Suer, Canal Universitlt

Faculty of Petroletm & Mining Eng.

P etro leum Engineering D ept.
HonrzoNTAL OnWprr
DTIuNG TBcmxoLoGY
Dr. Mohamed Shehata Farahat
(2000)
Suen Canal University
Faculty of Petroleum & Mining Eng.
Petroleurn Engineering Dept.
HOruZONTTAL On WpLL
DTLLII{G TpcHNoLoGY
Dr. Mohamed Shehata Farahat
(2000)
CoNrsNrs
SELECTIoN AND REAsoNs FoRDRILLING
HORIZONTAL WELLST AND DRATNHOLES
l.l Seleclion of horizontal wells and drainholes
1.2 Reasons
for
Drilling Horizontal Well and Drainholes
1.3 Main Aoolications of Hoizontal llells and Drainholes
1,3.1 Thin Formatious
1.3.2. Verticsl Natumlly Fractured Fornrations
1,3.3 Lotv Perm eability Formations
1.3.4 Heterogeneous Reservob or Formstions
1.3.5 Applicttion in Resemoits rriflt Botton Water or
with o Gas Cap
1,3.6 Advantages of Horizontal lVells in Offshore
Applications
1.3.7 Heavy Oil Applications
1.3.8 Sand Production
Typns oF HoRTzoNTAL WELLS AND
D r
proRnnt
Dnrr,r,rNc TncnNrquns
Usno
2.1 Utru-shott Turnins Radius
2.1.1 System Processes a,td Equipment
for
Multiplc
Radisk
2.2 Short Tarnins Radius
2. 3 Medium-Turning Radias
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2.i.1 Dil!fins
rttt
Mulinn-Rutlius Dtilling
2.3.2 Metliunt-Rsdius Dri!!iug MoJors an{ SlsteuLs-
2.3,3 HigbMedium and Lott-Soeed Drilling
2. 3.4 Medium-Radius-Ho rizo trtttl lltell S ectio ns
2.3,4. I Vertical Section
2.3.4.2 Curved Sectiau
2.3.4,2 Horizoutsl Section
2.4 Lottg-Radius Horizontgl lyell
2.4,1 Vertical Section
2.4.2 Cumed
(Turning) Section
2.4.3 H orizoutal Section
Pt,nNNtNc or lloRrzoNTAL
WnLl,s
AND DRAINHOI,ES
G NOUNTRY
j.
Geontetrv of Horizontsl WelI or Drainhole
3.1 lf ell Diameter
3'2
VplLltpllle
3.2.1 Fktt wells
3. 2.2 I) n tlulatiug wells
3.2,j Llpt'ard inclined uells
3.2.4 Dou,nward ittclined wells
3.2.5 Multilet el t'ells
3.2.6 Multi brtuch
3.2.7 Grsvit! drsinage wells
3.2.8 Complex well shryes
3. 3 D esistlEqip
ntal-lysll f&i949!!
Prye#
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Dmrlrxcl PRosr-svs Assocnrso wttH
HoRtzoNteL
WBU- DzuLLING aNo THBTRREMEDY
4.1 DeliNery Weisht to the Bit
4.2 Reducing Torque and Drsg Forces
a3
Epls_ekutus ale
ftliag;4e
4.4 Protectian of lyater Sensilive Shales
4. 5 Direclional Control
4,5.I C lassifrcation of hotto,n-
4.5.2 Measurfug it'.slrune ls
4,5,2,1 Steering tool
4. 5, 2, 2 M essurcntent-while tuillittg (Mll/D)
4.5.2.3 Geosteering, Equipnrcnt and Irrstrume tfltiort
DRILLSTRING DESIGN 72
HonrzoNrat, WELL ConrplnrroN
TncnNreuns
6.1 Comoletion Technolosict
:fu-U!X4:[!!!41-LglL!s
H o rizontal Radial B ore lrc le
6.2 Conpletion Oltion
for
Short-Rtttlius, Mediam-Radius,
ond l-ong-Radius of Horizotrtsl ly'elk Draiflholg;-
6.2,1 Open hole cotn elion
54
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Poge #
6.2.2 Tail completion and slotted liner completiott
95
AppucarIoNoF
COILED TueINc TN
HoRIZoNTAL
DRILLING
AND MULTI-LATERAT,
CASB STUOII]S AND
HlsroRms
7.1 Coiled Tubins Drilli,tg
7. 2
M&LUels
I Ci?,ts]J:t
lldtet
7,2.1 Case 1
7.2.2 Case 2
7.2.3 Case 3
7.2,4 Csse 4
7.3 Multilatersl Case Histot! Case 1
RunnnpNcns
t 00
t02
103
t 05
t07
109
l l l
l l t
I l - l
l v
Cn. I llotizort\t lre s Dtiuhry |
Cu,rprnn I
SELECTION
AND REASONS FOR
DRILLING TIORIZONTAL WELLS.
AND DRAINHOLES
:
1.1 Selection o-f horizofial u,ells arul drainltoles:
l l ori zontal wel l s are ofgrcat i ntel est to thc petrol cutn i ndttstry today becattsc
they
provi cl c an attracti vc nrcans for i mprovi ng both
pl odtrcti on ratc and
rccovery efficiency.
'l'hese
are due to that horizontal wellsprovide a latger
area of contact wi tl l tl rc l cscrvoi f than do vctti cal ; wcl l s ancl , i rl addi ti on, thcy
provi de a means for the l atetal tl ansPodati on of fl tl i d. Thus, the hori zorrtal
wel l s can be dri l l ed as new u,el l s or ho zontal si dctracks, dri l l ed to revi tal rze
ttrc pcrformance of exi ti ng verti cal wcl l s that are cal l cd drai nhol es l l l c past
fcw
years havc seen
great i mprovement i n dri l l i ng technol ogy. Dcvel opments
sucl r as tl re use of bent, downhol e dri l l i ng rnotors, top dri ve l i gs, and MWD
(measurcment whi l c dLi l l i ng) or advanccd N4WD cal l cd
gcosl ecri ng tcchni que,
togcther with stccrable drill systcms have grcatly rcduced costs. Recent
hori zontal wcl l s havc cost no mora pcr l nctct ofrvcl l tl ti l l cd l hl tn conl patabl c
conventi onal wel l s. Thus,
great advances have al so bcen i n nl cthods l or
dri l Ji ng short-radi us drai nhol es ftom cri sl i ng vel 1i cal wcl 1s.
The construction and
placing
ofhorizontal
wells has become rautine Usually
it is no longer speculative as to whether horizontal rvells can be drilled-
Tn
most cases no| , the choi cc i s not whethcr one can dl i l l hori zontal l y, but
whethcl on shoul d.
l),-. M.S. Farrhat
CIl- I IIo urtutl
lrt s D'lllinA
Grcat advancos i n the technol ogy of dri l l i ng and l ocati ng hori zontal wel l s
continue to be made. Today much attention is being paid to thc problems
of
re-entering existing vertical wells using smaller diameter, mcdium-radius and
short-radius equipment. These improvements will allow a much larger
proportion of existing conventional wells to have their live extended by re-
compl eti on wi th l ong, hofi zontal dri anhol cs. 1 hc provi si on
of M WD tool s that
will opemte in smaller diameter holes is a
particularly
active area. Thorc arc
devel opmcnt, too, i n l oggi ng tool s. Tool s arc now avai l abl e that can be
opcrated whi l e dri l l i ng to provi dc i rl fornrati otr about l hc rcscrvoi r bei ng
encountored. Locati ng the l oggi ng sensors cl oser to the dri l l bi t to al l ow a
nore ti mel y eval uati on of the bi t posi ti on and o f the rock bci ng penctrated
i s
another area of active dcvclopment.
Thus, drilling a horizortal well to exploit a reservoir usually involves several
i mportant
questi ons. Thcse questi ons
are as l ol l ows:
1. Whcrc shoul d the wel l be l ocated?
2. l r what di recti on shoul d thc wel l bc dri l l cd?
3. Whcrc shoul d thc ki ck-offpoi nt (KOI' )
to hori zontl l bc?
4. IIow l ong shoul d the hori zontal secti on be?
5, l s i t neccssary to sti rnul atc thc wcl l ?
The answer of these questi ons requi re gatheri ng i nformati on about the
reservoi t and the condi ti ons exi sti ng i n thc arca. I[o[i zontal wel l shoul d not be
dri l l ed i n al l cases, cateful study of tcchni cnl feasi bi l i ty and economi cal
potcnti al of hol i zontal dri l l i ng i s needed beforc i ts appl i cati on. For these
l casors, accuratc resewoi r ard adj ust rvcl l data shoul d bc col l ected.
Therefore, the horizontal wells are corsidered feasible primarily
in the
fol l owi ng areas:
l. Thin permeable formation.
2. Vertical naturally-fractured formation.
3. Low permeability fomation.
4. Formati on wi th sand producti on.
5. Fomati on wi th water coni ng.
6.FoImati on wi th gas coni ng.
D, : Nl . S. Frrahrt
AL I ottzo,tk lllrtts Drtltl t! 3
7.Offshore appl i cati ons.
8. t l cavy oi l appl i cat i ons.
9. Fonnati on access bl owouts.
1.2 Reasons
for
Drillitts
Horizontal Well and Drsinlrcles
' l
hcl c arc scvcml t cnsorrs l o t l l i l l a l rol i zorrl ul wcl l nrl l rcr t l ri ur a vct l i cal wcl l .
' l' hcsc
rcasons are:
l. Increasing oil
productivity.
2. Connecting veltical naturally fractures.
3. Producing from low-pe rmeability reser.roits.
4. Staying away fi-om oil-gas and oil-water contacts.
5. Injecting stream (thcrrral
oil rccovery).
6. Controlling sand production.
7. I' r' oducing thin hydrocarbons
reservoirs.
8. l ncreasi ng i nj ccl i v i t y.
9. l' roducing gas liorn coal scanls and proving bcttcr swccp cfficicncy.
l0.lncreasing the retum on the investment (ROl).
Sorncti mes, the cost of a dri l l i ng a hori zontal wel l i s more than that ofa
vcr t i cal wcl l and compl et i or r cost s ar c usual l y hi ghcr ' . l l owcvcr , nt ol c oi l
woul d be ul ti uratcl y rccovered by thc hori zontal wcl l .
' [hus,
hori zontal wcl l i s
j usti fi ed
i n vi ew ol ' qui cker return on wel l i nvestment.
Hori zontal wel l s and drai nhol e can be mai nl y appl i ed for the fol l owi ng
ci rcumstance or pay zol l cs (reservoi r-s)
chal actcri sti cs, namcl y:
l . Thi n
permeabl e
fornrati ons.
2. Verl i cal natural l y fractured l onnati ons.
3. Low
pel meabi l i ty l ' ornrati ons.
4. Formzrti on wi th sand producti on and coni ng probl ems.
1,3 Mgitr A licntions of Hori ntal ,Y'ells a,td Drainltoles
Iha izintal llitlk Dj iIIi
1.3.1 Thin Formstions
When consi deri i rg thj n fonnati on
for homogeneous
fcrnrati on, i t shoul cl avoi d
dti l l i ng a hori zontal wel l i nto thi s fonrati on thi ckcr than 200 ft. however,
tl ri s
maximum pay
zone thjcloress
does not hold tnrc for formatiolls with
helerogeteous
fonnation or fotmaljon with verlical
naturally fractures, as
shown i n Fi gure 1.1and Fi g. 1.2.
Thl rr producl i l g
zonos
Wal er conl ng pr obl ems
cas conl ng. pr obl ems
'
Ot her appl l ca( i ons: f l eavy cr ude, conl scams,
f or mal i on access, bl owout s.
Fig. 1.1 A4oin applicotiotts ofhorizottttl
trll,r.
I NTERSECTI ON
OF VERTI CAL
FRACTURS
BY I . JORI ZONTAL WELL
Fig. 1.2.
, / . M. S. Fr r xhr i
C . I llorizofttdl lYc4s Dtiqi!ry 5
' l hus,
the producti vi ty i ndex (PI) for a l rori T-ontal rvei l refl ects the i ncreases
arca ofcontact ofthc well with the reservoir.
'l'ypically,
the Pl for a horizontal
wel l maybe i ncreased by a factor of4 compared to a verti cal wel l pcnctrati ng
the same reseloir, although enhancement by a factor of l0 or more may be
acl ri evabl e i n certai n ci rcunrstance, as shown i n Fi gure 1.2.
1.3.2. Vet'tic Natt,trallv Fr'flct.rred Forut ions
A horizontal well provide
a means of communicating with natural vertical
fractures, e.
g., a hi gh fractured l i mestone. l fthe wel l i s ori ented to i ntcrcst
thcsc fractures the producti vi ty i ndex can be substanti al l y i ncreascd cvcn rvhcn
thc l rac(ure densi ty i s l ow. Unfottrnatcl y, thi s can al so acccl cratc thc
movement ofgas or water to reach the wel l bore.
l. 3. 3 Low Pernrcabilitv Fornntio tts
One
qucstion is often asked by the opcratol tlrat is how low should thc
pcrnrcabi l i l y
be i n a horrrogcnous fornrati on bcforc consi <i cri ng cl ri l l i ng a
l rori z-ontal wcl l ?. Gi gcr detcrnri ncd the anrount ofoi l that coul d bc
l no(l uccd
undcr the same condi ti ons for l rori zontal n' el l and vel ti cal wel l usi ng tl re same
l romogcncous reservoi r for val i ous rcscrvoi r
pcrmcabi l i ti cs.
Thc tesul ts ofhi s
study are prcsented l n Fi gui c 1.3. Thi s fi gul c shows thrt thc honrogcncous
fomrati on wi tl r rssetvoi | pcrnrcabi l i ti cs grcatcr than 10 md shoul d not be
consi dcl cd fol a hori zorl tal wcl l conrpl cti on. For I00 nrd thc sanrc oi l vol ume
rvoul d be
produced
after about 200 days from ei ther types ofwel l s. Even
duri ng the fi rst 200 days, thcrc i s l i ttl c cl i ffcrcncc i n thc anrount produccd frotn
a horizontal well versus a veflical well because formation is not homogeneous.
However, thc producti vi ty, obtai ned by dri l l i ng a hol i zontal wel l parti al l y
depends on the magni tude of thc verti cal pel meabi l i ty and the l ength ofthe
drainhole. Where the ratio ofvertical permeability to holizontal permeability
is high a horizontal well may prcduce more cost effcctively than a vertical
wel l .
Dr. M. S. I h' rl at
CII. I lln,ito d lITtts Dti i"p
PEBMEN
BI LI TY
EFFECT
75
lronizoNl
t wErt
vl nt l : At .
wn. t
Irig. I -.1 Penrcdbili0
effcc|.
Heterose
Rese ir or Fo,'ntsti
A l r . l i zor r l , I r vcl l r r r r r y
1r . . vi r l c
r r r r r r r r r l xr , r ' r r r r ' r r r r ( r r 11es
r ' r r cr r r r . scr r ' i r .
hcl crogenci ty
exi sl s i n thc hori zonl al pl anc.
A hori zonl al l vcl l borc i rr l hc
lescrvoir provides potential
for far more information
about the reservoir thalr
woul d
nornral l y bc avai l nbl c.
As l oggi ng and conrpl cl i on tcchrri rl ucs
bccorno
more sophi sti cated, thi s aspect
of hori zontal wel l s i s l i kel y to be usecl
advantage.
Frotn a prodrrcti on
vi ewpoi nt, a hori zontal wel l i n an i rregul ar rcservoi r nray
provi de
a mcans ofaccessi ng i sol ated producti ve
zoncs whi ch nri ght other.wi sc
be mi ssed. Furthermore, i n beterogeneous
reservoi rs, the i nfl uence of the
hctcl ogcneous
al ong thc wcl l bol c i s r.ctl ucccl l ry thc cornposi tc 0or,v gcon]cl ry,
so thrt producti on
rl tcs arc gcl rcrl l l y
cnhl nccd i n l hcsc ci t.crrnrs{anccs.
L3.5 Application in Reselyl|I
tl'ith BottQn
lyqlqor
with n Gns Cor2
In nrany cascs,
roscl voi l i s thc
l hc t nosl i nt por l l nl
l i r cl or l i nr i t i ng
l hc pl ocl r r ct i on of oi l
f i onr
tcndcncy l bl rvtrtcl
l i onr atr urrcl crl yi l g acl ui tl r., or- gas
l i orl
n
1] r. M. S. l , : rr, ' hxt
Ctl- I lloti. ti l lYdts Dti ing 7
gas ci l p, to bc dl awn vcr(i ci i l l y to thc prod(rcti on wcl l . l l or.i zontal wcl l scan
have substantial advantages in such lcsctvoirs. The conventional rvay of
reducing thc effect of coning is to complete the vertical well over a linritcd
vcrl i cnl di staDce to tnaxi nl i zc thc stand off front l hc watcr or gas cap, as thc
casc may bc.
