BASICS OF DRILLING IN

OIL / GAS FIELDS

Presented by: SHOAIB FAROOQUI 1

Drilling Solutions Team Leader
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Main Objectives
• Basic Well Structure
• Types of Wells
• Why we run Casing?
• Understanding Pore Pressure
– Down hole rock types
– Formation Fracture Gradient
– Pore Pressure
• Formation Test
– Leak off test (LOT)
– Formation Integrity test (FIT)
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• Pressures associated with Drilling

– Hydrostatic Pressure
Important Formulae
Circulating system
– Friction Pressure Losses
– ECD (Equivalent Circulating Density
– Bottom Hole Pressure while circulating
Pump pressure and circulating rate
Pump pressure and mud weight change
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DRILLING FLUIDS
• Definition
• Function of Drilling Fluids
• Factors Governing Fluid Selection
• Properties of Drilling Fluids
• Types of Drilling Fluids

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DOWN HOLE DRILLING TOOLS

DRILLING TOOLS SPECIALIZED TOOLS

• BITS • MUD MOTORS
• STABILIZERS • MWD / LWD
• DRILL COLLARS
• HEAVY WEIGHTS
• DRILL PIPES
• JARS
• X/O
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DRILLING PARAMETERS
• RPM (Rotation per minute)
• TORQUE
• HOOK LOAD (String Weight)
• WOB (Weight on Bit)
• SPM (Strokes per minute)
• GPM (Gallons per minute) / Flow In
• FLOW OUT
• SPP (Stand Pipe Pressure)

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PROBLEMS WHILE DRILLING

• KICKS
• STUCK PIPE
• BRIDGING
• LOSSES (Fluid loss in Formation)
• FISHING
• WASHOUTS

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TYPES OF DRILLING
• ROTARY CONVENTIONAL
• DIRECTIONAL
• AIR / FOAM
• UNDERBALANCE
• MANAGED PRESSURE
• COIL TUBING
• CASING WHILE DRILLING

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CONCLUDING SESSION
• FAQ’s
• DISCUSS SOME CASE HISTORIES
• MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
– Not to judge you, but to judge my self as if I m able to
convey something.

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WELL DESIGN
• This is the most
commonly drill
wellbore in Pakistan
specially in lower
Indus Basin.

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TYPES OF WELLS
EXPLORATORY WELLS
Commonly called wildcat wells
Drilled to find out if hydrocarbons present
Drilling in an unknown environment
CONFIRMATION WELLS
Drilled to determine the size of discovery
DEVELOPMENT WELLS
Once the reservoir is determined to be economically viable multiple
wells are to develop the reservoir
Wells near the boundary are called step out wells

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WHY WE HAVE TO RUN CASING

• It prevents collapse of borehole.
• It helps to seal abnormal zones and allows to drill
deeper wells.
• It minimizes damage of well-bore by the drilling
process in deeper wells.
• It provides a high strength flow conduit for the
drilling fluid to the surface.
• With the help of BOP it permits a safe control of
formation pressure.
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Formation Lithology: Downhole Rock Types

Shales, Clays,
and Siltstones

Sandstone

Carbonates Such As
Lime, Chalk, Gyp,
and Dolomite

Salt Domes or
Stringers

Typical formation types

commonly drilled
Lithology comes from the word
lithosphere, which is the technical
term for the Earth’s outer layer.
Lithology describes the formation
types contained within the lithosphere. 13
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FORMATION FRACTURE GRADIENT
Overburden Stress

Pore psi

Horizontal
Stress
• Weight of the overburden induces a vertical stress (overburden = 1 psi/ft).

• Poisson’s Ratio determines the horizontal stress due to the overburden weight. Pore pressure also
contributes to horizontal stress.

• Total Horizontal Stress = (O – P) x M Where: O = Overburden Stress

P = Pore Pressure
M = Matrix Stress Ratio =
r = Poisson’s Ratio
• For drilling/completion fluids to penetrate and fracture rocks, hydrostatic pressure must exceed the
horizontal stress and pore pressure.

