Despite all the precautions taken by modern drillers, things can still go wrong. In this section we’ll look at several potential problems that can encountered during drilling, and ways to avoid them.
Why It Matters
Understanding the science and history of potential issues like stuck pipe, lost circulation, wellbore, instability, blowouts, stuck pipe, and even fishing events help inform decisions on the well pad today. Thoughtful review of lessons learned almost always helps inform future decisions. Fortunately, the oil and gas community today has more science-based information available than at any point in the history of oil and gas exploration.
Learning Objectives
- Describe ways a wellbore can be unstable and how to prevent instability.
- Describe how and why lost circulation happens and how to mitigate it.
- Describe the conditions that lead to blowouts and how to prevent them.
- Describe subsurface conditions that lead to stuck pipe.
- Define fishing.
Images: “Danger” by Michael Black