O.C.T.G.

Procter Consultancy Ltd

Drillstring Forces
Theory Book

NS-8
Contents
1 Drag and Torque and Stuck Pipe Mechanics Theory 3

1.1 Surface String Weight - The Buoyancy Method 3

1.2 Surface String Weight - The Pressure Area Method 4

1.3 Buckling 7

1.4 Introducing WOB into the tension equations 8

1.5 Example buckling neutral point calculation 10

1.6 Example questions 11

1.7 Drill string tension when tripping in and pulling out 12

1.8 Creating a drag chart 14

1.9 Buoyancy and drag when stuck 19

1.10 The wellplan for windows stuckpipe module 21

1.11 Backing off 23

Written by
O.C.T.G. Procter Consultancy Ltd
Specialist Drilling Engineers
21 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen
AB10 1XE, Scotland.
www.stuckpipe.co.uk

Thanks to Ian Pettit and Kees Langeveld for helping to edit this document.

1998 O.C.T.G. Procter Consultancy Ltd

Photographs OCTG Procter Collection 1997

1 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory

May 2001 2
1 Drag and Torque and Stuck Pipe Mechanics Theory
This section covers the theory required to understand the mechanical aspects of
sticking a string in a wellbore and the forces required to free the string. In this
section string refers to a drill string, casing string or any other string run into the
wellbore.

1.1 Surface String Weight - The Buoyancy method

The formula for calculating the surface string weight for a vertical string using the
buoyancy method is shown below:

------------ Eqn 1

String Weight = tension in the string at surface (lbs)

L = length of string (ft)
W = specific weight of string (lbs / ft)
BF = buoyancy factor for the mud weight in use.

This assumes the buoyancy force due to the density of drilling fluid is distributed
along the whole length of the string.

Example of calculating string weight using the buoyancy method

Question: What is the surface string weight of 1000 ft of drill collars that have an air
weight of 150 lb/ft, when they are suspended in 520 pptf mud. The mud gives a
buoyancy factor of 0.847.
Answer:
Using Eqn 1

If this method is used to calculate the tension in a vertical string at any other depth
then the formula is as follows:

---------------- Eqn 2

Tx = string tension at position x along its length (lbs)

x = distance along string from bottom up (ft)
W = weight of string (lbs / ft)
BF = buoyancy factor

When x = L, Tx = String tension at surface = Surface string weight

Once again this formula assumes the buoyancy force due to the density of drilling

3 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
fluid is distributed along the whole
length of the string (Archemides
Principle - Ref 13).
If we use the buoyancy method
to calculate the tension in the string
at depths A and B (Fig 1) we get
the following results

Tension in the string at point A

At A, x = L , therefore

Tx = String Weight

Tension in the string at point B.

At B, x = 0 , therefore from Eqn 2
Fig 1 - Schematic of pseudo tension in a
note 1 drill string in a vertical well.

Archimedes Principle states that upward force is equal to the weight of the dis-
placed fluid. However, this is a simplification for calculating the total effect for the
whole submersed body. To calculate force in the middle of a submersed drill string
the vertical component of all the pressure area forces acting on all the surfaces
must be integrated (added).

In the case of a vertical drill string the only surface facing down (ignoring tooljoints)
is at B (Fig 1). Here the hydrostatic force equals 520 psi x cross sectional area of
the string (assume 45 sq inches). This will be 23400 lbs, which is a significantly
different result than obtained in the above calculation ( Tx = 0). This illustrates that
Eqn 2 is only valid for tension when x = L.

Calculating the actual tension in the string using the buoyancy method is only
possible when x=L, and the tension in the string at surface is being calculated
(i.e., the string weight). The tension calculated using the buoyancy method will
therefore be referred to as pseudo tension to distinguish it from the real tension in
the string
In order to remain consistent for subsequent equations, Eqn 2 is now renamed as
shown below:

---------------------------------------- Eqn 2.1

where pTx = pseudo string tension.

