Monitoring the Drilling Processes 1-1

MONITORING THE DRILLING

PROCESSES
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 2-2

MONITORING THE DRILLING PROCESS

Use the tables that follow to determine the appropriate reaction to drilling parameter
changes. Follow safe procedures, even when you believe that a change may be due
to equipment or sensor failure.

Note that only some parameter changes, such as rate of penetration, pit levels and
circulating pressures, are 'instantaneous' indicators of drilling events. Parameters
dependent on the properties of the circulating drilling fluid are detected at surface only after
a 'lag time' defined the rate of circulation. The lag time may be any value from a few
minutes to several hours. .
THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT MONITORING TASKS
In case of:
1. Rate of Penetration increase (drilling break)
2. Mud pit volume gain or loss
3. Mud flow rate change
4. Mud density variation
5. Indication of gas or oil. . .
. . .inform the Driller, Client Representative and/or Well Site
Geologist immediately.
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 3-3

1. SUMMARY OF PRIMARY DRILLING INCIDENTS AND THEIR CAUSES:

Drilling Break Less-resistant formation (softer,

increased porosity/permeability
Undercompaction (abnormal pressure)
Reservoir zone

Pit Level Increase due to fluid inflow (kick)

increase/decrease Decrease due to loss to formation (lost
circulation)
Increase due to addition or dilution of
fluid from surface
Decrease due to surface losses

Mud Flow Rate Increase due to fluid inflow (kick)

increase/decrease Decrease due to loss to formation (lost
circulation
Decrease due to pump failure

Mud Density Variation due to addition/dilution of mud

increase/decrease at surface
Decrease due to fluid inflow (kick)
Increase due to water loss (filtration)
Variation due to fluid contamination
from formation

Gas Increase Pipe connection/trip gas

Liberated gas
Produced gas
Recycled gas
Contamination gas

Note: Any hydrogen sulphide (H2S) alarm must be considered real until
proven otherwise!
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 4-4

Figure 3-1 -- What to do When a Drilling Break Occurs

Figure 3-2 -- ROP Change Through Pressure Transition Zone

Monitoring the Drilling Processes 5-5

2. Rate of Penetration Changes (instantaneous)

Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform

Drilling Break Spurious signal Sensor cable
(ROP increase) Less-resistant Previous lithological According to Client
formation (sand, correlation instructions (flow
salt, etc.) check)
Undercompaction -----
Reservoir zone ----- As directed by
Geologist
(circulation bottoms
up)
"Reverse" Stuck Rotoencoder ----- Repair or reposition
Drilling Break cable or failed
(ROP decrease) sensor
Worn bit Torque (increase) Client
Representative
"Balled" bit Torque (decrease) Client
Representative
Formation change Torque/previous Geologist
cuttings
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 6-6

3. Drilling Mud (Pit) Level Changes During Drilling (instantaneous)

Increase
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
Slow and regular Water or mud Mud Pits/ Note volumes on
--0.5 to 3 m3/hr addition at surface Derrickman charts
(3 to 20 bbl/hr)
Low-rate water or Resistivity/gas/ flow Driller/Client
oil inflow, or start rate recordings Representative
of gas inflow Note volumes on
chart
Oscillations Floating Rig -- swell Dampening factor If necessary,
<1m3 (6 bbl) movements reposition sensor to
Pit agitator minimize variation

Fast but small Water or oil inflow Pump/pressure Note volumes and
--1 to 3 m3 (6 to recordings pits concerned on
20 bbl) Driller/Derrickman charts

Gas inflow ROP/gas/flow rate/ Driller/Client

(possibly preceded density/resistivity/ Representative/
by a slow, H2S recordings Geologist
progressive Note volumes on
increase due to gas charts
expansion)
Fast and large Pump shut - off Pump/pressure Note the volume and
--> 20 m3 Mud Transfer recordings pumps concerned
Derrickman on charts

Water or oil inflow ROP/gas/flow rate/ Driller/Client

Gas inflow density/resistivity/ Representative/
(preceded by H2S recordings Geologist; if
progressive and necessary shut-in
regular increase) well and circulate on
choke

Stability
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
No variation Very slow ROP recordings Clean, reposition or
ROP/simultaneous Mud Pits repair sensors
water addition
Derrickman
Floats blocked
Sensors outside the
active mud circuit
Equipment
breakdown

