Table Of ContentJ.A. "Jim" Short
~~~~!n~g~~y
Tulsa, Oklahoma
(
Copyright @ 1983 by
PennWell Publishing Company
1421 South Sheridan Road/P.O. Box 1260
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101
Library of Congress cataloging in publication data
Short, J. A.
Drilling: a source book on oil and gas well
drilling from exploration to completion.
1. Oil well drilling. 2. Gas well drilling.
I. Title.
TN871.2.S5368 1983 622' .338 83-13314
ISBN 0-87814-242-8
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed
in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and recording,
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
12345 87 86 85 84 83
DEDICATION
The drilling industry was created by pioneers. Two of them were a rancher's son
and a merchant's daughter who joined together and spent a lifetime in the effort.
This book is dedicated with.love and respect to Mother and Dad.
Margaret A. and Arthur E. "Slim" Short
CONTENTS
Dedication v
Preface x
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xii
CHAPTER 1: HISTORY OF DRilliNG 1
Types of drilling methods 1
CHAPTER 2: GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION 17
History 18
Geological cycle 19
Origin, migration, and accumulation of oil and gas 36
Oil and gas traps 44
Exploration operations 53
Problem formations 55
CHAPTER 3: RESERVOIRS AND RESERVES 59
Well logs 59
Fluid flow 81
Producingmechanisms 99
Secondary,tertiary,and enhancedrecovery 104
Volumes 105
Oil reservoir 106
CHAPTER 4: DRilLING PROSPECTS,
PROGRAMS, AND
PROCEDURES 117
Drilling prospects 117
Prospect submittal 121
Drilling programs and procedures 126
General information on the drilling program 127
Geological prognosis 134
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viii
Contents
Casing and cementing program 134
Bit program 149
Mud program 155
General equipment specifications 162
AFE and contracts 163
CHAPTER 5: DRilLING PERSONNEL AND
EQUIPMENT. 169
Personneland services 169
Drillingequipment 173
Rig classifications 173
Rig parts and functions(componentsystems) 175
Marinerigs 232
CHAPTER 6: MOVING IN, RIGGING UP,
AND DRilLING THE
CONDUCTOR HOLE 241
Activities before move-in 242
Moving the rig 250
Move-in and rig-up procedure 253
Drilling the rathole and mousehole 262
Spud-in and conductor hole section 265
Drilling problems 279
Running and cementing conductor casing 283
Nippling up and drilling out 286
Air-gas mist drilling operations 287
Helicopter rig operations 289
Marine operations 290
CHAPTER 7: SURFACE HOLE SECTION 295
Drillingprocedure 295
Trippingthe drillpipe assembly 306
Surfacehole drillingproblems 321
Landingcasingand nipplingup 342
CHAPTER 8: INTERMEDIATE HOLE
SECTION 347
Daily operations and crew duties 347
ix
Contents
Drilling the section 352
Tripping and related activities 361
Drilling problems 369
Stuck assemblies and fishing 382
Logging, running, and cementing casing 403
CHAPTER 9: PRODUCTION HOLE SECTION 407
Drilling the section 407
Drilling problems 413
Deviated holes 427
Obtaining reservoir and productivity information 433
Plugging and abandoning a dry hole 451
Production casing and liners 454
CHAPTER 10: COMPLETIONS 463
H~ry ~
Factors affecting completions 464
Types of completions 466
Tools and equipment 467
Completion design and procedures 486
Operations 503
Surface equipment 535
Appendix 555
Bibliography and Suggested Readings 569
Index 573
PREFACE
Where does oil come from? How do you find it and get it out of the ground? I
have been asked these questions numerous times over the years by many people
both in and out of the industry. Those in the industry ask for both general and
detailed information to find out how their work fits into the overall picture. The
answers to these questions invariably lead to other questions searching for more
information.
These questions indicate a widespread interest from a variety of people.