When pTx = 0 , x gives the position of the buckling neutral point.1
1
Note: drillers call this the neutral point See Section 1.3.1
May 2001 4
1.2 Surface String weight - The Pressure Area method
The formula for calculating the string tension for a uniform vertical string using the
pressure area method is shown below:

--------------------------Eqn 3

String Weight = tension2 in the string at surface (lbs)

L = length of string (ft)
W = specific weight of string (lbs / ft)
MW = mud weight (psi / 1000 ft) [pptf].
CSA = cross sectional area of string (inch2)

Example of calculating string weight using the pressure area method

Question:
What is the surface string weight of 1000 ft of drill collars that have an air weight of
150 lb/ft, when they are suspended in 520 pptf mud. The dimensions of the string
are OD = 8 , ID = 2.5.

Answer:
Using Eqn 3

If the pressure area method is used to calculate the tension in a vertical string at
any other depth then the formula is as follows:

------------------------------ Eqn 4

Tx = tension in the string at x ft from bottom of the string (lbs)

L = length of string (ft)
x = distance along string from bottom up (ft)
W = specific weight of string (lbs / ft)
MW = mud weight (psi / 1000 ft) [pptf].
CSA = cross sectional area of string (inch2)

2
Tension should not be confused with axial stress (? ):

5 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
If we use the pressure area
method to calculate the tension in
the string at points A and B (Fig 2)
we see the following results:
Tension in the string at point A
At A, x = L
therefore from Eqn 4:

Tx = (150 x 1000)
- (0.52 x 1000 x 45.36)

= 126414 lbs

Tension in the string at point B.

At B, x = 0, therefore from Eqn 4: Fig 2 Schematic of tension in a vertical
well.
Tx = (150 x 0) - (0.52 x 1000 x 45.36) = -23585 lbs

This value is a negative tension, indicating a compression. It represents the force

due to the mud hydrostatic pressure acting on the bottom of the string.

Question: Where is the tension in the string equal to zero?

Answer: By re-arranging Eqn 4 we can solve for Tx = 0

---------------------------------Eqn 5

When Tx = 0, Eqn 5 becomes

-------------------------------- Eqn 6

Using the values as before we get:

x = ( 0.52 x 1000 x 45.36 ) = 157 ft

150
The tension = zero point is therefore 157 ft off bottom or at a depth of 843ft.

This result is significantly different to the pseudo tension result obtained using the
buoyancy method. The pseudo tension is always zero at the bottom string pro-
vided the WOB is equal to zero.
May 2001 6
1.3 Buckling
Buckling occurs when part of the string is in
compression and the amount of compres-
sion is sufficient to bend the string. This
bending (buckling) may or may not perma-
nently deform the string. When the string is
permanently deformed due to buckling it is
plastically buckled. When the string is tem-
porarily deformed due to buckling it is elasti-
cally buckled.

The minimum force required to buckle the

string is referred to as the critical buckling
force and is calculated using the Dawson
Paslay equations (Ref 7 (deviated > 5 de-
grees) or Lubinsky equations (Ref 8) (verti-
cal < 5 degrees) depending on the hole an-
Photo 1 Plastically buckled
gle.
drill pipe
Depending on the compression applied the
buckled string will take on a sinusoidal shape or a helical shape as in Photo 1. The
critical buckling force is dependent on the angle of the wellbore. The critical angle
for a given force is determined using Cheatham & Chen equations (Ref 9).

For example, the critical buckling force (Fcrit) for 5 20.89 lbs/ft Grade E drill pipe
at an inclination of 1 degree in 10.19 inside diameter casing is 2.5k lbs.

For the same drill pipe at an inclination of 24 degrees Fcrit = 20k lbs and 32k lbs for
drill pipe at 90 degrees. (Source - Wellplan for Windows TDA module calculation)

Four different stages can be distinguished when a drill string is subjected to an

increasing compressive load above the critical buckling force:

1. Sinusoidal buckling.
2. Transition from sinusoidal to helical buckling.
3. Helical buckling.
4. Permanent deformation of the drill string
The occurrence of these modes of buckling are all indicated by the Wellplan for
Windows TDA module as part of a normal report.

The drilling team are mainly interested in items 3 and 4 above.

