The drill-string consists of:

1. Drill Bit
2. Bottom Hole Assembly BHA
The primary component of the BHA is the drill
collar.
3. Drill pipes

The design process shall address the following items:
1. Selection of drill collar diameter
2. Selection of BHA connections
3. Determination of drill collar and or HWDP length
4. Tool joint torsional capacity check
5. Tension design limitations
6. Burst pressure determination
7. Collapse pressure determination
8. Slip crushing load
9. Fatigue limits
10. Combined tension and torsional load limits
Drill Pipe Properties
Each joint of drill pipe includes the tube body and the tool
joint, which connects the sections of drill pipe. Drill pipe is
available in several sizes and weights. The grade of drill
pipe describes the minimum yield strength of the pipe.
This value is important because it is used in burst, collapse,
and tension calculations. Common grades are as follows:
Tool Joints
Eng.M.Salah
Drill Collars
Drill collars are the predominant components of the
bottom-hole assembly. Some of the functions of the drill
collars are as follows:
1. Provide weight for the bit
2. Provide strength needed to run in compression
3. Minimize bit stability problems from vibrations,
wobbling, and jumping
4. Minimize directional control problems by providing
stiffness to the BHA
Eng.M.Salah
Proper selection of drill collars (and BHA ) can prevent
many drilling problems. Drill collars are available in many
sizes and shapes, such as round, square, triangular, and
spiral grooved. The most common types are round (slick)
and spiral grooved. Spiral-grooved collars reduce the
surface contact area between the pipe and well bore. The
lower contact area reduces the probability of differential
pressure sticking.

The API dimensions for collars of various outer
diameters are as follows
D/C Size Criteria
Selection of drill collar diameter for a slick or pendulum
assembly is based on the required effective minimum
hole diameter. That is, the size of the bottom drill collar
would be the limiting factor for lateral movement of the
bit.

More commonly drill collar size is selected based on
stresses. Components subject to bending have both tensile
and compressive forces induced in them. When rotated
under bending, individual metal fibers are subject to
rapidly alternating tension and compression, which may
induce fatigue failure
BHAs are subject to both bending and rotation. Fatigue
failures commonly occur where stresses are concentrated.
Stresses are concentrated at connections and changes in
pipe size. Stress concentration is restricted by ensuring
that changes in bending resistance are within tolerable
ranges. The bending resistance of a BHA component is
dependent upon its section modulus, which is defined
as follows:

Generally, the change in bending resistance is expressed in
terms of a bending resistance ratio (BRR), which may be
calculated as follows:



The bending resistance ratio should be checked at changes
in pipe size. BRRs are calculated using the pipe body
dimensions and should generally be below 5.5
EXAMPLE: Bending Resistance Ratios BRR
A proposed BHA consists of 9 x 3 drill collars. Is it
acceptable to make this up directly to 5 x 3 HWDP?
BRR = ([ 9.0
4
- 3.0
4
] * 5.0) / ([ 5.0
4
- 3.0
4
] * 9.0) = 6.62
which is unacceptable (greater than 5.5)
Is it acceptable to make this up directly to 8 X 3 drill
collars?
BRR = ([ 9.0
4
- 3.0
4
] * 8.0) / ([ 8.0
4
- 3.0
4
] * 9.0)
= 1.44 which is acceptable (less than 5.5)

