IADC/SPE 168005

Don't Get Stung Setting Balanced Cement Plugs: A Look at Current

Industry Practices for Placing Cement Plugs in a Wellbore Using a Stinger
or Tail Pipe
Justin Roye, Schlumberger, and Sam Pickett, Chesapeake

Copyright 2014, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2014 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition held in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, 46 March 2014.
This paper was selected for presentation by an IADC/SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not
been reviewed by the International Association of Drilling Contractors or the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily
reflect any position of the International Association of Drilling Contractors or the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any
part of this paper without the written consent of the International Association of Drilling Contractors or the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is
restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of IADC/SPE copyright.

Abstract
Cement plugs have been used for decades within the oil and gas industry. Some of the applications include zonal isolation,
curing lost circulation, abandonment, and serving as a base for kicking-off or sidetracking. The most common method used
for the placement of cement plugs is the balanced plug method using drillpipe, tubing, or a combination of both. The pipe is
run in the wellbore to the desired depth of the bottom of the plug. A calculated volume of cement is placed in the well.
Usually a volume of spacer is pumped ahead and behind the cement. When the plug is in place, the height of the cement and
spacer left inside the pipe is the same as the height of the cement and spacer placed outside the pipe. With equalized column
heights and fluid densities inside and outside the drillpipe, the hydrostatic pressure is balanced.
Tubing with a smaller diameter than the drillpipe is commonly run on the bottom of the drillpipe for setting a balanced
plug; this smaller diameter tubing is commonly known as the stinger. Using a stinger lowers the height of the cement plug
with the pipe in place, prior to pulling out of hole (POOH). The stinger also provides a larger annular cross-sectional area
during cement placement. Some operators use a stinger with the assumption that it will minimize the disturbance of the plug
while POOH, decreasing the chance of cement contamination.
If a stinger is used, the assumption that all fluids both inside and outside the drillpipe will remain in equilibrium is false.
A mathematical analysis of what occurs once dynamic conditions begin by POOH with a small diameter stinger shows that
the initially balanced system quickly becomes unbalanced. This analysis of placement technique can be valuable for any
situation in which a balanced plug would normally be used for plug placement.
Perhaps the most critical component of most cement plugs, especially kickoff and sidetrack plugs, is compressive strength
(CS) development. A cement kickoff plug with a final strength greater than the adjacent formation provides better support to
sidetrack in the neighboring formation. Surfactant-laden spacers and drilling mud contamination have a drastic effect on
cement CS development. The contamination of the cement plug with these fluids can result in failed strength development,
which can result in failure to kick off the plug. The end result is lost time and money for the operator.
Introduction
The balanced plug method of calculating plug placement volumes has long been a standard industry practice for setting
plugs in the wellbore. Volumes are calculated in such a way that all fluids both inside and outside of the pipe are at the same
height, thus resulting in a hydrostatically balanced system.
The basic assumption behind the balanced plug calculation method is that the fluid is going to remain in place while the
drillpipe is simply pulled through the fluids with minimal falling of the fluid level to fill the void left behind by the metal
displacement of the drillpipe. This assumption is correct, neglecting the frictional drag forces on the fluid, when the drillpipe
outer diameter (OD) and inner diameter (ID) are the same from top to bottom. However, when the drillpipe includes a stinger
at the bottom, there is a disruption in the hydrostatic equilibrium between the column of fluid inside and outside the drillpipe
resulting in flow at the bottom of the stinger between the two regions.
As soon as this dynamic situation is imposed on the fluids in the wellbore, the fluids down hole begin to experience a
continual shifting in hydrostatic conditions. When a stinger is used at the bottom of a larger diameter drillpipe, the difference
in volumetric capacities per annular length can be substantial. The difference in the volumetric capacities inside the pipe per

