HOLE PROBLEMS:

PIPE STICKING
 FREEING
PROCEDURE
 STUCK PIPE

SOLIDS MECHANICAL
DIFFERENTIAL
INDUCED PACK AND WELLBORE
STICKING
OFF GEOMETRY
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF
SOLIDS INDUCED
PACK OFF
• Pack off : To plug the wellbore
around a drillstring. This can
happen for a variety of
reasons, the most common
being that either the drilling
fluid is not properly
transporting cuttings
and cavings out of the annulus
or portions of the wellbore
wall collapse around the
drillstring.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF -
Unconsolidated formations
DEFINITION
• An unconsolidated formation falls into the well bore
because it is loosely packed with little or no bonding between
particles, pebbles or boulders.
CAUSES
• It happens in a well bore when little or no filter cake is
present.
• The un-bonded formation (sand, gravel, small river bed
boulders etc.) cannot be supported by hydrostatic
overbalance as the fluid simply flows into the formation.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF -
Unconsolidated formations
INDICATORS:
• Increase in pump pressure.
• Overpull on connections.
• Shakers blinding
PREVENTIVE:
Slow down tripping speed when the BHA is opposite
unconsolidated formations to avoid mechanical damage.
Start and stop the pumps slowly to avoid pressure surges
being applied to unconsolidated formations.
Control-drill the suspected zone to allow time for the filter
cake to build up,
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Mobile formations
DESCRIPTION:
The mobile formation squeezes into the well bore because it
is being compressed by the overburden forces.
A deformation occurs because the mud weight is not
sufficient to prevent the formation squeezing into the well
bore. This mechanism normally occurs while drilling salt.
INDICATORS:
• Overpull when moving up, takes weight when running in.
• Sticking occurs with BHA at mobile formation depth.
• Restricted circulation with BHA at mobile formation depth.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Mobile formations
PREVENTION:
• Slow trip speed before BHA enters the suspected
area.
• Minimise the open hole exposure time of these
formations.

REMEDIAL ACTION:
• Spot a fresh water pill if in a salt formation.
(Consider the effect on well control and on other
open hole formations ).
• If moving up, apply torque and jar down with
maximum trip load.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Fractured & Faulted Formations
DESCRIPTION:
A natural fracture system in the rock can often be
found near faults.
Rock near faults can be broken into large or small
pieces. If they are loose they can fall into the well
bore and jam the string in the hole
CAUSES:
This mechanism can occur:
• in tectonically active zones.
• in prognosed fractured limestone.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Fractured & Faulted Formations
INDICATORS:
• Fault damaged cavings at shakers.
• Sticking can be instantaneous
PREVENTION:
Minimise drill string vibration. Choose an
alternative RPM or change the BHA configuration if
high shock vibrations are observed.
Slow the trip speed before the BHA enters a
suspected fractured/faulted area.
Restrict tripping speed when BHA is opposite
fractured formations and fault zones
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Fractured & Faulted Formations

