BORE HOLE PROBLEMS

CONTAMINANT:
Any undesirable component that causes a detrimental affect to the drilling fluid.

CONTAMINANT
Drill solids

EXAMPLE
Active solids - clays Inactive solids - silt, sand limestone, chert, etc. Sodium chloride, NaCl Potassium chloride, KCl Calcium chloride, CaCl2 Magnesium chloride, MgCl2 Anhydrite, CaSO4 Mixed salts at various concentrations. Carbon dioxide, CO2 Hydrogen sulfide, H2S. Light or heavy oils Lignite Coal Degradation of mud products. Result of cementing operation.

EVAPORITE SALTS

WATER FLOWS ACID GASES

HYDROCARBONS

TEMPERATURE CEMENT

1. WELL BORE INSTABILITY:

A. Shale problems (chemical physical). 1. Indications of problem shales.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 2. Sloughing shale. Hole enlargement. Bridges and fill on trips. Stuck pipe and fishing difficulty. Hole-cleaning problems. High fluid maintenance cost. 7. Solids-control problems. Shale hydration (surface adsorption and osmotic adsorption) will result in two distinctly different problems. a. Swelling Expansion of clays due to intake of water. Indicators Bit balling, mud rings or gumbo attacks, hole washouts, elliptical Wellbore, fine solids build up. b. Dispersion the disintegration of shale of shale due to water contact. Indicators Sloughing shale, bridges and fill on trips, hole cleaning Problems.
Table 1 lists the chemical and physical process used in stabilizing shale sections and typical fluids, which employ these stabilization mechanisms.

3. Stabilizing shale through inhibition. B. Mechanically induced bore hole problems and solutions
Many bore hole problems encountered while drilling are the results of improper drilling practices. Table 2 outlines typical bore hole problems, which are mechanically induced, and recommended solutions.

C. Unconsolidated formations( sands, gravels, etc.) 1. Indications of unconsolidated formations:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. 2. 3. 4. Rough drilling. Hole fills, torque and drag on connections and trips. Frequent packing off and bridges at specific depths. Large amounts of caving and/or sloughing shales after trips. Re-drilling of footage. Mud loss.

2. Remedial procedures
Increase low-shear viscosities to improve hole cleaning. Increase mud weight, if possible. Assure laminar flow to avoid mechanical erosion. Combat loss of circulation (LCM) with viscous pills containing various sizes of LCM (see loss of circulation section). 5. Utilize cement squeeze.

D. Evaporite deposits (Stringers and massive salt sections) 1. Associated problems.

1. Excessive washouts causing reduce hole cleaning and/or under reaming (caving in) of the formation. 2. Dissolved evaporates (salts) contaminate mud system. 3. Directional problems (unwanted sidetracking).

2. Indicators
1. 2. 3. 4. 1. Salt in cuttings or increased chlorides without increased volume (no flow water). Flocculation of fresh water mud. Increased plastic viscosity. Increase in total hardness (anhydrite). Change to CARBO-DRILL or oil mud with balanced water phase.

3. Remedial procedure

Problem Mechanical erosion

Cause Turbulent flow rates. Drill string geometry. Inadequate rheological properties. Inadequate mud weight. Geopressured formations

Indicators Mixed sizes and shapes of cuttings. Excessive lag. Hole enlargement.

Solution Alter rheological properties or reduce pump output to ensure laminar or transitional flow. Reduce drill string diameter. Raise mud weight to balance formation pressure.

Under balanced hydrostatic pressure

Gas cut mud Excessive splintered or concave cuttings. Hole fill after trips

Pipe whip

Excessive rotary speeds Drill string not in tension. Excessive pipe running or pulling speeds. High gel strengths. Improper drill string tension. Improper drill string design.

Cuttings small mixed shapes of different types.

Slow rotary speed. Ensure drill string is in tension.

Swab or surge pressures

Loss of circulation. Gas, oil, or water intrusions on trips. Large quantities of fill and debris after trips. Improper fluid displacement.

Reduce pipe running or pulling speeds. Condition mud to reduce gel strengths.

WATER BASE MUD (WBM) TREND ANALYSIS

TREND Changes in mud properties are an indication that something abnormal is taking place.