Decrease
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 7-7

Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform

Slow and regular Normal increase of Ratio of drilled -----
--0.5 to 3 m3/hr (6 hole volume volume to mud
to 20 bbl/hr) Operation of solids volume decrease
control equipment Derrickman
Loss due to ----- Mud Engineer
filtration in open
hole
Fast Transfer to a pit not Pump/pressure Driller/Derrickman
equipped with a recordings Note volume on
sensor; bypassing Derrickman charts
of the normal active
circuit
Losses at surface
(jetting, incorrect
valve opened)
Partial or total ROP/flow rate/ Driller/Client
losses to formation density Representative/
in open hole Mud Engineer
Note volume on
charts
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 8-8

4. Pit Level Variations During Pipe Connection (instantaneous)

Increase
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
Immediate Pump shut-off for Pump/pressure -----
-- up to 3 m3/hr connection recorders
(20 bbl/hr)
After resumption Mud mixing or Derrickman/ Driller
of drilling and transfer Mud Engineer Note volume gained
stabilization of on chart
pit levels
Swabbing during Mud density/pipe Driller
connection velocity recordings Note volume gained
on charts and watch
total gas chart for
Pipe Connection gas

Stability
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
No change of Equipment Sensor Clean, reposition or
volume when breakdown position/operation repair sensors
pumps are shut Sensors outside the
off active circuit

Decrease
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
Immediate -- up Re-starting of Pump/pressure -----
to 4 m3/hr pumps recorders
(25 bbl/hr)
After resumption Losses on drill floor Driller Note volume on
of drilling and charts
stabilization of
pit levels
Loss to formation Pump/pressure/ Driller/Geologist
due to positive flow rate recorders Note volume on
differential pressure charts
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 9-9

5. Pit Level Variations During Trip (instantaneous)

Increase
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
Increase while Mud mixing or Mud Engineer Note volumes on
Pulling out of transfer charts
hole
Start of kick (due to Hole fill volume Driller/Client
negative differential (compensated for Representative; if
pressure or volume of steel necessary shut-in
swabbing) removed) well and circulate
Hook velocity through choke
Increase while Steel volume of Mud Engineer; Note volume on
running in hole string displacing Equivalence of steel charts
mud volume and pit
volume increase
Start of Kick Displacement Driller/Client
volume Representative; if
necessary shut-in
well and circulate
through choke

Stability
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
No volume One or more Trip tank/active mud Repair sensors
changes during sensors out of circuit
trip order

Decrease
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
Decrease while Failure to fill hole to Driller; Equivalence Note volumes on
pulling out of replace reduced of steel volume and charts
hole steel volume pit volume decrease
Decrease while Surface losses Trip tank/active mud Driller;
running in hole circuit Note volumes on
charts
Loss to formation Displacement Driller/Geologist;
(due to surge) volume; Hook Note volumes on
velocity charts
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 10-10

Figure 3-3 -- Expression of Drilled Gas at Surface

6. Variations in Total Gas/Component Gases (lagged)

Monitoring the Drilling Processes 11-11

Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform

Background Gas Client Representative and Geologist should provide instructions
indicating maximum tolerable background gas during drilling --
note increases on charts for later follow-up
Negative value Detector failure; Chromatograph Repair/recalibrate
on Thermal High mud viscosity; Total Gas detector
conductivity total CO2 or N2 in
gas air/gas mixture
Connection gas Swabbing action Gas line transit time; Driller/Geologist
(limited increase during pipe Theoretical lag time; (at first appearance
one lag time after movement Correlate size of and when peak size
pipe connection, peak with changes)
followed by return previous/following
to normal connection gas
background)
Trip gas (gas Swabbing action Gas line transit time; Driller/Geologist;
increase, one lag during pipe Correlation with Watch for recycled
time after movement previous/following gas peak after one
completion of trip gas peaks full cycle
round trip)
Increase one lag Liberated gas, from Cuttings Geologist/Client
time after drilling more porous lithology/Sample Representative;
break (then return formation and fluorescence/ gas Note background/
to background greater rock volume ratios maximum/average
level) drilled values
Increase one lag Produced gas, from Pit volumes/flow Driller/Client
time after drilling negative differential rate/mud Representative/
break (then pressure in density/sample Geologist; note
continued high permeable fluoresence/ background/
level) formation Estimated formation maximum values
pressure
No pipe Excessive mud Estimated Client
connection gas density; fracturation gradient Representative/
Low formation Mud Engineer
porosity/
permeability
Slow increase, Recycled gas/ Correlation with full Note background/
then decrease, Contamination gas circulation cycle maximum values on
(not correlated Mud Engineer charts
with pipe
connection or
drilling break)
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 12-12

