IADC/SPE 59194
At-Bit Inclination Measurements Improves Directional Drilling Efficiency and Control
Torger Skillingstad – Schlumberger Oilfield Services
Copyright 2000, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2000 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference held in New
Orleans, Louisiana, 23–25 February 2000.
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presented, have not been reviewed by the International Association of Drilling Contractors or the
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Abstract
A system that provides inclination measurements 1 foot
behind the bit has been developed to improve the operational
efficiency of positive displacement motors while drilling
directional holes. This paper illustrates how this new system
improves the directional control and drilling efficiency of
steerable positive displacement motors. Improvements have been
seen in:
• Superior sidetracking performance by providing
immediate information of when the bit starts to drill new
hole. As a result time spent using the traditional “time
drilling” technique is greatly reduced.
• Optimization of sliding intervals. With direct
measurement of angle change during “slide” drilling the
interval drilled can be optimized to ensure that the
required hole angle is neither overshot nor undershot.
This reduces borehole tortuosity and improves the gross
rate of penetration since the rate of penetration during
slide drilling is typically much less than during rotary
drilling.
• Accurate landing of horizontal wells. Targets are more
precisely penetrated, hole lengths in the zone of interest
are maximized and risks of unplanned sidetrack
operations are reduced.
• Reduced well tortuosity leads to a reduction in torque and
drag. The results are easier sliding, less risk of stuck pipe,
increased departures and fewer problems with running
casing and completions.
• Reducing wellbore undulations in horizontal wells
reduces accumulation of water along the wellbore and
leads to increased oil production.
• Increased response and control of 2-D rotary steerable
systems.
Introduction
The drilling industry continues to go through changes, and
specifically new developments have been made in directional
drilling systems. Of particular concern, is the increasing need for
drilling systems that address more complex designer wells for the
development of oil reserves in remote offshore and other
challenging areas. With increasing difficulties, the emphasis has
now shifted to extending asset life by drilling re-entry and multi-
lateral wells, and optimizing production rates and recovery
through horizontal completions. For the above reasons, there is an
increased emphasis to continue to improve the efficiency in
directional drilling.
The use of steerable mud motors to achieve directional control
is currently the most popular technique amongst available
technologies. A steerable system generally consists of a positive
displacement motor, with or without stabilization, and a bend.
The system is considered steerable if the motor can be used for
both rotary and slide drilling without tripping to change motor
geometry. Until recently, during “slide” drilling, the only rotating
part was the bit, which was turned by the motor with no rotary
table or top drive rotation of the drill string. The directional
tendency in a well was therefore simply obtained by sliding with
the steerable motor.
Drill string rotation with a steerable motor produces a slightly
over gauged hole with normal rotary assembly tendencies and
typically higher rates of penetration. The challenge has always
been to improve “slide” drilling in order to optimize directional
control while maintaining high rates of penetration and hence
improve the efficiency of the drilling operation. Instrumenting the
mud motor with an inclination sensor very close to the bit gives
the driller the tool he needs to achieve the above goal.
Another increase in directional drilling efficiency can be
obtained during sidetracking operations. Normally these
operations are time consuming especially if an openhole sidetrack
is performed. When using standard MWD directional
measurements 30-50 feet from the bit the driller has to rely on
surface indications and his experience to judge when the
sidetracking operation has initiated enough to increase the weight
on bit and/or to commence normal drilling operations. Using
inclination measurements close to the bit provides valuable
information to determine if the sidetrack operation has been
successfully initiated so that more aggressive drilling parameters
can be applied.
Steerable systems equipped with near bit inclination
measurements and variable gauge stabilizers in front of the motor
2 T. SKILLINGSTAD
provide increased 2-dimensional directional response and control
for more efficient drilling.
Efficient and precise placement of the borehole in the
reservoir plays a key factor in optimizing production rates and
increasing recovery rates. Using steerable mud motors
instrumented with an inclination sensor has proven to give the
driller the tool he needs to achieve precise TVD control.
Case studies [1] have shown that reducing the wellbore
undulations in horizontal wells can lead to increased oil
production. Field examples show that wells with large
undulations develop water sumps. It has been found that when a
large percentage of the wellbore cross section filled with water,
reduced oil entry occurs. Productivity modelling predicts that this
could lead to up to 50 percent reduction in productivity.
Description of equipment
The mechanical design of a positive displacement mud motor
makes it difficult to install a hard-wired connection from near-bit
sensors through the motor to the MWD tool. It also causes
operational problems when changing BHA components between