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

length can also be substantial. As a given length of larger diameter drillpipe is pulled out at surface, all the fluid that was
contained within that drillpipe, and the fluid in the annulus that was surrounding it, will attempt to stay in place. As noted
earlier there will be some drop in the fluid level due to the removal of the volume of steel in the drillpipe. However, a much
longer length or column height of fluid per unit volume is displaced within the smaller diameter stinger due to its smaller
capacity. After pulling out several hundred lineal feet of drillpipe at the surface, a substantial difference in lineal footage of
fluid has passed through the stinger. If these fluid column height changes are not taken into account in the placement
calculations, as they are not in the balanced plug method, the result will be a plug that has had other displacement fluids
dumped into the middle of the cement as the drillpipe is POOH.
Post-Job Placement of the Balanced Plug CalculationA Look at Dynamic Conditions When Using a
Stinger
In this section, we discuss key changes in fluid movement after placement of the balanced plug. Graphic representations of
fluid movements are shown in Appendix A (Figs. 1A8A).
In this example of dynamic conditions when using a stinger, we assume a very simple open system (i.e., fluid levels can
never rise above the surface at 0 ft) in a vertical wellbore with the parameters shown in Table 1 and volumetric capacities
shown in Table 2.
TABLE 1WELL PARAMETERS
TD/TVD:
Openhole size:
Bottom of plug:
Plug length:
Top of plug:
Tubulars:
Fluid in hole:
Spacer:
Cement slurry:

8,000 ft (vertical well)

8 -in. (from surface to 8,000 ft)
8,000 ft
500 ft (0% excess)
7,500 ft
7,000 ft of 5-in. 19.5-lbm drillpipe
1,000 ft of 2 7/8-in. 6.4-lbm stinger
12.5 ppg mud
14.0 ppg weighted spacer = 30 bbl total volume
17.5 ppg plug slurry
= 37.19 bbl total volume

TABLE 2CAPACITIES
SECTION
5-in. 19.5-lbm drillpipe (4.276-in. ID)
2.875-in. 6.4-lbm stinger (2.441-in. ID)
5-in. x 8.75-in. openhole annulus
2.875-in. x 8.75-in. openhole annulus
5-in. x 4.276-in. drillpipe
2.875-in. x 2.441-in. stinger
8.75-in. open hole

BBL / FT
CAPACITY
0.01776 bbl/ft
0.00579 bbl/ft
0.05009 bbl/ft
0.06635 bbl/ft
0.00652 bbl/ft
0.00224 bbl/ft
0.07438 bbl/ft

Note that this scenario places all of the spacer and cement in the stinger by openhole annulus (Fig. 1A). Having fluids of
different densities above the drillpipe/stinger interface would only further complicate the balancing of the system while
POOH. The assumption is made that fluid within the drillpipe has only two possible places to godown and out the bottom
or spilled out on the rig floor at surface.
The balanced plug method (no underdisplacement) would yield the following conditions (Fig. 1):
Top of cement with drillpipe in place:
7,484.46 ft
Top of spacer with drillpipe in place:
7,068.57 ft
The capacities within the system are shown in Table 3.
TABLE 3INITIAL SYSTEM CAPACITIES
Inside
7000 ft of 5-in. drillpipe
1000 ft of 2.875-in. stinger

Volume

124.33 bbl
5.79 bbl

Outside
7000 ft of 5-in. x8.75-in. annulus
1000 ft of 2.875-in. x8.75-in. annulus

350.63 bbl
66.35 bbl

Work Steel
7000 ft of 5-in. x4.276-in. drillpipe
1000 ft of 2.875-in. x 2.441-in. stinger

45.67 bbl
2.24 bbl

The individual fluid volumes within the system are as shown in Table 4.

