Direction Drilling

Directional Drilling
Directional drilling is defined as an art and
science involving deflection of a wellbore in a
specified direction in order to reach a
predetermined objective below the surface of
the earth.

Wells are drilled for the purpose of penetrating the rock

at some definite subsurface location.In most instances
this is accomplished by drilling a reasonably straight &
reasonably vertical hole.

APPLICATIONS OF DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

1. Multiple Wells From Single Location.

2. Inaccessible Locations.
3. Drilling To Avoid Geological Problems.
Fault Drilling.
Salt Dome Drilling.
4. Side Tracking And Straightening.
5. Relief Well Drilling.
6. Controlling Straight Holes.
7. Horizontal Well.
8. ERD Well.
9. Multilateral Drilling.

Major reasons for DD

Improve the production
Cut down the cost
Increase the profitability
Wellbore stability
Shale gas/ Frac job
Reduce Water , Gas Coning
ERD wells, EOR

And To meet Requirement

Horizontals and Multilaterals - Increase

Productivity
New wells drilled with horizontal profile
Revive sick wells Convert inclined wells to
horizontal wells (long, medium & short
radius sidetracks), produce bypass(residual)
oil
ERD wells, Use of PDMs, Rotary Steerable
System.

TVD

TVD

HD

TYPES OF WELL PROFILES

a. L- TYPE
b. S- TYPE
c. J- TYPE

Horizontal Drilling Radius Classification

Hole Size

2 to 80 /
100ft

9 to 300/
100ft

12.25 in.

Long
radius

Medium
radius

7.75 in. to
8 in.

9.875 in.

Long
radius

Medium
radius

6.75 in. to
7.75 in.

8.5 in.

Long
radius

Medium
radius

Inter med.
radius

6 to 6.75
in.

Long
radius

Medium
radius

Inter med.
radius

Short radius

4.75 in.

Medium
radius

Inter med.
radius

Short radius

3.5 in. to
3.75 in.

Inter med.
radius

Short radius

2.875 in.

4.75 in.
3.75 in. to
4.5 in.

31 to 600/
100ft

61 to1800 /
100 ft

Tool size

6.5 in. to
6.75 in.

Cut through pay zone vs. HOLE ANGLE

2000(600 M)
BUR: 2o/30M

200

10000(3050 M)
A

C
PENETRATION THEOUGH PAY
ZONE (TRUE VERTICAL
THICKNESS = 60 m/200)

CURVE

INLINATIO
N (degree)

60

120 m/400

70

180 m/585

80

352
m/1151

B
C

LENGTH OF PENETRATION vs. HOLE ANGLE

2000(600 M)
BUR: 2 o/30M

80o
60

70o

10000(3050 M)
10000
INLINATIO
N (degree)

20000

(3050 M)
(5020
M)
HORIZONTAL REACH
(m)

60

3050

70

5020

80

9150

30000
(9150 M)
DRAINGE AREA
(km 2
5.31
11.9
44.26

COORDINATES

LATITUDES & LONGITUDES

NORTH- TRUE North, Magnetic North, GRID North
Magnetic Declination, Inclination or dip
Polar Coordinates( Local site centered )
UTM Coordinates(Universal Transverse Mercator)
WGS-84 , GPS
Northings & Eastings, Vertical Sections
Depth reference: MSL, RKB, G/L
Ellipsoid of Uncertainties
Magnetic Interference, NMDC, Gyro

UTM GRID
y
N. Hemisphere
origin is
(500,000m, 0)
x
x

S. Hemisphere
origin is
(500,000m,
10,000,000m)

UTM GRID

northern
hemisphere
equator is
assigned
northing values
of 0 m North

southern
hemisphere,
equator is given
false northing of
10,000,000 m to
avoid (-)
Northings.

UTM GRID
ex. 14U

629,443E

5 521 654N

from the left, the first number is the UTM zone

(or column), the letter is the row designation

so this location is 626,443 meters left (west) of

zone 14's central meridian, and 5,521,654
meters up (north) from the equator.

Direction and Angle measurement

Azimuth: Compass 30 & > 30 degree;
Magnetometer(MWD), Gyro
Angle

: Pendulum; Accelerometer (MWD)

Tool Face:

Referred measurement

Gamma Tool: To avoid drilling into shale While in pay

zone

Dog Leg Severity

A dog leg is an abrupt change in hole angle or direction that
causes a sharp bend in the well path . It can be detected by
increased torque and drag on the drill string . The size of dog
leg can be calculated from survey results over a 30 m. interval
using the formula:
DOGLEG ANGLE:
= Cos-1{ Cos 1Cos 2 + Sin 1Sin 2Cos (2 - 1 )}
DOGLEG SEVERITY:
DLS = ( / L)*30

= inclination
= azimuth

How to decide number of NMDCs

Zone 1

How to decide number of NMDCs

Zone 2

How to decide number of NMDCs

Zone 3

DEFLECTION TECHNIQUEs

DEFLECTION TECHNIQUE's

TECHNIQUES OF DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

The bit is not likely to deflect from vertical if it
is not intentionally forced to do so.

