What mistakes do drillers make with mud motors?
Probably the most common mistake is what is done when a motor stalls out. A stall-out occurs when the bit stops turning while pumping. We have three mud pump pressure readings we monitor while using a mud motor. The first is the off bottom pump pressure reading; the second is the on bottom pump pressure reading; the third is the stall pressure reading. Lets say our contractor has an off bottom pressure reading of 500 psi and an on bottom reading of 750 psi. While drilling, he applies too much weight on the bit, causing it to stop turning. The pressure now reads 825 psi. At this point most drillers pull the motor off bottom and resume drilling. This method will send reactive torque up the drill string and could cause the motor or drill pipe to unscrew. The correct action to take when a motor stalls is to turn the pump off, and then pull the motor off bottom. Then, restart the pump and advance to bottom. Another area of concern is the fact that you are doing your locating behind the mud
