BP Colombia Directional Drilling Handbook - Rev1 - 4214161 - 01

Directional Drilling Handbook
Piedemonte Region Colombia

BP Colombia – Schlumberger
May 2006
Schlumberger Private
Richard Harmer (PERFORM Coordinator)

Graham Douglas (DD Coordinator)
PIEDEMONTE DIRECTIONAL DRILLING HANDBOOK
Prepared by: Richard Harmer Revised by: Graham Douglas Approved By:
Preparation date: May 03, 2006 Revision Date: Rev # 1
26in HOLE SECTION
BHA Design
Normally the plan in this section is to drill vertical with a long (one stabilizer) or restricted (two stabilizer) Pendulum
Motor BHA, assuming there are no close approach issues. The motor is run slick and is primarily for performance drilling
(to increase ROP), it is typically run with a 1.0 deg bend angle. Oriented drilling with this BHA Design is not recommended
unless there is a severe Anti-Collision Risk. The dogleg capability and directional capability of this BHA is severely
reduced due to the sleeve stabilizer being slick and as a result there is no side force at the bit. ROP will also reduce
significantly (~10-25%) when sliding with this assembly. Should there be any critical Anti-Collision issues the BHA design
needs to be reviewed to provide a more steerable assembly, which will include a sleeve stabilizer.
To date the standard BHA design incorporates a PowerPak A1125SP 11 1/4-in OD 3:4 Lobe, 3.6 Stage mud motor (see BHA
design later in this section). This motor has an operating flow range of 1000-1500gpm meaning that with the standard hole
section flow rates of 1000-1100gpm it is operating at the low end of the recommended range. Serious consideration has
been given to running a PowerPak A962GT 9 5/8-in OD 7:8 Lobe, 4.8 Stage since this motor will generate more downhole
torque than the 11 ¼” motor, possibly resulting in higher ROP, so far this has not been attempted.
11 ¼” vs 9 5/8” Motor Comparison

A1125SP 11 1/4-in OD 3:4 Lobes, 3.6 Stages A962GT 9 5/8-in OD 7:8 Lobes, 4.8 Stages
Weight (lbs) 6,400 6,350
Length (ft) 29.02 32.02
Standard Flow Rate (gpm) 1,000-1,500 600-1,200
Torque at 1000gpm (ft-lbs) 7,000 10,500
Revolutions / gal 0.11 0.11
Max WOB (lbs) 75,000 75,000
Advantages / Disadvantages
Modeling indicates similar vibration levels can be Modeling indicates similar vibration levels can be
VIBRATION
expected. expected.
Motor not operating very efficiently at 1000 gpm Ability to drill ahead at reduced flow rate (600-
(right at low side of flow range). 1000gpm) in the case of non severe losses.
HYDRAULICS
Motor operating more efficiently at 1000 gpm.
Less Torque output compared to the 9 5/8"GT
Higher Differential and Torque available.
Stiffer than 9 5/8" but buckling is not expected
No buckling expected
with either motor
Pendulum assembly (60'-100'), Not expecting wall Pendulum assembly (60'-100'). Not expecting wall
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
contact applying 65 Klbs WOB contact applying 65 Klbs WOB
Sliding Dogleg the same for both Motors. Sliding Dogleg the same for both Motors.
Rotary Drop Tendency similar in both cases Rotary Drop Tendency similar in both cases
It is common for the assembly to build towards the up-dip direction. The strength of this tendency increases in relation to
the formation dip angle. In the case that the BHA is building more strongly than can be tolerated the first response should
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File location: Directional Drilling Handbook_Rev1.doc
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be to control drilling parameters to make the assembly drop (reduced WOB and increased RPM’s). If modification of
drilling parameters is not successful the last option is to slide. Careful well planning can help to eliminate the need for
sliding.
The section (typically 1000-1100 ft in length) is normally drilled in one run. If severe losses are identified as a major risk
the section is sometimes pushed deeper. The standard has been to use a Reed Hycalog EMS11G Tricone bit, there is
resistance from the bit companies to the use of a PDC bits due to the cost and possibility of encountering boulders.
BHA Design to Maintain Verticality:

A long pendulum assembly (25 ¾” Stabilizer 94 ft back from the bit) was used to drill this section on Cupiagua E41 and
severe vibration levels were seen throughout the run. To address the vibration issues the assembly design was changed
to drill the next well Cupiagua H42, the assembly contained two 25 ¾” stabilizers at 63 and 102ft. A dramatic reduction in
vibration levels was seen with this assembly design (with the first stabilizer on top of the PowerPulse MWD tool).
Cum. Len. (ft) BP Colombia
6-5/8 " 27.70 DPS, 10% Wear 676.14 H42
Cupiagua H
BP_Cupiagua H
6 * 6 5/8" HWDP (6 joints) 645.14 OH
26" Hole Section BHA_A1125M
X/O 465.61
BHA DESCRIPTION
ELEMENT LENGTH (ft) OD (in) ID (in) MAX OD (in)

