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Posted on 4/6/13 by Pat Maloney

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, truck accidents killed more than 3,600 people and injured another 80,000 in 2010 alone. Unfortunately, many of these accidents were likely preventable. Help prevent these accidents from happening to you and your loved ones by learning more about truck wrecks from 18 wheeler accident lawyer Pat Maloney.

Common Causes of Truck Wrecks

According to 18 wheeler accident lawyer Pat Maloney, semi-truck and big rig wrecks can happen for a number of reasons. Some may be attributed to the truck driver themselves, while others are the fault of the other driver or party involved.

Truck drivers often get in wrecks by:

Not receiving adequate training or licensing.Driving drowsy, especially after working long hours or at night.Speeding, in an attempt to meet strict work schedules.Failing to maintain their truck or trailer.Driving distracted, using their cell phone, texting, or eating.Making a traffic error.Using drugs or consuming alcohol before driving.Inadequately securing or balancing their cargo or load.

Other drivers can cause these wrecks by:

Driving in the blind spots of large trucks and big rigs.Making a left turn in front of an oncoming truck at a crossroad or intersection.Changing lanes too quickly in front of a truck.Merging onto a highway in front of a truck.Unsafely passing a truck or failing to signal before passing.Failing to change speed accordingly when a truck merges or gets in front of a vehicle.

Truck wrecks are often caused by defective equipment, brake failure, or other problems within the vehicle as well. If you’ve been the victim of a recent truck wreck, contact 18 wheeler accident lawyer Pat Maloney today to discuss your legal options.

Prevention of Big Rig Wrecks

Many times, truck accidents can be prevented. In order to avoid getting in a truck wreck of your own, follow these tips from 18 wheeler accident lawyer Pat Maloney.

For truck drivers:

Never drive drowsy. Always adhere to the rules of service regulations and never push yourself just to meet deadlines. If you’re feeling tired, pull over to the side of the road and take a nap before continuing on.Be aware of your blind spots. Be aware of where cars are around you at all times, especially when preparing to change lanes or pass another vehicle.Keep your distance. Never follow another vehicle too closely. Trucks take a much longer time to stop than traditional passenger vehicles. If the truck in front of you is forced to stop quickly, you could rear-end them.Maintain your truck. Ensure your vehicle is properly inspected and in working order before each and every trip. Additionally, make sure any and all cargo is securely fastened and balanced in your trailer.

For drivers of nearby vehicles:

Avoid driving along the sides of trucks or directly behind them; these are the driver’s blind spots. If you are forced to drive in these areas, make sure you signal first, and that you make efforts to change lanes as soon as possible.Never cut off a truck, and be careful when merging in front of one on a highway.If you see an unsafe truck driver, call the number listed on their truck to report the behavior.Steer clear of trucks that are turning. Big rigs have a large turn radius and have to swing wide before making a turn; if you’re too close, your vehicle may be right in the truck’s path.

Were you recently injured in a truck wreck? You could be due compensation. Call 210-226-8888 to discuss your legal options with an 18 wheeler accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Pat Maloney.

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Pore pressure in shale is more than hydrostatic pressure; however the well does not flow because shale is in permeable. While drilling through pressured shale formation, pressure in shale causes fractures of shale due to stress crack.

Shale finally falls into the well and results in stuck pipe incident.

Warning signs of geo-pressured shale

• Shale fractures are seen at shale shakers.

• Possibly observe change in d-exponent, which means a sign of abnormal pressure, from mud logger.

• Pump pressure abnormally increases.

• Increase in rate of penetration (ROP).

• When compared to a normal trend, torque and drag trend abnormally increase.

• Background gas may increase.

Indications when you stuck due to geo-pressured shale

• It could be happened either while tripping or drilling.

• When it happens, the hole may be completely packed off; therefore, circulate is restricted or impossible in some cases.

What should you do for this situation?