REMEDIAL ACTION:
• JAR UP in an effort to break up formation debris.
• Use every effort to maintain circulation.
• Circulate high density viscous sweeps to clean
debris.
• Spot acid if stuck in limestone.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Reactive Formations
DESCRIPTION
• A water sensitive shale is drilled with less inhibition
than is required.
• The shale absorbs the water and swells into the
well bore.
CAUSES
• When using WBM in shales and clays in young
formations.
• When drilling with an incorrect mud specification.
insufficient concentration of inhibition additives in
OBM and WBM such as salts (KCl, CaCL), glycol and
polymer.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Reactive Formations
INDICATORS:
• Hydrated or mushy cavings.
• Shakers screens blind off, clay balls form.
• Increase in LGS, filter cake thickness, PV, YP, MBT.
• An increase or fluctuations in pump pressure.
• Generally occurs while POOH.
• Circulation is impossible or highly restricted
PREVENTION:
• Use an inhibited mud system
• Regular wiper trips or reaming trips may help if
shales begin to swell.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Hole Cleaning Problems
DESCRIPTION:
In deviated wells cuttings and cavings settle to the
low side of the hole and form layers called solids beds
or cuttings beds.
The BHA becomes stuck in the solids bed.
CAUSES:
• A low annular flow rate.
• Inappropriate mud properties.
• Insufficient circulation time.
• Inadequate mechanical agitation.
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Hole Cleaning Problems
INDICATORS:
• Overpulls increasing while POOH from TD in
deviated hole (7-10 stands).
• Erratic pump pressure.
• Poor weight transfer to bit.
• Difficulty orienting toolface.
• Absence of returns at shakers.
• Presence of re-ground cuttings (LGS).
• Overpulls inside casing
SOLIDS INDUCED PACK OFF –
Hole Cleaning Problems
PREVENTION:
• Maximise the annular velocity.
- Consider the use of a third mud pump.
- Consider using larger drill pipe.
• Ensure circulation times are adequate.
- Consult the hole cleaning charts for confirmation.
- Monitor the cuttings returns at the shakers.
• Maximise mechanical agitation of cuttings beds.
- Rotation.
DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
Differential Sticking
DESCRIPTION:
• Differential sticking occurs when the drill string is
held against the well bore by a force. This force is
created by the imbalance of the hydrostatic
pressure in the well bore and the pore pressure
of a permeable formation. When the hydrostatic
pressure is greater than the pore pressure the
difference is called the overbalance.
Differential Sticking
CAUSES:
• With a stationary or very slow moving string.
• When contact exists between the drill string
and well bore.
• When an overbalance is present.
• Across a permeable formation.
• In a thick filter cake
Differential Sticking
INDICATORS
• Overpulls on connections and after surveys
• No string movement
• Full unrestricted circulation
• Losses
• High overbalance
• Permeable formation exposed in open hole
Differential Sticking
PREVENTION:

Well design
• Where possible design casing setting depths to
minimise overbalance across potential sticking
zones, i.e. design for minimum overbalance.
• Limit mud weight to the minimum required for
hole stability and well control.
Mud
• Use OBM where possible. Keep fluid loss to a
minimum. Maintain a low concentration of LGS.
Keep gels low.
Differential Sticking
PREVENTION:
Stationary string
• KEEP THE STRING MOVING.
Pre-plan to minimize the down time for operations
that require the string to remain static (surveys,
minor repairs, etc .). Consider rotating the string
during drilling and tripping connections while BHA
is opposite high risk sticking zones.
Well bore contact
Minimise BHA length when possible. Maximise
BHA stand-off. Use spiral drill collars.
Differential Sticking
1. Establish that Differential Sticking is the mechanism, i.e, stuck after a
connection or survey with full unrestricted circulation across a permeable
formation (Sand, Dolomite and possibly Limestone ).
2. Initially circulate at the maximum allowable rate. This is to attempt to
erode the filter cake.
3. Slump the string while holding 50% of make-up torque of surface pipe
(unless mixed string of pipe is being used). Use an action similar to what
would be used with a bumper sub - see note below.
4. Pick up to just above the up weight and perform step 2 again.
5. Repeat 2. & 3. Increasing to 100% make-up torque until string is freed or
until preparations have been made to: either - spot a releasing pill
or - conduct “U" tube operations.
 Differential Sticking: Cause
• Basically, the string is stuck
against the side of the well
because of a large pressure
differential between the fluid
in the borehole and that in the
formation.
• Differential-pressure pipe
sticking occurs when friction
forces in the wellbore acting
on the drillstring in a normal
direction exceed either the
rig’s ability to move the pipe
or the strength of the pipe.
• Hydrostatic pressure creates a
differential that forces the pipe
into a fi lter cake across a
permeable zone
Differential Sticking: Cause
Differential Sticking: Cause
Differential Sticking: Cause
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Key Seating
DESCRIPTION:
Key seating is caused by the drill pipe rotating against the bore
hole wall at the same point and wearing a groove or key seat in
the wall.
When the drill string is tripped, the tool joints or the BHA are
pulled into the key seat and become jammed.
CAUSES:
• At abrupt changes in angle or direction in medium-soft to
mediumhard formation.
• Where high side wall forces and string rotation exist.
• While pulling out of the hole.
• After long drilling hours with no wiper trips through the
dogleg section.
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Key Seating

