Introduction

1. Definition & Reasons for D.D

2. Reference Systems and Coordinates
3. Types of Directional well trajectories
4. Calculation of a well trajectory
5. Directional Drilling Measurements
6. Deflection Tools
7. Principles of BHA

Directional Drilling presentation ٣

 What is Directional Drilling?

Directional Drilling is the process of directing a

well bore along some trajectory to a
predetermined target.

Basically it refers to drilling in a non-vertical

direction. Even “vertical” hole sometimes require
directional drilling techniques.

Examples: Slanted holes, high angle holes (far from vertical),

Extended Reach Holes, and Horizontal holes.
Definition & Reasons for D.D

z Definition :
z The science of directing a well bore along a
predetermined trajectory to intersect a
designated subsurface target.
z Kick off point (KOP):
z The kick off point is defined as the point below
surface location where the well is deflected from
the vertical.
z Target:
Target
z A predetermined point in the reservoir that D.D
should reaches to it.

Directional Drilling presentation ٤

Well classification
Vertical Well Wells with less than 10º deviation

High Inclination Wells between 60 and 85º deviation

Well
Horizontal Well Wells with more than 85º deviation

Extended Reach Horizontal/TVD displacement greater

Well than 2.5
Designer Well Wells with significant turn in the horizontal
plane of 30 to 180 degrees, and turn not
restricted by inclination

Directional Drilling presentation ٥

Directional wells
Radius Build Rate Radius
Classification ( degrees/30 meter ) (meter)

Long Radius 1- 6 1719 – 286

Medium 7 – 30 285 – 57
Radius

Intermediate 30 - 70 56 – 24
Radius

Short Radius 71 - 150 23 - 11.5

Directional Drilling presentation ٦

D.D applications (horizontal well)

Directional Drilling presentation ١٦

Reasons for D.D

1. Side-tracking existing well (because of hole problems or fish or

reaching new targets)
2. Restricted surface locations (inaccessible locations)
3. To reach multiple targets
4. To reduce number of offshore platforms
5. Horizontal Drilling
6. To reach thin reservoirs (using horizontal wells)
7. Salt dome drilling (directing the well from the salt dome to avoid
casing collapse problems)
8. To avoid gas or water coning
9. For intersecting fractures
10. Relief wells
11. For controlling vertical wells
12. Shoreline drilling

Directional Drilling presentation ٧

 Applications of Directional Drilling

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 Applications of Directional Drilling

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Applications of Directional Drilling

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Applications of Directional Drilling

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Applications of Directional Drilling

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Applications of Directional Drilling

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Applications of Directional Drilling

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Applications of Directional Drilling

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Re-Entry Versus New Wells

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 Top View

NOTE: All the

wells are
directional 5 - 50 wells
per platform

Figure 8.3 - Typical offshore development platform

with directional wells.
Reference Systems and Coordinates

z Depth references
z Measured Depth (MD)
z Pipe tally, wire line depth counter, or mud loggers depth
counter
z True Vertical Depth (TVD)
z calculated from the deviation survey data

z Inclination references
z is the angle (in degrees) between the vertical and the well bore
axis at a particular point.

Directional Drilling presentation ١٩

 Reference System and Coordinates

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Well Bore Depth

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Reference Systems and Coordinates

z Azimuth references
z Magnetic North (measured by MWD)
z True (Geographic) North
z Grid North

z Horizontal departure or displacement

• Horizontal distance between rig location & the target.

Note:

True north = magnetic north ± (declination)

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٢

Reference Systems and Coordinates

Directional Drilling presentation ٢١

Reference Systems and Coordinates

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٣

 North Reference

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Reference Systems and Coordinates

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٤

 Magnetic Basics

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 Magnetic Basics

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 Mapping – Projection Systems

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 UTM Zones

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 UTM Coordinates

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 UTM Coordinates

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 N18E S23E
A = 157o

Fig. 8-15.
Directional
quadrants and
compass
measurements
N55W
S20W
A = 305o
A=?
 Lead Angle Projected Well Path

Surface
Location
for Well
No. 2
Target at a
Lake TVD 9,659

Figure 8-16: Plan View

Well profile
Types of Directional well trajectories

1. Build and hold

2. Build-hole-drop (S type)
3. Build-hold-drop-hold (modified S type)
4. Continuous build
5. Deep Kickoff and Build

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٥

Types of Directional well trajectories

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٦

Build and hold

z Features:

z Shallow kick-off point (KOP)

z Build-up section
z Tangent section

z Penetrate target at an angle equal to

the Max buildup angle
z No major changes in incl. & azimuth
After build up section
z Incl: 15 – 55 deg or may be more

z Applications:

z Deep wells with large horizontal

displacements
z Moderately deep wells with moderate
horizontal displacement, where
intermediate casing is not required

