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THE CAUSE OF DIFFERENTIAL STICKING

DEFINITION:
.

The sticking force generated by the overbalance pressure

driving the static drillstring into the thick filter cake of a
permeable formation.
CAUSE:
.

Overbalance Hydrostatic overbalance pressure is exposed to a permeable

Pressure formation (sand or fractured limestone).
.
Pipe motion is stopped with the un-stabilized BHA section in
contact with the wall of the permeable zone.
.
High fluid loss allows a thick static filter cake to build quickly
after pipe motion is stopped.
.
The build-up of the static filter cake seals the hydrostatic
pressure from the contact area between the pipe and filter cake.
.
Fluid loss allows the filter cake in the contact area to drain
down to formation pressure.
.

Permeable A differential force is exerted against the pipe relative to the

Formation contact area and the overbalance pressure.
.
Over time, the differential sticking force increases with
growth of the low pressure contact area.
WARNING:
High overbalance pressure; High fluid loss; BHA
in permeable formations; Operation requiring
static drillstring time.
.

FREEING: Overpull, set-down weight or torque surge

Most likely to occur during the to start pipe motion after static time.
drilling operation when string
motion is stopped (i.e., connections, Static
survey, etc). Dynamic
. Filter Cake
Pipe motion prior to sticking: Static. Filter Cake
. 6000 PSI
Circulation after sticking: Unrestricted.
.
(Top Drive) Apply 80% of DP make-up torque.
.
Jar down with maximum jar-trip load.
PREVENTION:
4"
Contact
Minimize mud weight and fluid loss.
.
Use fine calcium carbonate to plug permeable zones.
.
Minimize the length drill collars, replace with HWDP. Low Pressure
.
Use spiraled/flex drill collars in the un-stabilized BHA filter cake
section. Formation Pressure
. 5000 psi
Maintain pipe motion when BHA is in potential sticking zones.
Page 1
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DIFFERENTIAL STICKING MECHANICS
For differential sticking to occur, five basic conditions must be present. The string must be in
contact with the wall of the hole and static for some time. Overbalance pressure drives fluid
into the permeable zone and develops a thick static filter cake. Under these conditions, a
pressure differential develops across the string-to-formation contact area producing the
differential sticking force.
Filter Cake Development
No
Filter Cake
Uncontrolled
Fluid Loss

HYDROSTATIC
PRESSURE
6000 PSI
Formation Pressure
5000 psi

While the liquid phase of the mud can flow into the permeable zone, the much larger solid phase
(gel, barite, drill solids, etc.) is filtered out at the wall of the hole forming a filtered cake of mud
solids (filter cake or wall cake). The filter cake is necessary to control fluid loss and allow the
overbalance pressure to support the wall of the hole.

Filter Cake Controlled

Fluid Loss

HYDROSTATIC
PRESSURE
6000 PSI

Formation Pressure
5000 psi

Page 2
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Dynamic Filter Cake
Under dynamic (moving) conditions, the thickness of the filter cake
decreases as the mechanical forces of pipe and fluid motion
washes the top layer of the cake off the wall of the hole.

Fluid loss
increases
as the filter
Rota cake is
ti on washed off
the wall of
the hole.
n
atio
cul
Cir

Static Filter Cake

Under static (non-moving) conditions, the thickness of the filter
cake increases with the loss of the mechanical forces.

Fluid loss
decreases
as the
Static Filter
Cake
developes.

Page 3
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String In Contact
Dynamic Conditions
The forces of drillstring
movement and circulation
Dynamic
Dynamic
Filter
Filter Cake
Cake
6000 psi prevents the development
5000 PSI of the static filter cake.
HSP
Without the seal of the static
filter cake, hydrostatic
o tation pressure is exerted equally
R around the pipe.

The differential sticking force

cannot develop without a
pressure differential across
the pipe.

Formation Pressure Hydrostatic Pressure

5000 psi Equal Around the Pipe

Static Conditions
6000 psi After drillstring motion is stopped,
Static
Static 5000 PSI the static filter cake developments
Filter Cake
Filter Cake HSP and restricts the flow of fluid to the
filter cake in the pipe-to-wall
contact area.

Fluid loss drains the pressure of

the filter cake in the contact area
1" down to formation pressure.
Contact
A differential sticking force is
exerted against the pipe relative to
the size of the low pressure contact
area and the pressure differential
across the pipe.
Low Pressure
Filter Cake Formation Pressure Fluid Flow Restricted
By Static Filter Cake
5000 psi

Page 4
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Time Dependent
As the static filter cake thickens with time, the hydrostatic pressure connection to the low pressure
filter cake is sealed off creating a pressure differential across the contact area.

