Cleaning in high angle

wellbores
Until it is too late !!!!
• …..in other words, there are better indicators
56
ECD
PWDBasics
as a Hole Cleaning indicator
Can PWD see the build up of cuttings beds?
• Once the cuttings touch the bottom, they are

largely invisible to the PWD
• Only a small % are in the flow-stream at any time
So what does the PWD see?
1. The PWD sees the cuttings in the low-angle hole,

as it comes off the conveyor belt, going into suspension
2. Sometimes the PWD will see dune behavior if close to

pack-off (as opposed to bed behavior)
57
ECD Management
58
Critical Hole Sizes For Drilling ECD
• 8½” and smaller sizes are very sensitive to ECD
─ Smaller annular clearance
─ Deepest section (maximum MD)
• Larger hole sizes are much less affected

• Most hydraulics models under-estimate ECD
─ Tool joints
─ Torque reduction tools (if used, e.g. NRDPPs)
─ Pipe rotation / spiraling effect
59
ECD, Friction, Hole Cleaning Problems
Optimum Range: 3.25 to 3.75

Hole Optimum DP
12 ¼” 6 ⅝”
10 ⅝” 5 ½” or 5 ⅞”
9 ½” 5”
8 ½” 4 ½”
6 ½” 3 ½”
60
ECD Management – Annular clearance
• Casing and hole size selection
─ 7” vs 7⅝” intermediate casing
─ 6⅛” vs 6¾” hole size
• Drill pipe size selection

─ 5½” vs 5” vs 4½” DP for 8½” hole
─ 4” vs 3½” for 6⅛” hole
• Running previous casing as a liner

• Under reaming the hole to a bigger size
─ Only works if ECD is a problem at TD
61
ECD Management – Mud Rheology

• Design the Fann 35 6 rpm rheology to be as thin as possible
Hole size 6 rpm value
12¼” 10-12
8½” – 9½” 7-9
6” – 6¾” 5-7
• Micronized Barite results in very thin mud (6 rpm – 3-4)
62
ECD Management – Annular Velocity
• A common thought in drilling planning is that flowrates will be
unacceptable if smaller pipe is used
─ For example, in 8½” hole,
• Maybe only able to pump at 350 – 450 gpm instead of 600 gpm
─ The flowrates our industry uses in 8½” hole are “nuclear drilling”…
• If you aren’t willing to consider drilling at lower flowrate in 8½” hole, how
can you justify drilling 12¼” hole … see next plot
• Target Annular Velocity

─ 200 ft/min (1.00 m/sec) – Ideal
─ 150 ft/min (0.75 m/sec) – Minimum (for efficient hole cleaning)
─ 100 ft/min (0.50 m/sec) – Poor Cleaning + Barite Sag Problems
63
550 gpm in 8½” hole with 5½” drillpipe is

equivalent to 1550 gpm in 12¼” hole!
If 800 – 1000 gpm is acceptable in

12¼”, then 280-450 gpm is
acceptable in 8½”
If you think in terms of 12¼” equivalent

AV’s … what does this look like ?
64
ECD Management – Drilling Practices
• Reaming at connections (ECD + Surge)

• Pumping Sweeps (don’t)
• Solids control
• Changing direction (more later)
• Gel-breaking at connection
65
ECD vs.Management
ECD Hole Cleaning
Hole cleaning
So this is the situation we might have But if we “solve the ECD problem
in small hole, with big drill pipe
We can now rotate fast without an ECD problem,
Very good hole cleaning & hydraulics, but but now we have a hole cleaning challenge.
high ECDs also sensitive to rotation
This is scale for 5½” dp This is scale for 4½” dp

inside 8½” hole inside 8½” hole
66
So which “compromise” do we choose?
• Easy hole cleaning, but an ECD challenge?
OR
• Acceptable ECDs, but a hole cleaning challenge?
• If ECDs are NOT a limitation, prioritize on hole cleaning

efficiency
• But if ECDs are the primary issue, ALWAYS solve ECDs
─ ECDs are a design problem & solution
─ Hole cleaning is easy. All you need is high RPM and patience
67
Swab
ECD Case Study Case Study
Management
• 8¾” Hole, 8.9 ppg (1.07 sg) mud, with 8.4 ppg pore pressure
– Can not trip conventionally upto 10,000’ (3000m) MD
– Have to back ream > 10,000’ (3000m)
– Mud weight is limited, because of ECD limitations
68
Swab Management
75
Swab ECD Management
• Swab is felt all the way to TD

