Solved problems in drill string design

1. A drill string composed of bit, 18 joints of DC, 30 joints of HWDP

and 100 stands of DP. One stand of DP measures 91.5’ and every
joint of HWDP & DC. Measures 30’ DP. Wt. =19.5 lb/ft, DC Wt. =
150 lb/ft, and HWDP Wt. = 50 lb/ft. if mud in hole is 11.5 ppg,
a)What is the bit depth in normal drilling?
b)What is the weight of drill string in mud?
c)What is the max. WOB that could be used for normal drilling
if only 75% of dril collar will be under compression?
d)The string was stuck at bottom while drilling, 50,000 lb was
applied to determine the free point, and stretch was 25”. Find
the depth of the free point.
Answer

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Bit depth= 100x91.5+30x30+18x30= 10590 ft

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Wt.ofD/S inair =100x91.5x19.5+30x30x50+18x30x150=304425 lb

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BF =1-ρmud/ρsteel=1-11.5/65.5=1-((11.5*7.48)/489.5)=0.82

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Wt. of D/S in mud = Wt. of D/S in air X BF=249629 lb

WOB = 0.75 LDC N.WtDC BF =0.75 x 18x30x150xBF = 49815 lb

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Assume OD of Dc = 8''
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150=pi/4 *(82-ID2)/144*1*489.5------------------- ID of Dc= in

Young modulus= stess/strain=(F/A)/( ΔL/L)

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30*106=(50000/π/4(82-ID2))/(25/L)………………> L= in = ft
2. A drill string consists of 600 ft of 8 ¼ in x 2.13/16 in drillcollars and
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the rest is a 5 in drillpipe, 19.5 lbm/ft Grade X95 drillpipe. If the

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required MOP is 100,000 lb and mud weight is 10 ppg, calculate

the maximum depth of hole that can be drilled when (a) using new
drillpipe (Pt = 501,090 lb) (b) using Class 2 drillpipe having a yield
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strength (Pt) of 394,000 lb.

Answer
N. wt of Dc = v ρ = π/4 (ODDC2-IDDC2) x 1/144 x 1 ft x 489.5

N. wt of DC = π/4 )8.252-(2 13/16)2) x 1/144x 489.5=160.6 lb/ft

BF =1-ρmud/ρsteel=1-10/65.5=1-(10x7.48/489.5)=0.847

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 Using the following rule:

Case (1) new drillpipe (Pt = 501,090 lb)

LDP = (501090x 0.9-100000)/(19.5x0.847) - (160.6 x 600/19.5)

LDP = 16 309 ft

Then, the maximum depth of hole that can be drilled when using

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new drillpipe (Pt = 501,090 lb) = 16 309 + 600 = 16 909 ft

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Case (2) Class 2 drillpipe having a yield strength (Pt) of 394,000 lb

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LDP = (394000x 0.9-100000)/(19.5x0.847) - (160.6 x 600/19.5)
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LDP = 10 506 ft

Then, the maximum depth of hole that can be drilled when using
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class two drillpipe (Pt = 394,000 lb) = 10 506 + 600 = 11 106 ft

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3. An exploration rig has the following grades of drillpipe to be run in

a 15,000 ft deep well: Grade E: 5/4.276 in, 19.5 lb/ft, yield strength
= 395,600 lb, Grade G: 5/4.276 in, 19.5 lb/ft, yield strength =
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553,830 lb, If the total length and weight of drillcollars plus heavy-
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walled drillpipe is 984 ft and 157,374 lb, respectively. The

maximum expected mud weight at 15,000 ft is 13.4 ppg. calculate:
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a. the maximum length that can be used from each grade of

drillpipe if a MOP of 50,000 lb is to be maintained for the
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lower grade; and

b. the MOP of the heavier grade.
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Answer
Case (a)
The lightest grade (E) should be used for the bottom part of the
hole, while the highest grade should be used at the top section.
Thus, grade E will carry the wt of DC and HWDP

