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Abstract
An in-depth study of surface torque and its effect on drillstring
and bit movement has led to the development of automated
technology for optimizing directional drilling with a downhole
motor/measurement while drilling (MWD) system. By
assimilating surface torque with downhole bit and drillpipe
behavior, the technology allows drillers to maximize drilling
efficiency and improve wellbore quality (due to less trajectory
tortuosity) during the sliding part of the drilling process. This
paper describes this proprietary1,2,3 surface system and how
developers used torque control to optimize slide drilling
without introducing new equipment downhole.
The new technology integrates surface and MWD data to
provide the following benefits in the sliding mode:
Improved ROP and horizontal reach capability
Improved tool-face correction while drilling
Improved well trajectory
Improved motor life (less stalling)
Quick and accurate tool-face orientation
No lost-in-hole exposure
Time savings from switching from rotating to sliding
without coming off bottom; faster tool-face orientation;
overall performance optimization (as listed above)
Introduction
In the oil industry today, two primary methods are used to
directionally drill a well: rotary steering and drilling with a
motor/MWD system. Rotary steering systems are configured
so that the entire drillstring rotates continuously with steering
capabilities. A motor/MWD system is designed with a
downhole motor and a bent housing. The system rotates the
entire drillstring to drill a tangent section, and turns only the
bit to produce a curve or bend. Drilling with only the mud
motor is commonly called slide drilling because the drillpipe
SPE 87162
SPE 87162
E. MAIDLA, M. HACI
SPE 87162
SPE 87162
E. MAIDLA, M. HACI
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Noble Corporations management
for permission to publish this paper. Maurer Technology, Inc.
and Triton Engineering Services Co.s feedback and support
during the development of this technology is greatly
appreciated. The author's would also like to thank Mr.
Mitchell Pinckard for his earlier work in this area and Mr.
Buddy King, for his vision, leadership and support during the
critical stages of this project.
References
Conclusions
The following advantages were observed while engaging the
automatic torque control system in the slide drilling of
directional wells, as compared with conventional motor/MWD
sliding systems:
higher ROPs; significantly faster orientation times
increased averages of daily footage drilled
reduced risk of torque overshoot to the right or left
1.
2.
3.
Make-up torque
Rotary mode
Full drillstring rotation
Surface Torque
Toolface
control
domain
SPE 87162
Reactive
torque
c
6,800-ft KOP
MD = 12,000 ft
TVD = 6,930 ft
35/100 ft
Build Rate
7-in. casing
Time
HD = 5,000 ft
90
200
2000
Tool Face,
180
1800
160
1600
140
1400
120
1200
100
1000
80
800
60
600
40
20
Torque
WOB transfer
domain
400
Torque, ft-lb
ROP=14.4 ft/hr
ROP=10.3 ft/hr
0
2:14:30
2:15:30
200
0
2:17:30
2:16:30
Time, h:min:s
3400
Torque, ft-lb
3200
3110
3100
3000
3090
2800
3080
2600
3070
2400
3060
2200
04:06:30
3050
04:07:30
04:08:30
04:09:30
04:10:30
04:11:30
04:12:30
Time, h:min:s
Pressure, psi
E. MAIDLA, M. HACI
360
315
Tool Face,
270
225
180
135
90
Orientation
Attempt (45 min)
45
0
6:00
Manual
6:30
7:00
4000
360
3500
315
3000
270
2500
225
2000
180
Tool Face
SPE 87162
1500
Manual
1000
135
90
Torque, ft-lb
500
8:00
Pressure, psi
45
Tool Face,
0
6:00
8:30
Time, h:min
0
6:30
7:00
7:30
8:00
8:30
Time, h:min
4000
195
4000
360
2500
270
3000
225
9 Stalls
2000
180
1500
135
1000
Manual
500
Pressure
90
6:00
45
0
6:30
7:00
7:30
8:00
185
2500
~ 20 tool face
2000
correction
8:30
Time, h:min
180
175
1500
1000
Torque, ft-lb
Tool Face
0
190
500
0
3:59:50
Pressure, psi
Tool Face,
4:00:10
170
165
160
4:00:30
4:00:50
4:01:10
Time, h:min:s
4:01:30
4:01:50
Tool Face
Pressure, psi
3000
3500
1 Stall
315
Tool Face,
3500