Hole Cleaning Recommended Practices for Rabi

The following are the hole cleaning practices recommended for drilling each section.

26”, 17-1/2” and 12-1/4” Holes (Vertical)

Flow Rate: Can vary from 1500 to 3500 lpm, depending on losses, lithology, etc. It should
always be as high as possible.
Mud Weight: It should be as low as possible, to avoid (or minimise) losses. Solids can be kept low
using the centrifuge when possible, otherwise by dumping and diluting.
Rheology: PV as low as possible.
YP above 30.
If high flow rates can not be achieved then run high gels.
Sweeps: High viscosity pills to be used (5-10 m3, MF 100+ secs).
If drilling with mud reduce ROP towards the end of each stand and pump and
circulate out of the hole a high viscous pill before the connection.
If drilling with water (total or severe losses) pump a high viscous pill every single
drilled. ROP is to be controlled at a maximum of 20 m/hr.
On POOH: Sweep hole with one high viscous pill. Repeat if necessary.
Spot high viscous pill on bottom and condition gels if about to run casing.

If hole is kicked off within the 17-1/2” section then the 12-1/4” section sweeping procedures apply.

12-1/4” Hole (Deviated)

Flow Rate: Not to be below 2800 lpm, unless losses are experienced. Directional drillers and
MWD operators to configure their equipment to run in this range.
Mud Weight: As per drilling programme, generally 12.2 kPa/m.
Rheology: PV as low as possible.
YP above 25.
Sweeps: Start pumping sweeps when inclination reaches 30°.
A 3 m3 (discuss with mud engineer possibility of greater volume) low viscosity
followed by a 3 m3 high viscosity pill are to be used.
Pills should have YP 3-5 (MF 30- secs) and YP 50-60 (MF 100+ secs) respectively.
Sweep frequency is every 3 stands or more if hole dictates so, or if extended periods
of oriented drilling are taking place.
Pump at maximum flow rate when the sweep starts coming out of the bit.
String to be rotated at least until the sweep reaches 30°. Rotate the string at
maximum speed (the same depends upon BHA configuration and whether rotation
would take place on or off bottom; in any case, it will be indicated by the directional
driller).
If off bottom, reciprocate the string by at least the length of half a stand. In soft
formations, pick up slowly and RIH fast to avoid washing and side-tracking.
On POOH: Pull a stand off bottom.
Pump a lo/hi viscosity pill and circulate out of the hole with maximum rotation
(special allowances have been made by Anadrill to rotate their tools at higher than
normal speeds when off bottom before POOH).
If a major amount of cuttings is seen at the shakers, repeat the sweep.
At the previous shoe (for either POOH or check trips to the shoe), repeat the sweep
(beware of certain tools not allowed to rotate inside the casing).

8-1/2” Hole (Deviated)

Flow Rate: Not to be below 2000 lpm, preferred 2200 lpm. Directional drillers and MWD
operators to configure their equipment to run in this range.
Mud Weight: As per drilling programme. Generally 10.9 kPa/m.

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Hole Cleaning Recommended Practices for Rabi

Rheology: PV as low as possible.

YP around 20, maximum of 25.
Sweeps: A 2 m3 low viscosity followed by a 3 m3 high viscosity pill are to be used.
Pills should have YP 3-5 (MF 30- secs) and YP 50-60 (MF 100+ secs) respectively.
Sweep frequency is every 3 stands or more if hole dictates so, or if extended periods
of oriented drilling are taking place.
Pump at maximum flow rate when the sweep starts coming out of the bit.
String to be rotated at least until the sweep reaches 30°. Rotate the string at
maximum speed (the same depends upon BHA configuration and whether rotation
would take place on or off bottom; in any case, it will be indicated by the directional
driller).
If off bottom, reciprocate the string by at least the length of half a stand. Pick up
slowly and RIH fast to avoid washing and side-tracking.
On POOH: Pull a stand off bottom.
Pump a lo/hi viscosity pill and circulate out of the hole with maximum rotation
(special allowances have been made by Anadrill to rotate their tools at higher than
normal speeds when off bottom before POOH).
If a major amount of cuttings is seen at the shakers, repeat the sweep.
At the previous shoe (for either POOH or check trips to the shoe), repeat the sweep
(beware of certain tools not allowed to rotate inside the casing).

6-1/8” Hole (Deviated)

Flow Rate: Not to be below 1000 lpm, preferred 1100 lpm. Directional drillers and MWD
operators to configure their equipment to run in this range.
Mud Weight: As per drilling programme. Generally 10.9 kPa/m.
Rheology: PV as low as possible.
YP around 20.
Sweeps: A 2 m3 low viscosity followed by a 1 m3 high viscosity pill are to be used.
Pills should have YP 3-5 (MF 30- secs) and YP 50-60 (MF 100+ secs) respectively.
Sweep frequency is every 3 stands or more if hole dictates so, or if extended periods
of oriented drilling are taking place.
Pump at maximum flow rate when the sweep starts coming out of the bit.
String to be rotated at least until the sweep reaches 30°. Rotate the string at
maximum speed (the same depends upon BHA configuration and whether rotation
would take place on or off bottom; in any case, it will be indicated by the directional
driller).
If off bottom, reciprocate the string by at least the length of half a stand. Pick up
slowly and RIH fast to avoid washing and side-tracking.
On POOH: Pull a stand off bottom.
Pump a lo/hi viscosity pill and circulate out of the hole with maximum rotation
(special allowances have been made by Anadrill to rotate their tools at higher than
normal speeds when off bottom before POOH). If a major amount of cuttings is seen
at the shakers, repeat the sweep.
At the previous shoe (for either POOH or check trips to the shoe), repeat the sweep
(beware of certain tools not allowed to rotate inside the casing).

The recommendations stated here above should ensure that hole cleaning is carried out properly.
However, hole condition should be monitored and remedial action taken if it is suspected that the hole

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Hole Cleaning Recommended Practices for Rabi

is not being cleaned conveniently. The best guide to hole cleaning is what is seen at the weight
indicator and the shale shakers!

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Hole Cleaning Recommended Practices for Rabi

A Note on Sweeps

A combined pill for deviated hole cleaning purposes is meant to be a low density low viscosity pill
followed by a high density high viscosity pill. The low weight low viscosity pill goes into turbulence
and stirs up the solids from the low side of the hole, while the high weight high viscosity pill sweeps
out the cuttings once they have been lifted.

Only low viscosity / high viscosity combined pills are used for hole cleaning in the Rabi field. In
principle, the low viscosity pill volume should be as large as possible, however, the low viscosity
fluid produces a thinning effect on the mud which is undesirable. A compromise volume is then used
which does not affect the mud properties, while still being able to stir up and maintain the cuttings in
the stream, to be sweeped by the ‘piston’ effect of the high density pill.

Sweeps are to be pumped while rotating the pipe, and if possible, the string should be also
reciprocated. The reciprocation stroke should be greater than the length of a single to avoid building
ridges on the low side of the hole.

Reference
Hole Cleaning in Deviated Wells - Technical paper summarising some 29 papers and studies on the
subject.
Shell Gabon DCOM
Shell Well Engineers Notebook
ABC of Stuck Pipe - Supplement 2 - Hole Cleaning

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