Introduction To Directional Drilling Int

Introduction to Directional Drilling Revised: 6/13/01 Page 1 of 52
Introduction to Directional Drilling

Subject Matter Experts: Raymond de Verteuil and Iain McCourt
Sugar Land Learning Center
1998, revised 2001
An asterisk (*) is used throughout this module to denote a mark of Schlumb erger
 Copyright Schlumberger Technology Corp., unpublished work, created 1998, reviewed 2001. The following material includes Confidential,
Proprietary Information and is a trade secret of Schlumberger Technology Corp. All use, disclosure, and/or reprod uction is prohibited unless authorized
in writing. All rights reserved. This material may also be protected under laws of non -U.S. countries, including copyright and trade secret laws.
Source: IntroToDD.pdf, Revised 6/13/01, SLC

Introduction to Directional Drilling Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM Page 2 of 52
Objectives
In this module you will learn to do the following:
1. Define directional drilling by choosing the correct answer from a list of selections.
2. Recall the historical development of directional drilling by choosing the correct answer from
a list of selections.
3. Recognize the reasons for drilling the following types of wells: exploration, appraisal,
development/production.
4. Identify descriptions and pictures of directional drilling applications.
5. Identify several features of a directional well profile.
6. Identify the general types of directional well profiles.
7. Recall an explanation of a well plan by choosing an answer from a list of selections.
8. Identify the basic components of a well plan.
Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

1 Introduction
Directional drilling has become a very important tool in
the development of oil and gas deposits. Current
expenditures for hydrocarbon production have dictated
the necessity of controlled directional drilling to a much
larger extent than previously.
Probably the most important aspect of controlled

directional drilling is that it enables producers all over
the world to develop subsurface deposits that could
never be reached economically in any other manner.
In this module a number of topics will be covered that
must be understood by the directional driller. The
various types of wells and applications of directional
wells will be touched upon along with well profiles and
well planning.

2 Directional Drilling
In this lesson you will learn to do the following:
Define directional drilling by choosing the correct answer from a list of selections. Recall the
historical development of directional drilling by choosing the correct answer from a list of
selections.
2.1 Definition of Directional Drilling
Controlled directional drilling is the science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned
course from a starting location to a target location, both defined with a given coordinate system.
2.2 Description of Directional Drilling
Drilling a directional well basically involves

drilling a hole from one point in space (the
surface location) to another point in space
(the target) in such a way that the hole can
then be used for its intended purpose.
A typical directional well starts off with a

vertical hole, then kicks off so that the
bottom hole location may end up hundreds or
thousands of feet or meters away from its
starting point.
With the use of directional drilling, several wells can be drilled into a reservoir from a single
platform.
2.3 Historical Development of

Directional Drilling
Directional drilling was initially used as a

remedial operation, either to sidetrack
around stuck tools, bring the wellbore back
to vertical, or in drilling relief wells to kill
blowouts.
Interest in controlled directional drilling

began about 1929 after new and rather
accurate means of measuring the hole angle
were introduced during the development of
the Seminole field, Oklahoma, USA.

Historical Development of Directional Drilling
In 1930, the first controlled directional well was drilled in

Huntington Beach, California, USA. The well was drilled
from an onshore location into offshore oil sands.
Controlled directional drilling had received rather

unfavorable publicity until it was used in 1934 to kill a wild
well near Conroe, Texas, USA. As a result, directional
drilling became established as one way to overcome wild
wells, and it subsequently gained favorable recognition from
both companies and contractors.