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 So, the term of WDC should include the combined wt. of DC and
HWDP
So, WDC x LDC = 157374 lb
BF =1-ρmud/ρsteel=1-13.4/65.5=1-(13.4x7.48/489.5)=0.795

Using the following rule:

LDP grade E = (395 600x0.9-50000)/(19.5x0.795)-(157374/19.5)

=11 671 ft
LDP grade G = 12000 - (11671 +984)=2345 ft

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Case (b)

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MOP = Ptx0.9 – P

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Where P is wt carried by top joint in mud
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Pin air =LDPgradeExN.Wt DPgradeE+LDP gradeG xN.Wt DPgradeG+WtDC+HWDP
= 11671 x 19.5 + 2345 x 19.5 + 157374
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= 430 686 lb
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Pin mud = Pin air x BF

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= 430 686 x 0.795= 342 395 lb

MOP= 553 830 x 0.9 – 342 395 = 156 052 lb
4. In drilling a 9 5/8” hole, depth is 10000’, 450’ of drill collars are
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used, OD 5 ¾”, ID 2 ½” and nominal weight 106 kg/Mt. Drill pipes

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3 ½” of 15.5 lb/ft are lowered in 76 lb/ft3 mud.

a. Find the number of stands of drill pipes and drill collars.
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b. Find the time necessary to pull the drill string out of the hole if
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average time for pulling one stand of drill pipe is 2.5 min. and
for drill collar is 8 min.
c. If 70% of drill collars are under compression, find the weight on
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bit per inch of bit diameter.

Answer
a. No. of stands of DP =LDP/90 = (10000-450)/90=107 stand

No. of stands of DC =LDC/90 = 450/90 = 5 stand

b. The time necessary to pull the drill string out of the hole(TD/S)
TD/S = TDP+TDC =107x2.5+ 5x8 = 307.5 min. = 5 hrs. 7.5 min.

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 c. WOB = 0.70 LDC N.WtDC BF
BF =1-ρmud/ρsteel=1-10.2/65.5=1-(76/489.5)=0.845
WOB = 0.70 x 450 x ((106 Kg/Mt)x (lbx0.3048 Mt/0.4635 Kgx
ft) )x 0.845=18632 lb
WOB per bit inch diameter = WOB/hole diameter
= 18632/9.625
= 1936 lb/ bit inch diameter
5. The following data refers to a drill string stuck at the drillcollars:
Drillpipe: 10,000 ft, 5/4.276 in Grade E 19.5 lbm ft, Class 2.
Drillcollars: 600 ft, total weight 80,000 lb. Make-up torque for
drillpipe tool joints = 20,000 ft-lb and the free point is at 9,900 ft.
Determine the maximum torque that can be applied at the surface
without exceeding the maximum torsional yield strength of drillpipe

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if the Tensile strength = 311 540 lb

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Answer

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Using the following equation, we can get the maximum torque

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that can be applied at the surface without exceeding the maximum
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torsional yield strength of drillpipe.
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Where Q= min. torsional yield strength (lb-ft)

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Ym = min. unit yield strength (psi)

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J = polar moment of yield inertia= π/32 (OD4-ID4)

P = Wt. carried (lb)

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A = cross sectional area (in2)

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Since the Dp is 100 % free at 9900 ft, the total tensile load at surface:
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P= 9900 x 19.5 =193 050 lb

J= π/32 (54-4.2764)=28.5383 in4

A= π/4 (OD2-ID2) = π/4 (52-4.2762)= 5.27 in2

Tensile strength = 311 540 lb

Ym= 311 540/A = 311 540/ 5.27 = 59 116 psi

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 Then, Q=(0.096167x28.5383x(591162-(1930502/5.272))0.5)/5

= 24 277 lb-ft

Since Make-up torque for drillpipe tool joints = 20,000 lb-ft, the max.
allowable torque should be based on tool joint torque and not pipe
body torque

