The curve length can then be described by:

𝑟 ∗ 𝜋(𝐼2 − 𝐼1 ) (2.3)
𝐶𝐿 =
180

2.2.2 Azimuth
The borehole can be represented by 360 degrees. Still looking down the well, it can go in any
direction of this 360 degree circle where north is 0 or 360 degrees, directly east 90 degrees
and so forth. This circle compass is now lying flat in the plane of north/south and east west. If
the direction of the well path is to go towards the west the well would bend to the left when
looking down, which would give a direction of 270 degrees counting from north.

This amount of direction change is called the azimuth (A), and is as described, the direction
change in the horizontal plane. This is illustrated in Figure 2-3. Here it can be seen how the
azimuth or well path is changing in the horizontal plane. The relationship between the radius
and the turn rate can be expressed as in equation 2.2 and 2.3.

Figure 2-3: Inclination and Azimuth

How much the well path changes direction or turns in the horizontal plane is given by the turn
rate. Build rate relates to inclination and turn rate to azimuth, which is similarly given by

23