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TRIPPING AND HOLE FILL UP PROCEDURE
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RIG 5829 DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE

TRIPPING AND HOLE FILL UP PROCEDURE

RIG5829-PRO-DRL-014-E

Issued for approval

20 Nov 12 01
and implementation

Description of
Date Revision Prepared Checked Approved
Revision

This document is the property of saipem who will safeguard its rights according to the civil and penal provision of the law.
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Revision Summary

Approved Issued Revision Section/ Page

Description of Revision Approved By
Date Date No. Revised
20 Nov 12 20 Nov 12 01 n/a Issued for approval and implementation S. Trinchero
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INDEX

1 SCOPE AND PURPOSE 4

2 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS 4

3 DEFINITIONS 4

4 RESPONSIBILITIES 5
4.1 DRILLING SUPERINTENDENT 5
4.2 TOOL/ TOUR PUSHER 5
4.3 DRILLER 5
4.4 DRILLING CREW 5
5 ACTIVITIES DESCRIPTION 5
5.1 GENERAL NOTES 5
5.2 TRIPPING RECOMMENDATIONS 6
5.3 FLOW CHECK 8
5.3.1 Flow Check Frequency 8
5.3.2 Flow Check Procedure 8
5.4 MONITORING WHILE TRIPPING OUT OF HOLE 9
5.5 MONITORING WHILE TRIPPING WITH THE CORING ASSEMBLY 9
5.6 MONITORING WHILE TRIPPING INTO THE HOLE 10
6 ATTACHMENTS 10
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1 SCOPE AND PURPOSE

The scope of this procedure is to detail the sequence of operation and responsibilities relating to the tripping
procedure and flow check related.

2 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

 Saipem Drilling Operations Manual

 API RP 7G – “Recommended Practice for Drill Stem Design and Operating Limits”
 IADC Drilling Manual, Edition No. 11, 2000

NOTE:
A reference invokes the latest published issue or amendment unless stated otherwise.
Referenced standards may be replaced by equivalent standards that are internationally or otherwise
recognized if it can be shown to the satisfaction of the purchaser's professional engineer that they meet
or exceed the requirements of the referenced standards.

3 DEFINITIONS

BOP Blowout Preventer

BHA Bottom Hole Assembly

Gel Strength The shear stress measured at low shear rate after a mud has set quiescently
for a period of time (10 seconds and 10 minutes in the standard API
procedure, although measurements after 30 minutes or 16 hours may also be
made).

Mud Rheology Property that studies the flow of gases and liquids (drilling mud, drilling fluids,
work-over and completion fluids, cements and speciality fluids and pills).

Overpull Pull on pipe over and beyond its weight in either air or fluid.

POOH Pull out of hole.

RIH Run in hole.

ROP Rate of Penetration

TD Total Depth

Thief Zone A formation encountered during drilling into which circulating fluids can be lost.

TIH Trip in Hole

TOH Trip out of Hole

Trip The operation of hoisting the drill stem from and returning it to the well bore.

Trip Margin The small amount of additional mud weight carried over that needed to balance
formation pressure to overcome the pressure-reduction effects caused by
swabbing when a trip out of the hole is made

TT (Trip Tank) A small capacity mud tank (~60 barrels), usually with 1 or more barrel divisions,
used to ascertain the amount of mud necessary to keep the well bore full with
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the exact amount of mud that is displaced by drill pipe. When the bit comes out
of the hole, a volume of mud equal to that which the drill pipe occupied while in
the hole must be pumped into the hole to replace the pipe. When the bit goes
back in the hole, the drill pipe displaces a certain amount of mud, and a trip
tank can be used again to keep track of this volume.

Slug A volume of mud that is more dense than the mud in the drill pipe and wellbore
annulus. A slug is used to displace mud out of the upper part of the drill pipe
before pulling pipe out of the hole and is mixed in the pill pit by adding
additional weighting material (barite) to a few barrels of mud from the surface
pits. The pill is pumped into the top of the drill string to push mud downward,
out of the pipe, thus keeping the upper stands of pipe empty.

SCR Slow Circulation Rate

Surge/ Swabbing While pulling or running the drill string during tripping operations there is a
reduction or increase (respectively) in pressure in the bore hole due to the so-
called swab/surge effects.
A rapid increase in pressure on down hole that occurs when the drill stem is
lowered too fast or when the mud pump is brought up to speed after starting, it
is call surge. The opposite decrease pressure effect in down hole is called
swabbing.

