HORIZONTAL DRILLING

Evolution

Originally, all wells were short radius Then started drilling long and medium radius

250 Number of Horizontal Wells 200 150 100 50 0

L ongR adius M ediumR adius S hort R adius

1984

1985

1986 Y ear

1987

1988

Evolution

The number of horizontal wells drilled continues to increase with time

5000

4500

4000

3500

WELLS - WORLD WIDE

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

YEAR

BUILD RATES
Ultra-short Radius Short Radius Intermediate Radius Medium Radius Long Radius

ULTRA-SHORT RADIUS
45 to 90 degrees per foot Uses highly specialized equipment Horizontal lengths of 100 to 200 Used primarily in unconsolidated, heavy oil sands Drills with hydraulics, therefore formations must be soft Not used much

Ultra Short Radius

Definitions have changed with time

Definitions have changed with time

Long Radius

DRILLING TECHNIQUES
2 6/100 ft 3000 1000 ft radii 914 305 m radii

Medium Radius

3000 to 5000 ft* 1000 to 1500 m

8 25/100 ft 700 225 ft radii 213 69 m radii

Intermediate Radius

2000 to 4000 ft* 600 to 1200 m

25 100/100 ft 225 60 ft radii 69 18 m radii

300 to 2000 ft* 90 to 600 m

Short Radius

150 350/100 ft 40 20 ft radii 12 6 m radii

200 to 60 to 300 m 1000 ft+ 2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved
*Depends Upon Build Rate +Depends Upon Equipment Used

SHORT RADIUS

150 to 300 degrees per 100 build rates Uses specialized equipment Mechanical and motor systems available Typically used in sidetracking existing wells Bending stress and fatigue can be a problem 200 to 1000 (60 to 300 m) horizontal section lengths depending upon equipment used

Short Radius

The original short radius system was a mechanical system The curved drilling guide was used to drill off a whipstock

Short Radius

Short Radius

The horizontal section was drilled with a flexible rotary bottomhole assembly Inclination was changed by adjusting stabilizers Could not control direction

Short Radius

Short Radius

Articulated drill pipe was used through the build curve and into the horizontal to prevent fatigue

Short Radius

Short Radius

Pushing on the articulated drill pipe is similar to pushing on a chain Horizontal section length was usually limited to 200 to 300 feet (60 to 90 m)

Short Radius

Short Radius

Short Radius

Short radius motor system with flexible motor assembly Three bends in the assembly

Short Radius

Short Radius

Short Radius

Motor systems were more efficient than the mechanical systems Mechanical systems are not used much today

Short Radius

Even though the motor systems are more expensive, they can result in lower cost per foot due to more efficient drilling and longer horizontal lengths

Short Radius

Baker short and intermediate radius motor systems Tools change with time

Short Radius
Another mechanical system developed by Amoco and deployed by GrandDirections All rotary

Short Radius

Curve drilling assembly (CDA)

Gyroscopic surveying tool to orient the CDA Pulled after the curve has been completed

Short Radius

Curve drilling assembly (CDA)

Builds curve by rotating Composite or titanium pipe above the CDA to prevent fatigue

Short Radius
Drills the horizontal section with limited rotation The 2 3/8 tubing is used on only one well to minimize fatigue damage Then the tubing is used in vertical wells to complete the wells

Short Radius

Not all tools will go through the build curve in short radius drilling

Dh

Dh - Dp Clearance Dp

Short Radius
573
25.00

L = 2 24r Dh Dp + Dh Dp
Radius of curvature, feet
115 57 38 29

) (

)2
19

23

Clearance
3" 2"
20.00

1"
Maximum Tool Length, feet

0.5"

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00 0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Dogleg Severity, deg/100 feet

Short Radius

Bending stresses and fatigue are a problem in short radius drilling

120,000 3 1/2" OD 2 7/8" OD 100,000

Bending Stress, psi

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

b = +/-(218)(OD)(DLS) b = Bending Stress, psi OD = Pipe outside diameter, in DLS = Dogleg Severity, /100
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Dogleg Severtiy, deg/100 ft

Short Radius

Tubular Requirements
Grade 105 and higher PH6 Hydril or SL H90 connections ID to allow 1.75 tool to pass

