Sperry Drilling Services

2007.1

Directional Drilling

FUNDAMENTAL
COORDINATE SYSTEMS

Coordinate Systems
Projections

Sperry Drilling Services

2007

2-D Rectangular Coordinate System

Basic Coordinate Systems

+Y
Rectangular (Cartesian) : P(x;y;z)
P (x,y)

Polar ------------------------- : P(R;)

Cylindrical ----------------- : P(R;;D)

+X

Direction from +X to +Y is counter-clockwise

3-D Rectangular Coordinate System

Polar Coordinate System

+Y
0

P (R, )

+X

P (x,y,z)

reference
direction

+Z

Direction from +X to +Y is counter-clockwise

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

R polar radius
polar angle

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Cylindrical Coordinate System

Measurement of Angles
0

reference direction

P (R;;D)

CCW

in surveying ...

calculators do ...

Location Coordinates - Conversion

Location Coordinates - Conversion

N
P

Math convention

Surveying convention

x = Rcos
y = Rsin

CW

R
e

R = (x2 +y2 )1/2

= atan (y/x)

e = Rsin
n = Rcos
R = (e2 +n2 )1/2
= atan (e/n)

Using a Calculators Built-in Rectangular-polar

Conversion

Example :
Target displacement
(R) 3200 ft
Direction to target center () 53.5 GN

1. Calculate N and E
2. Enter as y and x coordinates
3. Calculate R and polar angle

x = 3200 x sin(53.5) = 3200 x 0.8039 = 2,572.3 ft

y = 3200 x cos(53.5) = 3200 x 0.5948 = 1,903.4 ft

Ngrid

The distance is R (ft or m)

The grid Azimuth is 90 - (deg)

Remember :

TC
X

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

x - East and y - North ?

Check !
is measured from X to Y (ccw)
AZ is measured from North to East (cw)

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Direction to a Location or Target

Distance Between 2 Locations or to a Target

GN

S =

+ y

P2

y = 55.95

Example:

P1

P1 P 2 = a tan

x
y

= a tan

432 . 59
55 .95

Surface coordinates
TD coordinates

x = 432.59

= 82 .6

Horizontal References

Earth models (spheroids)

Projections

e6.00
e161.97

y = 853.97 3.00 = 850.97 ft

x = 161.97 6.00 = 155.97 ft

deg rees

S =

Direction P1 P2 = 82.6 (referenced to grid North)

Vertical references

n3.00
n853.97

850.97

+ 155.97

= 865.15

feet

Turn ri
ght

Turn`left
Build
The Bulls
D ro

VERTICAL REFERENCES

Eye

The Solid Earth and the Oceans

Vertical Reference Surfaces

Houston

sea level
(geoid)

topographic surface

geoid surface

SOLID EARTH
ellipsoid surface

topographic surface
Mt. Everest

The Geoid is a level mathematical surface (equipotential surface of the gravity

field), best fit to MSL
Peter H. Dana 9/1/94

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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Vertical Direction

Vertical (depth) References

Deviation of the vertical

MSL = Mean Sea Level a global depth reference

MSL Geoid = equipotential surface (equal acceleration of gravity)

Geoid = Mean Sea Level

Ellipsoid

Example :
Difference btw MSL Geoid and WGS84 ellipsoid : +/- 40m avg.
extremes : + 60m -100m
For vertical coordinates :

For horizontal coordinates :

Geoid
height
Geoid

Geoid

Ellipsoid

Which vertical do we use ?

Examples of Depth References

LAT = Lowest Annual Tide
AHD = Australian Height Datum
AGD84 = Australian Geodetic Datum, 1984
GDA94 = Australian Geodetic Datum, 1994
NAP = Nieuw Amsterdamse Peil
Acronyms : MSL
BRT
AHRT
SS

AMSL
AHD
MD
GL

TVD
RF
RKB
DFE
AHORT
ODF

Depth References on
Land Locations
Options :
Ground level
Wellhead
Rotary table
Kelly bushing

Note : MSL or SS depth are vertical depth

Ground Level and Elevation

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

Rotary Table as Depth Reference

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Elevations Based on the Geoid

Kelly Bushing as Depth Reference

RKB
Elevation

MSL

Ground
Elevation

Subsea
Depth

Wellhead
Elevation
RT
Elevation

a land rig

Jack-up Rig
What is the Rotary Table Elevation ?