3, because this is the point where it becomes more difficult to obtain the required
WOB for motor drilling or to run into the hole with a drill string, coil tubing (lock up

7 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
can occur with coil tubing) or in some special cases pre-packed screens or liners .
4, because this is the point where the string is damaged.

Buckling Neutral Point

The buckling neutral point is the position in the string above which buckling cannot
occur. Below the neutral point the string will only buckle if the critical buckling force
is exceeded. It is not the position in the string where the tension equals zero.

Whats in a name.
In Section 2.1 the buckling neutral point is called the pseudo tension = zero point.
It is also well documented that a drill string will only buckle below the Drillers
neutral point (Ref 10). This Drillers neutral point refers to the same point. For
clarity it will be referred to in this booklet as the buckling neutral point.

How can the position of the buckling neutral point be calculated?

Wellplan for Windows TDA module calculates both buoyancy method pseudo ten-
sion, pressure area tension and critical buckling force results. These can be refer-
enced on any normal report from the TDA module.

1.4 Introducing WOB into the tension equations

In Section 1.1 it was established that the buoyancy calculation method is only used
to calculate the tension in the string at surface as it is not valid for any other depth.
The buoyancy method is used for one other very important calculation, the buck-
ling neutral point. (i.e. the pseudo tension = 0 point).

From Eqn 2.1 the position of the buckling neutral point can be established for a
vertical string that is off bottom. To take into account WOB the formula is modified
as follows:

Using Eqn 2.1 for the pseudo tension:

Eqn 7

pTx = pseudo string tension at position x along its length (lbs)

x = distance along string from bottom (ft)
W = specific weight of string (lbs / ft)
WOB = weight on bit (lbs)
BF = buoyancy factor for the mud weight in use.

For the actual tension in a vertical string the pressure area equation is used. It is
modified to take WOB into account.

May 2001 8
Using Eqn 3 for the tension:

Eqn 8

Tx = tension in the string at x ft from bottom of the string (lbs)

L = length of string (ft)
x = distance along string from bottom up (ft)
W = specific weight of string (lbs / ft)
MW = mud weight (psi / 1000 ft) [pptf].
CSA = cross sectional area of string (inch2)
WOB = weight on bit (lbs)

NB The above formula Eqn 1 to 8 are for a perfectly vertical string. Once the string
is no longer vertical the formulae become complicated and can only practically be
performed with the aid of a computer program such as Wellplan for Windows TDA
module.

9 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
1.5 Example of calculating the position of the buckling neutral
point and tension = 0 point.

Data: 1000 ft of drill collars that have an air weight of 150 lb/ft, are suspended in
520 pptf mud. The dimensions of the string are OD = 8 , ID = 2.5.

Questions
When 10k lbs WOB is applied:
(a) Where in the string is the buckling neutral point?
(b) Where in the string is the tension equal to zero?

Answer (a)
The buckling neutral point has moved
up the string from the bottom by a dis-
tance equivalent to 10k lbs of string
weight as in Fig 3.
We know pseudo tension = 0 at the
buckling neutral point so using Eqn 7
and setting pTx = 0 we have:

? 79 ft
Fig 3 - String pseudo tension schematic
when WOB is added.
i.e. at a depth of 921 ft.

Answer (b)
The tension = zero when Tx = 0 in Eqn 8.

May 2001 10
Comparing the two results illustrates that the tension zero point is not in the same
position as the buckling neutral point. The tension is zero 145ft above the buckling
neutral point.

Note: When no WOB was present the tension was zero 157ft above the buckling
neutral point. The discrepancy between the results of the two methods (pseudo
tension and pressure area tension) decreases as the points move towards the
surface, where the results are the same.

1.6 Example Question A

Consider a simple vertical drill string hanging off bottom, in mud. The tension in the
string is simply the weight of the string below any chosen point, minus any net
hydrostatic forces acting on the string and minus any WOB.

A drill string consists of 100ft of 8 by 3 Drill Collar weighing 147lb/ft and the mud
weight is 520 pptf. The rig has a top-drive weighing 30k lbs. The Buoyancy factor
for 520 pptf mud is 0.847. The critical buckling force (Fcrit) for these collars in a
vertical well is 21.8k lbs.