Study Questions
1) Which of the following is the correct definition for directional drilling?
a) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a surface target
location that is a given lateral distance and direction from the horizontal
b) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a subsurface target
location that has not been Determined
c) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a subsurface target
location that is a given vertical distance and direction from the horizontal
d) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course from a surface
location to a target location, both defined with a given coordinate system
2) Which of the following is the most important aspect of controlled directional drilling?
a) It enables producers all over the world to develop subsurface deposits that could never be
reached economically in any other manner.
b) It is the science of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a surface target location
that is a given lateral distance and direction from the horizontal.
c) It enables producers all over the world to develop subsurface deposits that could have
been lost due to improper drilling equipment.
d) It enables producers all over the world to kill wild wells.
3) Directional drilling was used initially for remedial operations. Which of the following
are examples of these earlier uses? Select all the correct answers.
a) To drill relief wells to kill blowouts

b) To sidetrack around stuck tools
c) To bring the wellbore back to vertical
d) For salt dome drilling
e) For offshore multiwell drilling
4) Where was the first controlled directional well drilled in 1930?
a) Conroe, Texas
b) Huntington Beach, California
c) Seminole field, Oklahoma
d) Long Beach, California

3 Types of Wells
Recognize the reasons for drilling the following types of wells: exploration, appraisal,
development/production.
3.1 Three General Types of Wells
Wells are generally classified as

exploration wells, appraisal wells,
and development wells/production
wells.
Exploration wells, sometimes called

wildcat wells, probe the earth where
no known hydrocarbons exist to
determine whether oil or gas are
present in a subsurface rock
formation.
Appraisal wells are drilled to determine the extent of a field or the amount of area it covers.
Development or Production wells are drilled in an existing field to remove the obtainable
hydrocarbons.

Study Questions
1) Exploration wells are drilled for which of the following reasons? Select all the correct
answers.
a) To produce an existing field

b) To determine the extent of a field
c) To determine whether oil or gas exists in a subsurface rock formation
d) To probe the earth where no known hydrocarbons exist
e) To reach a reservoir that is in excess of 15,000 ft
2) Appraisal wells are drilled for which of the following reasons? Select all the correct
answers.
a) To determine the extent of a field

b) To probe the earth where no known hydrocarbons exist
c) To produce an existing field
d) To determine how much area a field covers
3) Development wells/Production wells are drilled for which of the following reasons?
a) To probe the earth where no known hydrocarbons exist

b) To remove hydrocarbons from an existing field
c) To determine the extent of a field
d) To reach a reservoir that is in excess of 15,000 ft
4) Match each well with its reason for being drilled.
a) To determine whether oil or gas exists in a subsurface rock formation

c) To determine the extent or area of coverage of a field
1) Exploration wells
2) Development wells/Production wells
3) Appraisal wells

4 Directional Well Applications

Identify descriptions and pictures of directional drilling applications.
4.1 Sidetracking
Sidetracking was the original directional

drilling technique used to get past fish
(obstructions). Oriented sidetracks, the most
common type of sidetracking, are performed
when there are unexpected changes in
geology and obstructions in the path of the
wellbore.
4.2 Inaccessible Locations
Inaccessible locations such as targets located

beneath cities, rivers or environmentally
sensitive areas make it necessary to locate
the drilling rig some distance away from the
target.
4.3 Salt Dome Drilling
Salt domes have been found to be natural

traps of hydrocarbons accumulating beneath
the overhanging hard cap. A directional well
is used to reach the trapped reservoir to
prevent the problems associated with drilling
a well through the salt formation.

4.4 Fault Controlling
Fault controlling is an application used to

drill a directional well into faulted subsurface
formations without crossing the fault line.
4.5 Multiple Exploration Wells from A

Single Wellbore
Multiple exploration wells from a single

wellbore use a single hole to drill multiple
new wells by deviating away from the
original well at a certain depth. It allows the
exploration of structural locations without
drilling another complete well.
4.6 Onshore Drilling to Offshore

Locations
Onshore drilling takes place when a reservoir

is located below large bodies of water that
are within drilling reach of land. The
wellheads are located on land, and the
borehole is drilled directionally underneath
the water to reach the reservoir. This
technique saves money because land rigs are
much cheaper than offshore rigs.


Study Questions
1. Which of the following are reasons for drilling a directional well? Select all the correct
answers.
a) To get to trapped oil beneath salt domes

b) To get to a target located beneath a city or a sensitive area
c) To get past a fish
d) To reach a reservoir located below large bodies of water
e) To allow for exploration without drilling other complete wells

4.7 Offshore Multiwell Drilling
Offshore multiwell drilling is the most

economical way to develop offshore fields.
Several directional wells are drilled in
"clusters" on a multiwell offshore platform.

