LD2

DRILLING PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED

LD2

DRILLING PRACTICES
&
LESSONS LEARNED

Version No: 1
Prepared By: S. Abassi Authorization: Approval:
Date: 04.23.2016 North Pole Page 1 of 8
 LD2
DRILLING PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED

Table of Contents

I. FLOW CHECK ......................................................................................................................3

1. Flow Check Procedure......................................................................................................... 3
2. Sequences of Flow Check .................................................................................................. 3
II. TRIPPING OUT .....................................................................................................................4
1. Tripping Out Procedure........................................................................................................ 4
2. Flow Checks druring Tripping ............................................................................................. 5
3. Slugging the Drill String ....................................................................................................... 5
III. DRILLING THROUGH ..........................................................................................................6
1. Precautions ......................................................................................................................... 6
IV.PACK OFF GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................7
1. Initial Action ........................................................................................................................ 7
2. Secondary Action ................................................................................................................ 7
V. DIFFERENTIAL STICKING FREEING ..............................................................................7
1. Initial Action ......................................................................................................................... 7
2. Secondary Action ................................................................................................................ 7

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DRILLING PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED

I. FLOW CHECK

1. Flow Check Procedure

Flow checks will be performed:

In the event of a drilling break;
When there is any doubt regarding well stability, gains or losses;
When entering LD2;
If a known hydrocarbon zone is penetrated;
Prior to dropping a ball to core;
After having pumped the well clean before pumping out of hole;
At the casing shoe while pumping out of the hole;
When the hole is not taking correct mud volume whilst tripping.

2. Sequences of Flow Check

a. Inform the Mud Loggers prior to carrying out a flow check. Inform Sonatrach SDV and
TP of flow check as soon as possible after a flow check has been instigated. It is
imperative, however, that if any of the criteria stated above occur that the flow check is
started as soon as possible.

b. Pick up off bottom. Shut down mud pumps, space out for upper annular and rotate pipe
slowly. Line up returns to trip tank. Open fill-up valve and switch on trip tank pump.
Inform Mud Loggers that you are initiating a flow check; ensure trip tank graph display is
on Mud Loggers drill floor screen.

c. Record time and trip tank volume (both Driller and Mud Loggers). Record
increase/decrease (if any) and rate over time, compare with records and graph
(obtained from Mud Loggers) of previous flow checks. Check and ensure that all mixing
and mud transferring operations are stopped.

d. If flow is observed, or there is no decline in the initial rate of flow, stop rotating and shut
the well in immediately and follow the appropriate well control procedure. If in any
doubt, shut the well in immediately.

e. If no flow or a declining trend is observed, continue to observe well until the level has
been static/declining for a minimum of 15mins, with a minimum 15mins flow check
period.

f. Compare flow check record with Mud Loggers to ensure there are no anomalies.

g. Once the well has been confirmed stable, switch off trip tank pump; close the fill-up
valve and line up on the flowline.

h. Continue to rotate pipe slowly and bring up one pump to 10spm. Once returns are
confirmed at the shakers bring the mud pump up slowly to operating strokes. Bring the

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remaining pump(s) up to operating strokes one at a time until full flow rate has been
resumed.

i. Inform Mud Loggers once the flow check has been completed.

j. If a flow check remains ambiguous or if there is any doubt, consider circulating bottoms
up before drilling ahead to check for any influx. If previous high gas readings have been
noted, consider putting last 1000m of annular circulation before bottoms up through the
choke to minimize uncontrolled gas breakout.

k. When there is a PWD sensor in the string reference can be made to its output prior to
the flow check, it may show gas entering the well, passing the PWD.

II. TRIPPING OUT

1. Tripping Out Procedure

The drill pipe should always be pumped out of the hole to the casing shoe, liner top or other
pre-determined depth to reduce as much as possible swab pressures to acceptable levels.

