Exercice 1:

1. Drilling and Casing:

- Drilling: The well is drilled to the desired depth using a drill bit. Drilling fluid is circulated to remove
cuttings and cool the bit.

-Casing: Once the desired depth is reached, steel pipes called casing are lowered into the well.
Casing serves multiple purposes:

-Structural Support: It prevents the wellbore from collapsing.

-Isolation: It isolates different geological zones, preventing fluid migration between them.

- Containment: It contains the produced hydrocarbons (oil or gas).

2. Cementing Slurry Preparation:

-Cementing Slurry: A specialized mixture is prepared. It typically consists of:

- Cement Powder: The base material that hardens to form a solid seal.

-Water: Used to mix the cement powder into a slurry.

-Additives: These enhance the properties of the cement, such as:

- Retarders: Slow down the setting time of the cement.

- Accelerators: Speed up the setting time.

-Density Control Agents: Adjust the density of the slurry to match the formation pressure.

-Loss Control Agents: Prevent the cement from leaking into the formation.

3. Cementing Operation:

-Pumping: The cementing slurry is pumped down the inside of the casing.
-Displacement: As the slurry is pumped, it displaces the drilling fluid in the annulus (the space
between the casing and the wellbore).

- Centralizers: These devices are attached to the casing to ensure proper spacing between the casing
and the wellbore. This allows for even distribution of the cement and prevents channeling (where the
cement flows through specific pathways instead of filling the entire annulus).

4. Cementing Stages:

-Top Plug: A plug is placed on top of the cementing string to prevent the cement from flowing back
up the casing.

-Tailing: Additional cement slurry is pumped to fill any remaining space in the annulus.

- Bottom Plug: A plug is placed at the bottom of the casing to prevent the cement from flowing out
the bottom of the well.

5. Cement Setting:

-The cement slurry gradually sets and hardens, forming a strong bond between the casing and the
wellbore. This creates a permanent seal that isolates different zones and prevents fluid migration.

Once the cement has set, the well is ready for completion. This involves installing production tubing
and other equipment to extract hydrocarbons.

*Why is Cementing Important?

-Well Integrity: Cementing is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the wellbore. It prevents:

-Blowouts: Uncontrolled flow of fluids from the well.

-Fluid Migration: Movement of fluids between different zones, which can contaminate water
sources or cause production problems.

-Wellbore Collapse: Failure of the wellbore due to pressure or other factors.

-Environmental Protection: Cementing helps to protect the environment by preventing the release
of hydrocarbons and other fluids into the subsurface or surface waters.
I-OPERATION DESCRIPTION:

1-Wellhead: Istalled on top of the surface casing to cap and hold the casing strings and
completion
2-Conductor Casing
-Purpose: isolates unconsolidated surface formation and may take structural loads.
Typically 36" hole to contain 30" conductor.
1. Provides mud returnsto tanks.
2. Divert flow in case of emergency.
3. Supportsubsequent casing loads.
Installation
1. Driven
2. Rathole set
3. Jetted
4. Drilled and cemented
3-Surface Casing:
Definition: Casing set at or above 6500’ or in sub-normal pressure.
Setting depth is based on mechanical and regulatory considerations, isolates surface
formations, typically 24" hole with 18.5/8" diameter casing.
-Purpose
1. Protect Fresh water aquifers.
2. Provide wellbore integrity,
- Provides a BOP seal
- Allows drilling into abnormal pressure safely
4-Intermediate Casing:
Definition: Casing set to 6500’ or deeper in abnormal pressure.
Setting depth is based on mechanical considerations, isolates pressure/problem zones above
the reservoir.
Typically 17.1/2" hole with 13.3/8" diameter casing.
-Purpose
1. Provide mechanical integrity.
- Case off problem zones.
- Provide higher fracture gradient as shoe for drilling
operations and provide contingencies such as well control.

5-Drilling Liners:
-Purpose
1. Provide mechanical integrity as intermediate casing but at
lower cost.
Definition: Partialstring of casing hung in previously set casing
string and is set to a depth greater than 6500’ or in abnormal
pressure.
Setting Depth is based on mechanical considerations
6-Production Casing/Liners: Setting Depth is the last string across the production zone.
This may be a casing to surface or a liner that is hung.
Typically set above the Reservoir, typically 12.1/4" hole for 9.5/.8" casing.
Purpose

1. Provide isolation of the producing zone from other zones.

2. Withstand the anticipated loads during production and testing

Operations for the wellslife time.

II-PROBLEMS:

Drilling operations can encounter various challenges depending on the geological conditions. Here
are some potential problems that could arise in this specific scenario:

-Shale Instability: The presence of shale formations can lead to wellbore instability. Shale is a type
of rock that tends to swell when exposed to drilling fluids or to break down into smaller particles.
This can cause borehole collapse or sticking of the drill string.

-Gas Influx: If the well encounters a gas-bearing formation, gas can migrate into the wellbore,
potentially causing a kick or blowout. This can be particularly dangerous if the gas is flammable or
toxic.

-High-Pressure Zones: If the wellbore penetrates a high-pressure zone, the pressure differential
can cause a kick or blowout. This can also damage the wellbore or equipment.

-Lost Circulation: If the drilling fluid leaks off into a highly permeable formation or a fracture, it can
result in lost circulation. This can lead to inefficient drilling and increased costs.

-Stuck Pipe: The drill string can become stuck in the wellbore due to various reasons, such as
differential sticking, mechanical problems, or hole collapse. This can significantly delay drilling
operations and require expensive remedial actions.
Case 1:
Stuck Pipe:
Problem: The drill string is stuck in the wellbore. This can occur due to various reasons, such as
differential sticking (pressure difference between inside and outside of the drill pipe), mechanical
sticking (pipe getting caught on a shoulder or obstruction), or key seating (pipe getting stuck in a key
seat).

Solution:

-Identify the cause: Determine the type of stuck pipe (differential, mechanical, or key seating). This
will guide the appropriate action.

-Weighting up: If differential sticking is suspected, increase the weight on the drill string to break the
seal created by the pressure difference.

-Circulation: If possible, circulate drilling fluid to equalize pressures and release the pipe.

-Mechanical methods: If weighting up and circulation fail, consider mechanical methods like jarring,
back reaming, or milling to free the pipe.

-Worst-case scenario: If all else fails, the drill string might need to be cut and abandoned.

Case 2:
Lost Circulation
Problem: Drilling fluid is flowing into a formation instead of returning to the surface. This can occur
due to fractures, vugs, or high-pressure zones.

Solution:

* Reduce flow rate: Lower the drilling fluid flow rate to minimize fluid loss.
 * Increase mud weight: Increase the density of the drilling fluid to control the pressure and prevent
further fluid loss.

* Use loss-circulation materials: Add materials like shredded tires, ground nutshells, or specialized
chemicals to the drilling fluid to plug the leak points.

* Consider alternative drilling methods: If the problem persists, explore alternative drilling methods
like underbalanced drilling or foam drilling.

Case 3:
Hole Collapse:
Problem: The wellbore walls are unstable and collapsing, leading to borehole enlargement and
potential loss of circulation. This can occur in formations with low strength or high pore pressure.

Solution:

-Increase mud weight: Increase the density of the drilling fluid to provide sufficient support to the
wellbore walls.

-Use stabilizing agents: Add chemicals or polymers to the drilling fluid to improve its rheological
properties and enhance borehole stability.

-Consider casing: If the problem is severe, install casing to provide additional support to the
wellbore.

-Slow drilling rate: Reduce the drilling rate to minimize the risk of further borehole instability.

General Considerations:

-Wellbore monitoring: Continuously monitor wellbore parameters like pressure, temperature, and
flow rate to detect potential problems early on.

-Mud logging: Analyze drilling cuttings to identify formation changes and potential issues.