Stuck Pipe Instructions

As soon as the drill string becomes stuck it is important to establish the mechanism or mechanisms
that are causing the stuck pipe so as to proceed with the most suitable freeing technique. This
program aims to assist in determining which mechanism is actually behind the stuck pipe situation.

In order to perform the stuck pipe analysis the user is asked for four pieces of information which must
be entered into the appropriate sections. Each piece of information is weighted based upon its relative
importance prior to determining the sticking mechanism.

The first piece of information concerns the motion of the drill string IMMEDIATELY prior to getting
stuck. Was the string moving or rotating up or down immediately prior to sticking or was it static?

The second piece of information concerns the motion of the drill string after getting stuck. Is
movement down free, restricted or impossible?

The third piece of information concerns the ability to rotate after getting stuck. Is rotation free,
restricted or impossible?

The final piece of information concerns the ability to circulate after getting stuck. Is the ability to
circulate free, restricted or impossible?

After filling in the four pieces of information, select analysis conclusion. This will
produce the most likely mechanism that is resulting in your stuck pipe situation. In
addition help is available with the most successful, industry standard procedures for
freeing pipe given the set of conditions that have just been entered by the user.
Where the user input indicates.

1. Pack Off

As soon as it is suspected that the drill string is packing off (reduced flow out,
coupled with increasing pump pressure, the drill string torquing up etc.), the pump
strokes should be reduced by half. This will minimize pressure trapped should the
hole actually pack-off completely. Excessive pressure applied to a pack-off will only
make things worse. If the hole cleans up, return flow to the normal rate.
If the string packs off, immediately stop the pumps and bleed down the standpipe pressure [NB this is
not possible with a non-ported float valve]. When bleeding pressure down from under a pack-off,
control the rate so as not to "U" tube solids into the drill string in case they plug the string.

Leave low pressure (<500 psi ) trapped below the pack-off. This will act as an indicator that the
situation is improving should the pressure bleed off.

Holding a maximum of 500 psi on the standpipe and with the string hanging at its free rotating weight,
start cycling the drill string up to maximum make-up torque. At this stage do not work the string up or
down.

Continue cycling the torque, watching for pressure bleed off and returns at the
shakers. If bleed off or partial circulation occurs, slowly increase pump strokes to
maintain a maximum of 500 psi standpipe pressure. If circulation improves continue
to increase the pump strokes.
If circulation cannot be regained, work the pipe between free up and free down weight. DO NOT
APPLY EXCESSIVE PULLS AND SET DOWN WEIGHTS AS THIS WILL MAKE THE SITUATION
WORSE. Whilst working the string continue to cycle the torque to stall out and maintain a maximum of
500 psi standpipe pressure.

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AT THIS POINT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIRE THE JARS IN EITHER
DIRECTION.

If circulation cannot be established increase the standpipe pressure in stages up to 1500 psi and
continue to work the pipe and apply torque.
Once full circulation is established it is time to consider jarring. If the pack-off occurred while the string
was static or moving up then jar down. If the string was moving down when pack-off occurred then jar
up. (Preparations should be made to jar for up to 10 hours or more).

If the pipe is not free once full circulation is established, commence jarring operations in the opposite
direction to the last pipe movement. Once the pipe is free rotate and clean the hole prior to continuing
operations.

If more information is available when the hole is trying to pack-off then more specific actions can be
taken in order to try and remedy the situation.

If the formations are unconsolidated then they may fall into the well bore as the supporting rock is
removed by drilling. Typically, shallow sands, gravels etc. are not cemented and cannot be supported
by the hydrostatic pressure supplied by the drilling fluids and “flow” or fall into the well bore behind the
drill string causing it to pack off. This is especially the case if little or no filter cake is present. In order
to get free from this, follow the procedures outlined above but bear in mind that the pressures
suggested probably won’t be attainable at shallow depths.

Mobile formations may be squeezed into the well bore like toothpaste due to the overburden pressure
and cause a pack-off behind the BHA. Typically this occurs when drilling salt, but may also occur
when drilling plastic clays. In order to get free from this consider spotting fresh water pills if the mobile
formation is salt. If moving up apply torque and jar down with the maximum trip load. If moving down,
jar up with maximum trip load. Do not apply torque when jarring up. Please note that prior to spotting
large fresh water pills it is advisable to check with the mudloggers and mud engineer that the salts
that will be washed out are not likely to react with the mud e.g. polyhalides with polymer mud. In
addition the mud weight should be increased as this will slow down the creep rate of the formations.
Please note that in order to counter the mobile formations completely the mud weight would probably
need to be increased to weights much higher than the fracture gradient of other shallower exposed
formations.

