DRILL1,NG PRACTICE

This section contains two papers on drilling practice, as follows:

" Changes in Hydrostatic Pressure Due to Withdrawing Drill Pipe from
the Hole "
By George ~ . ' ~ a n n o n ,
Humble Oil and Refining Company, Houston, Tex;
(Presented a t Spring Meeting, Southwestern District, Fort Worth,
Tex., April 1934)
" Pressure Completions of Wells in West Texas "

By E. V. Foran,
Texon, Tex.
(Presented a t Spring Meeting, Southwestern District, Fort Worth,
Tex., April 1934) '
 Changes in Hvdrostatic Pressure Due to Withdrawing Drill Pipe
from the Hole t .
ABSTRACT
It has been observed that most blow-outs in rotary
drilling occur when the drill pipe is being withdrawn
from the hole. This paper describes a series of tests
which was conducted to determine the factors which
affect the magnitude of the pressure drop which oecurs
when the drill pipe is withdrawn from the hole.
The pressure changes were measured by means of a
sub-surface pressure gage which was either attached to
the bottom of the drill pipe or was allowed to remain
at the bottom of the hole as the drill pipe was withdrawn.
The relation of the pressure drop occurring when the
drill pipe is withdrawn to the viscosity, weight, and gel
Normal formation pressures seldom exceed 0.45 lb.
per sq. in. per foot. A mud which h a s a weight of 9.5
lb. per gallon exerts a hydrostatic pressure of approxi-
mately 0.49 Ib. per sq. in. per foot. A sand found a t a
depth of 5,000 f t . would have a formation pressure of
approximately 2,250 lb. p e r sq. ili. I f a mud weighing
9.5 lb. per gallon were used, t h e hydrostatic pressure
would exceed t h e formation pressure about 200 lb. per
sq. in.; and if a mud weighing 10 lb. per gallon were
used, t h e hydrostatic pressure would exceed t h e forma-
tion pressure 350 lb. per sq. in. Hence, i t is apparent
t h a t even light muds have sufficient hydrostatic head
t o control g a s under normal conditions. Yet in rotary
drilling few blow-outs have occurred d u r i n g actual drill-
i n g operations; most of them occur while withdrawing
t h e drill pipe f r o m t h e hole. This indicates t h a t there
i s a reduction in mud pressure while making a t r i p
which m a y be g r e a t e r t h a n t h e amount t h e hydrostatic
pressure exceeds t h e formation pressure.
A review of t h e drilling operations in two fields now
being developed shows t h a t in,one of t h e fields 1.56 wells
have been drilled a n d 8 blow-outs have occurred. . The
trouble in every well occurred while t h e drill pipe was
being withdrawn. Six of these wells w e r e abandoned
a f t e r reaching a depth g r e a t e r t h a n 4,500 f t . I n t h e
other field 735 wells have been drilled, a n d 1 9 serious
blow-outs have occurred. Of this number, 1 2 occurred a s
t h e drill pipe w a s being withdrawn, 1 when the drill
pipe was out of the hole, and 1 when t h e drill pipe was
being r u n into t h e hole. Of t h e 12 wells which blew out
apparently a s a result of a change i n mud pressure
a s the drill pipe w a s being withdrawn, 3 wells were
aba1;doned. It i s cori~monpractice i n these two fields t o
f I-Iumhle Oil a n d Refining Co.. EIoustou. Tes.
, Presented a t Spring Jleetiug. S ( , r ~ t h \ v e s t c r ~District.
\l'ortli. Tex.. April 1034.
~ Fort
I strength of the mud was. detern~ined. The effeet of
changes in the rate of withdrawal, rate of drainage from
the bit, depth, annular space, diameter of the drill
collar, and distance the drill pipe is moved on the pres-
sure drop were also determined.
In some cases pressure reductions of over 400 Ib. per
sq. in. were observed; and, hence, it is apparent that
withdrawal of drill pipe can frequently cause blow-outs.
The danger can be reduced by proper treatment of the
mud.. The reduction in pressure which occurs is lower
with muds of low gel strength.
use a mud weighing fi-om 9.5 t o 10.5 lb. per gallon.
Most of t h e operators in these fields have taken ali
possible precautions t o prevent blow-outs, a n d no forma-
tion pressures have been measured which exceeded t h e
hydrostatic pressure of a mud weighing 9.5 lb. p e r
gallon. I n order to determine whether t h e withdrawal
of drill pipe did reduce t h e pressure a t t h e base of t h e
mud column t o such a n extent a s t o cause blow-outs, a n d
t o investigate t h e factors which affect t h e magnitude of
t h e pressure drop, t h e tests described i n t h i s paper were
conducted. This pressure reduction h a s been referred
t.o in several cases a s t h e . " swabbing pressure." This
should not be confused with t h e general conception of
swabbing-which is t h e removal of fluid from t h e hole
a s t h e drill pipe i s being withdrawn, a n d which m a y
occur when shale h a s been pa,cked around t h e drill collar
and bit. T h e r e i s a serious reduction in pressure even
when a clean s t r i n g of drill tools is used, a s is indicated
by the tests described i n this paper-which were con-
ducted under conditions which should have given t h e
minimum pressure reduction.
The equipment used t o measure t h e swabbing effect
consisted of a sub-surface pressure gage enclosed i n a
case, a clock f o r turning t h e recording pressure chart,
and a fish-tail bit with t h e wings converted into a 4;-in.
Reed full-hole pin. A diagram of this a p p a r a t u s i s
given i n Fig. 1. T h e pressure gage w a s enclosed i n a
case which h a d two small holes a t t h e lower end. This
w a s enclosed i n another' case made f r o m 41-in. drill
pipe, which had a bull plug on the bottom filled with
rubber packing. On top of t h e case, there w a s a tool-
joint box which fit t h e special bit t h a t w a s used. T h e
cases were filled with crude oil t o protect t h e sub-sur-
face-pressure gage f r o m t h e drilling mud. An enlarged
drill collar w a s made by welding a n 8-in. sleeve over a
 CHANGESI N HYDROSTATIC DUE TO WITHDRAWING
PRESSURE DRILL PIPEFROM HOLE 43