9 * 8 " DC (9 joints) 462.01 26" Bit 2.20 26.00 3.75 26.00
A1125M3436SP (1 deg) 29.02 11.25 9.25 12.00
PowerPulse 27.98 9.63 5.90 9.63
X/O 186.53 25 3/4" Stabilizer 8.10 9.50 3.00 25.75
9 1/2" DC 30.73 9.50 3.50 9.50
25 3/4" Stabilizer 8.10 9.50 3.00 25.75
X/O 1.66 9.75 3.00 9.75
2* 9 1/2" DC (2 joints) 182.91 Shock Sub 14.01 9.50 2.00 9.50
2* 9 1/2" DC (2 joints) 61.11 9.50 3.00 9.50
X/O 3.62 9.50 3.00 9.75
9 * 8 " DC (9 joints) 275.48 8.00 3.13 8.00
Shock Sub 121.80 X/O 3.60 8.00 2.81 8.00
6 * 6 5/8" HWDP (6 joints) 179.53 6.63 4.50 8.00
X/O 107.79 6-5/8 " 27.70 DPS, 10% We 31.00 6.55 5.90 8.50
25 3/4" Stabilizer 106.13
9 1/2" DC 98.03
Bit to Direction & Inclination Sensor = 43.05 ft
25 3/4" Stabilizer 67.30 DRILLING OVERVIEW

Drill 26" Hole Vertical to 1200ft.
PowerPulse 59.20
Depth in: 130.00' Depth out: 1200.00'

A1125M3436SP (1 deg) 31.22
Inclination in: To:
26" Bit 2.20 Direction in: To:
Total Drilled 1070.00' Dogleg:
Quality Control
Created by: GDouglas Date: 2/15/2006
Checked by: Date:

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BHA Designs for Directional Work:

On Liria YZ-10 the decision was made to extend the 26in hole section to ~2900ft TVD to cover a potential loss zone in
Guayabo. The BHA designs used are shown below, directionally the BHA’s performed very well building steadily in rotary.
Inclination was built to 20deg by section TD, however ROP below 1000ft was disappointingly low at an average of ~21 ft/hr
(15% sliding for section) and problems were experienced with high lateral vibrations as the formation became more
sandy and consolidated.
BHA#6: Built steadily at 1.2-1.5 deg/100ft

BHA DESCRIPTION Bit to
COMPONENT L'GTH MAX SIZE SZR (Ft)
26" Rock Bit 1.84 26"
Mud Motor 29.29 9 1/2" 25 3/4"
Short DC 5.15 9 1/2"
22" String Stabiliser 7.51 22" 40.0
PowerPulse MWD 27.82 9 1/2"
3 x 9 1/2" DC's 92.03 9 1/2"
Xover 3.68 9 1/2" x 8 1/4"
9 x 8" DC's 278.51 8"
Jar 32.51 8"
2 x 8" DC's 62.18 8"
Xover 3.58 8"
6 x 6 5/8" HWDP 183.85 8 1/2"
Accelerator 33.03 8"
3 x 6 5/8" HWDP 89.33 8"
BHA#8: Slow build rate of 0.25 deg/100ft

BHA DESCRIPTION Bit to
COMPONENT L'GTH MAX SIZE SZR (Ft)
26" Rock Bit 1.83 26"
Bit Sub 4.01 9 1/2"
25 3/4" String Stabiliser 8.20 9 1/2" 25 3/4"
PowerPulse MWD 30.02 9 1/2"
22" String Stabiliser 7.51 9 1/2" 22"
7 x 9 1/2" DC's 212.85 9 1/2"
Xover 3.68 9 1/2" x 8 1/4"
9 x 8" DC's 278.51 8"
Jar 32.51 8"
2 x 8" DC's 62.18 8"
Xover 3.58 8"
6 x 6 5/8" HWDP 183.85 8 1/2"
Accelerator 33.03 8"
3 x 6 5/8" HWDP 89.33 8"

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Drilling Parameters
Maximization of drilling parameters (especially WOB) is the key to ROP (average ROP for section typically ranges from 30-
80ft/hr), WOB of ~60 Klbs, 50-70 RPM at surface (total downhole 180 RPM). A flow rate of 1000-1100 gpm has been used
recently to provide a balance between hole cleaning and reducing washouts (earlier wells were drilled with 1200gpm).
It is normal to see considerable topdrive vibration and bouncing especially at the start of the section. Historically axial
vibrations have not been that high, and it is normal for a shock sub to be included high up in the BHA above the upper
stabilizer. With long pendulum designs the lateral vibrations at the MWD tool in the large hole size are normally very high.
Below 1000ft TVD the formation begins to get more consolidated and ROP reduces significantly (requiring a maximization
of drilling parameters – 60 Klbs WOB) to maintain a respectable ROP. The normal casing point depth is ~1200ft TVD, on
Liria YZ-10 this casing point was pushed deeper to ~2900ft TVD due to a risk of losses. Even with full drilling parameters
the ROP from 1200-2900ft TVD was disappointing ~20ft/hr. This must be taken into account when planning future wells,
possibly there is potential to run a PDC bit from 1200ft TVD onwards once the risk of encountering boulders has been
removed (the additional bit cost would certainly be paid for by a reduced number of trips).
Drilling Fluid
The section is drilled with a flocculated water system, unless drilling deeper than 1200ft where polymer mud is
considered to aid hole cleaning.
Key Risks
Key risks in this section are losses, high lateral vibration levels, BHA building tendency towards the up-dip direction and
encountering boulders.
14 3/4in HOLE SECTION
This is the most challenging section of the well, primarily due to the length of open hole (~12,000ft) and the time the
formations are exposed. The majority of the wells are planned using a natural drift approach and accurate dip angle and
updip azimuth information from the geologists is critical within the planning phase of the well.
Directional work is normally performed in the shallow softer formations (Guayabo, Charte and Leon) from the 20”casing
shoe to the top of the C1 formation (top of Carboneras) to obtain the necessary displacement to achieve the target and
align the well in the up-dip direction so it is possible to drill the Carboneras and reservoir formations up dip with standard
rotary (Non PowerDrive) BHA’s.

