Directional Drilling

Newsco | Paolo Herrera

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Aplicacin Perforacin Direccional.
Sidetracking.
Inaccessible locations.
Salt Dome Drilling.
Fault Controlling.
Multiple Explorations wells from a single wellbore.
Onshore Drilling.
Offshore multiwell drilling.
Multiples Sands.
Relief wells.

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Drilling Tools

Drill Collar (DC)

Drill collars are heavy, stiff steel tubulars. They are used at the bottom of a BHA to
provide weight on bit and rigidity. Flush or spiral drill collars are available. In
directional drilling, spiral drill collars are preferable. The spiral grooves machined in
the collar reduce the wall contact area by 40% for a reduction in weight of only 4%.
The chances of differential sticking are greatly reduced. Spiral drill collars usually have
slip and elevator recesses. Stress-relief groove pins and bore back boxes are optional.
The drill collars (various sizes) are normally owned by the drilling contractor.

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Drilling Tools
Short Drill Collar (SDC)
Often called a pony collar, this is simply a shortened version of a steel drill collar. Short drill collars may be manufactured
or a steel drill collar may be cut to make two or more short collars. For the DD, the SDC and the short non-magnetic drill
collar (SNMDC) have their widest application in the make-up of locked BHAs. SDCs of various lengths are normally
provided by the DD company.
Non-Magnetic Drill Collar (NMDC)
Non-magnetic drill collars are usually flush (non-spiral). They are manufactured from high-quality, corrosion-resistant,
austenitic stainless steel. Magnetic survey instruments run in the hole need to be located in a non-magnetic drill collar of
sufficient length to allow the measurement of the earths magnetic field without magnetic interference. Survey
instruments are isolated from magnetic disturbance caused by steel components in the BHA and drillpipe.
Short Non-Magnetic Drill Collar (SNMDC)
A short version of the NMDC, SNMDCs are often made by cutting a full-length NMDC. The SNMDC may be used between
a mud motor and an MWD collar to counteract magnetic interference from below. It is also used in locked BHAs,
particularly where the borehole's inclination and direction give rise to high magnetic interference. Finally, BHAs for
horizontal wells often use a SNMDC.
Float Sub
This is a PIN x BOX sub which is bored out to take a float valve. It is often run above a mud motor. In conventional rotary
BHAs, a float valve is inserted either in the bit sub (in the case of a pendulum BHA) or in the bored-out near-bit stabilizer.
Poppet and flapper
designs of float valve are available. Note that some clients may not allow the use of a float valve (because of kick-control
problems). The DD should check the client's regulations on arrival at the rig. The float sub is usually provided by the DD
company.
The float valve is usually provided by the drilling contractor.

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 Drilling Tools

Heavyweight Drill Pipe (HWDP)

This is an intermediate-weight drill string member with drill pipe dimensions for easier
handling. Its heavy wall tube is attached to special extra-length tool joints. These
provide ample space for recutting the connections and reduce the rate of wear on the
OD. The OD of the tube is also protected from abrasive wear by a centre wear pad.
Tool joints and wear pad are hard-banded. Some HWDP have two wear pads.

HWDP is less rigid than DCs and has much less wall contact. Chances of differential
sticking are reduced. Its three-point wall contact feature solves two serious problems
in directional drilling. It permits high-RPM drilling with reduced torque. HWDP can be
run through hole angle and direction changes with less connection and fatigue
problems.
Today, the trend in BHA design is to minimize the number of DCs in the BHA and use
HWDP to comprise a major portion of available weight on bit HWDP is normally
provided by the drilling contractor. However, it is the DDs responsibility to ensure
there are sufficient joints of HWDP on the rig. For normal directional jobs, 30 joints of
HWDP should be sufficient.