Is it acceptable to make the 8 collars to the 5 X 3
HWDP?
BRR = ([ 8.0
4
- 3.0
4
] * 5.0) / ([ 5.0
4
- 3.0
4
] * 8.0) = 4.61
which is acceptable (less than 5.5)
Therefore, if 9 X 3 drill collars are required on bottom,
one acceptable BHA would include both 8 X 3
drill collars and 5 X 3 HWDP above them.
Drill Collar Connections
The bending resistance ratio of drill collar connections
is defined as the section modulus of the box
(measured 4 from the end) divided by the section
modulus of the pin (measured 3 from the end).
The inside diameter of the box and outside diameter of
the pin are determined by the type of connection;
therefore, only the outside diameter of the box and
inside diameter of the pin need to be measured.
Allowable Weight on Bit (vertical holes)
An important function of the bottom hole assembly (BHA)
is to protect the drill pipe from buckling. In straight holes,
buckling of the pipe is prevented by using a BHA of
sufficient weight to ensure that the neutral point of
bending is kept within the BHA. A common misconception
is that the neutral point of tension and compression is
relevant in BHA design
When a drill string is run into a straight hole, the forces
acting on the string are self-weight and hydrostatic
pressure of the drilling fluid. This hydrostatic effect,
commonly called buoyancy, results from the pressure
exerted vertically on the cross-sectional area of the drill
string. For a drill string of constant cross section, the
resulting hook load can be calculated as follows
HL = (WT
string
x D) - (CSA
string
x 0.052 x MW x D)
HL = Hook load lbf
WT string = Weight of drill string lb ft
D = Depth of well ft
CSA
string
= Cross sectional area of drill string wall in
MW = Mud weight ppg
Buoyancy acting at the bottom of the drill string places
the lower portion of the drill string in compression and
reduces the hook load.
Buckling occurs only below
the neutral point of bending,
which is defined as the point
where the average of the
radial and tangential stress
in the string equal the axial
stress.
The neutral point of bending
occurs where the effective
hydrostatic force equals the
compressive force in the drill
string. With no WOB, this
point is at the bottom of the
string; therefore, the drill
string is not buckled.

Stress conditions within the drillstring in a vertical hole
are shown at right.
If weight is placed on the bit, there is additional
compression in the bottom of the drillstring, and the
neutral point of tension and compression moves up the
drillstring. The neutral point of bending also moves up
the drillstring to the point where the equivalent mud
hydrostatic force is again equal to the compressive force
in the drillstring.
The height of the neutral point of bending above the
bottom of the drillstring can be calculated as follows:-
F
hyd
= (D H) x 0.052 x MW x CSA
string

F
comp
= WOB + (D x 0.052 x MW x CSA
string
) (H x WT
string
)
At the neutral point of bending F
hyd
= F
comp
and the
calculation is
H x 0.052 x MW x CSA
string
= WOB + (H x WT
string
)

H = WOB WT
string
- (0.052 x MW x CSA
string

H = WOB / Bouyed WT
string

Where H = height of neutral point of bending, ft
F
comp
= compressive force in drilling string lbf
WOB = weight on bit lbf
Buoyed WT
string
= buoyed weight of drill string lbf
= WT
string
x ( 1 0.015 x MW)



The height of the neutral point of bending above the
bottom of the string is thus the weight on bit divided by
the buoyed weight per foot of the drillstring. The forces in
the drillstring in this situation are shown below:-
To prevent the neutral point of bending from being in the
drill pipe, the buoyed weight of the BHA must exceed the
applied WOB. In practice, field applications commonly
allow for a
safety factor. It is recommended that the applied WOB
should be limited to 85% of the buoyed weight of the
BHA (provided the HWDP is not buckled)


Heavy-weight drill pipe is
generally run as transition
pipe between the drill
collars and the drill pipe.
it is not acceptable to run
heavyweight drill pipe for
WOB in vertical holes.
Discussion Inclined Holes
In inclined holes, two additional factors must be
considered when calculating the maximum weight on bit
that can be run without buckling the drill pipe
Weight on bit is applied at the inclination of the well,
but the weight of the BHA continues to act vertically.
To allow for the reduction in available BHA weight, the
buoyed weight must be reduced by a factor equal to the
cosine of the well inclination.
The drillstring generally lies on the low side of the hole and
obtains some lateral support from the bore hole wall. In
these circumstances, pipe above the neutral point of bending
buckles only when the compressive forces in the drillstring
exceeds a critical load, calculated as follows:

F
crit
= 1617 ------------------------------------------------------------
OD
pipe
4
ID
pipe
4
) x BF x (OD
pipe
2
ID
pipe
2
) x Sin
D
hole
- OD
tj
Where: F
crit
= Critical buckling force, lbf
OD
pippe
= Outside diameter of pipe, in
Od
tj
= Max OD of pipe (tool joint), in
ID
pipe
= Inside diameter of pipe, in
BF = Buoyancy factor = (1 0.o15 MW)
D
hole
= diameter hole, in
= Hole inclination, degrees

