CHAPTER-6

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

Directional drilling is much more than simply selecting a well path and

hole angle. It includes selecting the most appropriate survey techniques,

defining the best control tools, researching applicable government regulations,

and gathering pertinent geological data. In addition, the directional program

may alter or affect the casing and cement program, hydraulics, centralization

and completion techniques.

Controlled directional drilling is to process of deviating a well-bore along

a predetermined course to a target whose location is given as lateral distance

from the vertical. This definition is the basis for all controlled directional

drilling, whether to maintain the well-bore as nearly vertical as possible or as a

planned deviation from the vertical. Vertical drilling, although considered

fundamental in most areas, can be very difficult to achieve in some regions

due to steeply dipping formations.

Inaccessible Locations

Quite often, a target pay zone lies vertically beneath the surface

location that is impractical as a rig site. Common examples include a residential

locations, riverbeds, mountains, harbors, and roads. In these cases, a rig site

is selected and the well is drilled directionally into the target zone.

110
Multiple Wells Drilling from A Single Site

Perhaps the most common application for directional drilling is

associated with offshore production platforms. It is more economical, in most

cases, to drill a number of directional wells from a single platform than to

build individual platforms from vertical well. Some North Sea platforms have

capability to drill as many as 60 wells from the single

Figure 6-1 Directional drilling from an offshore platform (Courtesy

Wilson)

111
 Figure 6-2 Relief well drilling (Courtesy Wilson Directional Drilling)

structure. Multiple wells from a single site are not uncommon in land

operations. The basic principle is the economic consideration of building

multiple sites, pipelines, and production facilities. Most of the western Siberia

drilling is from multi-well sites (Figure 5-1 and 5-2).

Sidetracks

A frequently occurring cause for directional drilling is sidetracking. The

primary purpose is to deviate the well bore around and away from an

obstruction in the original well bore, such as stuck drill string. Generally

sidetracking cannot be defines as controlled directional drilling because it

does not have a predetermined target.

112
Relief Well Drilling

Possibly the most spectacular application of directional drilling is a

relief well to intersect a blowout well near the bottom so that mud and water

can be pumped into the blowout well. Directional control in this type of drilling

is stringent due to the extreme accuracy required to locate and intersect the

blowout well. Quite often, special logging tools are required in locating the

blowout well.

Multiple Targets

Geologist may define multiple target for a prospect that cannot be

drilled with a vertical well. It may be necessary to drill through one target and

alter the direction of the well to reach the next target. The targets may be in

two-dimensional plane such that the drift angle must be altered. Other cases

may involve three-dimensional planning such that the inclination and azimuth

must be changed.

Design Considerations

Assuming that a target and rig site have been selected, the directional

planning consideration are as follows:

-lateral, or horizontal, displacement from the target to a vertical line from

the rig site,

113
Figure 6-3 Directional planning considerations(Courtesy Wilson
Directional Drilling)

Figure 6-4 Straight kick (Courtesy Wilson Directional Drilling)

114
 Figure 6-5 S-type kick (Courtesy Wilson Directional Drilling)

-kick off point (KOP)

-desired build angle rate

-final drift angle

-plan type, straight kick vs. S curve

If an S curve is selected as the plan type the engineer must also select

a drop angle rate and a depth at which the hole must return to vertical (Figure

6-3).

Drift or Inclination Angle

115
 The drift, or inclination, of the well bore is the angle, measured in

degrees, between the actual well path, or some depth and a vertical line below

the rig site. This measurement is independent of the azimuth or course

heading. Typically this value will range from 15o to 35o. The minimum

acceptable drift angle of approximately 12o – 15o is desired by many industry

personnel. Drift angles less than this range are slightly more difficult to

control. In other words, it is usually easier to control a 20o well than a 10o well.

Although wells have been drilled in the 70o – 80o range, common upper

restraints are 45o – 48o. Hole angles greater than 45o – 48o begin to encounter

problems such as increased torque and drag as well as pump down

requirements for some logging operations. Many operators establish 35o as the

upper limit. The typical planning procedure is to establish minimum and

maximum acceptable drift angles and KOP (kick off point).