History

P110 2 7/8 OD 8.7 lb/ft PH6 Hydril

G105 2 7/8 OD 10.4 lb/ft SL H90

S135 2 7/8 OD 10.4 lb/ft SL H90

Short Radius

Short Radius

Sidetrack method
Open hole Section mill Whipstock

Short Radius

Short Radius

Short Radius

Short Radius

Short Radius

Completion History
Slotted liner Zonal isolation Sand control Open hole

Short Radius

Short Radius

Short Radius

INTERMEDIATE RADIUS
25 to 100 degrees per 100 build rates Uses specialized equipment Typically used in sidetracking existing wells Bending stress and fatigue can be a problem especially at the higher build rates 300 to 2000 (90 to 600 m) horizontal lengths depending upon build rates

INTERMEDIATE RADIUS
In the build section, the motor cannot be rotated At the lower end of intermediate radius, the motor can be rotated while drilling the lateral without causing significant fatigue damage to the drill pipe Smaller diameter pipe can be rotated at higher build rates

INTERMEDIATE RADIUS
200,000 175,000

2 7/8" OD 3 1/2" OD 4 1/2" OD

No Rot at ion Allowed

150,000

Bending Stress, psi

125,000

100,000

75,000

50,000

Limit ed Rot at ion

25,000 Rot at ion Allowed 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250

Dogleg Severity, deg/100 ft

45
2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

INTERMEDIATE RADIUS
In the mid range, the motor can be rotated while drilling the lateral, but rotation must be limited

The motor is usually rotated slowly to reduce the total number of cycles in the build curve Some fatigue damage to the pipe does result

INTERMEDIATE RADIUS
At the higher end of intermediate radius, motor rotation should be very limited with smaller diameter tubulars only

Since the pipe in the build section is fatigued, the cost of the pipe is considered as part of the cost of drilling the well

When the motor can be rotated in the lateral, the amount of lateral that can be drilled is increased

INTERMEDIATE RADIUS
Getting completion equipment into the hole may be a problem at the higher build rates but is not a problem at the lower build rates

MEDIUM RADIUS
8 to 25 degrees per 100 build rates Uses what is now considered conventional equipment Horizontal section lengths have been drilled over 7000 (2130 m) but typically 2000 to 4000 (600 to 1200 m) No problem with bending stress or completion equipment

MEDIUM RADIUS
Build rate depends upon hole size, higher build rates can be used in smaller diameter holes Table showing Sperry Sun build rates for medium radius

Hole size (in.) 6 to 6 3/4 8 1/2 12 1/4 Build Rate (/100ft) 12 to 25 10 to 18 8 to 14 Radius (ft) 478 to 229 573 to 318 716 to 409

MEDIUM RADIUS

Motor rotation is not allowed in the build section as it will cause problems with stresses in the motor and the BHA connections except with specific motors at the lowest build rates Motor rotation is allowed in the lateral Fatigue is a minimal problem with larger diameter tubulars at the high end of medium radius

Medium Radius

Medium radius uses a conventional motor with a bent housing At the higher build rates, it uses a double bend motor with a bend in the motor and at the top of the motor

Medium Radius

Medium radius uses a conventional motor with a bent housing At the higher build rates, it uses a double bend motor with a bend in the motor and at the top of the motor

Medium Radius

54

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Medium Radius

Medium Radius

56

2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Medium Radius

Medium Radius

Medium Radius
Kick pad

Medium Radius

LONG RADIUS
2 to 6 degrees per 100 build rates Uses conventional equipment Horizontal section lengths have been drilled over 20,000 (6000 m) but typically 3000 to 5000 (900 to 1500 m) No problem with bending stress, fatigue or completion equipment

LONG RADIUS
Build section is steerable, which means the motor can be rotated in the build section o 6 /100 is a 955 (291 m) radius Offshore uses long radius almost exclusively since longer departures are required before the well gets to be horizontal

Long Radius

Torque

The amount of torque and drag will limit the horizontal section length drilled Torque in pipe over length L

M2 = M1 + ( FN r)

Drag

The biggest problem is usually the down drag when pipe buckling occurs

65

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Drag
Horizontal Section Length vs Hook Load
70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 0
66

Build Rate 10 /100' 5.5 inch Pipe, 9.0 ppg

Friction Coefficient = 0.2 Friction Coefficient = 0.3 Friction Coefficient = 0.4 Friction Coefficient = 0.5

H o o k L o a d , lb s

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

Horizontal Section Length, feet

2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Completion
Slotted liner Screen or pre-packed screen Gravel pack Open hole Cased and cemented Slotted liner and ECPs

Completion Slotted Liner

68

2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Completion Sand Screen

69

2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Completion Slotted Liner and ECPs

70

2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Completion Cement and Perforate

71

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Completion Open Hole

72

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Completion Open Hole

Rig

A large rig is not required to drill a horizontal well Hook loads may not be very high Pumps are the most important when selecting a rig for a horizontal well

