Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering

Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

Chapter 3

Drillstring Tubulars and Equipment

The purpose of the drillstring is to transmit mechanical power (torque and rota-
tion), hydraulic power (pressure and flow rate), and weight to the bit.
The drillstring is composed mainly of the following elements:

• Drill pipes,

• Heavy wall drill pipes,

• Drill collars,

• Several special elements and tools.

Figure 3.1 shows an schematic of a typical rotary drillstring.

3.1 Drill Pipes

Below the kelly assembly (upper kelly valve + kelly +lower kelly valve + kelly
saver sub) is a length of drill pipes (DP). Drill Pipe is a primary and important
drillstring member.
Since the drill pipes are generally compose the upper and longest portion
of the drillstring, they must be light and strong.
The drill pipe body is a seamless pipe with outside diameter (OD) varying
from 23 /8 in to 65 /8 in. The outside diameter and the wall thickness t determine
the linear weight of the drill pipe. The inside diameter (ID) is equal to OD minus
2t.
Drill pipes are made of high grade steel (there are also drill pipes made of
aluminum, carbon fiber, etc). API has standardized four steel grades: E–75,
X–95, G–105, and S–135. The figures represent the minimum yield strength
Ys (in ksi) of the the steel. Drill pipes are specified with the following basic
parameters:

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

Figure 3.1: Typical rotary drillstring.

1. Length range:

Range I: 18ft to 22ft,

Range II: 27ft to 30ft (most common),
Range III: 38ft to 45 ft,

2. Nominal linear weight: in general 2 or 3 linear weight or wall thickness for

each standard OD

3. Wall upset: EU (external upset), IU (internal upset), and IEU (internal &
external upset). The wall upset is a length of extra thickness at both ends
of the drill pipe body to provide a smooth transition between the pipe body
and the tool joint, in order to reduce the stress concentration,

4. Tool joint OD, ID, and tong length,

5. Steel grade: (D-55), E-75, X-95, G-105, S-135,

6. Connection size and type: from 23 /8 in to 51 /2 in, type IF (internal flush), EF

(external flush), FH (full hole), XH (extra hole), SH (slim hole), DS (double
streamline), and NC (numbered connection),

The API RP-7G contains the specification of all API standard drill pipes ap-
proved for oil and gas drilling use. The tool joints are heavy coupling elements

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

having coarse, tapered threads and sealing shoulders designed to sustain the
weight and to transmit torque along the drillstring. The threads of the tool joints
are specially designed to offer strength (axial and torsional), easy handling, fast
connections (number of turns to make the connection), and leak-proof sealing
(metal to metal). Tool joints might be welded or screwed to the ends of the drill
pipe body.

Figure 3.2: Typical tool joint designs. (A) Internal upset DP with full–hole
shrink–grip TJ, (B) External upset DP with internal–flush shrink–grip TJ, (C)
External upset DP with flash–weld unitized TJ, (D) External–internal upset DP
with Hydrill™–pressure welded TJ.

Two other common properties of drill pipes are capacity and displacement.

Pipe Capacity: The capacity Ap of a drill pipe is a measure of its internal area,
expressed as volume/length, usually gal/ft or bbl/ft.1 If Di is the inside
diameter (ID) of a drill pipe in inches, then

π 2 Di2 Di2
Ap = Di [in2 ] = [gal/ft] = [bbl/ft] .
4 24.51 1029.41

Pipe Displacement: The displacement As of the drill pipe is the measure of

its cross-section area, expressed as volume/length, normally bbl/ft. If Do
1
Sometimes the capacity is expressed as the reversal of the area, usually in ft/bbl. The
reader should be attended to the units.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

is the outside diameter (OD) of a drill pipe in inches, then

π D2 − Di2 D2 − Di2
Do2 − Di2 [in2 ] = o [gal/ft] = o


As = [bbl/ft] .
4 24.51 1029.41

Annulus Capacity: The annulus capacity Aa is not a property of the pipe be-
cause it depends on the diameter of the hole opposite to the pipe. If DW
is the diameter of the well, the annulus capacity Aa in bbl/ft is given by:

π D2 − Do2 D2 − Do2
2
− Do2 [in2 ] = W [gal/ft] = W


Aa = DW [bbl/ft] .
4 24.51 1029.41

The capacity and displacement formulas above do not take into account the
tool joints, and manufacturer tables must be consulted when more accurate
values are required. In particular, the nominal weight that specify a given drill
pipe represents neither the pipe body linear weight, nor the the average linear
weight (body plus tool joint divided by its length). It is just a nominal value. For
example, a typical 5in DP with 19.5 lb/ft has an internal diameter of 4.276in.
The density of steel is 489.5 lb/ft3 . Therefore, one foot op pipe body weights

1ft3
 
π 2
5 − 4.2762 × × 489.5 lb/ft3 = 17.93 lb/ft .