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٧

Build-hole-drop (S type) & Build-hold-drop-hold (modified S type)

Modified S type S type

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٨

Build-hole-drop (S type) & Build-hold-drop-hold (modified S type)

z Features: z Applications:
z Shallow KOP
z Build-up section z Multiple pay zones
z Tangent section z Reduces final angle in
reservoir
z Drop-off section z Lease or target limitations
z Well spacing requirements
z There are several z Deep wells with small
variations: horizontal displacements
z Build, hold &drop back to
vertical (illustrated above) z Disadvantages:
z Build, hold, drop & hold
(illustrated above) z Increased torque & drag
z Build, hold & continuous z Risk of key seating
drop through reservoir z Logging problems due to
inclination

Directional Drilling presentation ٢٩

Continuous build

z Features:
z Decrease in torque & drag KOP
z Lowest risk of key seating
z Continuous build rate
Build Section

z Applications:
z This type occurs when Target
using down-hole motors
with bent sub.

Directional Drilling presentation ٣٠

Deep Kickoff and Build

z Features:
z Deep KOP
z Build-up section
z Short tangent section (optional)

z Applications:
z Salt dome drilling
z Sidetracking
z Appraisal wells to assess the extent of a
newly discovered reservoir

z Disadvantages:
z Formations are harder so the initial
deflection may be more difficult to
achieve
z Harder to achieve desired tool face
orientation with down hole motor
deflection assemblies (more reactive
torque)
z Longer trip time for any BHA changes
required
z Build up rate is more difficult to control

Directional Drilling presentation ٣١

Directional Drilling
Measurements
• The trajectory of a wellbore is determined
by the measurement of:
hinclination θ, α, I

hdirection φ, ε, A
hmeasured depth ∆MD, ∆L, L
Directional Drilling
Measurements - cont’d

• A tool-face measurement is required to

orient:
ha whipstock
hthe large nozzle on a jetting bit
ha bent sub or bent housing
Directional Drilling
Measurements - cont’d

• Tools available
hsingle-shot magnetic or gyroscopic
hmulti-shot magnetic or gyroscopic
hmagnetometers, accelerometers,
MWD tools
Magnetic Single-Shot Instrument
• Records
– inclination
– direction
– tool face position
on sensitized paper or photographic film
• Inclination may be determined by
– a float on a liquid
– a pendulum
Magnetic Single-Shot Instrument

• Unit may be triggered by:

– clock timer.
– inertial timer (after stop).

• Unit may be dropped (pumped down) and

later retrieved by wireline or the drillpipe.
Magnetic Single-Shot Instrument

• Single-shot instruments are used:

– to monitor progress of directional-control well.
– to monitor progress of deviation-control well.
– to help orient tool face for trajectory change.
Magnetic Single-Shot
Instrument - cont’d

• Procedure:
– load film into instrument
– activate timer (activate stopwatch)
– make up the tool
– drop the tool
– retrieve tool (wireline or drillpipe)
 1. Pendulum
Fig. 8.43: 2. Circular Glass
Pendulum
3. Compass
suspended
inclinometer 4. Pressure equalization
and 5. Cover glass
compass
unit for a 0 to
oo
17 singe- Indicated inclination 5o.
shot unit. Direction of inclination
N 45 degrees 0’ or
azimuth 45 degrees.
 Fig. 8.12:
Pendulum
assembly: a) plumb-
bob angle unit b) drift
arc inclinometer

Pendulum

Glass ring

Piston

(a) (b)
 Fig. 8.13: Hole direction with
Schematic reference to Magnetic North
drawing of
magnetic
single and
multi-shot
instruments.

o
N35 W
o
I = 5.5
 Timer On
3 min.
Compass Unit Single Shot
Ready to be
*Single Shot Dropped
Instruments are
run on slickline if
there is a mule Single Shot
shoe sub in the Free Falling in
hole
Mud to Bottom

Fig. 8.46:
Non
Magnetic Typical
Drill Collar single-shot
Orienting Sub operation.
Sleeve
 3
Fig. 8.46: min. Wireline
Typical 10 min.
unit to
single-shot
Overshot retrieve
operation.
Used to single
Fish shot
Tool seated Single
in orienting Shot
sleeve or at
stop taking
picture
 Fishing Neck
Top View Non Magnetic Collar
Direction of Single Shot
Tool Face Mule Shoe Orienting Sub
Via Bent Sub
Orienting Sleeve Lined up with Bent Sub