If the above string is 100ft, 1000ft and 10000ft long, fill in the answers to the ques-
tions in the table below:

100ft 1000ft 10000ft

What is the weight in air? ____ ____ _____
What is the buoyant weight? ____ ____ _____
What is the upward force on the bottom of the string? ____ ____ _____
Is the bottom part of the string in compression? ____ ____ _____
Where is the zero tension point? (above bottom) ____ ____ _____
Where is the buckling neutral point? (above bottom) ____ ____ _____
What is the hook load? ____ ____ _____
What would the surface measured weight of the string be? ____ ____ _____

Table 1

You will notice that the lower part of the string is in compression. The compression
forces can be large, even in excess of the critical buckling force for the string
component and the string does not buckle. This is due to hydrostatic restraining
forces acting all around the string. The critical buckling force only applies to forces
over and above hydrostatic forces, i.e. WOB. This is why pressure area calcula-
tions are not used for establishing the buckling state of a drill string.

11 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
1.7 Drill string tension when tripping in and pulling out.
Fig 13 has three separate curves showing the tension in the string in a deviated
wellbore while moving the string up, down and rotating off bottom with the bit at
7500ft. The tension in the string while moving the string down (down weight) is
less than the tension when moving the string up (up weight). The difference comes
from the interaction between gravity and friction.
When the string is moving up both gravity and friction are acting down. When the
string is moving down friction is acting up and gravity is acting down. Thus we see
more drag when moving a string up than when moving it down.

LEGEND
Trip In: Tension
Trip Out: Tension
Rotate Off Bottom: Tension
Tension Forces (k lbs)
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250
0

2000

4000

Measured
Depth [ft]

6000

200 150 100 50 0 50 100 150 200 250

Fig 13 - Tension vs depth for tripping in, out and

rotating off bottom in a deviated well.

May 2001 12
 Tension Forces (k lbs)
-140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
0

2000

4000

Depth [ft]

6000

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Fig 14 - Typical String Tension LEGEND

Trip In: Tension
Plot when tripping in, out and Rotate Off Bottom:

rotating off bottom in a horizon- Trip Out: Tension

tal well with the bit at TD

Fig 13 is the typical tension plot created during well planning. Unfortunately, it tells
us nothing of the risk of buckling, margin of overpull etc. It tells us only what the
tension in all parts of the string will be when the bit is at 7500 ft.

In general for both vertical and deviated wells the tension at surface, shown in this
type of plot (Fig 13 and Fig 14), will indicate the highest tension that will be seen
while drilling the well. However, in certain cases such as in horizontal wells, (Fig
14) this type of plot does not show the highest tension and if used could result in
significantly less margin of overpull than expected! Fig 14 shows the highest
tension to be 130k lbs while pulling out at TD. The drag chart for the same well -
Fig 16 shows the highest tension (bit is at 5600ft) to be 200k lbs - 50% higher!

13 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
1.8 Creating a drag chart
Creating a drag chart from actual data
By measuring the up weight, down weight and free rotating weight every stand a
drag profile can be created for the well being drilled, similar to the example in Fig
15.

Measured weight Note the drag profile lines start at

the travelling equipment weight, not
at zero k lbs.

The trend information within the drag

chart is essential for the rig team to
evaluate what is happening down
hole.

Historically, drag trends were re-

corded by the driller in his tally book.
The drag chart is a more system-
atic and defined way of recording the
Bit depth data. Creation of the chart can be
done for the driller by the mud log-
Fig 15 - Shows an example of a gers or the wellsite drilling engineer.
manually created drag chart A drag chart should also be created
for running casing, liner or coil tub-
ing.

Surface weights are monitored when the string is being pulled out of the hole or run
into the hole without rotation. If the string is rotating, such as when reaming in and
out, then drag values must be accompanied by the torque and RPM values for any
of them to be meaningful. A note should be made to show whether the pumps
were on or off when the readings were taken. The rig travelling equipment weight
is also required for each well, this should be recorded on the chart.

When this drag profile (Fig 15) is combined with a set of lines showing:
a) the maximum allowable measured weight (yield strength),
b) the onset of buckling (sinusoidal),
c) the minimum allowable measured weight, [the onset of damage due to buck-
ling (plastic deformation)],
a complete drag chart is obtained (Fig 16).