4 144in3

Considering a 30 ft long DP (Range II), the tool joints (pin and box) comprise
about 21 /2 ft of its length. Outside and inside diameters of the tool joints are 6in
and 31 /2 in respectively. Therefore, the linear weight of the tool joint is

1 ft3
 
π 2
6 − 3.52 × × 489.5 lb/ft3 = 63.41 lb/ft .


4 144 in3

The weight of the drill pipe (body plus TJ) is

27.5 ft × 17.93 lb/ft + 2.5 ft × 63.41 lb/ft = 651.6 lbm .

Consequently, the adjusted linear weight of the drill pipe is

651.6 lb
= 21.72 lb/ft .
30 ft

Drill pipes are subjected to wear during operation. In particular, reduction

of tool joints OD and wall thickness reduce tensile and torsion capacity of the
element. Used drill pipes are classified as Premium or Class I if the minimum
wall thickness is at least 80% of the wall thickness of a new pipe, and Class II
when at least 70%. A new pipe that for the first time is connected to a drillstring
is immediately re–classified to premium DP. Table A.1 presents dimensional
data for new drill pipes.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

Figure 3.3: A DP elevator and the links to the hook body.

3.1.1 Drill Pipe Elevator

Drill pipes are handled during tripping using a drill pipe elevator. (The swivel
and kelly are set aside in the rat hole.) It is connected by two links to the
hook body (See Figures 3.3 and 2.4) . A hinge and latch allows opening and
closing the bi–parted collar around the drill pipe. The elevator is operated by
the roughnecks at the rotary table level, and by the derrick man at the monkey
board.
Drill pipes extend across almost the whole length of the drillstring and, al-
though relatively light, they contribute with a significant part of the drillstring
weight (50% or more). However, drill pipes are, in general, used only under
tension. They should not be subjected to compression due to its low resistance
to buckling. Therefore, they cannot be used to apply weight on the bit. 2

3.2 Drill Collars

Since drill pipes cannot be used to apply weight on bit, this role is played be
the drill collars (and also by heavy weight drill pipes as shown next). Drill col-
2
In horizontal wells, drill pipes can be put under compression if located in a suitably curved
section of the hole; in addition, compression service drill pipes (CSDP, S-135 grade DP with 2 or
3 wear knots) are specially designed to work under compression to drill short radius horizontal
wells.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

lars (DC) are thick walled steel pipes located normally right above the bit, and
their purpose is to provide weight (axial force) to the bit. Drill collars are man-
ufactured with carbon steel (AISI 4115), or some non-magnetic alloy (stainless
steel, monel metal). The outside of drill collars may be slick (small diameters)
or spiral grooved (any size.). Figure 3.4 shows a spiraled and a slick drill col-
lars. The purpose of the groves is to reduce or avoid the risk of differential
sticking opposite to permeable formations . The depth of the grooves is made
larger than the average thickness of a flocculated mud cake (see Figure 3.5).
Average length of drill collars is 34 ft, but re–threading normally makes them
shorter.

Figure 3.4: A spiraled and a slick drill collars.

Figure 3.5: Spiraled DC cross–section. Figure 3.6: A DC elevator.

The elevators for drill collars are very similar to the elevators for drill pipes.
They differ in the shape of the internal hole that clamps on the pipe. Most drill
collars are recessed so as to be handled with the elevator. If the drill collar is
not recessed (sometimes even if it is!), a special sub called lift sub is used. Lift
subs have the shape of the upper end of a drill pipe, and connects to the top of
sections of drill collars during trips. Then the drill pipe elevator can be used to
lift or lower the drillstring.

3.3 Heavy Wall Drill Pipes

In addition to drill pipes and drill collars, there are special pipes called heavy
wall drill pipes (HWDP). They are intermediary pipes between drill pipes and
drill collars, being strong enough to be put under compression (they contribute

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Drillstring Tubulars and Equipment
Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

to the available weight to apply to the bit), and they are flexible enough to be
used in directional drilling (less torque and drag than drill collars.) The use
of HWDP also allow a gradual transition between the flexible drill pipes and
the stiff drill collars (less stress concentration, and therefore, less mechanical
fatigue on the threads.)
HWDPs look very similar to regular drill pipes, being of the same length of
Range II DP (27 to 30 ft), but with longer tool joints (to permit re–threading).
HWDPs have a central external upset as shown in Figure 3.8. This central
upset provides an additional third point of contact, increasing the overall stiff-
ness and protecting the pipe sections from excessive wearing in high inclination
wells (normally the tool joints and central upset have a band of hard material to
prevent/reduce wear).