MUD PROPERTY MUD WEIGHT

TREND CHANGE
INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Drill solids increase, heavy spot from barite sag. Over treatment during weight-up. Formation fluid influx, light spot from barite sag. Excessive water additions. Reactive shale drilled, drill solids increase, low water content, calcium contamination from cement, anhydrite formation drilled. Formation water influx, excessive water content. Unconsolidated sand drilled, drill solids increase, low water content. Formation water influx, excessive water additions, and solids content decrease. Reactive shale drilled, anhydrite formation drilled, low water content, calcium contamination from cement. Formation water influx, excessive water additions, decrease in low gravity solids, additions of chemical thinners. Reactive shale drilled, low water content, calcium contamination from cement, or anhydrite formation drilled. Formation water influx, excessive water additions, additions of chemical thinners. Low gravity solids increase, flocculation from cement, chloride, calcium contamination, low gel content. Mud treatment-taking affect. Additions of pH control additives, calcium contamination. Additions of mud products, anhydrite formation drilled. Salt formation is drilled, pressure transition shale is drilled, formation water influx. Water additions Salt or calcium formation is drilled, formation water influx. Addition of fresh water, chemical addition. Reactive shale is drilled, addition of bentonite. Water additions, solids removal equipment.

FUNNEL VISCOSITY PLASTIC VISCOSITY YIELD POINT GEL STRENGTH API / HPHT FLUID LOSS pH

DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE

CHLORIDE
DECREASE INCREASE

TOTAL HARDNESS CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC)

DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE

OIL / SYNTHETIC BASE MUD ( OBM / SBM ) TREND ANALYSIS

TREND Changes in mud properties are an indication that something abnormal is taking place.

MUD PROPERTY MUD WEIGHT

TREND CHANGE
INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Drill solids increase, Heavy spot from barite sag. Over treatment during weight-up. Formation water influx, Excessive base oil additions, Light spot from barite sag Addition of water, calcium carbonate, primary emulsifier, low gravity solids increase. Addition of base oil, Decrease in low gravity solids. Increase in organophilic clay, Addition of emulsified water or synthetic polymer. Addition of base oil or degellant. Decrease of organophilic clay Addition of organophilic gel, Addition of water. Large base oil additions, Increase vin mud temperature. Large addition of water or water influx. Large addition of base oil. High bottom hole temperature. Increase in emulsifier concentration. Addition wetting agent or base oil. Decrease in emulsifier concentration. Newly prepared OBM has low ES but increases with lime. Water % of O/W ratio decreasing. Addition of calcium chloride Water % of O/W ratio increasing from water addition or formation water influx Addition of base oil. Decrease in emulsifier. Water present in filtrate. Increase in primary emulsifier concentration. Addition of lime. Drilling calcium formation ( anhydrite ) CO2 or H2S kick. Addition of base oil or water.

PLASTIC VISCOSITY YIELD POINT GEL STRENGTH OIL / WATER RATIO ELECTRIC STABILITY ( ES ) WATER PHASE SALINITY HPHT FLUID LOSS EXCESS LIME

DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE CHANGE

INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE

PROBLEM FOAMING

INDICATION
Foam on surface of mud pits. Reduced mud weight. Reduced pump pressure or hammering of pumps. High viscosity, high gel strengths, increase in pH, fluid loss and filtrate calcium. High viscosity, high flash gels and increased fluid loss and filtrate calcium. High viscosity, high gels, increase in fluid loss and salt content. Grainy appearance to mud.

TREATMENT
Sprinkle pits with fine spray of water or diesel. Add DEFOAM-X or other surface-active agents to mud. In salt or low solids mud, M-I gel is helpful. Pretreat if possible, or for low concentrations, remove chemically with SAPP or sodium bicarbonate. When large concentrations are encountered, convert to a system that will tolerate cement. Pretreat for small quantities or remove chemically with soda ash. For drilling massive anhydrite, covert to a system that will tolerate anhydrite (gyp/lime). Adjust mud properties to tolerate salt by using chemical treatment fluid loss control agents, or convert to saturated salt system. If only stringers are encountered, dilution will reduce salt content. Reduce solids concentration by mechanical means and by water dilution. Treat mud with SPERSENE, XP-20, or MELANEX-T. Treat calcium to low levels. Raise pH to 10-10.5. Limit M-I GEL additions to the minimum needed for fluid loss control. Add oil, SALINEX, D-D or DMS surfacants. Maintain low viscosity and gel strengths to keep hole clear. Utilize available horsepower for most efficient hydraulics. Increase circulation rate.