The parts of a drag chart that cannot be measured on site are the maximum and
minimum allowable measured weights. These should be calculated at the rig site
using Wellplan for Windows TDA module. This requires the use of friction factors,
May 2001 14
which should be back calculated from actual well data.
Creating a forecast drag chart
To create a drag chart in the planning stage of a well the up, down and free rotating
measured weight values are calculated by a torque & drag program and are plotted
in, for example, 200ft bit depth increments. This will result in three curves repre-
senting the up, down and free rotating weights for the string at all bit depths in the
well, a similar result to a manually created drag chart. Wellplan for Windows TDA
module can be used to automatically create a drag chart. Ref 11.

It is common practice to produce only the TD tension (Fig 14) when planning a well.
However, a drag chart gives more information than a TD tension plot, since the
highest tension at surface is not always when the bit is at TD. With the types of wells
currently being drilled it is advisable to always calculate a drag chart.

A drag chart tells the user four main items of information.

1) The drag profile expected on the well. Note: the maximum tension expected in
the well may not always be at TD!
2) The maximum allowable measured weight, which is not always dependent on
the surface drill pipe, for example when a mixed string is being used!
3) The minimum allowable measured weight at which sinusoidal buckling starts to
occur.
4) The minimum allowable measured weight at which buckling causes the string to
fail plastically.
The component parts of a drag chart
NB: In Fig 16 the vertical axis represents bit depth, not distance down the string.

A The travelling equipment weight.

B1 The plastic buckling line. When the measured weight at surface reaches this
value buckling will cause plastic deformation of the string. In Fig 16 line A and B
overlap. This suggests plastic buckling will not occur at any bit depth or meas-
ured weight for this well.
B2 This is the onset of buckling line. When the measured weight at surface reaches
this value the string will start to buckle (see Section 2.3 for establishing exactly
where in the string the buckling occurs).
C The trip in string weight line.
D The free rotating string weight line.
E The trip out string weight line.
F The maximum allowable string weight line taking into account a safety factor.

15 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory

Measured Weight at Surface1

Horizontal well
-50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
0

2000

A
4000
B1
B2 LEGEND
C: Trip In

Depth [ft] E: Trip Out

D: Rotate Off Bottom Horizontal well

Vertical Section Graph
B1: Min Weight Plastic

C B2: Min Weight Buckle

F: Max Meas Weight 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

E 1000

6000 F
D 2000

3000

Vertical
4000 Depth [ft]

50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Measured Weight [kip] 5000
LEGEND
Vertical Section

6000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Vertical Section

The measured weight at surface includes the weight of the travel-

ling equipment. See Ref 3, page 55 for a full list definitions.

Fig 16- A Typical Drag Chart for a Horizontal Well Gener-

ated by Wellplan for Windows

The high maximum allowable measured weights at bit depths shallower than 1400ft
are due to the BHA components being in the rotary table.

May 2001 16
 Measured Weight at Surface
Deviated Well

-50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
0

Vertical Section Graph

Vertical Depth [ft]
0

2000

2000 4000

6000

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Vertical Section [ft]

LEGEND
Trip In
4000 Actual Trip In
Trip Out
Actual Trip Out
Rotate Off Bottom
Bit Depth [ft] Actual Rotate Off Bottom
Min Weight Plastic
Min Weight Buckle
Max Meas Weight

6000

50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Measured Weight [kip]
Fig 17 - A Typical Drag Chart for a Deviated Well
Generated by Wellplan for Windows
Fig 17 Shows a typical drag chart for a deviated well with the vertical section shown
in the inset. The maximum allowable measured weight line has been omitted in this
example.

17 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory

Torque at Surface
H o rizontal W e ll
0

LEGEND
R o tate On Bottom
R o tate Off Bottom

2000

B it D e p th [ft]

4000

6000

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

Torque [ft- lbf]

Fig 18 - A Torque vs Bit Depth Chart for a Deviated Well

Generated by Wellplan for Windows

Fig 18 Shows the expected surface torque while drilling for bit depths down to TD.
The two lines shown are the on and off bottom rotary torque assuming an on bottom
bit torque of 1000ft/lbs.