Figure 3.8: Heavy wall drill pipes.

3.4 Special Tools

Several drilling equipment are used in the drillstring. The most important are:

• stabilizers,

• reamers,

• hole–openers.

3.4.1 Stabilizers

Stabilizers provide localized additional support points (localized larger diame-

ter) in one or more positions along the drillstring. For vertical wells, the stabilizer
prevents low frequency vibration in the drillstring during rotation. The advan-
tages are:

• reduce wear (of both drillstring and casing),

• reduce mechanical fatigue,

• reduce mechanical instability of formation (caving),

• reduce tortuous hole.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

Stabilizers are essential equipment for directional drilling. Suitable choice of

number and position of stabilizers in the drillstring lend to the bottom hole as-
sembly (BHA, the lower part of the drillstring composed of drill collars, stabiliz-
ers and HWDP) special characteristics in terms of inclination control:

• angle build–up,

• angle drop–off,

• angle hold.

Stabilizer may be of the following types:

• integral blade,

• interchangeable blade,

• non–rotating blades,

• replaceable blades,

• clamp–on

• near-bit,

The diameter of stabilizers can be in gauge or under gauge. More recently,

remote adjustable blade stabilizers were introduced. Changing suitably the di-
ameter of the stabilizers provide a level of control in the directional behavior of
BHAs.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 3.9: Some Stabilizers: (a) integral, (b) interchangeable, (c) non–rotating,
(d) replaceable.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

3.4.2 Reamers

The purpose of the reamer is to keep the diameter of the open hole in gauge,
that is, with the expected original diameter of the bit. Two reasons may cause
a decrease in the original diameter:

1. formation swelling (hydrated shales, moving salt),

2. bit diameter reduction (hard and abrasive formations).

The reamer also functions as a stabilizer since the rollers touch the borehole
wall. Different types of rollers can be selected to suit the formations being
reamed. (See Figure 3.10.)

Figure 3.10: A roller reamer. Figure 3.11: A fixed hole–opener.

3.4.3 Hole–openers

The hole–opener is a tool designed to enlarge the diameter of a previously (or

simultaneously drilled smaller borehole. Three situations (at least) are possible:
(See Figure 3.11.)

1. to drill the borehole section with a smaller bit, and later to enlarge to the
final diameter (a special tool called bull nose is connected in the place of
the bit, to guide the hole opener along the pre-drilled hole),

2. to drill the borehole section with a smaller bit and simultaneously enlarge
to the final diameter,

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

3. to enlarge a section below a casing with a diameter larger than the internal
diameter of the casing. In this case, a special hole opener (also caller
underreamer) with hinged arms actuated hydraulically is used (the drilling
fluid pressure actuates in rams that open the arms forcing the cutters
against the borehole wall).

3.5 Connections Make–up and Break–out

To make–up and break–out the pipe connections (during normal operations

and drillstring trips), big self–locking wrenches called manual tongs are used
to grip the drillstring and apply torque. The tongs are kept suspended at suit-
able height above the rotary table (3 to 5ft) balanced by counter–weights. They
work in pairs, one turns to left (counterclockwise) and the other to right (clock-
wise). They are mechanically or pneimatically actuated by the cathead (special
rotating spools connected to the drawworks). (See Figure 3.12).

(a) Left tongue (break-out). (b) Right tong (make–up).

Figure 3.12: Manual tongs.

To make–up a connection, the left tong grips the upper tool joint joint (box)
of the lower pipe, and the right tong grips the lower tool joint (pin) of the upper
pipe. The left tong is connected by a steel rope to a fixed point in the derrick,
and the right tong is connected to the cathead (turns the upper pipe). To break
a connection, the left tong grips the lower tool joint (pin) of the upper pipe, and
the right tong grips the upper tool joint (box) of the lower pipe. The right tong
is connected by a steel rope to a fixed point in the derrick, and the left tong is
connected to the cathead (also turns the upper pipe). Figure 3.13 shows the
tongs ready to make–up a connection.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

Figure 3.13: Tongs in position to make–up a connection.

When set and ready to apply torque, the angle between the arms of the
tongs should be either 90◦ or 180◦ (the ideal is zero degrees but operational
difficulties make this position not practical). It is important to leave the rotary
table unlocked, to avoid damage to the pipe caused by the slips.
Compressed air tongs or spinners (see Figure 3.14) are also used to speed–
up the operation, but the torque to make–up or to break–out the connection is
always done using the manual tongs.