• Fracture Gradient = [(O – P) x M] + P

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SEDIMENTATION & SUBSIDENCE PROCESS

Ocean or
River Bed

Normal
Pressure

Seal or
Caprock

Abnormally
Pressured
Zone
Permeable
Formation

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ABNORMAL PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION – SALT DOME

Abnormal
SALT Pressure

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FORMATION TEST
Leak–Off Test and Equivalent Mud Weight Test
Use cement type pump and pump slowly in small increments
(1/4 bbl). Plot on same chart as casing test.
For “jug” or equivalent mud weight test, stop pumping when
desired pressure is reached and monitor for 10 minutes.
Test psi Leak-off is indicated, as the point at which pressure stops
increasing for several increments.

Stop Pump
Leak off
Initial Shut-in Pressure (ISIP)
Min. Horizontal Stress (Sh)

Fluid Compression

Shut-in Time
Pressure

(minutes)
Linear
Record every min. for 20 minutes or until
increase
pressure stabilizes

0 1 2 3 4

Barrels

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CALCULATED EXAMPLE
Stop Pump

Leak off
Initial Shut-in Pressure (ISIP)
Min. Horizontal Stress (Sh)

Fluid Compression

Shut-in Time
(minutes)
Pressure

Linear
increase Record every min. for 20 minutes or until
pressure stabilizes

0 1 2 3 4

Barrels

Leak off pressure = 900 psi

Test mud weight = 10.0 ppg
TVD shoe = 4,500 ft
900 psi ÷ .052 psi/ft/ppg ÷ 4,500 ft + 10 ppg = 13.38 ppg

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HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE & PRESSURE GRADIENT
Hydrostatic pressure is dependent on the mud weight and
vertical depth to the point of interest.

HP = 0.052 x MW x TVD
HP is in psi, MW in ppg, and TVD in feet.
MW = 12 ppg

EXAMPLE:

9 5/8” @
• What is the hydrostatic pressure per foot of vertical depth?
8500 ft TVD HP = .052 x 12 ppg x 1 ft = .624 psi/ft
• What is the hydrostatic pressure at the casing shoe?
HP @ shoe = .624 psi/ft x 8500 ft = 5304 psi
• What is the bottomhole hydrostatic pressure?
HP @ TVD = .624 psi/ft x 12000 ft = 7488 psi

TVD = 12,000 ft

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Circulation System
Rotary Hose  The pressure required to circulate fluid
Standpipe through the rig’s circulating system is a
or Circulating Pressure
measurement of friction losses in the system.

Standpipe  The factors that effect these pressure

Kelly or Topdrive
(friction) losses are:
Mud Pump
• Dimensions of the system:
Length, ID of drilling or work string;
Surface Pits
hydraulic diameters of the system;
nozzles or downhole tools, etc.

• Fluid properties:
Mud or fluid density; rheological
Drillpipe
Annulus
properties, etc.
Wellbore

Jet Bit w/ Nozzles

• Fluid flowrate

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FRICTION PRESSURE LOSSES
 The pressure on the standpipe gauge is the sum of
Rotary Hose
Standpipe the friction pressure losses that occur in the
or Circulating Pressure
circulating system. This pressure is the total
system pressure loss.

Standpipe  These pressure losses occur in the following

Kelly or Topdrive
areas:
Mud Pump
• Surface equipment
Surface Pits
• Drillpipe or workstring
• Drill collars
• Bit nozzles or downhole tools
• Annulus

EXAMPLE:
Drillpipe
 Surface equipment = 50 psi
Annulus Wellbore  Drillpipe = 800 psi
 Drill collars = 150 psi
Jet Bit with Nozzles
 Nozzles = 1800 psi
 Annulus = 200 psi
 Total system pressure loss = 3000 psi
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CIRCULATING SYSTEM PRESSURE

Equivalent Circulating Density

• Pump pressure is a measurement of the total friction loss of the system.

• Only the annular pressure loss is applied against the wellbore.
• The Equivalent Circulation Density (ECD) is the Annular Pressure Loss (APL) converted to weight or
density and added to the fluid or mud weight.
• The formula used to calculate ECD is:
ECD ppg = (APL psi  0.052  TVD ft) + MW ppg

EXAMPLE:

Mud Weight = 9.6 ppg

TVD = 10,000 ft
Annular Pressure Loss = 200 psi

ECD = (200  0.052  10,000) + 9.6 = 9.98 ppg or 10.0 ppg

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PUMP PRESSURE AND CIRCULATION RATE

The relationship between pump pressure and circulating rate is given by the following formula:
2
 
New Pump Pressure psi = Old Pump Pressure x  New Rate spm 
 
 Old Rate spm 
 

EXAMPLE:

Old Pump Pressure = 3000 psi

Old Pump Rate = 90 spm
New Pump Rate = 50 spm
2
New Pump Pressure = 3000 x 50  = 926 psi
 


90  

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PUMP PRESSURE & MUD WEIGHT
The relationship between pump pressure and the mud weight change is given by the following
formula:

New Pump Pressure = Old Pump Pressure x New MW

Old MW
EXAMPLE:

Old Pump Pressure = 600 psi

Old Mud Weight = 9.6 ppg

New Mud Weight = 10.6 ppg

10.6 ppg
New Pump Pressure = 600 psi x = 9.6 ppg 663 psi

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DRILLING FLUIDS
Drilling Fluid is the lifeblood of drilling
operations and usually defined as;

Circulating Fluid
Drilling Mud

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FUNCTIONS OF DRILLING FLUIDS

• Control of formation pressures.
• Avoid damage to productive zones.
• Hole Cleaning / Transportation of cuttings to
surface.
• Lubricity.
• Cooling.
• Prevent the collapsing of wellbore during drilling.

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Factors Governing Drilling Fluid Selection

• Type of formation to be drilled.
• The range of temperature and pore fluid pressure.
• Formation evaluation procedures to be used.
• The water quality available.
• Environmental Considerations.
• Cost.

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Properties of Drilling Fluids
Drilling Fluid are basically of two types

Water Based Mud

Oil Based Mud

Sometimes Air or Foam also used as a drilling fluid

depending upon the conditions.

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Properties of Drilling Fluids
Density
Viscosity (Resistance to flow)

PV (Plastic Viscosity) It is the measure of internal resistance

to flow. It gives the measure of solid content in drilling fluid,
the size of solids (smaller the size greater the PV), types of
solids, and concentration of solids.
Lower PV is better.

YP (Yield Point) the stress required to start fluid motion. The

YP is the measure of the electro-chemical forces within the
mud flowing conditions.
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Properties of Drilling Fluids
Gel Strength It is the measure of attraction between solids
under static conditions.
It indicates how well the drilling fluid will suspend cuttings.

pH The pH of mud is normally in the region of 9.5 – 10.5 and

is maintained by the addition of caustic (Sodium Hydroxide).

Fluid Loss Ability of the drilling fluid to maintain fluid loss

in formation. More the fluid loss is more thick the cake would
be. Cake is the permeable layer which the mud makes on the
wall of the well bore.
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Properties of Drilling Fluids
Chlorides the high percentage of chlorides indicates the near
by water contact. If we neglect the increase in Chlorides we
may encounter kicks.

MBT indicates the clay content in the mud.

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DRILLING PARAMETERS
• RPM (Rotation per minute)
• TORQUE
• HOOK LOAD (String Weight)
• WOB (Weight on Bit)
• SPM (Strokes per minute)
• GPM (Gallons per minute) / Flow In
• FLOW OUT
• SPP (Stand Pipe Pressure)

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DOWN HOLE DRILLING TOOLS

• DRILL BITS
The process of drilling a hole in the
ground requires the use of drilling
bits.

Types of Drill Bits

• Roller cone bits
Steel tooth
Tungsten carbide inserts (TCI)

• PDC or Polycrystalline Diamond

Compact
• Natural or Synthetic Diamond
(TSP)

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DOWN HOLE DRILLING TOOLS
STABILIZERS
• The placement and gauge of
stabilizers are used as the
fundamental method of
controlling the directional
behavior of most BHA.
• Stabilizers help concentrate the
weight of the BHA on he drill
bit.
• Ream out doglegs and key
seats.
• They minimize bending and
vibrations which cause tool
joint wear and damage to BHA
components such as MWD
tools.
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DOWN HOLE DRILLING TOOLS
DRILL PIPES

• Support the weight of Drillstring

• Transfer the torque to the bit.
• Conduit for drilling mud

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DOWN HOLE DRILLING TOOLS
DRILL COLLARS

• May be flush or spiral type.