May 2001 18
1.9 Buoyancy and drag when stuck
When stuck, the drill string does not loose its buoyancy. The string remains im-
mersed in a fluid and therefore still has buoyancy. The sticking mechanism may
absorb all the buoyancy and other forces (those transmitted from surface for exam-
ple) applied to it, however, if the internal forces in the steel are to be calculated
buoyancy must be taken into account.

[Imagine a balloon filled with hydrogen. The balloon will float upwards until you catch it in your hands.
Where does the buoyancy force go then? Of course it goes into your hands. The buoyancy force is still
present, it is purely absorbed by you - acting as the sticking mechanism.]

There are circumstances where buoyancy is lost - The Gulfax concrete platform structures
were floated out to position, placed on the sea-bed and 15m steel skirts on the base of the
storage tanks are sunk into the mud. The storage tanks above were then evacuated causing
the water hydrostatic pressure to push the structure down into the mud - this is effectively
loss of buoyancy. Similarly a drill string in a deviated wellbore can loose a small percentage
of its buoyancy when it is differentially stuck or if the string is run into green cement.

When a string is free and the up weight is applied to start pulling out of the hole, the
tension in the string increases from its rotating weight by an amount equal to the up
drag and the string moves upwards. When the string is stuck (or the hole is tight)
and an overpull (i.e., over and above normal up weight) is applied, the string stretches.
The tension and therefore the drag in the string increases to a higher level than
when the string was free.

Conclusion: When applying overpull the effective drag is higher than when the
string is free. This increase in drag has nothing to do with the mechanism causing
the overpull.

Consequence 1: The down hole overpull is always less than the surface overpull
applied. The difference is the extra drag due to the higher contact forces.

Example 1: If 100k lbs overpull is applied at surface, depending on the drag profile
of the well, only 80k lbs overpull may be seen down hole. (a setdown is defined in
Ref 3 as the amount of string weight slacked off below the down weight). The
downhole value of setdown is more than the surface setdown (see Chapter 2.6).
When the string is set down the tension throughout the string decreases thus the
drag decreases and hence the setdown is larger.

Consequence 2: When applying a setdown weight the effective drag will be less
than the down drag. In a highly deviated or horizontal well the drag in the high angle
sections would need to be overcome before any force is transmitted along the
string.

19 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
Example 2: If 50k lbs setdown (i.e. 50k lbs below the down weight) is applied at
surface in a well with inclination less than 45 degrees, depending on the drag profile
of the well, 60k lbs may be seen down hole. This is because the tension in the whole
string is lower so the down drag decreases.

Force at Stuck Point Chart

50

Stuck While POOH

0
Force
at Stuck While RIH
Stuck
Point Free
Buckled Up Weight
Rotating
(klbs) Down
Weight
Weight
-50

0 50 100 150 200

Surface Weight Indicator Reading (klbs)
Fig 19 - Force at Stuck Point as a Function of
Surface Weight

Fig 19 is a schematic of the Force at Stuck Point vs Surface Weight. There are four
areas of interest.
1 Overpull (surface weight > 150k lbs in Fig 19).
2 Hysteresis (Surface weight 80 - 150k lbs in Fig 19). The force transmitted to
the stuck point is changing from tension to compression or vice versa and the
friction in the well is in the process of changing direction. This hysteresis loop
has minimal effect on the force at the stuck point and is not computed in the
Wellplan for Windows stuckpipe module. See Chapter 2.10.
3 Setdown (surface weight 80 - 40k lbs in Fig 19)
4 Buckling (surface weight <30k lbs in Fig 19). The surface weight is sufficiently
low to allow the string to buckle. From Fig 19 there is no way of telling where
in the string buckling will occur, a normal report from the Wellplan for Windows
TDA module is required to show this.