The thickness of the static filter cake also increases the width of the contact area which greatly
increases the differential sticking force.

Dynamic Static
Filter Cake
Filter Cake
6000 PSI
HSP

Formation Pressure
5000 psi

4"
Contact

Fluid Flow Sealed Low Pressure

By Static Filter Cake
Filter Cake
Formation Pressure
5000 psi
Page 5
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The Differential Sticking Force
Top View at
Sand Depth Dynamic
Filter Cake

Formation
Pressure
6000

4"
5000 psi PSI
Static
Filter Cake
Low Pressure
Filter Cake

The differential pressure applied across the contact area generates a substantial differential
sticking force driving the pipe against the wall of the hole.
1600 sq in
1,600,000 lbs x 1000 psi
x 0.2 Fric = 1,600,000 lbs
4"
= 320,000 lbs Diff. Sticking Force
1,6
Freeing Force
00,
Contact
Area
000

400"

SAND
Lbs

Efforts to pull the drillstring free would require

an overpull equal to the differential sticking force
times the frictional coefficient of the filter cake.
In most situations, this would exceed the over-
pull limit of the drillstring.
Page 6
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WARNING, DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
OCCURRENCE
Differential sticking is most likely to occur during the drilling operation when drillstring motion
is stopped for connections, surveys, etc. Usually the sticking occurs in the unstabilized BHA
section but can also occur in the HWDP or drillpipe sections if conditions are favorable.
.

Also possible with slow reciprocation of the string (casing most likely) or with slow slide-drilling if
conditions are favorable.
WHILE DRILLING
High overbalance (1.0 ppg +). High fluid loss resulting in a thick static filter cake.
.
High % sand content and low gravity solids. BHA in a permeable formation (sand, limestone).
.
Slow slide-drilling (little pipe movement).
.

Hyd
Overbraostatic
lance

CONNECTIONS / SURVEYS
Long connection time with no string movement. Difficulty sliding and orienting the tool face.
..
Increasing trend of overpull off the slips after connections, surveys, etc.
TRIPPING
High overbalance (1.0 ppg +) to maintain wellbore stability.
.
High mud weights to control abnormal formation pressure increases overbalance to shallower sands.
.
High fluid loss. High % sand content and low gravity solids.
.
Little or no circulating and mud conditioning before the trip.
.
Long set-back time on stand connections.
.
Increasing trend of overpull off the slips after stand connections.
.
Drillstring is not rotated on connections with the BHA in a zone with high sticking potential.
.
Unnecessary back reaming with the BHA in a permeable zone removes the filter cake. The static filter
rebuilds during stand set-back time.
.

Page 7
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FREEING, DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
Torque-up & Jar Down (first action):
Immediate action is most effective as the differential sticking force increases with time.
Torquing-up the string and jarring down is an effective technique that can be applied
quickly with little possibility of creating other problems. The torque and down-jarring
combined loads greatly increases the possiblity of freeing the string.
Circulate at maximum rate while applying string torque. Circulation washes
away the static filter cake; cleans the cuttings up and out of the hole to reduce the
e
qu

r overbalance; while the annulus friction pressure pressurizes the filter cake.
To
(Top Drive) Torque-up the string to +/- 80% of the drillpipe make-up torque.
Carefully reciprocate the string to ensure torque limit is applied at stuck depth.
JAR Reduce the pump speed to +/-1 bbl/min: to relieve the annulus friction
pressure; to relieve pump-open force while jarring; and to keep the jar cool.
Jar down with maximum jar-trip load. Hold torque and set-down
weight until the jar trips or for +/-10 minutes.
If the string does not jar free, maintain torque, slow circulation
and continue jarring down +/-20 times.
.
If the string does not jar free, carefully release the string
torque and jar up with maximum jar-trip load +/-10 times.

If the string does not jar free, maintain slow

circulation, re-apply string torque and continue
jarring down while considering a second plan
of action.

TORQUE /TENSION COMBINED LOADS

String tension should not exceed the recommended value relative to the applied torque.
600
Applied torque reduces the
5 19.50 lbs/ft tension capacity of the string.
Release the string torque to
500 allow maximum overpull
Tension (1000 lbs.)

when jarring up.