Because of i ts extended contact wi th the reservoi r, a l rori zontal wcl l usual l y
has l css pressure drawdown for a gi vcn producti on
ratc i han docs a vcrti ci l l
wcl l . Thi s reduced drawdown l essens the tendency fot thc coni ng ofwater or
gas
wi th the produced
oi l . Thus, for exampl e, hori zontal wel l s may be
operated at ths santc lates as aonventional wells but rvith less-sometimes much
l ess-coni ng, i .e., wi tl r bctter water-oi l rati os or gas-oi l
rati os or both, i n some
case, producti ol wi thout coni Dg nray be economi c usi ng hori zontal wcl l s,
whcrc it would be plohibitively
slow with conventional wells. In situations
where the
jlitial
rate for
production
without fiee gas coning would be
impractical \a,ith vcrtical wells, it may be possible with horizontal wells to
acl ri eve economi c producti on
by gravi ty drai nagc wi l h onJy a smal l ratc ofgas
i nj ccti on to mai ntai n gas
cap pl essure.
Even if oporation below thc critical rate for coning is impractical bccausc of
economics, thero can still be a large advantage for horizontal welis. This
si tuati on i s conl mon when vi scous, conveuti oual heavy oi l s al e produced l ronr
abovc a watcr l ayer. When the hi gh oi l vi scosi ty and thel ow di ffcr.encc i n
tlcnsity between the oil and waler makcs coning, or more concctly fingcrrng,
occLu cven at vcty l ow producti ol r
ratcs. [n thcse cascs, thc vol ume ofoi ] thnl
is produccd
is approximatcly proportional to thc volurne swept by thc watef
fi nger. As i s shown i n Fi gure 1.4, hori zontal rvel l s havc an advantage ovcr
vcrl i cal wel l s here because the fi gure (real l y
a crest shaped l i ked the roofofa
house al ong the l ength ol -the hori zontal wel l ) has a much l ar.ger vol ume and
thi s l al ger crcst di spl aces a nruch l arger vol urue ofoi l .
Dr. M. S. I : rrahrt
LI1. I Ilotito rl ll'clls Dtilti g
@
A CohparLon_or.a
$dcr .rre
Leto* , v.r
cat Udt ent,
-
(,
e.t
treror,
s.ciion ora fizontat
iveu
VEBTI CAL
WELL
WI TI I
RI SI NG CONE
HORI ZONTAL
WELL WI ' rH
RI SI NG
CREST
Fis. 1.4.
1. 3. 6 Atlttantages o.f Horizontnl
rySAtjlt
O:fit!!!!!,4tU,lk!l!!!j
Many horizontal welis have been drilled from offshore platforms.
Such wells
ofl ct savi ngs i n
Pl al fol rl
rursl s i l nrki i l i on l o l l t(' i t{l !i l l l i t[,r.ti ftrl rrrl orrsl rrtr,,
Fot exampl e, one operator statcs that the cost ofhi s North Sea pl atforrns
i s
appr oxi mat cl y
$
6 mi l l i on per . r vcl l
sl ot . [ Jsi ng hor i zonl al r vcl l s, l hcsanr c
nunrbcr of wel l sl ots on a pl atfonrr can procl ucc
si ncc cach hori zonl al wcl l i s
note producti ve
than each convcnti onal wcl l . I\rr.thcrntorc, si nce ol l bhore
wel l s are nol mal l y hi ghl y dcvi atcd i n any casc thccxl l a cost l br hori zontal
dl i l l i ng can be rel ati vel y srral J.
7,'\
/ )r' . l \ {. S. Farrh^t
a:lL t Ilotitotthtt tl'! rDti it|')
Commcrci al ofl ' shore hori zontal rvel l
proj ects
i n vari ous al ea i ncl udi ngthe
ArI i i l l i c, l l rc Nor th Scn i l | | (l
(l rc
.l i rvn Scas urc tl oscl i hc(l i l l l l l c l i l cl r(l rrc.
1,3.7 IIeu_y Oil Annlicttions
Probably thc most prospective arca for using horizontal wells lies in the field
of heavy oi l recovery,
parti cul arl y thcmral recovery usi ng strcarn. For
exanrpl c, tl re bi tunren deposi ts i s Canada, whi ch arc i ntpossi bl c to rccover
economi cal l y by corl vcnti onal methods, have a vol ttnre of oi l i n pl acc
approxi matel y
equal to that of al l the known couvcnti onal crudc oi l tn thc
worl d. One approacl r uscd to rccovcl thcsc rcsourccs i s operr pi t nri ni ng.
l l or vcvcr ' , t hi s i s l i r r r i l cr l kr l hcsnr i r l l l i acl i or t of l l l c At l r i r l ) r sci t r - csct voi r t hat i s
cl ose to the surfacc and thc approacl r i nvol ves handl i ng vast qurnti i i cs of
natcl i al . In si tu l hcl mal l ccovcty i s trol c gcncl al l y tp;tl i cabl c, cl tcrtpcr a<l l css
danragi rrg crvi rorrntcntal l y.
l hcrnral rccovcry nortnal l y l equi rcs cl oscwcl l spaci ngs. Iypi cal
pr.oj ccts
l ravc
a spaci rrg ol ' 2.5 to 5 acfcs
pcr wol l and. i n mary cascs, thcsc arc Ial tcl i n fi l l ed
l o i r r r pl ovc l ccovcr y. Sl t ci t t n l l t x pt oj ccl s i r r
(
al i l i r r t r i a wi { h spi t ci t r gs as l ow
as 5/8 acfc arc bci ng opcratcd. In such oi fcunrsta| ]ccs, a si rtgl c hofi zorl ttl
wcl l s. Thi s may bccome otrc ofthc most i nrportant appl i cal i ons ofhori zontal
wcl l s. I he succcssful opel ati ons of fi cl d
pi l ot
i n Col d [,akc. thc l ,l oydrni nstct'
arca and i n Athabasca usi ng hori zontal rvcl l s an<l strcants-assi stctl
gtavi ty
drai nagc
(SAGD) are di scusscd i n thc l i tcral urc. A
t)l l l i cul arl y
i rl rportarrt
featul e of tl rc usc ofhori zontal
wcl l s fol strcanr rccovcry i s tl rat i t i s possi bl e
to operate and obtai n hi gh rccovcri es wi th l i ttl c strcanl producti on, i . c., wi th
l i ttl c sl l carns bypassi ng try crcsti l l g. wi th hori zon{ul rvcl l s, i t i s possi bl c to
prodrce econorni ctrl l y bcl ow thc cri ti cal ratc for strcanr by
pass; wi th vcl ti cal
wcl l s, s(r' carr Il oo<l i ng i s i trrpracti cal wi l hout thc bypass ofs{rcanr cxccpt on
very l oso spacl ngs.
1.J.8 Sanl Production
At higlrer drawdown-pressure, sand production is a common
problem,
espcci al Jy the
producti on from uncorrsol i dated and fi rc
grai ned sand. Sand
D/ . i V. S. Frrahat
CI. I llo,izont.tl llcls Drillirrs l0
crodes and plugs the equipmcnt and rcstrictiog thc flow rates. Scrccns and
gravel placing limit sand entry into thc rvcllborc and in somc cases rcduces
productions rates, less pressure drawdown eliminates the necd for screen and
gravcl pl aci ng and al l orvs hi gl rcr producti on ratcs frorl r drai nhol c or hori zontal
wcl l .
ti.r
. , t
D/ Nl . S. Fxr. hxl
CII. II Dti i'tg Tcchttiques
l l
c[AP'ftrR
lt
TypES OF HoRIZoNTAL
WELLs
Ar'ln DlnrnnsNr
DRrr,r,rNG
TpcuntQu
Ps Ussu
The choice of drilling me0thod depends upon drilling cost, well spacing and
the mcchani cal condi ti on ofa verl i cal wel l bore i s exi sti ng Al so, the rcsctvoi r
consideratiols
are also important in sclecting the drilling method. During thc
last decade, the incrcmental cost ofdrilling horizontal wells and drainholes,
over a vcrlical well cost, has come down considerably. But today oil industry
grai ns tnore experi encc and rtses newcr dri l l i ng l echnol ogi cs, i n tum the cost
of dri l l i ng hori zontal wcl l s nray be furthcr reduced. Accorcl i ngl y, thc
practi cal
holizontal drilling methods can be classified into four broad categories as
shown i n Fi gure 2.1, dependi ng upon thc turni ng radi us rcqui rcd to turn fi onr a
verti cal to a hori zontal di recti on. Al so, the use ofa top-cl ri vc dt.i l l i ng sysfenr
(TDS) i s essenti al to the successful i mpl ementati on ofa hori zontal dri l l i ng
program fol: deeper wells; larger wellborcs; ouler-rorv wells (olfshore
pl atforrns); Gumbo or bentoni ti c hol e secti ous whcn dri l l ed wi th water base
mud; whcre si mul taneous hi gh torque and tensi on i s requi l ed to be appl i cd
dri l l stri ng. A di scussi on ofvari ous dl i l l i ng methods are gi ven bel ow for cacl r
types ofhori zontal wel l and drai nhol e.
2.1 Ultra-short Turning Ra irls
Ultra-shor1 turn-radius horizontal lroles, sometinres called drainhole. Inthis
mothod, i t uti l i zed waterj ef to dri l l 100-200 ft l ong drai nhol cs wi th a tul rri rrg
radi us of 1 to 2 ft. these arc dri l l ed i n
ptcvi ousl y cascd often mrrl l i pl c
horizontal laterals are drilled lrom the same wcllbore, as shown in Iiigure 2.2.
It i s repofi ed that, si detmcki ng may be done wi th a whi psl ock devi ati ng tool
wi th a curwed
gui de. Al so, a l ong sl ender stcel tubc fi ts i nsi de the dri l l pi pe i nto
the top of the whi pstock
gui de, as shown i n Fi gurc 2.2. Tbe upper end ofthe
tube has a
pressurc seal to contain pressule and divert drilling flrrid through
the tube. Thej et nozzl e fi ts on the i ower erd ofthc tubc.' l ' hus, dti l l i ng rate
i s
control l ed wi th a l etai ni ng cabl e connccted to tl re top ofthe tubc as shown i n
D,: M.S. Fnrahat
CH.ll D lli
E
T..huiques
t 2
Figure 2.2. The hole is prepared
first by plugging
the lowcr required and
removi ng a sccti on of casi ng by nri l l i ng the secti on i s undcr-reamed
to
i ncrease the hol e di amctet, i .e. the proccss
i nvol t,es urdcr-reami ng thc verti cal
wcl l bore and then dri l i i ng severai radi al s fi onr the under-rearned
zone.
Howevcr, tl te l ength of the scti on
and di ameter oftl i eunder l camed hol e
basccl upon thc speci fi cati on
of devi ati ng tool . A spcci al packer
i s pl aced
i n
thc casi ng wi th a curved gui de
bcl ow thc mi l l ed secti on. Ihe whi pstock
tl cvi tti rg tool i s conncctcd to thc cl .i l l pi pc rntl usscrl bl y
turr i rrl u l l rc l rol o
posi ti oned
at the ki cl (-off poi nt.
' l ' he
whi pstock i s ori ented and setontne
packer.
Then, tl re sl ender tubc i s l owered wi th the rctai ni ng cabl c..l .he rnud
purnp
i s stattccl and ci rcul ati otr
bcgi ns downs thc dri l l pi pc tl rrough
sl cncl cr
tube and ort thej et nozzl cs. Il ydtaul i c
nrud pressure
agai nst the ptcssure
scal
on l hc tol ) ofl hc tubc forccs i t downward. Il tc tl l l )c t)asscs througl j thc cur.vcd
gui dcs
ol l hc r,vhi pstock.
' l
hcsc turn thc tul )c through 90 angl c l i rrrrr vcl trcal
to hori zol ttal . A strcam
ofhi gl l prcssurc
rrrucl l i onr thcj cl rrozzl cs ctorl cs the
l or.nral i on and dri l l s thc l rol c hori zontal l y whcn thc hori zonl al sccl i orr i s <l ri l l ccl
by thi s rnanner, thc tLrbc i s pul l cd
bl ck i nto thc pi pc
wi th tl rc rctai ni ng
cabl c.
Al so, l hc addi t i onal hol i zont al hol c r nr r y bc r l r i l l ci l l i . or u t hc sr r nr c r vcl l bor c r r y
turni ng thc whi pstock
i n anothcr rl i rccti orr (i rs shorvrr
i n Iri gurcs 2.-j antl 2.4)
n( l l cpci l l i l l g
( hc
pr occcl uf c.
l l r r r s, l r i g. 2. _l l r t r l l ; i g. 2. 4 sl x) wl
l wo
anangcments
of mul ti pl e r.adi al s
i n nrul (i pl c l aycrs.
' t.hc
chr.ri ce
ofradi al
l cngl h, nunrbcr
of radi al s,
and radi al array
i s a functi on
of thc r.cscrvoi r
pfopotti os.
l hcsc pl .oporti cs
arc: rcscr.voi I l l ri okrrcss, vcrLi cl rl
arrd l rori z0rrl ul
permcabi l i ti es,
oi l pl operti cs,
wcl l spaci ng,
outcr-bountl ary
l cscr.voi r prcssure,
gravi l y
dl ni l ugc,
tl )crnti l l non-l l l cfnti l l proccsscs,
arrrl
l tr.cscl cc
ol .i rrrpcrnrcl bl o
l ) r r l i ngs
wi l l l i n
l l t c r cscl voi r . . l l or vcvct ,
l l r c cl r oi cc ol . r xl i l t l l el gl l r
nl xl
al -rangcncnt gcneral l y
i s uni que
to each rescryoi r.
2.1.1 Slstent Prccesses
!t4!!
E41liltmenUat
lvutliple
Rsdj!ils
Thc basi c rrl trn-short
radi us radi al systern (( tRRS)
uscs an crccl abl c whi nstock
l owered downhol e
by 4.5 i n. worki l g
i nto an urrrl crLcarrcd
cavi ty
or
hydraul i cafl y
si otted openi ng
of 22 i n. di ancl cr. Thc whi pstock (Fi g.
2.2) i s
desi gncd for use i n a 7-i n. casi ng. 1' he dr.i l l sh.i ng nraybcprovi tl cd
fi rma
coi l ed tubi ng ri g or i t may be fabri catcd
on si tc fron 30 to 40 fr rubi ng.i oi rts.
Dr-. M.S. Farahltt
CIL II Dti i,l4 lcchltiqrcs
I J
A
./i i ,. '
1l
"r'
ri
o"
\ ' r -
l
100
-
300
l l
-:-
|
A
{i
A
li"
.fi'
T-
Fig. 2.2 URRS.
r.soo
_
3.ooo
rt
+
|
2,OOO
S,OOO rr
---
:'I
Mol i on Cont rouer
O.ill String
Worki ng St ri ng
Hi gh
Prssur,
Rmovabl Sal
=-:-
-
undrreamd
zon
Dr i l l Ski i l q
"t')'*
,1+
Fi g. 2.1.
D/ . M. S. Fnrahat
Fadi al
Bor Hol e
Cll, Dt lhtU ll'dt,tltlurN t4
R.dlal Compl.tlon
gyit.n
PERSPECTIVE
Fig. 2.1 URRS.
16!Ftrr=l l 11' 11
lr' ' "' "' ' ' 1,,,'
l!Orl
1[ :
rr". rL, rl
s-a l : l
i l l ,
""' ' ' '
l l l l
l l - l l t - -
. - - , r l l l
- r t
1| =l l l
| - '
Sect l on A
PaY
|.utto
Fig, 2.4. Multiple-rodiol cotnpletion.
,l),r M.S. Frrnh:ra
A l ry<l rnul i c dri l l hcad i s wcl dcd t o t hc nosc of t hc f i rst . i oi nt of l t l rc dri l l st ri ng
(radi al t ubc). I f t hc dri l l st ri ng i s l abri cat ccl on si t c, st t bsccl t ront 30 t o 40 f t j oi nt s
of drillstring are welded by automatic computer-controlled
welding on the fig
floor to form the drillstring. A hydraulic motion controller that regulates rate
of
pcnct rat i on i s wel ded t o i t s t ai l .
