• I.

Introduction to Drill String Design:

Overview
• II. Drill String Components
– Drill Collars - Drill Pipe - HWDP
• III. Drill String Design
– Bottom Hole Assembly Selection
– Drill Pipe Selection
– Buckling and max WOB
Drill String Design & BHA
Design
 Objectives
• At the end of this lecture YOU will be able to
describe:
– Functions of Drill Pipe , Drill Collars and BHA
selection
– Grades of Drill Pipe and strength properties
– Thread types and tool-joints
– Drill collar weight and neutral point
– Bending Stress Ratios and Stiffness Ratios
– Margin Of Overpull
– Basic design calculations based on depth to be
drilled.
– Functions of stabilizers and roller reamers.
 Agenda
• I. Definitions Mechanical properties of
steel
• II. Introduction to Drill String Design:
Overview
• III. Drill String Components
– Drill Collars - Drill Pipe - HWDP
• IV. Drill String Design
– Bottom Hole Assembly Design
– Drill Pipe Selection
– Buckling and max WOB
 Definitions Mechanical Properties of Steel

• Young Modulus
E = Stress divided by Strain = 30,000,000
• Stress & Strength
Stress = Strength divided by Cross
Section Area
• Strain & stretch
Strain = Stretch divided by original length
Definitions Mechanical Properties of Steel

