Training Division - DFSG

STUCK PIPE
January 2007
STUCK PIPE

Stuck pipe is a long-standing problem

in the drilling industry.

It is estimated $200 - $500 million is

spent annually as a result of stuck
pipe.

This amount could be drastically

reduced by preventative action and
rapid response to keep minor sticking
from developing into severe sticking.
Scomi Oiltools
 Contents

Prevention
Mechanism
 Causes
 Prevention
 Freeing
Spotting Fluids

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE
Prevention
Stuck pipe is not inevitable

Communicate effectively

Plan ahead

Listen to the hole constantly

Maintain good mud

Keep the pipe moving

Clean out the hole as fast as you can drill it

Take action early

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE
Prevention
Bottom hole assemblies

Operate BHA and string within limits

Keep the BHA as simple as possible

Run a drilling jar whenever possible

Whenever possible use spiral drill collars

Stabilize the BHA to minimise wall contact

Always gauge bits and stabilizers accurately

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Prevention
Drilling

Clean the hole

Monitor the hole for changes in drilling trends

Perform wiper trips as hole conditions dictate

Wipe/Ream the last stand before making a connection

Wipe the last stand or single before taking a survey

When drilling to casing point, calculate a target depth

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE
Prevention

Tripping

Plan the trip

Know the swab and surge pressures

Circulate clean prior to tripping

Ream and condition the hole while tripping in

Be careful while running with new bits

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE
Prevention
Casing and Cementing

Ensure hole is clean & mud properties are in spec.

Calculate running speeds - do not exceed.

Centralize the casing string

Wash the casing through problem formations

Know the theoretical cement thickening time of cement

before drilling out

When drilling cement establish circulation before drilling,

drill with low weight on bit.

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE

Contents

Prevention
Mechanism
 Causes
 Prevention
 Freeing
Spotting Fluids

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Mechanisms of Stuck Pipe

Formation related sticking

Mechanical sticking

Differential sticking

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Formation Related Sticking

Causes
Prevention
Freeing

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED

Unconsolidated Formations
Causes

 Usually encountered in top hole

 Loose sands
 Gravels
 Silts

 Formation may collapse

 Indicators
 Rough drilling
 Fill on trips
 Excessive drag & torque
 Cavings
 Mud loss
Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED

Unconsolidated Formations

Prevention

Build low permeability filter cake

May require adjustments to rheology

Do not exceed flow rate required to

clean the hole

Avoid rotating bits or stabilizers near

problem area

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED

Unconsolidated Formations

Prevention
Trip past problem area carefully

Clean out hole fill prior to drilling

ahead

Consider soaking viscous pills into

formation
– XC Polymer/Bentonite/Fibrous
LCM/Calcium Carbonate pills w/-
10 minute soaking time

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED

Unconsolidated Formations

Freeing stuck pipe

If pipe is stuck due to formation collapse, circulation

will be lost.

Try to regain circulation while working the pipe

downwards to break the bridge.

Once circulation is regained, clean the hole before

drilling ahead.

At this point, raising mud weight might be considered

to stabilize the hole.
Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Reactive Formations

Causes

Water sensitive clays absorb

water and swell and restrict
the annulus

Problem confined to WBM

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Reactive Formations
Prevention

Drill and case off quickly

Choose suitable inhibitive mud

and mud weight.

Monitor MBT closely

Wipe hole regularly

Prepare to dump and dilute

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Reactive Formations

Freeing

Use of drilling jar

Once pipe is free, increase

inhibition levels and mud weight

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Fractured or Faulted Formations

Causes

Formations may give rise to

ledges.

