Case Study: Stuck Pipe Analysis for Deviated Wells

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis

Abstract

Stuck pipe problems, within that, differential sticking problems is probably the greatest drilling problem worldwide in terms of time and financial costs. If once the drillstring stuck, a timely and costly freeing procedure need to regain the moving ability. The company supporting this thesis provided data, brooked three differential sticking in the same area. To free the pipe, took more than 10 days overall, so finding the reasons is essential. The company assumed that there is a connection between these problems, and the aim of this thesis is to find it or them. Work started with literature review from all over the industry’s history, and then a summary was made of the influencing factors of differential sticking, introduced every one of them in detail and how could modify them to avoid sticking. The thesis contains a computational prediction with neural network modeling to help to prove that the applicable modifications were right, and the sticking would not have occurred in the same situation again. Neural network modeling is a powerful data model that is able to capture and represent complex input-output relationships. The motivation for the development of neural network technology stemmed from the desire to develop an artificial system that could perform "intelligent" tasks similar to those performed by the human brain. The true power and advantage of neural networks lies in their ability to represent both linear and non-linear relationships and in their ability to learn these relationships directly from the data being modeled. To able to use this powerful data model, the first step was to determine the parameters, what the author would like to use in the model. It was a complex task, because not all of the necessary data was available, some of them had to be calculated from other available data. The generated network at the end made up from 17406 datasets, of them 20% were used to test the model. The results of testing phase ended with 0.0575% bad prediction, so the prediction was quite punctual. During the analysis of sticking situations, the factors, which influence differential sticking were investigated. Among other things well trajectory, mud program, mud formulation, flow pattern, solids control, BHA composition. The applied modifications finally were put into the model and prediction was made for these cases. The neural network model predicted all cases as non-sticking situation, so it could stated that reasons of sticking were found.

Details

Translated title of the contributionFallbeispiel: Analyse von festsitzendem Gestänge bei gerichteten Bohrungen
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDipl.-Ing.
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date18 Dec 2015
Publication statusPublished - 2015