Stuck Pipe Prevention

Introduction

This course is designed with the simple phrase in mind: “Prevention is better than Cure”. The course provides a comprehensive understanding of three stuck pipe mechanisms, causes leading to each mechanism, and recognition of warning signs. Participants will learn how to perform the trend analysis and learn to “listen to the well” by understanding the “language of the well.” The course includes a stuck pipe mechanism identification table and recommends the first actions for each mechanism. Stuck pipe case histories are included to enhance learning. The course also covers knowledge of the formations and borehole instability problems and recommends guidelines to empower the driller on best tripping practices. We recommended that the course is taken by the rig team together, as a team-building exercise as well as an opportunity to improve communication skills. This operations-oriented training emphasizes a proactive approach to stuck pipe prevention. It teaches how to “listen to the well” and perform trend analysis. The course also focuses on how to detect the causes leading to the stuck pipe at an early stage and what preventive actions to take before full sticking occurs. The course emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs at an early stage and taking preventive actions before the sticking takes place. It is designed to increase the knowledge and competency of the drilling crews. It empowers the drilling crew to perform correct diagnosis, improve communication, and take the correct “First Actions” to prevent stuck pipe incidents. Studies have shown that about 90% of stuck pipe incidents can be freed with appropriate “First Actions” within the first 4 hours of sticking. The course also includes the effective use of drilling jars and understanding of pump open force.

Objectives

At the end of this course participants will:-

• Identify the three sticking mechanisms and their causes
• Recognize the sticking causes at an early stage and what preventive actions to take before full sticking develops
• Understand the fundamentals of hole cleaning
• Discover techniques on stuck pipe prevention
• Learn to “listen to the well”
• Perform trend analysis of drilling parameters
• Read a stratigraphic column with identification of potential problem formations
• Review case histories with in-depth analysis.
• Understand the workings of drilling jars, pump open force, and jarring load calculations
• Appreciate the team approach and the need for good communication
• Identify the sticking mechanism and what “First Actions” to take to free a stuck pipe

Training Methodology

The course will include a number of exercises aimed at enhancing each participant's capability to conduct various oil field production problems. A number of short films and animated exercises will be presented during the course to enhance the participants’ knowledge about the oil & gas field operations.

Who Should Attend?

• Drilling crews
• Rig Managers
• Drilling Foreman
• Drilling engineers
• Mud engineers
• Wellsite geologists
• Directional drillers
• Drilling contractors staff

Course Outline

Day1:

Introduction to Oil & Gas Drilling

• Oil and gas development
• Formations, rock pressure, fluid traps
• Fundamentals of petroleum
• Basic geology

Major Causes of Lost Time

• Definitions
• Global statistics
• Stuck pipe causes and mechanisms

Rock Mechanics

• Stratigraphic column
• Deviated and horizontal wells
• Wellbore stresses and instability
• Drilling window
• Drilling fluid properties and mud weight

Day2:

Identification of Sticking Mechanisms

• Use of identification table
• Hole pack-off / bridging
• Wellbore geometry
• Differential sticking
• “First Actions”

Drilling Jars

• Types of drilling jars
• How jars work
• Pump-open force
• Calculation of jarring loads
• Why jars don’t work
• Jars placement

Day 3:Hole Pack-Off / Bridging

• First mechanism
• Causes
• Drilled cuttings – bit
• Caving – not from bit
• Causes of insufficient hole cleaning
• Annular velocity
• Hole angle
• Boycott effect
• Pipe rotation
• Hole cleaning guidelines
• “First Actions”

• Causes of bore hole instability
• Tripping guidelines

Well is Talking

• Drilling parameters recording
• “Learning to Listen” – trend analysis

Day 4: Wellbore Geometry

• Second mechanism
• Causes
• Key seating
• Ledges and doglegs
• Under-gauge hole
• Collapsed casing
• Junk

• Shoe joint back-off
• “First Actions” FIRST ACTIONS

Differential Sticking

• Third mechanism
• Fire prevention triangle and differential sticking prevention square
• Calculation of differential sticking force
• Causes
• Preventive measures
• “First Actions”

Day 5: Economics of Fishing

• Time value of money
• Probability model
• Time limit for fishing operations
• Stuck point determination, pipe stretch method

Consolidation

• Team work
• Implementation of learning