6-in. drill collar 5 ft. long, a n d was used in some of the

tests conducted in 104-in. casing to sitnulate t h e effect of
a " balled up " drill collar.
Most of the tests were conducted in wells in which
casing had been set and cemented. The instrument mas
6Y8" B/T W/TH dropped into the hole, and t h e drill pipe was r u n in f o r
W/N6S TURNED the test. A t the con~pletionof t h e test, the instrument
DOWN T O R E E D w a s withdrawn on t h e drill pipe by screwing t h e bit
F U L L HOLE P/N which had been converted into a full-hole pin into the
tool-joint box on top of t h e instrument case. I n t h e tests
conducted in open hole, t h e instrument was fastened
to the drill pipe throughout the tests.
Tests were conducted in eight wells, three of which
were waiting on cement to set around 7-in. outside-
diameter casing a t a depth of about 5,000 ft., three of
which had a 9g-in. open hole, and two of which had
104-in. outside-diameter casing cemented a t approxi-

GAUGE

CASE

Relation of Gela~iorito Time.

FIG. 2

n ~ a t e l y1,000 ft. I n the 7-in. casing, 38411. 13.3-lb.-per-

ft. drill pipe was used; in t h e other tests, 41411. 16.6-lb.-
per-ft. drill pipe w a s used.
I n these tests drilling muds a s light a s 9.5 Ib. per
CLOCK gallon and a s heavy a s 11.4 Ib. per gallon were used.
I n addition, sorne tests were r u n with water in the hole.
The viscosities of the muds were varied from 5 to ap-
prosinlately 80 centipoises by t h e addition of admixtures
and chemical treatment. The gel of the ~ n u d sused
varied from 1.5 to 80 gel units by the addition of a
bentonitic admisture and by chemical treatnlent.
The viscosity of t h e nluds w a s determined with a
Stormer viscosimeter, t h e gel strengths with a du Nouy
surface-tension apparatus. The du Nouy apparatus mea-
sures the force required to move a platinuln ring through
the clay gel. The longer the gel stands undisturbed,
Hurlible Sub-surface Gage and Case Used in the stronger i t becomes. A typical curve showing the
Swabbing Test. relation of gel strength t o time is shown i n Fig. 2. Arbi-
FIG. 1 t r a r y units which only espress the relative gel strengths
of the muds have been used. The unit, is actually' the
force recluired t o move t h e ring, measured in dynes per
 44 DRILLING
PRACTICE
linear centimeter of imlnersed wire; but this is not the
correct unit for expressing gel strengths.
Tests were conducted t o determine the effect of gel
strength, rate of withdrawal, depth, drainage of mud
from the drill pipe, effect of viscosity, effect of mud
Representative Pressure Chart Obtained in ?-in. Casing.
FIG. 3
weight, effect of a "balled up " drill collar, and the
effect of the distance the drill pipe i s moved on the
magnitude of the pressure drop occurring when the
. drill pipe is withdrawn from the hole.
The effect of gel strength on pressure reduction due to .
swabbing tendency was determined by withdrawing 90
ft. of drill pipe and lowering it immediately to its origi-
nal position a t the end of 5-, 15-, and 30-min. periods,
respectively. Several muds having different gel rates
and gel strengths were used.
The effect of the rate of withdrawal was determined
by withdrawing 90 ft. of drill pipe a t different rates a t
the end of 15-min. periods.
The effect of length of pipe in the hole was determined
by stopping the drill pipe a t several different depths
a s a trip was being made and allowing the pipe to stand
for 15 min., and then withdrawing 90 ft. before proceed-
ing further.
Several different tests were conducted to determine
the effect of the rate a t which the fluid could drain
through the drill pipe. One series of tests consisted of
withdrawing 90 ft. of open-ended drill pipe a t the end
of 5-, 15-, and 30-min. periods, respectively. I n another
s used, but the mud in the drill pipe was
n that in the casing; thus, the mud column
was unbalanced, which caused the nlud to drain out of
the bit a t a faster rate a s the drill pipe was being
withdrawn ,than i t would if the weight were the same
in both the casing and the drill pipe. One test was con-
ducted with lighter mud in the drill pipe than was in
the casing, which resulted in a reverse flow. One test