Study Question
2) Which of the following directional drilling applications is the most economical way to
develop an oil field that is below a large body of water but within drilling reach of land?
a) Offshore multiwell drilling

b) Offshore drilling to onshore locations
c) Onshore drilling to offshore locations
d) Multiple exploration wells from a single offshore wellbore

4.8 Relief Wells
Relief wells are used to kill wells that are

blowing by intercepting the borehole. A
carefully planned directional well must be
drilled with great precision to locate and
intercept the blowing well’s borehole.
4.9 Horizontal Wells
Horizontal wells are used to intersect a

producing formation horizontally to better
produce the reservoir. Horizontal drilling
increases the surface area of a producing
formation. For example, a vertical well may
give exposure to a reserve with a depth of 20
to 30 ft (6 to 10 m) while a horizontal well
drilled into the same reservoir may give
exposure to 2000 to 3000 ft (600 to 1000 m).
Horizontal wells can make a platform
profitable, where it was not previously.
4.10 Extended Reach Wells
Extended reach wells are drilled to reach

reservoirs that have a horizontal
displacement in excess of 16,400 ft (> 5,000
m) from the starting point.

4.11 Multilateral Wells
Multilateral wells have several wellbores

running laterally and originating from one
original hole.
4.12 Short, Medium, and Long Radius

Wells
Short radius wells, typically re-entries of old

vertical wells, have curves with a 143 ft (44
m) radius or smaller that cannot be drilled
with conventional motors. They are used to
isolate higher-/lower-pressured production
zones or water sands without setting and
cementing a liner. This type of drilling is
desirable when kicking off below a problem
formation.
Medium radius wells have curves with a 200-500 ft (61-152 m) radius that can be drilled with
conventional motors.
Long radius wells have curves with a 750 ft (229 m) radius or larger that can also be drilled with
conventional motors.


Study Questions
3) Which of the following are applications for drilling a directional well? Select all the
correct answers.
a) Onshore drilling to offshore locations

b) Relief wells
c) Offshore multiwell drilling
d) Horizontal wells
e) Multiple exploration wells from a single wellbore
4) Which of the following are applications for drilling a directional well? Select all the
correct answers.
a) Sidetracking
b) Salt dome drilling
c) Offshore drilling to onshore locations
d) Fault controlling
e) Inaccessible locations
5) Which of the following is the best description of a directional drilling application that is
used specifically to kill a well that is blowing?
a) Salt dome drilling

b) Horizontal wells
d) Relief wells
6) Which of the following is the best description of a directional drilling application that is
used specifically to intersect a producing formation horizontally to better produce the
reservoir?

b) Offshore multiwell drilling
c) Horizontal wells
d) Relief wells

7) Identify each picture with its directional drilling application.
a) Sidetracking
b) Inaccessible location
c) Salt dome drilling
a) Onshore drilling to offshore location

b) Fault controlling

a) Horizontal well
b) Multilateral well
c) Relief well
a) Extended reach wells

b) Fault controlling
c) Short radius wells

11) Extended reach wells are drilled to reach reservoirs that are in
excess of _____ meters from the starting point.
a) 500,000
b) 5,000
c) 500
d) 50
12) Which of the following would apply to short radius directional drilling? Select all the
correct answers.
a) Used to isolate higher-/lower-pressured production zones or water sands without setting

and cementing a liner
b) Typically reentries of old vertical well
c) Has curves with a 200 to 500 ft radius
d) Has curves with a 143 ft radius or smaller that cannot be drilled with conventional motors

5 Directional Well Profiles

Identify several features of a directional well profile.

