Drilling Practices

Wellbore deviation techniques

CASING
 Objectives
On completion of this module you will be
able to:

Describe the four primary kick-off methods

Explain where and why each method is preferred

Design a BHA for each type of method

Select appropriate Bits for the chosen technique

Explain the cement plug placement techniques

Understand factors behind successful plug placement
 Main reasons for side tracking

Stuck pipe or fish

Hole unstable or abandonment

Pilot holes – easier correlation with main hole logs

Hole geometry or well too close to the water contact

Exploration redrilled as development well

Inability to land or steer because of laminated formations

Easier correlation with straight-hole logs (reentry)
 Wellbore Deviating Techniques

Jetting

Open Hole Sidetrack (motors, RSS, rotary BHAs)

Whipstock

Milling and Sidetracking

Cement Plug Sidetracks (motors, RSS, rotary BHAs)
 What is a Kick-off?

There are two kinds

Deflection of well bore while maintaining control of

Azimuth, Inclination and DLS.

Deflection of well bore maintaining control of
Inclination only. (referred to as blind side track)
 Kick-off Methods

Lithology is the key to selecting the most appropriate

method:
Igneous &
Sedimentar
y Metamorphi
c
1 4 5 6 7 8

Moto
Jetting r Whipstock
 Jetting

Jetting is the utilization of hydraulics to wash a pocket
beneath and to the side of the bit to cause deflection.

Jetting was, until recently considered redundant.

However with the increased requirement to exit mature
platforms where clearances between wells are too tight
to utilize anti-collision practices with steerable motor
systems, jetting has become the only economic
alternative.
 Jetting Bits

Conventional roller cone bits

are commonly used for jetting.

There are two cones “jetting
bits” where one of the cones
seems to have been replaced
by a large jet.
 Jetting BHA

BHAs for jetting need to be designed on the principles of

conventional “Rotary Build BHAs”:

Jetting Bit (oriented)

Near Bit Full Gauge Stabilizer

Orientation Sub (UBHO) (dependent on measurement
tool)

Drill Collars or (MWD + DCs)

String Stabilizers (as needed)

Transition string, jars etc. as required
 Jetting Procedure
The steps to follow are:

Orient BHA prior to commencing (Scribe or survey)

Come on bottom using maximum flow rate (depends on
the hole size)

Spud for +/- 6’ (2m)

Rotate remainder of double at reduced flow rate.

Survey (if retrievable tool or use cont. D&I if MWD)

Adjust orientation and distance spudded as required

Repeat from 2.
Note: Jetting can be performed at velocity
exceeding 500 FPH on formations not so soft.
Side tracking in open
hole
Does the well need to be plugged?
 Is the formation hard? (direction of dips)
At 2 FPH an open hole side track may be difficult. Unless the
side track is performed in the middle of a sharp DLS, at high
inclination and with heavy tools (6 ¾ plus). There is no
guarantee of success.
Will a casing or liner be run later?
Is there a wash out or DLS that can help?
Risk of catastrophic loss of angle?
Should it be done with one single BHA?
 Gilligan BHAs
Defining a “Gilligan” BHA is easier than defining its use.
Before 1980, these BHAs were used to solve
extreme situations (lack of Build or Side tracks).
Today, they seem to be used for ST only:

Straight holes (Pendulum cannot be used)

Motors cannot be used (odd size or lack of tools)

Gilligan BHAs normally have smaller components

mixed with larger ones to increase flex.
Examples of Gilligan BHAs
Undercuting with a classic rotary BHA
 Side track with Motors

Performing a side track with a motor and a cement plug is

usually an easy job.
It can become very hard with a poor cement plug, when
formation is very hard (laminated formation at unfavorable
angle) or simply with the wrong bit selection.

With a single bend, time drilling will help but not as much as
when a bent sub is used. High speed motors usually yield
more DLS.
Side track with Motors in Open hole

An “open hole” side track implies the job is performed

without a cement plug.
Long ago an “open hole” side tracks were performed to
wipe out a sharp DLS.
When horizontal drilling was initiated, it became obvious
avoiding cement plugs could save a lot of rig time.
Setting a cement plug at 90 degrees is not easy.
 Open hole side track

The tie in survey from the old hole should preferably be 100 ft behind
Stabilized or slick?
 Side track with Rotary steerables

Rotary steerables can be used with cement.