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The formation dip angles (measured from horizontal) make directional drilling in Piedemonte, and the selection of rotary
BHA’s a challenge. In terms of azimuth a rotary BHA will tend to walk towards the formation up-dip direction. In terms of
inclination, when drilling up or down dip, rotary BHA’s at inclinations below the dip angle will tend to build and rotary
BHA’s at inclinations above the dip angle will tend to drop angle (the BHA wants to drill perpendicular through the
formations).
Tendency to build when below dip angle and

drop when above dip angle.
Formation dip angle measured

from horizontal
Caution must be applied with these rules because rotary BHA tendencies are also very sensitive to the formation being
drilled. For example the tendencies in the C1, C3 and C5 sandstones formations can be very different to the C2, C4, C6 and
C8 shales. Even within thick formations such as the C1 sandstones BHA tendencies can change dramatically as lithology
changes.

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Drilling DOWN dip Drilling UP dip
Azimuth walking
towards up dip azimuth

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The Carboneras is a challenging series of sandstones and shales. With the current “Down Sized” wellbore design the
Carboneras C1 to the top of the C6 are drilled in the 14 ¾” section and C6 to C8 in the 10 5/8”section, with the even
numbers representing shales (C2,C4..) and the odd sands/siltstones (C1,C3..). A careful MW balance is required to provide
just enough hydrostatic pressure to avoid severe wellbore instability in the shales, whilst avoiding losses in the sands. It
is normal for the shales to be unstable and for intervals to washout (evident at surface in the form of high cavings rates or
downhole in increasing ECD).
The rugose nature of the wellbore is what causes high torque and drag and difficult trips. It is often not possible to POOH
on elevators with 100Klbs of overpull, but normally the string can be pulled relatively smoothly with full circulation. At
times significant back-reaming is necessary to progress in and out of the hole (especially through the C1 and C5
formations), but this should only be used as a last resort as mechanical damage accelerates the deterioration of the
wellbore. Even if the string is showing signs of stalling out when backreaming it is recommended whenever possible to
minimize drillstring RPM’s when backreaming to reduce formation damage.
This section is typically drilled with 700-900 circulating hrs and recent experience has shown that the use of lower flow
rates (850-860gpm vs 1200gpm) can help to improve the hole condition by reducing washouts (wells are relatively low
angle < 30 deg and no problems have been seen associated with hole cleaning).
BHA Design
The shallower Guayabo, Charte and Leon formations are the interval where directional work is normally performed with
motors or the PowerDrive RSS. The Charte formation is relatively hard (comparable to the C7 with ROP’s of 30-35 ft/hr)
and is intercalated, no problems have been experienced with PowerDrive response in this interval, but sliding with
motors can be tricky.
The DLS capability of the PowerDrive tool in these three formations depends heavily upon the formation natural
tendencies. With passive gauge bits the tool has just been able to counteract the natural tendency drilling cross dip (55
deg from up-dip azimuth) within formations with dip angles of 25 deg (Cup NW40). With active gauge bits excellent
response was seen drilling cross dip within formations with 22-12 deg dip angles (Cup H42). When planning wells which
have a cross dip element in this interval and where the use of PowerDrive is planned it is recommended to use
conservative build rates of ~0.65 deg/100ft (although build rates of 0.8-1.4 deg/100ft have been achieved with the tool) and
that active gauge bits are used. To date the effectiveness of smooth-steer, non-active but tapered gauge bits, has not
really been proved.
Cost per foot analysis indicates that when wells are relatively up-dip high performance mud motors provide superior ROP
to rotary assemblies and are the most cost effective way to drill the Guayabo formation (the first run outside the 20in
casing shoe). In this case the motor assemblies can be designed to give the required build tendency in rotary. In wells

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with a cross dip element consideration must be given to the expected amount of sliding required with the motor and an
evaluation of the impact of the additional wellbore tortuosity. The next step is to move towards using a Vortex BHA
(PowerDrive + Mud Motor) to maximize ROP without an increase in wellbore tortuosity, however this must be done
carefully because use of PoweDrive in this application typically results in a reduction in DLS capability typically in the
region of 25%.
Approximately 45% of the 14 ¾” section time is spent drilling the hard and abrasive C1 (20% time) and C5 (25% time)
sandstone/siltstone formations which have a low average ROP of 7-20 ft/hr. Well plans are normally designed so that
these formations (C1 and C5) are drilled in the up-dip direction with rotary BHA’s containing stabilization designed to
provide the desired inclination response. To date two runs in Cupiagua H42 have demonstrated that with a fresh bit
directional work appears possible in these formations with PowerDrive, however from a CPF perspective this should be
avoided unless essential. Directional work has been performed in C1 with motors (Liria YT-9) but sliding can be tricky.
Attempts to performance drill these formations with a straight motor have resulted in some heavily worn bits, but there is
certainly an opportunity to improve ROP in these formations. The risk of running a motor in the C5 formation is the length
of Carboneras open and the increased difficulty working free from a pack-off with a motor. For this reason the C1
formation maybe a better formation to make the first attempts.
Successful rotary BHA design is not a simple process in the Carboneras formations. The inclination response of BHA’s
(build / drop rates) is very dependent on the following factors:
i) The inclination of the wellbore in relation to the formation dip angle: when below the dip angle the BHA will
show a building tendency, and when above the dip angle the BHA will show a dropping tendency.
ii) The UCS of each formation (this is distinctly different between the sands and shales).
iii) The type of BHA design: long pendulums have been seen to be very unstable in response to changes in
WOB.
iv) The WOB applied to the BHA which is normally related to the wear state of the PDC bit (with more weight
being applied as the run progresses).
It is recommended not to use slick, packed (>2 stabilizers) or long pendulum (> 40ft) BHA designs when drilling the
Carboneras, full gauge stabilizers should also be avoided if possible. Slick and long pendulum BHA’s have been seen to
be very sensitive to formation and WOB changes resulting in unpredictable and tortuous behavior. Good consistent
results have been seen with two stabilizer restricted pendulum designs, the stabilizers either side of the MWD tool help
to control vibration levels and the length of the drill collar below the first stabilizer determines the BHA inclination
response. Near bit assemblies have been used successfully but these need to be selected very carefully.
The recommended approach for designing a rotary BHA is as follows:

i) Plot graphically offset well survey information and formation dip angles vs BHA designs.
ii) Model offset well BHA’s to allow comparison between actual and modeled behavior.
iii) Take into consideration BHA responses seen in similar conditions within the most recent wells.

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iv) Select a BHA that is as stable as possible with respect to changes in WOB.
Example of the instability of a 14 ¾” 50ft Pendulum Assembly in C1 Formation:
High levels of vibrations are an issue throughout the section, on wells drilled without vibration monitoring the average is
1.5 vibration related MWD failures per section. The main problem is with high levels of lateral vibrations, drilling with
OBM no significant issue has been seen with torsional vibrations (stick-slip). Axial vibration has not proved a problem,
occasionally moderate levels have been seen when trying to drill the C1 and C5 formations with a bit design that is too
aggressive.
Whenever possible the MWD tool should be fully stabilized. It is recommended that vibration levels are monitored in real-
time and drilling parameters modified when necessary to reduce vibration levels. The highest vibration risk is present
drilling the C1 and C5 formations (the highest risk being the C5 due to its slightly higher UCS). PDC bits with 19mm cutters
have shown good ROP in these formations, but can also result in very severe vibration levels, even with well stabilized
short restricted pendulum assemblies. When selecting bits to drill the C1 and C5 formations it is important to look at the

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percentages of sand and siltstone present in offset well logs and take into consideration the type of BHA you are
planning to run. Severe vibration levels have been observed with the combination of a more aggressive bit (19 mm
cutters) and high percentages of siltstone (80 – 90%). This should be considered for bit selection to avoid destructive
vibrations. If it is necessary to run an relatively long pendulum BHA or you are drilling in a harder area of Piedemonte
(typically as you move more to the North the formations become harder to drill - Buenos Aires softer than Recetor) it is
recommended to run a 16mm or 16mm/13mm bit such as the Smith MA61 which has proved to be one of the most stable
drilling bits for these formations. Features such as depth of cut limitation (easy steer features) are important especially
when running PDC bits with 19mm cutters.
Bit Design
Guayabo:
When drilling with a high performance mud motor, the Hughes Christensen nine bladed HC609 PDC bit with 19mm cutters
has been proved to provide excellent ROP and is rugged enough to cope with the high downhole torques generated by
these motors.
The PowerDrive RSS tool has been run with good ROP with an active gauge eight bladed 16m cutter bit (Reed Hycalog
RSX816). The next step is to utilize an active gauge 8 bladed 19mm cutter bit for this interval.
Charte, Leon to C1 top:

PowerDrive has been proved to be very cost effective directionally drilling this interval. Excellent ROP’s have been seen
drilling this interval with 9 bladed 19mm cutter bits such as the HCR 609Z G12, with manageable vibration levels seen in
Charte. PowerDrive pad wear was initially an issue in the abrasive Charte formation, leading to reduced response in the
Leon formation. This issue was addressed with the introduction of more abrasion resistant lozenge pads.
C1 and C5:
These formations are traditionally drilled with nine or ten bladed bits on rotary BHA’s. The use of bits with 19mm cutters is
possible in C1, but C5 is generally harder and 19mm cutters have bee seen to induce high lateral vibration levels and
moderate stick-slip. The ROP appears very dependent on PDC cutter wear, with bits frequently pulled due to low ROP
with a grading of 2-2 or 2-3. The use of a real-time Mean Specific Energy calculation in conjunction with the Mud Log can
be very beneficial to evaluate the condition of the bit and aid in the decision of when to pull the bit.
C2-C5 top:
PowerDrive: Experience with the PowerDrive tool in these formations is growing steadily. Currently experience indicates
that directional work would be possible with PowerDrive in C1 or C5 if an fresh active gauge bit is utilized.

