Drilling Engineering

EE047-4-2-DRE / VE1

Drilling Problems & Bottomhole

Assembly (BHA)
 TOPIC & STRUCTURE OF THE
LESSON

• Identification of drilling problems

• Solution finding for drilling problems
• Bottomhole Assembly (BHA) components

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 2

 LEARNING OUTCOMES

• At the end of this topic, YOU should be able to:

– Drilling problems, understand different causes of borehole
problems and finding effective solutions
– Bottomhole Assembly BHA and components(C4, PLO2)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 3

 KEY TERMS YOU MUST BE ABLE
TO USE
• If you have mastered this topic, you should be able to use
the following terms correctly in your assessments: -
– Drilling bits types and specifications
– Cost of drilling bits and the whole drilling

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 4

 Outline
• Drilling Problems and Solutions
• Bottomhole Assembly (BHA) Components

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 5

 Drilling Problems

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 6

 Drilling Problems
(Introduction)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 7

 Drilling Problems
(Introduction)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 8

 Drilling Problems
(Introduction)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 9

 Drilling Problems
(Introduction)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 10

 Drilling Problems
(Introduction)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 11

 Drilling Problems
(Introduction)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 12

 Drilling Problems
(Lost Circulation)

Watch a Video

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 13

 Drilling Problems
(Borehole Instability)

Watch a Video

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 14

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 15

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 16

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 17

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 18

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

Watch a Video

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 19

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 20

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 21

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 22

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 23

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 24

 Drilling Problems
(Pipe Sticking Solutions)

Watch a Video

Watch a Video

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 25

 Borehole Instability  Stuck Pipe

• Unstable formation and/or bad hole geometry may lead to drillstring

stuck in hole
• Corrective action:
– Corrective actions are more easier when circulating fluids through
the drillstring is still possible.
– Recover in one time the drillstring in full: use of chemical slugs
(water, acid, …)
– Recover the string in several parts: free-point indicator, back-off,
POOH the free section; reconnection and jarring on the stuck
section could solve the fishing operations.
– If circulation cannot be established then mechanical or chemical
cuts are implemented.

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 26

 Borehole Instability Prevention

• Preventive measures:
– Monitoring of mud properties to control swelling shale/clay,
control of cutting returns (avoid cutting beds), identification
of drillpipe key-seat (control of drags, torque).

• Other corrective actions:

– If fishing operations are unsuccessful then a side-track will
be initiated.

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 27

 Differential Pressure  Stuck Pipe

• Thick mud cakes and too high mud weights are the main
causes of sticking by differential pressure.

• Corrective action:
– Lower the mud weight, use of chemical slugs

• Preventive measures:
– Monitor closely the mud weight, torque and drag while drilling.

• Other corrective actions:

– If fishing operations are unsuccessful then a side-track will be initiated.

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 28

 Stuck Pipe
Drill pipe

• Risk of pipe stuck

due to hole geometry
(key seat occurrence)
Key seat

Dog leg

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 29

 Stuck Pipe

• Risk of drillstring stuck due to

differential pressure
Drill collar
Mud

Mud cake
Bore hole
Permeable zone

Mud cake

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 30

 Hydrostatic Instability

• Whenever the mud hydrostatic pressure is lower than the formation fluid
pressure an influx of formation fluid (kick) may occur.

• Some causes:
– Non-adequate mud weight (vs. formation pressure) mud losses and drop of the
hydrostatic pressure
– Incorrect filling of the hole while pulling-out-of hole the drillstring (human error)
– Too fast tripping out the hole: swabbing effect

• Alerts
– Drilling breaks”
– Incorrect filling of the hole while pulling-out-of hole the drillstring
– Increase of mud level in the active mud tanks
– Decrease in the mud pump discharge pressure

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 31

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)
• Before drilling operations
• Casing design/architecture: evaluation of formation pore pressure /
evaluation of formation fracturation pressure / evaluation of maxi.
acceptable surface pressure vs. casing design / set up of the proper BOP
equipment.

• While drilling .
. Permanent monitoring of mud volumes in circulation (gains or losses)
. Permanent monitoring of mud weight (and mud viscosity)
. Permanent monitoring of ROP: “drilling breaks”
. Tests & maintenance of well control equipment inc. BOP, choke manifold,
inside BOP, (tests after each new installation and on regular basis
. Training of rig-crews: regular “kick drills” to test rig-crews preparedness
and applications of pre set procedures and calculations.

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 32

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)
• While tripping .
. Permanent monitoring of mud filling the hole when RIH or POOH,
. Training of rig-crews: regular “kick drills” to test rig-crews
preparedness and applications of pre-set procedures.

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 33

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

If a BOP failure occurs then the kick will be

uncontrolled leading/meaning to a BLOWOUT

Think Deepwater Horizon!

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 34

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

A BOP
stack

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 35

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout Prevention)

36
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 36
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 37
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 38
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 39
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 40
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 41
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 42
EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 43
 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 44

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 45

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 46

 Drilling Problems
(Kick Warning Signs)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 47

 Drilling Problems
(Kick Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 48

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 49

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 50

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 51

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 52

 Drilling Problems
(Blowout & Prevention)
• Whenever an exploration well is planned, the drilling team must
prepared a “blowout contingency plan”.
• Such plan, to list actions to be taken for the safeguard of the people,
the environment and the assets; to list all updated contacts for
assistance.
• A special team “blowout task force” is mobilised with all
competencies (geoscientist, reservoir, drilling, logistics, contract
Engineers) as soon as possible.
• At the same time:
– Relief well(s) will be engineered; rig(s), special directional drilling equipment,
pumping means will be located and/or mobilized
– Fire-fighters specialists will be mobilised together with their equipment for well
killing and/or well “capping”

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 53

 Open-Ended Experiment

• Case study:
– Drilling at 20,000ft
– Top formation (surface until 4500ft) shaly sand, followed
by sandstone formation as basement
– Water based mud to drill top section until MD
– Problems occurred during drilling bottom formation:
• Loss circulation
• High sand invasion
• Stuck pipe

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 54

 QUICK REVIEW QUESTIONS

• What are the different drilling problems faced during

drilling and how to resolve them?
• What are different components of drilling bottomhole
assembly (BHA) in vertical and deviated wells?

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 55

 Bottomhole Assembly (BHA)

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 56

 Bottomhole Assembly (BHA)
(Vertical Wells)

Components:
• BHA
– Drill Collars
– HWDPs
– MWD/LWD
– Etc.
• Drill Pipes

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 57

 Bottomhole Assembly (BHA)
(Vertical Wells)

• Components in
Vertical wells:
• BHA:
• DCs
• Stabilizers
• Jar
• DPs

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 58

 Bottomhole Assembly (BHA)
(Vertical Wells)

• Components in Vertical
wells

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 59

 Bottomhole Assembly (BHA)
(Deviated/Horizontal Wells)

• Drill-string
components in
Deviated wells:
• DPs
• HWDPs
• Downhole motor
• MWD/LWD

HWDPs

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 60

 SUMMARY OF MAIN TEACHING
POINTS

• Drilling problems and solutions

• Bottomhole assembly (BHA) components

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 61

 QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

Q&A

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 62

 WHAT WE WILL COVER NEXT

• (Practical) mud lab experiments

EE047-4-2-Drilling Engineering Ch9-10-Drilling Problems and BHA Slide 63