• Elastic Limit
Limit of stress beyond which, when the stress is
removed, the steel will have acquired a permanent
stretch.
• Minimum Yield Stress
The stress which gives a stretch of 0.5% . When
the stress is removed, the steel will have acquired
0.2% of permanent deformation.
• Ultimate Tensile Stress
The stress which will break the steel
Stress and strain curve
 Functions of the Drill String
• The drill string is the
mechanical linkage
connecting the drill bit on
bottom to the rotary drive
system on the surface.
• The drill string serves the
three main following
functions :
1. Transmit and support axial
loads - WOB
2. Transmit and support
torsional loads - rpm
3. Transmit hydraulics to clean
the hole and cool the bit.
 Drill String Components
• The Drill String includes
all tubular equipment
between the Kelly Swivel
and the bit
Kelly
Surface Safety Valves
Drill Pipe
Heavy Walled Drill Pipe
Drill Collar
Jars – Shock Subs – Bumper
Subs
– Junk Baskets – Accelerators
etc…
 The Kelly/Top Drive
• Strictly speaking, Kelly/
Top drive are not
components of the drill
string; however, they
provide the essential
requirements for drilling a
well:
1) Transmit rotation to the
drill string.
2) Provide access to the
drilling fluid into the drill
string.
3) Support the weight of the
string.
 The Kelly
• The Kelly is the rotating link between the rotary
table and the drill string.
 Transmits rotation and weight-on-bit to the drillbit
 Supports the weight of the drillstring
 Connects to the swivel and allow circulation thru pipe.
• The Kelly comes in lengths ranging from 40 to 54
ft with cross sections such as hexagonal (most
common), square or triangular.
• Connected to a Kelly Saver Sub
 Kelly Cock
• The Kelly is usually
provided with two safety
valves, one at the top and
one at the bottom, called
Kelly cock.
• The Kelly cock is used to
close the inside of the
drillstring in the event of a
kick.
• The upper & lower Kelly
cocks operate manually.
• IBOP / DPSV are not run in
the drill string but kept
handy on the rig floor
 Top Drive
• The top drive is basically a combined rotary
table and kelly.
• It is powered by a separate motor and transmits
rotation to the drill string directly without the
need for a rotary table.
Advantages over the kelly system:
1. Efficient reaming and back reaming.
2. Circulating while running in hole or pulling out of hole
in stands
3. The kelly system can only do this in singles; ie 30 ft.
 Drill Pipe
• Function
To serve as a conduit or conductor for drilling
fluid To transmit the rotation from surface to
the bit on bottom
• Components
A pierced, seamless tube of forged steel or
extruded Aluminum Tool joints attached to
each end of the seamless tube
• Tool Joints
Provide connections for the drill string
Separate pieces of metal welded to the
seamless tube Thick enough to have pin or box
cut into them
 Drill Pipe Classification
1. Size 2 3/8” to 6 5/8” – refers to OD of pipe body
2. Length Range 1 18 to 22 ft, Range 2 27 to 30ft,
Range 3 38 to 45 ft
3. Grade E - 75, X – 95, G – 105, S – 135 the numbers
denote 1000’s of psi minimum yield strength
4. Weight Depending upon the size of pipe different
weight ranges
5. Class API classification for used pipe
For example a drill pipe could be - 5”, Range 2, G-105,
19.5ppf, New
 Drill Pipe Grades
• There are four grades of pipe commonly used
today.
 Used Drill Pipe Classification
• Unlike casing and tubing, which are normally run
new, drill pipe is normally used in a worn
condition. It therefore has Classes:
New: No wear, has never been used
Premium: Remaining wall not less than 80%.
Class 2: Remaining wall not less than 70%.
Class 3: Remaining wall less than 70%.
Other details such as, dents and mashing, slip area
mechanical damage, stress induced diameter
variations, corrosion cuts and gouges, specified on
Table 24 ( Classification of Used Drill Pipe ) of API RP
7G.
 Drillpipe Upsets
• Where the pipe joins the tooljoint, the pipe wall thickness is
increased or “upset”.
• This increased thickness is used to decrease the frequency of
pipe failure at the point where the pipe meets the tool-joint.
• The drill-pipe can have
• Internal upsets (IU), ( OD stays the same )
• External upsets (EU), ( ID stays the same )
• Internal and External Upsets (IEU).
 Drill Pipe Weights
When referring to Drill Pipe Weights, there are four important
ones:
Plain end Weight – Refers to the weight per foot of the pipe
body.
Nominal Weight - Refers to an obsolete standard. ( Weight of
Range I pipe with connections ) Is used today to refer a
class of Drill pipe.
Adjusted Weight – Refers to the weight per foot of pipe
including the upset but excluding the tool joint based on a
length of 29.4 ft
Approximate Weight – The average weight per foot of pipe
and tool joints of Range II pipe. This approximate weight is
the number to use in Design calculations.
Calculating Approximate Weights
Calculating Approximate Weights
DP Data from Table 7 Spec 7
 API RP 7G
• Table 1-3 New Pipe Data
• Table 4-5 Premium Pipe Data
• Table 6-7 Class Two Pipe Data
• Table 8-9 Tool-joint Data
• Table 10 Make-up Torque Data
• Table 12 Connection interchangeability
• Table 24 Classification of used DP
 Tool Joints
• All API tool joints have a minimum yield strength of 120,000
psi regardless of the grade of the drill pipe they are used on
(E, X, G, S)
• API sets tool joint torsional strength at minimum 80% of the
tube torsional strength.
• Make up torque is determined by pin ID or box OD. The
make up torque is 60% of the tool joint torsional capacity.
The equation for determining make up can be obtained
from the appendix of API RPG7. ( Numeral A.8.2 ). This
equation is rather complex, so the API developed a series of
charts to find the recommended make up torque to any
connection given the tool jt OD of box and ID of pin. These
charts can be found in API RP 7G ( Figures 1 to 25 )
Make-Up Torque Charts
 Drill string Connections
• The most common thread style in drill pipe is NC
• The thread has a V-shaped form and is identified by the pitch
diameter, measured at a point 5/8 inches from the shoulder
• Connection Number is Pitch dia*10 truncated to two digits

