Normal wear and tear affects every piece of equipment on your job site. It’s how you prevent and respond to these events that will determine the overall productivity of your operation. A big case in point is how you take care of your wells. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, regularly swabbing your wells leads to more efficiency and ultimately makes you more money. Here are seven signs you might need a Tiger General Swab Master swabbing rig to get your wells back to their former glory.
1. Hole Diameter
The most basic reason your well might need swabbing deals with the size of the hole itself. Over time, you may notice the diameter of the hole decreasing. In turn, this creates a smaller opening for your bit or bottom hole assembly. As your machinery continues to pull out of a smaller and smaller hole, the need to swab grows more necessary.
2. Hole Clearance
It’s important that holes with smaller clearance are swabbed more frequently. That’s because more mud equals more energy and time. If the hole you’re using has too small of a clearance, the energy needed to pull the mud will be much greater. In turn, this causes a dramatic pressure drop. You’ll be working much harder, using more energy and spending more time to potentially yield less product.
3. Hydrostatic Pressure
A high-performing hole needs to maintain a balance between formation pressure and hydrostatic pressure. Ideally, you want to ensure the formation pressure is higher than the hydrostatic. Oftentimes, a sign that your well needs to be swabbed is when these two pressures are out of balance. If your hydrostatic pressure is too close or more than your formation pressure wells will not function optimally and should be cleared of mud and water causing this imbalance through swabbing.
4. Mud Thickness
It’s critical that you keep an eye on drilling fluids and their properties. Thicker mud means it’s harder to pull through the well. This uses more energy and results in a smaller payload. That’s because thicker mud is more viscous and ultimately creates a drop in pressure within the well. Other mud factors include rheology and gel strength. When these two factors are also high, it can lead to swab kicks.
5. Tools Used
The larger the tools you use to trip a well, the more likely you’ll need to swab them. From coring and fishing tools to drill collars and mud motors, there are plenty of tools that can affect your wells if they’re on the larger side. This is especially pertinent when crews don’t take the proper care when tripping wells.
6. Using Balled-Up Bits
If you’re using balled-up bits, you need to be more mindful of the well’s condition. Wells that operate at or near a balanced state are more likely to become unstable over time and function less optimally.
7. Pulling Speed
Faster pulling speeds are a sign that your well is definitely in need of swabbing. Higher pulling speeds have the potential to create major drops in pressure. If you notice a drop in overall well control, it’s a sign you need to bring in the swab rig.
Contact Tiger General for More Info on Swab Master Swabbing Rigs
No matter the reason, your wells are bound to need the help of a Tiger General Swab Master swab rig. Fill out the Tiger General Truck Inquiry Form today to get started on bringing your next piece of equipment to where it’s needed most.