Practical Well Planning

and Drilling

Manua

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
List of Acronyms
Section 1: Well Design

XI

xiii
xv
xix
1

3
3
4
1.2. Well Design: General
17
1.3. Precompletion and Completion Design
21
1.3.1. How the Completion Relates to the Well Design
22
1.3.2. Monobore Completions
25
1.3.3. Multiple String Completions
28
1.3.4. Completion Fluids
29
30
1.3.5. Brines
34
1.3.6. Points to Check on the Completion Design
37
1.4. Casing Design
38
1.4.1. General Points and Definitions
41
1.4.2. Hole and Casing Sizes: Considerations
42
1.4.3. Hole and Casing Sizes: Selection
43
1.4.4. Pore Pressures and Fracture Gradients
1.4.5. Casing Shoe Depth Determination: General Points 52
55
1.4.6. Individual Casing Points
58
1.4.7. Mechanical Properties of Steel
61
1.4.8. Safety Factors
64
Factors
Affecting
Pipe
Yield
Strengths
1.4.9.
66
1.4.10. Methods of Applying Buoyancy Effects
1.4.11. Casing Design Criteria: Definitions and Methods
73
of Calculation
1.4.12. Calculating Burst and Collapse Loads, Including
73
Biaxial Effects
74
1.4.13. Calculating Axial Loads
1.1. Preliminary Work for the Well Design

1.1.1. Planning Process Overview

1.1.2. Data Acquisition and Analysis

f Contents 1

1.4.14.
1.4.15.
1.4.16.
1.4.17.
1.4.18.
1.4.19.
1.4.20.
1.4.21.
1.4.22.
1.4.23.

Calculating for Buckling (Nb)

Calculating Torsional Loads
Triaxial Stress Analysis
Design for Casing off Massive Salt Formations
Casing Properties and Other Considerations
Material Grades
Casing Connections
Casing and Liner Accessories
Wellheads: General Descriptions
Casing Design Criteria

1.4.24. References for Casing Design

1.5. Directional Design

1.5.1. Planning the Wellpath

1.5.2. Dogleg Severity LimitsCombined Buildup
and Turn Rate
1.5.3. BHA Performance Considerations
1.5.4. Horizontal Well Design Considerations
1.5.5. Multilateral Wellbores
1.5.6. Slant Rig Drilling
1.5.7. Targets and Wellpath

SECTION 2: WELL PROGRAMMING

2 . 1 . Preliminary Work for the Drilling Program

2.1.1.
2.1.2.
2.1.3.
2.1.4.
2.1.5.

Drilling Program Checklist

Technical Justification
Formatting the Drilling Program
Time Estimates
Cost Estimates

2.2. Well Control

2.2.1.
2.2.2.
2.2.3.
2.2.4.
2.2.5.

Shallow Gas
Drilling with a BOP Stack
High Pressure, High Temperature Wells (HPHT)
Well Control in High-Angle and Horizontal Wells
References for Well ControlShallow Gas

2.3. Directional Planning

2.3.1.
2.3.2.
2.3.3.
2.3.4.
2.3.5.

Downhole Tools Affecting Directional Control

Directional Measurement and Surveying
Kicking Off the Well
Drilling the Tangent Section
Dropping Hole Angle

2.4. Drillbit Selection, Parameters, and Hydraulics

82
86
87
88
88
89
91
93
97
99
99
109

110
112
117
118
120
120
121

123
125

125
132
134
135
135
147

147
153
155
157
158
159

159
165
175
179
180
183

[contents]
2.4.1.
2.4.2.
2.4.3.
2.4.4.
2.4.5
2.4.6.
2.4.7.
2.4.8.

Overview of the Structured Approach

Evaluating Offset Well Drilling Data
Drilling Hydraulics
Using Log Data to Aid in Bit Selection
Types of Drillbits
Defining Recommended Bits
BHA Considerations Related to Bits
Drilling Program: Bit Selection and Drilling
Parameters
2.4.9. References for Drillbit Selection
2.5. Drilling Fluids Program

2.5.1.
2.5.2.
2.5.3.
2.5.4.
2.5.5.
2.5.6.
2.5.7.
2.5.8.
2.5.9.
2.5.10.
2.5.11.
2.5.12.
2.5.13.
2.5.14.

183
185
189
192
194
196
202
203
203
205

Reaction of Clays to Water: General Principles

Dispersion and Flocculation of Clays in Water
Mud Types Available
Dispersed Water-Based Muds
Nondispersed or Polymer Water-Based Muds
Formation Damage with Water-Based Muds
(and Cements)
Oil Muds
Components of Invert Oil Emulsion Muds
Environmental aspects of Oil Muds
Oil Mud Additives
Formation Damage with Oil Muds
Air, Foamed, and Aerated Systems
Tendering for Mud Services
References for Drilling Fluids Program

2.6. Casing Running Program

206
207
208
208
212
228
234
246
242
242
246
248
250
253
255

2.6.1.