6. A 3.5 in drillpipe, 13.3 lbm/ft. Grade S135 premium class, is used

to run a 4.5 in OD liner to 21,000 ft. If the length of drillpipe is
175,00 ft, the mud weight is 16 ppg and the total weight of the
liner is 50,000 lb, calculate the total stretch in the drillpipe.
Answer
Stretch of drill pipe:

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Drill pipe stretches under the action of DCs and its own

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weight

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1. Stretch due to weight carried(weight of DC’s)

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Or
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2. Stretch due to its own weight

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Mud density in ppg and length in ft

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Then,
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ΔLtotal= ΔL1+ ΔL2=224.4 in = 18.7 ft

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7. In drilling 12 ¼” hole, it is required to apply 3400 lb/inch of bit

diameter. If 85% of DC’s are under compression. Find the
required number of DC’s. DC characteristics are 8.5” x 2 13/16”,
150 lb/ft. What is the hook load reading while drilling? If while
pulling out of hole with the bit at 9000’ (total depth 10,000 ft) the

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 hook load indicated 300,000 lb. What is the drag in the hole? DP
is 5” with 19.5 lb/ft. (mud weight is 10 ppg)
Answer
WOB = 0.85 LDC N.WtDC BF
8. Grade E drill pipe has the following mechanical performance
395,600 lb pipe body yield strength. 5” OD and 19.5 lb/ft. Grade G
has 559,800 lb pipe body yield strength. Determine at what depth
you should change from grade E to G using 18 DC’s 8.5” & 2
13/16” and 11 ppg mud. Allow for 100,000 lb overpull on all DP
before reaching 80% of body yield (do not exceed 80% of body
yield any time).
Answer
As problem three but the factor 0.9 will be changed to 0.8

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Then calculate LDP (with factor 0.8)

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Depth you should change from grade E to G= LDP+ LDC
9. An operator wants to use 8 drill collars (9.5” x 3”, 218 lb/ft in air)
and the remainder of BHA from 8” x 2 3/16” DC (150 lb/ft). If the
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desired weight on bit is 70,000 lb, calculate the number of 8” DC’s.

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If the well depth is 12,000 ft and there are 20 joints of HWDP (50
lb/ft). Draw the tension-depth of the drill string till the surface
Answer
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WOB = 0.85 LDC N.WtDC BF

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Tension (wt of drill string in mud at any depth), lb

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Total load at surface

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WOB Neutral point (zero tension zero compression)

Depth, ft bottom of well

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 10. A drill string is composed of: 500’ of drill collars having 100lb/ft
nominal weight and cross sectional area of steel 0.2 ft 2 plus 1000’ of
drill pipe having 15 lb/ft nominal weight and cross sectional area of
steel 0.03 ft2.If the mud has a density of 100 lb/ft3, find the total
elongation of the drill string under its own weight when it is
suspended in mud. If the reading of the hook load indicates 23 short
tons while pulling out of the hole , what is the length of the drill pipes
at that moment given that there is 10,000 lb drag while tripping out.
Answer
As problem 6

11. In drilling a 9 5/8” hole, the used weight is 3000 lb/inch of bit
diameter. If 75% of drill collars should be in compression, find the
necessary number of joints of drill collars needed. Drill collars used
have 6 ¼” OD and 2 ½” ID and 134 kg/Mt. nominal weight. Air is

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used as a drilling fluid.

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Answer

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As problem 1 & 4 + units

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BF=1
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Notes
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Young modulus of steel =30106psi

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Density of steel = 65.5ppg=489.5 lb/ft3

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Young modulus=stress/strain=(F/A)/(delta L/L)

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Do not depend on the calculated values. It can be wrong. You must

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check it again and compare

With best wishes

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MHY
‫نسألكم الدعاء وهللا هو المستعان والموفق‬
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