Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Directional Drilling Terminologies

AZIMUTH

There are three azimuth reference systems: True (Geographic

North), Grid North and Magnetic North.

Geographic North: In geographic coordinates directions are referred

to true north, or a true azimuth. Geographic north points to the
North Pole; this direction is indicated by the polar star.

Grid North: Grid north is an arbitrary direction and is always in the

direction of the positive ordinate axis of the specific grid used for a
particular survey.

Magnetic North: Magnetic north can be measured by a simple

magnetic compass. Magnetic azimuths are not constant due to the
movement of the north and south magnetic poles and hence
magnetic measurements may be in error due to local magnetic field
variations.

In oil wells, all surveys with ‘magnetic type’ tools are initially given
an azimuth reading referenced to Magnetic North. However, the
final calculated coordinates are always converted to either True
North or Grid North.

Magnetic Declination: Magnetic north and true north do not

coincide. The divergence between true north and magnetic north is
different for most points on the earth’s surface, and in addition to
this the magnetic north pole changes its position very slightly each
year.
The angle in degrees between true and magnetic north is called the
declination angle. The declination angle is negative if magnetic
north lies to the west of true north and is positive if the magnetic
north lies to the east of true north (refer figure below).
The azimuth of a wellbore at any point is defined as the direction of
the wellbore on a horizontal plane measured clockwise form a north
reference. Azimuths are usually expressed in angles from 0-360 ,
measured from zero north.
Note: West Declination is always Subtracted and East Declination is
always Added. i.e., TRUE NORTH = MAGNETIC NORTH ±
(DECLINATION)
 Azimuth on horizontal plane, 20 degrees wrt True North

Azimuths can also be expressed in a quadrant system from 0-90

measured from north in the northern quadrants and from south in
the southern quadrants.
The figure above shows azimuth reading of 135 equates to S45 E in
quadrant readings.
Measured in: degree

INCLINATION

The angle of the well bore defined by a tangent line at any point of
wellbore and a vertical line is called the inclination. The vertical line
is always parallel to the direction of earth's gravity. By industry
standard, 0 degree inclination is vertical (downward pointing) and
90 degrees inclination is horizontal. An inclination (angle) greater
than 90 degrees coincides with the term "drilling up".
Measured in: degree
NOTE: AZIMUTH & INCLINATION ARE ALSO TERMED AS
DIRECTION AND ANGLE RESPECTIVELY.

MEASERED DEPTH (MD) & TRUE VERTICAL DEPTH (TVD)

Measured Depth (MD): Measured depth (MD) is the distance

measured along the well path from one reference point to the
survey point.
Measured in: Feet (ft) or metre (m)

True Vertical Depth: The vertical distance from a point in the well
(usually the current or final depth) to a point at the surface, usually
the elevation of the rotary kelly bushing (RKB) is called the true
vertical depth (TVD) at that point.
Measured in: Feet (ft) or metre (m)

It is to be noted that MD ≥ TVD in all cases.

VERTICAL SECTION (VS)

A projection of the borehole into a vertical plane parallel to the

course bearing and scaled with vertical depth.

KICK OFF POINT (KOP), BUILD, HOLD & DROP

Kick off Point (KOP): The kick off point is defined as the point below
the surface location from where the well is deflected from the
vertical. The position of the kick off depends on several parameters
including: geological considerations, geometry of well and proximity
of other wells.
Build Up: It is the act of increasing the inclination of the drilled hole
wrt vertical.

Build Section: That portion of the hole in which the inclination angle
is increased; rate of buildup is usually expressed as the angular
increase per 100 feet of measured depth.

Build Up Rate (BUR): It is the rate of change (degrees/100 feet or

degrees/30 metre) of the increasing angle in the hole.

Drop off: It is the act of reducing the inclination of the drilled hole
wrt vertical.

Drop Section: That portion of the hole in which the inclination angle
is decreased; rate of drop off is usually expressed as the angular
increase per 100 feet of measured depth.

Drop off Rate: The rate of change of the inclination in the part of
the wellbore where the inclination angle is purposely returned
toward vertical, usually expressed in degrees per feet or course
length.

