TY - THES

T1 - Solids Induced Stuck Pipe Events – Development of Digital Best Practices for NPT Prevention

AU - Waldner, Jan

N1 - embargoed until 03-06-2024

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Incorrect operational parameters, bad hole cleaning, unknown formation properties and suboptimal BHA design can lead to solids induced stuck pipe events. Stuck pipe due to pack-off does not occur suddenly, but is noticeable by typical symptoms like an increase in torque, drag and pump pressure. Recognising and adequately reacting to these signs can help to prevent the occurrence of this costly and time-consuming situation. In an attempt to avoid such problems during drilling, an interactive and realistic training case is developed on the state-of-the-art eDrilling AS simulator as part of this master thesis. It allows students and technical staff to train their skills on stuck pipe detection and mitigation. Supplementary to turning trainees into highly qualified personnel, the potential to reduce the non-productive time (NPT) during operations is one of the significant advantages of this digital training case for operators and service companies. Through an extensive literature review the different mechanisms leading to solids induced pipe sticking, including its indications, measures to prevent their occurrence, and the best practices how to get free are found out. Together with the involvement of the experience of industry professionals, the best-practices for avoiding and getting out of this kind of drilling troubles are elaborated. Based on these procedures, a suitable scenario for the implementation of the training case is developed. Afterwards, the derived scenario is transformed into a JavaScript software code which is checked for its functionality on the eDrilling simulator. The completion of the code is followed by a workflow description on how to run through the developed scenario which leads to the ready-to-use training case. The simulator itself is a multifunctional tool that does not only allow the integration of all parameters which are present during real drilling operations but also enables the graphical visualization of it. The numerous possibilities to extend the existing functions and the required knowledge on how to use the simulator complicate its utilisation. To avoid these difficulties the preparation of the input data, such as trajectory and BHA design, must be done properly and can be facilitated by the supportive application of a well design software. The workflow on how to implement scenarios facilitates the implementation of further cases into the simulator and thereby provides the opportunity to enlarge the training offer. Besides, the description of the solution of the developed training case serves the user to acquire the best-practice in such a sensitive situation. As this is the first training case on the eDrilling simulator which interactively confronts the user with the issue of solids induced stuck pipe, it offers a unique solution for future education. Its launch supports the transformation of trainees into highly qualified staff and promotes the digitalisation attempt of the oil and gas industry by digitising the best-practice of solids induced stuck pipe events. Through the combination of scientific background and operational experience in a realistic hands-on drilling scenario the basis for the skilled employee of tomorrow is provided.

AB - Incorrect operational parameters, bad hole cleaning, unknown formation properties and suboptimal BHA design can lead to solids induced stuck pipe events. Stuck pipe due to pack-off does not occur suddenly, but is noticeable by typical symptoms like an increase in torque, drag and pump pressure. Recognising and adequately reacting to these signs can help to prevent the occurrence of this costly and time-consuming situation. In an attempt to avoid such problems during drilling, an interactive and realistic training case is developed on the state-of-the-art eDrilling AS simulator as part of this master thesis. It allows students and technical staff to train their skills on stuck pipe detection and mitigation. Supplementary to turning trainees into highly qualified personnel, the potential to reduce the non-productive time (NPT) during operations is one of the significant advantages of this digital training case for operators and service companies. Through an extensive literature review the different mechanisms leading to solids induced pipe sticking, including its indications, measures to prevent their occurrence, and the best practices how to get free are found out. Together with the involvement of the experience of industry professionals, the best-practices for avoiding and getting out of this kind of drilling troubles are elaborated. Based on these procedures, a suitable scenario for the implementation of the training case is developed. Afterwards, the derived scenario is transformed into a JavaScript software code which is checked for its functionality on the eDrilling simulator. The completion of the code is followed by a workflow description on how to run through the developed scenario which leads to the ready-to-use training case. The simulator itself is a multifunctional tool that does not only allow the integration of all parameters which are present during real drilling operations but also enables the graphical visualization of it. The numerous possibilities to extend the existing functions and the required knowledge on how to use the simulator complicate its utilisation. To avoid these difficulties the preparation of the input data, such as trajectory and BHA design, must be done properly and can be facilitated by the supportive application of a well design software. The workflow on how to implement scenarios facilitates the implementation of further cases into the simulator and thereby provides the opportunity to enlarge the training offer. Besides, the description of the solution of the developed training case serves the user to acquire the best-practice in such a sensitive situation. As this is the first training case on the eDrilling simulator which interactively confronts the user with the issue of solids induced stuck pipe, it offers a unique solution for future education. Its launch supports the transformation of trainees into highly qualified staff and promotes the digitalisation attempt of the oil and gas industry by digitising the best-practice of solids induced stuck pipe events. Through the combination of scientific background and operational experience in a realistic hands-on drilling scenario the basis for the skilled employee of tomorrow is provided.

KW - Bohrkleininduziertes Festwerden

KW - NPT

KW - unproduktive Zeit

KW - Simulator

KW - eDrilling

KW - Solids Induced Stuck Pipe

KW - NPT

KW - eDrilling

KW - Simulator

U2 - 10.34901/mul.pub.2024.118

DO - 10.34901/mul.pub.2024.118

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -