PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 35
Wellbore Surveying Methods

1
Wellbore Surveying Methods

 Average Angle
 Balanced Tangential
 Minimum Curvature
 Radius of Curvature
 Tangential

Other Topics
 Kicking off from Vertical
 Controlling Hole Angle
2
 Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch.8
(~ first 20 pages)

Projects:
Due Monday, December 9, 5 p.m.

( See comments on previous years’ design

projects )

3
Homework Problem #18

Balanced Cement Plug

Due Friday, December 6

4
I, A, DMD

5
Example - Wellbore Survey Calculations

The table below gives data from a directional survey.

Survey Point Measured Depth Inclination Azimuth

along the wellbore Angle Angle
ft I, deg A, deg

A 3,000 0 20
B 3,200 6 6
C 3,600 14 20
D 4,000 24 80

Based on known coordinates for point C we’ll calculate

the coordinates of point D using the above information.
6
Example - Wellbore Survey Calculations
Point C has coordinates:
x = 1,000 (ft) positive towards the east
y = 1,000 (ft) positive towards the north
z = 3,500 (ft) TVD, positive downwards

C N (y) C
N
Dz Dz
D D
Dy
E (x) Dx
7
Example - Wellbore Survey Calculations

I. Calculate the x, y, and z coordinates

of points D using:
(i) The Average Angle method
(ii) The Balanced Tangential method
(iii) The Minimum Curvature method

(iv) The Radius of Curvature method

(v) The Tangential method
8
 The Average Angle Method

Find the coordinates of point D using

the Average Angle Method
At point C, x = 1,000 ft
y = 1,000 ft
z = 3,500 ft
Measured depth from C to D, DMD  400 ft

IC  14 A C  20
ID  24 A D  80
9
 The Average Angle Method
Measured depth from C to D, DMD  400 ft
IC  14 
A C  20 

ID  24  A D  80
C
N (y)
C
Dz D N
Dz

E (x) Dy D
Dx
10
The Average Angle Method

11
 The Average Angle Method
This method utilizes the average I1  I2
of I1 and I2 as an inclination, the IAVG 
2
average of A1 and A2 as a
direction, and assumes the entire A1  A 2
A AVG 
survey interval (DMD) to be 2
tangent to the average angle.

DEast  DMD sin IAVG sin A AVG

DNorth  DMD sin IAVG cos A AVG

DVert  DMD cos IAVG

From: API Bulletin D20. Dec. 31, 1985 12

The Average Angle Method

IC  ID 14  24
IAVG    19
2 2

A C  AD 20  80
A AVG    50
2 2

DEast  DMD sin IAVG sin A AVE

Dx  400 sin19 sin 50
 

Dx  99.76 ft
13
 The Average Angle Method

DNorth  DMD sin IAVG cos A AVG

Dy  400 sin19 cos 50

Dy  83.71 ft

DVert  400 cos IAVG

Dz  400 cos19
Dz  378.21 ft
14
 The Average Angle Method

At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 99.76 = 1,099.76 ft

y = 1,000 + 83.71 = 1,083.71 ft

z = 3,500 + 378.21 = 3,878.21 ft

15
 The Balanced Tangential Method

This method treats half the measured distance

(DMD/2) as being tangent to I1 and A1 and the
remainder of the measured distance (DMD/2) as
being tangent to I2 and A2.

DMD
DEast   sin I1  sin A1  sin I2  sin A 2 
2
DMD
DNorth   sin I1  cos A1  sin I2  cos A 2 
2
DMD
DVert   cos I2  cos I1 
2

From: API Bulletin D20. Dec. 31, 1985 16

The Balanced Tangential Method

DMD
DEast  sin IC sin AC  sin ID sin AD 
2


400
2

sin 14 o sin 20o  sin 24 o sin 80o 

Dx  96.66 ft

17
 The Balanced Tangential Method

DMD
DNorth  sin IC cos AC  sin ID cos AD 
2


400
2

sin 14 o cos 20o  sin 24 o cos 80o 

Dy  59.59 ft
18
The Balanced Tangential Method

DMD
DVert   cos ID  cos IC 
2


400
2

cos 24 o  cos 14 o 

Dz  376.77 ft

19
The Balanced Tangential Method

At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 96.66 = 1,096.66 ft

y = 1,000 + 59.59 = 1,059.59 ft

z = 3,500 + 376.77 = 3,876.77 ft

20
Minimum Curvature Method

21
 Minimum Curvature Method
This method smooths the two straight-line segments
of the Balanced Tangential Method using the Ratio
Factor RF.
2 b
RF  tan
b 2 (DL= b and must be in radians)

DMD
DEast   sin I1  sin A1  sin I2  sin A 2   RF
2
DMD
DNorth   sin I1  cos A1  sin I2  cos A 2   RF
2
DMD
DVert   cos I1  cos I2   RF
2
22
 Minimum Curvature Method

The Dogleg Angle, b, is given by:

cos b  cos ID  IC   sin IC sin ID 1  cos(AD  AC )

  
 cos 24o  14o  sin 14o sin 240 1  cos(800  20o ) 
cos b = 0.9356

b = 20.67 = 0.3608 radians

o

23
Minimum Curvature Method

The Ratio Factor,

2 b
RF  tan
b 2

2  20.67o 
RF  tan  
0.3608  2 

RF  1.0110
24
 Minimum Curvature Method

DMD
DEast  sin IC sin AC  sin ID sin AD  RF
2


400
2
 
sin 14 o sin 20o  sin 24 o sin 80o 1.0110

 96.66 * 1.011  97.72 ft

Dx  97.72 ft
25
 Minimum Curvature Method

DMD
DNorth  sin IC cos AC  sin ID cos AD  RF
2


400
2
 
sin 14 o cos 20o  sin 24 o cos 80o 1.0110

 59.59 * 1.011  60.25 ft

Dy  60.25 ft
26
 Minimum Curvature Method

DMD
DVert   cos ID  cos IC  RF
2


400
2
 
cos 24 o  cos 14 o 1.0110

 376.77 * 1.0110  380.91 ft

Dz  380.91 ft
27
 Minimum Curvature Method

 At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 97.72 = 1,097.72 ft

y = 1,000 + 60.25 = 1,060.25 ft

z = 3,500 + 380.91 = 3,880.91 ft

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 The Radius of Curvature Method

DMD cos IC  cos ID  cos A C  cos AD   180 

2

DEast   
ID  IC  AD  AC    


 o

400 cos 14  cos 24 cos 20  cos 80  180 
o o
 
o
 2

24  14 80  20   

Dx  95.14 ft

29
 The Radius of Curvature Method

2
DMD (cos IC  cos ID ) (sin AD  sin AC )  180 
DNorth   
(ID  IC ) ( AD  A C )   

2
400(cos14  cos 24 )(sin 80  sin 20
   
)  180 
  
(24  14)(80  20)   

Dy  79.83 ft

30
The Radius of Curvature Method

DMD (sin ID  sin IC )  180 

DVert   
ID  IC   

400 (sin 24o  sin 14o )  180 

  
24  14   

Dz  377.73 ft

31
 The Radius of Curvature Method

At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 95.14 = 1,095.14 ft

y = 1,000 + 79.83 = 1,079.83 ft

z = 3,500 + 377.73 = 3,877.73 ft

32
 The Tangential Method

Measured depth from C to D, DMD  400 ft

IC  14 A C  20
ID  24 A D  80

DEast  DMD sin ID sin AD

 400 sin24  sin 80

Dx  160.22 ft
33
The Tangential Method

DNorth  DMD sin ID cos AD

 400 sin 24o cos 80o

Dy  28.25 ft

DVert  DMD cos ID

 400 cos 24 

Dz  365.42 ft
34
 The Tangential Method

 At Point D,

x  1,000  160.22  1,160.22 ft

y  1,000  28.25  1,028.25 ft

z  3,500  365.42  3,865.42 ft

35
Summary of Results (to the nearest ft)

x y z
Average Angle 1,100 1,084 3,878
Balanced Tangential 1,097 1,060 3,877
Minimum Curvature 1,098 1,060 3,881
Radius of Curvature 1,095 1,080 3,878
Tangential Method 1,160 1,028 3,865

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37
38
 Building
Hole Angle
39
 Holding
Hole Angle
40
41
 CLOSURE
(HORIZONTAL) DEPARTURE

LEAD ANGLE

42
b

43
Tool Face Angle

44