4 RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1 DRILLING SUPERINTENDENT

The Drilling Superintendent will be responsible for the implementation of this procedure.

4.2 TOOL/ TOUR PUSHER

Tool/ Tour Pusher shall be responsible for supervision of all operations and to assure that are conducted in a
correct and safe way. The Tool/ Tour Pusher shall instruct the drillers in execution of the drilling activities and
supervise the drilling crew in order to ensure the activities are carried out in accordance to the program.

4.3 DRILLER

The Driller is responsible to ensure correct application of received instructions for drilling parameters as well
as other work procedures, to monitor the well at all times and to regularly record the key parameters.

The Driller is the first person that needs to react when a well control situation is detected during tripping
operations. It is his responsibility to shut in the well as quickly as possible if a kick is indicated or suspected.

4.4 DRILLING CREW

The drilling crew is responsible to perform the line up of mud system as instructed by Tool/ Tour Pusher and
Driller, to keep clean the rig floor area and to keep ready in case of well control procedure.

5 ACTIVITIES DESCRIPTION

5.1 GENERAL NOTES

The hole should be kept full at all times. Consequently, when tripping the drill string or running the casing
both in and out of the well, the trip tank should always be used for the accurate measurement of drilling fluid
volume changes.

Pulling liquid-filled pipe, a wet trip, should be avoided if possible. If it is unavoidable, a mud bucket should be
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used to catch the drilling fluid from the drill pipe and return it to the well or to the trip tank.

It is essential that the volume changes in the trip tank equal the theoretical changes in the steel volume
being added or removed from the well. This is the responsibility of the Driller.

While tripping, the trip sheet form shall be prepared and kept for trip tank volumes against pipe
displacements of each stand, to identify any discrepancies (e.g. gains or losses) as soon as possible.

Ideally, the trip sheet should be prepared prior to the trip and has the theoretical volume per stand or 5
stands marked on it. The driller then only has to add the actual trip tank measurements to get a simple check
of the hole behavior.

In circumstances where it is suspected that swabbing may have occurred, the pipe should be run back to
bottom, bottoms circulated up and the drilling fluid conditioned if necessary. If the well is flowing after
swabbing, and the influx is above the bit, it should be closed in and killed at the prevailing bit depth. If the
influx is below the bit the pipe should be stripped back to bottom using the combined volumetric stripping
process. It must not be attempted to run back to bottom with an open flowing well.

Heavy slug should be spotted at the beginning of the trip only if the well bore is in stable condition. But most
generally the slug will be pumped only at the casing shoe, the effect of the slug on the mud return will be
calculated and the data made available.

A mud bucket will be ready if slug cannot be pumped out or if the pipe must be pulled “wet”. The design must
be arranged so that the return from mud bucket is drained to the trip tank

Short trips (TOH and TIH few stands) based on the hole conditions, it may be decided to perform a short trip
to evaluate the possible incoming fluids or gas formation

5.2 TRIPPING RECOMMENDATIONS

a. At the beginning of every trip, the Driller or Tool Pusher must check the regular fill-up procedures.

b. Before starting to POOH with drill pipe, the following criteria must be met:

- There shall be no loss of circulation

- There shall be no indication of influx
- The mud density in and out shall not differ more than 24 g/ l (0,02 PPG)
- Inside BOP must be available on the Rig Floor, according with the size of drill string in use

c. Prior to start of tripping out, make sure that mud is conditioned in order to have a minimum gel strength
value within the desired value.

d. Before each trip, the rotary slips shall be inspected for worn or broken inserts and replacement made as
necessary.

e. Prior to POOH, the drill pipe should be slugged with a heavy pill. The volume and the density of the pill
should be according to the drilling program and shall be based on the following factors:

- Density of mud in the hole

- Mud rheology
- Capacity of drill pipe
- Hole depth

It is a general rule to pump a small volume pill at higher density and then a large volume pill at lower
density.