1- Vertical Hole Calculation Procedure
Available weight on bit can be calculated as follows:
WOB
max
= 0.85 x L
dc
xWT
dc
(1 - 0.015x MW)
Where
WOB
MAX
= Available weight on bit, lb
L
dc
= Length of drill collars, ft
WT
dc
= Air weight of drill collars, lb/ft
MW = Mud weight, ppg
0.85 = 85% safety factor
2- Inclined Hole Calculation Procedure
1. Calculate the available WOB provided by the drill
collars.
WOB
dc
= 0.85 [ L
dc
x WT
dc
(1 0.015 x MW) x Cos ]
2. Calculate the maximum available WOB provided by the
HWDP
WOB
HWDP
= 0.85 [ L
HWDP
x WT
HWDP
(1 -0.015MW) x Cos]
3. Calculate the critical force to buckle the HWDP F
crit
. As
for drill pipe

4. Calculate the critical force to buckle the drill pipe.
If WOB
hwdp
+ F
dp
> F
hwdp
then the maximum allowable
weight on bit is given by the following
WOB
max
= 0.85 [ WOB
dc
+ F
hwdp
]
If WOB
hwdp
+ F
dp
< F
hwdp
then the maximum allowable
weight on bit is given by the following
WOB
max
= 0.85 [WOB
dc
+WOB
hwdp
+ F
dp
]



3. Weight of BHA Required
Weight of DCs required is estimated from the bit specs
and formation classification.
4. Tension
1 Static Load
The design of the drill string for static tension loads
requires sufficient strength in the topmost joint of each
size, weight, grade and classification of drill pipe to
support the submerged weight of all the drill pipe plus the
submerged weight of the collars, stabilizers, and bit. This
load may be calculated as shown in the following equation.
The bit and stabilizer weights are either neglected or are
included with the drill collar weight.
F
TEN
= [(L
dp
x WT
dp
) + ( L
dc
x WT
dc
)] BF
Where
F
ten
= submerged load hanging below this section of
drill pipe
The tensile strength can be calculated from the equation

4-1. Margin of Over Pull (M.O.P.)
If the pipe is loaded to the extent shown in the API
formula above it is likely that some permanent stretch
will occur and difficulty may be experienced in keeping
the pipe straight
To prevent this condition a design factor of approximately
90% of the tabulated tension value is recommended

F
design
= F
yield
x 0.9
Where
F
design
= minimum tensile strength, lb
F
yield
= minimum tensile strength, lb


0.9 = a constant relating proportional limit yield to strength
The difference between the calculated load F
TEN
and the
maximum allowable tension load represents the Margin of
Over Pull (M.O.P.).
M.O. P. = F
design
F
TEN
The same values expressed as a ratio may be called
the Safety Factor S. F. = F
design
/ F
TEN

By combining the above equations to determine the
maximum length of a specific size, grade, and
inspection class of drill pipe which can be used to drill
a certain well the following equation results:




5. Burst
The drill pipe internal yield pressure can be calculated
as follows

where
P
i
= burst pressure, psi
Y
m
= specified minimum yield strength, psi
W
t
= pipe wall thickness, in.
D = outside pipe diameter, in.

6. Collapse
API specifications for collapse resistance of drill pipe is
calculated assuming either plastic, transition, or plastic failure
based on the pipes D/t (diameter / wall thickness ratio).
Effect of tensile load on collapse
The effect of tensile load applies only to greater than
transition load on normally elastic item, and to any load on
plastic collapse items. The collapse resistance of drill pipe
corrected for the effect of tension loading may be calculated
with the following equation
7. Slip crushing
The maximum allowable tension load must be determined to
prevent slip crushing. In an analysis of the slip crushing
problem, Reinhold, Spini, and Vreeland, proposed an equation
to calculate the relation between the hoop stress (S
H
) caused
by the action of the slips and tensile stress in the pipe(S
T
)
resulting from the load on the pipe hanging in the slips. If the
dimensions for the cross-sectional area of the pipe (A) and the
cylindrical surface are of the pipe under the slips (A
s
) are
used, the equation can be presented as:
Slips are typical 12 or 16 long. The friction coefficient
ranges from 0.06 0.14 inasmuch as tool joint lubricants
are usually applied to the back of rotary slips, a
coefficient of friction of 0.08 should be used for most
calculation. The equivalent tension load from slip
crushing can be calculated as follows
Critical Rotary Speed
Transverse Vibration:
The approximate critical rotary speeds which induce nodal
(transverse) vibration can be calculated using the following
Axial Vibration:
The approximate critical rotary speeds which induce
pendulum or spring (axial) vibration can be calculated
using the following equation

Where L(ft) = total length of string


Reference
Schlumberger Drill String Design Manual