What Should I Do If The Rotary Drilling Rig Gets Stuck

During the construction process of rotary drilling RIGS, "stuck drill" is a headache-inducing sudden situation, which not only delays the construction period but may also cause equipment damage. Understanding the causes of stuck drilling and mastering the correct coping methods are the keys to ensuring the smooth progress of construction. Here we will introduce the solutions when the rotary drilling rig gets stuck.

1. Analyze the causes of stuck drilling: The causes of stuck drilling are diverse. It may be due to complex strata, such as encountering hard rocks, isolated rocks, or karst caves and probe rocks. It could also be due to improper operation, excessive drilling speed leading to the accumulation of drill cuttings, or poor mud performance causing the collapse of the hole wall. Only by identifying the cause can the right solution be taken.

2. Try to lift and rotate slowly: If the stuck drill is not severe, you can try to lift the drill pipe slowly while rotating the drill bit at a low speed. By gentle operation, test whether the drill bit can be loosened and use the power of the drilling rig itself to get out of the stuck drill situation. However, the operation should be steady to avoid forcibly lifting and damaging the equipment.

3. High-pressure water jet assistance: A high-pressure water gun is used to spray water around the drill bit to wash away soil, sand, stones and other obstacles at the stuck drill area. By taking advantage of the impact force of water flow, the friction between the drill bit and the hole wall is reduced to create conditions for the drill bit to loosen. When spraying water, pay attention to controlling the pressure and direction.

4. In-hole blasting treatment: When the stuck pipe is caused by hard rock or isolated rock and other methods are ineffective, in-hole blasting can be adopted. Under the guidance of professionals, place an appropriate amount of explosives at the stuck drill position. Break the rock by blasting to release the drill bit, but strictly follow the blasting safety regulations.

5. Vibration loosening method: Use vibration equipment to apply vibration to the drill pipe, and break the stuck state between the drill bit and the surrounding rock and soil through high-frequency vibration. The vibration frequency and duration need to be adjusted according to the actual situation. Gradually loosen the drill bit and, in coordination with the lifting action, remove the drill bit.

6. Enlarged hole diameter rescue: If the stuck hole is severe, a new hole can be drilled beside the original pile hole to the position below the stuck hole. By increasing the hole diameter, the confining pressure at the stuck hole can be reduced. Then, attempt to lift the drill bit from the original pile hole to create a larger movement space for the drill bit and achieve the escape from the predicament.

Although the problem of a rotary drilling rig getting stuck is a tricky issue, as long as the causes are analyzed calmly and dealt with step by step in accordance with scientific methods, from simple operations to the reasonable application of complex means, the problem of getting stuck can be effectively solved. Mastering these countermeasures can reduce construction interruption time, lower the risk of equipment damage, and ensure the efficient and safe operation of rotary drilling RIGS.