Kickoff Point (KOP)

The Kick off point (KOP) is the depth at which the well bore path will be

intentionally diverted from the vertical position. The KOP is usually selected in

soft, shallow formations where directional drilling is easier. In addition, the

KOP is often selected so the final angle build-up can be achieved prior to

setting surface casing. This approach minimises key-seat problems in the hole

section. The KOP affects the final inclination angle. Assume that a target

116
exists at 10000 ft TVD, 2000 ft north and 2800 ft east. If a build angle of

3o/100 ft is used, the following maximum inclination angles must be used for

various KOP's.

KOP, ft Inclination Angle,o

1500 23.0
2000 24.4
2500 26.0
3000 27.8
3500 29.9
4000 32.3
4500 35.1

Plan Type

Two plan types are used in directional drilling. The straight kick builds

angle and drills directionally through the target. The S curve will drop angle

prior to drilling into the target so entry is vertical. Perhaps the most

commonly used plan is a straight kick. The S curve requires careful

consideration prior to its implementation. Since the angle change will occur

deeper in the well where the formation are harder, directional contact may be

more difficult. In addition, the S curve will usually require 10-20 % more

drilling time than a straight kick. The S curve is selected primarily because it

allows vertical entry into the target zone. Many operator believe that vertical

entry may improve completion and production efficiency.

117
Build (and Drop) Angle Rates

The build angle rate describes the rate of angle decrease, prior to

returning to vertical. The rates are measured as degree per 100 ft of

wellbore path. Typical ranges for build and drop angle rates are 1-4o/100 ft

with 3o/100 ft being perhaps the most common. Values above 4o/100 ft can

create dog-leg and key seat problems.

Graphical Presentation

Most directional well plans are presented in graphical as well as tubular

form. The vertical section presentation shows a two-dimensional graph of the

lateral displacement from vertical. The horizontal section, or plan view,

illustrates the heading of the well path from the KOP and is usually

referenced to a north-south system.

Calculation Methods

The drilling industry currently uses computers to make most planning

and survey analysis calculations. Although the calculations are not extremely

difficult to make manually, the computer eases the difficulty and minimises

the possibility of errors.

118
Survey Techniques

The magnetic compass is widely used in making directional well surveys.

Magnetic survey instruments are available as:

-single shot instruments that take only one reading on a single photographic

disc film during one run into the well

-multiple-shot instruments recording many readings on a motion-picture type

of film during one run. The compass unit in both single and multi-shot

instruments is substantially the same.

Since magnetic instruments are susceptible to magnetic influence of

steel drill pipe and collars, they are generally run inside a non-magnetic drill

collar. The collar is often termed monel collar because of its composition of K-

monel steel. Consequently, a compass reading will only be influenced by the

earth’s magnetic poles, thus giving a true magnetic compass reading of the

direction and angle of the borehole at a depth at which the compass reading

was taken. A sufficient length for the monel collar should be used for the hole

angle. Another means of obtaining a directional survey is by the gyroscopic

method. Since a gyroscope is not influenced by magnetic disturbances, an

instrument using this principle can be used for determining the direction in

both cased and uncased holes and adjacent to magnetic bodies. The single shot

survey instrument is a precision instrument constructed and easy to operate.

It records the inclination and direction of the borehole on a film disc. This is

119
accomplished by photographing the position of the angle indicator, referenced

to a compass card with a calibrated angle unit. A timing mechanism allows the

tool to be positioned in the monel collar before the photograph is taken.

Calculation Techniques

Various procedures have been developed to estimate the well bore

trajectory as it is being drilled. The three most widely used methods are the

tangential, angle-averaging and radius of curvature methods.

The tangential method uses only the inclination and direction angles

measured at a lower end of the course length. The wellbore path is assumed to

be tangent to those angles throughout the section length. The wellbore path is

assumed to be tangent to these angles throughout the section length.