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Generally above 60o, wireline logs will not go to bottom Alternative logging methods are required since the logs must be physically pushed into the hole

LWD (Logging While Drilling) PCL (Pipe Conveyed Logging) CTC (Coiled Tubing Conveyed Logging) Well Tractor

LWD

LWD tools are an integral part of the drill string LWD tools are added to the MWD tool and the MWD pulser sends the information to the surface Some of the LWD data may be stored in memory and downloaded later

120 ft

LWD
100 ft

Neutron Density

Typical layout of LWD tools within the directional bottomhole assembly

80 ft Direction Measurements 60 ft GR 40 ft Resistivity

20 ft

77

0 ft Feet from Bit 2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Inclination GR Button Resistivity Resistivity at Bit

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Advantages of LWD

Logging data is available while drilling to help pinpoint target formations allowing more accurate placement (geosteering) LWD can provide early reservoir evaluation and delineation Casing or core point selection is made easier LWD can provide logs for wells that are difficult to log LWD logs can be used for pore pressure prediction

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Disadvantages of LWD
With more logs, only some of the logging data can be sent to the surface using the mud pulse system LWD is relatively expensive and rig rates must be higher to offset the cost If the LWD logs are lost in the hole, it can get very expensive More logs means that the directional sensors are farther from the bit Possible loss of neutron source in hole

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Pipe Conveyed Logging

The logs are attached to the end of the drill string and tripped into the hole to the point where logging is to begin

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Pipe Conveyed Logging

A side entry sub is installed and the wireline is connected to the logs with a wet connect

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Pipe Conveyed Logging

Logging proceeds by running the pipe to TD and pulling back out The logs are run by the driller on the drilling rig

82

2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Must be good communication between the logging truck and the driller It is important to keep good track of the depth of the wireline and the drill string Do not want any extra line left in the hole when the side entry sub reaches the rig floor Must take care not to get the wireline caught in the slips or the tongs

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Coiled tubing conveyed logging uses a coiled tubing unit with a wireline inserted into the coiled tubing Usually only done in cased hole due to the buckling tendency of coiled tubing in a larger diameter hole Can use coiled tubing to run production logs, cased hole logs and perforating guns

Logging High Angle and Horizontal Wells

Can also use a well tractor The logging tool has a mechanism for pulling the logs into the hole The power is provided through the wireline Used mostly in cased hole

Hole Cleaning

Hole cleaning in a vertical well is a function of

Annular velocity Particle diameter Mud viscosity, and Mud density

1 .6 0.71

d p ( P f ) Vs = 346.6 0. 6 0 .4 e f

Hole Cleaning
If the annular velocity of the drilling fluid exceeds the settling velocity of the particle, the particle will be carried out of the hole If not, the particle must be ground smaller until the settling velocity is lower than the annular velocity Vp = Vf Vs

Hole Cleaning

In a directional well, the particle velocity is still a function of the velocity of the fluid and settling velocity but they are no longer directly opposing The particle will seek the low side of the hole

Hole Cleaning

Wellbore

Shaker

Mud Cuttings Bed

A cuttings bed will form on the low side of the hole unless the annular velocity is high enough to erode the cuttings bed

Cuttings

Hole Cleaning
After a cuttings bed is formed, the fluid in the annulus will have to erode the cuttings bed in order to carry the cuttings up the hole The bed will continue to grow narrowing the annular space and causing an increase in the annular velocity until the rate of erosion equals the rate of deposition

Hole Cleaning
Experiments were conducted in the laboratory to determine how mud viscosity, flow regime and annular velocity affects hole cleaning in a directional well Three drilling fluids were used

The first was water, which has a very low viscosity and is always in turbulent flow

Hole Cleaning
Experiments were conducted in the laboratory to determine how mud viscosity, flow regime and annular velocity affects hole cleaning in a directional well Three drilling fluids were used

Wellbore Shaker Mud Cuttings Bed

The first was water, which has a very low Cuttings viscosity and is always in turbulent flow

Hole Cleaning
The second fluid was a lightly gelled mud with a low viscosity. The viscosity was low enough so that the fluid was in turbulent flow even at lower annular velocities The third fluid was a higher viscosity mud. Even at high flow rates, laminar flow was maintained

Hole Cleaning
Water PV = 1 YP = 0, always turbulent Mud PV = 3 YP = 2, always turbulent Mud PV = 19 YP = 17, always laminar

