School of Engineering

Well & Reservoir Engineering

EG 5568
 Directional Control
1. Directional control is required for:
a) Vertical Wells
b) Deviated Wells
2. The objective of directional control is to maintain
the well path on the planned trajectory at least cost
per foot.
3. In vertical wells, ideally directional control is
achieved by designing BHAs that resist any
tendency to deviate from the planned well course
owing to the nature of the formations drilled or
other factors.
4. One of the earliest applications of directional
drilling was to “straighten crooked holes”.
“Dumb” Rotary BHAs - Vertical Wells.
• Slick BHAs are frequently
used to drill
unconsolidated or soft to
medium formations.
• Excessive stabilisation
can significantly increase
the risk of stuck pipe.
• BHAs should only contain
sufficient stabilisers to
achieve straight hole
drilling.
• The message is, keep it
as simple as possible.
Effect of Formation Dip on Hole
Trajectory
1. At low dip angles, say
450 or less, bits tend
to drill up-dip.
2. If the drill plane is
inclined left of the bed
plane, the bit will tend
to walk right.
3. If the drill plane is
inclined right of the
bed plane, the bit will
Courtesy Baker Hughes
tend to walk left.
Effect of Formation Dip on Hole
Trajectory
1. At high dip angles, bits
tend to drill down-dip.
2. If the drill plane is
inclined right of the
bed plane, the bit will
tend to walk left.
3. If the drill plane is
inclined left of the bed
plane, the bit will tend
to walk right.
Courtesy Baker Hughes
 Effective Formation Dip
• Effective formation dip is the angle at which the rotational axis of the bit strikes
the bedding planes.

Courtesy Baker Hughes

 Formation Effects on Directional
Control
• In softer formations, holes may become overgauge
owing to the erosive and/or chemical effects of the
mud exiting the bit nozzles.
• While this may create problems for operations such
as building angle in directional wells, hole cleaning
and primary cementing, it limits any tendency to
deviate from the intended well path in vertical wells.
• In medium to hard formations, BHA’s generally
perform close to their theoretical behaviour
because the hole is drilled in gauge.
 Rotary Bottom Hole Assemblies
Drop Assembly Build Assembly Holding Assemblies

Square
drill
collar

Pendulum If NBS undergauge, Mild Stronger Stiff

assembly may drop (Semi-Packed (Packed Hole)
angle. Hole)
Semi-packed and packed hole assemblies use short (pony) drill collars.
 Stabilisers

Sleeve type stabiliser – interchangeable “screw-on” sleeve on a mandrel

body machined from a single piece of forged steel. The spiral bladed
stabilizer sleeve is also a single piece of steel with blades containing
tungsten carbide inserts for gauge protection.

Integral stabiliser - has spiral blades and tungsten carbide inserts

on the blade faces for gauge protection.
 Welded Blade Stabilisers

• Mainly used in top hole drilling.

• Any failure is usually at the weld.
• Use only after considering risks. Not recommended
in areas where top hole formations are liable to
slough downhole or where glacial bolder beds may
be present.
 Roller Reamers

• Sometimes used in place of a near bit stabiliser or string

stabiliser where abrasive formations may otherwise result in
under gauge hole.
• 6 point reamers are also available.
• Operationally, benefits should be weighed against the the risk of
leaving component parts downhole.
 Directional Drilling

What is directional drilling?

“ science of directing a wellbore along a pre-determined trajectory
to intersect a designated sub-surface target”

Directional Drilling Evolution - 1960 +

Wireline Steerable
Steering Tool Motor Rotary
Steerable
Mud Motor & Systems
MWD
Bent Sub

2000
1960 1970 1980 1990
 Directional Drilling

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING- REASONS FOR A DIRECTIONAL WELL

 Directional Drilling

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING- REASONS FOR A DIRECTIONAL WELL

 Directional Control Methods
Rotary Assemblies

• Side Force and Tilt Angle

– Factors affecting bit trajectory
• Gauge and placement of stabilizers
• Diameter and length of drill collars
• Weight on bit Hole Gauge

• Rotary speed Side Force

• Bit type at Bit

• Formation anisotropy andResultant Side Force

at Stabilizer
dip angle of the BeddingForce at Bit
planes Hole Axis Formation
Anisotropy
• Formation hardness Bit Tilt Angle

• Flow rate
• Rate of penetration
 Directional Drilling - Rotary Assemblies

• • Build rate will be increased

by the following:
The Fulcrum
Principle
– An increase in the distance is used to build
from the NB stabilizer angle (i.e.
to the first ST stabilizer increase Weight

– Increase in hole inclination borehole

inclination)
– Reduction of drill collar
diameter
– Increase in WOB
– Reduction in rotary speed
– Reduction in flow rate (in
soft formations) Component of Force
On High Side
Full Gauge
Near-bit
Stabilizer
Force
 Directional Drilling - Rotary Assemblies

The Stabilization Principle

is used to hold (maintain) angle and
direction.
 Directional Drilling - Rotary Assemblies

• The Pendulum Principle

– is used to drop (reduce) angle
– Portion of the assembly from the bit
to the first string stabilizer hangs like
a pendulum

WOB
Force
Directional Control Methods Oriented Mode

• Wellpath
– Controlled
curvature
– Controlled
direction
– No drill string
rotation
 Adjustable Gauge Stabiliser

Courtesy Sperry Sun

AGS Used In Extended Reach Drilling

Courtesy Sperry Sun

 Positive Displacement Motor (PDM)
Overview
Bearing Deflection Stator By-Pass
Assembly Device Valve

Drive Sub
1 Stage a) Mono Lobe
(Bit Box)
b) Multi Lobe

Drive Sub Universal Joint Rotor

Assembly

Hydraulic driven downhole motor that drives the drilling bit

 Motor Components
Overview
Top Sub or Bearing
By-Pass Valve Power Section Drive Sub
AKO Assembly

RCD Ti-Flex

RCD = Rotor Catching Device

 Positive Displacement Motor (PDM)
Overview
PDM Fluid Flow
Stator
(Elastomer)
PDM - Lobe Configurations

Direction
Rotor 1/ 2/ 3/
Of
Rotation
2 3 4

Fluid Flow

5/ 7/ 9/1
6 8 0

Universal
Joint
 Directional Drilling – Rotary Steerable

• Rotary drilling principles

• Near bit bias pads or eccentric shaft types
• 2 way communication with tool from surface
• Trade names: Autotrak, Geopilot, Powerdrive
• Advantages:
– Complex well profiles
– More efficient, fewer trips
– Improved ROP
– Extended reach
 Rotary Steerable Systems
(RSS)Triple Combo
Non rotating
Sleeve

MWD

Formation Evaluation
Rotating Drive “Gamma Ray + Resistivity”
Shaft

Non rotating Sleeve w/

Steering ribs & Inclination Sensors
 Running Drill Pipe in Compression
• In highly deviated holes (e.g. ERD Wells) it is impractical to provide all
the weight on bit using drill collars.
• Drill pipe must therefore be run in compression. This is not normally
desirable for reasons of fatigue life and the risk of helical buckling.
• To avoid the risk of buckling, it is necessary to determine the critical
buckling load (CBL) for the drill pipe in use.
• Buckling was investigated by Dawson and Paslay who suggested the
following formula for calculating CBL. This formula has given
satisfactory results in the field.
Calculating Critical Buckling Force
Calculate Critical Buckling Load
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