May stabilize as wellbore collapses

to stable condition

Risk of lost circulation and

differential sticking

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Fractured or Faulted Formations

Prevention

Circulate well before tripping

Checking the hole during wiper

trips

Ream the hole on the way in

Restrict tripping speeds and

circulating pressures

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Fractured or Faulted Formations

Freeing

Work the pipe slowly to break up

pack-off/obstruction

In limestone, use inhibited HCl to

dissolve obstruction at stuck point

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Mobile Formations
Causes

Formations that deform under

pressure (salt and plastic shales)

Prevention
Increased / Correct mud weight

Ream while RIH

Perform wiper trips

Spot Freshwater pills in salt formation

Pump lubricants/base oil in shale’s

Use of eccentric PDC bits

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Mobile Formations

Freeing (sticking in salt)

Displace mud with freshwater

until drill collars/open hole
annulus is filled with water

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Geopressured Formations
Causes

Formations which are

abnormally pressured

Signs:
 Pressure caving’s (splintery)
 Hole enlargement
 Tight hole (due to hole
cleaning problems)

Prevention

Stabilize wellbore ASAP by

increasing mud weight

Scomi Oiltools
 STUCK PIPE
STUCK PIPE – FORMATION RELATED
Geopressured Formations
Freeing

Increase mud weight

Adjust rheology to
improve hole cleaning

Work on pipe

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Mechanical Sticking

Causes
Prevention
Freeing

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Undergauge Hole

Causes

Excessive bit wear

Jammed while RIH

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Undergauge Hole

Prevention

Always gauge bits

Trip carefully if known

Run gauge protected bits

Consider roller reamer

Freeing Stuck Pipe

Jar upwards to free

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Wellbore Geometry

Causes

Doglegs & Ledges

Often different BHA's for directional drilling will be less

flexible and can get stuck.
Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Wellbore Geometry

Prevention

Minimise dogleg severity

Ream after BHA change

Freeing Stuck Pipe

Work patiently on the pipe

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE
Poor Hole Cleaning
Causes
Poor hole cleaning results in
overloading the annulus with
cuttings, potentially sticking the
drill-string, accompanied by
partial loss of circulation
– This is most likely in
washouts where annular
velocity decreases and
cuttings accumulate.

In deviated wells, cuttings form

beds on the low side of the hole
can migrate up hole like shifting
sand dunes or slump done.

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Hole cleaning
Prevention
Clean the hole as fast as drilled

Ensure mud is within specification

Circulate clean prior to tripping

Reciprocate and rotate the pipe continuously

Plan and perform wiper trips as hole conditions dictate

Monitor the shakers

Keep all circulating and RE in good working order

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Hole Cleaning Calculations

Prevention

Calculate hole cleaning for the section with highest

inclination.

High yield point

Viscous mud

High viscosity sweeps for large hole sections

Maintain adequate gels.

Increase flow rate with hole angle

– 30o inclination requires 20% higher velocity
– 60o requires twice the AV of a vertical well

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Hole Cleaning

Prevention

Deviated Wells

High velocity

Use lower viscosity mud to induce turbulence

Clean cuttings beds with;

– low viscosity pills followed by high viscosity, high weight
pills (used with caution)

Rotation and reciprocation are critical > 45o

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Key Seating

Side View Over Head View

Extra hole made by action of pipe Original
rubbing against the formation Hole

Key Seat

Key seats
– Grooves in the borehole wall cut by rotating drill-pipe.
– Not possible to pull drill-pipe through the zone, but
possible to rotate.
Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE

Key Seating

Prevention

Drill with stiff BHA that tends to minimize chance o

severe doglegs

Use key seat wipers properly positioned in string

Freeing

Apply downward force to drillstring

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE
Collapsed Casing

Formation forces exceed casing

collapse pressure
– Casing is too light duty.
– Casing is old.
– Casing is landed with too
much tension or compaction
reducing its collapse rating.
– Casing shoe is poorly
cemented and damaged
during trips.
– Casing joints come undone
due to poor make up and/or
poor cement
Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE
Junk

Causes

Dropped tools

Parts of downhole
equipment

Common inside casing

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE
Junk
Prevention

Inspect all tools

Keep hole covered

Drillpipe wipers

Freeing

Work and jar the pipe

RIH to overgauge section

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – MECHANICAL STUCK PIPE
Cement Related

Cement-related sticking occurs when

blocks of cement fall into the wellbore
from casing ratholes or cement plugs,
jamming the drillstring.

It also occurs when the drillstring

becomes planted in soft or "green"
cement that flash sets when pressure
is applied.