If the formations are fractured and or faulted then small pieces of rock from around the “shatter zone”
may fall into the well bore and trap the string. Typically this occurs in tectonically active zones,
fractured limestones, basalts etc. Of all the sticking mechanisms this is the one most likely to occur
while drilling, rather than tripping or making a connection. In order to get free follow the above outlined
procedures unless actually on bottom drilling at the time the pack-off occurred then jar up in an
attempt to break up the debris.

Naturally overpressured formations that are drilled into with a negative differential pressure, apart
from possibly kicking, may also become unstable and collapse, packing off the string. Typically this
occurs in shales and claystones. In order to get free follow the above outlined procedures with the
added precaution of increasing the mud weight so that a condition of positive differential pressure
exists. In addition to this the formations may actually acquire the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling
fluids they are exposed to, especially if they are exposed to the fluids for a number of days. If the mud
weight is decreased then an artificial or induced overpressured situation will result, behaving the same
as a naturally overpressured formation.

If the formations are reactive i.e. they absorb water and swell into the well bore then they may pack-
off the drill string. Typically this occurs in shales and claystones and very recent formations, especially
when using water based mud. In order to get free follow the above outlined procedures and take the
precaution of tripping out of the hole using slow running speeds to minimise swabbing effects and the
chances of inducing a kick.

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Formations that are under excessive tectonic stress and are being bent and buckled due to
movements in the earths crust may collapse into the well bore and pack-off the drill string in a manner
similar to naturally overpressured formations. Typically this occurs in and around mountainous areas.
In order to get free follow the above outlined procedure for naturally overpressured formations. Please
note that in order to counter the tectonic stress completely the mud weight may need to be increased
to weights higher than the fracture gradient of other shallower exposed formations.

1a. Pack Off In Deviated Holes

(Usually with angles greater than 35°)
In deviated holes (usually with angles greater than 35 degrees) in addition to the mechanisms outlined
for the Pack Off in a vertical hole the drill string may pack off due to poor hole cleaning and the
settling of cutting and or cavings in the well bore.

Cuttings and cavings may settle on the downside of the well bore and accumulate to form a layer or
cutting bed. The BHA or string may then get itself stuck in these beds of cuttings and or cavings. This
may occur while drilling, especially with high rates of penetration and low flow rates or during a
connection when the pumps are switched off and the cuttings/cavings settle out or slide down the
downside of the well bore.

This situation is more likely to occur if there little or no mechanical agitation of the cuttings from the
rotation of the drill string when using a downhole motor to slide for example.

An extreme of this situation is known as avalanching whereby the cuttings/cavings that have
accumulated become unstable and begin to slide down the well bore and gathering momentum before
they pack off the string. This may occur even while the pumps are on in high angle holes.

If a cuttings bed has developed then this may be agitated and cause a pack off during a trip out of
hole. This is caused by the larger gauge parts of the BHA (stabs etc.) actually dragging the cuttings
back up the hole during a trip out, causing the cuttings bed to thicken.

As soon as it is suspected that the drill string is packing off (reduced flow out,
coupled with increasing pump pressure, the drill string torquing up etc.), the pump
strokes should be reduced by half. This will minimize pressure trapped should the
hole actually pack-off completely. Excessive pressure applied to a pack-off will only
make things worse. If the hole cleans up, return flow to the normal rate.
If the string packs off, immediately stop the pumps and bleed down the standpipe pressure [NB this is
not possible with a non-ported float valve]. When bleeding pressure down from under a pack-off,
control the rate so as not to "U" tube solids into the drill string in case they plug the string.

Leave low pressure (<500 psi ) trapped below the pack-off. This will act as an indicator that the
situation is improving should the pressure bleed off.

Holding a maximum of 500 psi on the standpipe and with the string hanging at its free rotating weight,
start cycling the drill string up to maximum make-up torque. At this stage do not work the string up or
down.

Continue cycling the torque, watching for pressure bleed off and returns at the
shakers. If bleed off or partial circulation occurs, slowly increase pump strokes to
maintain a maximum of 500 psi standpipe pressure. If circulation improves continue
to increase the pump strokes.
If circulation cannot be regained, work the pipe between free up and free down weight. DO NOT
APPLY EXCESSIVE PULLS AND SET DOWN WEIGHTS AS THIS WILL MAKE THE SITUATION

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WORSE. Whilst working the string continue to cycle the torque to stall out and maintain a maximum of
500 psi standpipe pressure.

AT THIS POINT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIRE THE JARS IN EITHER DIRECTION.