Identify the three general types of directional well profiles.
5.1 Features of A Directional Well Profile
A directional well profile is the planned well trajectory from the surface to the final drilling
depth by projecting the wellbore onto two plotted planes. In order to determine the best
geometric well profile from the surface to the bottomhole target, the following information must
be known
• the position of the surface location,

• the position of the target location, and
• the true vertical depth (TVD).
A directional well profile is the planned well

trajectory from the surface to the final
drilling depth by projecting the wellbore onto
two plotted planes. In order to determine the
best geometric well profile from the surface
to the bottomhole target, the following
information must be known the position of
the surface location, the position of the target
location, and the true vertical depth (TVD).
A directional well profile is the planned well

trajectory from the surface to the final
drilling depth by projecting the wellbore onto
two plotted planes. In order to determine the
best geometric well profile from the surface
to the bottomhole target, the following
information must be known the position of
the surface location, the position of the target
location, and the true vertical depth (TVD).

5.1.2 Kickoff Point (KOP)
The kickoff point is the location at a given

depth below the surface where the wellbore
is deviated in a given direction.
5.1.3 Well Inclination
The well inclination is the angle by which

the wellbore deviates from the vertical.
5.1.4 End of Buildup (EOB)
The end of buildup is the location where the

wellbore has finished increasing.

5.1.5 Hold Angle
The hold angle occurs where the inclination

of the borehole is held constant.
5.1.6 Tangent Section
The tangent section (hold section) occurs

after a buildup where the inclination of the
borehole is held constant for a certain
distance. There could be an additional build
or drop before reaching the target.
5.1.7 Start of Drop
The start of drop is the location where the

wellbore starts dropping inclination.

5.1.8 End of Drop (EOD)
The end of drop is the location where the

wellbore finishes dropping inclination.
5.1.9 Target Displacement
The target displacement is the lateral

distance from the surface location to the
target.

Study Question
1) Write in the correct term to correctly complete the following sentence.
A well profile is the planned well trajectory from the ____________________ to the final
drilling depth.
2) Which of the following must be known to determine the best geometric well profile
from the surface to the bottomhole target? Select all the correct answers.
a) The TVD of the target

b) The position of the surface location
c) The position of the target location
d) The density of the target

5.1.10 Target Location
The target location is a point defined in space

by geographical coordinates at a given true
vertical depth. A well profile could have
multiple targets.
5.1.11 Drop Off Rate (DOR)
The drop off rate is the rate at which the

inclination decreases. The rate is usually
expressed in degrees per 100 ft or degrees
per 30 m of the course length.

Study Question
3) Identify the features of a directional

well profile.
a) Surface Location
b) Tangent Section
c) KOP
d) Hold Angle
e) Target Location

5.1.12 Buildup Rate (BUR)
The buildup rate is the change of inclination of a wellbore where the angle is increased. The rate
is usually expressed in degrees per 100 ft or angular increase per 30 m of the measured depth.
5.1.13 Turn Rate
The turn rate determines the rate a well profile turns in azimuth direction. Usually expressed in
degrees per 100 ft or degrees per 30 m.
True Vertical Depth (TVD)
The true vertical depth of

any point or station along a
wellbore is the vertical
distance from the well
surface reference point to
the station of interest.

Measured Depth (MD)
The measured depth of any

point or station along a
wellbore is the distance
from the well surface
reference point to the
station of interest along the
actual well path.

Horizontal Displacement
(HD)
The horizontal displacement

is the distance between any
two points along a wellbore
projected onto a horizontal
plane or plan view.
Vertical Section (VS)
The vertical section is the distance

between any two points along a
wellbore projection onto a vertical
section plane.

Azimuth
The azimuth is the angle in

the horizontal plane
measured from a fixed
reference direction (such as
True North), usually
measured clockwise.
5.1.19 Quadrant
The quadrant bearing of a well is the angle in
the horizontal plane measured from either a
North or South reference direction towards
the East or West, defining the direction of the
wellbore.

5.1.20 Polar Coordinate
The polar coordinate of a point is the

distance projected in a horizontal plane from
a fixed reference point and the angle of this
line from a reference direction (usually True
North).
5.1.21 Rectangular
Coordinate
The rectangular
coordinates of a point are
defined as the projected
distance along two
reference axes which are
at right angles, the
distance being measured
from the intersection of
the axes along the axes.
These axes reside in the
horizontal plane and
typically are north/south
and east/west directions.