Results 0 and 10

Wells with inclinations between 0 and 10 behave the same as vertical wells

Hole Cleaning

Increasing annular velocity and viscosity will improve hole cleaning

d p ( P f ) Vs = 346.6 0. 6 0 .4 e f
1 .6 0.71

Hole Cleaning
40 Cuttings Concentrat 30 20 10 0 0 20 40 60 Inclination, degrees
Turb. M ud 115'/min Lam. M ud 115'/min Lam. M ud 229'/min

Laminar Mud PV= 19 YP= 17 Turbulent Mud PV= 3 YP= 2 Turbulent Water PV= 1 YP= 0

80

Turb. W ater 115'/min

97

Lam. M ud 172'/min Turb. M ud 229'/min 2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Hole Cleaning

10 to 30

At velocities less than 120 fpm (37 mpm), the cuttings will settle to the low side of the hole and slide down the wellbore Within a short distance, they will again end up in the higher velocity portions of the annulus and be carried up the hole

Wellbore

Shaker

Mud

Cuttings

Hole Cleaning
The hole cleaning capacity of the mud at this inclination is not as efficient as vertical wells At annular velocities above 120 fpm (37 mpm), the cuttings are not able to form a bed on the low side of the hole, but rather are carried up the wellbore along the low side in slugs or dunes

Hole Cleaning

At flow rates in excess of 180 fpm (55 mpm), the cuttings are carried smoothly along the low side of the hole

Cuttings Concentration

Mud PV= 19 YP= 17 Hole Laminar Cleaning Turbulent Mud PV= 3 YP= 2

40 30

Turbulent Water PV= 1 YP= 0

At flow rates in excess of 180 fpm (55 mpm), the cuttings are carried smoothly along the low side of 20 the hole

10 0 0 20 40 60 Inclination, degrees
Turb. Mud 115'/min Turb. Mud 229'/min Lam. Mud 115'/min Lam. Mud 229'/min

80

Turb. Water 115'/min

101

Lam. Mud 172'/min

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Hole Cleaning

30 to 60
Hole cleaning is the most critical at inclinations between 30 and 60 with the inclinations between 40 and 50 being the most difficult A cuttings bed forms at 40 with an annular velocity less than 150 fpm (45 mpm) At 50, a bed would form at annular velocities of 180 fpm (55 mpm)

Hole Cleaning

Wellbore

Shaker

Mud Cuttings Bed

Not only can a cuttings bed form rapidly at these inclinations, but the cuttings slide down the wellbore on the low side of the hole when the pump is turned off

Cuttings

Hole Cleaning

Wellbore

Shaker

Mud

Slumped Cuttings Bed Cuttings

Not only can a cuttings bed form rapidly at these inclinations, but the cuttings slide down the wellbore on the low side of the hole when the pump is turned off

Hole Cleaning
In directional wells with inclinations less than 40, the cuttings will fall to the bottom of the hole Poor hole cleaning will be evidenced by fill on bottom

Hole Cleaning
In high inclination or horizontal wells, the cuttings will fall to a maximum inclination Poor hole cleaning will be evidenced by excessive drag while pulling the bottomhole assembly through the section where the cuttings quit falling While tripping in the hole, bridges will be encountered in this section

Hole Cleaning

60o to 90o

Above an inclination of 60, cuttings bed development does not get any worse A cuttings bed will build up reducing the annular area which increases the annular velocity As the annular velocity increases, the drilling fluid will erode the bed faster At some point, an equilibrium will be reached between the deposition and erosion of the cuttings bed

Hole Cleaning

Annular velocity
Annular velocity is the variable that will affect hole cleaning the most As can be seen in Figure 6-18, increasing the viscosity may actually reduce hole cleaning at lower flow rates At higher flow rates, viscosity makes less of a difference

Hole Cleaning
40 Cuttings Concentration

Annular velocity
30

Laminar Mud PV= 19 YP= 17 Turbulent Mud PV= 3 YP= 2 Turbulent Water PV= 1 YP= 0

Annular velocity is the variable that will affect hole cleaning the most 20 As can be seen in Figure 6-18, increasing the viscosity may actually reduce hole 10cleaning at lower flow rates At higher flow rates, viscosity makes less 0of a difference
0 20 40 60 Inclination, degrees
Turb. Mud 115'/min Turb. Mud 229'/min Lam. Mud 115'/min Lam. Mud 229'/min

80

Turb. Water 115'/min

109

Lam. Mud 172'/min

2007 PetroSkills LLC, All Rights Reserved

Hole Cleaning
Fluids in turbulent flow have relatively flat velocity profiles; whereas, the laminar velocity profile is much more pointed In laminar flow, there can be a significant difference between the velocity of the fluid in the center of the annular space as compared to the velocity near the pipe and hole walls