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Drilling Parameters
The last three wells have been drilled with a lower flow rate of 850 gpm in comparison to a flow rate of 1200 gpm that was
traditionally used. All indications are that this is a good practice and that it helps to minimize wellbore washout, no issues
have been seen with poor hole cleaning.
Vibration monitoring and manipulation of drilling parameters (RPM and WOB) is very important to avoid MWD and
drillstring failures. The highest vibration risk conditions are normally when drilling with pendulum BHA’s and at the start
of bit runs when the bit cutters are sharp.
The Carboneras sandstones have a UCS of ~10.5 Kpsi and the shales 3.5 Kpsi. The maximization of drilling parameters
(RPM of 120-150 and WOB of 20-60 klbs) is important to obtain good ROP.
Drilling Fluid
A high quality Low Tox Oil Based Mud System is used to drill this interval. This mud system is critical to the successful
drilling of the section. Typical mud properties are a YP = 25-30 (important for hole cleaning), PV = 20-45 and Gels of
15/25/35. The high gel strengths are important to control naturally fractured intervals and material in washouts during
tripping operations.
Running 11 7/8” x 11 ¾” Casing
It is normally very important that the 11 ¾”x 11 7/8”casing covers the C5 formation (critical in Liria wells or Cupiagua wells
with an over pressured C7 formation), so a dedicated conditioning / wiper trip is made prior to running the casing, with a
rigid BHA containing two full gauge roller reamers with a 20ft spacing.
It is very common for ledges to be encountered in the in-gauge C1 and C5 formation. Serious problems have been
experienced with the C1 formation on Cup NW40 and in the C5 formation on Cup H42 and E41 wells. The points of
resistance are normally clearly related to intervals with increased sandstone and siltstone (visible on the mud log). An
example of the type of formation change in C5 that leads to ledges and problems passing with the 11 7/8” x 11 ¾” casing
is shown below:

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Note: This example is from Cup E41, a very similar problem was experienced on Cup H42.
Tight at ~13090ft MD
entering siltstone
package.
Based on experiences from Cup NW40 and Cup H42 it is recommended that full gauge roller reamers are used for the
wiper trip and the intervals where the casing will enter from cleaner mudstone into high %’s of sand/siltstone should be
worked passed a number of time sot knock off ledges. The use of full gauge roller reamers will increase the risks of a
stuck pipe incident (geometrical and pack-off related) during the wiper trip, but this is outweighed by the importance of
getting the casing on or close to bottom.
It is possible to experience losses when running the roller reamers through Guayabo or C5, as new formation is exposed
by the reaming action (removing filter cake). To minimize this risk, appropriate LCM concentrations should be maintained
in the mud through this wiper run.
The drilling fluid gel strength is reduced prior to running the casing, but it is very common to experience losses during the
casing run. The casing running speed will be dictated by the loss rate.
Key Risks
The instability of the shales is not solely due to insufficient MW resulting in pressure related instability (splintered
cavings). The shales typically contain natural fractures, over time the OBM can work into these fractures and lubricate
the fracture planes resulting in large pieces of formation falling into the wellbore (not bit cut) (the mudloggers note these
type of cavings as slicken-side). In this case of naturally fractured intervals increasing the MW will make the situation
worse.

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Tripping is the highest risk operation during the drilling of the section and for this reason it is critical to drill the section
with the lowest number of bit runs possible, maximizing on bottom time and footage drilled with each run.
The main risks in this section are a) stuck pipe due to geometry and wellbore instability, b) high lateral vibrations c)
directional tendencies in the Carboneras and d) losses. Typically the PowerPulse tools run in this section are equipped
with MVC and APWD sensors to help avoid pack-off incidents and minimize vibration levels.
a) Pack off events normally take place during tripping operations, with an average of eight pack-off events per
section (without APWD monitoring). Wellbore instability results in material caving into the wellbore from the
walls of the borehole. These cavings can hide in ledges and in out of gauge areas of the wellbore. The risk of
packing off increases as stabilizers / the bit pass through more in gauge sandstone intervals. The risk of high
cavings rates and high volume of material in the wellbore is increased around faults. Geometrical stuck pipe
incidents, with the bit or stabilizers becoming trapped, commonly occur in the C1 and C5 sandstones. The C1
formation commonly contains coal stringers which can creep into the wellbore after drilled. The correct and
fast response by the rigsite personnel to the stuck pipe incident is critical. For a pack-off event the following
procedures are recommended:
• Shut one mud pump down immediately, move downwards and then set pipe at neutral weight, monitor pressure and
reduce flow rate further if necessary (do not exceed a trapped pressure of 500 psi).
• If pack-off appears minor attempt to start rotation, if pack-off appears serious work pipe around neutral point
gradually bringing up flow rate in an attempt to create a flow path.
• Rotation of the drillstring without returns (dry rotation) is very dangerous – avoid if at all possible.
b) To maximize ROP it is normal to use high WOB’s in this section. The most serious problems have been
experience with lateral vibrations drilling intercalations deep in the Guayabo formation and the C1, C3 and C5
sandstones. It has been possible to successfully minimize the vibration levels, but at times it has been necessary
to drill ahead with medium risk levels of vibrations (vib_lat 2-3g RMS). Vibration levels are clearly dependent on
BHA and bit design, with larger cutter PDC bits (19mm) and longer pendulum rotary BHA’s resulting in higher
vibration baselines. It is very important that we do not drill ahead with consistent lateral vibrations (MVC vib_lat)
at levels above 3-4 g. These levels will seriously damage PowerDrive and reduce PowerPulse MWD tool life.
c) Distinctly different directional tendencies are seen in each of the Carboneras formations (C1-C8), within
individual formations. The tendencies are also very strongly influenced by the wellbore inclination in relation to
the formation dip angle. This means that selection of the optimum rotary BHA design is difficult and it is
important that continuous inclination and azimuth variables are transmitted and monitored in real time.
d) The Carboneras is a sequence of sandstones and mudstones. For wellbore stability the mudstones require a
higher mud weight than at times can be achieved due to problems with losses in the sandstones. For this
reason the wells are drilled accepting some breakout and wellbore instability, but loss events remain common.
The oil based drilling fluid used in this section contains ~30 bbls of LCM as standard to help stabilize naturally