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

TABLE 4INITIAL FLUID VOLUMES

Mud
7000 ft of 5-in. drillpipe
68.57 ft of 2.875-in. stinger
Total mud inside

Volume
124.33 bbl
0.40 bbl
124.73 bbl

7000 ft of 5-in. x8.75-in. annulus

68.57 ft of 2.875-in. x8.75-in. annulus
Total mud outside

350.63 bbl
4.55 bbl
355.18 bbl

Spacer
415.89 ft of 2.875-in. stinger
415.89 ft of 2.875-in. x 8.75-in. annulus

2.41 bbl
27.59 bbl

Cement
515.54 ft of 2.875-in. stinger
515.54 ft of 2.875-in. x 8.75-in. annulus

2.98 bbl
34.21 bbl

Next, we look at the well conditions after pulling out 100 ft. Using the common industry misconception, it will be
assumed that all fluids will remain effectively in place, while the drillpipe and stinger simply pull through the fluids. The
only change made to the volumes within the system will be the loss of 100 ft of 5-in. 4.276-in. steel that was pulled out of
the well. This results in a loss of 0.65 bbl of volume (100 ft 0.00652 bbl/ft). In a balanced system, the level of fluid
remains the same inside and outside of the drillpipe. The volume of steel removed from the wellbore would cause the fluid
level to drop 9.61 ft below the surface, both inside and outside the drillpipe.
Working from the inside of the drillpipe, top to bottom and referencing the fluid volumes of the original placement
conditions above, the shift toward hydrostatic imbalance is shown mathematically in the calculations shown below of the new
fluid volumes within the system after POOH 100 ft.
For the mud, the 124.73 bbl of mud inside the system is the same as the initial volume (Table 4). The fluid level has
fallen down 9.61 ft due to the removal of the drillpipe. By starting at the top and working down through the tubulars, we can
mathematically calculate where the fluid interfaces have transitioned to after the POOH 100 ft. Starting at 9.61 ft and
working down, the base of mud/top of spacer can be found.
Length of 5-in. drillpipe filled with mud: 6,900 ft 9.61 ft =
6,890.39 ft
Volume of 6890.39 ft of 5-in. drillpipe: 6,890.39 ft 0.01776 bbl/ft =
122.37 bbl
The remaining volume must push down into the 2.875-in. stinger:
Remaining volume:
124.73 bbl 122.37 bbl =
2.36 bbl
Length inside 2.875-in. stinger:
2.36 bbl / 0.00579 bbl/ft =
407.60 ft
The base of mud/top of spacer has moved from initially being 69 ft below the drillpipe/stinger interface, to now being
407.60 ft below the drillpipe/stinger interface, at 7,307.60 ft.
The volume and length of spacer inside the drillpipe remains unchanged, with 2.41 bbl continuing to occupy 415.89 ft of
2.875-in. stinger. However, since the mud/spacer interface has pushed farther down the drillpipe, the spacer/cement interface
has also pushed further down. The new spacer/cement interface is 415.89 ft below the mud/spacer interface at 7,307.60 ft:
7307.60 ft + 415.89 ft = 7,723.49 ft.
This leaves the bottom 176.51 ft of stinger that is filled with cement, with the volume of cement being 176.51 ft
0.00579 bbl/ft = 1.02 bbl.
With all fluid volumes and levels inside the pipe accounted for, the lengths of fluids outside the pipe can now be
determined, starting from the bottom of the stinger and working back up to surface.
The volume of cement in the system is 37.19 bbl, of which 1.02 bbl was determined to still be inside the 2.875-in. stinger.
The remaining 36.17 bbl of volume will occupy the 100 ft of 8.75-in. open hole that is now free of any type of tubulars, and
the rest will fill the 2.875-in. 8.75-in. annulus:
Volume of 100 ft of 8.75-in. open hole: 100 ft 0.07438 bbl/ft =
7.44 bbl
Volume in 2.875-in. 8.75-in. annulus: 36.17 bbl 7.44 bbl =
28.73 bbl
Length of 28.73 bbl:
28.73 bbl / 0.06635 bbl/ft =
433.01 ft
Top of cement in annulus:
7900 ft 433.01 ft =
7466.99 ft
The volume and length of spacer outside the drillpipe remains unchanged, with 27.59 bbl continuing to occupy 415.89 ft
of 2.875-in. 8.75-in. annular length. However, since the cement/spacer interface has pushed up the annulus because of the
fluids that have exited the drillpipe and stinger, the spacer/mud interface has also pushed up. The new spacer/mud interface
is 415.89 ft above the cement/spacer interface at 7469.56 ft, and the top of the spacer in the annulus is 7051.10 ft (7466.99 ft
415.89 ft = 7051.10 ft).
The remaining annulus from 7051.10 ft to 9.61 ft from surface will be filled with mud. Table 5 summarizes the new fluid
levels:

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

TABLE 5FLUID LEVELS AFTER POOH 100 FT

Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
Mud
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
Spacer
7307.60 ft
7051.10 ft
Cement
7723.49 ft
7466.99 ft

By simply comparing the heights of each fluid in Table 5, it becomes very clear that the system is not balanced. A quick
calculation of the hydrostatics yields:
Inside: [(7297.99 ft 12.5ppg) + (415.89ft 14.0ppg) + (176.51 ft 17.5ppg)] 0.052 =
5207 psi
Outside: [(7041.49 ft 12.5ppg) + (415.89 ft 14.0ppg) + (433.01 ft 17.5ppg)] 0.052 = 5274 psi
The system is now 67 psi underbalanced inside the drillpipe. To balance, the fluids in the annulus must fall, pushing
heavier cement back into the stinger, spacer farther up the stinger, and mud up and out of the drillpipe until equilibrium is
reached. For balance to be achieved, the fluid in the annulus would have to fall to ~ 29 ft below surface. Table 6
summarizes the fluid levels that would result in hydrostatic equilibrium (Fig. 2A).
TABLE 6HYDROSTATIC BALANCE HEIGHT OF FLUIDS AFTER POOH 100 FT
FLUID
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
Mud
0 ft
29 ft
Spacer
7138.69 ft
7065.94 ft
Cement
7554.58 ft
7481.83 ft

