DIRECTIONAL

DRILLING
BASIC MATHEMATICS

FOR WELL PLAN

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 The Basics
What is the relationship between Circumference, Radius & π ?
We know that :

Circumference = 2π Rc = πD = 360° ARC

Therefore:
Diameter 360 = 2π Rc
Radius
360 / 2 = π Rc
or 1 Radius
1 RA 180 = π Rc
1 RA 180 / π = Rc
1 unit of Radius = 1 Radian (Ra)

180 / π = Ra = 57.2958°

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 Build Up Rate
Where does the equation for Build Up Rate come from?

Build Up Rate is the Arc of a circle divided

360°
by the Circumference:
360° / Circumference = BUR
360 / (2 x π x Rc) = BUR
180 / (π x Rc) = BUR
Because we prefer to work in whole
numbers, we need to multiply this value by
the unit length. For feet we use a 100’
length as a unit (i.e. degrees per 100’)

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 Build Up Rate
This now makes our BUR equation:
BUR (in °/ 100’) = 180 x 100 / (π x Rc)
360°

With Metric wells the unit length is usually

30m. For this type of well:
BUR (in °/ 30m) = 180 x 30 / (π x Rc)
A derivative of this equation can be used to
find Radius from a BUR:
Rc = 180 x 100’ / (π x BUR)

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 Arc Lengths & Angles
To find the Arc AB Given that we know :
Circumference = 2πr = 360° Arc

Arc AB will be a fraction of the Circumference,

A the ratio of this fraction will be the Arc angle
divided by the Circumference Arc (360°):

θ Arc AB = 2π Rc x θ / 360°
Arc AB = π Rc x θ /180°
B
With:
BUR (in °/ 100’) = 180 x 100 / (π x Rc)
We can derive:
Arc AB = θ x 100’ / BUR

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 Radius of Curvature Projection
We need Radius of Curvature Projection primarily when we are landing
horizontal wells. This gives a relationship between Inclinations, BURs and
either ∆TVD or ∆Displacement.
A B C If we consider the Arc AD we know that:
θ
CD = Rc (radius of curvature)
D
We can find ∆TVD:

∆TVD = BD = Rc x Sin θ

And the ∆Displacement

∆Disp = AB = Rc - Rc x Cos θ
= Rc(1 – Cos θ)
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 Radius of Curvature Projection
When we compare two points on the curve:
If we consider the Arc DF we know that:

A B E ∆TVD = XF = EF - BD = Rc x Sin I2 - Rc x Sin I1

= Rc(Sin I2 - Sin I1)
I1 C = 180 x 100 / π (Sin I2 - Sin I1) / BUR
I2
D X
And the ∆Displacement
F
∆Disp = DX = CB - CE = (Rc x Cos I1) - ( Rc x Cos I2 )
= Rc(Cos I1 - Cos I2)
= 180 x 100 / π (Cos I1 - Cos I2)/BUR

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 Radius of Curvature Projection
When we compare two points on the curve:

If we consider the Arc DF we know that:

A B E
I1 C Arc DF = θ x 100’ / BUR
I2
D X
θ is the difference between the two inclinations so:
F
Arc DF = I2 - I1 x 100’ / BUR

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