If circulation cannot be established increase the standpipe pressure in stages up to 1500 psi and
continue to work the pipe and apply torque.

Once full circulation is established it is time to consider jarring. If the pack-off occurred while the string
was static or moving up then jar down. If the string was moving down when pack-off occurred then jar
up. (Preparations should be made to jar for up to 10 hours or more).

If the pipe is not free once full circulation is established, commence jarring operations in the opposite
direction to the last pipe movement. Once the pipe is free rotate and clean the hole prior to continuing
operations.

2. Differential Sticking

As soon as differential sticking has been identified as the sticking mechanism pump at the maximum
allowable rate in an attempt to erode the filter cake. Work down to the stuck depth the maximum make
up torque (maximum for the type or types of pipe in the string) and attempt to maintain this torque at
depth. If this does not work then the procedure can be repeated a number of times.

If the pipe still does not come free then prepare to jar. Slow down the pumps to a minimum, or even
stop them. Slack off the string to the maximum set down weight for a long enough time period to trip
the jars. If the string still does not come free then maintain the string torque and continue jarring down
with the maximum trip load, still pumping very slowly or with the pumps off to maximise the
effectiveness of the down blow. If after 5-10 jar blows the string does not look as if it is going to come
free then continue jarring while making preparations to spot some sort of releasing pill or conduct “U”
tube operations.

Once the pipe is free rotate and work the string while circulating at the maximum rate to clear the hole
of any debris. Before continuing with drilling operations revaluate the mud properties to try and avoid
a recurrence of the problem.

3. Well Bore Geometry

If it is established that the sticking is due to well bore geometry or mechanical causes then continue to
circulate the hole. If sticking occurred while moving up then apply torque and jar down. If sticking
occurred while moving down then DO NOT APPLY TORQUE and jar up. Jarring operations
conventionally start with a relatively light loading at first building up to maximum loading after
approximately one hour (assuming the string is still stuck).

When jarring down or cocking the jars to fire up, reduce the pump pressure. This results in a more
effective down blow. When jarring up pump pressure aids the blow so full circulation is recommended.

Jarring may be necessary for a long period of time before the string is freed or an alternative decision
is made. If the problem is in a Carbonate then consider spotting acid. If it is in Salt then consider
pumping fresh water.

Once free continue circulating at full rate, working and rotating the string and ream/backream the
section thoroughly.

If more information is available then more specific actions can be taken in order to try and remedy the
situation.

If severe dog legs exist in the hole, it may be that Key Seating is occurring caused by the pipe rotating
against the same point of the bore hole wall and wearing a groove or key seat into the wall at that

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point. As such when the string is pulled out of the hole the tool joints or any other larger OD items will
get jammed in the key seat. Getting stuck like this only occurs while pulling out of hole, as such in
order to get free, apply torque and jar down.

After coring or running a new bit after the previous bit was graded to be undergauge, resistance may
be encountered during the trip in hole as the new in gauge tools encounter the undergauge hole. If the
run in hole proceeds too quickly without reaming etc. the new bit can jam in the undergauge hole. If
this happens, maintain full circulation and jar up. Do apply torque and do not jar down.

If the formations drilled are of various types and hardness’s and closely interbedded then ledges may
form. Similarly different rock types may cause the bit to kick off in another direction and create a sharp
angle or dogleg in the well bore (drilling into caves can also cause this). These can be considered to
be obstacles to smooth trips in and out of hole. In order to get free when stuck under these conditions
follow the steps outlined above.

Junk falling down the hole from the drill floor can get jammed against the drill string and result in the
pipe becoming stuck. If this is the case then freeing procedures are as per the steps outlined above,
depending upon the string movement direction at the time of sticking.

If while tripping in or out of the hole (more likely to occur when running in) the string gets stuck while
in the casing then there is a good possibility that the casing has collapsed. This could be due to a
larger pressure build up behind the casing than the casings collapse pressure, or the casings collapse
pressure has been reduced through wear reducing the casings wall thickness or by corrosion. In this
case attempts should be made to jar out of the hole.
After drilling casing shoes and exposing them, it is possible for blocks of cement from around the shoe
to fall down the well bore an jam themselves against the drill string. If this occurs then follow the steps
outlined above. An alternative problem resulting from cement occurs when the string is accidentally
run into cement that has not set. The surge pressure caused by running in hole and or the increased
pressure due to breaking circulation can cause the cement to flash set. If this occurs then bleed of any
trapped pressure in the stand pipe (assuming circulation is not possible) and jar up with the maximum
trip load immediately. Do not slowly build up the load as time is of the essence when dealing with
cement that may still be setting.