GlobalSantaFe

Semi-submersible Rig

Semi-submersible Rig

How we measure
the depth here ?

GlobalSantaFe

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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Other Vertical Reference Points

Drill Ship

Well Reference Point

near or at GL

Drill Datum
usually rotary table (RT)
or kelly bushing (KB)

Mean Sea Level

MSL

subsea depth,
target depths are
typically given as
TVDss = vertical depth
below MSL

Well Reference Point

at or near mudline

GlobalSantaFe

Ways of Expressing Direction

Quadrant Bearings (e.g. N15E) (in quadrature system)

Azimuth

(0 - 360)

HORIZONTAL REFERENCES
Angle units : degrees or radians (360=2 radian, or
6.28 radian, where = 3.1415965)
R

Definition of radian :

The Quadrature System

1 radian

Quadrant Bearings

Cardinal bearings : N-E-S-W

Intercardinal bearings : NE-SE-SW-NW
N

N
NW

NE

NW
W

E
SW

NxxE

NxxW

NE

SE

SxxE

SxxW
SE

SW

S
Quadrants : NE-SE-SW-NW

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

The advantage is

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Azimuth
Examples :

0 or 360 AZ

N88E

88

90

S23E

157

180

S55W =

235

270

N15W =

345

360 0

Azimuth is 0 - 360

North is 0 or 360

Azimuth Change
Horizontal Direction References
N
350

10

> True North - direction to the geodetic N pole

> Magnetic North - direction to the magnetic N pole
> Grid North - aligned with the central meridian(s) on maps

AZ = (360-350) + (10-0) = 20
or
AZ = 350-10 = 340

True & Magnetic North

True & Magnetic North

TN

TN

MN

meridians

TN
MN
MN

Equator
MN

Equator
agonic line
TN

TN

MN

Magnetic Declination

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

polar axis

Magnetic Declination = 0

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Azimuth Correction

Magnetic Declination Convention

True North

True North

Magnetic North

Magnetic North

Magnetic Declination (MD) : difference btw TN and MN

MD = (location, time)

West Declination
(-)

East Declination
(+)

Azimuth correction : AZTRUE=AZMAG + (MD)

East Declination : MN is East of TN
West Declination: MN is West of TN

Application of Magnetic Declination

West Declination

Application of Magnetic Declination

East Declination

TN

TN
MN

M<T

MD

MN

M>T
MD

T
M

measured direction

measured direction

AZTRUE=AZMAG+ MD

AZTRUE=AZMAG+ MD

Ellipsoids and the Geoid

MSL
(geoid)
globally fitting
ellipsoid
eg. WGS 84

EARTH MODELS

locally fitting
ellipsoid
eg. Clarke 1866
area of best
fit of ellipsoid
to geoid

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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Earth Models - Spheroids (ellipsoids)

Spheroids :
Everest (1830)
Bessel (1841)
Airy (1830)
Clarke (1866)
Clarke (1880)
Hayford (1909-1910)
International (1924)
Krassovsky (1940)
GRS80 (1980) Geodetic Reference System
WGS84 (World Geodetic System)

Ellipsoid Dimensions (approx.)

Ellipsoid name

Semi-major
(metres)

Semi-minor
(metres)

Inv. Flattening

Airy, 1848 (UK)

Australian Nat.
Clarke, 1866 (US)
International 1924
WGS 72
WGS 84

6 377 563
6 378 160
6 378 206
6 378 388
6 378 135
6 378 137

6 356 257
6 356 745
6 356 584
6 356 912
6 356 750
6 356 752

299.325
298.25
294.979
297
298.26
298.257

ITRF (Int. Terrestial Reference Frame)

Ellipsoid WGS84

Best Fitting Ellipsoids

USA, Canada, Philippines

Clarke, 1866

Eu,N.Africa, Middle East

International, 1924

UK

Airy, 1848
International, 1924

Chile, Borneo, Indonesia

Bessel, 1841

Africa, France

Clarke, 1880

India, Afghanistan, Pakistan

Thailand

Everest, 1830

Peninsular Malaysia

mod. Everest, 1830

Datums

Sphere flattened
by 1 part in 300
Coincides with solid
earth to +/- 10 km
Coincides with MSL
(geoid) to +/- 100m

Datum Describes a Location, Height

Definition of datum :
Defines the shape of the reference ellipsoid
Defines position of the ellipsoid relative to the Earth
Defines how a coordinate system is seated on the reference ellipsoid