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fractured shale intervals (“Stress Cage”) and form a good filter cake to minimize the risk of losses. In the event
of losses a decision tree, an example of which is shown below, will normally be used to address losses.
Example BP/Baroid Losses Decision Tree

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When pumping large quantities of LCM it is important to ensure the flow rate is reduced so the PowerPulse tool is off as
the LCM passes. In the case that we have both PowerDrive and PowerPulse in the hole the optimum situation is if the
PowerDrive tool is on and the PowerPulse tool is off as the LCM passes. If this is not possible the PowerDrive tool is the
most sensitive to LCM so we should pump at a flow rate just above the minimum telemetry rate of the tool to ensure it is
on as the LCM passes (less risk of material accumulating around the torquers and bearing housing s with higher flow
rate).
10 5/8” Section
The most challenging 10 5/8” sections are normally found in the Liria / Recetor field where the section length is in the
order of 4000ft often with repeated formations. In Cupiagua the section is typically significantly shorter (2000ft), but in the
south of the field the C7 formation is overpressured requiring high MW (in the region of 16.5ppg) to control. The influx fluid
is water with entrained gas. Once the C7 formation starts to flow (typically influxes of 1-5 bbls) experience has shown that
it is very hard to control, requiring significant MW increases.
The C7 formation normally contains a significant number of coal intercalations, which can be identified by drilling breaks
and peaks in gas levels. Coals have a tendency to flow after drilled, and for this reason the standard practice drilling this
formation is to back-ream every 45 ft (1/2 stand).
There is a high risk of losses when drilling the siltstone marker and geological analysis of the spacer from the top of the
siltstone marker to the top of Mirador (reservoir) is very important. If the bit enters the top of the Mirador it is highly likely
that major losses will occur (the normal plan is to stop 10-20ft above). It is normal to begin pumping LCM sweeps prior to
entering the top of the siltstone marker to minimize the risk of complete lost circulation.
BHA Design
The majority of wells cross the Yopal fault in the 10 5/8”section. This can result in a sudden change in BHA tendencies
due to differing dip formation dip angles above and below the fault. Normally the wellbore inclination is below the dip
angle in this interval and the tendency of BHA’s crossing the Yopal fault is to begin to build strongly.
Historically it has been difficult to perform directional work with a motor below the top of the C7 formation. Cost Per Foot
analysis indicates that the PowerDrive Rotary steerable has shown very good performance in sections where azimuthal
directional work is required, for example resulting in savings in the region of $2 million USD in the Liria YZ-10 well vs the
use of motor technology.

Page 16 de 23
This interval can be faulted and there have been bad experiences with geometrical and pack-off stuck pipe incidents
drilling this interval with packed assemblies containing more than two stabilizers.
An example of the value of a Rotary Steerable system can be seen in the example below from Cup H42. Given the varied
responses of the offset well BHA’s it would have been very difficult to hit the target without the use of a rotary steerable
system. The next step is to introduce the use of a Vortex assembly (motor + RSS tool) to maximize ROP. The utilization of
PowerDrive in 10 5/8”sections should be evaluated on a per well basis, but it is recommended when a) both inclination
and azimuth directional work is required, b) there is significant uncertainty in formation tops and c) analysis of offset well
BHA’s indicates unstable responses, making rotary BHA selection difficult.
Cup H42 Offset Well Rotary BHA Tendencies vs Section Drilled with PowerDrive RSS
Drilling Parameters
No significant problems have been experienced with vibration levels drilling with PowerDrive or restricted pendulum
BHA designs. The main interval requiring caution is the hard siltstone marker (typically ~50 ft thick) encountered in the C8
formation just above the Mirador reservoir. The siltstone has a significantly higher UCS and high levels of stick-slip and
instances of high torque have been seen entering the top of this formation.

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Dip angles can change significantly in this section and it is common to have to modify WOB and RPM’s during the run
when drilling with rotary assemblies to control inclination tendencies. The example below shows the instability / differing
tendencies of a 12 ¼” assembly drilling through these formations:
Bit Design
Excellent results (with tool redundancy) have been obtained running active short gauge PDC bits in this interval
(predominantly Reed Hycalog bits), demonstrating the capability to control the wellbore trajectory when 20 deg below the
dip angle and 60 deg cross dip (Liria YZ-10).
A recent run on Cup H42 with the new generation PowerDrive 825 X5 bias units and a semi-active gauge Smith MRS719
demonstrated this combination was able to control wellbore inclination ~17 deg below the dip angle. The new
PowerDrive X5 bias units are significantly improved in comparison to the older Extra bias units, with increased pad and
piston size (more steering force) and improved vibration resistance (more rugged design).
Bits with 6-8 blades (with 16 or 19 mm cutters) have been successfully run with no problems associated with vibration
related / impact damage. The 6 bladed Reed Hycalog 616M-A2 with back-up cutters was successfully run twice on Liria
YZ-10 where 75% of the section was the harder more abrasive C7 formation).

