Definition
Wiper Trip — A wiper trip is a short round trip of the drill string through an open-hole interval to clean the wellbore of cuttings and mud cake, ream out tight spots and doglegs, and confirm the hole is in good condition before further operations.
Also known as: wiper trip, wiper run, reaming trip
What a wiper trip does
A wiper trip is a controlled trip up and back down through a recently drilled open-hole section without pulling all the way out of the hole. Its purpose is to “wipe” the wellbore — circulating and rotating to remove accumulated cuttings, drag the mud cake to a uniform condition, and ream through any tight spots, ledges, key seats, or doglegs that have developed. It also verifies that the hole will accept the string smoothly before running casing or making a long trip.
When and why it is run
Wiper trips are commonly made before logging, before running casing, after drilling a troublesome interval, or when hole drag increases. Good hole cleaning during the trip reduces the risk of stuck pipe and pack-off. If the string encounters resistance, the interval is reamed until it passes freely, ensuring the wellbore is conditioned and in gauge.
Why it matters for rentals
Conditioning the hole depends on a properly configured string and BHA with adequate reaming capability.
Rent inspected drill pipe and BHA components suited to your hole, or contact us for help configuring a string for conditioning trips.