While drilling a directional well, the bit is

directed with some
technique so that it
kicks off in a particular direction.

This technique can either be

mechanical or hydraulic.
Both of these techniques produce
side
force at the bit and the bit gets deflected
from vertical.

DEFLECTION TOOLS
OLD TECHNOLOGY
HYDRAULIC METHOD:JETTING - Impact Force Of A Jet
Directed Towards A
Desired Azimuth
MECHANICAL METHOD: PDM and Bent Sub

DEFLECTION TOOLS
Steer able Down Hole Motors(PDM)
Rotary Steerable System
Push The Bit
Point The Bit
Whipstock

A Directional plan or profile of any well depends the

following inputs:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

KOP and its limitations

TVD available below KOP HD
Target intersection requirements
Drill string and BHA limitations based on BUR and
DLS, total MD, Hydraulics REQ, Rig Capacity
Dogleg or angle building capacity of the down hole
tools
Drilling fluid and mud loss
Production profile and future intervention
Direction of Min/ Max horizontal stresses

Sidetracks with Whipstocks And Window Milling

WHIPSTOCK
Section

milling
replaced
with
Whipstock Window milling.
Wells prepared for sidetracks in less
than 24 hrs. as compared to 10-14 days
with section milling.
Whipstock more effective for making
sidetracks from deeper depths i.e. 9 5/8
/ 7 casing.
Inclined wells expeditiously converted
to horizontal / multilateral wells.

MAJOR PROBLEMS IN DRILLING HIGHLY

DEVIATED WELLS
1. The effect of gravitational forces as the angle of
inclination increases
AT LOW INCLINATION

The component of gravity acting

along the axis of the borehole is
sufficient to allow tools to be run
easily into the hole and release
enough WOB.
As the angle of the hole increases,
the axial component reduces while
the lateral component increases.

Major Problems In Drilling Highly

Deviated Wells
2. Increase

in frictional resistance
against the borehole, making it more
difficult to run and pull tools i.e
increase in torque and drag

3.Make

it more difficult to control

direction and apply WOB.

Major Problems In Drilling Highly Deviated

Wells
4. HOLE PROBLEMS
The increased tendency of the drilled
cuttings to drop onto the low side of the
hole.
Continuous build up of cuttings will
increase the risk of getting stuck pipe
and pack offs.
Drill collars also tend to sag against
the low side.
Problems In running logging tools or
liner.

MAJOR PROBLEMS IN DRILLING HIGHLY

DEVIATED WELLS
5. Hole Cleaning
As the section length and angle increase lifting of
drilled cuttings.
Required more discharege
Annular velocity for turbulance.

6.Requiremnt
Equipments

Of

Advance

Drilling

Top Drive System

Three pumps as per requirement of discharge

Major Problems In Drilling Highly

Deviated Wells
7. Mud properties and solids equipment.
8.Logging problem as angle increases.
9.Casing, Cementation And Completion Problems.
Cement will bypass barrite cuttings settled on
low side.
Gravity segregation of cement slurry.
It leaves water on the top
side and allows
communication of reservoir fluid.

OPTIMISATION

BHA OPTIMISATION
PROFILE OPTIMISATION
BHA design depends on:
1. Tensile and torsional load requirement(OD, ID) which
are affected by Torque & Drag
2. BUR and Final angle and overall profile L, S or J, all
affecting bending stresses and torque
3. Hydraulics requirement
4. Hydraulics is designed for optimum cuttings
transportation and minimising or totally avoiding
cuttings bed formation,Annular Velocity limited by Max
ECD acceptable for a given mud weight and formation
strength in that interval.
5. Mud weight greatly affects cutting lifting and is major
factor in Hydraulic design
6. Friction factors in casing and open hole

PDM or positive
displacement (mud) motor

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MOTORS

THE PDM IS POWERED BY THE FLOW OF
DRILLING FLUID DOWN THE DRILL STRING.
ITS TWO BASIC PARTS ARE A STATIONARY
STATOR AND WAVE SHAPED ROTOR,
FORCING THE MOTOR TO TURN AND TO
TRANSMIT THE POWER OF THE FLOWING
MUD TO THE BIT.
A DUMP VALVE OPENS WHEN THERE IS NO
CIRCULATING PRESSURE IN THE DRILL
STRING, ALLOWING DRILLING FLUID TO
BYPASS THE MOTOR AND FILL OR DRAIN
FROM DRILL STRING DURING TRIPPING.
WHEN THE PUMP IS STARTED, PUMP
PRESSURE CLOSES THE VALVE TO DIRECT
FLUID THROUGH THE MOTOR.
IN
PDM
DRILLING
TORQUE
IS
PROPORTIONAL TO THE PRESSURE LOSS
THROUGH THE TOOL AND BIT SPEED IS
PROPORTIONAL TO FLOW RATE.

