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Differential Sticking
Filter Cake
Desired Filter Cake Properties:
Impermeable prevent further filtrate invasion
Thin minimum deposit of solids, effective cake building, min damage
Tough stays in place under dynamic conditions
Filter Cake usually does not form on impermeable formations like shale
Shale is very porous but the pore spaces are too small to allow filtrate invasion
Shale adsorbs water into the clay structure by osmotic pressure
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Filter Cake
Filter Cake usually does not form on impermeable formations like shale
Shale is very porous but the pore spaces are too small to allow filtrate invasion
Shale adsorbs water into the clay structure by osmotic pressure
5 Conditions Required for
Differential Sticking to Occur
1. Permeable formation in the open hole
2. Overbalanced to the formation
3. Thick filter cake
4. Pipe in contact with filter cake
5. Stationary pipe
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Impermeable Shale
1. Wellbore pressure >formation pressure (overbalanced).
2. Overbalance may cause fluid flow into formation. But since
shale is impermeable, fluid does not flow into the shale and
no filter cake forms.
3. Instead, overbalance generates a force which provides
mechanical support directly to the formation face.
4. Since no filter cake forms, when the drill string comes in
contact with the shale, the hydrostatic pressure very nearly
balances around the drill string because the contact area is
so small.
5. As a result, the differential sticking force is small and the
string usually will not get stuck.
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Permeable Sandstone
1. Filtrate enters permeable formation because of overbalance
and so filter cake accumulates.
2. An effective filter cake becomes impermeable with a thin
deposit of solids and stops further filtrate flowing into the
sandstone.
3. A poor filter cake remains permeable allowing filtrate to enter
the sandstone and a thick deposit of solids to build up on the
formation face.
4. When the drill string is adjacent to the sandstone, it may come
in contact with the filter cake deposited on the formation face.
5. While the drill string is moving, sufficient drilling fluid passes
between the drill string and the filter cake that the force from
hydrostatic pressure still very nearly balances around the drill
string.
6. As a result, the differential sticking force is small and the string
usually will not get stuck.
Permeable Sandstone
7. However, since the filter cake is still permeable, the filtrate
continues to flow into the sandstone. The mud that passes
between the drill string and the filter cake keeps it from
collapsing by keeping it wet.
8. When the drill string is in contact with the filter cake, the contact
area is much wider since the filter cake deforms around the drill
string.
9. Also, when the drill string becomes stationary while in contact
with the filter cake, there is no longer any fresh drilling fluid
passing between the drill string and the filter cake.
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Permeable Sandstone
10.Three events continue to happen:
1. There is no longer any fresh drilling fluid passing between the drill
string and the filter cake.
2. Filtrate continues to drain out of the filter cake between the drill string
and the sandstone.
3. Differential pressure is compressing the drill string against the filter
cake.
11.These events cause the filter cake between the drill string and
the sandstone to collapse which further increases the contact
area.
12.As a result, the differential sticking force is large and the string
is more likely to get stuck.
Permeable Sandstone
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Spotting Fluids and Filter Cake
Differential sticking does
not typically restrict
circulation in the annulus
This circulation capability
is used to free stuck pipe
Spotting fluids dehydrate
filter cake, causing it to
get thinner and sometimes
crack
This reduces sticking
force, allowing pipe to
come free more easily
1. Lower Filtration rate means thinner filter cake
2. Thinner filter cake means less contact area
3. Less contact area means less sticking force
Differential Sticking Warning Signs
Permeable formations in the open hole.
Mud weight creating high overbalance.
High or uncontrolled mud filtration rates.
Long unstabilized BHA segments
Increasing drag trend coming off the slips after
a connection.
Long stationary pipe times for connections,
surveys, etc.