Although this method has probably been the most widely used approach, it is

the most inaccurate of the available methods.

north =  MD sin (I2) cos (A2)

east =  MD sin (I2) sin (A2)

vertical =  MD cos (I2)

The angle averaging is the simple average of the angles at the top and

bottom of the course length. The wellbore is calculated tangentially using

these two average angles over the course length. The wellbore is calculated

120
tangentially using these two average angles over the course length. The

method is simple and accurate.

north =  MD sin [(I1 + I2 ) / 2] cos [(A1 + A2 ) / 2]

east =  MD sin [(I1 + I2 ) / 2] sin [(A1 + A2 ) / 2]

vertical =  MD cos [(I1 + I2 ) / 2]

The radius-of-curvature method uses sets of angles measured at each

end of the course length to generate a space curve representing the wellbore

path. It has a shape of spherical arc passing through the measured angles at

both ends of the course. Although this approach is perhaps the most accurate

means of survey calculations, it is difficult to do manually and is better suited

for computer solutions.

north =  MD {[(cosI1 - cosI2 )] [(sinA2 – sinA1)]} / [(I2 – I1) (A2 – A1)]

east =  MD {[(cosI1 - cosI2 )] [(cosA1 – cosA2)]} / [(I2 – I1) (A2 – A1)]

vertical =  MD [(sinI1 - sinI2 )] / [(I2 – I1)]

Example 6-1

Use the following survey data to compare the three survey calculation

techniques.

121
 o
Measured Depth, Hole Angle, Azimuth
ft
3000 2 N28E
3300 4 N10E
3600 8 N35E
3700 12 N25E
5000 15 N30E
6000 16 N28E
7000 17 N50E
8000 17 N20E
9000 17 N30E
10000 17 N25E

Solution

The following table is obtained using three different techniques known

as tangential, average angle and radius of curvature.

Depth TVD North East/ TVD North East/ TVD North East/
/ West / West / West
South South South
3000 3000 0 0 3000 0 0 3000 0 0
3300 3299 20.6N 3.6E 3299 14.8N 5.1E 3299 14.8N 5.1E
3600 3596 54.8N 27.6E 3597 43.8N 17.1E 3597 43.5N 17.0E
3900 3889 113.3N 53.9E 3893 88.9N 43.2E 3893 88.6N 43.0E
5000 4952 357.9 196.3E 4963 316.7 161.3E 4962 316.2 161.5E
N N N
6000 5913 601.3 325.7 5926 550.4 291.7E 5926 550.0 291.1E
N E N N
7000 6869 789.2 549.7 6885 771.2 476.7 6885 769.3 468.7
N E N E N E
8000 7826 1063.9 649.7 7841 1010.7 673.7 7841 1006.1 634.7
N E N E N E
9000 8782 1317.1 795.8 8798 1275.6 761.8E 8797 1270.7 757.8
N E N N E
10000 9738 1582.1 919.4E 9754 1535.0 896.4 9754 1530.0 892.4
N N E N E

122
Dogleg Severity

Large angle changes occurring over short course length can place high

bending stresses on the pipe. In addition to these, doglegs can cause

keyseating problems. Most operators place a limit on the amount of angle

change allowable over a 100 ft segment. Generally the limit is 4o-6o per 100 ft.

Doglegs that occur at shallow and deep intervals are concerns for different

reasons. Although shallow doglegs tend to wash out and enlarge in softer

formations, they can cause increasing problems due to high string weights

hanging at the doglegs as the well deepens. Dogleg calculation technique based

on the tangential method.

DL = 100 / {(L) [(sinI1 . sinI2) (sinA1 . sinA2 + cosA1 . cosA2) + (cosI1 . cosI2)]

DL = dogleg, o/100 ft

L = course length, ft

o
I1 . I2 = inclination at upper and lower surveys,

o
A1 . A2 = direction at upper and lower surveys,

123
Example 6-2

Calculate the dogleg severity for the two successive surveys as follows:

Properties Survey I Survey II

Depth, ft 4231 4262
Inclination 13.5o 14.7o
Azimuth N10E N19E

Solution:

DL = 100 / {(L) [(sinI1 . sinI2) (sinA1 . sinA2 + cosA1 . cosA2) + (cosI1 . cosI2)]

DL = 100 / {(31) [(sin13.5 . sin14.7) (sin10 . sin19 + cos10 . cos19) + (cos13.5 .

cos14.7)]

DL = 3.229o / 100 ft

124