Accurate Hydraulics Proved Critical in Avoiding Stuck Pipe from Extended-Reach Well

A major operator was concerned about stuck pipe in an extended-reach well where a costly BHA was installed. M-I SWACO recommended to gather and use more frequent real-time rheology and density data obtained with the RheoProfiler automated rheometer. Rheology was measured at three temperatures and densities every 2 h rather than the standard six intervals to feed into the PRESSPRO RT real-time downhole performance measurement software.

The increased data intervals were used to optimize the equivalent circulating density and hole-cleaning simulations. The RheoProfiler rheometer was used in the high-risk lateral portion of the well, and measurement was conducted to TD, displacement, and up until the cement job.