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Drilling Tools
Stabilizer
Stabilizers are an indispensable part of almost all rotary directional BHAs. Near-bit
stabilizers have BOX x BOX connections. They are usually bored out to accept a float
valve. String stabilizers have PIN x BOX connections. Most stabilizers have a right-hand
spiral. For directional control, 360 wall coverage (in plan view) is recommended.
Stabilizer blades are "dressed" with various possible types of hard-facing
The leading edge of most stabilizer designs also has hard-facing applied. It is possible to
order variations of stabilizer design. Stabilizers are used to:

Control hole deviation.

Reduce the risk of differential sticking.
Ream out doglegs and keyseats.

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Drilling Tools
Orienting Sub UBHO
An orienting sub is commonly called a UBHO (Universal Bottom Hole Orientation) sub. It is a
straight sub having PIN x BOX connections which are compatible with the bent sub and/or the
NMDCs. It is bored out to accept a mule-shoe sleeve. After all intermediate connections have been
torqued up fully, the key of the mule-shoe sleeve is aligned directly above the scribe-line of the
bent sub. This key is the landing-point for the mule-shoe survey running gear. It gives the DD the
tool-face position on his survey disc. The sleeve is locked in place using two hexagonal screws
(3/8" allen key required) which are screwed in from the body of the sub. Figure shows the
situation when the mule-shoe stinger is landed on the UBHO, with the mule-shoe slot sitting on
the key of the UBHO sleeve. This is the situation when surveying during a singleshot
kickoff/correction run sidetrack.

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Deflections Methods

Any number of directional tools can be used to deflect a wellbore or make

the wellbore go where we want it to go.
1. Whipstock
The primary use of a whipstock today is in
sidetracking out of casing.

Watermelon
Watermel Mill
on Mill

Window Mill
Window
Mill

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Deflections Methods

2. Jetting
This technique is used to deviate the wellbore in soft and friable formations. The well
can be kicked off and built up to maximum inclination using one BHA. Special jetting
bits can be used or its possible to use a standard long-tooth bit, normally using one very
large nozzle and two other blank (or very small) nozzles.

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Deflections Methods
Steerable Positive Displacement Motor (PDM).
The most common type of steerable motor is the single bent-housing design.
The motor housing is not straight. One of the motor housing connections (usually the
connecting rod housing) is machined at a certain precise offset angle. This is known as
the bent housing angle. The bent housing angle is usually 1.5. At offsets greater than
this, it becomes difficult to rotate and motor life is shortened.

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Deflections Methods
A steerable motor can be used to perform kickoffs, correction runs and sidetracks.
However, the usual application of a steerable motor is as the major component of a BHA which
can be used in oriented ("sliding") or rotary mode. In sliding mode, the steerable motor changes
the course of the well. The BHA is designed as a "locked" assembly in rotary mode.
The ideal use of a steerable motor is to drill a complete hole section from casing point to casing
point. In theory, provided the bit and BHA selection is good, a steerable motor can stay in the
hole until the next casing point. The extra cost to the client of running the motor must be
compensated for by significant savings in rig time - due to less round trips and/or faster ROP.
A surface-adjustable bent housing is now available. The next technological advance will be a
downhole-adjustable bent housing.

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Deflections Methods

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Deflections Methods
Stallout Pressure: There is a maximum recommended value of motor differential pressure. At this
point, the optimum torque is produced by the motor. If the effective WOB is increased beyond this
point, pump pressure increases further. Pmotor increases to a point where the lining of the stator is
deformed. The rotor/stator seal is broken and the mud flows straight through without turning the
bit. The pump pressure reading jumps sharply and does not vary as additional WOB is applied. This
is known as stallout condition.
Recent studies have shown that the power output curve is a parabola (Figure 7-9) and not a smooth
upward curve, as originally thought. If the PDM is operated at 50%-60% of the maximum allowable
motor differential pressure, the same performance should be achieved as when operating at 90% of
differential. The former situation is much better, however. There is a much larger "cushion" vailable
before stallout. This should result in significantly longer motor life.

