Warning Signs When Circulating

Circulating
Increased drag and resistance

Smooth

Is increase smooth or erratic?

Erratic

Is circulation restricted?

Is circulation restricted?

Mobile formations

Do drags increase when not pumping?

Unconsolidated formations Fractured/faulted formations

Cement blocks Junk

Inadequate hole cleaning

Mobile formations Reactive formations Geo-pressured formations

Warning Signs When Tripping In

Tripping In
Increase in downward resistance

Smooth Is there excessive upward drag? Inadequate hole cleaning (Cuttings beds)

Is increase smooth or erratic?

Erratic Is there excessive upward drag?

Is circulation restricted?

Hole bridged Can this be related to problem formations?

Was previous bit undergauge?

Y
Is drag reduced when pumping?

N
Was previous bit undergauge?

N
Formation ledges Wellbore geometry Cement blocks Junk

Y
Reactive formations Mobile formations Fractured/faulted formations Unconsolidated formations

Undergauge hole Are dog-legs excessive?

N
Reactive formation Mobile formation

N
Wellbore geometry Formation ledges

N
Inadequate hole cleaning Undergauge hole Can resistance and drag be related to formations?

Y
Has there been a BHA change on this trip?

N
Cement blocks Junk string Component failure

Formation Ledges

Wellbore Geometry

Fractured/faulted formations

Warning Signs When Tripping Out

Tripping out
Increased drag or overpull

Smooth Is overpull in new hole section? Are known problem formations exposed in new hole section?

Is overpull smooth or erratic?

Erratic

Is overpull in new hole section?

Are known problem formations exposed in hole section drilled by previous bits? Are known problem formations exposed in hole section drilled by previous bits?

Are known problem formations exposed in new hole section?

Y
Is circulation restricted?

N
Is circulation restricted? Is circulation restricted?

Y
Is circulation restricted?

Y
Unconsolidatedor Fractured/ Faulted formations

N
Is downward motion possible?

Y
Unconsolidated formation Fractured/faulted and Geopressured formation Is circulation restricted?

N
Is downward motion possible?

N
Wellbore geometry Formation ledges

Y
Inadequate hole cleaning

N
Wellbore geometry Formation ledges

Y
Can BHA be rotated free?

N
Can BHA be rotated free?

Y
Cement blocks Junk

N
Cement blocks Junk

Reactive formations (Bit/stabiliser balling) Mobile formations Unconsolidated formations

Inadequate hole cleaning

Reactive formations (Bit/stabiliser balling) Mobile formations Unconsolidated formations

Fractured/faulted formations

N
Formation ledges Wellbore geometry

N
Formation ledges Wellbore geometry

Wellbore geometry Fractured/faulted formation

Key seating

Key seating

Warning Signs When Running Casing

Running Casing Increase in downwards resistance while running casing or after connection Can pipe be worked upwards?

Is circulation restricted? Hole packing off Reactive formation Unconsolidated formation

N
Are permeable formations exposed?

Y
Are dog-legs excessive?

Is circulation restricted? Hole packing off Reactive formations Mobile formations Unconsolidated formations Inadequate hole cleaning

Surface load limitation with respect to larger drag (especially directional well) Inadequate hole cleaning (Cuttings beds) Centralisers broken/bunching

N N Y
Differential sticking

Wellbore geometry

Formation ledges Fractured/faulted formation Inadequate hole cleaning Centralisers broken/bunching Casing too light (Has not been filled) Junk in hole

Warning Signs When Making Connections

Moving pipe from static after making/breaking connections during drilling, tripping and reaming or after surveys

Drag trend increasing when moving string from static

Is circulation restricted? Are known problem formation exposed? Are permeable formations exposed?

Y
Reactive formations Fractured/faulted formations Mobile formations Unconsolidated formations Geopressured formations

N
Junk Cement blocks String component failure Stabilisers hanging up on ledges

Is drag reduced when pumping?

Can drill string be moved?

N Y
Reactive formations Fractured/faulted formations Mobile formations Unconsolidated formations Geopressured formations

Inadequate hole cleaning

Junk Cement blocks Stabilisers hanging up on ledges

Differential sticking

Warning Signs When Reaming In

Reaming in Increased torque Increased reaming weight required Is increase smooth or erratic?

Smooth Is circulation restricted? Are hole drags excessive?

Erratic Is circulation restricted?

Was previous bit undergauge?

Are up drags excessive?

Was previous bit undergauge?

Y
Do drags increase when not pumping?

Inadequate hole cleaning

Inadequate hole cleaning (Cutting beds)

N
Wellbore geometry Formation ledges Junk Cement blocks Bit failure

Undergauge hole

Wellbore geometry (Side-tracking hole?) Are drags increased when not pumping?

Undergauge hole

Y
Inadequate hole cleaning

Mobile formations Reactive formations Unconsolidated formations

Inadequate hole cleaning

Unconsolidated formations Fractured/faulted formations

Warning Signs When Running Casing

Running Casing Increase in downwards resistance while running casing or after connection Can pipe be worked upwards?

Is circulation restricted? Hole packing off Reactive formation Unconsolidated formation

N
Are permeable formations exposed?

Y
Are dog-legs excessive?

Is circulation restricted? Hole packing off Reactive formations Mobile formations Unconsolidated formations Inadequate hole cleaning

Surface load limitation with respect to larger drag (especially directional well) Inadequate hole cleaning (Cuttings beds) Centralisers broken/bunching

N N Y
Differential sticking

Wellbore geometry

Formation ledges Fractured/faulted formation Inadequate hole cleaning Centralisers broken/bunching Casing too light (Has not been filled) Junk in hole