Stuck Drill Pipe? Drop Hammer Fix Tips!

Описание: Share a Little Tip on Freeing a Stuck Drill Pipe with a Drop Hammer to Make You Smarter!
The scene in the video is actually a typical dilemma of "a small horse pulling a big cart".

I. Root Cause: Why Does the Drill Pipe Get "Stuck"?

The problem lies in three interconnected aspects:

1. The "Boxer" Lacks Strength (Insufficient Equipment Capability):
A short drop hammer stroke means each "strike" lacks enough force and impact distance to generate the powerful "explosive force" needed to loosen a tightly stuck or suctioned drill pipe.
A short drill pipe is light in weight, making it hard to free itself relying solely on its own weight.
2. The "Coach" Commands Improperly (Unprofessional Operation):
A winch that moves as slow as a "snail" fails to create a crisp "impact feel". Instead, it might feel like a slow, stubborn "hard pull", which can easily make the drill pipe stick tighter, even causing the wellbore to collapse and bury the drill pipe deeper.
3. The "Battlefield" Environment Is Complex (Uncontrollable Downhole Factors):
The wellbore may collapse, with rock fragments falling and jamming the drill pipe.
The drill pipe might get "suctioned" in soft formations, just like how hard it is to pull your hand out after inserting it into wet mud.

II. Solutions: How to Deal with a "Stuck Screw"?

When "hard pulling" doesn’t work, you need to use skill and professional tools. The two methods you mentioned are key:

1. Use "Reverse Threads" (Reverse Unloading) — Twist It "Backwards":
Principle: It’s like a screw that’s rusted tight—when you twist it in the opposite direction, you get that "click" of looseness. In drilling, a special reverse-thread tool applies an instant, reverse twisting force to the drill pipe. It uses the elastic deformation of metal to create a tiny gap at the threaded connection, thus "shocking it loose".
Applicable Scenario: Mainly solves the problem of "seized" threads between connected drill pipes.
2. Switch to a "Pipe Puller" (Special Hydraulic Jack) — Call in the "Strongman":
Principle: This is no longer about "striking" or "twisting". Instead, it uses a pair of huge, stable hydraulic jacks that lift steadily and evenly upward like two giants. Its force far exceeds that of an ordinary winch, providing continuous, stable, and enormous pulling force. It’s the ultimate tool for dealing with stuck drill pipe accidents.
Applicable Scenario: For situations where the drill pipe is tightly locked by the formation and requires huge pulling force to free!

So, the scene in the video vividly demonstrates a core contradiction in engineering operations: the match between construction goals, equipment capability, and operational level. When the match is imbalanced, small problems can escalate into major accidents.

The solution is to shift from "savage operation" to "precise measures":

Use "skillful force" (reverse threads) to solve connection point problems.
Use "mighty force" (pipe puller) to solve problems of overall seizing.