GROUP CODE NO. REV.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION RELEASE

Directional Drilling Tools DDT-TIR 068 AA
PAGE OF
1 5

Prepared By Date Section Mgr. Date Product Line Mgr. Date InTouch Date
Vernon Koval 7/10/02 Vernon Koval 7/10/02 Mike Johnson Warren Askew

RPM Limits for PowerPak Motors

SUMMARY of TIR:

This TIR explains the recommended limits on the drill string rotary RPM and bend angle settings
for PowerPak motors. These recommendations make obsolete the Technical Information
Release DDT-TIR #13 and DDT-TIR #64. Additional discussion is found in the PowerPak
Uniform Operating Procedures- UOP, T1035807. It is being updated to reflect these revised
guidelines. The reductions in RPM limits are based on recent stator chunking failures
experienced in the field when operating using the previous RPM limits. The original limits were
set based on connection life.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

The recommended limits on the drill string RPM for PowerPak motors are determined from the
following operating conditions:

Reaming and Back Reaming operations have a recommended maximum drill string rotation of
40 RPM.
The tension on the motor while reaming with minimal weight on bit or while back reaming
reduces the shoulder compression on the connections making them susceptible to backing off
or fatigue failure.

Normal drilling conditions have a recommended maximum drill string rotation of 100 RPM or
less depending on the motor model, hole size, and bend angle setting. See Table 1 and Table
2 for details.
These recommendations minimize the possibility of damage to motor parts (connections,
bearings, stator elastomer, transmission) due to dynamic effects, such as whirling, stick slip,
high lateral shocks, etc. Rotating PowerPak motors with bend angles corresponding to the gray
regions in the tables is not recommended because the PowerPak life expectancy is too low.

Performance drilling with a straight housing motor has a recommended maximum drill
string rotation of 160 RPM. This is not applicable to motors with an adjustable bend angle set to
“0.00”; the recommended maximum is 100 RPM (Table 2).

Confidential and Trade Secret - Do not disclose, use or reproduce without written approval from Schlumberger.
 GROUP CODE NO. REV.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION RELEASE
Directional Drilling Tools DDT-TIR 068 AA
PAGE OF
2 5

RSS/PowerPak combination
A straight housing motor is preferred when running a rotary steerable tool below the motor. The
recommended maximum drill string rotation is 100 RPM to minimize the possibility of damage to
the motor parts. The tables below do not apply.

Using higher than recommended RPM

It may be necessary to drill with greater surface rotation RPM under special circumstances for
short intervals. For these conditions, the RPM limits given in Table 3 may be used with the
realization that the life of the motor will be reduced and there is added risk of fatigue failure.
DDT-TIR #66, PowerPak Xtra Stator Adaptors and Top Crossovers, should be in place before
reaching the upper limits of rotary speed.

Caution
Typical failure modes experienced due to operating for extended time above the
recommended RPM are chunked stators and fatigued connections. Stalling at high rpm
with larger motors and aggressive PDC bits, A962 and 171/2” bit for example, has added
risk of twist off.

Confidential and Trade Secret - Do not disclose, use or reproduce without written approval from Schlumberger.
 GROUP CODE NO. REV.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION RELEASE
Directional Drilling Tools DDT-TIR 068 AA
PAGE OF
3 5

Table 1 Recommended Maximum drill string RPM in curve sections

Motor Hole Bend Angle Distance
Size ft
Model in. 0.00 0.39 0.78 1.15 1.5 1.83 2.12 2.38 2.6 2.77 3.0

A213XP 2 5/8 100 100 100 100 90 60 40 5

A238SP 3 1/2 100 100 100 100 90 60 40 40 40 5
A238XP 3 1/2 100 100 100 100 90 60 40 40 40 5
A287SP 3 3/4 100 100 100 100 90 60 5
A287AD 3 3/4 100 100 100 100 90 60 40 5
A287XP 3 3/4 100 100 100 100 90 60 40 40 5
A313SP 3 7/8 100 100 100 100 100 100 8
A350SP 4 3/4 100 100 100 100 90 60 40 40 8
A475SP 6 90 90 50 40 40 10
A475XP/AD 6 90 90 50 40 40 40 40 10
A475GT/HS 6 90 90 80 50 40 40 40 40 10
A500GT/HF 6 80 80 50 40 40 40 10
A625SP 7 7/8 80 80 50 40 40 12
A625XP 7 7/8 80 80 40 40 40 40 12
A675SP/AD 8 1/2 80 80 50 40 40 13
A675XP 8 1/2 80 80 50 40 40 40 13
A675HS 8 1/2 80 80 40 40 40 15
A700GT/HF 8 1/2 80 80 40 40 40 15
A825SP 12 1/4 100 100 80 70 40 15
A825XP/GT 12 1/4 80 80 50 40 40 15
A962SP 12 1/4 90 90 60 50 40 15
A962SP 17 1/2 90 90 60 50 15
A962XP 12 1/4 90 90 50 40 40 15
A962XP 17 1/2 90 90 60 50 40 15
A962GT/HS 12 1/4 90 90 50 40 40 15
A962GT/HS 17 1/2 90 90 50 40 15
A1125SP 17 1/2 90 90 60 50 15

1. Fatigue and failure can occur due to excessive vibration. Decrease the RPM if need be, based on local conditions.
2. RPM limits are for the given hole sizes. If hole sizes are smaller, the RPM limit will, in general, decrease. Contact
Engineering for recommendation.
3. "Distance" refers to the distance from the end of the curve to the point after which RPM may be increased to tangent
section values.
4. Rotating PowerPak motors with bend angles corresponding to the gray regions is not recommended.
5. For 0-2 degree adjustable bends use the value of the closest bend angle listed.

Confidential and Trade Secret - Do not disclose, use or reproduce without written approval from Schlumberger.
 GROUP CODE NO. REV.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION RELEASE
Directional Drilling Tools DDT-TIR 068 AA
PAGE OF
4 5

Table 2 Recommended Maximum drill string RPM in tangent or straight sections

Motor Hole Bend Angle
Size
Model in. 0.00 0.39 0.78 1.15 1.5 1.83 2.12 2.38 2.6 2.77 3.0

A213XP 2 5/8 100 100 100 100 100 100 60

A238SP 3 1/2 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
A238XP 3 1/2 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
A287SP 3 3/4 100 100 100 100 100 100
A287AD 3 3/4 100 100 100 100 100 100 40
A287XP 3 3/4 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 40
A313SP 3 7/8 100 100 100 100 100 100
A350SP 4 3/4 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
A475SP 6 100 100 100 100 100
A475XP/AD 6 100 100 100 100 100 100 40
A475GT/HS 6 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 40
A500GT/HF 6 100 100 100 100 100 100
A625SP 7 7/8 100 100 100 100 60
A625XP 7 7/8 100 100 100 100 100 40
A675SP/AD 8 1/2 100 100 100 100 100
A675XP 8 1/2 100 100 100 100 100 80
A675HS 8 1/2 100 100 100 100 100
A700GT/HF 8 1/2 100 100 100 100 100
A825SP 12 1/4 100 100 100 100 70
A825XP/GT 12 1/4 100 100 100 100 100
A962SP 12 1/4 100 100 100 100 100
A962SP 17 1/2 100 100 100 80
A962XP 12 1/4 100 100 100 100 100
A962XP 17 1/2 100 100 100 100 60
A962GT/HS 12 1/4 100 100 100 100 100
A962GT/HS 17 1/2 100 100 100 100
A1125SP 17 1/2 100 100 100 100
1. These recommendations are for stabilized assemblies in the given hole sizes.
2. Fatigue and failure can occur due to excessive vibration. Decrease the RPM if need be, based on local conditions.
3. Rotating PowerPak motors with bend angles corresponding to the gray regions is not recommended.
4. For 0-2 degree adjustable bends use the value of the closest bend angle listed.

Confidential and Trade Secret - Do not disclose, use or reproduce without written approval from Schlumberger.
 GROUP CODE NO. REV.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION RELEASE
Directional Drilling Tools DDT-TIR 068 AA
PAGE OF
5 5

Table 3 Absolute Maximum drill string RPM in tangent or straight sections

Motor Hole Bend Angle
Size
Model in. 0.00 0.39 0.78 1.15 1.5 1.83 2.12 2.38 2.6 2.77 3.0

A213XP 2 5/8 160 160 160 150 140 120 60

A238SP 3 1/2 160 160 160 150 150 140 150 120 120
A238XP 3 1/2 160 160 160 160 160 150 140 130 120
A287SP 3 3/4 160 160 160 150 140 120
A287AD 3 3/4 160 160 160 150 140 120 40
A287XP 3 3/4 160 160 160 160 150 130 120 40
A313SP 3 7/8 160 160 160 150 130 100
A350SP 4 3/4 160 160 160 160 150 140 130 120
A475SP 6 160 160 160 140 120
A475XP/AD 6 160 160 160 150 130 120 40
A475GT/HS 6 160 160 160 150 140 130 120 40
A500GT/HF 6 160 160 160 140 130 120
A625SP 7 7/8 160 160 150 130 60
A625XP 7 7/8 160 160 150 140 120 40
A675SP/AD 8 1/2 160 160 150 140 120
A675XP 8 1/2 160 160 150 140 130 80
A675HS 8 1/2 160 160 160 140 120
A700GT/HF 8 1/2 160 160 160 140 120
A825SP 12 1/4 150 150 130 120 70
A825XP/GT 12 1/4 150 150 140 130 120
A962SP 12 1/4 150 150 140 120 110
A962SP 17 1/2 140 140 120 80
A962XP 12 1/4 160 160 140 130 120
A962XP 17 1/2 150 150 130 120 60
A962GT/HS 12 1/4 160 160 140 130 120
A962GT/HS 17 1/2 150 150 140 120
A1125SP 17 1/2 140 140 130 120
1. These recommendations are for stabilized assemblies in the given hole sizes.
2. Fatigue and failure can occur due to excessive vibration. Decrease the RPM if need be, based on local conditions.
3. Rotating PowerPak motors with bend angles corresponding to the gray regions is not recommended.
4. For 0-2 degree adjustable bends use the value of the closest bend angle listed.

Confidential and Trade Secret - Do not disclose, use or reproduce without written approval from Schlumberger.