At the datum the ellipsoid touches the surface of the earth, the
location coordinates are fixed (reference point)

Ideal datum : geocentric, with correct polar and equatorial radii (e.g. NAD83)
Important datums :

ED50 for the GCS (European Datum, 1950)

NAD27
(North American Datum, 1927)
NAD83
(North American Datum, 1983)
WGS84
(World Geodetic System, 1984)
Pulkovo
(1946)
Tokyo
(TD)
South American
(1969)
Australian Geodetic (1966)
Indian

www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/datum/datum.html

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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Comparison of Coordinates at Different Datums

NAD27 and NAD83

DATUM

OPTION

ELEVATION

LONGITUDE

LATITUDE

NAD27 (1927) fixed location : origin is at Meades Ranch, Kansas

USGS stated that the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid is a good approx.

NAD27

CENTRAL

51 ft

952024.2 W

295610.2 N

NAD27

CONUS

66 ft

952024.2 W

295610.2 N

NAD83 (1983) geocentric, centered on Earths center of mass

Based on the WGS84 ellipsoid. Natural Resources of Canada
adopted in 1990 as its new geodetic reference system

NAD83

n/a

74 ft

952024.6 W

295611.0 N

WGS84

n/a

95 ft

952024.1 W

295610.7 N

GDA

n/a

74 ft

952024.3 W

295610.8 N

GEODETIC

1949

75 ft

952027.5 W

295607.7 N

WGS84 (1984) geocentric, uses GRS80 ellipsoid, which is almost

identical to WGS84 ellipsoid
Conversion between NAD27 and 83 : NADCON software
accuracy : +/- 0.5m
Note :

GPS uses the Earths centre of mass as origin WGS84 ellipsoid, thus the
NAD83 is compatible with

Accuracy : 22 ft Location : Houston, Zone 15

Central Meridian : 93W

PROJECTIONS
Distortions by Projection

1. Shape
2. Bearing
3. Scale
4. Area

Zones are defined in order to minimize distortion and preserve

accuracy within ea. projection

Projection Types
Cylindrical

cylinder (Mercator, UTM)

Conical

cone (Lambert Conformal Conic)

( Albers Equal-Area Conic)

Azimuthal

plane (Lambert Azimuthal Equal-area)

Miscellanous

(Unprojected Lat and Long)

Projections Used in the US and Territories

State Plane Coordinate System :
SPC27 based on NAD27 coordinates in feet
SPC83
NAD83
meters !

Lambert Conformal Conic (Cal Tx La)

Transverse Mercator
Oblique Mercator
Approximate Azimuthal Equidistant

Alaska : Lambert or Oblique Mercator

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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Geographic Coordinate System - GCS

Geographic Coordinate System - GCS
ato
r

North Pole

Eq
u

N
90

Longitudes
(great circles)

Latitude
(parallels)

Equator

Geodetic
Latitude (angle)

Prime Meridian

Latitudes : 0 - 90 N
and 0 - 90 S
Horizontal Earth Rate :
15.000 deg/hr

Longitudes : 0-180 E or W
Latitudes -- : 0-90 N or S

Geographic Coordinate System - GCS

Longitudes : 0-360
or 0-180E
and 0-180W

geometric center of spin axis

Examples
Geocentric Latitudes

N
90

50N
London

P
Equator

Geocentric
Latitude (angle)
0
Equator

Latitudes : 0 - 90 N
and 0 - 90 S
Longitudes : 0-360
or 0-180E
and 0-180W

6S
Jakarta

35S
Buenos Aires

geometric center of spin axis

Why a Location has Several Latitudes

Examples
Longitudes - angle E/W from Greenwich (London)
0
London

45E
Baghdad

Location

A. ellipsoid
B. ellipsoid
perpendicular to
A. ellipsoid

45E
90W
107E

107E
Jakarta

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

90W
New Orleans
95W
Houston

Equator
perpendicular
to B.
ellipsoid

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Unprojected Lat / Long Map

Geographic Coordinates - Example

Lat 53 01 30.848 N -

Long 3 33 05.185 E

Conversion to decimal degrees :

Latitudes

Lat /Long = HHH+ MM + SS

60 3600
Longitudes

Example :

Lat = 53.025

Long = 3.551
Simple rectangular coordinate system
Scale, distance, area and shape are all distorted
Distortion is increasing towards to poles