The procedure for pumping out of the hole to ensure consistency, accurate monitoring of
return and pit volumes and with due regard to previous fingerprinting exercises is given
below:

a. Hold a pre-job safety meeting.

b. Ensure all surface equipment is correctly lined up and in good working order. All
required tools, FOSV etc. on the floor in designated places, checked, working and ready
for use. Ensure Drillers PVT and Mudloggers equipment is set to monitor the trip tank
and tank to be used for pumping out of hole and that they agree.
c. Circulate bottoms up to clean the hole and condition the mud as necessary. If there is
connection gas in the well, circulate it out before commencing the trip. Keep the pipe
rotating but do not surge or swab well.
d. Flow check and initiate trip sheet. Record active volume on the trip sheet.
e. Rotate the pipe (if not rotating) and bring the pumps up to a pre-determined speed (80%
of normal circulating rate or sufficient pumping rate to replace the volume of steel being
pulled from the hole), as per breaking circulation procedure and closely monitor the
pump pressure. Confirm that you have full returns, before proceeding.
f. Begin pulling the stand out of the hole. At all times, a close watch must be kept on the
weight indicator and drill pipe pressure to ensure the hole is not packing off.
g. If excessive over pull is encountered during this operation, the drill string may have to
be run back into the well and the drill string worked further or back reaming may
become necessary. Ensure the pipe is not worked too quickly with respect to swab and
surge pressures.
h. When a full stand has been pulled, ensure there are no tight spots before setting the
drill string in the slips.
i. Set slips as high as possible and stop pumps. Close TDS FOSV as soon as the pump
pressure bleeds to zero. Break stand at the rotary and back out using mud bucket to

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catch returns to the trip tank. Using the pipe handler, break the connection at the TDS
and back out same, set back the stand.
j. Latch elevators on to pipe in the rotary and pick up enough to make TDS connection,
watch for abnormal drag. Height picked up for TDS connection should not exceed
section that was worked through prior to setting previous stand back.
k. Make TDS connection, open TDS FOSV, establish previous circulation rate as per
SONATRACH procedures.
l. Check PVT levels once circulation is established taking into consideration; mud in trip
tank and normal PVT trends for when pumps are stopped and then started again.
Check and ensure only one pit plus trip tank being used for trip out monitoring. The
Driller and Mud Loggers should cross check readings for the trip ensuring there are no
anomalies between the trip data.
m. Continue to pull stands as above until into the casing shoe, liner top or pre-determined
depth at which it is considered safe to pump a slug and POOH.

2. Flow Checks during Tripping

Flow checks are compulsory and will be conducted using the procedure given above (I).
They will be conducted using the trip tank with the trip tank pump circulating across the hole.

Flow checks will be for at least 15mins static with the drill pipe slowly rotating to break mud
gels. Flow checks will be performed during tripping as follows:
Prior to pulling out of the hole
When the bit is at the casing shoe, liner shoe or liner top
Halfway out of the hole
If in any doubt.

If there is any doubt whether a flow check is positive or negative, run back to bottom,
circulate bottoms up and make an assessment of gas levels. If there has been high
background gas readings from the well the last 1000m of annular returns will be put through
the choke.

3. Slugging the Drill String

Slugging shall be done only when pipe is inside casing or it has been determined that the
pipe can be pulled dry without risk of swabbing. This should be determined from swab/surge
calculations, PWD data and fingerprinting from previous trips. The pumping of the slug
should be fingerprinted to allow close monitoring of the well while the slug is pumped and
falls. Allow time for the slug to stabilize in the drill string with the drill pipe open and confirm
that the volume of returns is correct. Rotate the pipe whilst the slug is settling to break the
gels.

a. Inform the Mud Loggers prior to pumping slug.

b. Prior to pumping a slug carry out a flow check as per flow check procedures, rotate
Pipe.
c. Once the well has been confirmed as static, continue to rotate the pipe slowly. Line up
mud pump on slug pit suction. Zero stroke counters. Bring pump up to 10spm. Once