the motor and the MWD tool. A telemetry system is used that
transmits the data from near the bit up the hole to the MWD,
bypassing these issues while keeping the system reliable, versatile
and cost effective.
The At-bit Inclination Measurement (AIM*) tool has an
electronics package including a single axis inclinometer
incorporated into the drive shaft of a standard PowerPak* motor.
This allows for a real-time inclination measurement 1-foot (0.3m)
from the bit. The electronics are housed inside a rotating near bit
stabilizer sleeve. (See fig 1).
Using a rotating near bit stabilizer rather than the conventional
fixed motor stabilizer has shown to improve the rate of
penetration while sliding by reducing the drag resistance and
reducing the tendency of bit sticking.
Since the sensor is mounted in the center of this rotating stabilizer
there are only minor differences between the inclination
measurement obtained while sliding or rotating. The tool
continuously updates the inclination in both drilling modes. The
measurement is made as close to true hole inclination as possible
and not affected by BHA sag.
The system is currently available for operations in hole sizes
ranging from 5 7/8” up to 26” with a temperature rating of 300°F
(150º C). The tool is powered by batteries with a 180 to 300-hour
operating life depending on tool size.
Maximum dogleg severity capacities are 30º/100 ft while sliding
and 15º/100 ft while rotating for the 4 ¾” motor size, making it
suitable for long to medium radius drilling.
AIM can be used in combination with any type of PowerPak
power section and adjustable stabilizers.
Application of equipment
Increasing the power or torque delivered to the bit from
steerable motors is one way of improving the drilling efficiency
of steerable motor systems. Another way to increase the drilling
efficiency is to improve the sliding process by both maximizing
the rate of penetration while sliding and/or minimizing the
amount of sliding needed.
IADC/SPE 59194
A case study done in Alaska [2] shows that significant drilling
performance improvements can be achieved by reducing the time
spent sliding. By comparing similar wells drilled with and
without AIM technology a reduction of almost 100 percent was
seen in the time spent sliding. As as result the gross rate of
penetration was increased over 55 percent.
Using a rotating near bit stabilizer instead of the standard
motor housing sleeve stabilizer has proven to improve the rate of
penetration in sliding mode. It improves weight transfer to the bit
by mechanically disclodging cuttings for more efficient cuttings
removal. As a result this decreases drag and tendencies for the bit
to stick/slip which leads to a more consistent weight transer to the
bit. This improves toolface orientations and more differential
pressure can safely be applied on the motor for higher rate of
penetration.
An example from an offshore field development in Nigeria
shows the improvements in the rate of penetration that can be
obtained by uing a motor with a rotating near bit stabilizer, see
figure 2. The three first horizontal wells were drilled with motors
equipped with conventional motor housing stabilizers. The last
four wells were drilled using a rotating near bit stabilizer on the
motors. The overall rate of penetration increased between 50 to
100 percent when compared to the first three wells drilled. This is
not to say that all these drilling improvements were solely related
to the rotating near bit stabilizer. The impact of lessons learnt
during the drilling campain was also a key component in the
improvements seen.
2-D rotary steerable system
Another application were AIM has shown to improve the
directional drilling efficiency is in conjuction with a variable
gauge stabilizer for 2–dimensional directional control. Normally
the variable gauge stabilizers are placed behind the motor.
However, the further away from the bit you place a stabilizer the
less impact it will have on the directional behavior of the bottom
hole assembly (BHA). This is especially true with new the
generation extended motor power sections.
Placing the variable stabilizer between the bit and the motor
increases the directional response from normally 0.5° to 1 ° build
and drop per 100 feet to almost 2° to 3°. This increased response
allows the directional driller to better combat unpredictable BHA
behaviour due to changing formation effects. Therefore the need
to pull out of hole and modify the bottom hole assembly due to
unpredictable formation effects are signifigantly reduced. Usually
there is a standpipe pressure difference of between 100 to 200 psi
between the two available stabilizer positions. However in some
situations this pressure difference is very difficult to detect on
surface. When using conventional MWD systems if the stabilizer
is in the wrong position or the BHA behaviour changes due to
formation effects, the changes will not be detected before 60 to 80
feet of new formation are drilled. Incorporating AIM into such a
BHA, see figure 3, allows for earlier detection of those changes
with the inclination sensor about 10 feet from the bit. In some
situations this could be the difference between the need for a
BHA trip or continue to drill ahead.
Figure 4 shows a comparison between the inclination
measured in the MWD tool and the inclination measurement from
IADC/SPE 59194 AT-BIT INCLINATION MEASUREMENTS IMPROVE DIRECTIONAL DRILLING EFFICIENCY AND CONTROL
AIM. The data is taken from a 6 1/8” horizontal well drilled in the
Austin Chalk formation (US Land). The two measurements
correlate very closely, with only about 0.2° to 0.3° difference
between the two inclination measurements. Different BHA sag
effects on the two measurements are the main reason for the
