1

An Introduction
to Wellbore CleanUp
How to reduce non-productive time and
complete efficiently and cost-effectively
with modern WBCU technology

www.odfjelltechnology.com
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 2

Contents
1. What Is Wellbore CleanUp?
2. Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
3. Seven common Wellbore CleanUp issues & solutions
4. Mechanical tools
5. Tool selection &placement - typical applications & solutions
6. Best practices
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 3

“ This guide will

concentrate on
the mechanical
options
available, with
a brief mention
of the chemical
“
process.

1. What is Wellbore CleanUp?

Wellbore cleanup (also called wellbore cleaning, wellbore clean out or just WBCU) is a
combination of mechanical and chemical operations performed to remove any debris or
contaminates from the wellbore post drilling or milling.

Typically the well, wellhead, BOP stack and the marine riser is cleaned using various
tools and displacement chemicals to remove any debris, mud residue and thread
compounds. This guide will concentrate on the mechanical options available, with a
brief mention of the chemical process.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp
“ With rig rates 4

in the hundreds
of thousands of
dollars, the time
saving of using
WBCU tools
can potentially
save millions
of dollars
“

2. Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp

Operators around the world Dependent on the well construction there can be number of
factors that may influence the running of the final completion.
are becoming increasingly
Factors that could cause significant non-productive time (NPT),
aware of the importance impair hydrocarbon production and increase overall well costs.
of a clean wellbore and
To mitigate any potential issues while running completion
fluid system before
equipment, WBCU solutions (consisting of multiple operations)
completion, in order to can be utilised to deliver a clean well to the Completions team
secure a profitable well with once the well has been drilled, cased and cemented.
optimum production during
In order to thoroughly clean a well, any solid particles, mud
its lifetime.
residue and impurities must be removed from the final
completion fluid. This can be accomplished through the use of
Mechanical Tools, Chemicals and Topside Filtration solutions.

With rig rates in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the

time saving of using WBCU tools can potentially save millions
of dollars during a drilling & completion campaign, if utilised
correctly. Investing time and money into a good WBCU operation
will pay dividends on the eventual cost of completing a well
efficiently, delivering production quicker and extending the life of
the well.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 5

3. Seven common Wellbore

CleanUp issues & solutions

There are number of issues that impair the ability to run the
completion and/or impact on well production. In this chapter we will
go through seven of the more common issues:

• Environmental concerns
• Insufficient annular velocities
• Liner lap integrity
• Packer setting depths
• BOP operational integrity
• Mud residue & fluid mixing
• Trip saving
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 6

3. 1. Environmental concerns
The issue:
How can we ensure zero discharge of fluids and debris?

The solution:
Debris removal tools that capture debris in-situ and retrieve them to the surface for proper handling.

3. 2. Insufficient annular velocities

The issue:
Inability to remove debris from the wellbore effectively.

The solution:
Circulation tools that allow communication to the annulus at different depths. These tools allow increased pump rates to improve
circulation rate to aid debris removal and prevent chemical commingling.

3.3. Liner lap Integrity

The issue:
Leaks that impact on wellbore integrity.

The solution:
Inflow test packers, that can test the integrity of the liner connections, liner shoe and the liner lap area under controlled conditions,
without having to displace the well fully to the completion fluid.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 7

3.4. Packer setting depths

The issue:
Not able to set completion / liner packers or hangers.

The solution:
Scrapers, brushes and deburring tools to remove any mud residue, scales and restrictions that can affect the safe running and setting
of packers and/or liner hangers.

3.5. BOP operational integrity

The issue:
Not able to function the BOP in an emergency situation.

The solution:
The use of jetting tools can remove any debris that may prevent safe operational use of the BOP.

3.6. Mud residue & fluid mixing

The issue:
Fluid ‘gumbos’ forming that affects production and/or running in of the completion.

The solution:
Proper displacement design, pumping regime and mechanical tool activation.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 8

3.7. Trip saving

The issue:
Reducing costs by combining operations into single trips.

The solution:
Using a combination of tools to that could perform one of the following scenarios:

1. Displace the well and carry out a liner integrity test

2. Displace the well and clean the BOP/Riser
3. Drilling new open hole section and preparing lower completion
casing setting areas
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 9