Push the bit systems are not adequate for OH ST.
The relative weak DLS capability may cause too much TVD
loss.
After two days (with X5) on an 8 ½ high angle hole, a Motor
had to be run.
 Push the bit limitations

Push the bit systems are probably worse than classic Pendulum
 ST with Point the bit systems
It all happens at the bit:
Building a trough from the bit to the 1st touch point is
enough.
 Whipstocks

Whipstocks are highly effective tools designed to provide

lateral displacement from the well-bore.

They do not give very large changes in inclinations but

generate high DLS values considering the small change
in MD.

Though whipstocks are a niche market tool their range
and diversity is on the increase.
 Whipstocks

Whipstocks come in five primary types:

Open Hole Retrievable Whipstocks

Open / Cased Hole Cemented Whipstocks

Open Hole Packer Whipstocks

Cased Hole Mechanical Set Whipstocks

Cased Hole Hydraulic Set Whipstocks
 Open / Cased Hole Cemented
Whipstock
Features:

2 run (minimum) system

Hollow, Bladed & Ported tail

Inexpensive

Simple & Reliable

Problems in field when making “Low side”
kick-offs
Open / Cased Hole Cemented Whipstock
 Open Hole Packer Whipstock

Features:

2 run system

Cement inflated Packer

Costly

Complex but Reliable (hole conditions)
Open Hole Packer Whipstock
Open Hole Packer Whipstock
 Cased Hole Mechanical Set
Whipstock

Features:

1, 2 or 3 run system (1 trip and 2 trips)

Mechanically Set Packer

Inexpensive

Simple

Requires Cement Plug or Bridge Plug to set
Cased Hole Mechanical Set Whipstock
 Cased Hole Hydraulic Set Whipstock

Features:

1, 2,3 run system (1 trip and 2 trips)

Hydraulically Set Packer

Costly

Simple

Set at any depth or orientation required
Cased Hole Hydraulic Set Whipstock
 Bit Selection

Bit selection should be based on the short

term requirement:

Is durability a requirement?

NO

What are our requirements?

Ability to side-cut into this formation

What kind of bit will do this?
 Bit Selection
There are specialized PDC And specialized
side-tracking bits: Natural Diamond
side-tracking bits:
 Bit Selection
There are certain characteristics common to
fixed cutter bits designed for side-tracking:

The bit must not be inherently stable

Shallow Cone

Negligible Taper

Minimal Gauge Protection

Short Shank

High cutter density on the edge
 Bit Selection
When a dedicated fixed cutter bit is not available we need to
select the most appropriate roller cone bit. The qualities that
we are looking are those that will give us the best side-
cutting action.

Which bit will be most effective in side-

tracking?

An insert bit

A milled tooth bit

It depends on the formation
 Bit Selection

To decide we need to consider the method used to

protect the gauge in the two different roller cone bit
types.

Insert bits are fitted with gauge inserts

Milled Bits have no such apparent protection

 Bit Selection

Another feature to consider is Skew:

Insert bits mostly have a Low Skew

Milled tooth bits for soft formation

have a High Skew
 Bit Selection

Recap
When a problematic side-track is expected:

Dedicated Side-track bits are most effective

Milled tooth bits are preferred to Insert bits

1-1-X bits are not suitable except in soft
formations

Hydraulics must be considered
 Available Data

When Preparing a Side-track it is advisable to

use all the information available to you to
ensure success.
Sources of relevant data include:

Mud Log: Lithology, ROP and Problems

Wireline logs

D&M data

IADC Report
 Bend Setting & Orientation

Bend Setting function of DLS requirement

Higher bends provides a greater offset and higher side-
force.

Orientation is a function of Objective:

We need to decide what is most important

To never reenter the old hole

To correct the direction of the well toward a target

To facilitate to the maximum the side-track
 Section milling

A 35/40 ft window was the norm with conventional tools. The

knives of a section mill tools would die out soon after milling
a casing collar especially with hard steel (P110).

A cut initiated 5/10 ft below a casing collar would produce a

35 ft section.
Section milling is dependable but time consuming compared
with whipstocks.
Section milling tools

Good stabilization
here is essential
 Cutting a section by other means

A section can also be performed by simply cutting and

pulling a casing and milling away the casing with a pilot
mill.

