Spotting Fluids COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW
Pipe-freeing agents consisting of detergents, soaps, oils, surfactants and other chemicals, these agents are intended to be spotted in an area of suspected pipe stickage to reduce friction and increase lubricity, thereby freeing the stuck pipe.
Manner in Which Pipe Can Become Stuck:-
1. Differentially Stuck Pipe
The geological formation downhole occasionally has a significantly lower pressure than the drilling fluid being used. When the pipe string comes into contact with the exposed formation the difference in pressure will cause the pipe to be sucked against the formation. If the rig is able to circulate drilling fluid back to the surface that is often a good indication of differentially stuck pipe. One technique for freeing the stuck pipe or avoiding the issue to begin with, is to rotate the pipe string while pulling out of the hole.
2. Key Seated Stuck Pipe
Key seating occurs when the drill string becomes off-centered in the wellbore, and the pipe collars become caught on a deviation in the wellbore. If the rig is able to move the drill string freely downhole, but every time the drill string is pulled upward it becomes stuck at the same point, than it is likely that the pipe is caught in a key seat.
3. Cave-in Stuck Pipe
An unstable formation can result in a cave in. The collapse of the formation can pin the pipe inside the wellbore preventing its movement.
Mechanically Stuck Pipe: This can be the result of objects, i.e. slips or pipe wrenches, being dropped down the hole lodging against the BHA.
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4. Tubing Stuck in Production Wells
Tubing in production wells is often exposed to a number of highly corrosive chemicals, such as H2S. This corrosion can deteriorate the tubing to the point that it separates from the wellhead causing the tubing to fall downhole. The impact of several thousands of pounds of tubing on the bottom of the hole can severely damage the tubing, causing kinks or a corkscrew effect in the tubing, making it difficult to retrieve out of the hole. Sand coming in through a hole in the casing or a malfunctioning production packer can also cause tubing to become stuck in production wells.