S
400

300 G
X

200
E

100

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Reprinted with permission of Reference - Standard DS-1(TM)
T. H. Hill Associates, Inc.
Torsion (1000 ft-lbs.) Drill Stem Design & Inspection

Page 8
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FREEING DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
Spot a Pipe Releasing Pill (third action):
.

If first attempts failed to free the string, a chemical agent should be placed as quickly as
possible and not disturbed until the string comes free or the recommended waiting time
has expired. Refer to the literature for the chemical agent for recommended waiting time.

Determine where to spot the pill. If the jar can be tripped, the
stuck depth is below the jar. If the jar cannot be tripped, sticking
occurred at some depth above the jar. Run a Free-Point Log or
Spotting perform a Pipe Torque Calculation (see next page) to determine
Agent the stuck depth.
The pill density should be 1.0 to 2.0 ppg greater than the
JAR mud weight to keep the pill on spot. Pill volume should be
sufficient to cover the stuck zone by at least 1.5 times.
Continue recommended jarring procedure until the pill
is ready to pump.
.

Pump the pill in place at maximum rate to wash off the

Pill Penetrating static filter cake. Stop the pumps when the top of the pill
Filter Cake reaches the top of the stuck depth. Pump +/- 1 bbl every
+/-30 minutes while waiting to replace the pill volume
lubricating down hole.
.

Continue recommended jarring operations while

waiting on the pill.
If pressure can be applied to the wellbore
without the threat of lost circulation, hold
pressure on the well for +/-15 minutes to
pressurize the filter cake and to drive
spotting fluid into the filter cake. (See
Low Pressure detailed procedure on previous page.)
Filter Cake
(Top Drive) Apply torque and cock
the jar.
.
Close the BOP and apply 200 to 400 psi
to the wellbore. Hold torque and pressure
for 10 to 15 minutes.
.
Quickly Bleed off the pressure through the choke Spotting fluid
and open the BOP. lubricating
. down hole
Slack off maximum jar-trip load. Hold torque and set-
down weight until the jar trips or for +/-10 minutes.
If the string does not come free, consider repeating this
procedure while waiting on the pill. If the string is not free after
waiting the recommended time, consider picking up a Heavy
Down-Jaring Fishing Assembly. (See page 12)
Page 9
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DETERMINE THE STUCK DEPTH
Note: If the jar can be tripped, the stuck point is below the jar.
Pipe Torque Calculation
Preparations:
1. (Kelly drive) space-out to place the kelly drive bushing in the rotary table.
.

2. To ensure all tooljoints are tight, torque the string to 80% of the drillpipe make-up torque.
.
(Make-up Torq x .8) Maintain the torque and work the pipe until the string stops rotating.
3. Carefully release the string torque. Work the pipe with high set-down weights and moderate
.
overpulls to work any trapped torque out of the drillstring.
4. Make four equally spaced vertical marks around the drillpipe or kelly with one long mark as
.
the starting point.
Torque Factor For Size and Weight of Drillpipe Four Marks
Drillpipe Lbs/Ft Torq Fac Drillpipe Lbs/Ft Torq Fac around Pipe
2-3/8 6.65 2.058 4-1/2 16.60 19.221
18.15 20.760 Starting
2-7/8 8.35 3.848 20.00 23.023 Mark
10.40 4.610 5 19.50 28.538
3-1/2 13.30 9.002 20.50 30.401
15.50 10.232 5-1/2 21.90 38.670
4 14.00 12.915 .
24.70 43.141
15.70 14.314 6-5/8 22.20 56.284

.
Count the Revolutions for the Applied Torque:
5. Calculate 30% of the drillpipe make-up torque (Make-up Torq x .3 = Applied Torq).
.
6. While applying the torque, count the string revolutions from the starting mark. Adjust the
torque limiter to the calculated torque and torque the string until the Applied Torq is reached.
.
7. Maintain the applied torque and work the pipe with high set-down weights and light overpulls
to work the torque down the drillstring. The string will continue to rotate until the torque is
uniformly applied down to the stuck point. When the string stops rotating, record the total
string revolutions (Wraps), i.e., 4.25 revolutions.
.
8. Select the torque factor (Torq Fac) for the size and weight of the drillpipe, i.e., 5 19.5 lbs/ft.

. Calculate the Stuck Depth (StuckFT):

.
Wraps x Torq Fac x 501782 4.25 x 28.538 x 501782
StuckFT = = 10,143 ft
Applied Torq 6000 ft lbs

.
Verifying the Stuck Depth:
9. Repeat the procedure from step #3 using 50% of the drillstring make-up torque. The two
calculated stuck depths should be within 3% of the same value.