Under the following circumstances, the use of slug pill should be avoided:

- Shallow hole
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- Possibility of damaging the reservoir with weighting agent

- When the increase of the hydrostatic pressure could be the cause of mud losses and/ or fracturing of
the formation

f. The “wiper rubber” should be used when pulling or running the drill pipe to prevent any object from falling
into the hole. Do not install the wiper rubber while tripping out the first 10 stands, in order to observe the
well.

g. In areas where formations contain (or are suspected to contain) hydrogen sulphide or other toxic gas,
when POOH and R.I.H., use the trip-tank and accurately record volumes to make sure the hole taking/
giving the proper amount of fluid. If any discrepancy is observed, the driller shall immediately inform the
Tool Pusher. As a general rule, if the hole fails to take enough mud, run the drill string to bottom and
circulate bottoms up.

h. In case of trip tank failure, an alternative will be to use a mud pump. In this case, the annulus will be filled
with mud every 5 stands of pipe. Volumes will be monitored by isolating the suction tank and closely
monitoring fluid volumes. A visual check into the annulus should ensure that the mud level is dropping
normally while pulling pipes.

i. The trip (or fill up) sheet shall be filled, if required, on the rig floor by the Driller while tripping and shall be
submitted to Tool Pusher and Company Representative.

j. If drill pipe is pulled wet, the mud has to be returned to the hole. Drain the “Mud Saver Bucket” in the bell
nipple. Design should be such that the returns from the mud bucket drain to the trip tank through the flow
line.

k. A suitable safety valve with proper connections to fit each connection including in the string must be on
the rig floor, in the open position ready for use with proper fittings and handling devices. The closing/
opening wrench must be available for immediate use.

l. Any time a trip is interrupted, the hand tight installation of a safety valve is recommended.

m. Drill pipe shall be pulled and run in the hole at such rate so as, to prevent swabbing and pressure
surges.

n. If it is possible and required by hole conditions, rotate the string when pulling to prevent sticking while
standing back pipes.

o. Use pipe spinner or chain under the following circumstances:

- when tripping out a core barrel

- when caving problems are encountered
- when tripping out from thief zones
- when tripping out from kick off zones (deviated holes, side-track, etc)
- when pulling out running tools or expected washout in string or broken string or fish
- when handling the BHA with chain tong

p. Stand break technique should be adopted in order to have the tool joints in the drill string alternatively
broken.

q. No welding/ strapping shall be allowed on BHA unless expressly required by Drilling Program (Company
Representative and/ or Tool Pusher) for particular tools and their position.

r. In case of drag when POOH, do not exceed a reasonable value of overpull (1/3 of string weight). This
value should be adjusted to hole conditions, drill string design, stabilization and hole profile (vertical,
side-track, directional). If necessary, work pipe preferably by rotating and circulate to pass through.

s. In case of drag when RIH, wash/ ream the zone free. Never attempt to push the bit through the ledge. No
weight should be given on the bit during reaming operation; torque and pressure are the only guide
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parameters to perform this operation. While reaming, be attentive in order to avoid to drill a new hole.

t. All overpulls and relative depths must be recorded on “IADC” and Company daily drilling reports by the
Driller.

u. For API connections, make-up torque shall be as mentioned in API RP 7G – “Recommended Practice for
Drill Stem Design and Operating Limits”, latest edition. For other connections (XT, VAM, etc) the
manufacturer recommended torque shall be considered.

v. Short-trip shall be performed before POOH of over-pressurized zones, unless differently required by
Company Representative.

The following procedure shall be carried out for short-trip:

- Pull out 5 to 10 stands at normal speed, making sure the hole is taking the proper volume of mud (no
swabbing). Use trip-tank accurately.
- Perform a flow check.
- Run back to bottom.
- Perform a flow check at bottom.
- Circulate and check bottoms up.
- If an influx is detected, increase the mud weight as necessary.
- A second short-trip may be required.

w. Gauge accurately the residual diameter of bit and stabilizer in order to plan a subsequent reaming
operation or change the drilling string design if a PDC or diamond bit is scheduled. It is suggested to use
a three point gauge ring (if it is available).

x. When pipe is out of hole, the trip tank shall be used to ensure that the hole is remaining static.

5.3 FLOW CHECK

In any case flow checks while tripping out shall be made. Their main objective is to confirm the well is stable.

When tripping out, if any anomaly of fluid is detected or in case of any doubt, the well must be shut-in.

5.3.1 Flow Check Frequency

Flow check shall be made as per bellow frequency:

 Just at bottom
 At the lowest casing shoe (regardless of fill-up results)
 Prior to pulling the drill collars through the BOP stack (regardless of fill-up results)
 Whenever required by Company Representative/ Client

5.3.2 Flow Check Procedure

A flow check shall be performed as follows:

1) Pick up the drill string until the tool joint is in correct position above the rotary table and the BOP can be
closed properly on pipe.

2) Stop mud pumps.