Hydrostatic calculations are now:

Inside:
[(7138.69 ft 12.5 ppg) + (415.89 ft 14.0 ppg) + (345.42 ft 17.5 ppg)] 0.052 =
Outside:
[(7036.94 ft 12.5 ppg) + (415.89 ft 14.0 ppg) + (418.17 ft 17.5 ppg)] 0.052 =

5257 psi
5257 psi

Balanced PlugYou Do the Math. Or Not

Note that the above calculations only look at a single iteration after POOH 100 ft. Whereas in this example, only a single
iteration snapshot is viewed, in reality the fluids will be in a constant state of flux while attempts are made to continually
maintain hydrostatic equilibrium as the drillpipe is removed from the wellbore. These calculations show how quickly such a
drastic change is imposed on the system and how the drillpipe is not simply pulling straight through the fluids, leaving them
undisturbed. By continuing on with these same analytical assumptions farther up the hole, the system will soon reach a point
at which all cement has exited the inside of the stinger while several hundred annular feet of cement remains outside of the
stinger (Fig. 4A). At this point, spacer will begin to exit the stinger and dump into the middle of the cement plug. Once all
of the spacer has exited, mud will begin to dump into the middle of the cement plug (Fig. 6A). Both fluids contribute to the
contamination of the top portion of the pluga detrimental effect when a solid cement base is needed for kicking off of or
sidetracking into the surrounding formation. In this example, 50% of the cement plug volume was contaminated.
Simulations of other common cement plug scenarios using a stinger indicate that the top 40% to 50% of plugs can be
contaminated using the balanced plug method with a stinger.
To more accurately assess the conditions of the wellbore while POOH, more iterations need to be calculated. The
accuracy of the analysis will increase as the number of iterations calculated approaches infinity. Any attempt to calculate
these by hand becomes increasingly time consuming and tedious as the POOH process progresses. As mentioned previously,
after continuing to POOH, all of the cement will eventually have exited the stinger, adding a level of complexity to the
calculations. At some points, a severe change in underbalance inside of the drillpipe can occur, resulting in the flowback of
fluid through the stinger and out the top of the drillpipe, spilling onto the rig floor. Hand calculating these conditions will
likely not be practical, especially from the perspective of the field supervisor and company representative reviewing numbers
prior to starting a cement job. Therefore, the use of computer software designed to calculate multiple iterations and predict
fluid activity while POOH is an excellent option to avoid tedious or complicated hand calculations. As with all simulations,
care should be taken to input as much detailed and accurate data as is possible, since a simulation is only as good as the data
given. When used properly, the aid of such software can provide a much more in-depth look at the dynamic well conditions
while POOH.
Using such software, a pictorial simulation of this particular well scenario can be found in the figures in Appendix A that
show conditions after POOH approximately every 100 ft or at points of special interest (such as when fluid interfaces begin
to exit the stinger or when a simulated U-tubing occurs in the system). These snapshots of the simulation carry on with the
calculations outlined above. The images help to show the activity that is going on down hole between the time the pump
shuts down and the time the stinger is completely pulled out of the plug. They also point to the fact that calculating a simple
balanced plug is anything but simple when a stinger is used.
Alternatives and Options
As the industry has grown and developed, new tools and applications have been developed to aid the operator in setting
successful cement plugs. One such tool is the computer-aided simulation software alluded to previously. Such software can
help tailor a custom solution to given well parameters, especially where a stinger is used. By allowing the computer to do the