4. Mechanical tools
Drilling & Completion The use of casing cleaning tools, such as Additionally, in environmentally sensitive
scrapers, brushes and deburring tools will areas where there is zero discharge of
Engineers can now call
remove any mud residue, scale, cement any fluids – dedicated riser cleaning tools
upon the Oil & Gas Service and burrs from the inner diameter of the can be used to ensure the riser is cleaned
industry to provide the well tubulars. before recovery to surface.
mechanical & chemical
The use of casing debris recovery tools, The use of ball or weight set circulation
solutions that will deliver a
such as magnets, junk catchers and filter tools can be used to aid annular velocities.
clean wellbore. tools can capture any ferrous or large These tools allow surface pump rates to
pieces of debris that cannot be easily be increased without exceeding standpipe
circulated out of the wellbore. The debris pressures (SPP) limits, bypass any
is captured in situ, and then transported pressure sensitive equipment already
to the surface for easy handling in the wellbore, and provide emergency
and disposal. response to any unforeseen incidents in
the well.
The use of BOP/Riser debris recovery
tools, such as magnets, junk catchers Other speciality tools can be used to carry
and circulation tools can be used to jet out inflow testing, prepare critical depths
the BOP areas and capture any debris and drift tubular IDs in same work string,
that may fall out. In the Riser (due to the carrying out the main WBCU operation.
lower annular velocities) debris may not
be circulated out, so junk buckets
are run.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 10

5. Tool selection & placement -

typical applications & solutions

5.1. Displace the well and carry out liner integrity test

Scenario: Simplified Operation:

In this scenario the Operator wishes to • Pick up and run in hole.
displace the well from drilling fluid to
completion brine and test the integrity of • When entering the liner top, slow the tripping speed and use the heavy-duty scraper
their liner. to remove any excess cement inside the polished bore receptacle (PBR) that could
prevent the liner landing sub from being seated correctly.

Recommended Tooling: • Function the circulating sub to condition the mud prior to carrying out the inflow
As minimum it is recommend to run a test, then close.
heavy-duty scraper into the liner section
along with a magnet. In the casing • Carry out the inflow test as per the Clients requirements.
section it is recommended to run a liner
landing sub, scraper, inflow test packer, • Displace the liner with the completion fluid by pumping the displacement train at the
circulation tool and magnet. correct pump rates.

• When the last chemical pill is above the circulation tool, open the circulation ports to
displace the wellbore at the correct annular velocity to remove any debris and allow
the correct ‘contact time’ of the chemical pill to remove any debris from the
tubular ID.

• A trip is saved!!
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 11

5.2. Displace the well and clean the BOP/Riser

Scenario:
In this scenario the Operator wishes to Simplified Operation:
displace the well from drilling fluid to • Pick the main WBCU tooling as required and run in hole.
completion brine and clean out the BOP/
Riser in one trip. • Carry out the displacement of the wellbore to the completion brine as per
the program.

Recommended Tooling: • Pull out of the wellbore until the Debris Filter is spaced out one stand below the BOP.
Riser Cleaning Tool, BOP Jetting Tool,
Debris Filter (part of the main cleanup). • Run back in with the Short Trip tools: Riser Cleaning Tool & BOP Jetting Tools.

• Make up the Short Trip tools and run back in hole.

• Function the BOP rams and annular preventer.

(DO NOT FUNCTION THE SHEAR RAMS.)

• Jet the BOP stack with three passes whilst rotating and circulating. Any debris
dislodged will either circulate out or fall into the Debris Filter below.

• A trip is saved!!
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 12

5.3. Drilling new open hole section and preparing lower

completion casing setting areas

Scenario: Simplified Operation:

In this scenario the Operator wishes to • Drill out the 8.1/2” hole section as per the drilling program.
drill a new 8.1/2” open hole section, then
prepare the liner hanger setting depth in • Perform a wiper trip and circulate at least two bottoms up to remove any
a single trip. drill cuttings.

• Pull back to place the expandable scraper at least 2 stands inside the last
Recommended Tooling: casing shoe.
Main drilling bottom hole assembly
(BHA), expandable scraper tool, • Function the expandable scraper and prepare the lower completion setting depths.
magnet tool. (ENSURE THE EXPANDABLE SCRAPER DOESN’T ENTER THE OPEN HOLE.)

• When the operation is complete pull of the hole.

• Run in with the lower completion.

• A trip is saved!!
 “ Using an
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 13

experienced
Service Company
can allow you
to plan your
Wellbore CleanUp
operation during
the initial well
design phase of “
the project.

6. Best practices
In all applications, proper Using an experienced Service Company can allow you to plan your Wellbore CleanUp

pre-job planning should be operation during the initial well design phase of the project. This will allow any issues to
be identified before time, resources, capital is used and any drilling activity commences.
carried out to ensure that
the well objectives are met, Dependent on the application a torque and drag along with a hydraulics analysis should
proper tooling is selected be done to determine where tools should be placed, if they can run to depth and operat-
ed as required.
and that the operation can
be carried out efficiently.
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 14

How much time and money can you

save by performing WBCU in your
drilling and completion operation?
Take this short survey and find out!
An Introduction to Wellbore CleanUp 15

Odfjell Technology

Bergen House
Crawpeel Road,
Altens Aberdeen AB12 3LG
Scotland
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (1)224 856000

Fax: +44 (1)224 856001

www.odfjelltechnology.com