RECOMMENDATIONFORESPDEVIATIONS&DOGLEGS

Dogleg severity has become a major concern for wells that may be produced by electric submersible pumps
(ESPs). In general, any artificial lift type can be significantly impacted based upon wellbore trajectory. In an
efforttoclarifytheimpacttoESPs,arecommendedguidelineisbeingestablished.Asabackground,thestandard
rulesofthumbintheESPindustryhavebeen:

MaxDoglegSeverity:6degrees/100feet
TangentSectionforESPOperation:1degree/100feetwithanoverallminimumlengthof150feet

Industry experience is that these are very conservative values and do not consider casing size/weight or ESP
diameter.

InwellsthatareexpectedtogeneratehighGOR(GLR)ratios,pumpsubmergenceisimportanttoobtainmaximize
production.Ahighdegreedoglegcanlimitthemaximumpumpdepthandthereforemaylimitproductionfrom
thewell.Formaximizepumpsubmergence,itisimportanttomaintainbuildrateswithinguidelines.

AfterresearchanddiscussionwiththeESPsuppliers,thefollowingtableissetforthasarecommendedguideline
fordrillingoperations.Pleasenote,thesevaluesareconsideredindustrymaximum.MostESPsupplierswould
prefermoreconservativevaluesthanthoseoutlinedinthetablebelow.

Table1RecommendedGuidelines
EquipmentSize

CasingSize

MaxAllowable
Dogleg/100ft

338Series(3.38OD)

410.5#

12

100ft1.50/100ft

Maximum
DeviationatESP
OperatingPoint
90

338Series(3.38OD)

411.6#

10

160ft1.50/100ft

90

120ft

456Series(4.56OD)

515.5#

12

100ft1.50/100ft

90

50ft
135ft

456Series(4.56OD)

517#

TangentSection
Length/MaxDogleg

MaxString
Length
50ft

10

170ft1.5 /100ft

90
90

67ft

538Series(5.38OD)

723#

12

100ft1.50/100ft

538Series(5.38OD)

726#

10

170ft1.50/100ft

90

123ft

562Series(5.62OD)

723#

11

100ft1.50/100ft

90

67ft

170ft1.50/100ft

90

562Series(5.62OD)
726#
9
123ft

Logically,therewillbequestionsofpastexperiencewherebytheseguidelineshavebeenexceeded.Exceeding
these guidelines significantly increases the risk to damage of the ESP equipment during installation and
subsequentoperationifsuccessfullyinstalled.

GeneralRecommendations:
1.
2.
3.

4.

DrillingshouldnotexceeddoglegseverityguidelinesofTable1.
Therepresentativefromtheoperatingcompanyshouldalwaysaskthesuppliertoevaluatethedogleg
severityonawellbywellbasis.Therepresentativeshouldhighlightanyrisksorconcerns.
Two tangent sections may be advisable in many cases as follows (considered on a well by well basis;
basedonprojectGLRandprojectedproductionrates):
a. Tangentsection1atahigherpointinthewellbore(lowsailangle)
b. Tangentsection2inthehorizontalsectionformaximumpumpsubmergence.
ESPEquipmentGuidelines:
a. RunflatESPcablefromsurfacetothemotorleadextension(MLE)onallhorizontalorhighly
deviatedwells.Runthesmallestprofiletechnicallyacceptable.
b. Install the shortest possible ESP string when maximum doglegs guidelines are being
approached.
i. In this case; the use of tandem seals may not be recommended. However, multi
chamber single section seals should be utilized if volume and redundancy is
recommended.

c.
d.

5.

Avoidtheuseoflabyrinthsealsinallhorizontalwells
Avoidtheuseofrotarygasseparators;utilizevortexseparatorsifgasseparationisrequired.
i. TheuseoforientedintakesinhorizontalwellswithhighGLRratiosmaybeadvisable
e. Utilizesamelengthpumphousingswheninstallingtandemsectionpumps.
InstallationGuidelines
a. Cable continuity checks to be completed every 500 feet during installation in horizontal or
highlydeviatedwells.
b. Installcableclamps(e.g.preformedorcasttype)onallhorizontalorhighlydeviatedwells.
c. Utilize(install)cableguardsaroundtheESP(fromthemotortothepumpdischargehead).
d. Avoid,orminimize,theuseofcablebands.
e. Utilizeafulljointoftubingonthepumpdischargehead(avoidashortsub).
f. AttempttopasstheESPthroughahighdoglegsectiononacontinous,smooth,rate.
Thetangentsectionshouldnotexceed90degreesdeviation.

6.

Drilling7casedwellsallowsgreaterflexibilitywithdoglegsanddeviations.Accordingly,7casedwellswilloffer
moreoptionswithartificialliftwithregardstoequipmentandpumpsettingdepths.