If the pitch diameter is 5.0417 in

→ This is an NC50 connection

Multiply 5.0417 by 10 → 50.417

Choose first two digits → 50
Hence NC 50
 NC Drill string Connections
• There are 17 NC’s in use : NC-10 (1 1/16”)
through NC-77 (7 3/4”)
• Typical sizes: NC 50 for tool joints with 6 1/2” OD
for 5” pipe and NC 38 for 4 3/4” tool joints and 3
1/2” pipe.
• Seal is provided by shoulder not threads. A
clearance exists between the crest of one thread
and the root of the mating thread
• Use of Lead based dope vs Copper based dope
for DCs. Not for sealing but for lubrication, to
help make-up and prevent galling
 Drill Collars
• Functions
– To put weight on bit (WOB)
– To keep the drill string from buckling
• Types
– Typically 4 ¾” to 9 ½” OD
– Most commonly in lengths of 30-31 feet
– Square collars where the holes tend to be
crooked
– Spiral collars where there is chance of
getting stuck (differentially, etc..)
– Collars with elevator and slip recesses
 More functions of Drill Collars
1. Protect the Drill string from Bending and Torsion
2. Help to control direction and inclination of wells
3. Drill straighter holes or vertical holes
4. Provide Pendulum effect at low WOB
5. Reduce dog legs, key seats and ledges
6. Improve the probabilities of getting casing in the
hole.
7. Increase bit performance
8. Reduce rough drilling, sticking and jumping
9. As a tool in fishing, testing, completing
 More Types of Drill Collars
Slick Drill Collar Spiral Drill Collar

In areas where differential

sticking is a possibility spiral
drill collars and spiral HWDP
should be used in order to
minimize contact area with
the formation.
Drill Collars Strapping
API Drill Collar Sizes
 Drill Collar Connections
Characteristics
• DC connections are rotary shouldered connections and
can mate the various DP connections
• The shoulder provide the only positive seal against
fluid leakage
• The lubricant is Copper based dope
• The connection is the weakest part of the entire BHA
• The DC connections go through cycles of tension-
compression and are subject to bending stresses
• Improper M/U torque, improper or insufficient
lubricant, galling can all lead to connection failure
 Drill Collar Connections
• Stress Relief Features
• Stresses in DC connections are concentrated at the
base of the pin and in the bottom of the box
(stronger)
• DP body bends easily and takes up the majority of the
applied bending stress, DP connections are therefore
subjected to less bending than the DP body.
• DCs and other BHA components are however much
stiffer than the DPs and much of the bending stresses
are transferred to the connections.
• These bending stresses can cause fatigue failure at the
connections Stress Relief Groove / Bore Back
Stress Relief Pin Feature
Stress Relief Pin & Box Features
 Drill Collar Connections
• The stress relief groove is to mitigate the fatigue cracks
where the face and threads would have otherwise joined
• The Bore Back serves the same purpose at the bottom of
the box
• Stress relief features should be specified on all BHA
connections NC-38 or larger.
• Pin stress relief grooves are not recommended on
connections smaller than NC-38 because they may weaken
the connection’s tensile and torsional strength.
• Bore Back boxes could be used on smaller connections.
• The Low-Torque face is to increase the compressive stress
at normal M/U torque above that of a regular face
 Lo- Torq Feature
•The low torque feature
consists in removing part
of the shoulder area of
the pin and box.
•This allows for lower
make up torque
maintaining adequate
shoulder loading.
•It is a common feature in
large OD connections.
 Torsion limits for DC
Torque is rarely limited by the DC connection
because rotary torque is usually higher in the DP at
surface and lower in the DC at deeper depths.