Note : distance on 1 Latitude change along a meridian is 60 nautical miles

distance on 1 Longitude change is 60 nautical miles on the Equator
1 is 1 nm (1853 m)

Gerard Kremer

Projections

Gerardus Mercator
de Rupelmonde

1512 - 1594

Transverse Mercator (TM) - Gauss-Kruger

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
Lambert (conical)

www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/mapproj/mapproj.html

Mercator-projection

Mercator Projection

North
N

B
Equator

East

central meridian

A
S

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

Easy navigation by holding constant direction from A to B

Long, Lat and rhomb lines are straight lines on the map

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Zones of the UTM Projection

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Projection

US Army, 1947

Equator

Central Meridian

Cylindrical projection to a horizontal cylinder

www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/english/botany/afe/map/utm.htm

UTM Grid Zones

Eastings are distances from the false Easting line :

Central Meridian

84N

N
Origin of false Easting
500,000m

Easting at Central Meridian = 500 000 m

Approximate range : 200 000 - 800 000 m

Northings are distances from the Equator :

8

Northing = 0m
Origins of false
Northing

Northing at Equator = 0 for the Northern Hemisphere

107
Southern
3

Equator

8
Northing =107m

n=0m
S

Equator

n = 10,000,000 m

80S

appr. 600,000m

UTM Zone Limits

UTM Grid Blocks an Zone Limits

Lat = 84N
Long = CM - 3
465,003 m E
9,329,292 m N

CM
Last block 12 high !

North Zones
Lat = 0
Long = CM - 3
166,008 m E
10,000,000 m N
Lat = 0
Long = CM
500,000 m E
10,000,000 m N

Equator

Lat = 0
Long = CM
500,000 m E
0mN

12

8
8

D
C

84N

I and O are excluded

Lat = 0
Long = CM + 3
833,992 m E
0mN

South Zones

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

Lat = 80S
Long = CM + 3
558,135 m E
1,116,652 m N

Block heights : 8

80S

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UTM Zones - Lower 48 States

UTM Standard Grid Zones Numbering

West Longitudes

126
174W

120

114

108

102 96

90

84

78

72

66

International Date Line

180

19

zone 60

zone 1

10
North Pole
90W

11

90E

18
12

13

14

16

15

17

zone 31
zone 30

0
6E

Central Meridian

Prime Meridian
(Greenwich)

Grid Scale Factor

Grid Scale Factor

CM
distance on map
distance on surface

ace
Surf
ths
Ear

map surface
grid scale
factor > 1

map surface

ths
Ear
e
fac
Su r

grid scale
factor < 1

Scale factor =

distance on map (grid)

true dist. on Ea. surface

Scale Factors in UTM Zones

grid scale
factor = 1

Scale factor =

grid scale
factor > 1

distance on map (grid)

true dist. on Ea. surface

UTM Coordinates - Example

East from the CM

F0 = 0.9996
Scale factor =

grid distance
true distance

F = 1.0004

UTM coordinates : e 536987.41 - n5875344.05

GCS coordinates : Lat 53 33 05.123 N

Long 5 12 32.453E
Zone 31, central meridian 3E
(location is East from the CM)

block U

Central meridian

Note :
Note : distances are true on central meridian only

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

31U (std. zone 31 sector U) CM3 (3 E Longitude)

Coordinates in meters !

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UTM Coordinates - Example

Location Coordinates - example :

Geographic - Latitude and Longitude (degrees)

e.g.
LAT 53 33 05.123N
LONG 5 12 32.453E

e536987.41 - n5875344.05 31U

easting

northing

block

UTM Grid - Northings and Eastings (metres)

e 536987.41
n 5875344.05

zone

CM3

Note : Spheroid and datum must be given for both

Note : CM longitude or zone number must be given !

