Drilling and Reservoir EngineeringStuck Pipe Prevention and Fishing Operations
Stuck pipe is among the largest sources of non productive time on land and offshore rigs, and the first few minutes after the string stops moving often decide whether it comes free. Delegates learn to classify sticking by mechanism, whether differential, pack off and bridging, or wellbore geometry, using the hole history and the string's response to rotation, circulation and movement. Warning signs in torque, drag, pump pressure and returns are mapped to preventive practices for tripping, connections and reaming. Freeing procedures, jar placement and firing, spotting fluids and free point determination follow. The second half turns to fishing: overshots, spears, washover, milling, junk recovery and the economics of fishing versus sidetracking. Delegates leave able to prevent, diagnose and respond to a stuck string.
Course objectives
- Classify a sticking event by its underlying mechanism
- Recognise early warning signs in torque, drag, pressure and returns
- Apply tripping and reaming practices that reduce sticking risk
- Position and operate drilling jars correctly
- Select first actions and spotting fluids for each sticking type
- Determine free point and plan a backoff
- Select fishing tools for parted pipe, junk and stuck components
- Evaluate the decision to keep fishing or sidetrack
Who should attend
- Drillers, assistant drillers and toolpushers
- Drilling supervisors and company representatives
- Drilling engineers planning risk mitigation
- Fishing tool specialists and service supervisors
- Rig superintendents
Course outline
- 01Sticking mechanisms and classification
- 02Differential sticking
- 03Pack off, bridging and hole cleaning
- 04Wellbore geometry and keyseats
- 05Warning signs and preventive practices
- 06Jars, spotting fluids and freeing procedures
- 07Free point and backoff
- 08Fishing tools and techniques
- 09Fish or sidetrack economics
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 to 25 December 2026 | Accra, Ghana | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | |
| 18 to 22 January 2027 | Nairobi, Kenya | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | |
| 15 to 19 February 2027 | Maputo, Mozambique | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | |
| 1 to 5 March 2027 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | |
| 8 to 12 March 2027 | Windhoek, Namibia | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate |
Stuck Pipe Prevention and Fishing Operations
From R8,500