Systems for prevention of differential pipe sticking

Abstract

A drilling system includes a drilling rig, and a drill string extended from the drilling rig and into a wellbore and including a plurality of sections of drill pipe connected end to end and a drill bit arranged at a distal end of the drill string. At least one section of the drill pipe includes an outer surface and a plurality of raised features extending radially outward from the outer surface.

1 . A drilling system, comprising;
 a drilling rig; and   a drill string extended from the drilling rig and into a wellbore and including a plurality of sections of drill pipe connected end to end and a drill bit arranged at a distal end of the drill string,   wherein at least one section of the drill pipe includes an outer surface and a plurality of raised features extending radially outward from the outer surface, and   wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features exhibits a hemispheric cross-sectional shape that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised features are provided in a uniform pattern of rows and columns on the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised features are provided in a helical pattern on the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features is provided with a diameter of about one inch to about two inches. 
     
     
         5 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised features are formed of a metal, a polymer, a ceramic, a composite material, an elastomer, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features is milled into the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe and thereby forms an integral extension of the at least one section of the drill pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features is secured to the outer surface with an attachment substrate selected from the group consisting of welding, brazing, an adhesive, a magnetic interconnection, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features is secured to the outer surface with a mechanical attachment selected from the group consisting of a mechanical fastener, an interference fit, a bayonet connection, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features exhibits a pyramidal or conical cross-sectional shape that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features exhibits a trapezoidal or frustoconical cross-sectional shape that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe. 
     
     
         12 . A method of drilling a wellbore, comprising;
 extending a drill string from a drilling rig into a wellbore, the drill string including a plurality of sections of drill pipe connected end to end and a drill bit arranged at a distal end of the drill string drilling rig;   rotating the drill bit and thereby extending a length of the wellbore;   generating a mud filter cake on an inner wall of the wellbore;   preventing differential sticking of the drill string in the mud filter cake with a plurality of raised features provided on an outer surface of at least one section of drill pipe,   wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features exhibits a hemispheric cross-sectional shape that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein preventing differential sticking of the drill string in the mud filter cake with the plurality of raised features includes contacting the mud filter cake with the plurality of raised features. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein contacting the mud filter cake with plurality of raised features comprises defining a gap between the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe and the mud filter cake. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein preventing differential sticking of the drill string includes overcoming a differential sticking force of the mud filter cake on the plurality of raised surfaces via rotation of the drill string. 
     
     
         16 . The drilling system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised features are provided along an entire length of the drill pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling system of  claim 3 , wherein the helical pattern provides the raised features in all radial directions within a specified tolerance. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling system of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical attachment is embedded within the raised feature. 
     
     
         19 . A drilling system, comprising;
 a drilling rig; and   a drill string extended from the drilling rig and into a wellbore, the wellbore including a layer of mud cake on an on an inner wall, and including a plurality of sections of drill pipe connected end to end and a drill bit arranged at a distal end of the drill string,   wherein at least one section of the drill pipe includes an outer surface and a plurality of raised features extending radially outward from the outer surface and contacting the layer of mud cake, and   wherein the raised features define a gap between the outer surface of the drill pipe and the layer of mud cake.   
     
     
         20 . The drilling system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of raised features exhibits a hemispheric cross-sectional shape that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the at least one section of the drill pipe. 
     
     
         21 . The drilling system of  claim 20 , wherein the hemispheric cross-sectional shape includes a diameter of about one inch.