Page 18 de 23
In the Cupiagua field the 10 5/8” section is typically ~2000ft and completed in one run, in Liria / Recetor the section is
typically ~4000ft and completed in two runs (limitation is BHA rotating hours).
Running 9 5/8” Liner
The 9 5/8”liner runs on the most recent four wells have been very successful and relatively incident free. On Liria YZ-10
5330ft of liner was run to TD in a 10.5in hole without circulation of rotation of the liner (section was 75% C7 formation).
However it must not be forgotten that the clearances in the open hole are very small and great respect must be given to
the hole. The standard practice is to perform a wiper trip with full gauge roller reamers; NBRR, 20ft SDC, SRR.
Given the low clearances with the 9 5/8” liner in both the 11 7/8” x 11 ¾” casing and in the open hole running speed and
modeling with swab-surge software is very important to control surge pressures. The impact of surge pressures of 400-
550psi can be clearly seen when running the liner as a reduction in slack-off weight. Typically it is necessary to subtract
50 Klbs from T&D models to accurately represent the slack-offs seen when RIH the liner without circulation.
Key Risks
The key risks in this section are a) influxes, b) wellbore stability, c) losses, d) directional tendencies and e) geometrical
stuck pipe.
a) Depending upon the area drilled (field and part of field) it can be very common for the C7 formation to be
overpressured resulting in water kicks with associated gas. Experience has shown that transmitting and
monitoring annular temperature (from APWD sensor) and D&I temp (internal) from PowerPulse can give clear
indication of when a kick has taken place. The formation fluid is at a higher temperature than the circulating
temperature and a difference can be seen between the D&I temp and annular temp as the influx passes the
PowerPulse (an increase in annular temperature). It is very important to select an appropriate MW, experience
has shown that once the C7 formation starts to flow it is very difficult to control and requires a significant MW
increase.
b) When drilling Liria wells high mud weights of 14-16 ppg are normally used within this section for wellbore
stability reasons, in Cupiagua Sur high mud weights are used to minimize the risk of influxes from the C7
formation. The major stability problems have historically been seen around the Yopal fault area.
c) The plan for the 10 5/8” section is to TD a few feet above the top of the Mirador formation. PowerPulse or
PowerDrive GR and drilling mechanics parameters are used to identify the siltstone marker which is critical in

Page 19 de 23
identifying the expected location of the Mirador top. Total losses have occurred on a number of wells that have
penetrates a foot or two into the Mirador top. It is also common to have losses in the siltstone marker and the
standard practice is to begin to pump LCM sweeps prior to entering the top of the siltstone.
d) The Yopal fault is normally crossed in this section. Crossing this fault the formation dip angles can change
significantly resulting in significantly different formation tendencies. Realtime monitoring of wellbore continuous
inclination and azimuth is important.
Example of crossing a fault from C7 to C6 in liria YT-9X.
e) There is a significant risk of geometrical stuck pipe incidents related to coals and the crossing of faults.
Historically problems have been experienced when drilling with packed rotary assemblies with three or more
stabilizers.

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8 ½” Section
This section involves the drilling of the hard and abrasive Mirador reservoir sandstone (UCS = 25 KPSI), followed by the
unstable / time dependent Los Cuervos formation.
The Mirador sandstone is typically drilled with 8.3ppg oil based mud system and rates of penetration have been seen to
reduce dramatically in relation to increasing overbalance. Dependent on the location of the well in the field the Mirador
reservoir pore pressure could have dropped to as low as ~4 ppg. Rates of penetration drilling with tricone bits are
typically 2-5 ft/hr, with on bottom times limited to 5-10 hrs due to bit revolution limitations.
The most efficient way to drill the reservoir is with impregnated bits on straight turbines (1000-1300 RPM) or high speed
motors (ROP’s of 5-15 ft/hr and long runs). An impregnated bit was used on a rotary assembly (80-100 RPM) on Liria YZ-10
with very poor performance (ROP of 1-2 ft/hr). Good drilling performance has been seen from both Smith and Reed
Hycalog impregnated bits on Neyfor Turbines, the Reed Hycalog bit ############ run on Cup E41 showed especially good
performance. The Mirador formation is not drillable with the current PDC technology.
Schlumberger has recently brought two new high speed 6 ¾” motors (550-600 RPM) with locking devices to Colombia.
Work is required in the following areas to ensure the successful application of these motors:
• Research with bit companies into the optimum HS motor impregnated bit deigns.
• Hole spiraling is thought to be an issue in this hole section with motors, this can be addressed with the use of a
Rocky back stabilizer.
• There is a potential for these motors to be used with impregnated bits in sidetracking operations, but the gauge of
the bits will need careful design to minimize the risk of bit sticking.
The depleted nature of the Mirador formation and the tectonic stresses in the region make bit sticking a significant risk,
especially when drilling directionally (a number of bit sticking incidents occurred drilling Buenas Aires H41 sidetrack with
SLB and Baker motors). To minimize this risk of bit sticking locking mechanisms are normally used with the turbines and
motors.
Historically the entire reservoir interval was drilled in one hole section (Mirador- Los Cuervos-Barco and Guadalupe).
Severe problems were experienced in some wells with Los Cuervos instability and this was one of the reasons behind the
movement to the “Downsized” well design. The Los Cuervos formation is time dependent and can become very unstable,
especially if drilled in a down-dip direction.
The current strategy is to drill the Mirador formation with a MW of 8.3 ppg (BP does have experience of drilling this
formation underbalanced with a MW=7.2ppg), and then raising the MW to ~9.3ppg to drill the Los Cuervos formation. The