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

cumbersome calculations, the spacer volumes ahead and behind the cement plug and the amount of necessary under
displacement can be optimized so that the mud, spacer, and cement interfaces are balanced after POOH instead of before.
Eliminating the stinger altogether and using a single size of drillpipe from top to bottom should be another option to
consider. The balanced plug method would then be applicable for calculating fluid placement, which simplifies calculations.
This method eliminates the continual fluid movement that occurs while using a stinger, which should lead to a more stable
plug while extracting the drillpipe from the cement. These advantages would need to be weighed against the increased
column height of the cement with the pipe in place and any potential issues caused by smaller annular clearances.
There are also mechanical devices available that can be placed in the drillpipe just above the stinger. These devices allow
the cement plug to be balanced using the basic balanced plug calculations. In addition, an indicator sub can be used to give a
pressure indication that the plug has been spotted on depth. After spotting the plug, the stinger is released from the drillpipe
before POOH. This eliminates the instability associated with extracting the stinger from the cement plug. In this case, the
stinger is abandoned in the well. If it is necessary to drill out the plug, then the stinger would need to be made out of drillable
material.
Conclusions
Many factors will influence what placement calculations should be used on a given plug job (hole sizes, drillpipe
size and length, tubing stinger size and length, length of plug, densities and volumes of the fluids in the hole, etc.).
Since each job has different parameters, a cookie-cutter solution is not always possible. However, by incorporating a
few new best practices, operators should be able to better their chances at placing successful cement plugs more
consistently.
When using a small-diameter stinger on the end of drillpipe:
o The balanced plug calculation method for spotting the cement plug will result in contamination of the top
section of the plug while extracting the stinger. The contamination can be up to 40% to 50% of the cement
volume. In addition, there is a much higher likelihood of fluid U-tubing out of the drillpipe, resulting in
spills on the rig floor.
o The calculation method to avoid contaminating the top part of the cement plug and avoid spills on the rig
floor is complicated and requires the use of a computer application. This type of computer application is
currently available to the industry and allows the use of a stinger without sacrificing plug quality.
The balanced plug calculation method can be used in cases where a stinger is not used or in cases where a device is
run above the stinger to separate it from the drillpipe before POOH.
A careful look at each wells situation and a comparison of the different options now available to the industry will
determine what placement technique is the best choice. By working together to educate colleagues and field
personnel, hopefully a new way of how weve always done it can begin to take shape.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the management of Chesapeake Energy and Schlumberger for their permission to publish
this paper. We would also like to thank the many people who invested their time and energy into reviewing the content of the
text.
Appendix A
Figs. 1A8A provide a pictorial simulation of the fluid movements as the drillpipe is pulled out of the wellbore. The figures
show conditions after POOH approximately every 100 ft or at points of special interest (such as when fluid interfaces begin
to exit the stinger or when a simulated U-tubing occurs in the system). Tables 1A8A summarize the fluid levels for each
point.

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

Fig. 1A sho
ows the initially
y balanced systtem after placeement.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 1AInitially
y balanced system immediately
y after placemen
nt.

Table 1A sh
hows fluid leveels for the initiaally balanced system
s
immediiately after pluug placement.
T
TABLE 1AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER PLUG PLA
ACEMENT
F
Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
M
Mud
0 ft
0 ft
7069 ft
S
Spacer
7069
9 ft
7484 ft
C
Cement
7484
4 ft

Hydrostaticc calculations are

a as follows:
Insside: [(7069 ftt 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (516 ft 17.5 ppg)] 0.052 = 53367 psi
Ou
utside: [(7069 ft
f 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (516 ft 17.5 ppg)]] 0.052 = 53367 psi

IA
ADC/SPE 16800
05-MS

Fig. 2A sho
ows the fluids in the wellbore after POOH to
o 7900 ft.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 2APOOH to 7900 ft.

T
Table 2A show
ws fluid levels after
a
POOH to 7900 ft.
T
TABLE 2AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER POOH TO 7900
7
FT
F
Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
M
Mud
0 ft
28 ft
7065 ft
S
Spacer
7145
5 ft
7481 ft
C
Cement
7561 ft

H
Hydrostatic callculations are as
a follows:
Insside: [(7145 ftt 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (339 ft 17.5 ppg)] 0.052 = 52256 psi
Ou
utside: [(7037 ft 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0 ppg) + (419 ft 17.5 ppg))] 0.052 = 52258 psi

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

Fig. 3A sho
ows the system after POOH to
o 7800 ft.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 3APOOH to 7800 ft.

Table 3A sh
hows the fluid levels after PO
OOH to 7800 ftt.
T
TABLE 3AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER POOH to 7800 FT
F
Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
M
Mud
0 ft
57 ft
7063 ft
S
Spacer
7207
7 ft
7479 ft
C
Cement
7623
3 ft

H
Hydrostatic callculations are as
a follows:
Insside: [(7207 ftt 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (177 ft 17.5 ppg)] 0.052 = 51148 psi
Ou
utside: [(7006 ft
f 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (321 ft 17.5 ppg)]] 0.052 = 51149 psi

IA
ADC/SPE 16800
05-MS

Fig. 4A sho
ows fluid levelss after POOH to
t 7700 ft. The space begins tto ext the stingger at approxim
mately 7750 ft.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 4APOOH to 7700 ft; spac
cer begins to ex
xit the stinger att ~7750 ft.