May 2001 20
Fig 20 shows the force at stuck
Stuck Pipe
point for a vertical well. This force
(in this case a compression) can
increase faster than the slack-off
weight is applied.
0
As the measured weight reduces 100 k lbs
from 200k lbs to 100k lbs (100k
lbs difference) the compressional 50
force at the stuck point increases
from -12k lbs to -126k lbs (114k 114 k lbs
lbs difference).
100

Force [kip]
This will not always be the case,
especially if the well is highly de-
150
viated or horizontal. However, it
is important to understand how the
friction in the well is behaving. This
type of calculation can help the 200

drilling engineer understand what 0 50 100 150 200 250 300

is happening in the well. This Me asured Weigh t [kip]

analysis is useful not only when Fig 22 - Wellplan for Windows example
the string is stuck, but also when Illustrating the Downhole Force is Greater
shearing down hole pins or bolts than the Surface Slackoff
etc. Operational experience con-
firms that shear pins often require more pull than expected to shear. This extra
pull required is often extra drag due to the 100k lbs overpull required to shear the
pin!

1.10 The Wellplan for Windows Stuck Pipe Module

When the string becomes stuck the bottom part of the string is effectively fixed in the
wellbore. Conventional torque and drag programs are not capable of modelling this
situation. The Stuck Pipe module (STU) of Wellplan for Windows is designed spe-
cifically for this task.

The input for the STU module is the same as for the TDA module; BHA, survey,
casing scheme, friction coefficient and mud data with the addition of stuck depth, jar
position, maximum and minimum applied weight.
The output data includes:
- The force at the stuck point.
- The force applied at the jar.
- Surface force required to Back-off.

21 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
The STU module graphical
output (Fig 23) provides the Stuck Pipe
force at stuck point result for Horizontal Well

measured weights down to 100

zero lbs. It may not be physi-
80
cally possible to have this
force at the stuck point due 60

to buckling. The STU mod- 40

ule report must be viewed to 20

determine whether buckling is
0
occurring and if so the meas-
ured weight at which it occurs. 20

40

In Fig 23 the flat area of the Force [kip]

60
line is not at zero as the stuck
80 String fails in tension
point chosen for this example String buckles
was not at the bit. This re- 100

sults in the stuck point ab- 120

LEGEND
sorbing the weight of the 140
Force Applied At Stuck

string hanging below.

160
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

The driller can usually find the Measured Weight [kip]

measured weight to cock the Fig 23 - Force at Stuck point Chart

jars by trial and error, by
watching for the flat spot on
the weight indicator. This flat
spot will correspond to the one seen on the Force at Stuck Point chart only when the
depth of calculation is the jar depth. (The flat spot, as all those who have squeaked
know, is the point when the string is being slacked off but the measured weight
indicator stops moving momentarily as the jars close or open). However, this obser-
vation of the flat spot becomes very difficult if not impossible in a highly deviated or
horizontal well and when jars with a central latched position are contained in the
string.

May 2001 22
1.11 Backing off
Compression 0 Tension
When a back-off shot is used to
break a connection down hole the
tension at the back-off point should
be close to zero for best effect.

If the tooljoint is held in either com-

pression (or tension), the pin and
box are forced together (apart)
when the shot is fired and friction
prevents the string from backing
off. However, a small amount of
tension (say up to a maximum of Tension = 0
5 k lbs is often used as a rule of
Tension in the string
thumb) forces the tool joint to part (Pressure Area Method)
when the back-off shot is fired.

Jars (except those with a central Fig 24 - Tension in the string

latch) give an excellent indication prior to getting stuck
of the position where the tension
= zero, as they open and close when the zero tension point passes from below to
above the jars and vice versa. If no jars are present in the string or the stuck point is
above the jars, a calculation must be made to establish the surface weight required
to place the zero tension point at the back-off depth. This surface force depends on
the direction of movement of the string immediately prior to backing off, the position
of the stuck point, the position of the
back-off point, the string weight and Compression 0 Tension
the drag above the back-off point.

For a perfectly vertical well this calcu-

lation is relatively simple but as soon
as the well becomes deviated the cal-
culations are complicated and are best
done with the Wellplan for Windows
STU Module.
Stuck Point
Fig 24 shows the tension in a free drill
string hanging off bottom. Fig 25 Tension = 0
shows the same string but now stuck.
The tension in the string is effectively Tension in the string
frozen until some action at surface is (Pressure Area Method)
taken to alter the tension. Fig 25 - Tension in the string after
getting stuck

23 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory
Compression 0 Tension
Fig 26 shows the tension in the
string after slacking off the string
weight at surface to place the zero
tension point just above the stuck
point - the point where you may
wish to back-off.