In such a case, procedures would be identical to a side

track performed in open hole.
 Cutting and milling a window
Cutting an entire section

Pilot mill
Pipe cutters
Other tools used with section milling

UNDERREAMER
 Field case with section milling

On a well where cement plug appeared very weak,

decision was made to run a double bend motor (3°
ABH & 1°bent sub)
Milling And Sidetracking
 Cement Plugs Introduction

Setting a cement plug in a well is a common oilfield operation

A cement plug involves a relatively small volume of cement.

Plugs are placed in the wellbore for various purposes:

To side track above a fish or to initiate directional drilling

To plug back a zone or plug back a well

To solve a lost circulation problem during the drilling phase

To provide an anchor for open hole tests

To increase the formation strength/integrity
Sidetrack and Directional Drilling

Kick Off Point

CEMENT
PLUG

NEW
HOLE
Reasons for Cement Plug Failures

Lack of hardness

Wrong Depth

Not in place due to sinking to the bottom

Plug slippage when not set on a solid base

Drilling out too soon

Inaccurate well data (which one?)

Insufficient slurry volume

Poor design, poor execution

Losses due to high ECD while reversing

Poor mud removal

Inclination of the hole

Contamination of slurry both inside and outside of string
Mud Contamination vs. Compressive Strength
Cement Plug Job Design Considerations

At what depth will the plug be set?

Across which formations is the plug going to be set?

At what density should the slurry be mixed?

What is the BHT?

What volume should be pumped?

What is the required thickening time? (Waiting on cement time)

How to ensure the cement will not be contaminated by the mud?

Are pipe centralization and rotation necessary?

Can a slightly bent string be used and rotated to place the cement
plug?

How fast pipe needs to be POOH

What size of drill string is required

Reverse circulation vs. Direct circulation?
Cement Plug Job Design Considerations

Establish of support base and stable interface. This
maintains the position of the plug in the wellbore and
most importantly prevents co-mingling of the fluid.

Minimize cement contamination during the process:

Conditioning of the wellbore and drilling fluid.

Effective and complete displacement of the drilling
fluid.

Sufficient cement volume

The set cement should ideally be harder than

surrounding formation:

Proper cement slurry design

Proper mixing

Adequate waiting-on-cement time
 Slurry Design Overview

Density:

In general compressive strength increases with density (W/C ratio)

Increasing slurry density raises the density differential between mud and
cement. This increases the possibility for plug failure.

Compressive Strength

It is the most significant variable for kick-off cement plug.

It should be higher than the formation (minimum 5000 psi)

There is no direct correlation between compressive strengths and zonal
isolation.

Watch strength retrogression when temperature is between 230F and 250F

Free Water

It is the water separation from the cement slurry as the denser cement
particles migrate downward (<1%).

Fluid loss

If gas migration is expected, fluid loss should be between 20-100 cc/30min

Thickening Time

Enough time for placement + POOH + 1.5 to 2 hours
Recommended Cement Properties for Kick Off Plugs
Volume Considerations for Kick Off Plugs

Insufficient slurry volume is often the cause of cement plug failures. Rule
of thumb is always to place a 500-600 ft-cement plug (excess not
included), or minimum 60 bbl slurry

Consider that at least first 100-150 ft at the top of the plug to be
contaminated.

Plug lengths above 700 ft may cause operational problems and are not
recommended.

When possible, utilize an open hole caliper to determine cement
volumes. It is recommended to use caliper volume + 10% to ensure
sufficient plug volume

When a caliper is not available, the following guidelines are proposed:
 Supporting a balanced plug
The fluid below cement plug is critical for:

Keeping the plug in correct depth

Preventing downward migration and contamination of the cement

Ideally, it should have the following characteristics:

Gel strength great enough to support the force exerted by the
cement plug

Maintain difference of density no more than 2 ppg

Set a Barite plug

A mud engineer can prepare a barite plug. The barite will settle
(barite sag) and will prevent plug slippage.

Other options

Bridge plug if inside casing

Use Para bow system

Pump additional cement plug

New technology (CemFlat)
 Balanced Plug
Balancing Circulating
Displ.
Fluid
Spacer

Cement
Slurry

Plug
Length
 Balanced Plug
Risk of Contamination when POOH
 Balanced Plug Technique

Use smaller diameter Drill pipe or tubing (tail pipe whenever possible to
reduce contamination)

Place a viscous pill on the bottom to support the cement plug.