was conducted using a bit with the water course
a " balled up " drill collar was mea-
sured in the tests conducted in 102-in. casing by using
the 8-in. drill collar and following the same procedure '.
a s that used in determining the effect of gel strength
drop due to-withdrawing the drill pipe.
of the distance the drill pipe is moved
change was observed by withdrawing
e drill pipe instead of the full 90 ft.
A pressure chart which is typical of the charts ob-
tained from the tests conducted in 7-in. casing is shown
in Fig. 3. The lines on this chart designated by the
letters A, B, and C represent the pressure drops ob-
tained when 90 ft. of drill pipe was withdrawn a t a r a t e
of 2.7 ft. per second. The line designated by the letter
D represents the pressure drop obtained when 5 ft. of
drill pipe was withdrawn. The lines designated by the
letters E and F a r e the pressure drops obtained a t
4,100 ft. and 3,200 ft., respectively.
Effect of Gel Strength
The data showed that the pressure reduction obtained
when the drill pipe is withdrawn is related to the gel
strength of the mud. In cases where the gel strength
of lnud was low, the pressure drop obtained was not
much greater than that occurring when water was being
used. In tests where high gel strengths were developed
by the mud, the pressure drop was also high. This is
shown in Fig. 4, ,which shows the relation of gel
strength to pressure drop obtained in 7-in. casing a t a
depth of 5,000 ft. Here i t is observed t h a t a pressure
drop of 150 Ib. per sq. in. was obtained when a mud
having a gel strength of 3 units was used, and that a
pressure drop of 385 lb. per sq. in. was obtained when
 CHANGES
I N HYDROSTATIC
PRESSURE
DUE TO WITHDRAWING
DRILLPIPE FROM HOLE
a mud having a gel strength of 80 gel units was used..
Muds were used which gave pressure drops exceeding
400 Ib. per sq. in., but i t was impossible to determine
their gel strengths with the apparatus available. Fig. 5
shows the relation of gel strength to the pressure drops
obtained in 102-in. casing.
Relation of Gel Strength of Mud to Pressure Drop Due
to Swabbing in 7-in. Casing.
FIG. 4
Relation of Gel Strength
- of Mud to Pressure D r o ~Due
to Swabbing in 109ij-in. Casing.
FIG. 5
Effect of Viscosity
Viscosity and gel strength are closely related, and
both properties undoubtedly have some influence on the
pressure drop. However, the data indicate that the
.effect of viscosity is small compared to the effect of the
gel strength. I t is known that the viscosity and gel
strength of most muds a r e constantly changing when
they are agitated or allowed to stand. In a series of
tests conducted .in 103-in. casing, lower pressure drops
' 45
I
were obtained when a mud having a viscosity of 45
centipoises a t 600 r.p.m. was used than when a mud
having a viscosity of 35 centipoises a t 600 r.p.m. was
used. I t was found that the gel strengths of the mud
having a viscosity of 35 centipoises were higher than
those of the mud having a viscosity of 45 centipoises.
Effect of Mud Weight
The data obtained indicate that there is no direct
relation between the weight of the mud and the pres-
sure reduction due to withdrawing the drill pipe from
'
the hole. Two muds, one having a weight of 9 lb. per
gallon and the other 10 lb. per gallon, should give
almost identical pressure drops under uniform condi-.
tions if their gel strengths a r e the same. In one series
of tests conducted in 103-in. casing, the mud weight
was varied from 10.2 to 11.4 Ib. per gallon, and the
pressure drops obtained were practically identical when
the gel strengths were the same.
I Relation of Depth
From the data obtained by measuring the
drop a t various depths, i t was found that the pressure
drop due to withdrawing the drill pipe is proportional
to the length of drill pipe in the hole. This is shown in
Fig. 6 and 7, which show the pressure drops a t various
depths obtained in 7-in. and 103-in. casing, respectively.
I Effect of Rate of withdrawal
The data obtained by withdrawing the drill pipe a t
different rates showed that the pressure drop was not
appreciably affected by this factor. In one test con-
ducted in 7-in. casing, a pressure drop of 275 lb. per