3) Line up to trip tank. Observe trip tank indicator and also visually check for flow, observing mud level in
the annulus.
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4) The duration of the test shall be at least 15 minutes or whatever time necessary to determine without
question whether the well is static or flowing. Nevertheless, keep as short as possible, the drill string
without circulation.

5) If flow is observed, close BOP and start well control procedures. Otherwise, resume drilling operations.

6) Whenever applicable, keep rotating the string to avoid stuck pipe.

5.4 MONITORING WHILE TRIPPING OUT OF HOLE

 When tripping out of hole, the well should be completely isolated from the active mud pit.

 Flow and volumes in and out will be monitored with the trip tank.

 Volumes will be carefully recorded on the Trip Sheet form.

 During the trip tank fill up operation, the tripping operation will be temporary suspended.

 To prevent the “wet” tripping out, one slug pill can be pumped in the string.

- The slug will be spotted with the bit on bottom, only if the well bore is in good condition.
- In case of well bore problems (tight hole, other), the slug should be spotted only when the bit is at the
casing shoe.

 When tripping out through the open hole section in a "wet" mode, monitoring of the volumes will be done
through the trip tank:

- Tripping speed will be adjusted based on the problem encountered.

- Tripping will start with the annulus and the drill pipes full.
- Mud saved with the mud bucket will be sent back to the trip tank.
- If the stand is pulled out empty, fill the string in the hole from the trip tank and carefully monitor the
volume before pulling the next stand.
- Objective is to be always in a position where it is possible to precisely measure and check the
volume lost or gained while tripping.

 In case of any anomaly of the volume level, the well must be closed as quickly as possible without any
flow check.

 Any anomaly will be immediately notified to the Drilling Supervisor, Drilling Superintendent and Tool
Pusher.

5.5 MONITORING WHILE TRIPPING WITH THE CORING ASSEMBLY

 If an unconsolidated formation is cored, the FCS (Full Closure System) core barrel can be used.

 After the closure system is energized, the circulating area on the core shoe is smaller.

 A circulating sub should be installed above the core barrel.

 While POOH above core section, circulation will preferably be established through the core barrel
circulating area: it may prevent any well bore problems in the front of the coring assembly, especially
when using long core barrels fitted with several stabilizers.

 However, if the circulation cannot be regained, the circulating sub on top of the assembly will be
activated. As soon as the circulating sub is opened, the new "slow circulating rate" friction losses will be
recorded before starting to pull out.

 The coring string can also be fitted with one flapper valve (with a drain hole) compatible with all the balls
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dropped in the string (core ball, full closure ball and circulating sub ball).

In this case and depending on the formation cored and the mud density, one long way circulation may be
performed:

- With the core barrel above core section

- With the core barrel at the shoe

 Always a flow check must be performed at these stages:

- Before having the BHA entering the stack

- Before pulling the BHA across the rotary table

NOTE: Alternative "bottom up" policy that may be used when the formation is well known and with a low
GOR (gas oil ratio) and especially when running long core barrel:

- Circulate and take Slow Circulation Rate measurements before starting to core.
- Core the first targeted section.
- POOH directly without any circulation; it will prevent any washing of the bottom of the hole and
improve the well bore conditions for the next core.
- When running in hole with the second core barrel, tag bottom and circulate 10 minutes.
- POOH on top of the first section cored.
- Circulate one complete bottom's up volume.
- Tag bottom and resume coring operation.

5.6 MONITORING WHILE TRIPPING INTO THE HOLE

 The trip tank should be monitored while tripping into the hole.

 If a float valve is installed above the bit, keep in mind that it will affect trip tank level indication.

 During tripping in the hole, the string will be filled up on top of the BHA and, at least, every 10 stands,
with the Top Drive.

 In stable well bore conditions, no circulation break will be performed until the total depth is reached; the
last stand will be reamed – washed down.

 The riser booster line will be used to initiate the circulation in the riser prior to start to circulate on bottom.

 Circulation will be started at a low flow rate to break the mud gels and prevent any surge at the weak
point of the well bore (always start to rotate the pipes before).

 In unstable well bore conditions, any tight hole should be reamed and a bottom up volume circulated
before resuming drilling.

 Flow checks can also be performed while tripping in (for instance when the bit is at the shoe) in order to
confirm the well bore stability.

6 ATTACHMENTS
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 Form. n. WI-SAS-DRIL-001-CH “Tripping and Fill Up Report”