As t hc dri l l st ri ng i s f abl i cat cd, i t i s l owcrcd i nsi dc t hc vcrt i cal 4. 5 i n. rvof ki ng
The nosc
(dri l l head) of t he dri l l st ri ng ent ers a hi gh-pressure removabl e scal at
t ho t op of t he whi pst ock.
' l -l re
scal
provi dcs t hc bot t om cl osurc of t hc
workst ri ng. I l ence, t he 1. 25 i n. dri l l st l i ng i s f ul l y cont i nucd wi t hi n t he 4. 5 i n.
workstring at the outset of drillstring as shown in Figure 2.2.
A wireline as attached to the tail of thc drillstring runs to thc surface within the
workstring and passes through thc top closure of the workstting.' llrus' a long
seal ed chanrber cont ai ni ng t he 1. 25 i n. dri l l st ri ng and i t s conncct i ng cabl c i s
crcat cd by t hc 4. 5 i n. vcr-t i cal workst ri ng.
Watci drilling fluid at 8000 to 10000 psi is pumped into the long vertical
workstring at the surface with a conventional fi' acture punrp. The drilling fluid
is then pumped down the wotkstling rvhcre it entcrs tlrc dlillstring. The
internal water pressure of the dtilling systetrr propels the dlillstr-ing tlrrotrgh thc
Irigh-prcssure bottom scal and through the bending ancl confining slidcs and
rol l ers of t he whi pst ock. Travcrsi ng t he 12-i n radi us and 90
whi pst ock, t he dri l l hcad ent crs t he f ornrat i on hori zont al l y. The dri l l st ri ng i s
not rotated.
and the whipstock-combhre to propel and to control the motion of the
drillstling into, through, and out of the whipstock, r' csulting in three load
condi t i ons of t hc dr i l l st r i ns.
The first URRS conrponent related to propulsion and control is the drillstring
(radial tube), which is propellcd out of the vertical workstring by the fluid
pressure within the workstring.
/ ) / . l \ 1. S. l i : r I al r f l t
I
t l
a
I
I
I
I
I
CIL II Drillirtg T,
owr at e de t er r ni nes
Dr i l l St r i ng speed
Cont r ol Or i f i ce
Mot i on Cont r ol l er
Di r ect i or t of Mot i or r
Dr i l l St r i ng
Ver t i cal Tubi r t g St r i ng
Tr apped Wat er
Seal s
Fl ow t o Coni cal Jet
Penel ral iorr corr I t'ol v,lt i I e d ri I I i ng.
I'ig.
t
;l
ril
2.:
b::li,;tl
nrir sr,rq srr",r";
Er, -
t l o, , r sr, r, , r Gr, P5, j c5
l sr. i ri i
ct l Drrt
' i r, , r;
. ; r, ' , : : r. :
, r r , '
l ' ' l r w
l l r r , r ' r \ l r l x , , , l
. r { r c . , j l l , f el ' J s l k h, 1, 1
, r , l \ . 1, , w l i , .
. 1, ' i l i , r i ' l
Fig. 2.6 Stres,ses on drillstring.
Drill Strins
[:"_..1t; -d
Hi gl r Pr ossuf Soal
Whi ps t oc k w, l r , t r i l , ! ' r ' , r
' . nr , r !
nnl sh4. : s l a br , , { r d, i d . onr r ' .
l l , c D, , l l Sl , t r , q
- . -
Dr i l l Sl r i nq
l i o'
l ' , ' , t l
I
Dr i l l St r i ng
l 1' e,
l r ' r r r
/)r' . I\l .S. l tu r:t hnt
The second component is the motion controller
(Figure 2.5) on the tail of the
dl i l l st ri ng, rvhi ch act s as a hydraul i c rest rai nt . I n csscncc, i t i s a pi st on wi t l r
external seals that slide within a special snrooth borehole
portion of the
vcrt i cal wol kst ri ng.
' f hc
hi gh-pl csst rrc wet t cr pushcs on t hc t op of t ho l not i on
controller, and water is trappcd bctrveen it and the high-prcssure seal at the
bottonr of the workstring. Water can escape only through a central orificc
wi t l ri n t hc corrl rol l cr (Fi g. 2. 5). t l rc rcst t l t s i s a hy<h-at rl i c rc{r: ri t r, or t rt ' akc on
t hc f orward rnot i on of t he 1. 25 i n. dri l l st ri ng.
The third URRS component of the propulsion atrd control system is the
whipstock, which bends the drillstring from vertical to horizontal.
Figure 2.6 slrows the loads on the drillstring that results fi' orn propulsion and
rcslraint fbrces. In its passagc into, through, and out of thc wlripstock, thc
dri l l st r: i ng i s subj ect ed t o axi al , i nt ernal -pressure and bendi ng l oads.
From Fi gurc 2. 6, sect i on A of t hc dl i l l st t i ng (abovc t hc hi gl r prcssure scal ), t hc
drillstring stresses are below the clastic linrit. In section B, rvhcre tltc
dri l l st l i ng i s bcl ow t hc hi gh-prcssurc scal and wi t hi n t hc whi pst ock, t hc
drillstring stresses exceed tlre elastic limit and thc drillstring dclbrnrs
pl ast i cal l y.
Becausc the drillstring is internally pressurized and is constrained by rollers
and sl i des wi t hi n t l rc whi pst ock, i t docs rrot buckl c u, hi l c i t i s bei ng bcnt . I n
sect i on C, t he 1. 25 i n. dri l l st ri ng exi st s t he whi pst ock hori zont al l y. Thcse i t i s
undcr onl y axi al and i rr t cnra l -pressurc l oads. Agai n, t hc st rcsses arc bcl ow t hc
c l asl i c l i nr i t .
The pressure on the water drilling fluid in the system not only propels the
dri l l st ri ng, but al so dri l l s t he hori zont al borchol e i n t he f ormat i on. ' f o dri l l t l re
f onnat i on, t he wat er dri l l i ng f l ui d i s acccl erat ed t hrough t he coni cal -j et dri l l -
head nozz,le, creating a conical shell of water particles travelling at 800 to 900
fVsec.
Dr". M.S. Farahat
CII. II Drillirtg'I.echniqtcs t 8
l t i g. 2. ' l t t shows zl scl rcnl at i c of t l ro corri cal j ct . At t l rr: t op ol t l rc l i i grrrc 2. ' / t i s
a standard crrllirnated
jet
nozzle. The addition of fixed vanes within the nozzle
causes a conical shell of high-velocity water particles to fonl a conical
.iet
(I ; i g. 2. 7b).
' l ' hc
si zc of t l t c hori z. orrt al bol chol c i s cst abl i shct l by l hc l wi st of
t hc vat t cs, ' uvl ri ch i rr l t t rn cot rt rol s, l l rc i ut gl c oI rl i vcl gcncc of t l rt : corrc of wi r{cr'
pat t i cl cs. Fi g. 2. 7c and Fi g. 2. 7d show vancs l ' or 1wo di f f cl cnt coni cal angl cs.
Fig. 2.7 Cotticul
jet
nozzle.
Fig. 2.8a slrows water
jets
resultirrg fronr variorrs deglees 01' vanc tu,ist in l-
mi crosccol l d l l ash phot ogl aphs oI a col l i l t rat od
j ct
and t wo cl i l l cl . cnt corri cal
i et s.
The coni cal angl e i s not af f ect ed by dri l l i ng-f l rri d pressure. These coni cal
j et s
f unct i on at bot h ambi ent and cl cvat cd back-pressurcs. At hi ghcr back-
pressules, cavitation does not appear to be an important cutting rtrechanisrn.
Fi g. 2. 2 sl t ows t hc basi c rvhi pst ock col t [ i gul i t l i orr, a rl orrbl y crrl vot l i rrvcl l ct l
qLrcst i on nrark. I nsi dc t hc I JRRS whi pst ocl < i s a scri cs of rol l cr. s anrl sl i dcs l hrrt
causes a progressi ve dcf l cct i on ancl bcndi ng of t hc 1. 25 i n. dri l l i ng as i t nrovcs
thtough the w,hipstock.
n) LE CI I A D w^r kEn CONTt OUnAI t ON
tr) COl .l l CAl - JET NO77Lf tN SECTTON
n) v^l { L: r r a[ t , t ao' cout c^l . . , r r Nozzt F
d) vANE USED t N 10" CONTCAL JEr NOZZLE
/)r' . Nl .S, l rl r-rrhu I
CII. Drilling T rchniqucs l 9
The whipstock is held in place by downhole anchor
jrws
engaging thc rvcll
casing. The anchoring
jaw
are set by rotating the 4.25 in. vcrtical workstting'
To erect the whipstock, the workstring is raised about I ft by the blocks, the
resulting verlical motion erects the whipstock, he workstring and whipstock
arc l rel cl ercct by a set of hydraul i c cyl i nders at t hc wcl l hcad t hat mai nt ai n
cot rst ant t onsi on.
Aftcr each radial placcnrcnt, the stcps or","u"r."d. Thc rvhipstock can thcn bc
cle-erccted, rotated, and re-erected downhole without losing its calibration. A
gyroscope is used to set the whipstock azimuth] for each radial. Thus, nrultiple
radials can be
placed at differcnt azimuths downhole without having to trip the
whi pskrck back t o t hc st t t ' l acc bct wccn cach st t cccssi vc rarl i al .
After each radial borehole is drilled, a 3D positional survey can be applied
(Fig. 2.8b). The 1.25 in. drillstring can be surveyed to determine its trajectory
with special flexible radius-of-curvature
(ROC) survey tools designed to pass
through 12 in (or smaller) bend radius of the drillstring. The ROC survcy tool
was developed to provide both plan (azimuth) and profile (up/down trajcctory)
data.' It is pumped down the workstring and enters and passes through the
drillstring as a wireline tool. The tool
(Fig. 2.8b) resernbles an animal
backbone and has long slide wires placed at each quadrant that rnove within
veftebrae attached to a flexible, torque-resistant,
wire-cable backbone. The
slicle wires actuate very prccise sensors that measut' e thc nrovetlre nt of eaclr
slide wire separately, translating directly into the curvaturc of the ROC tool.
And, i n t urn, of t hc dri l l st ri ng. Wi t hi n t he ROC t ool arc an i ncl i nomet cr rnd a
roll sensor. All these data are transmitted to the surlace by wireline"l' he
curvature is converted into convctrtional azintuth and inclination by rrpholc
software, providing a 3D printout of both the azimuth and the bore inclination'
However, the drilling method used for ultar-short radius poses the following:
l. turning radius of I to 2 ft.
2. length ofdrainhole of 100 to 200 ft.
3. the first drilling system requires a 48 in. dianreter under-reamed zone
while the improved second system requires 24 in. diarneter zone.
4. the under-reamed zone length varies lrom 6 to l0 ftdepending on the
syst cm ut i l i zed.
/)r. M,S. Faral tat
UI. DrilllngI'r:chuiqres
5. the drai nhol c di amcter vari es 1.5 to 2.5 i n. tl ttts two or trtol ' c dtui l rl tol cs at' o
d ri l l ccl .
6, f ol sarrd cont rol , t hc t hl i rrhol cs nt c crorrrpl cl ct l usi rrg ci l l rcr sl ol l crl l i rrcrs ns
gravel packing.
7. after completing the drainhole, the pipe is several, then ifdesired, a slotted
l i ncr i s l i ncr i s i nscrt cd i n t hc uut l cr-rcarncd zonc, t he di rcct i ot ral st t rvcy
t ool s cat t [ rc uscd.
8. t l ri s nrct hocl has bccn succcssf ul i rr l l rc rrnbonsol i dat cd sarrrl s, rt t t rl rccct t l l y
it has bcen used to drill hard rock such as grarrite.
9. a large under-reamed zone may pose difficulties in reservoirs with strong
bot t onr wat cr dri ve.
At l ast t hc short -radi us dri l l i ng mct hod poscs t l rc l bl l owi ng:
l . l ' he process i nvol ves cut t i ng a | 5 b 2{) f l l orrg wi ndow i n t l rc casi ng of an
existing vertical well and kicking-off the dlainhole through tbe window.
2. A whi pst ock and curved dri l l i ng errt ry gui de assi st f l exi bl e shel l pi pes (30
60 f t ) or wi ggl y dri l l col l ars i n maki ng a 20 t o 40 l t t urri ng racl i us. Al so,
di l cct i onal survcy may l rc usod t o l ocat c dr' ai nl rol c pat h.
3.
' f ' l rc
l t ot i zont i t l por(i on wi {l r t
, l l / 2
kt
(r
-l l 4 i n t l i rt rrc: l t : r, i s rrot rrrrrl l y
compl et cd ei t hel openhol e or by i nsert i ng a sl ot t ed l i ncr i n t hc hol c. I n t hc
case of unconsolidated sand reservoirs, a wire mesh seven is wrapped
around the liner for sand control. lt is possible to drill several dlainholes at
di f l crcnt cl cvat i ons t l rrough a si ngl c vcrt i cal wr: l l .
4.
' l ' he
short t urni ng radi us dri l l i ng nt ct hod has bccn vcry succcssf ul i l r nrarry
field applications. But the limitation ol this method, is that it does not offer
0 scl cct i vc cot l l l )l ct i on opt i on. l rr ot l rcl wot l s, i t i s rrot possi l rl c {o i sol rrl c
ccrt ai n prot l uci ng zorrcs scl cct i vol y.
' l
hi s coul cl causc di f f i cul t i cs i n l hc
ci l scs whcl c f ri rcl rucs i nt crscct i ng l hc drai nl rol c f l rc i n di rcct
conrnrun i cat i orr wi t h ei t hcr t op gas or bo{t ol t r wat cr.
5, Moreover, milling a widow in thc casing can be very expensive and time
consumi ng. I f possi bl e, a pref cncd opl i on i s t o dri l l a drai nhol c t hrough a
new vertical well with arr open hole section.
6, A 90 f t t urni ng radi us drai nhol c i s a succcssf ul t echnol ogy. Thi s
technology employs a downhole nrud motors and articulatcd drillstring.
Al so, i t has been succcssf ul ccrncnt ccl t ho casi ng i rr a curvcd scot i on ol ' 90
f t t urni ng radi us hol e and harrgi ng, t he l ol nt at i on eval uat i on t ool s can be
uscd.
' l
hi s t l r i l l i ng t ocl r r r ol ogy coul t l
l r r obl bl y
bc uscr l t o r hi l l 2( ) t o 2( ) 0 l l
t r r t r r i ng r ar l i us wcl l s by r nor l cl i r r g t l r c <l l i l l st r . i r r g ar l i cul l r l i on.
Dr. M.S, Fal al rat
CH. II Drilling I'echniques
Fig. 2.8a. Water
jets.
c ) 3O" Conl c al J el noz r l e at o. 4 MP8
Separ al or
Tool Cr oss- Sect i on
Sl i de Wke
L----
Convgr l or
Comput er
To FOC
Tool
lExcitation f-----' /
I
Sourye
J
El ect r i cal Schemat i c
Pr i nt er
1)r. M.S. Farnhat
Fig.2.8b ROC tool.
Cn l l L, r i i ' t ( 7i l hr i qur \
22
2.2 Short Turnine Radius
Short-l ul l r l toIi zorrtal p
(ctns
Ituvc a tu| 1t mdi us ol about J0_00 l l , l br.dri l l i Ig
fi om cascd hol cs. Thc proccss
bcgi ns by si cl etrucki ng,
bui l tl i rrg angrc, urru
dti l l i ng thc curved secti on wi th a speci al angl c bui l di ng rsscnrLrl y. l .l rrrs, l ol a
re-entry dri l l i ng system to be tcchni cal l y succcssftrl ,
i t mustbccapabl cof
dri l l i ng a consi stort racl i trs
of ourvaturc arrcl ol dr.i l l i rrg cut.vc i rr thc rl csi tccl
di rccti on, Thcsc l cqrri rcnrcnt
nl i sc l rorrr l l rc l cc<l s;
,To
posi ti on
the end ofthe curve wi thi n a prcci se
dcpth i ntcrval so that rnc
l atcral can havcrse l hc
fay
zonc as dcsi rcrl .
,
l o pl i rcc l l tc Lrtcnl l i n a di r.ccti orr rl i ctatod by wcl l spaci rrg, dcsi l crJ swccp
patterns,
or other geological
considerations.
,To
establ i sh a smooth curve to faci l i tatc dr.i l l i ng thc l atcral an<l corrrpl cti ng
the wel l .