1. Attempt to circulate with low pressure (300-400 psi). Do not use high pump pressure because the annulus will be packed harder and you will not be able to free the pipe anymore.

2. If you are drilling or POOH, apply maximum allowable torque and jar down with maximum trip load.

3. If you are tripping in hole, jar up with maximum trip load without applying any torque.

4. Attempt until pipe free and circulate to clean wellbore.

Preventive actions

1. Use proper mud weight to create over balance. You may need to weight up prior to drilling in to high pressure shale zones.

2. Minimize surge pressure and equivalent circulating density (ECD) in the wellbore.

Reference: Drilling formulas blog in the section of stuck pipe

View the original article here

Overburden stress increases over depth (the more a well is drilled, the more overburden stress will be seen). When mud weight is not enough to support the overburden, the stress from the overburden will create shale fractures which will fall down into the wellbore. Finally, shale fractures will pack the wellbore and cause a stuck pipe incident,

(Mud weight is high enough to overcome overburden stress.)

(Mud weight is not high enough to overcome overburden stress.)

Warning signs of overburden stress shale

• Torque and drag increase.

• Pump pressure increase.

• Abnormal amount of shale at shale shakers

• Caving shape of shale at shakers

Indications when you stuck due to overburden stress shale

• It could be happened either while tripping or drilling (most likely while drilling).

• When it happens, the hole may be completely packed off or bridged off; therefore, circulation is very difficult or impossible to establish.

What should you do for this situation?

1. Attempt to circulate with low pressure (300-400 psi). Do not use high pump pressure because the annulus will be packed harder and you will not be able to free the pipe anymore.

2. If you are drilling or POOH, apply maximum allowable torque and jar down with maximum trip load.

3. If you are tripping in hole, jar up with maximum trip load without applying any torque.

4. Attempt until pipe free and circulate to clean wellbore.

Preventive actions:

1. Use drilling mud that heavy enough to stabilize overburden stress.

2. Weight up mud prior to drilling into stressed shale zones.

Reference: Overburden Stress Shale Causes Stuck Pipe in Drilling Formulas blog

View the original article here

Overburden stress increases over depth (the more a well is drilled, the more overburden stress will be seen). When mud weight is not enough to support the overburden, the stress from the overburden will create shale fractures which will fall down into the wellbore. Finally, shale fractures will pack the wellbore and cause a stuck pipe incident,

(Mud weight is high enough to overcome overburden stress.)

(Mud weight is not high enough to overcome overburden stress.)

Warning signs of overburden stress shale

• Torque and drag increase.

• Pump pressure increase.

• Abnormal amount of shale at shale shakers

• Caving shape of shale at shakers

Indications when you stuck due to overburden stress shale

• It could be happened either while tripping or drilling (most likely while drilling).

• When it happens, the hole may be completely packed off or bridged off; therefore, circulation is very difficult or impossible to establish.

What should you do for this situation?

1. Attempt to circulate with low pressure (300-400 psi). Do not use high pump pressure because the annulus will be packed harder and you will not be able to free the pipe anymore.

2. If you are drilling or POOH, apply maximum allowable torque and jar down with maximum trip load.

3. If you are tripping in hole, jar up with maximum trip load without applying any torque.

4. Attempt until pipe free and circulate to clean wellbore.

Preventive actions:

1. Use drilling mud that heavy enough to stabilize overburden stress.

2. Weight up mud prior to drilling into stressed shale zones.

Reference: Overburden Stress Shale Causes Stuck Pipe in Drilling Formulas blog

View the original article here

Pore pressure in shale is more than hydrostatic pressure; however the well does not flow because shale is in permeable. While drilling through pressured shale formation, pressure in shale causes fractures of shale due to stress crack.

Shale finally falls into the well and results in stuck pipe incident.

Warning signs of geo-pressured shale

• Shale fractures are seen at shale shakers.

• Possibly observe change in d-exponent, which means a sign of abnormal pressure, from mud logger.

• Pump pressure abnormally increases.