7 x 28.538 x 501782 = 10,024 ft

10,000 ft lbs
10. If Differential Sticking is the sticking mechanism, a permeable zone must be present at the
calculate stuck depth. If a sand or limestone formation is not present, repeat the procedure
or consider the possibility of Wellbore Geometry as the sticking mechanism.
Page 10
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FREEING DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
Heavy Down-Jaring Fishing Assembly: (Hole angle above fish, 70O or less)
.
If all other attempts failed to free the string, back-off the string below the drilling jar and
pick up a down-jaring fishing assembly with all the BHA weight available up to a maximum
of 80% of the hydraulic jars trip-load capacity.
Back-off the string below the jar. If possible, back-off at the top of the
drill collar section to avoid heavy jarring loads on the more flexible HWDP.
BHA Design: Pick-up a Heavy Down-Jarring Fishing Assemble with all the BHA
.

1 - Stab-in sub weight available up to 70% of the hydraulic jars max trip-load capacity.
1 - 8 Hydraulic jar Max trip loads: (6-1/2 jar, +/-170,000 lbs); (8 jar, +/-300,000 lbs).
.
14 - 8 Collars Trip Weight = (Cosine of Hole Angle) X BHA Weight
10 - 6-1/2 Collars (56 COS) X 138,840 lbs = 77,638 lbs
30 - 5 HWDP
. Wash the last stand to the top of the fish and circulate the
BHA weight: 138,840 lbs hole clean with rotation to avoid differential sticking.
Spot a high-concentration lubrication pill in the BHA
56 0 section. Rotate the string to ensure good lubrication around
Average hole the collars.
angle above fish. Stab into the fish and torque-up the connection.

Torque-up the string to +/- 80%

of the drillpipe make-up torque.
Carefully reciprocate the string to
ensure torque limit is applied at the
stuck depth.
Cock the jar and Jar down with
maximum jar-trip load. Hold torque
and set-down weight until the jar trips
or for +/-10 minutes. Jar
If the string does not jar free, maintain
torque, slow circulation (+/-1 bbl/min) and
continue jarring down until the string jars
free.

Page 11
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PREVENTIVE ACTION, DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
To prevent differential sticking, steps must be taken to interrupt as many of the
five conditions that favor the development of the area of low pressure filter cake
in contact with the drillstring.

(1)
Hydrostatic (4)
Pressure Permeability of
Overbalance 6000 PSI the Formation
HSP

(2)
No Drillstring
Movement
4" (5)
Contact Thick Static
Filter Cake

(3)
Drillstring
Contact Area
Low Pressure
Formation Pressure Filter Cake
5000 psi

Minimize Overbalance Pressure:

Plan the casing setting depths to minimize high overbalance pressure at permeable zone depths.
.
Maintain the minimum mud weight required for well pressure control and wellbore stability.
Control the rate of penetration to minimize mud weight and use proper hole cleaning practices.
.
Take action to avoid kicks. Use recommended kick killing procedures to avoid unnecessary
pressure on the wellbore and to minimize total shut-in time for the kill operation.
.
Minimize Formation Permeability:
Use fine calcium carbonate to isolate wellbore pressure from low pressure permeable zones
until casing can be set. Add fine LCM to the mud system if seepage loss occurs.
.
Minimize Filter Cake Thickness:
Minimize fluid loss to decrease the rate of static filter cake build-up and the filter cake thickness.
Minimize drill solids and low gravity solids. For information on a closely related sticking cause,
see Wellbore Geometry, Thick Filter Cake, page 18.
Page 12
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PREVENTIVE ACTION, DIFFERENTIAL STICKING
In most cases, the size of the contact area (square inches) plays the greatest role in producing
the differential sticking force. There are several recommended actions that can be taken to
reduce the drillstring contact area.

The Contact Area - The thickness of the permeable zone times the width of contact determines
square inches of contact area.
Smooth Collar Spiral Collar Spiral-Flex Collar
100% Contact 66% Contact 23% Contact

.
Minimize The Contact Area:
Reduce the length of un-stabilized drill collars by increasing the length of HWDP.
Use spiral-flex collars in the unstabilized BHA section.
Use spiral HWDP.
Maintain string movement (when possible) to minimize static filter cake build-up.
Page 13