INDICATORS:
• Occurs only while POOH.
• Sudden overpull as BHA reaches dogleg depth.
• Unrestricted circulation.
• Free string movement below key seat depth
possible if not already stuck in key seat.
• Cyclic overpull at tool joint intervals on trips.
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Key Seating
PREVENTION:
• Minimise dogleg severity.
• Perform reaming and/or wiper trips if a
dogleg is present.
• Consider running string reamers or a key seat
wiper if a key seat is likely to be a problem.

REMEDIAL ACTION:
• If possible, apply torque and jar down with
maximum trip load.
• Back ream out of the hole.
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Undergauge Hole
• DESCRIPTION:
Drilling hard abrasive rock wears the bit and
the stabiliser gauge and results in a smaller
than gauge hole.
When a subsequent in-gauge bit is run, it
encounters resistance due to the undergauge
section of hole.
If the string is run into the hole quickly
without reaming, the bit can jam in the
undergauge hole section.
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Undergauge Hole
CAUSES:
• After running a new bit.
• After coring
• When a PDC bit is run after a roller cone bit
• When drilling abrasive formations
INDICATORS:
• Pulled bit or stabilisers are undergauge.
• Occurs only when RIH.
• Sudden setdown weight.
• Circulation is unrestricted or slightly restricted.
• Bit stuck near the bottom of the hole or at the top of a
cored section.
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Undergauge Hole
PREVENTION:
• Use suitably gauge-protected bits and stabilisers.
• Consider the use of roller reamers.
• Always gauge all BHA components both when
running in and pulling out of the hole.
• Ream suspected undergauge sections.
• Slow the trip speed down before the BHA enters
an undergauge zone.
REMEDIAL ACTION:
Jar up with maximum trip load. Do not jar down.
Consider the use of an acid pill. Consider applying
torque as a last resort.
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Junk
DESCRIPTION:
Debris that has fallen into the hole from surface
or from downhole equipment, which falls down
the well bore and jams the drill string.
CAUSES:
This mechanism usually occurs:
• Due to poor housekeeping on the rig floor.
• The hole cover not being installed.
• Downhole equipment failure
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Junk
INDICATORS:
• Repair/maintenance work recently
performed on the rig floor.
• Missing hand tools / equipment.
• Circulation unrestricted.
• Metal shavings at shaker.
• Sudden erratic torque.
• Inability to make hole.
Mechanical & Well Bore
Geometry - Junk
PREVENTION:
• Encourage good housekeeping on the rig floor
and regular inspection of handling
equipment.
• Keep the hole covered at all times. Inspect
downhole equipment before it is run in the
hole and again as it is being run through the
rotary table.
• Inspect slip and tong dies regularly. Install
drill string wiper rubber as quickly as possible.
Cement Blocks
DESCRIPTION:
The drill string becomes jammed in the hole
by cement blocks falling around the string.
CAUSES:
• Hard cement becomes unstable around
the casing shoe, open hole squeeze plugs
and kick-off plugs.
Cement Blocks
INDICATORS:
• Circulation unrestricted.
• Cement fragments.
• Rotation and downward movement may be possible.
• Erratic torque
PREVENTION:
Allow sufficient curing time for cement before
attempting to kick off or drill out.
Ream casing shoe and open hole plugs thoroughly
before drilling ahead.
Limit casing rathole length to minimise a source of
cement blocks
 DRILLING JAR