Hold: The act of maintaining the inclination and azimuth of the

wellbore to remain constant as it is.

Tangent or Hold Section: The portion of hole in which the inclination

and azimuth is maintained the same throughout the section.

In the figure below, KB means Kelly Bushing, RT means Rotary

Table, DF means Derrick Floor, EOB is for End of Build (i.e., the
point at which the Building ends and we either hold or drop the
wellbore path).
RECTANGULAR COORDINATES

Rectangular coordinates of a target are usually given in feet/meters

North/South and East/West of the local reference point. They can be
easily derived by subtracting the grid coordinates of the surface
location from those of the target.
The rectangular coordinates can be used to calculate the departure
(horizontal displacement) between the surface location and the
bottom hole target as follows:
Departure = [(Δ E/W)2+ (Δ N/S2)]1/2
where: Δ denotes difference in coordinates between E/W or N/S
POLAR COORDINATES

Polar coordinates can be derived from the rectangular coordinates.

They are expressed as a distance (departure) and as a direction
(either Quadrant or azimuth).
Polar coordinates are derived from the rectangular coordinates as
follows:
Azimuth = tan-1 ((Δ E/W Coordinates)/( Δ N/S Coordinates))

Now let us try to solve a problem based on the above concept of

Rectangular and Polar coordinates.
We have been provided the grid coordinates of the surface and
target location. We need to find the Departure and Azimuth of the
target from the surface location.
Grid Coordinates: Target 6,334,400.00 N (m) 200,600.00 E (m)
Grid Coordinates: Surface 6,335,000.00 N (m) 200,400.00 E (m)
Now let us calculate the rectangular coordinates.
Δ N/S = N/S (target) - N/S (surface) = 6,334,400.00 -
6,335,000.00 = -600 m
Δ E/W = E/W (target) - E/W (surface) = 200,600.00 - 200,400.00
= 200 m

Now, Azimuth = tan-1 ((Δ E/W Coordinates)/( Δ N/S Coordinates))

thus, Azm = tan-1 (200/-600) = -18.4 degree

Also, Departure = [(Δ E/W)2+ (Δ N/S2)]1/2

thus, Departure = [(200)2+ (-600)2)]1/2 = 632.5 m

Hence in polar coordinates, the target is 632.5 m at an azimuth of

161.6 degree (S18.4W).These coordinates are plotted in figure
below:

Directional drilling has been an integral part of the oil and gas industry since the
1920s. While the technology has improved over the years, the concept of directional
drilling remains the same: drilling wells at multiple angles, not just vertically, to better
reach and produce oil and gas reserves. Additionally, directional drilling allows for
multiple wells from the same vertical well bore, minimizing the wells' environmental
impact.
Directional DrillingSource: Amerex Co.

Improvements in drilling sensors and global positioning technology have helped to

make vast improvements in directional drilling technology. Today, the angle of a
drillbit is controlled with intense accuracy through real-time technologies, providing
the industry with multiple solutions to drilling challenges, increasing efficiency and
decreasing costs.

Tools utilized in achieving directional drills include whipstocks, bottomhole assembly

(BHA) configurations, three-dimensional measuring devices, mud motors and
specialized drillbits.

Now, from a single location, various wells can be drilled at myriad angles, tapping
reserves miles away and more than a mile below the surface.
Directional DrillingSource: Mackenzie Gas Project

Many times, a non-vertical well is drilled by simply pointing the drill in the direction it
needs to drill. A more complex way of directional drilling utilizes a bend near the bit,
as well as a downhole steerable mud motor. In this case, the bend directs the bit in a
different direction from the wellbore axis when the entire drillstring is not rotating,
which is achieved by pumping drilling fluid through the mud motor. Then, once the
angle is reached, the complete drillstring is rotated, including the bend, ensuring the
drillbit does not drill in a different direction from the wellbore axis.

One type of directional drilling, horizontal drilling, is used to drastically increase

production. Here, a horizontal well is drilled across an oil and gas formation,
increasing production by as much as 20 times more than that of its vertical
counterpart. Horizontal drilling is any wellbore that exceeds 80 degrees, and it can
even include more than a 90-degree angle (drilling upward).