3.5.1 Maximum Height of Tool Joint Shoulders

To make–up or break–out a connection, the drillstring must be resting on the

master bushing using the slips (DP and HWDP) or slips+safety clamp (DC and
any other slick equipment.) The angle between the arms of the tongs are either
90◦ or 180◦ as shown in Figure 3.16.
The maximum height of the tool joint shoulder with respect to the master
bushing is given by the following formulas:

Case 1: 90◦
Ymin LT S
Hmax [f t] = 0.053
Tmu

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

Figure 3.14: A spinner.

Figure 3.15: Tongs position during make–up.

Figure 3.16:

Case 1: 180◦
Ymin LT S
Hmax [f t] = 0.038
Tmu

where: Ymin = minimum yield stress of the pipe [psi]

LT = tong’s arm length [ft]
π (Do −Di )
4 4
S = Ic = 32D o
= section modulus [in3 ]
Tmu = make up torque [ft lbf]

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

Example 5: Calculate maximum height of the tool joint shoulder for a 5 in OD

DP, 19.5 lb/ft, X-95, with NC50 65 /8 in – 312 in new tool joint, using tongs with
31 /2 ft positioned at 90◦ and 180◦ .
Solution:
Ymin = 95 kpsi = 95, 000psi
LT = 3.5 ft
π (54 − 4.2764 )
S= = 5.71 in3
32 × 5
Tmu = 27, 076 ft · lbf

a) 90◦ :
95, 000 × 3.5 × 5.71
Hmax = 0.053 = 3.72 f t
27, 076

b) 180◦ :
95, 000 × 3.5 × 5.71
Hmax = 0.038 = 2.76 f t
27, 076

3.5.2 Make–up Torque

It is very important to apply the right torque during the make–up of a connec-
tion. Too little torque will not provide a suitable seal between the pin and box
shoulders, and leakage might wash out the threads causing failure of the con-
nection. Too much torque may cause mechanical failure of the threads, either
in the box or in the pin. The API RP7G tables present the maximum (tb.9) and
minimum (tb.10) torques for each standard connection.

3.6 Drill Bit

The bit is connected to the lower end of the drill collars. Bits are manufactured
with a pin, so that to connect to the lower pin of the drillstring, a bit sub is used.
The bit sub is a short sub (11 /2 to 2 ft) with two box connections.
There are a large variety of bits. Each type is designed to drill rocks of
different hardness, composition, abrasiveness, etc, encountered during drilling
operations. It is a duty of the drilling engineer to select the most appropriate
bit and the drilling parameters (nozzle sizes, weight-on-bit, rotation speed, and
flow rate) to optimize the performance of the operation. A more detailed study
of drill bits is covered in Chapter 10.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

3.7 Other Drillstring Equipment

In addition to the kelly–rotary table assembly, two other methods can be used
to promote rotation to the bit:

• Top drive,

• Bottom hole motors (positive displacement motors and turbines).

3.7.1 Top Drive

The top drive, also called power swivel, takes the place of the kelly, and the
torque is applied to the top of the drill pipe section by mean of hydraulic or
electric motors. The assembly slides along tracks (most models incorporate
a swivel in the design,) and is suspended by the hook. The reactive torque is
transmitted to the rig structure directly through the tracks or by a torque reaction
beam.

Figure 3.17: An electrical top drive.

A great advantage of using a top drive is the possibility to drill a full stand
(3 or 4 drill pipes) without interruption, saving time in connections. Another
advantage is the possibility of rotating the drillstring during the trips reducing
the drag to pull–out or slack–off the drillstring in the hole for high inclination
drilling.

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Curtin University of Technology Master of Petroleum Well Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling Engineering Fundamentals

3.7.2 Bottom Hole Motors

Bottom hole motors are special engines located above the bit to promote bit
rotation. Bottom hole motors convert hydraulic power of the drilling fluid (P =
q ∆p) into mechanical (rotational) power.
Turbines use fluid momentum conversion on the blades of stator/rotor to
generate rotation and torque. Turbines operates in high speed and has a narrow
range of operation. The torque decreases steadily from the maximum at 0 rpm
(stalled) to zero at the maximum speed.

Figure 3.18: A bottom hole turbine.

Positive displacement motors (PDM) use continuous displacement of con-

stant volume compartments created between an elastomer stator and a steel
rotor to generate rotation and torque. The rotation speed of a PDM is function
of the flow rate, and the torque is directed related to the pressure differential
across the motor (easily monitored from the surface). The use of bottom hole
motors is essential for directional drilling. The use of bent sub or bent housing
provides a good deal of control of the inclination and the azimuth, allowing to
drill complex trajectories.

Figure 3.19: A bottom hole PDM.

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