Sloughing Hole : (n) A condition wherein shale that has absorbed water from the drilling fluid expands, sloughs off, and falls downhole. A sloughing hole can jam the drill string and block circulation
US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool, Washington, DC. This is an abridged version of the Dictionary of Petroleum Terms provided by Petex and the University of Texas Austin, USA 2001. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/oilandgas/glossary _of_terms/glossary_of_terms_a.html, (Oil Well Drilling Sci and Tech - Amer) {492}
