Hole Cleaning

Hole cleaning in high angle wells presents many unique

problems that are can be overcome as long as good drilling
practices are utilized.

The presence of drilled solids in the well bore is one of the

highest effects on friction factors!
Hole cleaning cont’d

High angle wells lead to some of the most troublesome hole

cleaning problems.
More time is required to transport a single particle through
3,000 m of high angle wellbore, than for the same 3,000m in a
vertical well.
Particles can typically remain suspended in high angle wells
provided the drill pipe rotation is sufficiently high to agitate the
cuttings and annular flow rate is sufficient to provide lift.
Hole Cleaning cont’d

The most effective method of removing solids from the

drilling fluid is at the “Shale Shaker”.

If solids get past the shale shaker and into the system, they
are much harder to remove.

Operators drilling ERD wells utilize a higher number of

shakers to facilitate cuttings removal. Cascade systems are
common.
Hole Cleaning cont’d
Problems will rapidly develop under static conditions or if the
flow rate and pipe rotation are not adequate, allowing cuttings
to accumulate in beds.
The process known as Boycott settling occurs under static or
low flow conditions where particles rapidly settle out of
suspension. An accumulation forms and it avalanches down the
annulus.
The avalanching can be problematic for several reasons, settled
bed of particles and axial drill string movement create ideal
conditions for cuttings bed slumping and avalanching.
Hole Cleaning cont’d
Boycott Settling Effects
1. Cuttings particles are suspended when drilling
with pipe rotation.
2. Once circulation and drill pipe rotation stop,
cuttings begin to settle to the low side of the
annulus.
3. Once a critical mass has been exceeded the
cuttings avalanche, can lead to a pack-off.
Boycott Settling
Hole cleaning cont’d

When drilling high inclination well bores, sweeps are the

method of choice for helping clean the well bore.
The choice of a weighted sweep or a “light weight high flow
rate sweep” depends of the type of mud system being used and
well bore stability issues.
Sweeping the well bore and maintaining sufficient rotation of
the drill string is imperative for cleaning the hole.
Hole Cleaning cont’d

Pipe Rotation:

Drill pipe rotating on its own axis has minimal effect

on cuttings agitation.

Drill pipe rotation must be sufficiently high to initiate

circumferential motion of the drill pipe in the hole.
Cuttings Agitation
Comparison of concentric drill pipe (Vertical Hole) and
eccentric drill pipe (High Angle Well) annular flow
Hole Cleaning cont’d
As drill pipe is pulled through a cuttings bed, tool
joints and the BHA collect cuttings particles and lead
to a pack-off ,stuck pipe or fluid losses.
Hole Cleaning cont’d

Slide drilling
When drilling high angle wells without rotary steerable tools,
slide drilling with motors is required.
It is important to acknowledge that when slide drilling in high
angle wells cuttings transport will be very poor, even with high
flow rates.
Hole cleaning pills may assist to a certain degree, but solids
removal will not be efficient unless pipe rotation is applied.
Hole Cleaning cont’d
Some hole cleaning rules of thumb.
Minimize hole size where possible to maximize hole cleaning.
Plan for high flow rate (large diameter drill pipe)
Maximize the use of rotary drilling which helps stir up cuttings
bed
Select bit nozzles to balance ROP optimization Vs annular
velocity to clean hole
Avoid high instantaneous ROP to avoid overloading annulus
with cuttings
Conduct wiper trip after prolonged periods of slide drilling
Some hole cleaning rules of Thumb cont’d
Use viscous pills only when essential. Take special care with
lo-Vis pills to maintain high flow rate.
Use Dense Pills only when essential. Limit Volume to avoid
fracturing formation.
Back ream only when essential.
Prior to trip circulate hole clean with rotation. A single bottoms
up is not sufficient.
If Pumps fail, stop drilling until capacity is restored.
If you encounter over pull on trip, stop, circulate and rotate at
least one bottoms up then attempt to pull.
Is the hole talking to you?

Rounded cuttings over the shaker indicate poor hole cleaning as

cuttings are being slowly rolled up hole
Low cutting’s volume at the shaker compared to ROP indicate a
hole that is loading up.
Increase in hole drag at this time confirms the same.
Increase in torque is more confirmation!!!
Tight connections are confirming the same!
Hole Stability
Numerous formation related hole stability issues exist. It seems
that Canada has them ALL!
Preparing for some of these issues comes down to having the
local field experience.
Example: If you are about to drill into a “plastic” formation
(salt, claystone) mud weight should be sufficiently increased
prior to drilling into the problem formation. Waiting and trying
to increase mud weight while drilling the problem formation is
“Too Late”
Hole Stability cont’d

Most hole instability will become apparent to the driller with

indicators such as torque increases, drill string over pull or an
increase in pump pressure.

Immediate actions should be to pull up above problem area,

access the actions to be taken, Implement remedies.
Do not drill ahead into unstable formations unprepared!
Mobil formation
Unconsolidated Formation
Fractured/Faulted (Tectonic)
Reactive Formations
Reactive Formations
The value of good drilling practices

Drilling High angle wells in any area benefit from basic good
drilling practices being understood and executed by all drilling
personal involved, regardless of personal opinion!
Every field in the world has specific drilling problems that need
to be addressed when documenting drilling procedures for all
crews. The procedures required to work with field specific
drilling problems need to be agreed by the drilling team and
implemented.
Connection guidelines for High Angle wells
All drillers should be familiar with outlined connection
procedures.
At “kelly down” allow weight to drill-off prior to picking up
drill string.
Wipe at least one stand prior to making connection.
Allow cutting to be circulated above BHA prior to making
connection.
Minimize the period without circulation during connection.
Connection should only be made if hole is in good shape never
make a connection with any over pull.
Connection guidelines for High Angle wells cont’d
If any erratic or high torque is experienced prior to a
connection stop and clean the hole.
If differential sticking is suspected to be a risk; maximize pipe
motion, rotate pipe in slips while making connection.
Confirm circulation prior to moving pipe.
Set slips high enough to allow downward motion after
connection.
Always begin pipe motion downwards once slips are pulled.
Mechanically moving the cuttings bed

Some high angle operations do not have the ability to rotate at

high RPM’s in order to facilitate cuttings movement.
Other methods do exist to facilitate moving the cuttings bed off
the low side of the hole and into the mud flow.
Cuttings bed impellers, cuttings bed cleaning tools.
Several designs of these types of tools exist.
Cutting Bed Mobilizer
CBM
 Cutting Bed Mobilizer
CBM

Rotation of the drill string after each single that is slid will
enable the Cuttings Bed Mobilizer to agitate cuttings off the
low side of the hole.
Cutting Bed Mobilizer
CBM
 Prior to Tripping

Tight hole conditions have been encountered on numerous

cleanup trips on wells currently being drilled in Alberta.

We have encountered similar problems in international and

have recommended the following procedures.

Throughout the drilling process ensure field personnel are

monitoring their Equivalent Circulating Density ( ECD).
 Prior to Tripping

Prior to tripping increase mud weight to a point where it is

equivalent to the ECD while drilling.
Trip bottom hole assembly out of hole. If high over pulls are
occurring rotate and circulate back to bottom.
Once again increase mud weight to equivalent ECD and trip
bottom hole assembly.
When circulating weighted pill ensure low volumes are utilized
until the pill is recovered.