Sevc[al types of shott-radi us
curve-dri l l i ng
systcnrs arc comrl crci nl l y
avai l abl c.
' l
l i c most conrrnon l ypcs uscs a nrurl motor to rotatc a dfi l l bi t that l s
ti tl cd bi t dri l l s a curvcd patl r,
anrl thc rotati onal
ori cntati on of tl rc ruotor
housi ng i n thc borehol c dctermi ncs
thc di rccti on
ofthc curve. Ei thcr.a stccl i ng
tool or a measurement
while drilling (MWD)
tool is required to kecp the
motor housi ng ori ented duri ng dri l l i ng. The systcm nray be usccl wi th
cotrvcnti orral or workovcr
ri gs ol wi tl t coi l od- tubi ng urri ts. l .l ri s i s tl rc rrrost
popular method of drilling
a curved borehole, but
jt
is often too cxpensive to
be economical for re-entcrs in mature ficlds.
Constrai ncd-rol aty
systcfi s afc sccon(l cl l cgoty oI col trrrr:r.ci al l y
i rvi ri l trl rl c
tool s.
' l hcy
havc a fl cxi bl c cfi .i vc shrrl i i rrsi dc nn nr.l i crrl :rtc(l n{)l fol Nti l g
housi ng. Si nce ori gi nated by Zubl i rr i n 1052, thi s approi rch hns hccn grea y
rcl i ncd. A resi l i cnt curve gui dc
acts as a spri l g that appl i cs a si dc l i )rcc to rc
bi t ond forcc thc bi t to dr.i l l a curwcd pr{h.
' l
hc curvc gui tl c i ni l i al l y i s or.i crrtcd
i n the desi red di recti on and then rcl i es on wcl l boi e fr.i cti on l o nnrntarn
ori entati on as i t advances al ong the curve. Because of the consi derabl e
l ' rardwarc requi red and the associ ated opcral i l l g procedu[cs,
usc oIconstrai ncd-
rotati ng systcl ns has dccl i ned i n l l vor of l l rc nrorc rcl i i rbl c rnucl ntotor.
systcrl rs.
,r ll.S. I,':tr^hnt
CII. II Dritti"g luhniqucs 23
Rotating-guidcd systems are a third category of short-radius cuwe-drilling
tool s. Fi g. 2.9 sl rows thc downl rol e conrponcnts of onc such systcm.
' l ' hcy
i ncl ude the curve asscmbl y, fl exi bl e dri l i col l ars, and ori cntati on equi pment.
Thc l cl ati vcl y short curvc rsscmbl y i ncorpotatcs a fl cxi bl c.j oi nt l hat i s pushcd
to onc si dc of thc hol c l o ti l t {hc bi t.' l hc ori cntati on cqtti pnrcnt conrpri sc a
standard muleshoc sub for
gyro
orienting or a nonmagnctic collar and
rnul csl roc strb for magncl i c ol i cnti ng- I hi s basi c tool corccpt has bcen arotrnd
for decades, but probl ems rvi th angl e bui l ds and di recti onal control have
l i mi tcd i ts conrmerci al succcss. Il ol vcvcr, thc apPcal of dri l l i ng hori zontal
wcl l s cl r cl pl y wi t h such cqui pr ncr t l cr r r ai r r s.
Fig. 2.10 highiights the evolution of rotary-guided cuwe drilling tools before
1988. Earl y descri bed a tool i n 1934 that used a fl cxi bl ej oi nt to al l ow the bi t
to be ti l ted to si detrack a wel l . In 1944, Mi l l er
patented a si mi l ar curve-dti l l i ng
assembl y
(Fi g. 2.10a) i n whi ch thc bi t ti l t di recti on coul d bc ori cntccl to dcfl cct
the borehole in a
particular
dircction. lt was assumed that, aftcf initial
ori eni ati on, the assembl y woul d conti nue to dri l l i n a consi stent di recti on. l n
1952, Sanders used a curve-dri l l i ng asscmbl y
(Fi g. z.l 0b) whose near-bi t
reamer caused the bit to the inclined. This system also incorpolated a flexible
joirrt
to allow su{Iicicnt tilt to drill short-radius curvcs. The curvc direction
was detcrmincd by the orientation of a whipstock, again it was assunred that
thc asscnrbl y woul d conti nuc to dri l l i n a consi stent di rccti on.
In 1964, (Fig. 2.10c), Frisby proposed an assembly that used an eccentric
stabilizing sleeve to control the bit tilt to orient the tilt in a parlicular
direction
and to function as a stabilizer to minimize bit wobbling and oscillation. The
eccentric sleeve could be positioncd eithcr above or below thc flexiblejoint. It
was attashed rotationally to the ddllstrimg with a pin that was released by fluid
pressure when drilling mud was cilculated through the tool. This sleeve rs
si mi l ar to one proposed by Gi l cs i n 1955 for l ong-radi us dl i l l i ng, cxccpt that
Gi l cs sl ceve was ori cntcd thc dri l l stri ng counter-cl ockwi sc to cngage a l ock to
position the sleeve in the desired direction.
Development was renewed in the 1980's. Holber (Fig.2.10d) and Schuh
workcd on dri l l i ng an unpredi ctabl c radi us ofcurvatutc causcd by i nstabi l i ty at
the dri l l bi t, cspcci al l y when the bi t dri l l ed an oversi ze hol e or became
Dr: lU.S. Farahat
\-
' ,
\ - -
:,r\,,rt.rnlIolt"
Nonmagnet i c
Drl l l Col l ar
Dri II irt
1;
7'c<: h n i qt es
Orl enl atl on
Kcy
Fl ex i bl e
Dr i l l col l ar s
a ! olary)- ittott niliiiri ctilvi u.s.yint
.fitrces
are,shown.
Fig. 2.
1)r. l\'LS. Irara hat
CII. II Drillitg Tcchniqucs 25
unstable as it crossed bedding panes. Burton addressed tlre problem ofpoor
ori cl l t at i orl cont rol by i nt roduci ng a t ron-rot at i ng eccent ri c sl eevc (Fi g. 2. 10c)
with splingJoaded blades to glip the wellbore and to lnaintain orientation as
the drilling assembly is wellbore and to maintain orientation as the drilling
assembly is advanced. Burton advocated periodic repositioning of the sleeve
so t hat a Dl anet curvc coul d bc dri l l cd.
Fig. 2.10 Historical evolution of tlrc rotaryt-guided slrcrt-radius atrve-drillin.g
tool.
Fig. 2.11 shows that the flexible a short-radius curve. Thus, to tilt sulficiently
to drill a short-radius allows the bit it has been used a non-rotating flexible
tubular steel shell made ofshoft lengths ofpipe. The lengths connect together
with articulated connectiorrs for flexibility. This flexible shell carries the
vertical thrust to the bit and acts as a sprirrg to facilitated building angle. A
flexible liner inside the shell contains pressure for circulating drilling fluid. An
internal drive shaft supported by bearing packs, carries torque from the
drillstring to the bit. The horizontal section is drilled with a similar technique
but longer flexible shell without spting action and stabilizer to control
direction as shown in Fig. 2.11.The hole is prepared first by milling a section
of casing and under-reamed. The whipstock is run ot' iented to the con' ect
direction and set, the angle building assembly is run into the hole. Sidetracking
begins by rotating the angle-building asserr.rbly as it guides offthe face of the
1987
e
1}. l \' 1.S, Fal ahnt
( ' l l .
1l l \ l l l t t H I ' nhu\ t t r s
Ltl
whi Psl ock' Si dct r i l cki r r g
ancl r l l i l l i ng cor r l i r r t r o
i r r l hc cur vct l l r ol o scct i . .
i r t ar r
i ' creasi ug
upward angl e i n t he di ' cct i on
of t he whi pst ock
racc unt i r i t i s bci ng
hodzontal.
Then the angle building
asserrbly
is pulled
out of the hole. The
stabilized drilling assembry
is run, and the str-aight horizontal
section is dri ed.
Also, there is another version of thc systcm l.otates the bit with an articulatccl
nrotor, which improve
lrole guida' ce.' fhe
welr is compretetr
as an open rrore
or a speci al f l exi bl e t ype sl ot t ed l i ncr i s r. un.
Fig. 2' I | ,4 scltetnntic .f o ' shorr-t' aditr,s
rrriling racrtttiqrrc rr,sittry
finirtra
drillin g
ioirtt.
/)r' . M.S. Fa ra hat
CIL DTiIi'tgTcchniqnes
2. 3 Mc tl i r t nt
-
Tu r n i n g-Bg1!!4;
Although the long-radius approach to drilling horizontal wclls is highly
devel oped and very successfi rl , thc radi us rcqui rcd restri cts the appl i cati ons
possi bl e. Medi um-radi us dri l l i ng extends thc tecbni ques so that bui l d secti ons
wi th a radi us down to about 300 ft (90nr) can bedri l l ecl . I l ol cs dri l l cd try
mdi um-radi us techni qucs l rave scveral advantagcs conrparcd to l ong-radi us
wel l s and al most no di sadvantages. l l rey can be dri l l cd wi th conventi onal
dri l l i ng ri gs, al though they requi re some speci al , but now wcl l -devel oped,
equrpnrent.
Mcrl i unr-radi us tcchni qucs usc rroi r-i rrl i crrl al cd tti l l sl ri ngs nnd hcntt l nrrrl
nrotors.' l hcsc arc thrcc pri nci pal r-ccl ui rcnrcnts:
The bottom-hol e assenrbl y must be abl e to dri l l al ong a traj ectory wi th the
rcqui rcd radi us.
)
Thc dri l l stri ng must be suffi ci entl y fl exi bl e to fol l ow the dri l l wi thout
mechani cal fai l urc.
Tools used in thc hole must be able to be moved around lhe curved
parts
of
the hol e.
It i s i mportant to note that the thi rd requi rement l i sted above l i mi ts the tool s
that cau bc used i r the hori zontal part ofthe hol e evcn through thc curvature
thcrc i s ncgl i gi bl c.
' fhese
requi rctrrctrts pl acc l i nri tati ons on whal can bc
achi cvcd by medi urn-radi us dri l l i ng. Thc rcqui rcment for dri l l stri ng fl exi bi l i ty
mcans dri l l stri ngs must be snral l er i n di anreter for hi ghcr curvatures. Atthc
l i rni t, i t i s necessary, e.g., arti cul ated stri ngs, coi l ed tubi ng type stri ngs
strcsscd beyond thc cl asti c l i nri t, and stri ngs nr.dc o f cxot i c hi ghcr-strength
thc nral cri al s such as ti tani um, carbon fi ber or steel -rei nforced l roscs. Chargcs
of thi s sort move the tcchni que bcyond thc boundary ofnornral mcdi unr-radi us
dr i l l i ng.
The trend to using smaller diameter drillpipe goes along with the drilling of
smal l er di ameter l rol es. Another dri vi ng force movi ng
(he
tecl rnol ogy towards
strl al l di anreters i s the i nccnti vc 1o dl i l l hori zontal drni hs starti ng wi th cxi sti ng
vel ti cal wel l s. To do thi s, mctl i unt-radi us equi ptnent thdt carl bc i nscftcd down
thc cxi sti ng verti cal wel l casi ng i s nccdcd.
Dr. M.S. Ferahat
CH.II DtilingTechniqnls
2a
Dri i l i ng motors fof both the angl e-bui l d and angl e-hol d
secti ons ofa medi um_
radi us hori zontal wcl i must bc shorl cnorrgh to
fass
i l .ound l hc cut.vi l ut.c.
Doubl o-ti l t tl tol ors arc ool l l l l on, parti cul ar' l y
Ibr ungl c-hol d. l .hc ti l t i n angrc_
build motors is relatively Iarge and thc motors are not rotatable (steerable).
Medium-radius hole can be drilled fronr the side ofan existing cased vertical
wel l or from a newl y dri l l ed open bol e. Ifan exi sti ng verti cal wel l i stobe
used, a rvi ndow i s mi l l ed i n thc cxi sti ng casi ng at i hc dcsi rctl Icvcl and a
whipstock locked to the casing
in the designed
orientation below the window.
' l hi s
l vhi pstock di rccts thc nrcdi unr-r' adi us
l tr(l nrol or rl ri l l i n thc rl csi rcd
azi muth di recti on.
2.3.1 Drillnhrcfor Mediun-R
litts Driltins
' Il rc
fi rst mcdi urn-radi us
dti l l i ng systcnr rvas dcscri bcd by Dcch,
fl nd l cnhart i n 1986. It al l orvcd hol cs l 6 i n. i n di arrrctq. l o
hori zontal di stance of 1000 ft wi th a bui l d ratc ofabout 20 30nr
l l carn, Scl rul r
bc r l r i l l cr l t o
( r 00
i 0.
'l'hc
systcrn used a narrow,diarnetcr,
spccial comprcssive
sorvicc drillpipc
(CSDP)
carrying larger-diameter
wear knots.
I.' i gurc 2.12a shows thc two conrmoncst si zc ol ' compre ssi vc sew i cc dr.i l l pi pc.
' l hc
pi pc i s fi cqucnl l y nxrrl c fi rrrrr tr(xt-l l tfl l cl i 0,l l sl (l rri l i c
sl ccl l i rl rrsc rrrru
magnetic survey instruments and in holes rvhere
the build ratc are greater
than
l 5 i t O m
( 100
f t . ) .
In hol cs rvi l h a l owcr bui l d ratc than | 5230 nr, hcavy-wal l tl ri l l Pi po (c.g.
I l ovi -
watc) i s uscd.
' fhi s
pi pc
has a rval l tl ri ckncss whi ch rl akcs i t i tt)orrt two al l d i l
hal f ti mes as l reavy as standard dri l l pi pc (c. g. 62.5 Kg/rn for.4.5i n.pi pc
compared to 25.3 Kg/nr for standard pi pc).
l n adtl i ti on, I l cvi -rvl l c pi qrc hus, i n
each 30 ft l ength, a centml upset secti on uhi ch
behavcs si rni l arl y to the wcaf
knots i r CSDP. Thc wear knots (Fi g.2.l 2b)
kccp thc dri l l pi pc away frour thc
wal l of the hol e i n thc curved secti ol . Thi s rcduccs both rotati ng and
l ongi tudi nal fri cti on, resul ti ng i n l ess stri ki rrg. It i s al so through the wear knots
hcl p kecp thc cutti ngs i n suspcnsi on i n thc dri l l i ng fl ui d.
1f r I I . S. Fari bat
CII. II Dtillittg T cch iqxes
Compressive
Strength
Drillpipe
COMPBESSI VE SEBVI CE DRI LLPI PE( CSDP)
2-7tA 3. 1t 8 2
3. 112 2 1 3 1 1 6 10120t3a
Fig. 2.12a
5"
Wear-Knots
2-7 IB"
s-1t2"
Fig- 2.12b Contpressive strength drillpipe 5 in
-wectr-lutots.
/l r. l l .S. I.arahat
CII. II Dti ing lethuiqn.s 30
2.3.2 lf nlinnrllntli us Ilrilli rt g ll I ot o,'s .t nrl,l_t'st,'r,,s
Medi um-radi rrs, angl e-bui l d motol ' s typi cal l y have two bcnds i n thei r l ength.
Motors of l hcse types are showr i n Fi g. 2.13. Arotl rer nrotor sri tabl e for
bui l di ng angl e i n rnedi un-radi us hol es i s shown i n Iri g. 2.14. In thi s asscnrbl y,
a motor wi th a bend i s
j oi nted
to the dl i l l stri ng vi a a bend sub.
' t
he total ti l tof
the motor i s equal to the sum ofthc two i ndi vi dual ti l t angl es.
' l ' abl c
2.I shows
thc hol c chanrctcti sti c that can bc obl ai l crl Lrsi ng nrcdi unr-r' rrrl i rrs dri l l i ng
systcms. for fi vc di fferent motor si zcs. l l rc two l argcst motor.si zc l l c l i nri l crl
kr dl i l f i ng hol c wi (h au arrgl c-bui l ci fatcof l css l l ]l | i | , 14730 nr(I00 l l ) rr| <l rncv
rcqui rc rci ati vel y l arge vcrti cal hol es. Wi th thc l ower degrec ofcurwaturc,
Il evi -rvate dri l l pi pe can be uscd ancl there i s compl ete fl exi bi l i ty i n thc use of
MWD.