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returns are observed slowly increase mud pump strokes until desired amount is
achieved.
d. Slowly reduce the pump rate as you approach the pre-determined volume to be
pumped. Shut down mud pump. Line up on active mud pit. Zero stroke counters.
e. Bring the same mud pump up to 10spm, once returns are observed at the shakers,
slowly increase mud pump until desired pump rate is achieved and surface line volume /
strokes have been pumped (always pump the same number of strokes for
fingerprinting). Shut down the mud pump slowly.
f. Line up returns to trip tank. Open diverter fill-up valve and switch on trip tank pump.
g. Inform Mud Loggers that you are lined up to trip tank and are monitoring the well.
h. Break off TDS to enable the slug to drop.
i. Record time and trip tank volume. Record increase, rate of increase over time and
compare with previous flow check records.

Compare with Mud Loggers and theoretical trip tank gain to ensure there are no anomalies.

III. DRILLING THROUGH

1. Precautions

a. The LD2 will deteriorate over time, due to instability. This could lead to poor hole
cleaning due to cavings, washouts and generally enlarged hole, as well as possible key-
seating and pack-offs.
b. Limit backreaming unless necessary recommend to wash up and ream down 2 times
at connections, and only use backreaming if having continued Torque problems or as
absolutely necessary. Backreaming will destabilize the LD2 further, which we do not
want to happen.
c. Follow the MW Plan as per SONATRCH drilling program.
d. Increase mud inhibition as necessary, if the solids over the shakers are getting sticky.
API FL should be <10.
e. Monitor mud properties closely, to ensure rheology remains at steady levels.
f. Follow SONATRCH Hole Cleaning Guidelines, and above recommendations (I & II).
g. Consider reducing RPM if we start to see cavings from LD2, or medium/high shocks
from MWD tool.
h. Reduce any high shocks/vibrations to reduce destabilizing the LD2.
i. Pump weighted SuperSweeps as necessary if hole cleaning becomes an issue.
j. Monitor ECD, cuttings rates at the shakers and any cavings for signs of hole instability
and poor hole cleaning.
k. Watch backreaming/reaming at connections for SPP/ECD spikes indicating potential
packing off. Consider using pipe freeing products or acid pill if necessary.
l. Consider adding sealing agents to the drilling fluid.

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DRILLING PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED

IV. PACK OFF GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Initial Action

To establish circulation:
Apply low pumping pressure; do not exceed the fracture pressure of any point of the
well.
Try to regain rotation immediately and full circulation, if it is not possible to have
circulation bleed off immediately since pressure can cause packoff. May be able to have
very little pressure circulating with an open standpipe choke.
Take weight of string to neutral weight, mark pipe. Torque up to maximum torque, work
torque down to stuck point and then release. Repeat torque and release until circulation
is regained or pipe is free.

2. Secondary Action

Torque up to maximum torque, work torque down to stuck point (by working the string)
Start jarring down/up (with minimum force) and increase gradually to maximum force.

V. DIFFERENTIAL STICKING FREEING

1. Initial Action

Circulate at maximum rate to clean mud cake around BHA.

Work with the maximum torque down to the stuck depth and hold the torque in the
string.
Stop or reduce pump speed to the minimum of 10-12 spm.
Slack off to maximum set down limit if off bottom. That is why important to not stop
rotating on bottom.
Allow sufficient time for hydraulic jars to trip.
If the string does not come free hold torque in the string and continue jarring with the
maximum trip load.

2. Secondary Action

If the string does not come free after 5 to 10 jars blows, continue jarring while preparing
a pipe releasing pill or acid pill.
Consider reducing the MW to safe limit (mud weight required to balance the water
pressure in LD2).
Pump and soak releasing pill as per mud company recommendations.

When the string is free:

Rotate and work the string
Circulate at maximum rate to clean the hole
Check mud properties
Rotate and pump out of the trouble area.
Evaluate and add sealing agents to the drilling fluid.

Version No: 1
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 LD2
DRILLING PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED

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