PETE 225 – Exam 2 Study Guide (Petroleum Engineering Review, Key Concepts & Practice
Questions with Answers)
Surge - ANS ✔✔_____ pressures occur when running in the hole. There is not enough space
around the bit and BHA for fluid to flow past as it is displaced. Instead fluid will be forced
downward into the formation
Swab - ANS ✔✔Similar to surge except opposite in effect. If a drillstring or casing string is pulled
out of the hole too rapidly, it may displace or pull fluids out of the annulus, creating a vacuum
underneath it and reducing wellbore pressure. When this pressure reduction occurs, it may
allow an influx of reservoir fluids
Standpipe - ANS ✔✔Vertical pipe along the side of the derrick, connects the pumps to the kelly
hose. This is where most surface pressures are measured
Geronimo line - ANS ✔✔the escape line from the monkey board to the ground. The allows the
derrickman to evacuate the monkey board. Similar to a zip line
Deadman/deadline anchor - ANS ✔✔where the drilling line is anchored on the rig. From here,
the drilling line runs through the crown and travelling blocks and is spooled on the drawworks
drum. The hookload measurement is taken from sensors mounted on the drilling line at this
point
Jars - ANS ✔✔a downhole tool that is used to get the drillstring or a fish unstuck. It uses the
kinetic energy stored in a slowly stretched or slowly downward moving drillstring to apply a
sudden impact force to the fish. This sudden force will hopefully free the fish. Drilling _____ are
run while drilling as a preventative tool and fishing _____ are run after being stuck. Typically
fishing jars are capable of greater impact forces
Packed off - ANS ✔✔When cuttings build up and/or the wellbore collapse around the drillpipe.
Due to the inability to pump and remove cuttings, the problem may get even worse. Improperly
handled _____ will lead to stuck pipe.
, Two things that typically happen when a well is packed off - ANS ✔✔1: the drillstring will be
difficult or unable to move
2: fluid will be unable to flow up the annulus
Keyseat - ANS ✔✔occurs in high DLS area of the wellbore or a ledged area. A channel or seat
will be worn were the drillstring rests on the wellbore wall and rotates/moves. This area will be
the size of the drillpipe
Differential sticking - ANS ✔✔occurs in the open hole, typically where a permeable formation
(sand) exists. In order for it to occur, the pressure in the wellbore is higher than the pressure in
the formation and the drillstring is up against the well and in the filter cake. A force equal to the
pressure difference times the surface area against the hole wall/filter cake will result. The
direction of this force is into the hole wall and thus resists any upward OR downward movemtn.
Solutions include jarring to increase up or down force and decreasing the density of the fluid
the wellbore to decrease the sticking force.
Freepoint tool or log - ANS ✔✔A way of determining at what depth a drillstring is stuck. The
tool run to various depth, the top and bottom of the tool are anchored to the inside of the
drillstring or casing and then the drillstring or casing is pulled upwards. A strain gauge in the
________ will tell whether drillstring stretched or didnt move. After several measurements you
should be able to tell where you are stuck and should begin your fishing operations
Overshot (fishing) - ANS ✔✔a downhole tool used in fishing operations to engage on the
outside surface of a tube or tool. A graple, or similar slip mechanism, on the ________ grips the
fish, allowing application of tensile force and jarring action
Junk Basket - ANS ✔✔a fishing tool that is run in the well to retrieve junk, debris, etc. There are
many types ranging from very simple to more complex. The most common ______ used today
relies on venture flow to pull the debris into the tool while circulating on the bottom. This tool is
run when milling or drilling up the debris is inadvisable or not possible.
Questions with Answers)
Surge - ANS ✔✔_____ pressures occur when running in the hole. There is not enough space
around the bit and BHA for fluid to flow past as it is displaced. Instead fluid will be forced
downward into the formation
Swab - ANS ✔✔Similar to surge except opposite in effect. If a drillstring or casing string is pulled
out of the hole too rapidly, it may displace or pull fluids out of the annulus, creating a vacuum
underneath it and reducing wellbore pressure. When this pressure reduction occurs, it may
allow an influx of reservoir fluids
Standpipe - ANS ✔✔Vertical pipe along the side of the derrick, connects the pumps to the kelly
hose. This is where most surface pressures are measured
Geronimo line - ANS ✔✔the escape line from the monkey board to the ground. The allows the
derrickman to evacuate the monkey board. Similar to a zip line
Deadman/deadline anchor - ANS ✔✔where the drilling line is anchored on the rig. From here,
the drilling line runs through the crown and travelling blocks and is spooled on the drawworks
drum. The hookload measurement is taken from sensors mounted on the drilling line at this
point
Jars - ANS ✔✔a downhole tool that is used to get the drillstring or a fish unstuck. It uses the
kinetic energy stored in a slowly stretched or slowly downward moving drillstring to apply a
sudden impact force to the fish. This sudden force will hopefully free the fish. Drilling _____ are
run while drilling as a preventative tool and fishing _____ are run after being stuck. Typically
fishing jars are capable of greater impact forces
Packed off - ANS ✔✔When cuttings build up and/or the wellbore collapse around the drillpipe.
Due to the inability to pump and remove cuttings, the problem may get even worse. Improperly
handled _____ will lead to stuck pipe.
, Two things that typically happen when a well is packed off - ANS ✔✔1: the drillstring will be
difficult or unable to move
2: fluid will be unable to flow up the annulus
Keyseat - ANS ✔✔occurs in high DLS area of the wellbore or a ledged area. A channel or seat
will be worn were the drillstring rests on the wellbore wall and rotates/moves. This area will be
the size of the drillpipe
Differential sticking - ANS ✔✔occurs in the open hole, typically where a permeable formation
(sand) exists. In order for it to occur, the pressure in the wellbore is higher than the pressure in
the formation and the drillstring is up against the well and in the filter cake. A force equal to the
pressure difference times the surface area against the hole wall/filter cake will result. The
direction of this force is into the hole wall and thus resists any upward OR downward movemtn.
Solutions include jarring to increase up or down force and decreasing the density of the fluid
the wellbore to decrease the sticking force.
Freepoint tool or log - ANS ✔✔A way of determining at what depth a drillstring is stuck. The
tool run to various depth, the top and bottom of the tool are anchored to the inside of the
drillstring or casing and then the drillstring or casing is pulled upwards. A strain gauge in the
________ will tell whether drillstring stretched or didnt move. After several measurements you
should be able to tell where you are stuck and should begin your fishing operations
Overshot (fishing) - ANS ✔✔a downhole tool used in fishing operations to engage on the
outside surface of a tube or tool. A graple, or similar slip mechanism, on the ________ grips the
fish, allowing application of tensile force and jarring action
Junk Basket - ANS ✔✔a fishing tool that is run in the well to retrieve junk, debris, etc. There are
many types ranging from very simple to more complex. The most common ______ used today
relies on venture flow to pull the debris into the tool while circulating on the bottom. This tool is
run when milling or drilling up the debris is inadvisable or not possible.
