Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
This paper was prepared for presentation at the AADE 2001 National Drilling Conference, Drilling Technology- The Next 100 years, held at the Omni in Houston, Texas, March 27 - 29, 2001. This
conference was hosted by the Houston Chapter of the American Association of Drilling Engineers. The information presented in this paper does not reflect any position, claim or endorsement made or
implied by the American Association of Drilling Engineers, their officers or members. Questions concerning the content of this paper should be directed to the individuals listed as author/s of this work.
40
30
35
20
30
10 Founder 400
25 Points ft/sec
ROP: ft/hr
0
20
-500 0 500 1000 280
15 ft/sec
200
Differential Pressure: psi 10 ft/sec
5
Figure 1 0
Effect of Differential Pressure on Drilling Rate 0 20 40 60 80
Weight on Bit: klb
This appears to be an exponential curve; but
experimental data found in the literature could not be
duplicated with that type of mathematical expression. Figure 2
Equation 2 seems to best match published data for any Founder Points
size drill bit:
by controlling the bottom hole pressure during
2 0.7 experiments in the laboratory. In the field, the pressure
k W N
ROP = Eqn 2 differential across the bottom of the hole depends upon
m + P the flow rate. The pressure drop in the annulus goes up
when the flow rate goes up. If the flow rate is
A simple reciprocal of (m+P) matches the published decreased, the cuttings in the annulus may accumulate
literature. The value of m is on the order and and increase bottom hole pressure because the mud
magnitude of the tensile strengths of various rocks for weight in the annulus has increased. Pressure
the data reported. When P is equal to m, the curve measurements while drilling some times can indicate
approaches infinity. Obviously the equation is a first poor hole cleaning capabilities. This is particularly true
order and magnitude approximation. However, when in high angle holes because the effect is immediate. In
drilling under-balanced with milled tooth bits, high drilling more vertical holes with slow drilling, the bottom hole
rates have been achieved even after the bit is pressure may initially decrease when the flow rate
completely worn. decreases; but will probably increase as the cuttings
load in the annulus increases.
Equation 2 is valid up to the founder point of a drill bit.
2 In a vertical well the standpipe pressure was decreased
Founder points were introduced by Grant Bingham as
far back as the 1950s. A founder point indicates the bit from 3000 psi to 2500psi and another drill-off test
loading that causes chips to form that cannot be performed, Figure 3. The equivalent circulating pressure
removed with the available hydraulics. Obviously was very close to the formation pressure. The decrease
increasing the hydraulics (or flow rate for a particular bit) in bottom hole cleaning should decrease the founder
will increase the founder point. Founder points are point. It did. The drilling rate below the founder point
important for field operations because it defines the point was higher for the lower standpipe pressure. With
at which increasing bit loading no longer provides the 17,000 lb bit weight, decreasing the standpipe pressure
proper increase in drilling rate. The bit then drills at a increased the drilling rate from 9.8 ft/hr to 18 ft/hr. Past
lower ROP than it should. In the worst cases, the founder points, however, at 40,000lb bit weight, the
overloading the bit frequently balls the drill bit and the rate of penetration was higher for the higher standpipe
drill bit quits drilling. In most cases the bits are worn pressure (12 ft/hr compared to 20 ft/hr). Observe also
faster than they should be, resulting in bit trips that that if the hydraulics were optimized and improved, this
AADE 2001 ARE YOU DRILLING OPTIMIZ ED OR SPINNING YOUR WHEELS? 3
bit could have drilled significantly faster with 30,000 lb bit weight. Drill a short distance and recheck the
weight. Calculating the projected drilling rate from the rotary speed.
drill-off tests, at 40,000lb bit weight with adequate or 3. Lock the brake down and record the time.
better hydraulics, this bit should have been drilling at 4. Record the time for every 2000 lb increase in
almost 100 ft/hr. With the hydraulics actually available, string weight (or decrease in bit weight).
increasing the bit weight to 40,000 lb decreased the 5. Continue the procedure until about 25% of the
drilling rate. The rig was drilling with 40,000 lb bit weight original bit weight remains. Continuing to
before these drill-off tests were performed. measure time in the very low bit weights uses
too much rig time.
6. If significant discontinuities are observed in the
Effect of Differential Pressure data, the formation may have changed and the
J22 bit at 15,100ft at 60RPM in a test needs to be repeated. particularly in the
40 higher bit weight range.