Rectangular Grid within a UTM Zone

Location Coordinates - example :

M T + 16.076
M G + 14.851
T G + 1.225

Corrections :

Grid North

North

Position :

Grid East

Distance (R) = 1331.5 ft

Direction () = 57.7MN

East
Equator
Grid South

PMN(1331.5 ; 57.7) or (711.49N ; 1125.47E)

PTN (1331.5 ; 73.78)

(371.92N ; 1278.50E)

PGN (1331.5 ; 72.55)

(399.28N ; 1270.22E)

Central Meridian

Grid North vs True North

Grid North vs True North

Southern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

UTM Projection
TN

TN
GN

UTM Projection

Equator

TN

GN

GN

GN

TN

GN

TN

P
TN

GN

P
Grid

P
P

Equator

Meridians

Grid

TN

TN

Meridians

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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Meridian Convergence

Meridian Convergence
N

TN

GN

MC = f ( LAT, )

TN

GN

TN

= 0

GN

LAT

LONG

Equator

LAT,LONG : geographic
coordinates

Angular difference between Grid North and True North

If Grid North is East of True North : positive
Grid North West True North : negative

CM

0 Longitude of the CM

Azimuth correction : AZGRID=AZMAG + MD - (MC)

Note : other names used

Longitude of the location

- Grid Convergence
- Grid Correction

15

sin LAT cos 2 LAT 1 + 3n2 + 2n 4 +

sin LAT cos 4 LAT 2 t 2

Approximate meridian convergence (grid correction) value :

MC = (LONG

[ Eq. 1 ]

0 = Longitude of central meridian

e 2 cos 2 LAT

= 0

n2 =

t = tan LAT

where : e = 2.7182

Meridian Convergence Approximate Calculation

Meridian Convergence Exact Solution

MC = sin LAT +

distance from CM, degrees

MC
LONGCM
LATLOC
LONGLOC
MD

LOC

LONG

CM ) sin LAT LOC

[ Eq. 2 ]

meridian convergence (grid correction), degrees

Longitude of central meridian, degrees
Latitude of the location, degrees
Longitude of the location, degrees
magnetic declination, degrees

1 e2

Example :

Total Azimuth correction : AZGRID=AZMAG + MD - (MC)

Azimuth Corrections - Example

Lat 54.0046 N - Long 4.9129 E

TM5 projection (!)

Convergence from Eq.1 = - 0.0695 degree

Eq.2 = - 0.0705
Rounded to 2 decimals = - 0.07

Corrections :

MD = 16.076
MC = - 1.225

M T + 16.076
T G + 1.225
M G + 14.851

Measured Direction () = 57.7 MN

Azimuth, from MN = 57.7
57.7 + 16.076 = 73.776 ~ 73.8 TN

E.g. : AZTN = 37 AZGN = AZTN - ( - 0.07) = 37.07

73.8 + 1.225 = 75.025 ~~ 75.0 GN

Note : the location is W from the central meridian 5 (TM5)

thus GN is W from TN ( AZGN > AZTN ) : West convergence

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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2007.1

Application of Magnetic Declination

and
Grid Correction
(1)

TN

Application of Magnetic Declination

and
Grid Correction
(2)

GN
TN

MN
MN

measured direction
G

M<T
M<G
G>T

M<T
M<G
G<T

measured direction
G

T
M

P
total correction : AZGRID=AZMAG + MD - (MC)

UTM Projection Summary (1)

Conformal projection : shapes, angles are essentially true

within any small area
Datum used : standard ED50 (NAD27 or 83 could also be used)
Spheroid : Hayford (International, 1924)

UTM Projection Summary (3)

Zone width : 6
Zone numbering : 1 - 60 ccw from International Date Line
(180E or W Long)
Zone 1 : 180 - 174 W Long
30 : 6 - 0 W Long
31 : 0 - 6
E Long
60 : 174 - 180 E Long
Block height : 8 (Lat 80S Lat 84N)
Block naming : C - X (I and O excluded)
First zone East from Greenwich 0 Long : zone 31

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

total correction : AZGRID=AZMAG + MD - (MC)

UTM Projection Summary (2)

Latitude limits : 84N and 80 South
Central meridians : given with geographic Longitude
odd numbers, multiples of 3
False Northing: 0m at the Equator for N. Hemisphere
S. Hemisphere
107m
False Eastings: 500,000m (grid origins are West from each central
meridian)
Location description : with northing and easting + zone number
Northings : distance from Equator for N. Hemisphere

107- distance from Equator for the S. Hemisphere

Eastings : distance from false Easting in the subject zone
Units : meter or feet

Lambert Conical Projection

standard parallel

Equator

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Wall Plot

Lambert Conical Projection

standard parallels
Equator

Origin of Drilling (Local) Grid Co-ordinates

Well centered coordinates
(N. America)

Site centered coordinates

(Europe)

North

East
North - X or Y ?

All wells start at ( 0,0 )

Site Centre is ( 0,0 )

Directional Drilling Coordinate Systems

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