• If DC make-up torque >Dp make-up torque you

have no routine problems.
• BH Torque at any point should not exceed 80% of
makeup torque for the connections in the hole to
avoid over tightening connections which can lead
to damage of seals.
 Torque Limits for DC
• API recommended
makeup torque for
connections is a
percentage of the total
torsional yield of the
connection
Make Up Torque Tables for DCs
Heavy Weight Drill Pipe
• Design
– Heavier wall and longer tool joints
– Center wall pad
– Also available in spiral design
• Function
– Used in transition zones between DC and DP
This prevents the DP from buckling
– Can be used in compression (?)
– Used for directional drilling
– Used in place of DC sometimes (?)
– To keep Drill Pipe in tension
– Not to be used for Weight on Bit in normal
circumstances
 Heavy Weight Drill Pipe
Characteristics
• Has the same OD as a standard drill pipe but
with much reduced inside diameter (usually
3” for 5” DP) and has an integral wear pad
upset in the middle.
• It is used between standard Drill Pipe and
Drill Collars to provide a smooth transition
between the different sections of the
drillstring components.
• Tool-Joint and Rotary shouldered
connection just like DP
• HWDP, although stiffer than DP, can also
buckle
 Heavy Weight Drill Pipe
HWDP in Compression?
• HWDP can be run both in tension and in compression
BUT!!!
• Manufacturers recommend not to run HWDP in
compression in hole sizes larger than 12 ¼”
• Experience shows that they should not be run in
compression in Vertical Holes
• If run in compression, rules of thumb are:
– TJOD + 6” > OH diameter
– 2 x TJOD > OH diameter
Stabilizers
 Stabilizers
• Reasons for Using Stabilizers:
1. They are used as a fundamental method of controlling
the directional behavior of most BHAs.
2. Help concentrate the weight of the BHA on the bit.
3. Minimize bending and vibrations which cause tool
joint wear and damage to BHA components such as
MWDs.
4. Reduce drilling torque by preventing collar contact
with the side of the hole and by keeping them
concentric in the hole. (FG!!)
5. Help preventing differential sticking and key seating.
 More functions of Stabilisers
- Drill straighter or vertical holes with packed
assembly at suitable WOB
- Improve the probabilities of getting casing in
the hole.
- Increase bit stability and so bit performance
Roller Reamers
• I. Introduction to Drill String Design:
Overview
• II. Drill String Components
– Drill Collars - Drill Pipe - HWDP
• III. Drill String Design
– Bottom Hole Assembly Selection
– Drill Pipe Selection
– Buckling and max WOB
 Drill Collar Selection Principles
• Drill Collar selection is governed by two major factors:
Weight and Stiffness --- Size!
• Usually the largest OD collar that can be safely run is
the best selection
– More weight available for WOB
– Greatest stiffness to resist buckling and smooth directional
tendencies
– Cyclical movement is restricted due to tighter Clearances
• Usually Shortest BHA possible to
– Reduce handling time at surface
– Minimize # of Connections in the hole
– Minimize total DC in contact with the wall for differential sticking
exposure
 Weight
• BHA Weight must be sufficient for the planned
WOB
• BHA Weight must be sufficient to account for
Buoyancy
• BHA Weight must be sufficient to account for
hole inclination
• BHA Weight must be sufficient so that the
neutral point of axial loads is within the BHA –
with a safety factor of 15%
 BHA Design
Drill Collar Weight & Neutral Point

• DF for excess BHA=1.15

• Neutral Point (NP) to

tension should be in
drill collars
 BHA Design
• Procedure For Selecting Drill Collars:
• 1. Determine the buoyancy factor for the mud
weight in use using the formula below:

• where
– BF =Buoyancy Factor, dimensionless
– MW =Mud weight in use, ppg
– 65.5 =Weight of a gallon of steel, ppg
 BHA Design
• 2. Calculate the required collar length to achieve the
desired weight on bit:
DC Length = 1.15* WOB / (BF*Wdc)
• where:
• WOB=Desired weight on bit , lbf (x 1000)
• BF =Buoyancy Factor, dimensionless
• W dc =Drill collar weight in air, lb/ft
• 1.15 =15% safety factor.
• The 15% safety factor ensures that the neutral point
remains within the collars when unforeseen forces
(bounce, minor deviation and hole friction) are present.
 BHA Design
• 3. For directional wells:

DC Length = DC Length Vertical / Cos I

• where: I= Well inclination

Note: that for horizontal wells drill collars

are not normally used and BHA selection is
based entirely on the prevention of buckling
 Stiffness
• The BHA must have sufficient Stiffness to
stabilize the BHA, optimize ROP and prevent
the formation of Key Seats, ledges and doglegs
• The larger the DC, the stiffer the BHA

• Stiffness Coefficient :
= Moment of Inertia x Young’s Modulus of Elasticity
= л (OD4 – ID4) / 64 x 30.000.000
 Bending Strength Ratio
• BSR is the relative stiffness of the box to the pin of a given
connection.
• Describes the Balance between two members of a connection and
how they are likely to behave in a rotational cyclical environment

Where:
Zbox = box section modulus
Zpin = pin section modulus
D = Outside diameter of pin and box
b = thread root diameter of box
threads at end of pin.
R = Thread root diameter of pin
threads ¾ of an inch from shoulder
of pin.
d= inside diameter or bore.
Section Modulus for Connections
 BSR in DC Connections
• A Connection is said to be
balanced if the BSR is 2.5
– When BSR is higher tend to
see pin failures
– When BSR is lower tend to
see more box failures
• However, field experience
has shown that:
– 8” Dc having BSR’s of 2.5
usually fail in the box
– 4-3/4” DC having BSR as
low as 1.8 very rarely fail in
the box.
BSR in Connections
 Additional BSR Guidelines
• High RPM, Soft Formation Small DC (8 in in
12.25 hole or 6 in in 8.25 hole) 2.25-2.75
• Low RPM Hard Formations Large DC (10 in in
12-1/4 hole 2.5-3.2 (3.4 if using lo-torq
connection)
• Abrasive formations 2.5-3.0
• New DCs 2.75 – more wear resistant
 API BSR Charts

• Fortunately for you API

have worked the
problem!!!
• Pages 39-44 of Spec 7G
list the BSR of
Connections by OD and
ID of the collar
T.H.Hill BSR Tables
 Stiffness Ratio
• The SR measures the stiffness of a connection in a transition between 2
types of pipe
• • Based on field experience, in a
transition from one collar or pipe to
another the SR should not exceed
– 5.5 for routine drilling
– 3.5 for severe or rough drilling

Note: Stiffness ratios are calculated using tube ODs & IDs,
not connections.
 BHA Design Process
• • Design the Collars
– Max OD DC which can be handled, fished and drilled
with
– Excess BHA wt
• WOB
• Buoyancy
• Safety factor
– Connection Selection
• BSR
• SR
• Torque capability
– Stabilization and other directional requirements
 Exercise DP-05
On a land rig we find the following collars:
9” OD x 3” ID – 6 5/8” FH connection
8” OD x 3” ID – 6 5/8” REG connection
6 ¼” OD x 2 ¼” ID – NC46 connection

Given that we will drill a vertical 12 ¼” hole, with 9.5 ppg mud and 65000 pounds in a
relatively hard formations, what API collar would you recommend?

What would your recommendation on BSR be for the connection chosen?

Check your recommended DCs with your recommended BSR.

What would be the SR between the DC and 5” DP be?

Is it acceptable?
If not what would you do?
What would be your final BHA? Length? Buoyed Weight?
• I. Introduction to Drill String Design:
Overview
• II. Drill String Components
– Drill Collars - Drill Pipe - HWDP
• III. Drill String Design
– Bottom Hole Assembly Selection
– Drill Pipe Selection
– Buckling and max WOB
 Drill Pipe Selection Principles
• Drill Pipe selection is governed by two major factors:
Size+Weight and Strength
• Usually the Drill Pipe with largest OD and ID is preferred
– Less pressure loss in the string
– More hydraulics available at the bit
• The Drill Pipe selection must address the following:
– Drill Pipe must allow to drill to TD
– Drill Pipe must support all weight below it (BHA+DP)
– Drill Pipe must provide Over pull capacity
– Drill Pipe must withstand slip crushing force
– Drill Pipe must resist burst and collapse loads
– Drill Pipe might have to work in H2S environment
 Axial Loads
• Tension Design
• The greatest tension
(working load Pw) on
the drill string occurs at
the top joint at the
maximum drilled depth
 Drill Pipe Selection Parameters
• Tension Design
• Total weight, Tsurf, carried
by the top joint of drill pipe
when the drill bit is just off
bottom