Iful rl i l l i ng shal l ow, nrccl i unr-r' adi us l rol i zonl l rl wcl l , l yl )i ctl l l rl cc Il l l S
tl cscti pti ons arc spcci fi cd l orl hi srvcl l rsshowr i n fi g.2.l 5 (con<l rrctor.Jrol c
Bl i A) , I i g. 2. 16 ( sut f accJr ol c
Bl l A) and Fi g. 2. l 7 ( hol i zont al - l r ol c l l l l A) .
Al so, l i i g. 2.18 shows that the i nvefted dri l l sl ri ng dcsi gn for hol i zontal hol c
sccti ou.
Table 2.1 Typical nrediunt-radius drillitg paranrctcrs
Motor
Slze
oD
0r.)
8
Mi,titttwl
Dianeler
al
Vdlic^lWe
(inches)
6314 4 3t 4
121t 4 a 1t 2 0
t3 3/B I 5/8 7
t 00 300
I t 00
t 000
3 3t4
4 3l,l
5 1t 2
120 X4()
u90
l 2A /
20 35
286
3 3/r]
4314
5l t ?
t 20 340
B00
121) /
OPen
l l ol e
Casi ng
Molor rlnn
-forqt|o
It ll)
NM
"/30 nr
nadi us, l t
St eeri r9
crf nb l i l y
"/ 30
i n
Uso [rWD
85-190 100-260
4500 2800
6103 3798
8-14 8-14 19-30
715 410 715 410 300-2B0
2. 5
Yes Yos Y05
20
286
2. 4
i , / / l t t i t t l l t " t ' / l t l
CSDF / l I WDP CSDP or SDi i al FrwDt, csr)r,
li
HWDP
4 li'
HWOP
Dr l l l l ' l t ! '
D/ : M. S. l . rrrhxf
CII. II Drilling T cchtiquL's 3l
EA, STMAN CHRI STENSEN
HORI ZONTAL MOTOHS
Fig. 2.1-t.
DYNA- DRI LL
DOUBLE BEND MEDI UM
RADI US MOTOR
.,.,ii'tm:i,1{;#tr3,y3;ry1;,;1;,i;721;tr,"
Itig. 2.14.
1)r. N{.S. fi arahat
C . Dti ittg'Icch iqkcs
32
I
49'
I
6.75" MWD Dl rocl l onal
Snsor
5" Non-Msgnl l c Drl l l Pl pe
(He8vy Welght)
5" Non-Msgn6tl c Drl l l Pl pe
(Heavy
Welght)
11.75" Stsbl l hor
(Non-Mognol l c)
8" Bcnl Houslno Motor
(Sl nol o
Bend)
-
12.125" Stabl l l zor
12.25" Bl t
Fig.2.l6 Stu{at'e hole BII4.
Itig. 2. | 5
('rttlrr
tot. ltolt,
n l l /l .
5" Non-Maono
c Drl
ptpe
(Hsqvy
W6l ght )
0.76"
MWU
Dhoctlonsl
Sonsor
Gemma
Ray/Reststtvlty
Snsors
fn"'xil-$3p;iy"
on u o,o.
11.75"
Stsblll:sr
(No|FMagnotlc)
8" B.nt Hourhrc
Motor
(Sl ngl e
Bond)
-
12.'125"
Stsbtttz.r
I
B'
70'
I
I
I
Dr. I\,1.S. Fllrrhrf
12.2!"
Btl
CII. Driuilg'Icchniqu.s
E
+6'
r
I
I
37'
5" Non-Magnel l c
Drl l l Pl pe
(Heavy Wel ght)
6.75" MWD
Ol recl l onal Snsor
Gamma Ray Sensor
Fssl stl vl ty Sonsor
7.75" Stabl l l zer
(Non-Magnetl c)
6.75" Ooubl6B6nl
Houslng
Motor
8. 375"
St nbi l i zer
Fig. 2.18 Invertetl drillstring desi.gn
for
horizontal lole section.
lrig. 2.17 Hot izo tal hole BIll
D/ r Nl . S. Frrahat
CII. II Dri hry'lttl'|iquts 34
2.3.3 Hieh Medium a d Lov Saeed Drillins
l'he medium-radius technique can be used with both high-speed, medium-and
low speed lnolors: ]'hc types of motor uscd dcpcnds upon tlrc contlitions. lloth
rolling cone and fixed cutter (usually polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC)
bi ts can be used. Rol l i ng-cone bi ts are nearl y al ways used wi th l ow and
medium-speed motors, i.e. for rotary speeds less than about 200 rpm. PDC bits
can be used with either low-speed or high-speed motors. Both categories ofbit
hl vc advantagcs an<l thcrc i s corrsi dcl abl c ovcl l ap i rr l hoi l rrppl i crrti orr.
Rol l i ng-cone bi ts, operati ng at l ow speed, have advantages i n hard rocks and
thcy rcsp(nl (l sorl i )wl ) t b(j ttef to cl l bds l o c(nrtl ol {l l c di rccti orr ol {l ro l rtrl c.
()
l l tc othct l l ttttl , bccrusc tl tcy l rtvc tttovi rtg pl rl l s l rtrrl bcrri rrl l s, l hcy rrc l rr)r(
sl r sccl ) l i l ) l c l o r vcar and havc t o bc r cpl acr ' r l r r r or ' c f i cqUL- r r l l y I I D( ' I ) i t s cl n hc
tusod at hi ghcr specds and wi l l frequcl tl y dl i l l l ongcr sccti ons ol hol c wi thout
rcpl rccnrent. Di amond and thennal l y stabl e di arnond bi ts are usual l y run on
mcdi utn-and hi gh-speed motors. Fi g. 2. l 9 shorvs the addi ti on of hartl l aci ng
and tungsten carbi de i nserts for protecti vc thc l cgs of rol l i ng-cone bi ts. Al so,
| l i g. 2.20 shows a PDC bi t that i nvol ves thc
pl ' otccti otr
of thc top ol -thc bi t
rl cvcl wi th nattral cl i anrorrds, tl ra{ can trc rrscrl rvi l h
(op-ci i vc
ri gs urrtl rvi th
backreanri ng for rcmovi ng cutti ng rvhi l c dti l l i ng thc hori zontal sccl i on of wel l .
Fi g. 2.21 shorvs other desi gn charges for l rori zontal dri l i i ng bi ts at i nl provcd
stecrabi l i ty.
2. 3. 4 Mediutr- Rldius-Horizo ntq! Il/ell Sections
Medi um-radi us hori zontal hol e i s comntonl y dri l l ed i n open l rol c as shown i n
Fi g. 2.22, but si detracki ng i n cascd hol es i s modemtcl y common wi th l orver
turn radi us pattcrn ofabout 300 11. Motor asscrrrbl i cs arc nrust conrmonl y uscd
as mentioned before. Tangents are used sornetimes; it is common to use a
measurement whi l e dri l l i ng (MWD).
,r. IU.S. Frrrh:ri
CII. II Drilling Tcchtiqucs 35
NATURAL DI AMONDS ON TOP OF BEVEL
FOR PROTECTI ON DURI NG BACKHEAMI NG
Fig. 2.19 Fig. 2.20.
2.3.4. I Vertical Sectiorr
It is the {irst section drilled from surface until the kick-offpoint (KOP) for a
horizontal well or newer well (Fig. 2.15) or section from surface until milling
windon' for recomoleted mature or old well for drainhole.
SIIOHTEFI
FLAT' I ER PDC BITS FOR IMPFIOVED
STEEBABILITY IN I-IORIZONTAL I.IOLES
Iton
lones 1990
Fi g.2.2I.
T[ POC b l or t l E r i ght l ear u, es
a shotl\ucil.;lnnk, lhl(dki pro
l i l c ! i r d sl ul , r r o, l
0a( ( r o
l o| ( l l h.
Theso leahrcs atu d{rsn.blo ld
Dr' . M.S. Farah:rt
ctl.II lrtiuitru t.thniqn.s 36
D
-lt
vdt l a! l hd.
i l , l l l . . l , nJ . " . d r o . r . t i co o, t , , r , , r di r r o c. j t , ) u
Dot , , r
V. r ' l cr l d. r t hn r r not r o! r o, nnr l on c. D, i t ^j , , o. i , , , t
u. i t or r t , , , , i t l
v. r r l c. l hol o pl usood. bJct
l o kl ck ot t p. i j r r
Cur ! . d hol o . ucr l on d, l t t od
r t vo! 0h 90- l r n r r . l i . .
l l or honr . l I ' ol o 66cr l on dr i l l od
cur v. i l
ddd ho. i l ont . t hot o E. cr t on, . asod , nd cuUFv( uu
Iti trg.2.22 A4ttl i uut Iunt hori ;ottIrtI u' tl L
2.3.4.2 Curved Sectiatt
' l l rc
crrl vcrl sccl i on ofhori zontal hol cs l rrms t hl ougl r a 90' cu rvc l rcrn vc rcnl
l o hori zontal wi l h an avcl age turn l acl i us ol - 3(X)-tt(X) l i . Ihi s cun bc ckrnc
thfough the fol l owi ng:
C t r)i dotv
for
| erti ctl wel l : At ki ck offpoi nt, thc sccl i on nri l l
(l ri g.
2.23) i s
t t t t t r t r r l l l t c cnsi t r g, i s t t r i l l cr l r t gi r r g I i r r r r l t j l o. \ 2 11 l si n! , l l i Vi s gr ' l r r r r r r l r vi t l r
l hrcc stcps.
' l hl ce
di ffcrent l rol ton-hol e asscl l l bl i cs afc uscd to si dc thc wcfl l al i cr sct
whi psl ock as shown i n Frg. 2.24 shows typi cal conl l gurati on ol notor
dcvi ati on sccti on l ' or ki ck-off, bri l di rrg l nrl hori zontal nl o(or i rsscni bl i cs-uscd
for drainhole in Egyptian-westem deseit.
/ l r' . l l . S. I : rurh: rl
CIl. II Dri i,tg Tcchniqrcs 31
H
I
Hydr ul i c Jar
61/ 4
61/ 2
5 3/ 8
4 3/ B
T,
oa
I
r
I
I
t_
Bi t Sub
Boot
Basket
Sect i on Mi l l
Taper l , 4i l l
5 1t 2
a 1/ 4
1/ 8
1/ 2
5 1t 2
a 1t 4
Fig. 2. 2 3 tuIil I irt g ass enfu ly.
Dr'. M,S. Farahat
CH. II Dtilti g Techniqnes
38
J
A
J
A
B
Li mber
=
Mol or , B= Bear i ng
i l
,
D= Bent housi ng
,
Bent - Housi ng
Pad and
Bent
-
H ousi ng
Bent
Sub
Benl Sud -
and
Benl - Housi ng
assembl y
,
C:
E: Pad,
and
Oui put
shaf t ancl
F: Bent
sub
Fig. 2-24
Motor deviati)
sectian.
/ f / . NI . S, F: rrahnt
CIt- II Dri hlg Tc.hrirlt.s 39
Angl c-bui kl i ng conti nuous wi l h thc si dcl rack motor asscmbl y. Dti l l i ng i nsi dc
cascd hol cs (usual l y 7 i n. di attrctct or Ii l rgcr casi rtg) i s donc wi th strtal l
di ameter, sl i m-hol e tool s. A secti on of casi ng i s removed by ni l l i ng, a
sidctrllcking
plug is sot and drcsscd off. Somc opcrators
prcfcr to sidclrack
o t
ol cascd hol e wi th l owcr bui l d ratc, i trcrcasi ng thc bui l d l atc al l cl dl i l l i ng.r
part of curved section. Drilling and angle building operations continue,
rneasuring drift angle and dircction
pcriodically. Inclined or first build
arc
(curvc), strai ght
(tangcnt) i s cl ri l l ctl to l hc rcqLti t.ctl dcpl h. l ' hctt, a di rccti onal
motor assembl y i s run, and angl c-bui l di ng conti ttucs i n a sl nooth curvc unl i l
the hole becomes horizontal. The curved scction of the hole may be cased
before drilling the horizontal section, or both holc may be cased togetller.
Runni ng of the casi ng dcpends upon the turn radi us, l engtl r of hori zontal
section, formation conditions, torquc and drag.
2. 3. 4. 2 Horizonto I S ectiott
Hotizontal section of medium-radius has angle of about 90o. The horizontal
section is drilled using low angle build stecrable nrotor assctnbly as shown itt
Fi g.2.25. A common steerabl e assembl y has a bend l rousi ng wi th a l ow angl e
bend of 0.25'- 0.5",
possibly with a very tlrin deflcction
pad to prevcnt motor
housing
(as shown in Ftg. 2.26) wear reaming nonnally is unnccessary
because the assemblies are rcflectively limber. Reaming car be done with a
nonaggressi vc rcami ng assenl bl y, i frcqui rcd. Thcn, dri l l i ng conti rucs unti l thc
torizontal scction is conrpleted.
Lastly, the features of this drilling method used for medium-radius horizontal
well, are
given as follows:
tn this method, the turning radius from a vertical to horizontal direction is
about 300 to 800 ft.
Two systems are available to drill these drainholes.
'l
hese systems used tn
general are: downhole mud motors and flexible drillpipe. One system
utilize build-motors for angle building al a rate of about 2dl100 ft. thc
horizontal
potlion is ddlled by using angle hole-motors which drill at a rate
of about 30' /100 ft. Such system has bccn used succcssful to dri l l 1000 to
1500 ft long wells in fracturcd formalions.
/)r. N{.S. F:rrxhnt
(:IL
II l)tilling I-u.hniques 40
Fl cqucnt l y t l rcsc wcl l s al ' c rl so conrpl ct o(l usi rrg sl ot l ct l l i rrcr. s. ' l l rr: wcl l s
ci l n l ) c l oggct l r r si t r g cor nr r r or oi al l y i r vi r i l i r bl r : coi l ot l l r r l r i r r g r uor r r r l et l
f i r' rnnl i orr cvnl unl i on t ool s.
S t abl l l zed
bent
l l o us l ng | nol or
Sur vcy
t ool
Posl l i vr - . r l i sp l r r ccr r r ot r t
r l owt r l t ol c
r r t o l o
r
Sl ecraLrl o
r acl i l t s
of cr r r val ur o
Top sl abl l l r er
n
=
l l n(l hts ot curvnl l | l o
Degrco ol l )cn(l
R
Benl - housl ng
sl abl l l zor
T14t ica I s tee r alt I e s),s te n.
/)r. M.S. Iarahal
Fig. 2.25
CH. II Drilling I'echniqrrcs 4l
o
lrrlrri:ur
r-ir;:trl.iEir
ffiffiHm"TF-l lH. llw i
-lN
iiffi'1
tffillffil
lilrlH-r
Fig. 2.26.
Long-t urn radi us hori zont al wel l cl assi f i cat i ons are dri l l ed nrai nl y by devi at i on
in open ho1es. Wells in this classification are charactcrized by larger hole sizes
zurd al c vcry susccpt i bl c t o l ri gh drag and t orquc l rccausc ol l ong opcn hol c
sect i on. Fl ol e si ze range up 12. 25 i n cl i amet er al t hough srrral l ct di arrct er hol es
are lltote conln'loll.
We lls with a radius of crirvature of about 300 m
(
I 000 ft) in the deviated
sect i orrs are commonl y dr-i l l ed usi ng t he t ccl rni ques
(as shown i n Fi g. 2. 27) a
st cerabl e bcnt nrr. rd nrot or and MWD t o l ocat e t he hol e as dri l l i ng proceeds.
Al so, t herc are si gni f i cant advant ages i n usi ng t op-dri vc ral hcr t l ran t ot ary
table drilling rigs, and top-clrive rigs ate commonly used in offshore
applications. Fer.v land rigs have had top-drive because of tl-re cost installation,
howevcr, nerv t op-dri ve desi gnccl spcci f i cal l y f or l and opcrat i ons ar-e avai l abl e.
Dr. M.S. Farahat
CII. II Drillitrg I'ecluriques
[ ?or l ong-radi us hori zont al wel l s dri l l i ng, t he Navi gat i on Dl i l l i ng Syst enr
(NDS) empty a NorTrak streeable motor with doubletilted U-joint housing
(DT[ J) as shown i n Fi g. 2, 2B. The syst enr can dri l l di rect i onal prof i l es and
nrakc coutsc corrections without costly asscnr[rly changes.
42
I nl o$r. rl bl ado
sl abl i l zor
0ouble-bend
U0t0r
conli[uration
Drilex
f ' o5i l l vo r l i r , ) l noo r l r l
wi l l l bonl l l ousi ng
Fig. 2.21.