CEMENT CONTAMINATION GYPSUM OR ANHYDRITE CONTAMINATION SALT CONTAMINATION

HIGH TEMPERATURE GELATION

BIT BALLING

LOCKED CONES

ABRASION

HIGH FLUID LOSS

SALT WATER FLOW

GAS KICK

Difficult to break circulation. Inability to run tools to bottom. High viscosity and gel strengths of mud off bottom. Decreased alkalinity and increased fluid loss. Little or no progress in footage. Balled up bit and drill string. Swabbing on trips. Bits usually come out in good condition, showing little wear but heavily packed with cuttings. Cones locked or bearing loose with Reduce drilled solids by water dilution and/or teeth structure still on cones. mechanical separators. Add oil E.P. LUBE to improve life. Premature bit failure and excessive Lower sand content by dilution and/or chemical wear of swabs, liners and valve treatment. Use a desander to hold sand content to a seats. minimum. Filter cake spongy, soft and too If you feel that enough fluid-loss additives are in the thick. system, add M-I GEL to system. (Run methylene blue test). Increase in pit volume. Mud Shut in well. Follow procedures for killing the well. continues to flow when pump is Adjust flow properties as needed. Raise mud weight shut down. Change in chloride to control flow. content. Increased total hardness. Increased flow line temperature. Increase in pit volume. Mud Shut in well. Follow procedures for killing the well. continues to flow when pump is Raise mud weight as needed to kill the well. shut down. Gas cut mud may occur prior to this.

PROBLEM

INDICATION

TREATMENT

MUD LOSSES

UNSTABLE MUD

HIGH VISCOSITY

HIGH VISCOSITY

HIGH VISCOSITY

HIGH VISCOSITY

HIGH FLUID LOSS HIGH FLUID LOSS

Decrease in pit volume. Complete Lower mud weight and equivalent circulating density loss of returns. if possible. Add lost circulation material, or set Diaseal M or similar soft plug, possible a cement squeeze. Run pumps slowly. Watch all causes for lost returns. Barite settles out. Increase viscosity by adding a viscosifier. Use M-I GEL or XC Polymer where applicable High funnel viscosity Run mechanical solids removal equipment to discard High plastic viscosity drilled solids. Water dilution also will be required. Normal yield point Increase deflocculates concentration to maintain Normal gels stable properties. High solid content High funnel viscosity Add dispersant. Run mechanical solids removal Normal plastic viscosity equipment. High yield point High gels Normal solid content High funnel viscosity Run mechanical solids removal equipment to discard High plastic viscosity drilled solids. Water dilution also will be beneficial. High yield point Later thinner may be added. Normal gels Normal solid content High funnel viscosity Possible carbonate problem. Run pH/Pf analysis or Normal plastic viscosity Garrett Gas Train for carbonates. Treat with lime High yield point and/or gypsum as necessary. Normal initial gel strength High 10-min gel strength High Pf, Low pH, High Mf. Normal viscosity Add fluid loss control agent through hopper High viscosity mud. Does not take Prepare a batch of new mud with excess fluid loss fluid loss control additive. control additive and add to mud over one circulation. Treat contamination problem in original mud. Excessive cuttings over shaker. Increase mud weight if possible. Reduce fluid loss. Tight connections. Convert to inhibitive fluid or add STABILHOLE. Increase viscosity. Reduce drill pipe whipping. Reduce pressure surges. Full or partial circulation. String Place diesel or mineral oil and PIPE-LAX fluid to against porous zone. No key seats. cover drill collars and keep some in pipe to move at High fluid loss with high solid 10-min intervals. In weighted systems, use PIPEcontent mud. LAX W additive. Condition filter cake and reduce fluid loss with M-I GEL, RESINEX.

SLOUGHING SHALE

DIFFERENTIAL STICKING

PROBLEM
PLASTIC SALT

INDICATION

TREATMENT

Tight connections. Ream to bottom Increase mud weight. Ream through tight spot. after trips. Stuck pipe could result.

PLASTIC SALT

Stuck pipe when fluid is saturated Place fresh water to dissolve salt where pipe is stuck, water-base or oil-base. usually near the bit. Then increase mud weight.

Contaminant

Contaminant compound/ion CaSO4/ CaSO4.2H2O Ca++

Contaminant Source Formation, Commercial gypsum

Method of Measurement Ca++ titration

Possible Effect on Mud High yield point High fluid loss High gels Thick filter cake Ca++ increase High yield point High gels High fluid loss Thick filter cake Total hardness increase. PH decreases. Pf decrease.