Bent Sub
Mule Shoe Mud
Key Position Motor Fig. 8.47:
Arrangement of the
mule shoe for
Existing orienting a mud
Centerline motor.
New Centerline
Magnetic Multi shot Instruments

z Are capable of taking numerous survey records in one run.

z May be dropped down the drill pipe or run on wire line in open hole.
z The unit contains a watch that is spring wound and uses the power of the
spring to operate a timer cam.
z The multishot tool is usually dropped down the drill pipe and
landed in the nonmagnetic drill collar.
z During the trip out, a survey is taken every 90 ft, i.e. every stand.
z More closely spaced stations could be obtained by stopping the
pipe more often, and waiting for a picture.
z A stopwatch at the surface is synchronized with the instrument
watch.

Directional Drilling presentation ٥٤

Non-Magnetic Drill Collar(s)

Compass Position
Fig. 8.48:
Multi-shot Instrument
Typical
arrangement
for landing a
multi-shot
Landing Plate
instrument.
MWD (Measurement While Drilling)

z While drilling it is possible to transmit to the surface down hole

information on:
Inclination temperature
Direction weight on bit
tool-face angle torque on bit
gamma ray sonic velocity
Resistivity

z Inclination, direction, and tool-face angle are of particular

interest in directional drilling. A lower cost MWD tool can
be used if only directional drilling information is required.

z Information is typically transmitted through the mud column by:

+ve or - ve pressure pulses, or pressure pulse modulation

Directional Drilling presentation ٥٦

Directional Drilling Measurements

Directional Sensor Hardware

The figure above shows the basic configuration of the Directional Sensor
probe. The directional probe is mounted to the MWD assembly and
keyed into a Non-Magnetic Drill Collar. The nominal length of the sub is
30 feet. The nonmagnetic collar is usually referred to as Monel.

Directional Drilling presentation ٥١

Steering Tools
• Used with mud
motors and bent sub Standard
• Can either pull every Measuring
Cable
stand or use a side
entry sub for
continuous drilling
Monel DC
Probe
Mule Shoe
Bent Sub

Mud Motor
MWD Tools
 Gyroscopic Tools

• Non-magnetic drill
collars used to prevent
magnetic interference
from drillstring
• Gyros used if magnetic
interference is from
non drillstring source
Dogleg Severity

z Large angle changes occurring over a short course length can

place high bending stresses on the pipe. In addition, these
doglegs can cause key seating problems. Most operators place
a limit on the amount of angle change allowable over a 100-ft
segment. The limit is 4-6 deg per 100 ft.

100
DL =
L[(sin I1 sin I 2 )(sin A1 sin A2 + cos A1 cos A2 ) + cosI1 cosI 2 ]

† DL: dogleg, deg/100ft

† L: course length
† I1, I2 : Inclination at upper & lower survey, deg
† A1, A2 : direction at upper & lower survey, deg

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٩

Survey Calculation Methods

• Various procedures have been developed to

estimate the well bore trajectory as it is being
drilled. Eighteen methods are known for
computing surveys, but the 3 most widely used
methods are the tangential, angel-averaging and
minimum curvature methods.

• The normal method for determining the well path

is to ascertain the coordinates by using some
type of surveying instrument to measure the
inclination and direction at various depths
(stations) and then to calculate the trajectory.

Directional Drilling presentation ٣٨

Survey Calculation Methods

Below is a list of the most used methods:

1. Acceleration method
2. Average angle method
3. Angle-averaging method
4. Backward station method
5. Balanced tangential method
6. Circular arc method
7. Compensated acceleration method
8. Mercury method
9. Minimum curvature method
10. Quadrant method
11. Radius of curvature method
12. Secant method
13. Tangential method
14. Terminal angle method
15. Trapezoidal method
16. Vector averaging method

Directional Drilling presentation ٣٩

Survey Calculation Methods

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٠

Survey Calculation Methods

z Tangential method:
method
z (Backward station method) or (Terminal angle method)
z the tangential method uses only the inclination and direction
angles at lower end of the course length.
⎧ n

⎪ n ∑ i
L = L
z It is inaccurate among other methods:

Li = DMi . sin(α i ). cos(ε i ) ⎫ ⎪ i =1

⎪ ⎪ n
M i = DMi . sin(α i ). sin(ε i )⎬ ⇒ ⎨M n = ∑ M i
Di = DMi . cos(α i ) ⎪ ⎪ i =1
⎭ ⎪ n
Li= latitude north/south
Mi= latitude east/west
⎪ Dn = ∑ Di
Di= TVD segment αi= inclination angle ⎩ i =1
DMi= course length εi= direction angle

Directional Drilling presentation ٤١

Example 2- tangential method

Use the following survey data to determine the trajectory coordinates

for tangential method?