• In this case, the hammer is called a

jar. The jar is placed in the
drillstring in a position where it can
apply a hammer blow to the fish.
This is accomplished in the
following manner (Fig. 10.44).
• The string is stretched, putting
strain energy into the string above
and below the jar.
• The amount of tension put into the
string over and above the weight of
the string above the jar is called the
overpull.
Jarring
Guidelines for Use of Jars in Vertical Wells
In vertical wells the jar should be placed such that:
• They are above the buckling neutral point even when maximum
WOB is applied.
• They are at least two Drill Collars above the jars.
• They have differential sticking prevention subs fitted, if differential
sticking is a risk.
• No stabilisers should be placed above the jars.
• Use Accelerators in shallow hole section. (Check that it will be
possible to cock and fire the jar before running them)
Pipe Release
Agents (PRA)
• Any PRA pill should be
spotted within 4 hours of
sticking for best results.
After 16 hours there is
little chance of the pill
working so the method
should not be considered.
The graph below shows
the probability of the pipe
coming free against
soaking time in hours.
Spotting Fluids

A spotting fluid is any type of fluid used

to cover a section of a well for any reason.
Those used for stuck pipe are usually oil-
based products positioned or spotted in
an open hole to cover a specified interval
Spotting fluids or pipe release agents are
basically a blend of surfactants and
emulsifiers mixed with base oil or diesel
oil and water to form a stable emulsion.
Spotting fluids
Functions:
• The oil penetrates the filter cake and invades the seal on the
drillpipe.
• The oil tends to wet the circumference of the pipe, creating a thin
layer between the pipe and the mudcake
• Reduces the coefficient of friction
• Reduce the surface tension between the pipe and the filter cake and
may enable the pipe to be pulled free.
Raw field data suggest that an average of eight to ten hours is required
for release.
Spotting fluids
Spotting fluids
Backoff Procedures
• After the stuck point has been found, the method of recovery must
be determined. Often, the string is broken just above the stuck point,
and a jarring string is run into the hole.
• The backoff procedure, as this is called, involves unscrewing or
cutting the string above the stuck point. Unscrewing the string is the
preferred method because it leaves the string intact.
• Breaking the string involves explosive, chemical, or mechanical
cutting of the metal.
Free Point
• This operation involves first determining
where the string is stuck in the hole, and
then determining the procedure needed to
unstick the string.
• If a pipe string cannot be quickly worked or
jarred free, the next step is to determine the
free point, or the depth above which the
string is free to move.
Freepoint: using Stretch Reading
• An initial estimate involves taking a stretch reading to see how far the pipe moves
in response to an applied tension. Although not as accurate as the wireline
methods that may be used later, stretch readings provide a good first
approximation of the free point.
• A procedure for obtaining a stretch reading is as follows:
· Calculate the buoyant weight of the drillstring, including the blocks (or use the
hook load recorded immediately before sticking occurred).
· Pick up the pipe to this weight and make a mark on the pipe at the rotary table.
· Apply a predetermined amount of overpull to the drillstring. Service companies
provide charts, nomographs, and other tools for estimating this overpull.
· Make another mark on the pipe at the rotary table. The length between these two
marks represents the amount of stretch in the pipe.
Freepoint: using Stretch Reading
Freepoint: using Stretch Reading
Example:
• Stretch due to differential pull= 30 inch
• lowest pull = 50,000 lbs
• highest pull = 100000 lbs
• Weight of drill pipe tube per foot = 19.5 lb/ft
Question: Length of free pipe?
Freepoint: using Stretch Reading
Example:
• Stretch due to differential pull= 30 inch
• lowest pull = 50,000 lbs
• highest pull = 100000 lbs
• Weight of drill pipe tube per foot = 19.5 lb/ft
Question: Length of free pipe?
Freepoint: using Indication Tool
Washover Pipe.
• Wash pipe is perhaps the most widely used procedure to free
severely stuck pipe. A wash pipe is a large-diameter, thin-walled
tubular with a grinding shoe on the bottom. The shoe is used to
destroy the bond between the pipe and the cake as the wash pipe is
rotated and lowered.
• After a specific length has been freed in this manner, the previously
stuck section can be mechanically unscrewed and retrieved. This
procedure is repeated until the entire drill string has been recovered.