Study Questions
4) Match each well profile feature with its definition.
a) The geographical position on earth where the well starts

b) The location at a given depth below the surface where the wellbore is deviated in a given
direction
c) The change of inclination of a wellbore where the angle is increased
d) Determines the rate a well profile turns in azimuth direction
1) Kickoff Point
2) Surface Location
3) Buildup Rate
4) Turn Rate
a) Occurs where the inclination of the borehole is held constant

b) The location where the wellbore starts dropping inclination
c) The angle by which the wellbore deviates from the vertical
d) The change of inclination of a wellbore where the angle is purposely reduced
1) Well Inclination
2) Drop Off Rate
3) Hold Angle
4) Start of Drop
a) The actual measured vertical depth from a reference point on the surface to a point of
interest
b) The lateral distance from the surface location to the target
c) Direction of a course measured in a clockwise direction from 0-360o referred to North
d) The length of the projection of the horizontal displacement onto the vertical section plane
defined by its azimuth.
1) True Vertical Depth

2) Target Displacement
3) Vertical Section
4) Azimuth

a) The actual length of the wellbore from its surface location to any specified station
b) The distance between two points that are projected onto a horizontal plane
c) A point where a well profile finished dropping inclination
d) The point or location of the oil and gas reservoirs
e) Measured Depth
f) Target
g) Horizontal Displacement
h) End of Drop
a) Occurs after a buildup where the inclination of the borehole is held constant for a certain
distance
b) The azimuth angle measured from North or South in the direction of East or West
c) A point defined by a distance and a direction relative to North
d) Used to give a target's position in feet or meters with direction of North/South and
East/West
e) The location where the wellbore has finished increasing
1) Tangent Section
2) Polar Coordinate
3) Rectangular Coordinate
4) Quadrant
5) End of Buildup

5.2 Types of Directional Well Profiles
In general, directional wells can be either:
• Straight (Vertical),
• S-type,
• Slant (J-type), or
• Horizontal.
The type of profile selected will depend upon the geological objectives and the production
mechanism of the well.
5.2.1 Straight Well (Vertical)
Straight wells have a bore with no planned

deviation from vertical.
5.2.2 S-Type Well
S-type wells have a bore with a straight

section, a build section, a tangent section,
and a drop section.
This type of well is drilled to improve the

efficiency of the well and to assist in the
location of a blown-out well. In offshore
drilling, S-type wells can ensure accuracy in
bottomhole spacing when multiple wells are
drilled from the same platform.

5.2.3 Slant Well (J-Type)
Slant wells, sometimes called J-type wells,

have a bore with a straight section, a build
section, and a tangent section straight to the
target
Slant or J-type wells are drilled where it is

not desirable or possible to locate the surface
location directly above the target or a
multiwell platform.
5.2.4 Horizontal Well
Horizontal wells have a bore with a straight

section, a build section, tangent section, a
second build section (most of the time), and
a horizontal section.
The well is drilled to a point above the

reservoir; then it is deflected and the angle
increases until it reaches 90 degrees or more.
When properly applied, one horizontal
borehole can produce a reservoir better than
several vertically drilled wells.

Study Questions
a) Occurs after a buildup where the inclination of the borehole is held constant for a certain
distance
d) Used to give a target's position in feet or meters with direction of North/South and
East/West
1) Tangent Section
2) Polar Coordinate
3) Rectangular Coordinate
4) Quadrant
5) End of Buildup
9) Which of the following are general types of directional well profiles? Select all the
correct answers.
a) Straight
b) Slant
c) S-type
d) Horizontal
10) This graphic represents which of the

following types of directional well
profiles.
a) Straight well
b) Horizontal well
c) S-type well
d) Slant well