Table 4A sh
hows the fluid levels after PO
OOH to 7900 ftt.
T
TABLE 4AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER POOH to 7700 FT
F
Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
M
Mud
0 ft
87 ft
7059 ft
S
Spacer
7291 ft
7475 ft
C
Cement
N/A

Hydrostaticc calculations are

a as follows:
Insside: [(7291 ft 12.5 ppg) + (409 ft 14.0 ppg) + (0 ft 17.5 ppg)] 00.052 =
50037 psi
Ou
utside: [(6972 ft
f 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (225 ft 17.5 ppg)]] 0.052 = 50039 psi

10

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

Fig. 5A sho
ows fluid levelss after POOH to
t 7600 ft.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 5APOOH to 7600 ft.

Table 1A sh
hows fluid leveels after POOH
H to 7600 ft.
T
TABLE 5AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER POOH TO 7600
7
FT
F
Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
M
Mud
0 ft
98 ft
7045 ft
S
Spacer
7491 ft
7461 ft
C
Cement
N/A

Hydrostaticc calculations are

a as follows:
Insside: [(7491 ft 12.5 ppg) + (109 ft 14.0 ppg) + (0 ft 17.5 ppg)] 00.052 =
49949 psi
Ou
utside: [(6947 ft
f 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (139 ft 17.5 ppg)]] 0.052 = 49945 psi

IA
ADC/SPE 16800
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11

Fig. 6A sho
ows fluid levelss after POOH to
t 7558 ft. Mud
d begins to exit
it the stinger att approximatelyy 7570 ft.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 6APOOH to 7558 ft; mud begins to exit the
t stinger at ~7
7570 ft.

Table 2A sh
hows the fluid levels after PO
OOH to 7558 ftt.
T
TABLE 6AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER POOH to 7558 FT
F
Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
M
Mud
10 ft
102 ft
7037 ft
S
Spacer
N/A
7453 ft
C
Cement
N/A

H
Hydrostatic callculations are as
a follows:
Insside: [(7548 ftt 12.5 ppg) + (0 ft 14.0 pp
pg) + (0 ft 177.5 ppg)] 0.0052 =
49906 psi
Ou
utside: [(6935 ft
f 12.5 ppg) + (416 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (105 ft 17.5 ppg)]] 0.052 = 49906 psi

12

IADC/SPE 168005-MS

Fig. 7A sho
ows fluid levelss after POOH to
t 7500 ft.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 7APOOH to 7500 ft.

hows fluid leveels after POOH

H to 7500 ft.
Table 3A sh
T
TABLE 7AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER POOH TO 7500
7
FT
F
Fluid
M
Mud
S
Spacer
C
Cement

Top of fluidinside
28 ft
N/A
N/A

Top of fluidoutside
103 ft
7024 ft
7440 ft

Hydrostaticc calculations are

a as follows:
IN
NSIDE: [(7472 ft 12.5 ppg) + (0 ft 14.0 ppg) + (0 ft 17.5 ppg)] 00.052 =
OU
UTSIDE: [(692
21 ft 12.5 ppg
g) + (416 ft 14.0
1 ppg) + (ftt 17.5 ppg)] 0.052 =

48857 psi
48856 psi

IA
ADC/SPE 16800
05-MS

13

F
Fig. 8A shows fluid levels aft
fter POOH to 7415
7
ft. At apprroximately 74221 ft, the stingger has pulled oout of the annuular cement
ccolumn.
T
Top of Wellbore

Bottom of Wellbore

F
Fig. 8APOOH to 7415 ft; sting
ger has pulled out
o of annular ce
ement column a
at ~7421 ft

Table 4A sh
hows the fluid levels after PO
OOH to 7415 ftt.
T
TABLE 8AFLU
UID LEVELS AFT
TER POOH TO 7415
7
FT
F
Fluid
Top of fluidinside
Top of fluidoutside
M
Mud
55 ft
104 ft
7004 ft
S
Spacer
N/A
N/A
C
Cement
N/A

H
Hydrostatic callculations are as
a follows:
Insside: [(7360 ftt 12.5 ppg) + (0 ft 14.0 pp
pg) + (0 ft 17 .5 ppg)] 0.0552 =
Ou
utside: [(6900 ft
f 12.5 ppg) + (411 ft 14.0
0 ppg) + (60 ftt 17.5 ppg)] 0.052 =

47784 psi
47784 psi