They also emphasize the need for one source that (I) covers the entire industry,
(2) contains detailed, specific information and answers, (3) allows the reader to
select and review areas of special interest, and (4) presents the material in a clear,
understandable manner for anyone interested in the industry.
The purpose of drilling is to drill and complete a commercial oil and
gas well. The purpose of this book is to explain, describe, and illustrate the
process.
x
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Coastal Corporation's permission to publish this text is gratefully appreci-
ated. Blocker Drilling Company, Four Flags Drilling Company, San Patrico
Corporation, and Loffland Brothers Drilling Company gave permission to pho-
tograph and publish pictures of their drilling rigs and equipment. Various service
and supply companies supplied material and information. These and others have
made a major contribution that is sincerely appreciated.
Many people have contributed to this text by teaching, guiding, and help-
ing me throughout my career. I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge their
help and to express my sincerest thanks.
'.
xi
Drilling started as the simple process of digging a hole. This text begins with a
historical review. Oil and gas hydrocarbons formed from organisms in the geo-
logic past. Natural geological processes created favorable conditions for migra-
tion and accumulation in underground reservoir traps. Areas where these traps
occur are located by various methods of exploration. The right to drill wells and
produce oil and gas is obtained from the landowner. Then a drilling program
containing information about the prospect and instructions on drilling the well is
prepared.
A drilling contractor has drilling rigs with operating personnel. The rig has
a rotating system to turn the drilling bit to drill the hole, a tower and hoisting
system to run tools in the hole and pull them out of the hole, and other equipment
needed to drill the well. Then the rig is moved to the drillsite and assembled.
A large-diameter hole is drilled by rotating a joint of drillpipe with a bit
fitted on the bottom end. Fluid is circulated down the inside of the pipe and up the
outside to remove the pieces of earth drilled by the bit. Additional joints of
drillpipe are connected to drill the hole deeper. Large pipe or casing is placed in
the hole with cement around the pipe. A slightly smaller hole is drilled deeper
through the casing. Slightly smaller casing is placed in this hole and cemented.
The sequence is repeated using successively smaller sizes until the last, smallest
casing is run through the oil trap thousands of feet below the surface.
Many drilling problems occur such as loose pieces of formation falling in
the hole and sticking the drill tools. A particularly dangerous problem occurs
when the hole is drilled into high-pressure formations. Fluids from the reservoir
can flow up the wellbore and blow hundreds of feet into the air causing a blowout.
These types of problems must be handled to drill the well successfully. Tests
provide information about the oil and gas in the formations and are taken during
and after drilling. Many holes are drilled that do not encounter oil and gas. These
dry holes are plugged with cement and abandoned. Wells with good oil and gas
potential are completed.
xii
xiii
Introduction
The well is completed by perforating holes through the casing into the
formation. Natural forces cause the oil and gas to flow from the reservoir through
the perforations into the casing where they flow upward to the surface. Other oil
traps in the well can be perforated to make multiple completions. Contaminating
agents in the reservoir may cause a low flowrate from the well. The flow rate can
be increased by removing these with special treatments. Different kinds of treat-
ments are used to improve low flow rates. Oil production from reservoirs with
low pressures can be increased by placing a pump in the well. The top of the
casing is fitted with valves that control pressures and flow rates. Impurities are
removed, and produced volumes are measured in surface facilities. Gas is piped
to market; oil is piped or hauled in tanker trucks.
The text expands this abbreviated summary explaining why the procedures
are needed and how the operations are performed. Over 200 photographs and
illustrations provide additional clarification and information. The material is pre-
sented in a building-block manner following the natural sequence of events.
Basics are covered first, followed by more advanced subjects in a stepwise fash-
ion. This serves a dual purpose. The novice can start at the beginning, laying a
foundation and building upon it. The more advanced reader can go directly to
topics of interest. Many special and sometimes colorful terms are used in the
industry. These are.defined as they are encountered and then are used as common
terminology.
A complete list of contents provides easy, quick access to sections of inter-
est. Specific topics can be located in an expanded index. The appendix also
contains listings of additional sources of information.
