Drilling & Well Completion

lay down pipe

Laying Down Pipe: A Critical Step in Drilling & Well Completion

In the bustling world of oil and gas drilling, efficient and safe pipe handling is paramount. One crucial step in this process is laying down pipe, a technique employed during both drilling and well completion operations.

What is Laying Down Pipe?

Laying down pipe refers to the controlled process of removing drill pipe or tubing from the wellbore and placing it horizontally on a designated piperack. This maneuver is typically performed when:

  • Pulling out of the hole: During drilling operations, pipe is removed from the wellbore when sections need to be replaced or the drilling process is completed.
  • Completing the well: Tubing strings, used for production, are installed and retrieved during well completion.

The Importance of Laying Down Pipe:

  • Safety: Safely handling long and heavy pipe sections is crucial to prevent accidents and injuries. Laying down pipe facilitates this, ensuring proper control and stability.
  • Efficiency: By organizing the pipe on the rack, the next stage of the operation can be initiated quickly and smoothly.
  • Organization: A well-organized piperack allows for easy identification and selection of specific pipe sections as needed.

The Process of Laying Down Pipe:

  1. Disconnecting the Pipe: The pipe is first disconnected from the bottom of the drill string or tubing string.
  2. Lifting and Lowering: The pipe is lifted using a hoist or crane and carefully lowered onto the designated piperack.
  3. Horizontal Placement: The pipe is carefully laid down horizontally on the piperack, ensuring it is properly supported and secured.

Understanding Setback:

Setback is the distance between the wellhead (the opening of the well) and the designated piperack. The setback distance is crucial for safety and operational efficiency. A sufficient setback ensures that the pipe handling operations are performed at a safe distance from the wellhead, minimizing potential risks.

Factors Affecting Setback:

  • Wellhead configuration: The location and design of the wellhead influence the required setback distance.
  • Piperack size: The size and configuration of the piperack determine the optimal setback distance.
  • Site layout: The overall site layout and proximity of other equipment influence the setback requirements.

Conclusion:

Laying down pipe is an essential operation in drilling and well completion. This process ensures safe and efficient handling of pipe, optimizing operations and minimizing potential risks. Understanding the role of setback and its influencing factors is crucial for safe and effective drilling operations.


Test Your Knowledge

Laying Down Pipe Quiz:

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What is the primary purpose of laying down pipe?

a) To store drill pipe and tubing for future use. b) To connect the drill string to the wellhead. c) To remove drill pipe or tubing from the wellbore and place it horizontally. d) To measure the depth of the well.

Answer

c) To remove drill pipe or tubing from the wellbore and place it horizontally.

2. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of laying down pipe?

a) Ensuring safe handling of pipe sections. b) Improving efficiency by organizing the pipe. c) Reducing the risk of wellbore collapse. d) Facilitating quick and easy selection of specific pipe sections.

Answer

c) Reducing the risk of wellbore collapse.

3. What is "setback" in relation to laying down pipe?

a) The time required to lay down a pipe section. b) The distance between the wellhead and the piperack. c) The weight of the pipe being laid down. d) The number of pipe sections laid down.

Answer

b) The distance between the wellhead and the piperack.

4. Which of these factors influences the setback distance?

a) The type of drilling fluid used. b) The weather conditions. c) The size and configuration of the piperack. d) The number of workers on site.

Answer

c) The size and configuration of the piperack.

5. During which operation is laying down pipe NOT typically performed?

a) Drilling operations b) Well completion c) Well testing d) Production

Answer

d) Production

Laying Down Pipe Exercise:

Scenario:

You are working on a drilling rig and need to lay down a pipe section after completing a drilling run. The wellhead is located 50 feet from the designated piperack. The piperack is 20 feet long and can accommodate pipe sections up to 30 feet in length. The pipe section you need to lay down is 40 feet long.

Task:

  1. Calculate the minimum setback distance required for this situation.
  2. Explain why the current setback distance is not sufficient for laying down this pipe section safely.
  3. Suggest a solution to ensure safe pipe handling in this scenario.

Exercice Correction

1. **Minimum setback:** The minimum setback required for a 40-foot pipe section is 40 feet to ensure safe handling and prevent the pipe from extending beyond the piperack. 2. **Current setback is not sufficient:** The current setback of 50 feet is not sufficient because the pipe section is longer than the piperack. Laying down the pipe would require the section to extend beyond the designated area, potentially causing instability and posing safety risks. 3. **Solution:** * **Option 1:** Extend the piperack to accommodate the full length of the pipe section. * **Option 2:** Move the piperack further away from the wellhead to increase the setback distance to at least 40 feet. * **Option 3:** Temporarily lay down the pipe section in a different location, ensuring it is secured and properly supported, then move it to the piperack once a sufficient setback is available.


Books

  • Petroleum Engineering: Drilling and Well Completion by John Lee (This comprehensive textbook covers various aspects of drilling and completion, including pipe handling.)
  • Drilling Engineering by William C. Lyons (This book delves into the technical details of drilling operations, including pipe handling and safety.)
  • Well Completion Design by James A. Dotson (This book focuses on well completion techniques, with sections on pipe handling and tubing installation.)
  • Modern Well Completion Techniques by Maurice A. Meyer (This book provides an overview of modern well completion methods, including discussions on pipe handling and equipment.)

Articles

  • "Best Practices for Safe and Efficient Pipe Handling in Drilling Operations" - A journal article published in the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) journal focusing on safety procedures and best practices for pipe handling during drilling.
  • "Optimizing Setback Distance for Well Completion Operations" - A technical paper presented at an industry conference discussing the factors affecting setback distance and its impact on safety and efficiency.
  • "The Importance of Proper Pipe Handling in Well Completion" - A white paper published by an industry service company highlighting the critical role of pipe handling in well completion and the potential risks associated with improper practices.

Online Resources

  • Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE): The SPE website hosts a vast library of technical papers and articles related to drilling and well completion, including discussions on pipe handling and safety.
  • Oil & Gas Journal: The Oil & Gas Journal website publishes news and articles on the oil and gas industry, including technical articles on drilling and completion operations.
  • DrillingInfo: This website provides access to comprehensive data and analytics on drilling and completion activities, including information on pipe handling and setback distances.
  • API (American Petroleum Institute): The API website offers various resources related to industry standards and best practices, including standards for pipe handling and well completion operations.

Search Tips

  • Use specific keywords: Include terms like "lay down pipe," "pipe handling," "drilling," "well completion," "setback distance" in your search query.
  • Combine keywords: Use boolean operators like "AND" and "OR" to refine your search results. For example, "lay down pipe AND safety" or "setback distance OR piperack."
  • Use quotation marks: Enclose specific phrases in quotation marks to find exact matches. For example, "lay down pipe procedures."
  • Utilize filters: Use Google's filter options to narrow down your results by date, type of content, and other criteria.

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