• Ldp = length of Drill Pipe

• Wdp = weight of Drill Pipe
per unit length
• Ldc = weight of Drill Collars
• Wdc = weight of Drill Collars
per unit length
 Drill Pipe Selection Parameters
• Tension Design
• The drill string is not designed according to the minimum yield strength!!! If Drill Pipe
reaches yield:
– Drill Pipe can have permanent deformation.
• To prevent deformation damage to drill pipe, API recommends the use of maximum
allowable design load ( Pa)
• Tmax = 0.9 x Tyield ….(2)
• Tmax = Max. allowable design load in tension , lb
• Tyield = theoretical yield strength from API tables , lb
• 0.9 = a constant relating proportional limit to yield strength
• IPM Defines a tension Design factor of 1.1 be applied to
design loads. These accomplish the same thing.
• Do not double dip!
 Margin of Over Pull
• Margin of over pull is nominally 50Klb-100Klb,
or in the limit of the difference between the
maximum allowable load less the actual load
• Choice of MOP should consider
– Overall drilling conditions
– Hole drag
– Likelihood of getting stuck
– Slip crushing
– Dynamic loading
 Drill Pipe Selection Parameters
• Margin of Overpull
1. Determine max design load (Tmax) : (maximum load
that drillstring should be designed for)
Tmax = 0.9 x Minimum Yield Strength … lb
Class of pipe must be considered
 Drill Pipe Selection Parameters
• Margin of Overpull
• 2. Calculate total load at surface using

• 3. Margin Of Overpull : Minimum tension

force above expected working load to account
for any drag or stuck pipe.
 Drill Pipe Selection Parameters
• Margin of Overpull
• 4. The maximum length of Drill Pipe that can
be used is obtained by combining equations 1
and 3 and solving for the length of Drill Pipe
 THINK OF STUCK PIPE!!!
• When the Drill String is stuck, (and it most
certainly is if there is Overpull !) the buoyancy
is lost!

• When the Drill String is stuck, (and it most

certainly is if there is Overpull !) the buoyancy
is lost!
 Slip Crushing Force
• Slips because of the taper try to crush the Drill
Pipe. This hoop stress is resisted by the tube,
and this increases the overall stress in the
steel
 Slip Crushing Force
• Generally expressed as a Factor
 Drill Pipe Selection Parameters
• You can only drill as far as you can set pipe in
the slips.
• Different than over pull, this is based on
working loads
 Mixed String Design
• • Step 1
– If we use different drill pipe, the weaker pipe goes on
bottom and stronger on top
– Apply equation to bottom drill pipe first

• • Step 2
– Drill collars and bottom drillpipe act as the weight
carried by top section…effectively the drill collar
– Apply the equation for top drill pipe last
 Other Loads
• Collapse under Tension
• Burst
• Other loads not covered here
– Shock Loads
– Bending Loads
– Buckling Loads
– Torsion
– Torsion with Simultaneous Tension
 Biaxial Collapse
• The DP will collapse if:
External Pressure Load > Collapse pressure rating
• A Design factor of 1.15 is used:
External Pressure Load < Collapse rating / 1.15
• When the string is in tension, the Collapse rating is
further de-rated:
 Biaxial Collapse
• Collapse load is worst when For dry test work
where pipe is run in empty

• Note the use of the Average Yield Point not

minimum
 Biaxial Collapse
• For nominal Collapse
– Use D/t and correct formula Spec 7G Appendix A 3
– Use the results found in Table 3-6 RP-7G
• For OD and ID, use Table 1 RP-7G
• For Avg Yp Use Table in section 12.8 RP 7G
 Burst
• • Barlows formula applies