• Spiral type provides less area of
contact
• Provide WOB
• Provide rigidity to the drillstring.

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DOWN HOLE DRILLING TOOLS
HWDP (Heavy Weight Drill Pipes)

• Provide WOB with Flexibility

• Less rigid & have less weight than
DC
• Less wall contact to reduce friction
• Provides high rpm drilling with
reduced torque

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DOWN HOLE DRILLING TOOLS

JARS
Provide impact after sticking
Notes on drilling jar
• Use the largest possible jar in the
B.H.A (will give the biggest
impact).
• Don’t place any stabilizers above
the drilling
• Have the same diameter tubular
above and below the jar
• Have at least two drill collars or
two stands of HWDP above the jar
to act as anvil.
• Don’t place the jar at or near to the
neutral point.

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SPECIALIZED DRILLING TOOLS

MUD MOTORS
Mud Motors used in oil industry are commonly termed as
POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MOTORS, they are used for
producing rpm.
There is a combination of rotor and stator inside the mud
motors. When fluid is pumped through rotor/stator
combination, with the resistance of flow the rotor starts to
rotate.

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SPECIALIZED DRILLING TOOLS
UNDERSTANDING ROTAR / STATOR
COMBINATION
1/2 2/3 3/4

5/6 7/8 9/10

The greater the number of lobes, the higher the

motor torque and the lower the output RPM.
The power section is often called the motor
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section.
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PROBLEMS IN DRILLING
• KICKS
– Any influx in the drilling system is normally termed as Kick. This influx may be of
water, oil or gas.

• STUCK PIPE
– The meaning is there in the name;
Two major type of sticking is Differential Sticking and Mechanical Sticking.

• BRIDGING
– If the borehole collapse due to some reason while drilling is termed as Bridging or
Hole Pack off. In this case obviously string got stuck.

• LOSSES (Fluid loss in Formation)

– If in any case the Hydrostatic Pressure > Fracture pressure or in dynamic condition
ECD (Equivalent Circulating Density) > Fracture Pressure the drilling fluid starts
going in the formation resulting in partial or no returns at the shakers.

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PROBLEMS IN DRILLING

• FISHING
– If in case while drilling any part of the string twist off or left in the hole,
this condition is termed as fishing.
• WASHOUTS
– If there is a leakage of fluid through any portion of the drill string, this
condition is termed as Washout.

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TYPES OF DRILLING
• ROTARY CONVENTIONAL
• DIRECTIONAL
• AIR / FOAM
• UNDERBALANCE
• MANAGED PRESSURE
• COIL TUBING
• CASING WHILE DRILLING

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TYPES OF DRILLING
• DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

SIDE TRACK DRILLING MULTIPLE WELLS FROM

OFFSHORE PLATFORM

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TYPES OF DRILLING
• DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

RELIEF WELLS IN CASE OF BLOW OUTS INACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS (TARGETS)

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TYPES OF DRILLING
• DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

HORIZONTAL DRILLING

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TYPES OF DRILLING
AIR/FOAM, CONTROLLED/MANAGED PRESSURE &
UNDERBALANCE DRILLING

In Air drilling, the pressure of the drilling fluid in the borehole is

intentionally maintained below the formation pore fluid pressure, in
the open-hole section of the well. As a result, formation fluids flow
into the well when a permeable formation is penetrated during Air
drilling.

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TYPES OF DRILLING
COIL TUBING DRILLING

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TYPES OF DRILLING
CASING WHILE DRILLING

• Drills like a PDC bit

• After simple pressure cycle, DrillShoe3 becomes drillable
• Cementation as per normal operation
• Then drill-thru with a normal PDC bit 49