here are three azimuth reference systems: True (Geographic North), Grid

North and Magnetic North.

Geographic North: In geographic coordinates directions are referred to true
north, or a true azimuth. Geographic north points to the North Pole; this
direction is indicated by the polar star.
Grid North: Grid north is an arbitrary direction and is always in the direction
of the positive ordinate axis of the specific grid used for a particular survey.
Magnetic North: Magnetic north
compass. Magnetic azimuths are
north and south magnetic poles
be in error due to local magnetic

can be measured by a simple magnetic

not constant due to the movement of the
and hence magnetic measurements may
field variations.

In oil wells, all surveys with magnetic type tools are initially given an
azimuth reading referenced to Magnetic North. However, the final
calculated coordinates are always converted to either True North or Grid
North.
Magnetic Declination: Magnetic north and true north do not coincide. The
divergence between true north and magnetic north is different for most
points on the earths surface, and in addition to this the magnetic north
pole changes its position very slightly each year.
The angle in degrees between true and magnetic north is called the
declination angle. The declination angle is negative if magnetic north lies to
the west of true north and is positive if the magnetic north lies to the east
of true north (refer figure below).

The azimuth of a wellbore at any point is defined as the direction of the

wellbore on a horizontal plane measured clockwise form a north reference.
Azimuths are usually expressed in angles from 0-360 , measured from zero
north.
Note: West Declination is always Subtracted and East Declination is always
Added. i.e., TRUE NORTH = MAGNETIC NORTH (DECLINATION)

Azimuth on horizontal plane, 20 degrees wrt True North

Azimuths can also be expressed in a quadrant system from 0-90 measured

from north in the northern quadrants and from south in the southern
quadrants.
The figure above shows azimuth reading of 135 equates to S45 E in
quadrant
readings.
Measured in: degree

INCLINATION
The angle of the well bore defined by a tangent line at any point of wellbore
and a vertical line is called the inclination. The vertical line is always parallel
to the direction of earth's gravity. By industry standard, 0 degree inclination
is vertical (downward pointing) and 90 degrees inclination is horizontal. An
inclination (angle) greater than 90 degrees coincides with the term "drilling

up".
Measured in: degree

NOTE: AZIMUTH & INCLINATION ARE ALSO TERMED AS DIRECTION

AND
ANGLE
RESPECTIVELY.
MEASERED DEPTH (MD) & TRUE VERTICAL DEPTH (TVD)
Measured Depth (MD): Measured depth (MD) is the distance measured
along the well path from one reference point to the survey point.
Measured
in:
Feet
(ft)
or
metre
(m)

True Vertical Depth: The vertical distance from a point in the well (usually
the current or final depth) to a point at the surface, usually the elevation
of the rotary kelly bushing (RKB) is called the true vertical depth (TVD) at
that
point.
Measured
in:
Feet
(ft)
or
metre
(m)
It is to be noted that MD TVD in all cases.

VERTICAL SECTION (VS)

A projection of the borehole into a vertical plane parallel to the course
bearing and scaled with vertical depth.
KICK OFF POINT (KOP), BUILD, HOLD & DROP
Kick off Point (KOP): The kick off point is defined as the point below the
surface location from where the well is deflected from the vertical. The
position of the kick off depends on several parameters including: geological
considerations, geometry of well and proximity of other wells.

Build Up: It is the act of increasing the inclination of the drilled hole wrt
vertical.
Build Section: That portion of the hole in which the inclination angle is
increased; rate of buildup is usually expressed as the angular increase per
100 feet of measured depth.
Build Up Rate (BUR): It is the rate of change (degrees/100 feet or
degrees/30 metre) of the increasing angle in the hole.
Drop off: It is the act of reducing the inclination of the drilled hole wrt
vertical.
Drop Section: That portion of the hole in which the inclination angle is
decreased; rate of drop off is usually expressed as the angular increase per
100 feet of measured depth.
Drop off Rate: The rate of change of the inclination in the part of the
wellbore where the inclination angle is purposely returned toward vertical,
usually expressed in degrees per feet or course length.
Hold: The act of maintaining the inclination and azimuth of the wellbore to
remain constant as it is.
Tangent or Hold Section: The portion of hole in which the inclination and
azimuth is maintained the same throughout the section.
In the figure below, KB means Kelly Bushing, RT means Rotary Table, DF
means Derrick Floor, EOB is for End of Build (i.e., the point at which the
Building ends and we either hold or drop the wellbore path).

RECTANGULAR

COORDINATES

Rectangular coordinates of a target are usually given in feet/meters

North/South and East/West of the local reference point. They can be easily
derived by subtracting the grid coordinates of the surface location from
those of the target.
The rectangular coordinates can be used to calculate the departure
(horizontal displacement) between the surface location and the bottom hole
target as follows:
Departure = [( E/W)2+ ( N/S2)]1/2
where: denotes difference in coordinates between E/W or N/S
POLAR COORDINATES
Polar coordinates can be derived from the rectangular coordinates. They
are expressed as a distance (departure) and as a direction (either Quadrant
or azimuth).
Polar coordinates are derived from the rectangular coordinates as follows:
Azimuth = tan-1 (( E/W Coordinates)/( N/S Coordinates))
Now let us try to solve a problem based on the above concept of
Rectangular and Polar coordinates.
We have been provided the grid coordinates of the surface and target
location. We need to find theDeparture and Azimuth of the target from the
surface location.

Grid Coordinates: Target

6,334,400.00 N (m)
Grid Coordinates: Surface 6,335,000.00 N (m)

200,600.00 E (m)
200,400.00 E (m)

Now let us calculate the rectangular coordinates.

N/S = N/S (target) - N/S (surface) = 6,334,400.00 - 6,335,000.00 = 600 m
E/W = E/W (target) - E/W (surface) = 200,600.00 - 200,400.00 = 200
m
Now, Azimuth = tan-1 (( E/W Coordinates)/( N/S Coordinates))
thus, Azm = tan-1 (200/-600) = -18.4 degree
Also, Departure = [( E/W)2+ ( N/S2)]1/2
thus, Departure = [(200)2+ (-600)2)]1/2 = 632.5 m
Hence in polar coordinates, the target is 632.5 m at an azimuth of 161.6
degree (S18.4W).These coordinates are plotted in figure below: