IADC/SPE 62784
The Benefits of Monitoring Torque & Drag in Real Time
Bart E. Vos, SPE, and Frank Reiber, Baker Hughes INTEQ
Copyright 2000, IADC/SPE Asia Pacific Drilling Technology
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2000 IADC/SPE Asia Pacific Drilling
Technology held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11–13 September 2000.
This paper was selected for presentation by an IADC/SPE Program Committee following
review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the
paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the International Association of Drilling
Contractors or the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the
author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the IADC or
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Abstract
Monitoring Torque and Drag effects in real time has been
done for some time now in the oil industry. However, the
service is still used only in a small percentage of the total
drilling hours and the analyzing techniques used are quite
diverse.
The real-time Torque and Drag technique described in this
paper is in many ways advantageous compared to the pre-
calculated hook load (HKLD) and surface torque comparison
techniques typically used in the industry. Several delimiters
are filtered out of the equation and current drilling conditions
are used automatically and directly in the calculations and
evaluations. Monitoring Torque and Drag in the described way
gives direct information on current down hole drilling
conditions and predicts upcoming situations. This allows the
driller to go closer to the limit of the drillstring load capacity
in a controlled manner, thereby optimizing tool use whilst
maintaining safety on the rig.
Combined monitoring of Torque and Drag and the
Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) shows clear
correlations, and gives additional information on hole cleaning
conditions. The technique also helps to optimize reaming
programs - reaming correctly and only when necessary -, to
save rig time and improve weight transfer.
Monitoring Torque and Drag in real time is part of a
service package that analyzes the available data at the rig-site
and converts them into valuable information. This information
is subsequently used to improve well profitability by
optimizing drilling efficiency and increasing well productivity.
Introduction
This paper gives an in-depth description of the benefits of
monitoring Torque and Drag in real time at the example of
several case histories. Monitoring Torque and Drag effects in
real time has been introduced to the drilling industry many
years ago, mainly in the form of pre-calculating the HKLD
and surface torque with different friction factors and
comparing these to current HKLD and surface torque
measured on the rig. The technique used in this paper
improves on the conventional procedure in many ways. It
improves the value of the service in such a profound way that
it can be considered as a new level service.
Several case histories built on field data serve as examples
of the information gathered by monitoring all the forces and
moments acting on and within the drillstring. The case
histories show and explain a clear correlation between real-
time calculated friction factors and ECD. They quantify
reaming and mud additive effects, and provide insight into
hole cleaning effects.
Learning points from the evaluation of the real time
Torque and Drag monitoring lead to new drilling practices that
push further hole cleaning and Extended Reach Drilling
(ERD) limitations. The paper also shows how the combined
application of new down hole measurement tools, analyzing
techniques and surface computer software capabilities can
significantly contribute to the optimization of the drilling
process.
Monitoring Torque & Drag in Real Time
The technique used to monitor Torque and Drag in real time is
described in detail in a previous paper1. In essence, the
drillstring placed in a certain borehole and survey is evaluated
as a force & torque equilibrium using measured surface values
and downhole values as input parameters.
The following is a concise overview of the technique. Two
factors affect friction. The normal force between the pipe and
the wellbore and the coefficient of friction between the contact
surfaces, the friction factor. The normal force is a result of the
effects of gravity on the drillstring, the buoyancy force, the
elasticity of the drillstring and the effects of tension and
compression acting through curvature of the wellbore. The
forces are shown schematically in Fig. 1. The model considers
the drillstring to be made up of short segments, joined by
connections that transmit tension, compression, torsion, and
2 E.B.VOS, F.REIBER
bending moment. The friction factor is the ratio of the friction
force to the normal contact force and is iterated along the
wellpath.
The forces and moments measured at surface and at the bit
are the boundary conditions in the equation. If a downhole tool
is deployed to monitor downhole weight on bit (DWOB) and
downhole torque on bit (DTOB) the calculation can run during
drilling. If DWOB and DTOB are not measured the
calculation has to be done when the bit is off bottom so that it
can be assumed that the forces and moments at the lower
boundary are zero. The complete list of input parameters is
graphically displayed in Fig. 2. All the input parameters are
always available on the rig except for the optional DWOB and
DTOB.
The real time Torque and Drag service improves the
quality of the output compared to the off-line calculation
especially by using data measured at the rigsite as input. A
sophisticated real-time software program gathers the data and
updates necessary available data automatically. The software
processes this information, allowing the field service engineer
(FSE) to combine the results with other critical parameters of
the drilling process. The combined interpretation of this
information with respect to current drilling activities and other
parameters measured at the rig provides another improvement
on the output.
Comparing the real time Torque and Drag technique to the
conventional HKLD and surface torque values calculated
using various friction factors, there are a number of
advantages:
• The real-time data evaluation delivers highly improved
information because it eliminates unknown delimiters,
e.g. actual mudweight and actual survey, used in
conventional calculation
• Alterations in the load and torque distribution can be
detected clearly and swiftly. The friction factors change
only when the load and torque distribution changes,
whereas a conventional HKLD or torque change can
indicate many things.
• Friction factors can be related immediately to offset wells
independent of drillstring, survey, mudweight and casing
design used in those wells.
• The difference between the rotary friction factors and the
non-rotary friction factors is clearly shown. This produces
a rationale for optimized well designs that focus on
enhancing weight and torque transfer, which is essential
in ERD. Consequently, the risk of getting stuck is reduced
considerably. Conventional HKLD and surface torque
comparisons to pre-calculated values conceal the relation
between weight transfer in sliding mode and in rotary
mode.
• The effects of wiper trips, mud additives and mud weight
changes can be quantified directly from the friction
factors computed using real-time data, while they would
confound the conventional comparison technique.
• Compared to the post-well friction factor calculation and
evaluation, this system has an advantage in delivering
IADC/SPE 62784
direct information that can be related to rig activities
immediately.
Comparing ECD to Friction Factor Trends
The following data are from a well drilled in 1998 offshore
Denmark. Drilling was conducted using a downhole pressure
tool plus a real-time Torque and Drag service to monitor hole
cleaning and all other mechanical and hydromechanical
effects. The real-time Torque and Drag software used only
surface data as input, requiring no additional hardware on the
rig. Measured down hole pressure was converted into
Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) at the surface. The real-
time Torque and Drag software used the measured surface
torque during off bottom rotation to determine a friction
factor. The section of the well discussed here is a 8 ½”
sidetrack coming from a 9 5/8” casing. The section is
horizontal, drilling constantly at roughly 320-deg. azimuth.
In Fig. 3, the friction factor and ECD are plotted over a
measured depth range of 3300-m to 5500-m. The effects of
extensive backreaming, gas influx and dogleg changes are
clearly visible and give distinct changes. The great value of
this example is that the trends of the friction factors and ECD
in the first 1000-meter interval are basically parallel. The
reason for this behavior can be explained only by concluding
that both parameters are a function of hole cleaning.
Poor hole cleaning, the accumulation of cuttings in the
borehole, can be seen in the downhole pressure signal2,3. Seen
from a pressure perspective the changes due to hole cleaning
are controlled by two mechanisms, cuttings falling out of
suspension and the narrowing of the annular flow area.
Usually a small ECD decrease can be seen at the beginning of
a cutting bed build up because the effect of cuttings falling out
of suspension is bigger than the effect of narrowing the
annular flow area. Continuation of the building of cutting beds
results in pack off and the ECD will increase again. After
bringing those cuttings back into suspension, a sharp increase
in ECD can be seen. Finally, as the cuttings are removed, the
ECD gradually decreases back to the initial value. The way the
two described mechanisms relate is depending on several
parameters, e.g. flowrate and hole geometry.
The friction factor is also affected by hole cleaning. After a
cutting bed has built, the friction increases caused by the
drillstring embedding in the cutting beds creating a higher
resistance against movement of the drillstring. As the normal
force along the drillstring depends only on the buoyant weight
and the borehole geometry, both independent of cutting
material in the wellbore, a higher friction factor is observed.
Differential sticking induced by a higher annular pressure due
to hole cleaning changes can make another contribution to a
higher friction factor.
In this example apparently the flow area restriction is a
more dominant mechanism in creating an extra pressure drop
in the annulus and therewith creating a higher ECD. The
cutting beds building up can also be seen by an increase in the
friction factor, as the resistance is increasing. The slow
building and removing of cutting beds can be seen to have a
IADC/SPE 62784 THE BENEFITS OF MONITORING TORQUE & DRAG IN REAL TIME
parallel effect on the ECD and the friction factor over a 1000-
meter period. Reaming at 4500-m and 5100-m MD (measured
depth) had an opposite effect as cuttings went into suspension,
increasing the ECD but lowering friction/resistance.
The consequence of hole cleaning having a parallel effect
on ECD and friction factors can be utilized in several different
ways. The additional information fosters a new notion on the
ways hole cleaning can be optimized. In this well it was found
that reaming out was very effective and necessary for hole
cleaning. But after a full round trip, cutting beds had built
again, and reaming in with gradually increasing rotary speed
was advised to lower ECD peaks and friction.
Monitoring the Effects of Wiper Trips, Lubricants
and Mud Weight Changes on Friction
In the spring of 1999, a reentry well was drilled offshore in
South East Asia. The real-time Torque and Drag service was
deployed to monitor and improve weight transfer and bore
hole conditions, as the field had a history of stuck pipe
incidents. The software used surface measurements to monitor
the complete load and torque distribution along the drillstring
during slack off (SO), pickup (PU) and rotation off bottom
(ROB). The section of the well discussed here is a 8 ½”
sidetrack that starts with a 30-deg. inclination, has two
building sections and ends with a short horizontal part. The
azimuth made a 90-deg. turn over the complete distance to end
at 270-deg.
Fig. 4, illustrates the results in the 8 ½” section. The
difference between the rotary friction factors and the sliding
friction factors suggests that a well design optimized for more
rotary drilling would enhance the weight and torque transfer
and reduce the chance of becoming stuck by approx. 40 %.
The average friction factors during ROB is 0.17 while the
average friction factors during SO and PU are 0.31 and 0.30
respectively. Other fields have additionally reported a
significant RPM dependency for rotary friction factors. These
data are all in contradiction of reported data in the literature4
that the downhole friction is direction independent.
Wiper trips and lubricants. The effects of wiper trips and
lubricants can be quantified directly from the computed
friction factors and can be seen changing friction factors by
approximately 30%. The wiper trip at 1,680-m MD and the
addition of a lubricant at 2180-m MD both showed a clear
jump in the friction factor trend, but they reacted differently.
Where the wiper trip showed a 25% change that held for a
longer time, the lubricant showed a 35% change that lasted for
a shorter period.
Mud weight changes. A slow mudweight rise in a later
section, from 1.10 to 1.13 s.g., showed a 10% increase in the
friction factors. This indicates that a slight increase in mud
column pressure already increased differential sticking
dramatically giving valuable information on reducing stuck
pipe incidents.
Qualifying Mud Additives
Another example on the value of real-time Torque and Drag
3
monitoring can be seen while experimenting with different
mud types and additives as shown in Fig. 5. Different mud
types were tested in similar offset wells. Monitoring this in
real time filtered out many of the delimiters and the friction
factor values could be related to rig activities immediately.
The software used surface data only and calculated the friction
factors during ROB. The different friction factors resulting
from different mud types are shown in Table 1.
Optimizing Weight Transfer, Safety and Reach
Possibilities
The real-time Torque and Drag service used for all examples
in this paper utilizes a state-of-the-art algorithm improved for
off-line calculations over the last decade. The complete load
and torque distribution on and within the drillstring is known
in real time all the time. This means that any occurrence of
buckling, either sinusoidal or helical, is detected and can be
forecasted. Fig. 6 shows an example of the way this is
displayed in the used software program. The occurrence and
type of buckling is displayed over the wellpath in this
theoretical case.
Optimizing weight transfer. The knowledge on current
drillstring stress also helps to monitor any Weight on Bit
Reserve that could be used to improve the rate of penetration
(ROP). Fig. 7 shows how the WOB reserve is portrayed using
the same example case as used in Fig. 6. The graph shows the
additional WOB created when lowering the HKLD. The curve
shows that any additional HKLD lowering below 125-kN
would create minimal extra WOB and lead to buckling.
Safety. The real time Torque and Drag monitoring also
allows you to check the current fatigue and yielding safety
margins while drilling. By monitoring the complete stress,
force and torque distribution on and within the drillstring, the
driller can operate closer to the limit while maintaining a
higher safety margin on the rig then ever before.
Reach possibility. When doing real-time Torque and Drag
monitoring, there is a need to know the tortuosity to be able to
assess its effect on Torque and Drag plus the effect on
drillstring integrity. Since an unambiguous definition of
tortuosity is not commonly used in the industry, tortuosity is
defined here as a two-plane dogleg change, and is stated in
deg/30 meters. By letting the software monitor the current
tortuosity of the well, it is feasible to calculate the possible
reach of the current drillstring. By knowing the possible reach
of the current assembly in the current well (information never
before available), informed decisions on upcoming
proceedings can be made, and penetration into the pay-zone
can be optimized.
The Value of Using Downhole Monitoring
When a real-time Torque and Drag utility is supplied with
downhole measured values, the information frequency and
quantity dramatically increases. Downhole WOB and TOB
measuring MWD tools, as described in literature5,6, enable the
algorithm to calculate while drilling, because the bottom
boundary condition is known all the time. While using the
4 E.B.VOS, F.REIBER
technique in drilling operation additional information, e.g. bit
rock interaction evaluation parameters, buckling, WOB
reserve information, fatigue safety factors and supplementary
statistical research on the parameters, are computed.
The improvement in the quality of the calculations mainly
comes from the fact that the normal force distribution along
the drillstring changes when applying WOB and TOB. When a
friction factor calculation is made during an off bottom
situation, the assumption is made that the friction factor does
not change with a normal force change and we can use that
same friction factor for the drilling situation. This assumption
is valid in a true Coulomb friction situation. However, since
the friction factor calculated in drilling is more a resistance
factor the change in normal force distribution along the
drillstring might change the friction factor and this will only
be seen when using a downhole sensor.
Combining real-time monitored friction factors with ECD
and vibration data additionally adds the potential for
knowledge inference. By looking at the same problem from
different perspectives and using different parameters, new
insights have been found in hole cleaning, drilling
performance, and wellbore stability.
The Value of Using Software to Look at the Big
Picture
In the last decade computer power has increased and interfaces
with the user have been simplified. The possibility to have a
computer convert drilling data into practical information is not
fully utilized in the industry as of yet. The rise of neural
networks7 will let the computer filter out many delimiters and
present workable parameters to the FSE. Current and
upcoming data analyzing software is allowing the FSE to have
a much better overview over the complete drilling process,
employing a lot more data. The software package described in
this paper lets the user focus on the overview while staying in
contact with the details, as the service combines multiple
information sources into well-founded conclusions and
recommendations.
Conclusions
Several case studies have shown the value of monitoring
Torque and Drag in real time. The described technique is
superior to the traditional HKLD and surface torque
comparison technique. It filters out several delimiters to
improve the comparison possibilities and simplify the
detection of upcoming drilling process changes. Next to this, it
delivers new information, e.g. drillstring integrity monitoring
parameters that were not available in real time before.
A good correlation between ECD and calculated friction
factors over a section of more than 1000 meters shows that
both are a function of hole cleaning and react to it in a similar
fashion. This leads to multiple improvement possibilities to
enhance hole cleaning and research the available data.
An effective reaming program can be set up and optimized
on the job using a real-time Torque & Drag service. By using
all the available information, e.g. WOB reserve and reach
IADC/SPE 62784
possibilities, drilling can be optimized while increasing safety
on the rig.
It is anticipated that a real-time Torque and Drag technique
together with downhole pressure analysis and downhole
vibration monitoring will become standard in the oil industry
for overall drilling process optimization.
Nomenclature
Fn = Normal Force
Ff = Friction Force
Ft = Axial tension at lower end of element
∆ Ft = Increase in axial tension over length of element
M = Torsion at lower end of element
∆M = Increase of torsion over length of element
α = Azimuth at lower end of element
∆α = Increase in azimuth over length of element
φ = Inclination at lower end of element
∆φ = Increase in inclination over length of element
µ = Friction factor between pipe and wellbore
W = Buoyed weight of drillstring element.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the management of Baker Hughes INTEQ
for their support and permission to publish this paper. Thanks
are extended to all individuals who contributed to the
development of the real-time Torque and Drag technique;
Thomas Dahl, Ingo Fehrlage, Thorsten Roessel, John
Macpherson and Gerald Heisig.
References
1. Reiber, F.; Vos, B.E.; Eide S.E.: “On-Line Torque & Drag:
A Real-Time Drilling Performance Optimization Tool”, SPE
52836 (March 1999).
2. Johancsik, C.A.; Friesen, D.B.; Dawson, C.R.: "Torque and
Drag in Directional Wells-Prediction and Measurement",
IADC/SPE 11380 presented at the IADC/SPE 1983 Drilling
Conference.
3. Charlez, Ph.A.; Easton, M.; Morrice, G.: “Validation of
Advanced Hydraulic Modeling using PWD Data”, OTC
8804 (May 1998).
4. Ward, C.D.; Andreassen, E.: “Pressure While Drilling Data
Improves Reservoir Drilling Performance”, SPE/IADC
37588 (March 1997).
5. Heisig, G.; Sancho, J.; Macpherson, J.D.: "Downhole
Diagnosis of Drilling Dynamics Data Provides New Level
Drilling Process Control to the Driller", SPE 49206
(September 1998).
6. Falconer, I.G; Belaskie, J.P.; Variava, F.: ”Application of a
Real Time Wellbore Friction Analysis”, SPE 18649, (1989).
7. Dashevskiy,D; Dubinsky, V; Macpherson, J.D.: “
Application of Neural Networks for predictive Control in
Drilling Dynamics”, SPE 56442, (1999).
SI Metric Conversion Factors
m x 3.280840 E+00 = ft
s.g. x 8.3287 E+00 = PPG
kN x 0.2248 E+00 = klbf
IADC/SPE 62784 THE BENEFITS OF MONITORING TORQUE & DRAG IN REAL TIME 5

Fig 1 – The forces and moments on a drillstring element as used in the software algorithm.

Drillstring data Survey Data

Sensor Data:
OD, ID, Weight, ... Bit Depth
HKLD
Surface Torque
Downhole WOB
Tensile Strength Downhole TOB
Yield Strength RPM
Endurance Limit

Borehole ID Mud Weights

Rig Data

Fig. 2 – The input parameters needed for a Torque and Drag calculation (downhole parameters optional).
6 E.B.VOS, F.REIBER IADC/SPE 62784

C o m p a riso n F rictio n F a cto r & E C D

a ve ra ged m eas u red E C D 0 .3

1 .7 9 a ve ra ged F ric tion F a c to r
0 .2 8
Gas decrease and
decreasing ROP
1 .7 7 0 .2 6

0 .2 4
1 .7 5

Friction Factor [-]

0 .2 2
ECD [s.g.]

1 .7 3 Increasing ROP
0 .2

1 .7 1 0 .1 8

0 .1 6
1 .6 9 Extensive Extensive
Gas increase aiding backreaming backreaming 0 .1 4
1 .6 7 in holecleaning Higher doglegs
0 .1 2

1 .6 5 0 .1
3 300 3 500 3 700 3 900 4 100 4 300 4 500 4 700 4 900 5 100 5 300 5 500
M e as u red D ep th [m ]

Fig. 3 – A comparison graph to relate the ECD to the Friction Factors produced over a 2200-meter depth range.

Rotation off Bottom

8 1/2" Hole section
Pick up
0.45 Slack off

0.4
High doglegs
Wiper trip and ledges
0.35

0.3

0.25
FF [-]

0.2

0.15
Adding
0.1 Stabilizer balling Millube
Reaming out +
0.05 Wiper trip at
end of 8 ½ “
0
1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300
MD [m]

Fig. 4 – A graph to show the relational difference between the rotary and non-rotary Friction Factors.
IADC/SPE 62784 THE BENEFITS OF MONITORING TORQUE & DRAG IN REAL TIME 7

Well Friction Factor for all 3 wells

0.5

0.45
BHA-E2
0.4 BHA-E3

BHA-E4
0.35
Friction Factor [-]

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
600 650 700 750 800 850 900
MD [m]

Fig. 5 – Three different friction factors in similar offset wells with different mud additives.

Table 1. Comparison of Friction Factors with Different Drilling Muds

Well BHA-E2 BHA-E3 BHA-E4
Averaged FF 0.251 0.067 0.100
Fluid Type Fresh water/Gel Aqua-drill Aqua-drill + 5% DFE-1415
Relative FF 1 0.25 0.40
8 E.B.VOS, F.REIBER IADC/SPE 62784

Fig. 6 – The occurrence and type of buckling displayed over the wellpath.

Fig. 7 – The WOB reserve shown graphically.