Sweeping the Drilling Industry – Worldwide
Sweeping the Drilling Industry – Worldwide
Dickens County, Texas
Running 340 feet of 17 1/2″ surface pipe. On previous area offset wells, the surface pipe had to be laid down or washed from 80-150 feet to bottom.
After reaching the casing point on the surface hole, 15 pounds (1 carton) of Super-Sweep were mixed in 30 bbls. of fresh water and circulated. As a result of the sweep, the hole unloaded a large amount of fine gravel, allowing the pipe to easily run to depth.
Pecos County, Texas
17 1/2″ intermediate section was drilled with brine water to 4200 feet, causing substantial fill during logging run.
Thirty pounds (2 cartons) of Super-Sweep were mixed in 100 bbls of brine water and circulated. As a result of the sweep, several subsequent logging runs were performed and the pipe was set to bottom with no additional fill problems.
On Shore, Louisiana
Required hole cleaning without increasing the viscosity of the heavily weighted active mud system. A sweep was needed on this 15,200 foot well with 5″ liner before logging, after drilling out the cement collar.
Super-Sweep at a rate of 15 pounds per 60 bbls. of mud (1/4 ppb) was chosen over a high-vis polymer sweep. Upon reaching the surface, the Super-Sweep material was easily screened out over the shaker screens (175/175/140) with no resulting mud losses, binding or sticking. Several pieces of the float collar along with additional cuttings were recovered. The pump pressure, which had increased from 2850 to 2970 during circulation, returned to normal after the sweep. Super-Sweep proved to be a safe and effective alternate to high-vis sweeps.
Runnels County, Texas
Extremely tight connections were encountered at 4100 feet in this 11″ hole. While disengaging the rotary table, the drill pipe experienced so much torque that it rotated to the left, actually unscrewing the the pipe.
15 pounds (1 carton) of Super-Sweep were charged through the hopper into the mud system during mud -up. As a result of the sweep, the hole unloaded heavily, eliminating all further drag problems.
On Shore, Louisiana
Sweeps were required to recover metal fragments after milling a section of the 11 3/4″ intermediate casing section. The hole had actually been previously swept using a high-vis polymer sweep, and was presumed to be clean. The magnets were removed, cleaned and replaced.
A Super-Sweep trial was then performed in hopes of eliminating increases in viscosity and back watering that occurs from conventional high-vis sweeps. A 30 bbl. pill with Super-Sweep at 1/4 pound per bbl. was circulated in the hole. More metal fragments were recovered with the sweep, and the magnets were packed with additional fragments upon removal. Super-Sweep proved to be a more effective hole-cleaning agent than the polymer sweep, even at 11,200 feet deep in dense fluids.
Crockett County, Texas
Severe drag was encountered in a 7 7/8″ horizontal section at 11,700 feet, causing the pipe to become stuck during a short trip. Pull-out continued after the pipe was freed, yet drag conditions continued.
While in the casing, a pill with 1/4 p.p.b of Super-Sweep was circulated, proving its compatibility with the mud motor and MWD tool. An additional 60 bbl. pill with 15 pounds (1 carton) of Super-Sweep fiber was prepared and circulated at a rate of one foot of volume per hour. The hole continued to unload with no negative impact on the mud motor, the MWD tool, or the pipe screen.
Off Shore, Louisiana
Sweeps were required to remove fragments from a window cut at 5800 feet using a 6 1/8″ mill of the 7″casing in this deep water operation
Several 60 bbl. sweeps containing 1/4 p.p.b. of Super-Sweep were circulated during milling, and an additional 60 bbl. sweep was performed after milling was completed. Super-Sweep successfully cleaned the hole of all metal fragments. Though the trough magnets remained in place for three days after milling, no additional fragments were recovered.