Course of Action

Anhydrite / Gypsum

Treat with sodium carbonate ( soda ash ) Ca++(mg/L) x 0.00093 = Na2CO3 ( lb/bbl) Break over to gypsum mud. Treat with caustic soda, NaOH (pH >/= 10) for moderate contamination, eg: seawater. Mg++(mg/L) x 0.00116 = NaOH (lb/bbl) Treat with additional thinner and fluid loss chemicals. Convert to MgCl2 mud if contamination is severe. NOTE: For severe MgCl2 contamination, continued additions of Na(OH) or Ca(OH)2 could result in an unacceptable viscosity increase. Treat with sodium bicarbonate Ca++(mg/l)x0.00074 = NaHCO3 (lb./bbl) Treat with SAPP Ca++(mg/l) x 0.00097 = Na2H2P2O7(lb./bbl) Treat with lignite 7 to 8 lb./bbl precipitates 1 lb./bbl Ca(OH)2 to form Ca salt of humic acid. Additional thinner / fluid loss chemicals. Dilution Dump if flocculation can not be controlled. Allow Ca(OH)2 to remain and convert to lime mud or allow Ca(OH)2 to deplete over time. In some cases use acids such as HCl, phosphoric. Treat with soda ash Ca++(mg/l) x 0.00093 = Na2CO3(lb./bbl) Since effect of pH are often more detrimental to mud order chemical treatment should be 1. sodium bicarbonate 2. lignite 3. SAPP 4. Soda ash Sodium bicarbonate is treatment by choice. Dilution with fresher water Addition of thinner/fluid loss chemicals reasonably tolerant of NaCl. Convert to salt mud using chemicals designed for salt. Presolubilize chemicals where possible Dump if flocculation is too severe for economical recovery.

Mg++ MgCl2 Cl-

Formation, Seawater

Total hardness, Cl- titration.

Cement/lime

Ca(OH)2 Ca++ OH-

Cement, commercial lime, contaminated barite

Titration for Ca++, Pm

High yield point High fluid loss Thick filter cake PH increases Pm increase Ca++ increase

Salt

NaCl

Formation i.e., salt dome, stringers,

Cl- titration

saltwater flow,
make up water

High yield point High fluid loss Thick filter cake High gels Cl- increase

Carbonate bicarbonate

CO3 HCO3

Formation,CO2 gas. thermal degradation of organics, contaminated barite, over treatment with soda ash or bicarbonate. Bacterial action on organic

Garrett gas train, pH, Pf method, P1/P2, Mf/Pf titration

high yield point high 10 min gel high HTHP fluid loss Ca++ decrease Mf increase pH instability flocculation

Treat with lime HCO3-(mg/l) x 0.00021 = Ca(OH)2 (lb./bbl) And CO3 (mg/l) x 0.00043 = Ca(OH)2 )lb./bbl)

H2S Hydrogen sulfide

H2S from formation gas, thermal degradation of organics, bacterial action.

Garrett gas train, (quantitative), automatic rig H2S monitor(quantit ative), lead acetate test.

High yield point High fluid loss Thick filter cake pH increase Pm increase Ca++ increase

Treat with gypsum CO3 (mg/l) x 0.001 = CaSO4. 2H2O (lb./bbl) And caustic soda HCO3- x 0.002 = NaOH (lb./bbl) Course of action to be in compliance with all safety requirements. Pretreatment/treatment with MIL-GARD or MIL-GARD-R. Increase pH >11 with Ca(OH)2 or NaOH. Condition mud to lower gels for minimum retention of H2S. Operate degasses, possibly with flare. Displace with oil mud.

CHEMICALS REQUIRED TO REMOVE IONIC CONTAMINANTS CONTAMINA NT (MG/L) Ca++ Ca++ Ca++ Mg++ Mg++ CO3= CO3= HCO3HCO3PO4 (-3) X FACTOR = TREATING CHEMICAL

X X X X X X X X X X

0.00093 0.00074 0.0097 0.00093 0.00116 0.00043 0.001 0.00021 0.002 0.00041

= = = = = = = = = =

Na2CO3 (soda ash) NaHCO3 (bicarbonate of soda)* Na2H2P2O7 (SAPP) Na2CO3 NaOH (caustic soda)** Ca(OH)2 (lime)* CaSO4. 2H2O (gypsum) Ca(OH)2** NaOH (caustic soda) Ca(OH)2**

*Best to use where pH and calcium are high. ** Use with caution; may cause high pH.pj\v.[kb/ EXAMPLE: Titration of the filtrate shows a calcium level of 650 mg/l. to remove all but approximately 100 mg/l, treat 550 mg/l, (650 100 = 550) of calcium with soda ash. Therefore, soda ash required is approximately 550 x 0.00093 = 0.51 lb./bbl.