Liner Rotation Job Planning

Twice before, at the 1977, and 1981 Southwestern Petroleum Short Course I presented papers on liner cementing equipment and techniques. In the first paper I explained a method of rotating liners while cementing and reported that not many liners were being rotated; probably about 1 in 30 jobs were rotated or reciprocated. In 1981 I gave a paper explaining why a new sealed bearing made the rotation of liners more reliable; but still only 10% or less liners were being moved while cementing-rotated or reciprocated. Now, five years later, probably more than 20% of all liners are rotated and/or reciprocated during cementation. Liners have been rotated successfully even in directional holes offshore in the North Sea. One recent job was successful in a 47o deviated hole on a floating drill ship. This paper will attempt to show how new state-of-the-art liner rotation equipment has made this increase in popularity possible. We have listed the six major categories of causes for unsuccessful liner rotation jobs and have given some suggestions how they might be prevented.