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Stuck pipe is a continuing industry problem for drilling operations that results in very significant
nonproductive time and financial losses. Stuck pipe incident investigations have shown that all stuck pipe
incidents can be prevented.
As the worlds leading oilfield drilling services company, Schlumberger has a key role to play in helping to
prevent and mitigate the risk of stuck pipe through the application of technology and good well planning
and drilling practices. It is acknowledged throughout the industry that stuck pipe is an awareness issue.
This Fundamentals of Stuck Pipe Prevention training package is intended to increase basic knowledge
and awareness across the entire Schlumberger drilling population. It is not a replacement for the excellent
stuck pipe prevention classroom training that already exists in Schlumberger. The package draws on
many existing documents and best practices, including the Schlumberger Stuck Pipe Prevention manual,
and is the result of a collaborative project between IPM and Drilling and Measurements (DM).
On completion of this training you should be able to
Symbol
SI unit
depth
foot
ft
meter
inch
in
millimeter
bit size
inch
in
millimeter
pounds force
lbf
decanewton
nozzle size
32nds of an inch
millimeter
feet/hour
ft/h
meters/hour
barrel
bbl
cubic meter
US gallon
galUS
cubic meter
gallons/minute
bbl/min
cubic meter/minute
barrels/minute
ft/min
cubic meters/minute
feet/minute
ft/min
meters/minute
pressure
psi
volume
flow rate
kilopascal
megapascal
particle size
micron
micrometer
temperature
degrees Fahrenheit
degrees Celsius
mud density
Pounds force/gallon
ppg
mud gradient
psi/foot
psi/ft
funnel viscosity
second/quart
s/qt
centipoise
cP
millipascal-second
yield point
lbf/100 in
gel strength
lb/100 in
pascal
cake thickness
32nds of an inch
millimeter
filter loss
cm
pascal
torque
foot-pound
ft.lb
shear rate
reciprocal seconds
-1
newton-meter
reciprocal seconds
Conversion factors
Symbol
Multiply by
To obtain
Symbol
barrels
bbl
0.158984
cubic meters
barrels
bbl
5.6148
cubic feet
ft
barrels
bbl
42
gallons (US)
USgal
barrels
bbl
158.984
liters
bars
bar
14.5038
psi
bars
bar
100,000
pascals
Pa
bars
bar
100
kilopascals
kPa
bars
bar
0.1
megapascals
MPa
centimeters
cm
0.3937
inches
in
centimeters
cm
0.03280839
feet
ft
feet
ft
0.3048
meters
feet
ft
12
inches
in
cubic feet
ft
0.17811
barrels
bbl
gallons (US)
galUS
0.02380952
barrels
bbl
gallons (US)
galUS
3.7854
liters
horsepower
hp
0.7457
kilowatts
kW
inches
in
2.54
centimeters
cm
inches
in
0.0833333
feet
ft
square inches
in
6.4516
square centimeters
cm
kilograms (force)
kgf
2.20462
pounds-force
lbf
kilograms (force)
kgf
9.81
Newtons
Multiply
kilopascals
kPa
0.01
bars
bar
megapascals
MPa
145.038
psi
meters
3.28084
feet
ft
Newtons
0.224809
pounds-force
lbf
pounds-force
lbf
4.44822
Newtons
psi
0.06894745
bars
bar
psi
6.894745
kilopascals
kPa
pounds-force/gallon
lbf/gal
0.1198
kilogram-force/liter
kgf/L
quart
qt
0.94635
liter
describe the three main stuck pipe mechanisms and their causes
describe the measures to prevent sticking
recognize the warning signs of stuck pipe on the rig site.
Occurrence
When flow rate is inadequate (for example, large holes, formation washout, limited pump capacity)
and/or the rotation is insufficient (for example, large bent housing, curved sections, sliding)
Most common in deviated wells (3060) where unstable cuttings beds can be created
When well is drilled faster than the hole is cleaned. In this case, the excess volume of solids
generated modifies the flow profile of the drilling fluid and reduces its ability to carry solids.
Rig-site warnings
Increasing torque and drag. Usually, a trend to increased drag is a clear indicator while pulling out.
Reduced cuttings returns at the shakers, i.e., the volume of cuttings being generated is not seen at
the shakers
Increasing pump pressure or equivalent circulating density (ECD), as the mud in the annulus contains
more solids. Note that in deviated wells, a decrease in ECD can be a sign of poor hole cleaning and
solids accumulating on low side of the wellbore (a decrease in the cuttings concentration in the
annulus of the lower inclination section of the well).
Poor weight transfer to bit when slide drilling in directional wells
Reground cuttings
Difficulty in orienting the toolface
Preventive measures
Maintain adequate annular velocity (both flow rate and annular clearance contribute to annular
velocity).
Maximize the drillpipe rotation to optimize cuttings bed agitation in directional wells, even when
circulating or pumping sweeps.
Ensure that the bottom-up circulation times are adequate before pulling out of hole.
Monitor the rate of cuttings return at the shakers.
Ensure that low, high, or weighted sweeps are properly used and that their efficiency is monitored.
Optimize the drilling mud properties (increase low-end rheology in near-vertical wells).
Design the well properly to provide an adequate flow rate. This may require using a larger drillpipe,
thinner mud, a lower pressure drop bit or BHA, and/or a third mud pump.
Establish an overpull limit before pulling out.
Evaluate and monitor the torque and drag trends.
Control the ROP, if necessary, to limit the amount of solids concentrating in the mud.
Minimize the use of tools with restricted flow paths, i.e., those with a small junk slot area.
Occurrence
Rig-site warnings
Preventive measures
Occurs more frequently with water-base mud (WBM) than with oil-base mud (OBM)
The reaction is time dependent, and is determined by the mud and formation interaction
Often happens while tripping
Can happen while drilling
Generally occurs while the BHA is passing the reactive formation
Preventive measures
Use an inhibited mud system such as salt or polymer mud. If the effect is severe, use OBM.
Drill and case off reactive formations as quickly as possible.
Perform wiper trips to gauge the hole (the frequency of wiper trips should be based on the exposure
time and warning signs).
Keep the mud properties on specification.
Monitor the mud properties (MBT, PV, YP).
Rig-site warnings
Preventive measures
After a reduction in mud weight or a long exposure with a constant mud weight
Most likely to occur with WBM but can happen with OBM
While drilling or tripping
In the casing rathole when the mud weight has to be decreased after drilling out the shoe
Rig-site warnings
Preventive measures
Control the ECD properly to minimize the induction of overpressure in sensitive formations.
Use the appropriate mud weight.
If cavings are observed, apply good hole cleaning practices, such as pumping combined high
viscousweighted sweeps, and controlling ROP.
Minimize the casing rathole length.
In deviated wellbores
While drilling or tripping
Rig-site warnings
Preventive measures
Use offset data and mechanical earth models (MEM) to establish the optimum inclination and
azimuth.
Maintain the mud weight and ECD within the planned mud weight window.
Plan to case off these formations as quickly as possible.
If possible, drill these formations with smaller hole sizes.
Maintain hole cleanliness and be prepared for increased amounts of cuttings and cavings.
Figure 3.10: Geological sources of rock stress. Note that the overburden stress is only maximum in Case
A.
Occurrence
Rig-site warnings
Preventive measures
Use offset data to establish the optimum inclination and azimuth for the well.
Maintain mud weight and ECD within the planned mud weight window.
Plan to case off these stressed formations as quickly as possible.
Keep the hole clean and be prepared for increased cuttings and cavings.
Consider pumping high-viscosity weighted sweeps to carry the cavings.
Rig-site warnings
Preventive measures