6 Well Planning
Recall an explanation of a well plan by choosing an answer from a list of selections. Identify the
basic components of a well plan.
6.1 Definition of A Well Plan
Well planning is an organized process used to put

together data that will be used to design a successful
well. A well plan is a very important stage prior to the
commencement of the drilling operation to ensure that
all aspects are tailored to meet the specific objectives
of that well. Anadrill well plans are often developed in
a Drilling Engineering Center (DEC) by a well planner.
Understanding how to design a well plan (proposal), is

one of the most important duties of the directional
driller. He must be able to understand the plan and
make any required changes.
The data provided by the client is used by the well planner to develop a geometric profile for the
safest and easiest path from the surface location to the target. The planner has access to a
computer program to help develop the best possible profile. The needed data is put into the
program so that a well profile can be printed, plotted and used for the drilling project.
6.2 Components of a Well Plan
There are many components to take into consideration when designing a successful well plan.
The well planning components listed here are the same as the features of a well profile found in
section 5.1. If you do not recall these terms, please refer back to section 5.1.
Components of a Well Plan
• Surface Location • Quadrant

• Target Location • Polar Coordinate
• Kickoff Point • Rectangular Coordinate
• Buildup Rate • End of Drop
• Turn Rate • Tangent Section
• Hold Angle • Measured Depth
• Start of Drop • Well Inclination
• True Vertical Depth • End of Buildup
• Target Displacement • Horizontal Displacement
• Azimuth • Drop Off Rate
• Vertical Section

Study Questions
1) Write in the correct terms to correctly complete the following sentence.
Well planning is an important stage prior to the commencement of actual drilling operations to
ensure that all aspects of the well are tailored to meet the specific _________________________ of
that well.
2) Which of the following are components of a well plan? Select all the correct answers.
a) Drop Quadrant
b) Azimuth
c) Quadrant
d) Rectangular Coordinate
e) End of Well
f) Vertical Section
g) Polar Coordinate
a) Hold Angle
b) Depth Control
c) Kickoff Point
d) Buildup Rate
e) Surface Location
f) Start of Drop
g) True Value Down
h) Turn Rate

7 Summary
Directional drilling has become a very important drilling process. It has enabled producers all over the
world to develop subsurface deposits that could never have been reached economically in any other
manner.
In this module, directional drilling was defined along with its historical development.
The applications of a directional well as well as the features of a well profile were also covered. The
module also included information on the types of well profiles and the components of a well plan.

7 Answers to Study Questions
PART 1
No Study Questions
Part 2
1) Which of the following is the correct definition for directional drilling?
a) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a surface target location
that is a given lateral distance and direction from the horizontal
b) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a subsurface target location
that has not been Determined
c) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a subsurface target location
that is a given vertical distance and direction from the horizontal
d) The science and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned course from a surface location
to a target location, both defined with a given coordinate system
2) Which of the following is the most important aspect of controlled directional drilling?
a) It enables producers all over the world to develop subsurface deposits that could never be
reached economically in any other manner.
b) It is the science of deviating a wellbore along a planned course to a surface target location that is
a given lateral distance and direction from the horizontal.
c) It enables producers all over the world to develop subsurface deposits that could have been lost
due to improper drilling equipment.
d) It enables producers all over the world to kill wild wells.
3) Directional drilling was used initially for remedial operations. Which of the following are
examples of these earlier uses? Select all the correct answers.
a) To drill relief wells to kill blowouts

b) To sidetrack around stuck tools
c) To bring the wellbore back to vertical
d) For salt dome drilling
e) For offshore multiwell drilling
4) Where was the first controlled directional well drilled in 1930?
a) Conroe, Texas
b) Huntington Beach, California
c) Seminole field, Oklahoma
d) Long Beach, California