• Increase in rate of penetration (ROP).

• When compared to a normal trend, torque and drag trend abnormally increase.

• Background gas may increase.

Indications when you stuck due to geo-pressured shale

• It could be happened either while tripping or drilling.

• When it happens, the hole may be completely packed off; therefore, circulate is restricted or impossible in some cases.

What should you do for this situation?

1. Attempt to circulate with low pressure (300-400 psi). Do not use high pump pressure because the annulus will be packed harder and you will not be able to free the pipe anymore.

2. If you are drilling or POOH, apply maximum allowable torque and jar down with maximum trip load.

3. If you are tripping in hole, jar up with maximum trip load without applying any torque.

4. Attempt until pipe free and circulate to clean wellbore.

Preventive actions

1. Use proper mud weight to create over balance. You may need to weight up prior to drilling in to high pressure shale zones.

2. Minimize surge pressure and equivalent circulating density (ECD) in the wellbore.

Reference: Drilling formulas blog in the section of stuck pipe

View the original article here

Pore pressure in shale is more than hydrostatic pressure; however the well does not flow because shale is in permeable. While drilling through pressured shale formation, pressure in shale causes fractures of shale due to stress crack.

Shale finally falls into the well and results in stuck pipe incident.

Warning signs of geo-pressured shale

• Shale fractures are seen at shale shakers.

• Possibly observe change in d-exponent, which means a sign of abnormal pressure, from mud logger.

• Pump pressure abnormally increases.

• Increase in rate of penetration (ROP).

• When compared to a normal trend, torque and drag trend abnormally increase.

• Background gas may increase.

Indications when you stuck due to geo-pressured shale

• It could be happened either while tripping or drilling.

• When it happens, the hole may be completely packed off; therefore, circulate is restricted or impossible in some cases.

What should you do for this situation?

1. Attempt to circulate with low pressure (300-400 psi). Do not use high pump pressure because the annulus will be packed harder and you will not be able to free the pipe anymore.

2. If you are drilling or POOH, apply maximum allowable torque and jar down with maximum trip load.

3. If you are tripping in hole, jar up with maximum trip load without applying any torque.

4. Attempt until pipe free and circulate to clean wellbore.

Preventive actions

1. Use proper mud weight to create over balance. You may need to weight up prior to drilling in to high pressure shale zones.

2. Minimize surge pressure and equivalent circulating density (ECD) in the wellbore.

Reference: Drilling formulas blog in the section of stuck pipe

View the original article here

 Overburden stress increases over depth (the more a well is drilled, the more overburden stress will be seen). When mud weight is not enough to support the overburden, the stress from the overburden will create shale fractures which will fall down into the wellbore. Finally, shale fractures will pack the wellbore and cause a stuck pipe incident,

(Mud weight is high enough to overcome overburden stress.)

(Mud weight is not high enough to overcome overburden stress.)

Warning signs of overburden stress shale

• Torque and drag increase.

• Pump pressure increase.

• Abnormal amount of shale at shale shakers

• Caving shape of shale at shakers

Indications when you stuck due to overburden stress shale

• It could be happened either while tripping or drilling (most likely while drilling).

• When it happens, the hole may be completely packed off or bridged off; therefore, circulation is very difficult or impossible to establish.

What should you do for this situation?

1. Attempt to circulate with low pressure (300-400 psi). Do not use high pump pressure because the annulus will be packed harder and you will not be able to free the pipe anymore.

2. If you are drilling or POOH, apply maximum allowable torque and jar down with maximum trip load.

3. If you are tripping in hole, jar up with maximum trip load without applying any torque.

4. Attempt until pipe free and circulate to clean wellbore.

Preventive actions:

1. Use drilling mud that heavy enough to stabilize overburden stress.

2. Weight up mud prior to drilling into stressed shale zones.

Reference: Overburden Stress Shale Causes Stuck Pipe in Drilling Formulas blog

View the original article here