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BHA Theory
The design of the rotary bottom hole assembly (BHA) is, together with orientation, the
most critical part of the DD job. Minimizing trips for BHA changes is the objective of
every client. They all want to "make hole" and drill a usable hole to TD as soon as
possible. A DDs reputation depends, to a large extent, on the judgment and "feel" he
has
for choosing the appropriate BHA for a given situation.
This chapter is meant to be an introduction to BHA principles, concepts and design. It is
not meant to be a theoretical approach to the subject. The objective is to give broad
guide-lines in selecting BHAs. Deciding on the changes to be made to a BHA (e.g. not
over-reacting to unexpected BHA tendencies) is often more difficult than in selecting the
basic BHA.
It is important that the DD keep an open mind about BHA design. A DD may think hes
got his BHAs all figured out until he moves to a new area. He may be baffled to find that
few or none of his previous BHAs work as expected. This is understandable. As long as
the "learning curve" is short, the client will not complain. Finally, keeping accurate,
comprehensive records of BHA performance is vital. When a "new" DD arrives in an
area, the only aid he has in selecting the BHAs is the performance of previous wells.

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BHA Theory

Side Force
All BHAs cause a side force at the bit that leads to an increase in hole inclination
(positive side force - Fulcrum effect), no change in inclination (zero net side force -
Lockup BHA) or a drop in inclination (negative side force - Pendulum effect). In
addition, changes in hole direction (bit walk) may be either minimized or increased by
specific rotary BHAs and drilling parameters.

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Directional Drilling

Building Assemblies
90
High

High

30 60
High

60 High to
Medium

30 45 Medium
to Low

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Directional Drilling

Dropping Assemblies

60
High

30 60
High

45
Medium

30
Low

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Directional Drilling

Holding Assemblies

30, 60 or 90 30 15-20
Medium

30 30 5-15
Medium

30 or 60 30 or 60 30-40
Low

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Directional Drilling
Reactive Torque
Reactive torque is created by the drilling mud pushing against the stator. When drilling
with a PDM, as weight-on-bit is increased, the drilling torque created by the motor
increases. There is a corresponding counter-clockwise torque on the motor housing. This
tries to twist the motor and, hence, the whole BHA counter-clockwise. This changes the
facing of the bent sub, i.e., the tool face orientation.
The big disadvantage of using a PDM/bent sub deflection method is that reactive torque
makes it difficult to keep a steady tool face. Using single-shot surveys, the DD must
estimate the magnitude of the reactive torque. He initially sets the tool face to the right of
the desired tool face position by that angular distance, so that the reactive torque will
allow the bit to drill off in the correct direction. This is one area where the "art" of the
DD comes into play.
On-bottom drilling parameters, especially pump pressure, should be kept constant when
using a PDM. This should lead to constant reactive torque and a steady tool face
(provided there are no formation changes).
Reducing the flow rate leads to less reactive torque. Reducing WOB also leads to less
reactive torque. Finally, use of a less aggressive bit means less reactive torque.
With the jetting deflection method, reactive torque does not apply. However, there is a
tendency for the bit to screw to the right during jetting. Usually this is no more than 20.
It can be easily compensated for when the tool face is set.

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Directional Drilling
Magnetic and Gravity Tool Face
From vertical until approximately 5 inclination, gravity forces are minimal. A borehole does
not have a well-defined high side (or low side). Until this point, the tool face is set relative to
North (e.g. N45W). This is called the Magnetic Tool Face (MTF) setting.
Above 5 inclination, the tool face is set using the high side of the hole as the reference.
This is called High Side Tool Face or Gravity Tool Face (GTF) setting. Exactly the same
convention applies whether we're using single-shot surveys, MWD or a Steering Tool.
If a plumb-bob were suspended in the hole, gravity forces would force it to hang toward the
low side of the hole. The high side of the hole is 180 away from the low side of the hole.