In a vertical well this surface weight

is equal to the string weight in air
of the free portion of the string.
As this sentence has caused con-
siderable misunderstanding in the
past as it does not appear to be in
agreement with the opening state-
ment of Section 2.9 it will be fully
explained with the aid of a calcu-
lation.
Stuck Point
Tension = 0
Tension in the string
(Pressure Area Method)
Fig 26 - Surface Force to Give Zero
Tension at Back-off Point

Calculation of surface string weight required to place zero tension at the

back-off point.

Tx = pstA.x - pm.A.L

Tx=L = ( pst - pm ).A.L surface weight (Eqn 4)

Tx=BO = pst .A.BO - pm.A.L (Eqn 3)

Surface weight for which Tx=BO equals zero?

SW (Tx=BO = 0) = T x=L - Tx=BO

= pst .A.L - pm.A.L - pst .A.BO + pm.A.L

= pst - pst .A.(L - BO)

= pst .A.D

BO = back-off depth from bottom D = back-off depth from surface

pst = density of steel pm = mud density
D = L - BO

May 2001 24
When the back-off shot breaks the connection, the hydrostatic force acts on the
freed part of the string. The zero tension point will then move up the string. This is
illustrated by the example below.

Example of the position of the zero tension point before and after a back-off
shot has been fired in a vertical well.

Bit Depth = 7000 ft Stuck point = 6100 ft

Back-off depth = 6000 ft Drill pipe length = 6500 ft
Mud weight = 520 pptf

Drill pipe details. 5 19.5 lb/ft G, NC50, Cross sectional area = 5.275 inch2, actual
weight = 21.92 lbs/ft.

Before the shot is fired the surface weight (SW) to place the tension = zero point at
the back off depth of 6000ft, will be:

SW = length of DP x weight of DP = 6000 x 21.92 = 131520 lbs

After the back-off shot has fired, but the connection has not yet fully unscrewed, the
force on the engaged threads will be:

F = P xA = (520 / 1000) x 6000 x 5.275 = 16450 lbs

If back-off is successful, the surface weight (SW) would drop to:

SW = 131520 - 16450 = 115062 lbs ( the buoyant weight of the free string)

If a back-off has apparently not worked, slacking off by the hydrostatic force acting
on the string above the back-off point while holding in left hand torque may be re-
quired to back-off the string.

Horizontal wells
When the wellbore is deviated or horizontal the buoyancy situation requires a differ-
ent solution. Calculating these results is only practically possible by using a compu-
ter model such as Wellplan for Windows STU Module. In Fig 27 the stuck point has
been assumed to be at 6900 ft MD. To place zero tension on the back-off point at or
close to this depth would require the surface string weight to be increased.

25 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory

Tension Forces Horizontal well

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100

0

2000

4000

Depth [ft]

6000

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80 100

Measured Weight [kip]

LEGEND
Rotate Off Bottom: Tension

Fig 27 - Tension in the string when initially stuck and when applying
zero tension at the back-off point (6800ft) for a Horizontal well with a
stuck point at 6800ft.

May 2001 26
References

Ref 9 Cheatham, J.B. Chen, Y.C New design considerations for Tubing &
Casing buckling in inclined wells, OTC Paper 5826, May 1988

Ref 10 Basic Fluid and pressure forces on oil well tubulars. SPE 7594.
Hammerlindl. D.J. 1980.

Ref 11 Wellplan for Windows user manual, Landmark Graphics (DRD for older
versions)

Ref 12 Haduch G. A, Procter R.L, Samuels D, Solution of common stuckpipe

problems through the adaptation of Torque/Drag calculations. SPE
Paper 27490

Ref 13 Technician Fluid Dynamics, P J Ascroft & N J Cooper. cassel ltd 1979
ISBN 0 304 30289 9

27 May 2001
 Drillstring Forces Theory

May 2001 28