Laminar

Turbulent

Hole Cleaning

Pipe movement
Drill pipe movement is an important hole cleaning consideration in directional wells Both rotation and reciprocation will increase the hole cleaning capacity in a directional well When reciprocating the drill pipe, the annular velocity around the tool joint increases aiding hole cleaning

Hole Cleaning

As an example, if the annular velocity in a 4 1/2 by 8 1/2 (114.3 x 215.9 mm) annulus is 120 fpm (37 mpm), then the annular velocity around 6 1/4 (158.8 mm) tool joints would be 208 fpm (63 mpm) or a 73 percent increase

Hole Cleaning

Rotation will also aid hole cleaning

Hole Cleaning
While drilling with a steerable system in the oriented mode (slide mode), the drag in a horizontal well increased After returning to rotation the drag in the well decreased In this case, the increased drag was due to a cuttings buildup in the well

Hole Cleaning
Pipe eccentricity will affect hole cleaning but the position of the pipe in the wellbore cannot be easily changed Centered pipe exhibits the best hole cleaning, but the pipe is almost never in the center of the hole in a directional well

Hole Cleaning

With a fluid in laminar flow, the velocity on the narrow side of the annulus is lower than the velocity on the wide side of the annulus

Hole Cleaning
As in vertical wells, washouts will impair hole cleaning The annular velocity in a washout will be reduced making hole cleaning more difficult

Hole Cleaning
If the washout is at an inclination of 35 to 55, the cuttings accumulation can slide down the hole when the pump is turned off Hole cleaning in formations that are sensitive to hole erosion can be difficult The high annular velocities required to clean a directional well can enlarge the hole causing a reduction in annular velocity

Hole Cleaning

However, it should be remembered that the formation of a cuttings bed will reduce annular volume causing an increase in annular velocity anyway, which can still lead to erosion

Hole Cleaning
Though not directly related to hole cleaning, barite sag can also be a problem in a directional well Barite sag results from gravitationally induced settling of the barite to form either a density gradient or a barite sedimentation bed The drilling fluid should have enough viscosity to keep the barite suspended

Hole Cleaning

Summary

The hole cleaning principals of vertical wells applies to directional wells with inclinations below 10

Hole Cleaning

For wells with inclinations between 10 and 30, hole cleaning is affected by the possible deposition of a cuttings bed on the low side of the hole. Because the cuttings bed will slide down the hole even with the pump on, the cuttings eventually end up back in the flow stream. Slightly higher annular velocities are required in these wells and increasing the viscosity and yield point will help.

Hole Cleaning

The most difficult section of a directional well to clean is between 30and 60. A cuttings bed will be formed on the low side of the hole unless the annular velocity is sufficient to erode the bed. A cuttings bed can slump after the pump is turned off causing excessive torque and drag or a stuck drill string. Increasing the annular velocity will aid hole cleaning more than anything else. Thin fluids pumped in turbulent flow will clean the best, though water will not clean as good as a low

Hole Cleaning

In wells with inclinations greater than 60, high annular velocities are required. In reality, the section of the hole greater than 60 is easier to clean than the section from 30 to 60. Therefore, the fluid should be designed to clean the build section from 30 to 60.

Hole Cleaning

Field experience shows that pipe movement significantly aids hole cleaning. While circulating to clean the hole, the pipe should be both reciprocated and rotated. Reciprocation should be greater than the length of a joint of drill pipe

Hole Cleaning
With a top drive, it is possible to circulate and back ream the hole Back reaming will keep the cuttings above the bit until the inclination reduces to approximately 60 At inclinations lower than 60, the cuttings may slide past the bit while circulation is interrupted to make a connection

Hole Cleaning
In high angle directional wells, hydraulics may have to be sacrificed to achieve the annular velocities necessary to clean the hole A minimum annular velocity of 200 fpm (61 mpm) would require 386 gpm (1.46 m3pm) in an 8 by 5 (215.9 x 127.0 mm) annulus and 1021 gpm (3.86 m3pm) in a 12 by 5 (311.2 x 127.0 mm) annulus

Hole Cleaning

386 gpm (1.46 m3pm) is well within the limits of a 6 (158.8 mm) motor while 1021 gpm (3.86 m3pm) exceeds the upper limit of an 8 (203.2 mm) motor In order to achieve the higher flow rates, a by-pass would be required in the 8 (203.2 mm) motor or use a larger motor (9 ) If the hole is prone to washouts, the pump rate may need to be even higher