$teeraDle ntBtqi'
xc0nf
iUurati0n
Posi l i ve ( l i sl ) l acon! onl
l ol or
wi l l t pl ( l an( l l ) r r | t l l l r ) l [ ] i n( l
('
'
I:i r:. 2.29.
Y
...
1 \' l
f cf' ^' -' -"'
J
I I
LJ J
Al so, t hc D l ' U l rousi ng has t wo sl i gl rt bcnds-[ r' st i rr onc cl i l ccl i orr, t l rorr i n t hc
opposite-to slightly tilt the bit' s axis fronr thc hole axis. ltcsulting ol-[' sct anglc
can bc configulccl fi' om 25" Io 78' Lo plovitlc doglcg capability up to 6' 1100 ft
rvhile drilling in the oriented mode. \Mren thc rotary tablc is engaged while the
NorTrack motor continues to run, bit offset is negated and the NDS assembly
drills straight a head. To keep the well on course, otiented and rotaly sections
can bc t l t cr r r i r l od wi t hout t r i ppi r r g ou{ ol ' l l t c l r ol o.
' l
l r c t l ot r bl c- t i l t t l csi gl r
brings the motor axis back into alignment rvith the borehole axis, providing
/ )r' . Nl . S. l l : t r' : rh: rt
CE.II Dti i'tg lechniqnes
directional control and consistent well
path curvature with low bit offset and
nri rri nral housi ng, bcari ng, and dr-i vc asscmbl y strcsses.
2,4.1 Venical Section
It is drilled ftom surface or sea bed until KOP
(Kick-off point) using
convenlional tools.
The cuwed section of horizontal tum holes through a 90" angle from
horizontal to vertical with an average tum radius of 1000-3000 ft. The first
stcp i s to devi ated and bcgi n dri l l i rrg thc curved sccti on.
' fhe
same gcneral
procedures are used for drilling the high-angle
directional and mcdium-turn
pattcrns. l {cduced angl cs of brri l d and l ongcr opcn hol c sccti ons must be
ollowed. tt is necessary to establislr curualute and thcn drillcd witlr one
of
several assembly options, as shown irr Fig.2.29
pattems with longer turn ladii
arc dti l l ccl
usi ng di tecti onal dri l l i ng tcchni qucs i n thc carl i cr
part
ofthe cuwcd
section.
'I
his is mote common where bit walk and angle is about 20o.
-l'hen
arr
angle is about 6d. Drilling continues to higher angles with rotary assenrblics
in a few cases, such as a hole with vety long tums- Normally, rotary
assemblies are less efficient for building angle and controlling direction at
lo horizontal with motor assemblies, drilling with steerable motor assemblies
as often as
possible. Tangent sections slrould be drilled as needed. Tangents
are often
placed at an inclination of 60'. Tangents are omittcd in some holes
that havc longer turn radii because drilling longer sections
plavidcs tin'le for
morc rvcll
path adjustments.
2.4.3 Horizontal Section
Horizontal sections of long-turn holes have angles of about 90o depending
upon fonnation conditions and well pattems. The horizontal section is drilled
with either a hold or low-angle-build
sfeeable motor assembly. Procedures
2.4.2 Curved
(Turnin
Dr. trt.S. Farih,rt
CIl. II lttiUh,E Tt?huiqu.s
si mi l ar to dr:i l l i ng the hori zorl tal secl i on of tl rc l ncdi um-l unr pattcrn al c uscd.
Ro(ary nsscnrtrl i cs arc scl donr uscd. Drag anrl torquc i ncrci rsc rvi l l r i rrr:rcasi ng
depth. Torque nay approacb the ma;rimurr linliting torquc-strongth ofthe
dl i l l stri ng i n very deep hol es. Thi s has occuLred even i n a compl ctcl y cased
hol e. Moto[ assembl i es shoul d be used here, si nce tl ]e do not requi re rotati ng
the dri l l stri ng. Drag and torque maybe nri ni tl i zed wi th tl re correct type hi gh
qual i t y mud sysl em and ot hcr act i ons.
44
Fig. 2-29 Long hutt horizontal well.
Il owever, thi s dri l l i ng method (l ong-l urni ng mdi us) has a turni ng radi us of
1000 to 3000 ft i n most cases al rd uscs mostl y convcnti onal tool s. A
combi nati on ofdri l l bi ts wi th bcnl subs ancl downhol e nrucl rnotors al c usco ro
dri l l 2000 to 5000 ft l ong hori zontal wel l s, someti mes reduces to 4000 ft l ong.
The advantages and di sadvantagcs or i i nrj tati ons ofthi s dri l l i ng method used
l or l or ) g l i di us hor i zont al wel l . cnr r bc sr r r r r r r r r i zcd r . f ol l nws:
1 These wells can be cored, logged and treated.
2. Problems in cetnenting the lrighly deviated wellbores are furtllel
aggravatcd i n hori zontal wel l botes, especi al l y i n regal d to di spl acement
frour the hol e and uni foml comcnt pl acemcnt around tl rc wcl l bol cs.
TI; II
\
iJ
br
Dr l l l l ns l l ' o
0 i l l l i r i ! l l ' o
CJ- r ! Fd
q9e
!l-srr
,/
/ ,'1n"rl^i'r
/ / |
soct i on
\+4rf
D/ . M. S. ! i , r. rh. rf
(:8.
lI DtillinE li.hriqrcs 45
Rccont advl rrccs, howovcr, i ndi catc thc possi bi l i ty ofccnl cnti rrg hoti zorrttl l
wcl l s and
pcrforati ng them scl ccti vcl y.
A sel ecti ve compl eti on opti on, a maj or advantage ofl ong radi us hori zontal
wells, would facilitate
producing only from the oil bearing zones and
shutti ng-offhi gh
wal cl or gas produci rtg zones.
A typi cal tumi ng of 1000 to 1500 ft roqui res that thc wel l
perl etrates a
rescrvoi r
2000 to 5000 ft a way l i om thc spuddi ng
poi nt. l ' hi s l rrgc Iatcrrl l
space requi tcment l i mi ts tho trse of thi s techni que i n many shorc fi cl ds
where the typical vertical well spacing is l0 to 80 acres. However, this
types oftechnique is very useful in offshore drilling
D,-. Nl.S. F'Ar:rhat
CIL III Har tt: ofllotiznalal tt'c|lr 46
Cunprulr III
PLANNING OF HORIZONTAL WELLS AND
DRAINIIOLES GnonlrTnv
I
l-Qeagg11y
of Horizontal ll/eu or Drainholc
Wcl l di anrctcr' , wcl l tnrj ccl ory antl shapc rvi thi rr l hc rcscl voi r havc a si grri fi carrt
i mpact on costs and overal l rvcl l success. c. g. producti vi ty and recovery.
Consequcntl y
gcometry i s a cri ti cal aspcct of hori zontal rvcl l dcsi gn.
i.I lTell Diameter
The diameter of horizontal section is the easiest well geometry element to
i denti fy. It shoul d bc the snral l est di anrctcr' , \\,hi ch u' i l l al l ow thc fol l owi ng:
l . Use of control l abl c ancl dti l l i ng asscnbl i cs and hydraul i c
programs
to
achi cvc
pl accrrrcnt obj ccl i vcs anrl hol c stl bi l i ty.
2. Suffi ci ent cl catancc to run thc neccssal v cval uati on tool s.
3, Sufficient clearance to install the requircd complction, production, and
wol Kover equl pmenr.
4. Suffi ci cnt di arnctcr for ccononri ci l producfi on.
l l owcvcr, tl rc i ni ti al hoti zontal wcl l i n a fi cl d dcvcl opmcnt shoul cl bc dcsi gncd
wi l h l argcr di al nctcr to al l ow runni ng an cxtra stri ng of casi ng i n case of
unexpected hol e probl ems, e. g. i nfl ux of rvater or gas. Il ol c di amcter can
possi bl y
bc rcduced once dri l l i ng/conrpl cti on pl acti ccs and concspondi ng l tol c
,D,: IU.S. l':rrrhat
CIL III I'ttrti'tg ttl Ilorizotttt tvctls 4',7
condi ti ors have been eval uated on the fi rst wel l . Al so, the wel l di ameter
scl ccl i on i s tcstri ctcd by thc cl i amcl cl of cxi s(i ng vcrti cal wcl l 1() bc rc-ctl tctcd.
' l
he l csl l i cted di ameter may l i tni t wel l l cngth, cval uati orr.
Compl eti on or produoti on opcl ati on opti ons.
' l ' l rcsc
consctptcuccs utust bc
considered early during the wcll trajectoty design.
lL lV_
g!!,ProfiLe
' fhc
nl ost i ncreasi ng wol l goomctl y aspect i s tl re wcl l pl ofi 1e wi thi rr l l rc
reservoi r as shown i n Fi g. 3.1 that i l l ustratcs hori zontal rvel l profi l es used for'
d i ffcrcrrt app I i cati ons.
Fig. 3.1 llasic well profilcs.
1.., l,
t
3.2.1 Flat wells: are uscd inhornogeneous rcscrvoirs to solvc watcr or
gas
coning
problems. Thjs is the easiest and least expensive design shape to
accompl i sh, but i t provi de thc l cast opti ons over thc wel l l i fe.
j,2.2
[]nddotittg
'ells:
^re used in reservoirs containing impertneablc
barl i crs that scpal atc thc l scrvoi t' s i Dto two oI n]ol c i sol atcd reservoi rs.
Dr. ['1.S. F:lrnhat
CH. III Ptautittg ofnotizohtdt utetls
4a
i,2.3 Upword inclined welk: arc tsed in dirty rcservoirs where gas coning rs a
probl crn. As the gas
i ntcrl acc nrovcs downwarl and cl r(crs thc l al crrci of l hc
hori zontal wcl l .
' Ihe
end ofthe wcl l can be pl ugged
and producti on
conti mred.
' l hi s
wcl l pl ofi l c
has thc advanl agc thrt i t l ocul cs nl l of tl rc fl ui rl l cvel s l rrr rr
I l i vcs
l l r ( i
( ) l l t i ( ) l
ol
l r l r r ggi r r g
l r r r cl i t l r c cr r t i r r . l r or i zor r t r r l scct i or r r r r r r l
l r r r xhr ci r r l l
thc wel l as a vcrti cal rvel l .
3.2.4 Dotptut'ard itclined *ells: are used in dirty resewoirs where water
coni ng i s a probl cnt.
As thc watcr i nterl ace moves upward, wai el comes l Dto
the far end of the wel l fi rst. The i ncl i ned wel l can therefore bc pl uggcd
back
and corrtinues to bc produced
after watel
breaktlrrough.
3.2.5 ll[ultilct'el wells: are used with sand lcnscs and with rcscn,oirs sepnrated
by i nrpcnncabl e
bani crs.
' l hesc
v,cl l s have a hi gl rer chal l enge/ri sk i n tcrms of
haj ecl ory control but provi des
for dual brcak thr.ough i n the rvcl l s l i fe by
i sol r r l i r r g or ' qr l r r g. gi r r g t l r c l or vcr st cp r r l l d un( : c( ) r r r r i c $, t er
l l r xl l l ( - t i ( nr
or j r r s_
3.2.6 Mt l i hrot,(:h: Sl l ort radi i are wi dcl y uscd. Mul ti branch rncdi um antr
l ong radi i wel l s are begi nni ug to be usccl and shoul d fi nd wi dcspr.cacl usc i n thc
l cxt l -cw ycafs duc to thci r i nrprovcrl ccotronri os and i ncr-cascd t| rl ri rragc arca.
j .2-7
Gmri t.1, drai nocc l ,cl l s: ar.e bci rrg dri l l cri i n dcpl ctc(l rcscrvoi r.s wi l l l l ro
dl i vc nechani snr other than gravi ty.
It i s l i kcl y that gravi ty
drai nage wcl l s can
be t t ser l i n l r cavy oi l st r cnr n l i o, r , l i ng pr oj cct s.
3.2.8 Conple.r tell sltopes: conbine molc than one oftire abovc well sfierpes
and are useri i n rcsovoi rs wi th con4rl cx gcol ogy
thrt vari cs wi dcl y ovcr l hc
length of horizontal rvell.
1.3 D esigttllOt'i.zot, to l lt ellI!4ie.'tot!
In accordance wi th the hori zontal wcl l dri l l i ng, ther.c arc thrce scoti on rrarl cl y:
L
yerti cal
sec(i ol ; i t i s dri l l ed from sca bed (rnud l i rc) unl i l ki ck-offpoi nt
( KOP) .
l)/'. M.S. Iarahrt
CIL III Planning of llorizontol llclls
Ttutting or curvetl or angle build section: it is drilled from kick-off point
(KOP) t o t he end-of -curve ([ OC). ' l ' hi s sect i on i ncl ucl cs t hc f i rst -bui l d arc,
t l rc st rai gl rt t angcnt , t hc sccont l -l l ri l t l i u' c.
llorizontal section: it is drill(xl lronr thc cnd of sccond-hrrild nrc
(llOC)
to
thc end ofproposed distartce to be dr:illed horizontally in thc pay zone, ill
accordancc wi t h t l rc t ypc o[ ' hor i zorrt al wcl l t o bc dri l l crl .
The design of horizontal well rnentioned here is a part of Farahat' s researclr
publ i shed by Cai ro uni versi t y. 6{r' I nt ernat i onal conf erence, Feb. | 999. l ' hi s
.
design is basecl on the conccpt of tlre sirnple tangent build curvc. The three
maj or scct i ons t hat f omr a hori zont al u, el l or drai nhol c aro showl t i n Fi g. 3. 2.
Thus, from this Figure, the thtee section may be designed as l-ollows:
,1 -Ha
-
V
3.
V
GEOMET NY
A A S I C g Ut L
ol
I
D C UN
H-|
Fig. 3.2 Design of ltorizontol v,ell trajectotlt using lhe sinrple
vEnncAL
sEcr i oM
n
tangent build c:ut ve nrelhod.
Nl.S. |rarah:rt
CH.III Planni'ry of Hotizottol tlclk 50
l. Thc build-radius of the first-build arc:
R: 5730 / B,
( l )
2. l l ei ght of the fi r' st-bui l d arc:
D'
:
R(Si n l r-Si n I1),
3. Height ofstraight tangent
D,
:
L, Cos Ir,
4. lleight ofthe second-build arc;
D,: R(Si n
!-Si n
l r),
5. The iength ofthe first section ofhorizontal well: KOP
KOP
:
TVtLD,-Dr-Dr,
6. The displacement ofthe first-build arc:
(2)
(4)
II,
=
R(Cos Ii cos I),
(6)
7.
' l :hc
di spl accrncnt of thc stmi ght l angcnt:
H,
:
L2 Si n Ir,
8. The displacement of the second-build arc:
lIr
:
R(Cos Ir-Cos It,
9. The length ofthe first-build arc:
(3)
(5)
(7)
Dr M.S. I'arahat
. (8)
CH.III Platui g of lrorizon,tt Welts 51
Lr : 100 ( l i l r ) / 8,
10. The l cngth ofthe second-bui l d arc:
L3
:
100 (I,- lr)/B
(e)
( l 0)
||. Ihc rrcusul cd dcpth atl hccrxl of l ho fi rct-l )ui l tl afc:
MDr
:
KOP
l -
Lr,
l 2.
' l
hc r ncl r sr r r cr l dcpl l ) at t l r c cn( l
( ' f
st | 1r i ght t | r ogc l :
MDr =MD, +Lr ,
13. The mcasured depth at the end ofthe second-build arc:
MD3
:
MD'
-F
L3,
The lengtb ofsecond section
=
L,
+
L2
+
L3 or MD3-KOP.
( l t )
( t 2)
( 13)
t4. The length ofhorizontal section or third section: H (14)
This length is selected according to the tuming radius of horizontal well to be
ploposcd.
EX. l : Duri ng dri l l i ng a hori zontal wcl l i n Egypti an dri l l i ng concessi on, the
follorving data wcre requircd to design this well trajcctorl, namely:
Mi ni mum expected angl c bui l d fate:8?100 ft.
Mi ni mum tangent l cngth
=
120 ft
r anScnr rngte
=
)u.
Tarrgcnl angl e 90' al S000
ft TVD.
Desi gn wel l traj ectory.
EalJlti!2!f
l .
' Ihe
bui l d-radi us ofthe fi rst-bui l d arc:
R: 5730t 8
=
5730/ 8: ' 1t 6 f t
Dr: iU.S. Ihr:rhnt
cn.III Phn iry ofrrotizontat ttlerts
53
MD,
=
16P
' t
t,
=
8206 +
625
-
8831 ft.