SINGLE LOBE OR MULTI LOBE MOTORS

SINGLE LOBE
CONFIGURATION:1/2

MULTI LOBE
CONFIGURATION:9/10

(2CAVITIES IN THE STATOR ONE

LOBE ON ROTOR)

(10 CAVITIES IN THE STATOR

AND 9 LOBES ON THE ROTOR )

MORE FLOW AREA WHICH

ALLOWS GREATER FLOW AND
GIVES
FASTER
SPEED
OF
ROTATON

REDUCED FLOW AREA GIVING

LOW SPEED OF ROTATION BUT
HIGH TORQUE.

VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS OF PDMS: 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 9/10

TO INCREASE THE POWER AND TORQUE BY THE PDM MORE NO. OF STAGES ARE
INCORPORATED. ONE STAGE IS EQUIVALENT TO ONE COMPLETE SPIRAL OF THE
STATOR. USUALLY THERE ARE THREE STAGES IN A MOTOR. BUT IN SOME CASES 4
OR 6 STAGES ARE ALSO USED.

Measurement While Drilling

MWD is the process by which certain
information is measured near the bit and
transmitted
to
the
surface
without
interrupting normal drilling operation.

The type of information may

be :
1)Directional data
2)Formation characteristics
3)Drilling parameters

Telemetry Systems :
A. Positive Pulse System :
a restrictor valve operated by hydraulic
actuator valve which increases the stand
pipe pressure due to temporary restriction
in flow.
To transmit data valve is operated several
times creating a series of pulses.
Surface transducer detects the pulses and
are decoded by surface computer.
The surface computer initially detects a set
of reference pulses, which are followed by
the data pulse.
The message is decoded by detecting the
presence or absence of a pulse within a
particular time frame.
B. Negative Pulse System :
C. Continuous Wave System :
Other systems: Wired Drill pipe,
Acoustic wave

Introduction of Rotary Steerable Systems

Types of Rotary Steerable

Systems
Push the Bit

Push the Bit

PointPoint
the Bitthe Bit

Rotary Steerable System

Constant trajectory control

Smooth and cleaner well bore
Less drag and risk of stuck pipe
Optimizes drilling parameters
Greater extended reach
Increased ROP
Reduced drilling costs
Two way comunication

Major Advantage Of RSS

over
Motors Steering

Motors

Poor Hole
Cleaning hence
more chances of
losing BHA
Chances of getting
differentially stuck
Low ROP
High Tortuosity in
well bore

RSS

RSS avoids all of

above problems
RSS can finish a
sidetrack much
faster than Motor
RSS can drill
longer drain holes
RSS can drill larger
number of drain
holes per well

Methods of Steering
Push-the-bit (PowerDrive Xtra, X5,
PowerV)
Side force applied to the bit to
increase side cutting action
Point-the-bit (PowerDrive Xceed)
Introduces an offset to the bit
trajectory. Analogous to steering
with a bent motor

Roatatry steeeable system

(Push the Bit Principle)

Side force or push the bit tool

Pads extend dynamically from a rotating
housing
Compact and Logistically Simple

RSS (Push the bit)

Drive Side Force

3 pads driven by hydraulic actuators

The pads apply lateral force to the formation and
push the assembly in the required direction

Pad out

Pad in

Steerable Systems Push the Bit

Stationa
ry
control
valve

Synchronous
Modulated Bias

BUILD

Stationary control
valve

RIGHT
TURN

Control Unit

Turbine powered electronics do not limit run life.

Interchangeable control units permit on-site tool
servicing.
Inclination and Azimuth measurements close to bit

RSS (Point the bit)

No annular obstruction
Cuttings are removed more efficiently; improved ROP.
Reduced chance of packing off.
Reduced chance of sticking in casing shoes, windows
and on whip stocks.
Less chance of drilling spiraled hole.

No anchor holding back the tool.

Improved penetration rate.
Allows standard drilling operations.
Reaming/back reaming.