Part 3
5) Exploration wells are drilled for which of the following reasons? Select all the correct answers.
a) To produce an existing field

b) To determine the extent of a field
c) To determine whether oil or gas exists in a subsurface rock formation
d) To probe the earth where no known hydrocarbons exist
6) Appraisal wells are drilled for which of the following reasons? Select all the correct answers.
a) To determine the extent of a field

b) To probe the earth where no known hydrocarbons exist
c) To produce an existing field
d) To determine how much area a field covers
7) Development wells/Production wells are drilled for which of the following reasons?
a) To probe the earth where no known hydrocarbons exist

c) To determine the extent of a field
d) To reach a reservoir that is in excess of 15,000 ft
8) Match each well with its reason for being drilled.
a) To determine whether oil or gas exists in a subsurface rock formation (1)

b) To remove hydrocarbons from an existing field (2)
c) To determine the extent or area of coverage of a field (3)
1) Exploration wells
2) Development wells/Production wells
3) Appraisal wells
Part 4
1) Which of the following are reasons for drilling a directional well? Select all the correct answers
a) To get to trapped oil beneath salt domes

b) To get to a target located beneath a city or a sensitive area
c) To get past a fish
d) To reach a reservoir located below large bodies of water
e) To allow for exploration without drilling other complete wells

2) Which of the following directional drilling applications is the most economical way to develop
an oil field that is below a large body of water but within drilling reach of land?
a) Offshore multiwell drilling

b) Offshore drilling to onshore locations
c) Onshore drilling to offshore locations
d) Multiple exploration wells from a single offshore wellbore
3) Which of the following are applications for drilling a directional well? Select all the correct
answers.

b) Relief wells
d) Horizontal wells
e) Multiple exploration wells from a single wellbore
4) Which of the following are applications for drilling a directional well? Select all the correct
answers.
a) Sidetracking
b) Salt dome drilling
c) Offshore drilling to onshore locations
d) Fault controlling
e) Inaccessible locations
5) Which of the following is the best description of a directional drilling application that is used
specifically to kill a well that is blowing?
a) Salt dome drilling

b) Horizontal wells
d) Relief wells
6) Which of the following is the best description of a directional drilling application that is used
specifically to intersect a producing formation horizontally to better produce the reservoir?

b) Offshore multiwell drilling
c) Horizontal wells
d) Relief wells

a) Sidetracking (3)
b) Inaccessible location (2)
c) Salt dome drilling (1)
a) Onshore drilling to offshore location (3)

b) Fault controlling (2)
c) Offshore multiwell drilling (1)

a) Horizontal well (3)

b) Multilateral well (2)
c) Relief well (1)
a) Extended reach wells (2)

b) Fault controlling (1)
c) Short radius wells (3)

11) Extended reach wells are drilled to reach reservoirs that are in excess
of _____ meters from the starting point.
a) 500,000
b) 5,000
c) 500
d) 50
12) Which of the following would apply to short radius directional drilling? Select all the correct
answers.
a) Used to isolate higher-/lower-pressured production zones or water sands without setting

and cementing a liner
b) Typically reentries of old vertical well
c) Has curves with a 200 to 500 ft radius
d) Has curves with a 143 ft radius or smaller that cannot be drilled with conventional motors

Part 5
11) Write in the correct term to correctly complete the following sentence.
A well profile is the planned well trajectory from the ____surface_________ to the final drilling
depth.
12) Which of the following must be known to determine the best geometric well profile from the
surface to the bottomhole target? Select all the correct answers.
a) The TVD of the target

b) The position of the surface location
c) The position of the target location
d) The density of the target
13) Identify the features of the directional well profile.

a) End of Buildup (1)
b) Start of Drop (2)
c) End of Drop (3)
d) Target Displacement (4)
e) Well Inclination (5)
a) The geographical position on earth where the well starts

b) The location at a given depth below the surface where the wellbore is deviated in a given
direction
c) The change of inclination of a wellbore where the angle is increased
d) Determines the rate a well profile turns in azimuth direction
1) Kickoff Point (b)

2) Surface Location (a)
3) Buildup Rate (c)
4) Turn Rate (d)

a) Occurs where the inclination of the borehole is held constant

b) The location where the wellbore starts dropping inclination
c) The angle by which the wellbore deviates from the vertical
d) The change of inclination of a wellbore where the angle is purposely reduced
1) Well Inclination (c)