12. The measured depth at the end ofstraight
tangent:
MD,
:
MDJ
J
Lr
:
8951
-F
500
=
9451 ft.
I-cngth
ofsccond sccti on:
Lt
J
[_,
+
Ll
:
625
+120
+
500
:
1245 ft.
14. Length of horizontal
section
or third section
=
H proposcd
length
in
accor dance
wi t h R: 716 f t , wher e
R: 800 f t I , I : 3000
f t . t hus, R: 716 f t ,
H wi l l be 2685 ft.
1' hus, the proposed
l cngth
ofhol i zontal
secti on:26g5
11.
The measured
or drilling
depth ofhorizontal well
:
KOP
+
Iength of tuming
section I
lenglh ofhorizontal
section.
=
8206
+
1245 +
2685
-
i 2136
ft.
The displacement
oflrorizontal
rvell path
or trajectory
:
Ilr +
II2
+
FI3 +
Il
:265 -t
92
1,
460 +2685
:
3502 ft.
The tnre vertical dcpth ofhorizontal
we path
or trajectory:
9000 ft.
,r. ^t,S. Fr|.ahrt
CI{. It Dtilli'ry Probt.ns 54
Csaprer IV
Dn rr,r,rNc PRonr,nnrs AssocrarnD wlTlr
HonrzoNur,Wrll
DRIT,T-INc Aun TIIIi IR REMEDY
l ' here are four nrai n probl ems duri ng dri l l i ng hori zontal
narncl y:
l . Dcl i vcr i ng wci ght t o l hc bi t .
2. I{cduci ng torque and drag forccs.
3. l l ol c cl eani ng.
4, I' rotccti on of watcr-scnsi ti ve shal cs-
5, I)i r ccti oni l l control .
wel l s and drai nl rol cs,
4.
I
D
eQ'r:e ry,Wihlt la t
h
e Bit-
Appl yi ng suffi ci ent bi t wei ght for opti nral dri l l i ng rate that i s oftcn a proorcrn!
cspcci al l y at hi ghcr angl cs ancl whi l c dl i l l i ng the hofi zonti tl ; sccti on.
Corl verrti orral bi t rvei ght for effi ci ent dl i l l i ng i s about 2000 5000 l bfpcl i nch
ofbi t di anrctcr.
' l
he avai l abl e bi t wei gl rt fl om a
gi vcn
asscnrbl y thcorel i cal l y i s
teduccd by a l actor rel ated to the cosi ne of thc dl i l t angl e.' l l ri s cosi nc
approachcs zcro as the hol c angl e rpp| orcl rcs
q{t' .
Mot.rl asscrnbl i cs dri l l
effi ci ency wi th l ess bi t wei ght than ro(al y assernbl i cs. They cornpensate for bi t
weight with highor rotational speed of turbincs and motors.
Bi t wci ght may bc i ncreased by rcduci ng drag and krrque. Bur often thi s i s not
suffi ci ent Ibr an opti nral dri l l i ng rate i n hol cs wi th hi ghcr angl cs and i n
hori zontal secti ons. Bi t wei ght i s o{Ien i ncreased by usi ng the spl i t assembl y
,/. M,S. Frrrhat
:r:t CI IY Dt illit'8 I'knttuLs
whi ch di vi ng the botton hol e assembl y i nto two parts as shorvn i n Fi gure 4.1a
ar r d 4. 1b.
l l Col l ar s
enl al compr essl ve
[ . 4WD Pul ser
rResl ri ct er
sub
1 I
sub
tEtllloEl'.lffiD c::
_-l
o
I
I
*. *"^"\ . / \
I c ol l ar s -
j
- Downhor e\
.-.------____-
Molor
\
--------
\
r i l l Col
e Or i l l t
[.4WI
l " No
l c
n
l l
3-1,/2' D
g
fi.0'..,,
o
U
E r Der i
\ se,
v i c
';:,h
Fig. 4.1a Generalizcd ,lt illstr ing conf gtrnliott
c5.
Fig. 4.1h Achievirtg uleight on bit tllrouglt contpresstve
forces
using split a,tsentblies.
Dr. M.S. Frrihrt
( 11.
l l l r i l l i 4 hr o' t 5('
' l ' hc
l owcr par t
of t he assenr bl y, i t r cl Lr di ng l hc bi t , nr ot or , di r ccl i onal conhol
(ool s,
and the nonmagneti c
coi l ats are l cl l at l hc bottom ol thc dr.i l l sl ri ng. Ihc
fcnl ai ndcr ofthc dri l l col l ars arc pl accd
i n l hc vcl l i cal hol c or i rr an up1rcr
ourved hol e that has a l ow dri ft. The two secti ons are connected wi th
conl prcssi on pi pc
or i n sourc cases hcavy l vci ght or rcgul ar tl ri l l pi pc us strown
i n Fi g. 4.2.
' fhe
dri l l stri ng i s compl etcd i n the conventi onnl rnanner rvi l l r
<hi l l pi pe from the top of uppor secti or to thc surf' ace. Spl i t bottom hol e
assembl i cs reduce drag and torque so that nl ore wei ghl can bc appl i ecl to the
hi t f or dr i l l i r r g f t r st er .
I reav}1,leight
Comp-
Drj[
p,po
roorivo
cotiar
pipe
drill
I"ig. 4.2 Conponents
oJ ltot<ttn lnle assenbll,.
' fhe
heavi cr dri l l col l arc ate more cfl ccti vc pl accd i n thc vcrti cal hol c sccti on
as conrparcd to pl aci ng
them i n the hori zontal or.hi ghl y devi atcd hol e scchon.
' l hcy
cxcrt ntorc down
q,ard
fol cc to thc l orvcr dri l l s0 i ng and l css fol cc on tl tc
si dc of l hc rvcl l bore.' l ' he forcc i s trarsnri ttcd
by l he comprcssi on
or dri l l pi pc
to the l ower hal f of the assembi y i n the hi gh argl e or hori zontal hol e secti on.
Part ofthe dowtq,ard
l orce i s sti l i l ost
due to sonre drag and torque.
' l ' he
cornprcssi on pi pe
or dri l l pi pe connecti ng the two assonrbl y
secti orr
l ogcthcr opcr tcs i n contprcssi on,
so thal l l l c ri sk of hi l urc i ncl cascs. l )r.i l l i ng
rvi {l r a sl l ccabl c assenrbl y and rotati ng thc dri l l str.i ng sl owl y, al so i s
I
/ )/ : l , l . S. Fxrnhnl
CII. lt' Irtilliug hlnn! l : r /
r r ' ( r . pl r l ) l ( . .
' l l r c
j r r r
l r t t t r t l x' t t cr l r r i r cr r l l t t t r ' I t l i vt ' r hi l l
( . t ' l i r f t l
i t r r r r r t r l i r r l t l v
r r l r ovc i l l i r I cl l cct i vc. j t l r i t t g t r r r r l l r t t t t r pi l t g. l hi s i t t ct cr t scs l hc wci gl r l i r r l l t c
l owcr asscmbl y. One athacti ve i s posi ti oni ng the
j ar
butnpcr sub ol r top of thc
lower half the assembly and let tlre compression
pipc pl'ovides woigh lol the
jarring
action. Also, a
jar
bumper sub should always be
placed near the top of
thc upper hal fofthe assembl y.
4.2 Reducins Torque and Dras Forces
Drag i s a l orce restri cti ng the movdment of the dri l l tool s i ndi recti ons
paral l cl
to the wcl l path.
' l
orque i s thc l orcc rcsi sti ng rotati onal l rrovonrcnt. Dri l l s{ri rl g
rub and sl i de agai nst thc wal l ofl hc | ol c duri ng rotati on and ni ppi ttg as part of
rcgul a[ dri l l i ng acti vi ti es. Drag and torquc are nl easurcrncnts of thi s fri cti onal
Icsi stance to thc movement ofthe dri l l tool s.
Drag is rncasured in thousruds of pounds over or undcr the free hanging
wci ght ot thc dri l l stri ng. 1' orque i s tncasurcd i n l oot
poutrds ofappl i ed torqttc.
It i s i nl portant to have a
good wei ght i n<l i catot attd torquc-ttrcasttt i ttg
cqui pnrcnt. l l xoess drag and torque causc di rccti onal dri l l i ng
pr' obtcrl s
espcci al l y i n turni ng and hori zontal socti ons of hori zontal wel l , oftctt vcry
scvcrc
i n thi swel l . l hc dl i l l sl l i ng can l ai l [tom l ctrsi on tl uc kroxccss drag ot'
twi st ol f cl uc to exccss tol quc. Il i thcr casc l cavcs an obsttttcti on i n thc hol c
requi ri ng fi shi ng, Open hol c drag causcs key seats that, i n turn i ncreasc drag
and torquc. Drag i ncreascs the ri sk of sti cki ng i n kcy scal s ancl di fl cr.cnti al
prcssurc sti cki ng. Dl ag al so l cducc avai l abl c bi t wci ghl scvcrcl y al hrghcf
angl cs.
El i mi nati ng
al l drag and torquc i s not
practi cal , but
prcvcrrti ve acti ons l cdrrccs
thcnr to accepl abl c l cvcl s. l l i s bcst to dcsi gn thc wcl l pattcrn for a mi ni tttLtttr
r r r r r bcl ol - cl r angcs ol i t ngl c ar t r l a l ow i r r t gl c ol bt t i l t l or r l r op. l i xccss t l t i t g i r r l r l
torque arc tcduced by pl aci l g casi ng i n tl re hol e. Drag i ncrcascs as thc si nc ol '
hol c angl c i ncrcases. As l hi s angl c apptoachcs 90", thc stl i ng wci ght i s
transfeued
from hook load to drag weigh. Reatning reduccs dtag and torquc
causcd by key seats and rough rvcllbore. Thus, it is itnportant to drill smooth
cr.u.res and strai ght i ncl i ned or ttuni ng sccti on. Reduci ng dri l l stri ng wci ght
rcduccs dtag and torque at hi gh
qual i ty of tnttd wi th goocl chcnti cal
arrtl
,r),.. M.S. Frr.hxt
CE.II' Dtiuinql'toblens 5 6
physi cal propcrti cs whi ch are essenti al . Oi l basc nrud shoul d be consi dctcd fot
more demanding situations because of its good lubricating
qualities.
4.3 Hole Cleanins or Cuttinss Removol
A
parti cul ar probl em that ari ses i n dri l l i ng hori zontal wel l s i s thc di ffi cul ty o[
removi ng rock cutti ngs frorn thc hori zontal secl i on of thc rvcl l .
-l
hc sourcc of
Ihc pl obl ctu i s tl l l { cul l i rgs tond to scttl c i n l hc bol l ont ol thc l rol c rrtttl i tl l orv
the mud to pass above wi thout tmnsporti ng thenr. Sel tl ed cutl i ngs are
rrndesi rabl e si ncc they i ncrease the fri cti on i n the hol e and, i f i t i s l atcr
col ncntcd,
procl rrcc poor ccnrcnt bonds- A grcl r{ i rnprovcnl crl i rr rcrrrovi rg
cul l i ngs has bccn achi cvcd by usi ng top-dri vc dri l l i ng ri gs. l r l hcsc ri l l s, l hc
dti l l stl i ng i s roti l ted by a l argc. gcatcd
cl cctri c ol hyrfi aul i c
(l ri vc
nrok)f
(typi cal l y 400 hp to 1000 hp) rvhi ch sl i dcs up and dosn thc dl i l l nri rsl on rai l s
(scc l l i g.4.3) rathcr tl ran by tl rc convenl i onal rot.ry tabl e ao(l Kcl l y. Wi th thi s
arr?l l gcnrcnt, i t i s possi bl c to rotdtc thc dr i l l s{ri rrg and kr ci l cul i rtc rrrr,ul i ts l l rc
sl f i l g i s l cr r ovc( l f i r ) nr l hc l x) l c. l hi s l cr r r l s t o kcol ) l l r c r I i l l cr r l l i r gs i r r
susponsi on and to provi cl c a nruch cl cancl hol e. l hc rcnroval of crrl l i rrgs
rcduces l ' ri cti on bctwecn thc dri l l pi pc and thc hol c and rcduccs thc l cndcrrcy
l i n st i cki r r ! 1. l l or vcvcr ' , t hc l I nspor l ol ' cul l i | l gs by l hc nr u( l i s r r r or c t l i l l i cr r l { i r r
a hofi zontrl hol c than i n a vcrl i cal one bccause l l re cul ti ngs tcnd to scl (l c at {hc
botl ul r of tl rc hol c and thc fl ui d tcnds to
pass
abovc. I Ii gh fl ui tl vcl oci l i cs arrtl
tnl bul cnce
prornotc the transpoi of l he cul ti ngs, but l hi s can bc l i nri {cd by a
tencl cncy for washouts i n thc wal l ol thc hol e arrcl al so by thc physi crrl capaci ty
of t hc nr ud punl p t o pr ovi dc f l ow. ' l o pr omot c t ur bul cr cc, i t i s dcsi l abl c t o
havc a l ow fl ui d vi scosi ty. On thc othcl l rand, to rcstri ct thc scl l l i ng of thc
sol i ds whcn thc fl ow i s stoppcd, a hi gh vi scosi ty i s ncccssul y.
' l hcsc
conflicting requirements can be accomniodated, at least particularly, by
rnaki ng thc nrud a non-Newtoni arr pl asti c fl ui d rvi th
a hi gh l ati o of yi el d poi nt
to pl asti c vi scosi ty. Pol ymcr nruds are conr onl y used l or thi s. AIso,
rni ni nri zi ng formati on damage shoul d al rvays be a maj ol concern i n scl ccti rrg u
mud system and
parti cul arl y the chemi cal components wi thi n i t.
In practice, a wide Varity of drilling mud compositions has been used for
dri l l i ng hori zontal hol es, dependi ng upon the si tuati on. Al so, thctc can be
good
rcason to use oil-based tnuds to control shale swclling. They
perlonn
D,.. N{.S. Frr:rlrat
CIL Il/ I)rilli P I'rohlrnrs 5!)
better than inhibited water muds in this lespect. Howevet, oil-based nuds are
difficult to dispose of in an environmentally satisfactory rlanner and they ate
t r r or c cxpcnsi vc l l r l r r wl r ( cr - - bascr l or r cs. As i r cor r r pr ot t t i sc, wi t l cr r t t t <l sl t l l - r vl t l cr
drilling fluids containing water-soluble polymefs are ollen chosen for drilling
horizontal wells. They can have good inhibition and lubrication qualities at a
glve
lower cost and without tire problems of n-rud disposal found with oil muds.
Polymer
sol i ds i s
r.nuds also improved drilling rates if the content of suspended
kept low.
Fig. 4.3.
4.4 Protectiort of Water Sensitive Sltales
Shale layers frequer-rtly tend to collapse in contact with fresh water. This can
be prevent ed by usi ng oi l -bascd dri l l i ng f l ui ds. Thcsc f l t ri cl s t rsual l y consi st ol '
an invert emulsion of water in diesel oil together with other additives. Fluids
of this type have been used in the North Sca. Watcr-based nTuds can be
inhibited to reduce the attack on water-sensitive shales by the additiou ofNaCl
or CaCl2. These additives reduce the chemical activity of the water and its
tendency to penetrate into the water-sensitive shale. lnhibited water-based
Por t abl e Top Dr i ve Dr i l l i ng Syst er n
I'lrol o <:o u rl e s.y Titsco l)ri lliu g 7'ecl t n olo gy
Photogruplt slrorvirtg portable syslem installed beby,
rig's existing block, hoolt autl srvit,cl. Ilylrtulic ser-
vice loop goes lo pump skitl. Torque ruck is
lastcued
lo hack of derrick.
Dr. M,S. Farahat
Cn. Iv Dritti',8 t'tohten's
60
[ludi are nol as cffcctive as oil-based nruds for the plotectior
of shales, but
thcy arc
{eaper
and l ess damagi ng envi ronmental l y.
l l cccnt rcgul i l l i ons i ntcndcd to protcct thc cnvi fonl ncnt rrc nrrki ng thc usc of
sal t-bascd muds more di ffi cul t for l and operati ons. Offshore sal l bascd fl ui ds
arc acccptabi c, but thcrc arc rcstri cti on on thc usc ofoi l -bascd nrutl .
4. 5 D irectio nal Contr o I
Ovcrcomi ng thc forcc of gl avi ty
i s a fundamental pl obl crn
i r di l ccti onal and
ho| i zontal dri l l i ng. The bottom hol e assembl y (BHA) i s a heavy wei ght
hanging on the bottom ofthe drillstring. Thc BllS must ovcrcome thc lcrrcc of
gravity with a strong side forcc for directional drilling.