Batch mix the cement whenever possible, this will provide consistent weight
and rheology

Slightly under displace the plug (usually 1-1.5 bbl ) to avoid contamination
due to mud flow back.

If possible rotate the string

Allow plug to reach hydrostatic balance.

Slowly pull the tail pipe out of the plug to desired top depth (200-300 ft above
the theoretical TOC and circulate at least 1.5 times the annular volume.

Decide if reverse circulating is absolutely necessary (reverse circulating
exerts high amount of pressure on the plug and may cause lost circulation)
Reverse Circulating Excess Cement

L
Coiled Tubing Cement Plug Technique

Coiled Tubing

Cement

Mud
Pump and Pull Method Technique
 Tailpipe (Stinger) Considerations
Description
A piece of aluminum or fiberglass pipe of reduced diameter placed at the end of
the drill string recommended length is 1.5 times the cement plug length. The
stinger is sheared after WOC (optional).

Potential advantages

Smaller disturbance when pulling the drill string out of the cement slurry, after
placement.

Enhanced stability of cement slurry, in case of highly deviated or horizontal
sections. In this case the best practice is to let the cement set with the tailpipe
inside it and break once the cement is set.

Easier to break (by increasing the pull) if the pipe becomes cemented up and
cannot be pulled out. Also cheaper than drill pipe.

For cement plugs set in horizontal wells, the stinger is sometimes left inside the plug
to provide additional reinforcement while the cement sets. This reduces the chances
for the cement slurry to slump under its own weight after placement.
 Tailpipe (Stinger) Considerations

Potential drawbacks

Computation of volumes is more complex: you cannot
simply equal the length of fluids in the annulus and
pipe since the cross sections varies.

In case displacement volume is not carefully
calculated, the cement plug could be displaced while
pulling out.
 Classic cementing tools

The two tools above are essential to prevent

plugging the string (especially on a deviated well).
Drill Pipe Centralization & Diverter Tool

DP Centralization to
ensure homogeneous
DRILLPIPE
CENTRALIZED positive mud removal
9.0 lb/gal MUD
Viscous pill placed below
SPACER cement slurry to avoid
DIVERTER TOOL “sinking” cement slurry
16.0 lb/gal CEMENT
through light 9.0 lb/gal
9.1 lb/gal VISCOUS BENTONITE PILL mud.

Diverter tool used, to make
sure that there is no
9.0 lb/gal MUD downwards jetting action
that might break/penetrate
the pill
No Drill Pipe Centralization & No Diverter Tool

No diverter tool is being
used - jetting action of
9.0 lb/gal MUD
cement breaks the viscous
SPACER pill and cement slurry

13.8lb/gal
“falls” down to the bottom
15.8 lb/gal leaving no cement.
17.5 lb/gal
CEMENT

Bad centralization/standoff
BENTONITE causes bad mud removal,
PILL
some mud behind DP is
9.0 lb/gal MUD not removed, resulting in
bad cement, mud
contamination up to POH
work string.
 Cement bond considerations

Whichever is the technique used, cement bond
is important. Isolation cannot be overlooked.
 Special tools

Plug catcher or Plug Placement tools

Provides mechanical separation of the slurry from
displacing fluid

Provides an indication of the end of displacement

Reduces the probability of over-displacing

Inside BOP

Prevents back flow due to out of balance cement

plug

Are recommended when washouts with no caliper or
no measurable hole size

When cement density is higher that mud density
(>2.5 ppg)
 Parabow and plug catchers
The Parabow tool provides a solid barrier. This is very useful
when setting a plug far from bottom.
The parabow is an expendable insert (Umbrella) run with a
retrievable tool. The cement can be pumped as soon as the
Parabow is set.

Plug catchers allow accurate cement placement. Similar to

sponges, they reduce the risk of leaving chunks of cement in
the DP (Jamming MWD etc..)
Cement Support Tool
Operating principles
 Cement plug considerations
A cement plug may be good enough to isolate but insufficiently
hard to perform a side track.
Nowadays, a DD may be required to side track without
knowing plug height and hardness.

It is in our interest to recommend the use of side track bits,

tubing, plug catcher and even “Parabow” to set a proper plug.
Cement is the best buffer.