Page 21 de 23
high overbalance in the Mirador means that good drilling practices are required to avoid differential sticking and pack-off
events when tripping from the Los Cuervos into the in-gauge Mirador. Attention should be paid to cavings rates from Los
Cuervos t evaluate the stability of the formation, which can change with time.
New wells do not normally have any directional work planned in the reservoir formations so they can be performance
drilled with Turbines or HS Motors. Directional work is possible but the current practices of using motors with tricone bits
have high costs associated due to limited on bottom time and the risk of bit/geometrical sticking. Open hole sidetracking
in Mirador from a cement plug is possible but very difficult and typically takes 6 runs. Sidetracking in Mirador from a
whipstock set inside casing has been achieved recently (BA H41) without serious problems.
Key Risks
The key risks in this hole section are a) differential sticking, b) bit sticking c) instability in the Los Cuervos formation d) bit
wear and e) vibrations.
a) In fields that have been produced the Mirador reservoir pressure can be of the order of 4ppg. This formation is
normally drilled with a MW of 7.2-8.3 ppg which is significantly overbalanced. The formation is not highly
permeable, but there is still quite a high risk of differential sticking, especially if fractures are present increasing
permeability. For this reason the pipe must remain stationary only for the minimum amount of time possible when
taking surveys
b) The high tectonic stresses present in the region combined with the low reservoir pressure can lead to
sandstone closure events when drilling ahead, trapping the bit (bit sticking). The Mirador formation is drilled
with turbines or high speed motors with impreg bits, or low speed motors with tricone bits (the Mirador
sandstone is too hard to be drilled with current technology PDC bits). When an impreg bit is used it is
recommended that the turbines or motors are equipped with locking devices to allow torque to be transmitted to
the bit in the event that a bit sticking event occurs. Note: On the two recent Cupiagua H42 and NW40 wells the
Mirador formation was performance drilled with straight turbines and no problems were experienced with bit
sticking.
c) Normally the Mirador reservoir is drilled with a MW of 7.2-8.3 ppg, a LCM pill is then spotted across the reservoir
prior to drilling ahead and the MW is raised slowly to 9.3-9.44 ppg (not in one go to avoid shocking the
formation). It is common to see problems with stability in Los Cuervos and the stability of the formation is very
time dependent.
d) If the section is drilled with tricone bits the maximum revolutions (Krevs) run on the 8 ½” bits is ~80 Krevs. It is
important to monitor closely for torque and pressure spikes to indicate the bit is failing and ready to be POOH, to

Page 22 de 23
avoid loosing a cone downhole. It is normal for bits to be pulled with gradings of 5-5 to 8-8. The loss of cones in
the Mirador formation can be a Catastrophic event (in terms of rig time) due to the difficulty sidetracking the well
in this formation.
e) A 6 ¾”PowerPulse tool was recently severely damaged drilling in the intercalated interval between the base of
Los Cuervos and the top of the Barco formation. It is important to monitor vibration levels (shock risk and shock
peak (only available with PowerPulse)). If high vibrations are seen to inform driller and attempt to change drilling
parameters (WOB and RPM).
6”Section
This section is comprised of the Barco and Guadalupe reservoirs and as in the 8 ½” section is typically drilled with
impregnated bits driven by turbines (1000-1300 RPM) or high speed motors (600 RPM). The low make-up torque of the 4”
drillpipe presents the risk of twisting off the pipe if a rotary stall occurs so it is normal to use low surface RPM’s (~80
RPM) and monitor surface torque very carefully.
Schlumberger has recently brought two new high speed 4 ¾” motors (550-600 RPM) to Colombia (awaiting locking
devices). Work is required in the following areas to ensure the successful application of these motors:
• Research with bit companies into the optimum HS motor impregnated bit deigns.
• Hole spiraling is thought to be an issue in this hole section with motors, this can be addressed with the use of a
Rocky back stabilizer.
• There is a potential for these motors to be used with impregnated bits in sidetracking operations, but the gauge of
the bits will need careful design to minimize the risk of bit sticking.
Key Risks
The key risks in this section are high DLS and differential sticking. As in the 8 ½” section, dependent on the filed in
question it is probable that the Barco and Guadalupe sandstones will be drilled with significant overbalance increasing
the risk of differential sticking.
When running locked rotary BHA’s with two full gauge roller reamers the flexible 4 ¾” BHA’s have been seen to wander
about significantly generating DLS’s of 4-5 deg/100ft (Cupiagua NW40). Nothing can be done about this, but it is important
to be aware and monitoring surveys (and if available continuous information) closely.

Page 23 de 23

BP Colombia Directional Drilling Handbook - Rev1 - 4214161 - 01

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Directional Drilling Handbook

Piedemonte Region Colombia

Richard Harmer (PERFORM Coordinator)

Preparation date: May 03, 2006 Revision Date: Rev # 1

26in HOLE SECTION

11 ¼” vs 9 5/8” Motor Comparison

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BHA Design to Maintain Verticality:

ELEMENT LENGTH (ft) OD (in) ID (in) MAX OD (in)

Bit to Direction & Inclination Sensor = 43.05 ft

25 3/4" Stabilizer 67.30 DRILLING OVERVIEW

Depth in: 130.00' Depth out: 1200.00'

26" Bit 2.20 Direction in: To:

Total Drilled 1070.00' Dogleg:

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BHA Designs for Directional Work:

BHA#6: Built steadily at 1.2-1.5 deg/100ft

BHA#8: Slow build rate of 0.25 deg/100ft

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14 3/4in HOLE SECTION

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Tendency to build when below dip angle and

Formation dip angle measured

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Drilling DOWN dip Drilling UP dip

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The recommended approach for designing a rotary BHA is as follows:

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Example of the instability of a 14 ¾” 50ft Pendulum Assembly in C1 Formation:

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Charte, Leon to C1 top:

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Running 11 7/8” x 11 ¾” Casing

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Example BP/Baroid Losses Decision Tree

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Running 9 5/8” Liner

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Example of crossing a fault from C7 to C6 in liria YT-9X.