difference. It can be noted that when the stabilizer buttons are in a
retracted position and the BHA drops angle the difference
between the two measurements are smaller.
Sidetrack operations
Another drilling operations that benefit from application of the
AIM system is sidetracking. The attached figure 5 describes a
successful open hole sidetrack that was completed in the Prudhoe
Bay Unit in Alaska [2]. A sidetrack had to be performed over
1000 feet into the horizontal section at 14,721 feet measured
depth in order to return to the pay zone. In order to save several
days of rig time preparing for a cement plug sidetrack the
operator decided to perform an openhole sidetrack. A 30 feet
trench was first established by time drilling with a low side
orientation on the motor. When the AIM inclination showed a
0.4° drop in inclination the sidetrack operation commenced. AIM
inclination was closely monitored and after 2 feet of time drilling
the AIM inclination measurement increased from 88.2° to 88.7°.
This indicated that the bit had reentered the old hole. Without
AIM this would have been impossible to identify. The bit was
pulled off bottom and lowered slowly while monitoring that the
AIM inclination transmitted was now 88.2°. Time drilling
resumed. The above event reoccured again after 4 feet of time
drilling. This bit jumping effect was caused by sticking of the
drillstring, which required an extra 3000 to 4000-lbm weight on
the bit for the drillstring to move. Without the AIM measurement,
every time the bit jumped back into the old hole all prior
sidetracking effort would have been lost unknowlingly. Most
likely a cement plug sidetrack would have been needed, adding
several days of rig time. With the aid of the AIM inclination it
was possible to determine that the sidetrack was fully initiated
earlier than expected and thereby saving additional rig time by
ending the time drilling sequence sooner that planned. The entire
openhole sidetrack was accomplished in 39 feet and completed
before the MWD tool had reached the kick-off point.
Precision placement
Precise and accurate placement of the borehole in the
reservoir is becoming a necessity in order to increase and
optimize production from complex reservoirs. Using steerable
mud motors with a near bit inclination sensor has enabled drillers
to control the vertical depth tolerance to ± 1m (± 3ft). A West
African project consisting of one deviated and six horizontal
wells needed to drill the horizontal drains within a vertical depth
tolerance of ± 1m (± 3ft). This was to prevent water coning and
gas production since the target window was planned only 4
meters below the gas/oil contact and 12 meters above a strong
aquifer. The client used conventional steerable motor BHA’s to
drill the first two wells. The vertical depth variation was greater
than 2 m (6.5ft) which resulted in gas production. See figure 6.
The next three drain holes where drilled with an instrumented
motor which has an inclination sensor located 2.5 m (8 ft) from
3
the bit. The average vertical tolerance was ± 0.68m (± 2.2 ft).
The last well was landed in a 8 ½-inch hole then a 6-inch lateral
was drilled. A steerable motor equiped with AIM was used and
the average vertical tolerance achieved was ± 0.27m (± 0.88 ft).
The drain hole section was planned for 8 days and was done in
only 5 days. As a result there was no gas production in any of
these three last wells drilled with a near bit inclination
measurement tool.
Productivity Improvements
Reducing the undulations in horizontal wellbores has proven
to decrease the risk of creating permanent water sumps. Water
sumps or sections of the wellbore with water accumulation can
lead to additional wellbore pressure drop and restricts the entry of
oil into the wellbore. Case studies [2] indicates that this could
lead to up to 50-percentage reduction in the productivity.
Figure 7 shows a flowing holdup image aquired from a
production log of a well in both shut-in conditions and well
flowing conditions. Water sumps (in blue) and trapped gas zones
flagged (in yellow) can clearly be observed along the well
trajectory.
The production log image shows that the bubble activity is
mainly concentrated in the zone at the oil-water interface and not
throughout the entire cross-section. Thus, there is almost no oil
entry from the low side of the hole. A cross-sectional image, as
shown by the circles in Fig. 7, indicates that the thin oil layer is
flowing over the stagnant water sump.
When comparing the well flowing image with the well shut in
image we can see that water is displaced from its equilibrium
position. The water is pushed both along the well and vertically
upwards in this case. Therefore, an additional productivity loss
occurs due to a pressure drop created by lifting the water to the
elevated sections.
Conclusions
Steerable positive displacement motors with near bit
inclination measurements have proven to improve operational effi
ciency by:
• Reducing the time drilling sequence during sidetrack
operations. More challenging openhole sidetracks can
succesfully be performed saving a significant amount of
rig time by reducing the need for a cement plug sidetrack.
• Wells can be placed more precisely and accurately in the
reservoir. Vertical depth control down to ± 0.27m (± 0.88
ft) is now possible. Reducing wellbore undulations in
horizontal wells reduces the risk of creating permanent
water sumps. Case studies indicate that these water sumps
could lead to a 50-percentage reduction in the
productivity.
• A 2-D rotary steerable system utilizing AIM and a near
bit variable gauge stabilizer has been introduced. Benefits
seen are increased directional control to better address
unpredictable formations effects allowing the bit to stay
on bottom drilling for longer intervals.
4 T. SKILLINGSTAD IADC/SPE 59194