• Results are found in Spec 7G Table 3,5 & 7

• Burst will occur if internal pressure load >
burst rating
 Drill String Design Process-2
After the BHA Design is performed:
• Slip Crushing forces on DP
• Overpull tensile design at surface
• Lengths of DP Sections
• Burst Design Check
• Collapse under tension Design check
 Drill String Design Factors
• Tension DFt Governs Max allowable tension
on the system DFt is 1.1
• Margin of OverPull MOP Desired excess
tensile capacity over an above the hanging
weight of the string at Surface. MOP 50-100K
• Excess BHA Wt Dfbha Amount of BHA in
terms of Wt in excess of that used to drill to
assure all Compressive and torsional loads are
kept in the Collars, Dfbha is 1.15
 Drill String Design Factors
• Torsion No Design Factor Required. Tool Joints are
made up to 60% of Torsional Capacity, and Tool joints
are designed to 80% of the tube Torsion Capacity. Thus
if the design limits to tool joint make-up there is an
adequate design factor built into the system
• Collapse DFc Tube is de-rated to account for Biaxial
Tensile reduction and a design factor of is used SLB DFc
is 1.1-1.15
• Burst DFb Simple burst is used with no allowance for
axial effects DFB is 1.0
• Buckling DFB In Highly deviated wells it is possible to
use DP in compression, provided it is not buckled.
 Buoyancy
• Buoyancy is the weight of the displaced fluid
• Buoyancy is usually accounted for via BF
• Buoyancy is creating a hydrostatic effect: the
Pressure-Area Force
• The forces acting on a drillstring are the self-
weight and the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling
fluid
• Buoyancy is creating a force acting at the bottom
of the drill string and placing the lower portion of
the drill string in compression and reducing the
hook load by HP x CSA
 Bending & Buckling
• A tube subjected to a load will
bend
• Bent is a condition in which the
bending increases proportionally
with load
• When a little increase in load will
result in large displacements, the
tube is said to be buckling
• The tube may not necessarily be
yielded as buckling does not
necessarily occurs plastically
• The load which produces buckling
is called the Critical Buckling Load
 Neutral Points
• Neutral Point of Tension & Compression:
• The point within a tube where the sum of the
axial forces are equal to zero
• Neutral Point of Bending:
• The point within a tube where the sum of
moments are equal to zero
• The point within a tube where the average of
the radial and tangential stress in the tube
equals the axial stress
• The point within a tube where the buoyed
weight of the tube hanging below that point
is equal to an applied force at its bottom end
 Forces in the Drill String
Neutral Point of Bending occurs where the effective hydrostatic force
equals the compressive force in the drillstring.
 Buckling
Neutral point of bending is H = WOB / buoyed weight per foot of
string
• In vertical wells, buckling will occur only below the neutral
point of bending, hence the necessity to keep the buoyed
weight of the BHA exceeding the WOB.
• In deviated wells, buckling will not only occur below the
neutral point of bending but also above the neutral point of
bending when the compressive force in the drillstring exceeds
a critical load.
 Drill string Design
• Now you should be able to describe:
– Functions of Drill Pipe , Drill Collars and BHA selection
– Grades of Drill Pipe and strength properties
– Thread types and tool joints
– Drill collar weight and neutral point
– Bending Stress Ratios and Stiffness Ratios
– Margin of overpull – Slip crushing force
– Basic design calculations based on depth to be drilled.
– Functions of stabilizers and roller reamers
– Critical Buckling force and Neutral Point of Bending
 References

• API RP 7G Drill Stem Design and Op Limits

• API SPEC 7 Specifications for Rotary Drilling
Elements
• API SPEC 5D Specifications for Drill Pipe
• SLB Drill String Design manual
• TH Hill DS-1 Drill String Design