sq. in. was obtained when the drill pipe was withdrawn
a t a rate of 2.7 ft. per second, and a pressure drop of
260 Ib. per sq. in. was obtained when the drill pipe was
withdrawn a t a rate of 1.6 ft. per second. There may be
cases, for example, when a badly " balled up " bit or core
barrel is being pulled, ?here speed seriously affects the
pressure drop. Hence, i t is good practice to come out
of the hole a t a very slow speed. However, no data
under these conditions have been obtained.
I Effect of Drainage
Several different lilethods we+e used to determine the
effect of drainage from the drill pipe on the pressure
drop due to withdrawing the drill pipe. An open-ended
drill pipe, an unbalanced mud column, and a plugged
bit were used; and it was found that the pressure drop
in each case was practically the same a s that obtained
when the bit was used. In one test conducted in 103-in.
casing, a pressure drop of 20 lb. per sq. in. was ob-
tained when the bit was used, and a pressure drop of
18 lb. per sq. in. was obtained with open-ended drill
pipe. In a test conducted in a 9g-in. open hole, a pressure
drop of 85 lb. per sq. in. was obtained when the bit was
used, and a pressure drop of 80 l b . per sq. in. was
obtained when the mud column was unbalanced by in-
creasing t h e weight of t h e mud in t h e drill pipe prior
to starting out of t h e hole. I n a test conducted in ?-in.
casing, the mud column w a s unbalanced by pu~nping
water into t h e drill pipe prior to starting out of the
hole. A flow was established from the annular space
into the drill pipe, and i t was found t h a t practically no
pressure drop occurred when the drill pipe was with-
Relation of Pressure Drop Due to Swabbing in 7-in.
Casing to Depth.
FIG. 6
Relation of Pressure Drop Due to Swabbing in 10%-in.
Casing to Depth.
FIG. 7
drawn. I n a test in 7-in. casing, when the effect of a
plugged bit w a s determined, a pressure drop of 325
lb. p e r sq. in. w a s obtained with both a n open and a
plugged bit.
Effect of an Enlarged Drill Collar
When the enlarged drill collar was used to silnulate a
" balled up " drill collar, i t was found t h a t there w a s
very little increase in t h e pressure drop. In one test
in 1,000 ft. of 109-in. casing, pressure drops of 24, 31,
and 39 Ib. per sq. in. were obtained a t the end of 5-, 15-,
and 30-min. periods, respectively, when t h e enlarged
drill collar was not used, and pressure drops of 30, 37,
and 40 lb. per sq. in. were obtained a t t h e same periods
of time when t h e 8-in. drill collar was used. This indi-
cates t h a t unless t h e clearance between the drill collar
and the walls of t h e hole is s ~ n a l l most
, of the pressure
drop is due to friction between the mud gel and t h e
walls of t h e hole and drill pipe. Cases have occurred
when the drill collar and bit were "balled u p " to such
a n extent t h a t t h e fluid w a s pulled out of t h e hole
when a t r i p w a s made; and here i t would be expected
t h a t t h e hydrostatic pressure w a s reduced enormously.
Effect of the Distance the Drill Pipe Is Moved
It was observed from t h e pressure charts obtained,
when the pressure gage w a s not attached to t h e drill
pipe, t h a t most of t h e pressure drop occurred with the
slightest upward movement of t h e pipe. I n a test con-
ducted i n 7-in. casing, a pressure drop of 275 Ib. per
sq. in. was obtained when 90 ft. of drill pipe was with-
drawn, and a pressure drop of 210 Ib. per sq. in. w a s
obtained when 10 ft. of t h e drill pipe was withdrawn.
Effect of Annular Space
By comparing the d a t a obtained from the tests con-
ducted in 102-in. and 7-in. casing, it is shown t h a t t h e
amount of pressure reduction obtained when t h e drill
pipe is withdrawn is related to the annular space be-
tween the drill pipe and t h e walls of the hole. Sufficient
data have not been obtained definitely to establish t h e
relation between these quantities.
Froln the foregoing discussion, i t is evident t h a t gel
strength a n d length of drill pipe i n t h e hole a r e t h e
major factors governing t h e amount of pressure drop
occurring when the drill'pipe is withdrawn. By applying