Normal Drilling Program Requirements for

Running Casing
2.6.2. Addressing Potential Casing Problems in the
Drilling Program
2.7. Cementing Program

2.7.1.
2.7.2.
2.7.3.
2.7.4.
2.7.5.
2.7.6.
2.7.7.

255
256
259

Slurry Properties
Chemical Washes and Spacers
Factors for Ensuring a Good Cement Job
Cementing Design for Casings and Liners
Cementing Design for Cement Plugs and Squeezes
Special Purpose Cementing
References for Cementing Program Design

2.8. Formation Evaluation

260
265
266
269
276
280
282
283

2.8.1. Electric Logging and Sampling

2.8.2. Coring
vii

283
286

r Contents 1

2.8.3. Mud Logging

2.9. Drilling ProblemsAvoidance Planning

292
295

2.9.1. Wellbore Stability

2.9.2. Stuck Pipe
2.9.3. Lost Circulation

295
304
309

SECTION 3: PRACTICAL WELLSITE OPERATIONS AND

REPORTING

313

3.1. Well Control

3.1.1.
3.1.2.
3.1.3.
3.1.4.
3.1.5.
3.1.6.
3.1.7.
3.1.8.
3.1.9.
3.1.10.
3.1.11.

Kick Prevention
Kick Detection and Response
Drilling Below Normal Kick Tolerance Levels
Well Killing in a High-Angle Well
General Considerations for BOP Equipment
Surface BOP Stack Configurations
Surface Stack Control System Specifications
Surface BOP Stack and Accumulator Testing
Well Control: Other Equipment Requirements
Suggested Rig Takeover Checklist
Minimum Mud Chemical Stock Levels Held on Rig

3.2. Drilling Fluid

3.2.1.
3.2.2.

Solids Control
Quality Control

315

315
317
321
322
325
328
329
330
335
336
336
339

339
347

3.3. Drilling Problems

349

3.3.1.
3.3.2.
3.3.3.
3.3.4.
3.3.5.
3.3.6.
3.3.7.

349
361
366
367
370
375

Stuck Pipe
Lost Circulation
Washout Detection Procedure
Backing Off
Fishing Operations
Using Cement to Stabilize the Wellbore
Making Connections to Minimize Wellbore
Instability and Losses
3.3.8. Preplanned Wipertripping
3.3.9. Baryte Plugs
3.3.10. Diesel Oil Bentonite Plugs ("Gunk Plug")
3.4. Casing

3.4.1. Conductor Placement

3.4.2. Equipment Preparation for Casing
3.4.3. Job Preparation for Casing
3.4.4. Casing Running Procedures

376
377
378
381
383

383
387
388
390

[contents]

3.5. Cementing

399

3.5.1. Mud Conditioning for Maximum Displacement

3.5.2. Slurry Mixing Options
3.5.3. Preparation for Cementing
3.5.4. Cement Displacement
3.5.5. Post-Job Evaluation
3.5.6. Field Cementing Quality Control Procedures
3.6. DrillBits

400
400
401
402
404
405
409

3.6.1. Alternative Bit Choices

3.6.2. Drilling Parameters
3.6.3. Mud Motors, Steerable Systems, and Turbines
3.6.4. Monitoring Bit Progress while Drilling
3.6.5. When to Pull the Bit
3.6.6. Post-Drilling Bit Analysis

409
411
415
415
416
417

3.7. Directional Drilling

423

3.7.1.
3.7.2.
3.7.3.
3.7.4.
3.7.5.
3.7.6.
3.7.7.

423
425
426
427
428
430
430

Rotary Bottom Hole AssembliesGeneral Points

Preventing Keyseating
Directional JettingPractical Considerations
Single Shot SurveysGeneral Points
Magnetic Single Shot Survey Tool
Totco Single Shot Survey Tool
Gyro Multishot Surveys

3.8. Writing the Final Well Report

3.8.1.

431

Suggested Final Well Report Structure

432

Appendix 1: Calculating Kick Tolerances

441

Appendix 2: Formation Integrity Test Recommended Procedure

447

Appendix 3: Information Sources

451

Appendix 4: Drilling Equipment Lists by Operation

453

Appendix 5: Conductor Setting Depth for Taking Returns to

the Flowline

463

Glossary

465

Index

511

IX