35 7. Calculate rate of penetration for each change in
30 3000psi bit weight from the equation 3:
ROP: ft/hr
standpipe
25
pressure
20
2500psi
15
10
standpipe Eqn 3:
pressure
5
0
(SC)(DP length)( WOB) 3600 sec ft
0 10 20 30 40 50
hr 12 in.
(1000 ft)(1000lb )
Weight on Bit: klb ROP =
T
Figure 3
Field Measurements of the Effect of ECD where: SC is the stretch constant,
DP length is the drill pipe length,
WOB is the change in bit weight for each
interval, and
T is the time, in seconds, the change bit
How to perform Drill-off Tests weight.
Procedure
(Intentionally blank)
1. Select a rotary speed and a maximum weight to
be applied to the bit. The maximum weight may
be determined from the drill collars in the hole or
the bit manufacturers recommendations.
2. Set the rotary speed, and apply the maximum
4 LEON H. ROBINSON, MARK S. RAMSEY AADE 2001
0.0
Drill Off Test A20 -10 10 30 50
Weight on Bit: klb
20.0
15.0 Figure 6
ROP: ft/hr
Figure 5
Typical ? Data
ROP; ft/hr
10.0
ROP: ft/hr
curve. Now the irregular data seems to indicate a
founder point in the range of 35,000lb bit weight. This 6
was confirmed at the rig by comparing the drilling rate at 4
that bit weight with the drilling rate at 45,000lb. 2
0
Generally, most data can be smoothed by just using a 0 20 40 60
change of 4000 lb bit weight instead of 6000lb. The Weight on Bit: klb
example in Figure 5 was the worst set of data taken in
the field. By using the moving average smoothing
technique, even that data could be interpreted.
Figure 9
Early in the development of this smoothing technique, Comparing Theoretical Curve with
data was acquired to validate the fact that rate of Dull Bit Drill-Off Data
penetration was a function of the square of the weight on
the bit. This required the drill-off tests to extend into the Assuming that the final point on the drill-off curve was
very low weight-on-bit range. Several field tests the founder point, the drilling rate with 10,000 lb bit
confirmed that relationship. During one of these weight should have been 10 times the measured value,
attempts very early in the development of the technique, Figure 9.
however, unusual drill-off data was recorded. This data
seemed to indicate that the proposed technique was Later, a similar set of data was observed from a small
invalid. The drill-off test data, Figure 8, indicated that the drilling rig equipped with small duplex pumps.
drilling rate was independent of weight on bit. Insufficient hydraulics can also result in low founder
points. Regardless of the hydraulics available at a rig,
the founder point determination can guide the way to
Drill-Off C1 cheaper drilling.
5
Conclusions
ROP: ft/hr
4
3 Drill-off data from field tests can be analyzed and bit
2 loading adjusted to prevent bit foundering. This results
1 in drilling rates that are sometimes higher than in the
0 foundered condition; the bits last longer; and fewer bit
0 20 40 60 trips are needed.
Weight on Bit: klb
Nomenclature
FIGURES
100
90
80
70
60
ROP: ft/hr
50
40
30
20
10
0
-500 0 500 1000
Differential Pressure: psi
35
30
400
25
Founder ft/sec
ROP: ft/hr
Points
20
280
15 ft/sec
200
10 ft/sec
0
0 20 40 60 80
Weight on Bit: klb
25 standpipe
pressure
20
2500psi
15 standpipe
10 pressure
5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Weight on Bit: klb
Drill-Off Test K
9 7/8" HP53 61RPM
10
9
8
7
ROP: ft/hr
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 20 40 60
Weight on Bit: klb
18.0
16.0
14.0
12.0
ROP: ft/hr
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
Weight on Bit: klb
9.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
1.0
-1.0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Weight on Bit: klb
Figure 6
Smoothing Drill-Off Data
10 LEON H. ROBINSON, MARK S. RAMSEY AADE 2001
10.0
ROP; ft/hr
5.0
0.0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Weight on Bit: klb
Figure 7
Comparing Drill-Off Data to a Theoretical Curve-
Drill-Off C1
4
ROP: ft/hr
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Weight on Bit: klb
Drill-Off C1
10
8
ROP: ft/hr
6
4
2
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Weight on Bit: klb
Figure 9 - Comparing Theoretical Curve with Dull Bit Drill-Off Data