the relations which have been observed, Fig. 8 and 9
have been constructed, which show t h e approximate
. reduction i n pressure due t o swabbing ~ v h i c h]nay be
expected when 48411. drill pipe is withdrawn froln 104-in.
casing, and when .3t-in. drill pipe is withdrawn from
7-in. casing.
- The data obtained in these tests show clearly t h a t a
reduction in pressure m a y occur whenever the drill pipe
. i s withdrawn fro111 t h e hole which could permit sufficient
g a s to enter t h e hole to cause a blow-out.' These pres-
sure reductions a r e of short duration, and get succes-
sively slnaller a s each thribble is withdrawn. However,
when the formation pressure exceeds the hydrostatic
pressure of the mud fox only a short time, g a s can
enter the hole. This g a s works its way towards t h e
surface; and a s t h e pressure on it becomes less, i t ex-
pands, and only a relatively small quantity is required
to g a s cut t h e entire colulnn of mud. Withdrawing drill
pipe. is a hazardous operation; but, by control of the
properties of t h e mud, the danger of blow-outs can b e
reduced.
 CHANGESI N HYDROSTATIC DUE TO WITHDRAWING
PRESSURE DRILLPIPEFROM HOLE
I
I n determining the correct mud weight to use, its gel
strength should be measured, and the pressure reduc-
tion which will occur when the drill pipe is withdrawn
Relation of Depth and Gel Strength to Pressure Reduc-
tion Due to Swabbing When 31.4-in. Drill Pipe is
Withtlrnwn Fro111 7-in. Casing.
FIG. 8
Relation of Gel Strength and Depth to Pressure Drop
Due to Swabbing When 4f.b-in. Drill Pipe is Withdrawn
f ronl lO?k-in. Casing.
FIG. 9
estimated. The hydrostatic pressure of the mud fluid
minus the swabbing pressure should exceed the reser-
voir pressure. If the correct mud weights are deter-
inined in this way and correct drilling practices a r e
47
followed when making a trip, the danger of blow-outs
should be greatly reduced.
If for any reason i t is necessary to allow the mud to
remain undisturbed for a n abnormal length of time be-
fore a trip is made, it is good practice to circulate the
mud before coming out of the hole. It was found that
rotating the drill pipe without circulating the mud did
not reduce the pressure drop appreciably.
The gel strength of the mud may be reduced by chemi-
cal treatment or by adding water when pdssible. I t can
also be temporarily' reduced by circulating the mud;
however, it is better to keep the mud in such condition
that high gel strengths will never be attained. When a
mud which has high gel strength is being used, it is
more economical-and, in many cases, better practice-
to reduce the gel strength of the mud rather than
attempt to offset the swabbing pressure by increasing
the weight of the mud.
DISCUSSIION
Chairman Doherty: Mr. Cannon's research in this
problenl brings out some concrete facts that a r e of
great value to the industry. This deserves the atten-
tion of every man here. If there is any other operator
who sees fit to run similar tests, my company would like
to work with him and see the results of such tests. ,
L. K. Laney (The Texas Company) : All the discus-
sions that have been drawn from the data gathered in
this work appear entirely logical with one exception, it
seems to me, and that is the r a t e a t which the pipe is
withdrawn indicated very little effect on the pressure
drop. I t strikes me that does not sound entirely logi-
cal. Of course, that was discounted to a certain extent
by the suggestion that pipe be withdrawn slowly in
order to be on the safe side. If any further work is
done along that line, I think the data would be very
useful and valuable.
E. V. Foran (Consulting Engineer) : If during the
time you measure the pressure drops there was 500 Ib.
to 1,000 Ib. back pressure on circulating return, would
t h e , bottom pressure then have been maintained with
anything like ordinary surface pressure?
Mr. Cannon: I believe i t would be about the same.
Pressure affects gel strength and viscosity of the mud.
I don't have any data on that right now.
Chairman Doherty : These tests were conducted under
known conditions. I think this 'work should be con-
tinued, and more data of this nature should be collected.