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Differential Sticking

Causes
Prevention
Freeing

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – Differential STUCK PIPE
Differential Sticking
Causes

Hydrostatic pressure exceeds

formation pressure

There exists a permeable zone

tion
ul a
c i rc
Thick filter cake is being
deposited
Impermeable
Zone
There is contact between pipe
and wall Porous Hs
and
Filter
permeable Cake
This is the most preventable zone
type of sticking, since contact
area, mud weight and filter cake
can be controlled.

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – Differential STUCK PIPE

Symptoms

Increase torque and drag

Fluid circulation unaffected

Inability to move or rotate pipe

Prevention

Maintain low fluid loss, thin filter cake, minimum contact area

Use NAF mud – better lubricity, thinner filter cake

Alterations to location of stabilizers

Use of friction coefficient reducers (lubricant)

Freeing

Reduce hydrostatic pressure

Use spotting fluids

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – Differential STUCK PIPE

Prevention
Plan ahead

Contingency planning
Filtercake

Select BHA’s with minimum

Overbalance
contact pressure Mud

Minimise mud weight

Drillpipe
Have pit space available

Keep pipe moving and circulate

whenever possible

Continuously monitor pore

pressure

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE – Differential STUCK PIPE
Differential Sticking

100
Stuck pipe probability, %

50
Drillpipe erosion

20

0
1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 3 000 Wiper trip Reaming

Differential pressure, psi

Probability of differential sticking versus Three ways mudcake can be removed,

diminishing the probability of differential
differential pressure, established from sticking. While drilling, the rotating pipe
analysis of 600 well histories in the gulf wears one side of the borehole removing
of Mexico. the cake. During a wiper trip, the
stabilisers and bit remove a large portion
An "acceptable" probability of 20% is of the cake. Reaming does the best job of
achieved if differential pressure never removing cake, but it takes the most
exceeds 2000 psi. time. Another method of removing filter
cake is to use casing scratchers.
Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE

Contents

Prevention
Mechanism
Spotting Fluids

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE
Spotting Fluids
These consist of a blend of surfactants and
emulsifiers mixed in either a base oil or
environmentally friendly fluid.

The spotting fluid reduces the surface tension

between the well bore and the drill string, it also
penetrates the wallcake promoting it's removal from
the well bore.

The spotting fluid density should be slightly higher

than the mud to avoid migration, although some
operators prefer it lighter. In this case the loss of
hydrostatic head may be the important factor.
Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE
Spotting Fluids
The success of spotting fluids depends on:

 The volume displaced, the stuck point is located and

sufficient pill is mixed up to cover all the pipe below this point. A
50% excess is normally mixed to cover for hole enlargement.

 Proper placement. The pill is spotted across the stuck point

leaving 10 bbls in the drill string. 1/2 a bbl is then pumped every
half hour while working the pipe.

 The pill should be left for a minimum of 8 hours to

soak before giving up. If pipe is not free after 40 hours consider
sidetracking.

 The pill should be pumped as soon as possible after getting

stuck.

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Spotting Fluid

These are either supplied with emulsifiers for

weighted systems or without for non weighted
systems.

Formulations depend on the supplier. Ensure an

adequate supply of spotting fluid is kept on the
rig and formulation data is available for the
required mud weights.

Example: Slick-Diff (differential sticking

preventive)

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Spotting Fluids – Unweighted BREAK-FREE

Unique blend of surfactants and carrier fluid

Can be mixed in all types of non aqueous base

fluids and glycols
Add 3 -4 gals of BREAK-FREE per bbl of base fluid

Scomi Oiltools
STUCK PIPE STUCK PIPE

Spotting Fluids – Weighted – BREAK-FREE W

Blend of Surfactants, Emulsifiers and an Oil Soluble Water
Emulsifiable Polymer
 Used where a weighted pill is required.
 Normal treatment level is 5 gal of BREAK-FREE per bbl of
finished spotting fluid
Recommended Formulation - 100 bbl
Density BREAK- Base Fluid Water Barite
lb/gal FREE W (bbl) (bbl) 25 kg sacks
8 9 64 27 69
10 9 58 26 254
12 9 54 22 456
14 9 51 21 636
16 9 49 11 846
18 9 44 10 1036

Scomi Oiltools