7. Mud Density Changes (instantaneous in, lagged out)

Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform

Unstable density Aerated mud Sensor Mud Engineer
in Pit agitation position/conditon Repair/reposition
Sensor malfunction sensor
Unstable density Agitation Sensor Mud Engineer
out Variable air or gas position/condition Repair/reposition
percentage sensor
Sensor malfunction
Density out not Cuttings Sensor Clear cuttings from
constant, and not sedimentation position/condition sensor
following Sensor malfunction Repair/reposition
variation of sensor
density in
Sudden decrease Gas Inflow Pit levels/flow rate/ Driller/Client
in density out Water or oil inflow total gas/resistivity Representative/
Pipe connection or Geologist
trip gas Note change on
charts
Progressive Water loss to Mud viscosity Mud Engineer
increase of formation Shale shakers Note change on
density out Return flow loaded charts
up with cuttings
Decrease of Dilution (intentional Derrickman Mud Engineer
density in or accidental) Note change on
charts
Decrease of Addition of Derrickman Mud Engineer
density in weighting material Note change on
charts
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 13-13

8. Mud Conductivity/Temperature Changes (instantaneous in, lagged out)

Conductivity
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
Increase of Mud additives Derrickman -----
conductivity in Mud Engineer
Decrease of Water Derrickman
conductivity in addition/mixing Mud Engineer
Increase of Drilling of salt zone ROP/pit levels/ Geologist/
conductivity out Salt water inflow cuttings Mud Engineer/
Client
Representative
Decrease of Fresh water inflow Pit levels/flow rate/ Driller/Geologist/
conductivity out Oil/gas inflow total gas Client
Aerated mud Representative

No variation Sensor above mud Sensor Clean, reposition or

(zero or positive level or buried in position/condition repair
value) cuttings; Mud Engineer
Oil-based mud;
Sensor malfunction
Sudden Sensor partially Sensor position Reposition
variations immersed

Temperature
Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform
No variation of Sensor above mud Sensor Reposition or repair
temperature in or level position/condition
out Sensor malfunction
Fast decrease of Fluid addition at Derrickman -----
temperature in surface Pit levels
Heavy rainfall with
open pits
Increase in Reduced thermal ROP/'d' Exponent Client
thermal gradient conductivity in Representative/
(temperature out) undercompacted Geologist
shales
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 14-14

9. Miscellaneous Drilling Parameter Changes

Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform

Sudden increase Drilling on junk; Cuttings; ROP Driller/Client
of rotary torque Clay balling on Representative
stabilizers;
Formation change
Progressive Bit wear Metal in cuttings Client
torque increase Bit rotating hours Representative
Sudden decrease Formation change; Cuttings; ROP Driller/Client
of torque Extreme balling of Representative
bit in clay
Decrease of Mud density Mud density in -----
pump pressure, increase Derrickman
followed by
increase
Slow decrease of Drill string washout; Constant pump rate Driller/Client
pump pressure Pump leaking; Derrickman Representative
Mud density
variation
Sudden decrease Sensor failure Bleed hydraulic line, Driller (repair at
of pump look for mud in fluid next trip)
pressure
Drill string parted; Hook load/ Driller/Client
Nozzle lost from bit ROP/torque Representative
Sudden increase Blocked nozzle Constant pump rate Driller/Client
of pump Representative
pressure
Slow increase of Increase in mud Constant pump Driller/Client
pump pressure viscosity strokes Representative
Mud Engineer
Overpull when Cavings/differential Cuttings/torque Driller/Client
picking up string sticking Representative
Positive H2S sensor wetted Sensors; Note test or
value/alarm from Equipment testing Fellow worker/ malfunction on
H2S sensor drilling crew/Safety charts
Manager
H2S inflow Gas levels Driller/Client
Sensors Representative/
Safety Manager;
Note ppm/source
Monitoring the Drilling Processes 15-15

10. Changes in Geological Parameters

Description Possible Origin Check/enquire Action/inform

Lithology change ----- Correlation with Geologist/Mud
previous samples Engineer (possible
contamination by
anhydrite/salt)
Cavings Erosion of hole Correlation with Geologist/Client
wall; Incompetent formation change; Representative
or plastic formation; ROP/gas/'d'
Abnormal fluid Exponent/rotary
pressure torque
Direct Mud additives (i.e. Colour; Note fluorescence
fluorescence diesel); Negative solvent test colour and type on
Pipe thread (cut); Microscopic log
compound; examination
Mineral
fluorescence
Crude oil Colour; Geologist
Positive solvent test Prepare show report
(cut);
Microscopic
examination;
Gas bubbling from
sample
Cut fluorescence Bitumen or "dead Negative direct Geologist
oil" fluorescence;
Colour;
Percentage
Crude oil Positive direct Geologist
fluorescence;
Colour;
Percentage
Metal in cuttings Bit/drill Torque/ROP/ Client
string/casing wear Hydrogen in drilled Representative
gas Driller