• Reducing the amount of sliding needed since the driller

gets immediate feedback of the inclination changes and
no “over” sliding occurs. Changes in the BHA’s rotary
mode behaviour are detected early and can therefore be
corrected reducing the need to slide. Rates of penetration
are typically higher in rotary mode and as a result the
gross rate of penetration is increased.

• Using a rotating near bit stabilizer instead of the

conventional motor sleeve stabilizer improves weight
transfer to the bit and leads to increased rate of
penetration during sliding intervals.

Acknowledgments
Thanks to Ian Falconer, Greg Conran, Steve Kaufmann, Ivor Gray
and Okiemute Ejakopvi Enaibe of Schlumberger Oilfield Services
for their valuable assistance in developing this paper.

References
1. F.J.Kuchuk, C. Lenn, P.Hook, P. Fjerstad.: “Performance Evaluation
of Horizontal Wells.” SPE 39749 presented at the Asia Pacific
Conference on Integrated Modeling for Asset Management held in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 23-24 March 1998.
2. M.Varco, J.E.Smith D.M.Stone.: “Incination at the Bit Improves
Directional Precision for Slimhole Horizontal Wells: Local Case
Histories.” SPE 54593 presented at the 1999 Regional Meeting
hekd in Anchorage, Alaska, 26-28 May 1999.

* Mark of Schlumberger
IADC/SPE 59194 AT-BIT INCLINATION MEASUREMENTS IMPROVE DIRECTIONAL DRILLING EFFICIENCY AND CONTROL 5

Fig 1 - Schematic of AIM tool

Fig 2 – Offshore Nigeria field example of drilling improvements obtained with rotating near bit stabilizer motors

Fig 3 - 2 D rotary steerable bottom hole assembly

6 T. SKILLINGSTAD IADC/SPE 59194

Fig 4 - Plot of MWD and AIM inclination from a 2-D steerable BHA example run

Fig 5 - Openhole sidetrack drilled using AIM tool, showing sequence of events that lead to a successful sidetrack after only 39 ft and before
the MWD tool had even encountered the new hole
IADC/SPE 59194 AT-BIT INCLINATION MEASUREMENTS IMPROVE DIRECTIONAL DRILLING EFFICIENCY AND CONTROL 7

Fig 6 - Vertical section view of horizontal drain with well trajectories from conventional steerable BHA’s and steerable BHA’s using near bit
inclintation sensors.

Low side High side

Fig. 7 - Production log images of well flowing and well shut in conditions.