2) Drop Off Rate (d)
3) Hold Angle (a)
4) Start of Drop (b)
a) The actual measured vertical depth from a reference point on the surface to a point of interest
b) The lateral distance from the surface location to the target
c) Direction of a course measured in a clockwise direction from 0-360o referred to North
d) The length of the projection of the horizontal displacement onto the vertical section plane
defined by its azimuth.
1) True Vertical Depth (a)

2) Target Displacement (b)
3) Vertical Section (d)
4) Azimuth (c)
a) The actual length of the wellbore from its surface location to any specified station
b) The distance between two points that are projected onto a horizontal plane
c) A point where a well profile finished dropping inclination
d) The point or location of the oil and gas reservoirs
1) Measured Depth (a)

2) Target (d)
3) Horizontal Displacement (b)
4) End of Drop (c)

a) Occurs after a buildup where the inclination of the borehole is held constant for a certain distance
d) Used to give a target's position in feet or meters with direction of North/South and East/West
1) Tangent Section (a)

2) Polar Coordinate (c)
3) Rectangular Coordinate (d)
4) Quadrant (b)
5) End of Buildup (e)
19) Which of the following are general types of directional well profiles? Select all the correct
answers.
a) Straight
b) Slant
c) S-type
d) Horizontal
20) This graphic represents which of the following

types of directional well profiles.
a) Straight well
b) Horizontal well
c) S-type well
d) Slant well

Part 6
1) Write in the correct terms to correctly complete the following sentence.
Well planning is an important stage prior to the commencement of actual drilling operations to
ensure that all aspects of the well are tailored to meet the specific ______objectives__________ of
that well.
a) Drop Quadrant
b) Azimuth
c) Quadrant
d) Rectangular Coordinate
e) End of Well
f) Vertical Section
g) Polar Coordinate
a) Hold Angle
b) Depth Control
c) Kickoff Point
d) Buildup Rate
e) Surface Location
f) Start of Drop
g) True Value Down
h) Turn Rate


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Introduction to Directional Drilling Revised: 6/13/01 Page 1 of 52

Introduction to Directional Drilling

Sugar Land Learning Center

1998, revised 2001

Source: IntroToDD.pdf, Revised 6/13/01, SLC

In this module you will learn to do the following:

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

Probably the most important aspect of controlled

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

2.1 Definition of Directional Drilling

2.2 Description of Directional Drilling

Drilling a directional well basically involves

A typical directional well starts off with a

2.3 Historical Development of

Directional drilling was initially used as a

Interest in controlled directional drilling

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

Historical Development of Directional Drilling

In 1930, the first controlled directional well was drilled in

Controlled directional drilling had received rather

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

1) Which of the following is the correct definition for directional drilling?

a) To drill relief wells to kill blowouts

4) Where was the first controlled directional well drilled in 1930?

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

In this lesson you will learn to do the following:

3.1 Three General Types of Wells

Wells are generally classified as

Exploration wells, sometimes called

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

a) To produce an existing field

a) To determine the extent of a field

a) To probe the earth where no known hydrocarbons exist

4) Match each well with its reason for being drilled.

a) To determine whether oil or gas exists in a subsurface rock formation

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

4 Directional Well Applications

Identify descriptions and pictures of directional drilling applications.

Sidetracking was the original directional

4.2 Inaccessible Locations

Inaccessible locations such as targets located

4.3 Salt Dome Drilling

Salt domes have been found to be natural

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

4.4 Fault Controlling

Fault controlling is an application used to

4.5 Multiple Exploration Wells from A

Multiple exploration wells from a single

4.6 Onshore Drilling to Offshore

Onshore drilling takes place when a reservoir

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

a) To get to trapped oil beneath salt domes

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

4.7 Offshore Multiwell Drilling

Offshore multiwell drilling is the most

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

a) Offshore multiwell drilling

Source: SLC IntroTo DD.doc Revised: 10/20/98 6:37 AM

4.8 Relief Wells

Relief wells are used to kill wells that are

4.9 Horizontal Wells

Horizontal wells are used to intersect a