Drilling Problems – Things you should know about it
Drilling an oil well is not as simple as most of the people think. There are a number of drilling problems which can arise during drilling and the problems which generally arise are very difficult to handle. Generally, the problems that are faced during drilling wells cost too much to the drilling company. Though there are ways for making the drilling problem disappear, but those methods costs too much. One cannot be sure that he or she will not face any drilling problem during drilling a well because even a very well planned drilling operation can end up in disaster because of the occurrence of drilling problem. iadc course includes all the drilling problems and their preventions; if you are thinking to join oil industry and mainly the drilling section then you should choose iadc training courses only.
Even in the similar area where the drilling process hasn’t experienced or confronted any drilling problem can face drilling problem in their next project. The reason behind this is that the formations in any area are not homogenous because of which every well project requires a different approach. Therefore, even two wells next to one another can have completely different geological conditions in respect to each other.
One can avoid these problems during a drilling process but for avoiding the drilling problems one will have to consider each and every potential drilling problem which can occur during drilling and after anticipating this entire one should design the drilling program. Though all this might look easy, but in reality it is not.
Some of the most common drilling problem has been enlisted below:
Pipe sticking or stuck pipe
During any drilling process, it is considered that stuck pipe problem has arisen when the pipe being used for drilling gets stuck and the pipe cannot be freed without getting the pipe damaged. One can prevent pie sticking by following stuck pipe prevention. This very problem can be classified in two categories the very first one is mechanical pipe sticking and other is differential pressure pipe sticking.
Lost circulation
In this drilling problem, uncontrolled flow of mud occurs in the formation. This very problem is also known as “thief zone”.
Hole deviation
In case of hole deviation the drill bit moves unintentionally from the borehole trajectory selected during the drilling programs. This very problem can cost too much. Hole deviation drilling problem can also result in lease boundary legal problems.
Drill pipe failure
This very problem can arise because of a number of reasons. Some of the common reasons because of which drill pipe failure occurs are parting of pipe due to excessive tension, twist off as a result of excessive torque, fatigue because of mechanical loads, and collapsing or bursting of drill pipe because of external or internal pressure. One cannot eliminate the chances of drill pipe failure, but one can maize the chances of this problem by following some of certain measures.
The entire above drilling problems can be serious and can increase the cost of the whole project, but by following the right procedure and keeping in mind the entire preventions one can minimize the occurrence of drilling problems.