• Recommendations:
─ Do not pick up the string without circulation (even for T&D)
─ Thin the mud rheology prior to tripping out hole
─ Develop a tripping schedule
─ Backream or pump out of hole
76
Summary
• ECD is a design issue and must be solved way before the well spud
• ECD is driven by annular clearance, well length, mud rheology and
tripping speed (for surge & swab ECD)
• Always check what ECD is the most sensitive to
• Adjust the drilling practices in narrow operating mud window
• Surge & swab loads in horizontal wells are higher than in vertical
• Horizontal wells require more tripping margin
─ Alternatively, they require a way of bottom hole pressure drop
compensation (backreaming or pumping out of hole)
79
So how does a slimmer drillstring help?
5” vs 5” x 4½” Shows the tripping situation with the increased

tapered string MW now possible
73
73
Exercise
ECD & Annular Clearance
74
Swab Management
75
Swab ECD Management
• Swab is felt all the way to TD

─ Do not pick up the string without circulation (even for T&D)
─ Thin the mud rheology prior to tripping out hole
─ Backream or pump out of hole
76
Swab ECD Management
• Perhaps the most destructive form of swab is when picking
up a casing string or a liner
─ When working pipe when tight hole is encountered
─ Picking up to break static friction
─ Or pulling the string out
• Imagine what the entire open hole is experiencing when

doing this!!!
─ Don’t pick up unless necessary
─ If necessary to pick up casing or liner, do so with slow circulation
77
Surge ECD Management
• Surge ECD Its primarily a concern while running casing

─ Thin the mud rheology prior to the casing run
78
Summary
• ECD is a design issue and must be solved way before the well spud
• ECD is driven by annular clearance, well length, mud rheology and
tripping speed (for surge & swab ECD)
• Always check what ECD is the most sensitive to
• Adjust the drilling practices in narrow operating mud window
• Surge & swab loads in horizontal wells are higher than in vertical
• Horizontal wells require more tripping margin
─ Alternatively, they require a way of bottom hole pressure drop
compensation (backreaming or pumping out of hole)
79

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ECD Fundamentals

Drilling ECD, Surge & Swab ECD

© K&M Technology Group 2022

© K&M Technology Group 2022 2

─ What is Drilling ECD and Surge & Swab ECD

© K&M Technology Group 2022 3

© K&M Technology Group 2022 4

© K&M Technology Group 2022 5

© K&M Technology Group 2022 6

© K&M Technology Group 2022 9

© K&M Technology Group 2022 10

© K&M Technology Group 2022 9

© K&M Technology Group 2022 10

© K&M Technology Group 2022 11

© K&M Technology Group 2022 12

As the drill pipe moves down, the fluid moves up

This effect increases the downhole

© K&M Technology Group 2022

Surge & Swab Impact

This effect reduces the downhole

© K&M Technology Group 2022

Surge & Swab Impact

Also, the bit and BHA may exacerbate

Low clearance BHA components (low JSA), bit/stab balling up and

© K&M Technology Group 2022

Surge loads in this well

© K&M Technology Group 2022 17

Factors Impacting ECD

© K&M Technology Group 2022 18

Impact of well path

© K&M Technology Group 2022 22

Impact of well path

© K&M Technology Group 2022 22

Notice also magnitude of ECDs compared to

© K&M Technology Group 2022 23

© K&M Technology Group 2022 24

© K&M Technology Group 2022 25

• However it is isn’t as simple as it seems!!!..

“Understanding this is critical for ECD management solution”

© K&M Technology Group 2022 26

75° Inclination tangent

© K&M Technology Group 2022 27

17½” Hole size

© K&M Technology Group 2022 28

Deeper TVD Wellpath

© K&M Technology Group 2022 29

8½” Hole size

© K&M Technology Group 2022 30

© K&M Technology Group 2022 31

© K&M Technology Group 2022 32

• A “small-hole, big-pipe” situation is needed

High speed rotation in small hole may be very bad

© K&M Technology Group 2022 34

© K&M Technology Group 2022 35

How large does ECD get?

• At 20,000’ MD, at 6,000’ TVD (6,000m / 1,800m)

• Even more on longer or shallower wells

© K&M Technology Group 2022 36

© K&M Technology Group 2022 37

ECD Basics Breathing / Ballooning

© K&M Technology Group 2022 38

Fractures filled with mud pumps Mud flow back pumps

© K&M Technology Group 2022 40

The ESD recorded by the PWD

Section 04 - ECD and S&S

Section 04 - ECD and S&S