13 3/8 Casing Preparation and Running Checklist

This article describes the best practices for 13 3/8 casing preparation and running operations

- Before running the 13-3/8 casing, make sure that the rig is correctly aligned with the
rotary table centred over the wellhead (note: the DP will now be racked back so the weight
distribution from when drilling will have changed). This is to prevent damaging the wellhead at
seal area. This can be done when jetting wellhead.
- Check all equipment is on-site and in good condition.
- Gauge the OD of the casing drift provided by Weatherford and confirm with the Operations
Engineer that the dimension is acceptable. OD certification should not be older than 12 months.

- Check Weatherford Torque graphs if they are correct. Ensure no debris is inside casing
joints.
- Ensure that backups of shoe, float collar, couplings and plus are available on location.
- Ensure the 13-3/8 float equipment is a PDC drillable.
- Check if the casing shoe has been supplied in auto-fill mode and ensure test procedure is
applied.
- Ensure that the spiral type casing centralizers are used in order to not causing any
damage to wellhead.
- Ensure that the mandrel casing hanger and running tool are assembled prior to sending
out to the rig.
- If Overdrive system not utilised then the fill up circulating tool will be used to fill up the
casing while RIH and in the event it becomes necessary to circulate the string down.
- Ensure that the service history of the circulating packer is sent with the tool and it has
been serviced and checked to be in good condition and of correct size. Back up circulating tool
element is to be available on location and should be in good working condition.
- Check the Klepos and Stabbing guides fit the pin & box ends.
- Make sure the snub line is the correct size and length and certified.
- Re-check all safety features are functioning on power tong.
- Prepare, clean, drift and dope on the pipe rack all the joints which are to be run.
- Remove casing thread protectors and clean pin and box ends thoroughly. This can be
done with a light concentration of Baraklean and water using a pressure washer.
- Use API modified thread compound compliant with API 5A3.
- Centralizers will be pre-installed with stop collars on the pipe racks as per tally.
- Ensure that the centralisers have the necessary clearance from the Flush Mounted Slips.
- Check to see if we have the correct nails (ordinary & spiral) for the centralizers.
- Ensure that various length casing pup joints are available for space out.
- Ensure maximum pull information is available at the rig floor.
- When slinging the single joint elevators position them through the pad eyes on the Varco
elevators
- Ensure that the casing tally is prepared well in advance and all joints crosschecked and
confirmed on pipe racks before casing running job is started. 2 independent measurements
must be made.
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13 3/8 Casing Preparation and Running Checklist
- Ensure the correct Pup joints for positioning the Fill up tool to be as close as practicable
as possible to the elevators in order to allow circulating down any potential tight spots.
- When rigging up the Casing equipment make sure the Hawk jaw tong has been laid out,
and then bring the Casing tong up first (before the bails), this way the tong & computer can be
set up and calibrated while the Fill up tool & the auto handling equipment is installed.
- Make sure that a conventional circulating swage will be available on the rig floor at all
times.
- Ensure a cementing manifold is prepared and made up to the wellhead. This will allow
returns to be taken to shakers or straight to the waste pit from the wellhead.
- Rabbit/drift all casing and strap. Ensure that sufficient casing has been delivered to allow
for 10% excess. Calliper the ID of 10% of randomly chosen joints and use the average for
displacement purposes. Ensure to calliper each joint in both NS and EW directions. Obtain an
accurate measure of mud pump efficiency for pumping cement. Pump efficiency recorded on
previous 13-3/8 cement jobs should be referenced for comparison.
- Once the casing has been tallied, a spreadsheet of displacement values against running
number and hook weights should be prepared and available on the drill floor.
- Before running the casing, calculate the swab and surge pressures (ensure that the mud
logger is competent to run the casing swab and surge pressure calculations).
- Select the most suitable running speed for the hole conditions.
- If possible have the FMS control panel and any other equipment on the rig floor before the
start of the rig up (Rig floor space a factor)
- Make sure the air hose for the Varcos are long enough. Tie/Tape off the air supply hose
for the Varcos along the bail arms. Coil the hose is necessary.
- When slinging the single joint elevators position them through the pad eyes on the Varco
elevators.
- JamPro unit to be checked before job as well as confirming pipe details.
- Mobile telephone signals cause interference with the JAM unit ensure mobile telephones
are not present on the rig floor as per Company policy.
- Make sure the snub line is the correct size and length and certified.
- Lift all joints of casing to the floor using the Rig Floor tugger and rest in the V-door.
- Check there is a C-Plate for the Fill up Tool.
- Connect Varco type elevators to the bail arms positioning the air operating switch to the
side of the stabbing board.
- Have a work stand prepared for operating the tong as well as when making up the Float
Collar (13-3/8).
- When running the job every half hour pour some oil in between the slips and the Varco
body. On the fly grease the FMS & Varco elevators (preferably every 25-30 joints).
- A casing drag chart will be provided by the Operations engineer.
- After making up the Shoe track, fill up every joint as we lower it down, ensure that the joint
never overflows. Stop pumping once the OBM is at the same level as the previous coupling.

- Discuss with mud engineer and mud logging engineer how losses while running will be
monitored.
- 22 ft long bail arms will be sent to rig site to allow / facilitate the utilisation of the circulating
packer.
- Ensure that back-up is available at the rig site for allshoe trackcomponents -
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13 3/8 Casing Preparation and Running Checklist
includingspare joints withcouplings backed-off and pre-thread locked plus a spare shoe joint
and float collar joint pre-assembled, plus spare loose couplings.
- The first 4 connections must be thread locked.
- The Drilling Supervisor mustspecify in his Instructionsto the Drilling Contractor theslip to
slip running speed which is to be used.
- The Drilling Supervisor must ensure that as the casing is being run the actual string weight
is plotted against the theoretical profile at the rig floor and cross checked by the mud logger.
Any deviation should be reported immediately to the Drilling Supervisor.
- The mud engineer is to monitor displacement for losses.
- Wash down last joint. Leave 3m rat hole. Note down final landing weight in Daily Drilling
Report.
- Check casing left on rack against tally when planned casing setting depth has been
reached. Accountable persons will be the DSV and the Toolpusher who will independently verify
the correct casing setting depth.
- Ensure mud pump suction strainers are checked and cleaned prior to cementing, to
achieve maximum pump efficiency during displacement.
- The casing string will be supported in the elevators during the cement job.
- Circulate at least 150% of the casing volume. Ensure to calculate the equivalent flow rate
to achieve drilling ECD. Stage up the pump rates in increments until the ECD when drilling is
reached.
- Rig down casing running equipment.
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