RSS (Point the bit)

Less dependence on the borehole size and shape.
No requirement of pressure drop across the tool.
Improved steer ability due to point-to-bit
technology.
No external moving parts lesser chance of a
stuck pipe.
Allows over gauge hole to be steered.
Fixed curve deflection gives more predictable
dog leg.
Improves chance of hitting the target.

Point the bit

Uses geometry of BHA to provide

directionality
Relies on offset of drive-shaft from axis of
collar
Steering analogous to bent motors

Point The Bit

3 sections Power Generation, Sensors/Control, Steering
All external parts rotate less chance of stuck pipedard
spiral stabilizers in contact with formation
Real-time continuous TF, Inclination & Azimuth relayed by
MWD
Sensor package is 12 ft. from bit
Magnetic and gravity toolface measurements
Capability to Kick-off from vertical

Point the bit Reliability

High reliability through:
Proven MWD sensor and servo technology, 150oC
rating
All steering control in oil bath, no moving seals,
external moving parts.
Designed to operate in abrasive environments
Stick slip indicator measurements
Downhole collar RPM measurement
Comptible with LWD

Point the Bit Rotary Steerable System

Point the Bit - Steering Control

Tool has 2 modes while drilling / rotating:

Straight Mode: Tool face nutates at 2 rpm

Steering Mode: Tool face is held geostationary
via DC motor by rotating eccentric same speed
as collar, but opposite
> Build-up Rate is varied by changing mode timing
> Build-rate of ~8/100ft when in 100% steering
mode

Straight mode

Orienting motor rotated at speed different to

collar speed.
Bit shaft nutates & drills 1/8-in.over-gauge
hole

Benefits of Point the Bit

Tough Environment Rotary Steerable System
Abrasive Sands, High BUR, High temperature, Soft
formations, Transition for hard to soft formations, Bi center

Resistance to wear from Externally very similar to a

motor.
abrasive formations.
Less chance of Stuck pipe.No stationary or moving external
parts. Annular bottlenecks
Consistent dogleg
Deflection principle based on
capability
Reduced time to downlink BHA curvature.
Commands made while drilling.
Openhole sidetracks
No dependence on bore hole for
Will operate in all
deflection.
formation strengths
Independent of external forces

Horizontal Well
and
Drilling Multilaterals.

HORIZONTAL WELL APPLICATIONS

Reservoir subject to water gas coning.

Reservoir with thin oil columns.
Reservoirs with vertical fractures.
Low productivity reservoirs.
Heavy oil reservoirs.
Extended reach wells.
Multilateral wells.

Horizontal Well Advantages

Lower gas and water cut
Higher productivity index with less pressure
draw down.
Increased drainage area with reduced pressure

gradient.
Slower reservoir pressure decline as a result
of lower gross fluid production.
Increased oil recovery because of improved
volumetric sweep efficiency

Advantages Over Vertical Wells

Maximize oil recovery efficiency
Increase of production from low permeability
reservoir, resulting in increase in pi by 3 - 5
times (Due to larger contact area decreased
reservoir energy requirement)
Enhancement of production from fractured
reservoir.
Reach irregular reservoirs without additional
wells
Reduces the coning effect

Multilateral CLASSIFICATION

Level - 6 Level-6/6S Casing or down

hole splitter with Integral
pressure seal at junction
provided by casing

Level-5 multilateral with

pressure integrity provided by
completion equipment.
Level-5

Level-3 Main bore cased

and cemented, Lateral Cased
and not cemented, but anchored
to mother bore

Level-4 Main bore and Lateral

Level - 4Cased and cemented,
No hydraulic integrity at
junction
Level-3
Level - 2 Level-2 Main bore cased and
cemented, Junction open hole

Level-2

Leve - 1 Level-1 Open hole sidetracks

Main trunk and lateral
open hole
Source- SPE 64699

MULTILATERAL SELECTION
CRITERIA
Level-5 & 6 required for zonal isolation
Level 4 - Support of cement required at junction,
minimize sand production.
Level 3 -Metal support required at junction in
unconsolidated formation (shale).
Sand production not the concern.
Level 2 - Cased main well bore / junction open in
consolidated formation
Level 1- All branches in same producing zone
to increase drainage area, cheapest
option

TECHNOLOGY USED

Geosteering
and
Logging While
Drilling

Steerable Systems - GeoSteering Tool

Trajectory control with immediate information on

bit direction and BHA tendencies.
Instrumented sub as an integral section of a PowerPak motor

Electromagnetic transmission of survey and

geological data to the MWD
Data transmitted to the surface via MWD
telemetry

Advantage of GeoSteering Tool

Planned placement of the wellbore

Identification of geological boundaries while

drilling

Trajectory corrections based on geological

results

Enables thinner zones to be drilled

Comaptablie the LWD

Advantage of LWD