Measured depth, ft Hole angle, deg Azimuth

3000 2 N 28 E
3300 4 N 10 E
3600 8 N 35 E
3900 12 N 25 E
5000 15 N 30 E
6000 16 N 28 E
7000 17 N 50 E
8000 17 N 20 E
9000 17 N 30 E
10000 17 N 25 E

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٢

Survey Calculation Methods

Average angle Or Angle Averaging Method:

• the angle averaging method is the simple average of the
angles at the top and bottom of course length.

α i + α i −1 ε i + ε i −1 ⎫ ⎧ n

Li = DMi . sin( ). cos( ) ⎪ ⎪ Ln = ∑ Li

2 2
⎪ ⎪ i =1

α i + α i −1 ε i + ε i −1 ⎪ ⎪ n
M i = DMi . sin( ). sin( ) ⎬ ⇒ ⎨M n = ∑ M i
2 2 ⎪ ⎪ i =1
α i + α i −1 ⎪ ⎪ n
Di = DMi . cos( ) ⎪ ⎪ Dn = ∑ Di
2 ⎭ ⎩ i =1

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٣

Example 3- Average angle method

Determine the trajectory coordinates for the corrected survey points

given below:

Measured depth (ft) inclination angle (deg) direction angle

7100 0 0
7200 10.1 S68W
7300 13.4 S65W
7400 16.3 S57W
7500 19.6 S61W

Note:
For the first point the direction should not be averaged, it means that at
MD= 7200 we use dir. = 248 instead of 124.
For the first point the inclination should be averaged, so for
MD=7200 the incl. = 5.05.

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٤

Survey Calculation Methods

Minimum curvature method

and
Radius of curvature method:

The minimum curvature method

uses the angles at A1 and A2

and assumes a curved well bore

over the course length

not a straight line.

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٥

Survey Calculation Methods

z β is in [radian] and if it is less than 0.25

radian, it is reasonable to set F=1.0
⎫
cos β i = cos (α i − α i −1 ) − {sin α i −1 . sin α i (1 − cos (ε i − ε i −1 ))}⎪
⎪ ⎧ n
β
F = ⎛⎜ 2 ⎞⎟. tan ⎛⎜ i ⎞⎟ ⎪ ⎪ Ln = ∑ Li
⎝ βi ⎠ ⎝ 2⎠ ⎪ ⎪ i =1
⎪ ⎪
⎛ D Mi ⎞ ⎪ n
Mi = ⎜ ⎟.(sin( α i −1 ). sin (ε i −1 ) + sin α i . sin ε i ).Fi ⎬⇒ ⎨M n = ∑ M i
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎪ ⎪ i =1
⎪ ⎪
Li = ⎛⎜ Mi ⎞⎟.(sin( α i −1 ). cos (ε i −1 ) + sin α i . cos ε i ).Fi
n
D
⎝ 2⎠ ⎪ ⎪ D n = ∑ Di
⎪ ⎩ i =1

Di = ⎛⎜ Mi ⎞⎟.(cos( α i −1 ) + cos α i ).Fi

D ⎪
⎝ 2⎠ ⎪⎭

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٦

Comparison of accuracy of various calculation methods

Calculation Total vertical depth & North displacement &

method differences from actual (ft) differences from actual (ft)
Tangential 1628.61 -25.38 998.02 +43.09

Balanced tan 1653.61 -0.38 954.72 -0.21

Angle-ave. 1654.18 +0.19 955.04 +0.11

Radius of 1653.99 0.0 954.93 0.0

curvature
Minimum 1653.99 0.0 954.93 0.0
curvature
Mercury 1653.63 -0.37 954.89 0.04

Directional Drilling presentation ٤٧

 Why Horizontal Wells?

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 Why Horizontal Wells?

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 Why Horizontal Wells?

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 Horizontal Well Profiles

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 Horizontal Wells Profiles

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 Horizontal Wells Profiles

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 Horizontal Wells Profiles

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Horizontal Wells Profiles

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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