A long cement plug may produce plug slippage.

Cement plugs: What has changed?

Today, a 4500 PSI compressive strength can be obtained in 24

hours with a 14.5 ppg slurry.
6000 PSI compressive strength is common.

On surface holes in water base mud, 3000 PSI may be more

than enough.
Placement techniques have improved (sponge, plug catchers)
 Determining plug hardness

Case 1: Cement plug is hard enough

A cement that drills at the same ROP as the formation is OK.
At 5 times the ROP of the formation (without exceeding 150
FPH), Side tracking should be possible.

Case 2: Cement plug is perceived to be too soft

The best action is to wait extra time and to monitor closely
hardness drilling 5 ft every two hours without running out of
plug.
Setting a cement plug on an existing plug eliminates the risk of
plug slippage and therefore contamination.
 Other ways to minimize contamination

Goodies to place plugs more effectively may not be available

on your rig.
If this is the case, there are options:

Setting a simple cement plug (prevent plug slippage)

Set a Barite plug
A mud engineer can prepare a barite plug. The barite will
settle (barite sag) and will prevent plug slippage.
 Tricks and Tips

Look at the side track like a fishing job.

Concentrate on what you know.

Watch out for every change (Inclination, RT)

Attempt tagging weight with minimal circulation

The cement plug should withstand at least 20000 #.

On OH side track, try tagging after 20 ft if in doubt.

Do not ever drill out completely a cement plug

Do not hesitate to use Mud logging info
 Surveys and Cement

Define DLS limits with client

Do not hesitate in resurveying the hole

Do not hesitate in taking check shots

Drilling cement at 60 fph is OK on the average ST

What matters is to look at trends over a 5 ft interval

In oil base mud, the first 200 ft of cement may be soft

Do not hesitate to place a 500 ft cement plug
 Conclusions

Use all the info you have about the well

If ST is caused by an unstable hole it may happen again if
nothing is changed.

Keeping DLS low should be easier in soft rock

In hard rock, without continuous inc. it may be difficult to keep
DLS low. (long time to wait)

Motors have better Side track capability.

Side tracking as the well is drilled is easier.

Mud compatibility with cement should be checked
 Cement plug considerations
Setting a plug across a section should be easier. There
should be no risk of losses or slippage.
Contamination risk should be reduced.
In case no underreamer is used,
older cement chunks could fall in.
In the case of a whipstock,
a cement squeeze may be needed
before cutting a window.

Old cement
 Tricks and Tips
To evaluate the cement (section milled
window):

PDM: Tag some weight (no pumps, no rotary)

RSS: Tag some weigh (rotary off, pumps on)

PDM stalling or peaks of torque indicate problems.

(BHA not getting off or steel is in the way).

Inclination check shot surveys allow to confirm

initial whipstock orientation.
When backreaming, tell the driller where to stop.
This way a stabilizer will not catch accidently.
Operational Considerations - Summary

Condition the well before running the job, using low YP and PV mud, but
sufficient weight to control the well.

Place the plug in a competent formation

Use sufficient amount of cement and Batch mix the slurry

Place a viscous pill below the cement plug whenever possible to prevent cement
sliding down the hole due to density difference.

Use a tailpipe whenever possible

Use centralizers on the tailpipe where the hole is not excessively washed out.

Use spacers and washers to combat the effects of mud contamination

High density cements with a dispersant are useful

Consider rotating the drill string during the placement

Decide if reverse circulating is absolutely necessary (reverse circulating exerts
high amount of pressure on the plug and may cause lost circulation)

Allow sufficient time for the cement to set prior to tagging with directional string
 IPM-PR-WCI-006

IPM
SETTING AND VERIFICATION OF CEMENT PLUGS
PROCEDURE
 Time Drilling

To time drill we need to plan our strategy

based on:

ROP when drilled

Type & Behavior of Formation

Well Path close to the Side-track

Logs of this well or similar offset well

Use all available sources of information
 Time Drilling
Decide your game plan:

Time drilling Rate & Distance for each step

Inform Client Rep & Driller / Toolpusher

Maximize Block height

Be aware of Lag time

Watch cutting ratios

Sample catch quality

Switch to WOB drilling

What will hurt

Opposite of all of the above

Hole wash out (although one could argue that if hole is
washed out formation is probably soft)

Inclination of the hole
END OF MODULE