Drilling Problems 657

Formation

Shale

Sand
Formation
pressure
Permeable
Formation zone Filter cake
pressure

Drillstring
Shale Cake Casing

Fig. 10.32—Basic concept of differential pressure sticking: pipe is stuck in the filter cake in a permeable zone (Adams
1977a).

lose its fluid phase to the permeable formation, leaving behind the solid phase. These remaining solids often settle
out onto the side of the borehole. This nearly impermeable filter cake can become very thick. Meanwhile, if the
hydrostatic pressure of the mud in the permeable zone is much higher than the formation pressure in the perme-
able zone, there will be a pressure gradient toward the formation across the borehole wall. If, by chance, the
drillpipe or collars are lying in the filter cake (which is likely because all boreholes have some degree of devia-
tion), a hydraulic seal can form. Now the pressure gradient lies across the string. Because filter cake has a high
friction coefficient, the force required to pull the string tangentially across the filter cake is high. In many cases,
the rig is not powerful enough to pull the string or the string is not strong enough to handle the load. Differential
sticking is usually the problem if the drillstring cannot be moved up or down or rotated, yet circulation can be
maintained. Typically it occurs when the drillstring is lying stationary across a permeable zone.
An equation used in the petroleum industry to describe differential sticking is
Ftangential AP Pnormal , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10.5)

where A is the hydraulically sealed area, μ is the coefficient of friction, P normal is the pressure differential between

the wellbore and the formation, and Ftangential is the drag force needed to move up or down the hole.

Unsticking requires the reduction of the normal force, the coefficient of friction of the filter cake, or the hydrau-
lically sealed area—or a combination of these. The sooner these methods can be undertaken, the greater the chance
of success. One method used to unstick the string is to spot a lightweight fluid with a filter-cake-destroying chemical
and then jar on the string. The fluid reduces the pressure differential, the coefficient of friction of the filter cake,
and the hydraulic seal area. An example of this approach would be to spot an oil-based fluid across the stuck point.
Another method is to blow nitrogen past the stuck point. This assumes that there are no potential kick zones above
or below the stuck point. Well control can easily be lost in such cases.
Undergauge Hole Sticking. An undergauge hole is any hole that has a smaller diameter than the bit that drilled
that section of hole. One potential cause of an undergauge condition is drilling a high-clay-content plastic shale
with a freshwater mud. If an oil-based mud is used, a plastic salt formation can “flow” into the wellbore. If the
wellbore fluid has a hydrostatic pressure less than the formation pressure, shale or salt will slowly ooze into the
wellbore. This process is slow, but can stick the drilling tools of the unwary.
An undergauge hole can also occur because a drill bit has been worn smaller while drilling through an abrasive
formation. In this case, the hole is undergauge because the bit drilled it that way. If a new bit is run, it can jam into
the undergauge section of the hole and become stuck. This is often called tapered-hole sticking. The presence of
a thick filter cake as described above can also cause an undergauge hole. The filter cake can become so thick that
tools cannot drag through it. The filter cake shows as a drag load on the weight indicator.
 Sloughing-Hole Sticking. Sloughing-hole sticking occurs after a piece of the hole wall sloughs off. For
example, water-sensitive shales that have been invaded by water will swell and break. If circulation is stopped, the
broken pieces will collect around the drillstring and eventually pack the drillstring in place.