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Directional Drilling

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Directional Drilling

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 Directional Drilling

Survey/ Slide Sheet Calculator

Job # Hole Size 1 12 1/4 BHA # Motor Bend Bit (make, model)
Location Hole Size 2 8 1/2 1 8007830 (NM20304) 1.83 PDC(Baker, HCR605Z)
Well Name KB Elevation 29,67 2 6507830 (NM17109) 1.83 PDC(Baker, DR605Z)
Rig Target Formation Salina
Dir. Driller Target TVD 2230
Dir. Driller BUR / Plan 4Up/4Dwn
MWD Operator VS Direction 63,45
Enter info in yellow to start Survey Offset : 53 47
BHA C.L. Bit Survey Per / 100ft FT R.O.B. Calcu. Slide Slide # Of TF Rotate Rotate Rotary Comments/ Formation TVD / Tie In
# FT Depth Depth Inc. Azm. Tvd DLS Build Turn Seen Per/FT TF From To FT Set @ From To FT / KOP / BHA Change

1 Tie-In 343,00 290,00 0,00 0,00 290,00 343,00 0,00 0,00 rot 343,00 387,31 44,31 Tie-In csg. Shoe @ 290ft.
1 44,31 387,31 334,31 0,70 257,20 334,31 1,58 1,58 580,46 0,00 ## 387,31 405,31 18,00 65M 405,31 418,23 12,92
1 30,92 418,23 365,23 0,50 318,20 365,23 2,05 -0,65 197,28 0,00 108 R 418,23 436,23 18,00 65M 436,23 465,78 29,55 Rotate jars down
1 47,55 465,78 412,78 0,90 50,30 412,77 2,20 0,84 -563,41 18,00 0,02 68 L 465,78 487,78 22,00 65M 487,78 496,99 9,21
1 31,21 496,99 443,99 1,50 47,40 443,98 1,93 1,92 -9,29 18,00 0,03 6L 496,99 518,99 22,00 70M 518,99 527,95 8,96
1 30,96 527,95 474,95 2,40 51,50 474,92 2,94 2,91 13,24 9,17 0,10 9R 527,95 552,95 25,00 70M 552,95 558,88 5,93
1 30,93 558,88 505,88 3,50 55,80 505,81 3,63 3,56 13,90 21,72 0,05 11 R 558,88 583,88 25,00 35R 583,88 589,28 5,40 Switched to GTF
1 30,40 589,28 536,28 4,50 57,90 536,13 3,32 3,29 6,91 21,44 0,05 8R 589,28 614,28 25,00 35R 614,28 620,19 5,91
1 30,91 620,19 567,19 6,00 63,50 566,91 5,12 4,85 18,12 24,98 0,06 19 R 620,19 640,19 20,00 HS 640,19 651,38 11,19
1 31,19 651,38 598,38 7,50 66,40 597,89 4,93 4,85 9,38 25,79 0,06 10 R 651,38 671,38 20,00 HS 671,38 681,93 10,55
1 30,55 681,93 628,93 8,90 67,30 628,13 4,60 4,49 2,89 24,64 0,06 13 R 681,93 701,93 20,00 30L 701,93 712,84 10,91
1 30,91 712,84 659,84 10,10 65,80 658,61 3,96 3,93 -4,91 19,72 0,06 8L 712,84 734,84 22,00 HS 734,84 743,68 8,84
1 30,84 743,68 690,68 11,50 64,90 688,91 4,57 4,53 -2,91 20,29 0,07 8L 743,68 761,68 18,00 10R 761,68 775,16 13,48
1 31,48 775,16 722,16 12,90 65,00 719,67 4,45 4,54 0,32 20,57 0,07 ## 775,16 793,16 18,00 HS 793,16 806,66 13,50
1 31,50 806,66 753,66 14,30 64,20 750,29 4,48 4,45 -2,54 22,66 0,06 7L 806,66 824,66 18,00 HS 824,66 838,16 13,50

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