't
his for.ce is applied
rvi th stabi l i zati on, fi rl crums and operati ng techni qucs. Morc cornnron bottonr
hol c asscnrbl i cs havc onc poi nt
ol -l cvcr.agc ootl tact wi tl l tl rc wal l ol thc l rol c,
such as a bent. BHA' s wi th mul ti pl e poi nts
of wal l contact abovc the bi t can be
controllcd more accurately. Three points
of contact definc a constant arc of
cuwature corresponding
to the desired build rate of the motor assemblies.
Motors asscmbly can be fixed or adjustable.
Fixed assemblies
have two
aligned lulcrum suppolts for building angle accuratcly and at higher ratcs than
adiustable assemblics.
Adjustable assemblics are more flexible for use in
varions situations, especially the steerable versions. The term steerable has a
special meaning in the oil industry.
Most motor assenrblies are steerable in the sense that turning the drill srrrng
changes the course i n order to dri l l ths hol e i n thc desi red di recti on. The
steerabl e BHA consi sts of bi t, down-hol e
motor wi th bui l d i n dog-l eg
tendency, measuremcnf whi l e dri l l i ng
survey system may al l ow to conti nuc
trackirrg ofwellborc path (as
shown inFig.2.27).
Positive displacement
motors developed power
from a rotot-sraror
confi gurati on, as fl ui d i s l ol ccd i nto thc opcn cavi ty ofthc nrotors hcl i cal thc
motor output shaft dri ves the bi t di recti y, thcrcby' el i mi nati ng
the need for dtj l l
stri g
rotation. The build tendency ofthe motor systcm, referrecl to as dog lcg
establ i shd by use of bent housi ng motor (normal l y
0.5' to 1.5" angl e bends
coupled with under gauge
stability
).
On the motor itself and
iust
above the
,r. NI.S. Fnrahrt
CII. It' DriIiIg P,oblcms 6l
nrotor by varying th bcnd in thc nrotor housing as wcll as stnbilizcr
pl l ccl ncnl s gl ugcs. l \{o di fl crcnl dl i l l i ng rnorl cs arc uscrl wi l l r s{ccl atrl c
systenr. l he fi rst ori ented mode (sl i tl i ng), the motor rvi l J producc angl e
changcs rcsul ti ng frotr motor dog-l cg tcndcncy, maki rrg i t possi bl c kr charrgc
the bui l d or di recti on of*' cl l course.
l )ogl cg l cndcncy ol l hc systcrr i s dcsi grrcd kr prori tl c i rrrgl c charrgcs grcatcl
l l l an wl l : r 1 l l r c r l cl i l r l l l y r r cc<l ct l , so l l r ul l l r c r r ni ot i { l ol t l r i l l i r r g cr r r r l r c t I r nc r r r
rolary drilling nodes. lt is possible
to obtain overall build or turr rate needed
fot u' cl 1 patl r rvi thout tri ppi ng.
4.5.1 Ckssiftcstiotr of bottom hole ss1eJlblias
(BHA's)
Thcsc arc subdi vi ded i nto rotary and mol or cl assi fi cfl l i ol s, l l l l A can bc hrrl hcr
di vi tl ed i nto categor i cs.
' l ' hc
ki nd of equi prnent and posi l i on i n Bi l A nol mal l y
cl assi fi cs the asscnrbl i cs the assembl y type. The vari ous typcs of urotor
dcvi ati on secti on are shown i n Fi g.2.29. BIIA' s are nsntcd basctl on usagc as
l i stcd i n tl rc fol l owi ns tabl e.
4.5.2 Medsuri g ittstntments
Measrtring instruments record drift, direction, and tool
nreasurcmcnts for di recti onal and hori zonl al operati ons,
l acc of thc basi c
to provi dc accuratc
8il..1' s
Natnc
(usacc
Li nrber
,
nrotof
Deviation or sidetrack
e bui l d
Rotary. or motor
Anel e hol d Rotary, ol rnotor
Reami n
fi shi ng
D/' iU.S. Farahat
CIL Il' DtiIi"E hoht.Dts
62
conl rol , somc tccl rni qucs arc appl i cd such as l l rc stccr.i l g tool or MW!) arc
givcn below. fhe advantage of MWD over steering tool is that MWD can be
used in both rotary and oriented motor phases
drilling.
4.5. 2. I St.\'t'ing turol
An instrument package contains a modified magnetic single shot and other
i nstrunrents (as
shown i n Fi g. 4.4). A coder conveds the nrcasured data to
cl cctl i cal pul se, and a scndcr transnri ts
(hcsc
cl ata to l hc sur' fi rcc l l ough a
shi cl ti cd cl cctl i c condui t. Surface equi pment i ncl udcs a rccordcr to covert the
cl ootri o
pul scs
and di gi tal or TV typc di spl ays.
' l ' hesc
i nsl r.urrrents arc
avai l abl e i mmedi atcl y at the surface for usc to control hol e di recti on. l n
opcfal i on, the i nstl unrcnt package
i s l owcrcd and rai sed rvi l h a shi el ded
cl cc: l l i cal col ( hr i t ( cabl c)
on t hc r ccl of a r vcnch posi l i oncd
on a t r uck. ' l ' hc
pi r t : ki r gc scat s i r r l r r ccci vi r g or i nsl r unr cl l sr r b i r l l r c dcvi l l i l g l Dol ol i t sscnr r ) r y
i urd l crnai ns i n thc hol c dul i ng thi l l i ng. l {otary asscmbl i cs can not bc usc(l
wi l h stccri ng tool s. 1hc dri l l stri ng rvi th di rccti onal nrotor asscmbl y on bottorn
i r l or.vcrcrl
l )af{rvl y
i nto thc hol c. l hc i l sl rruncnt
l )ackagc
i s l orvcl cd i nsi ci c l l rc
rh i l l sl ri ng on a cabl c tl uough asi tl c cntry sub out i nto l hc anntrl ar sl tacc. l hcrr
l hc cabl c rrrrl dri l l sl ti ng arc l oqcrcd l ogcl hc[ \\,i 1h l hc cal )l c oUtsi dc and
paral l cl to thc dri l l stri ng.
d!,2.
2 M ea
$tr
e m e n t-w h i I e d r i I I i
u
g
(
M ll D)
Mcasurcnrcnl rvhi l c (MWD) rccords nl ci l surctncnl s
at or ncar l hc bi t whi l c
dti l l i ng conti nues.
' l he
data are transporte(l
i mmedi atel y to tl re surl acc as
pressul c pul scs i n mud col umn covcrcd by a codcr storetl i n a storage cl cr i ce,
and transmi tted to thc surface.
' l ' hc
i nstruntcnt packagc
has [ratteri cs or a snral l
turbi nc
gcncrator
dri ven by ci rcul ati rrg nrrrd for a
pou' er
suppl y as shown i n
Iri g.4.5. A conrhl on systent has a rnud
pul scr
that rccci vcs storcd data and
convcrts i t i nto hi gh-fi equcncy pressurc pul scs i n l l rc rnud l op a sctsi ti vc
l l essu[e
detector at tl re surface. Sul face cqui pnrent i ncl udcs a decoder to
convel t the pressure pul ses to el ect cal pul se,
di gi tal or Tv-type di spi ays and
l ccordcb as shown i l Fi e.4.6.
/). lll.S. Farrhnt
CII. IV D,'illing Prcbleus 63
\
lllt(lltte k, Sltttcc RflJi t
. Nott.tuaE'ftric Dt ill Colhi
St , rJey St c. \ i
ETool
'
lluleshoc Oricnrltrg Sub
'Dc,tt
Sub
Rotnthry ltit Stl,
l l oat l or-rt
ConT put er
& Pri nt er
Powor Non Maonet l c
Cabl o Drl l l Col l ar
Bont
.--
Fi.g. 4.4 Survey steering tool.
Dr' . M.S. l ral ahat
CIL IV Dtilling lhblens 64
DI AGRAM OF TELECO' s MWD TOOL
Al l ernol o,
Hon-Moqncl i c
(ol l or
-
0i r cr l i onul
Senror
Fig. 4.5.
' l' hclcforc,
an M WD systenl cotl' lpriscs:
2.
1. A dowr-rhole tool assembly, consisting of a special non-magnetic drill
collar housing the sensors and electronics for measurement and
transnrission functions (Fig. 4.5).
A surlacc systcur fol' thc detcction and clccoding of the IVIWD signal and
conrput at i <rn and di spl ay ol ' t hc M WD cl at a as shown i n l 1i g. 4. 7 .
Mud flow
I
Dr. l \{.S. Fnrahat
l D t r , r , r o", r r . t - , qr r , , r r , , o
f i ) t o, ", r , o" r : . """, n
A r l naql r i \ n' a ^ l i ' r r , r l
i
---
1"",,
.,
j
,'r;;r.r;;11
t ; r nr r u- l ) i r r ( l i ' nr i ' l S, ! \ l ( r r l
sof r o, l , l n. r r , r t n. r r I " nr r t
l l " . r I ' or . r t I r n! xr i , ' r , r .
Ar l 14. ' l r hs. , 6
r . r , / f oi i
)ii,';
t t r \ i i t i vi t l
- ( ; r r f l
r r r n. l ) i r t ( t i or r r l
Sl 5 l t r l l
STEEYE
AS9I'ELY
rgo|.
A-agf-MIltY
Fig. 4.6 Measurentetft wlile drilling (MWD)
I)r' . M.S. Fnraltat
CIL IY Dti i'19 Problens 66
Rlc Fr-oon fisTEra
_ -
l =
_ _ - _ _ _ - . - - _ - _ - ]
DRII-LERs
NoN-r^cdErrc
"-- ""*l
x4.lV.D.
D^r ^aulsmoF P^cxacE
Fi g. 4.7 Nerv MWI) tool .
L. E. D,
DISPLAY
/)r'. l\4.S. Irat.aha{
CIL lY Driuiltg I'toblents
l \ 4Wl ) sysl cr r cl ur
l ) r r r vi ( l c.
usi nl l v: r r i or : j r l i l l i t ct r l cor r r bi t r : r l i or r s l hc l i r l l r wi r r l l
i rr l ' ol rrrl ti on:
l . Sr r vey i nl or mat i on: di l ecl i on. i ncl i nal i on and l ool l acc r cadi ngs.
2. Fd-nl ati on i nl ormati on: gamma
ray, rsi sti vi ty, rreutron and densi ty
readi ng.
3. Mechanical information: downhole weight, toaque, shocks, flow and
temperature readings.
Also, thcre are three distinct types of MWD transmission systen currcntly
avai l abl e:
l . l l rc posi ti vc pul sc systcnr: i n l hi s systcnr a pl ungcr- typc vl l vc
nl onrcntari l y obstructs mud fl ow,
gi vi ng
ri sc to a trrnsi cnt pcak i l l
standtri pc pressure (Fi g.
4.8).
2.
' [hc
rcgati vc puJsc systcm: i n thc sysl cm, a val vc nr(nrcnl i ri l y vcl l s a
pofti rn of thc mud fl ow to thc borchol c arrnul us,
gcrrcrl l i ng
l l rl nsi cnl
drop i n standpi pc
pressurc (Fi g.4.8).
3. The continuous wave system: in this system, a spiming, slottcd rotor and a
sl otl cd stator l epeatedl y obstruct mud fl ow, rathq l i ke a rotary val vc or a
si tcr.' Ihi s gcncratcs a conti nuous l ow frcqrrcncy l l uc{ual i on i n sfandpi pc
pre i sure i n tl re regi on ol ' 30 psi cxactl y l i ke a l ow pi tchcd hum.
' I
he carri er
wa e is modulated, rather like an FM radio transmission, to convcy
infi rmation to surface.
!!9.!!
lllD truts mk s io n svste nt
The mcdulator
generates a repeated se[ies of flucluation in staudpipe
pressure
by pcri .rdi cai l y obstructi ng nrud fl ow as the rotor vanes occl ude tl l e stati otr
sl ots.
' l hus,
the 12 l l Z MWD carri er wave i s generated.
' l ' hi s
construct
fl crl rrcrr;y wrvc i s modul rrtcd, ot cncl osc(| , by
pcri orl i c tl crccl ctal i orr of l l rc
modul aor rotor whi cl r i ntroduce phase shi fts i nto the carri er wave.
' l hi s
rnotl rrl a i on tccl rrri c;uc i s vcry cl oscl y corr:pi rr' :rbl c l o fi crl rrcrrl l y to fi cqtrcrrcy
mo<l ul a
j on
(ti M) radi o broadcasti ng, as shown i n Fi g.4.9.
,/: l\t.S. [1lralr,lt
CII. IY Drilliug l\lthlcu's 68
+
t-,-_______,_
Ti me
MDASURIIMBNTS
IVIIILIt
DIII I-I-ING
Fig. 4.8
4. 5. 2. 3 G eo steeringuElLlpt11elllLgrul lrt st r unrcntatio tt
'I'he
newest lrlarket developing in MWD is fol geological steerirg, sonletimes
ci \l l cd geosk' cti ttg
or ravi gati ol ofthe wel l coutsc, accol di ng to MWD l i tho
l ogy measuremert. A
geol ogi cal
speci al i st, engi neer, or
geosci enti st
i s usual l y
at the rvel l si te fof i nterpretafi on of the dal a bci ng neasured. To be effecti ve,
these new systems l equi re uteasul emnts cl oser tl re bi t.
Posi ti ve
Pul se
Negati ve
Pul se
Co ntin uo us
Carri er
Wave
[-{
ilnl
ilml]
ilm
Pressure
Tinre
/ l / . [ {. S. l r: rrrhi t
Ful l y Cl osed
Val ve opens
and cl oses
5 ti mes per
rotati on
Al 2.4 rotati ons per
second
a 12 Hz carri er
wave
i s crcate(l
Padi al l y
Open
Ti t ne
lra stu is.t ion r)tsten1.
60
Ful l y 0pen
P
P
o-
Es!!p44!!!!
' l
ho r vl r ol c MWt ) - l i l l r o l ugy nr cl sr r l cr r cr r l s or gcusl ccr i r r g
cr l r r i pr r r cr r t i s sl r or vl
i f Fi g. 4. 1 0, whi cJr compr.i se:
l . A downhol c tool asscmbl y, consi sti ng of a speci rl non-nragncti c cLi l l col l ar'
I t ot r si t t l l , l l t c sct t sot s, i r r t r l r : l ccl nr l i cs l i ) r l t ci * i l t , Ll l el l s l r nt l l r l r r snr i ssi or r
l Lnot i ons, as shown i l l r i g. 4. I L
2. Surface system for the detecti on and decodi ng of the MWD si gnal and
conrpLrtal i on aud di spl ay of thc M!VD dal a, as sl rowl i l l ri g. 4. 10.
l)/r M.S. Farahat
< II. Il lrtiqing I'hn)tu s 70
i;
G
6
l,
;
!
.?
{
I A5!
I
t , E
E;
q;
t
'z
5
a
5
c
8o
i i i
?- .
I i:
l ri
i l
,{'
qt
t t
st
:!
o
I
r)
Fig, 4.10 Geo.rtecring lc(h iqrrc.
a
hl
( J
h
il
ql
-
c)
,/. NLS. Ihrahat
CII Il/ Dti i
E
l"ohlzn's
' 71
I Slt uttt
(trhtlio,t:
The advanced MWD or Ci eostocri ng system can provi dc,
usi ng varrous
di fl crcnt combi nati ons, the fol l owi ng i nfornrati on:
l . Survey i nfornrati on:
di recti on, i ncl i nati on and tool face rcadi ngs.
2. IoDnati on i nl ' orftati ont gamnta
ray, reccpti vi ty, ncuh-on and dcnsi ty
rci r(l t g.
J. Mccl rani cal i nfomtai i orr: dorvnl tol e wei ght, torqrrc, shocks, fl ow arrd
(cnrpcrature
l cadi ngs.
4. I.,i tho l ogy i rrformati on: geol ogi cal
markers and/or thc top of | cscrvoi r,
forrrati on di p, strati graphi a control i i r thi n and di ppi ng l cservoi r.s,
hi gh
rcsol uti on sei smi c mappi ng
ol ' compl cx gcol ogi cal sl nl cl ul .cs such as si l l l
domcs, l ocal faul t structurcs and con.rpl ex l ayel ed procl ucl i on
zonc.
Apnlicatiotts:
Thc new MWD or geostceri ng
systen i s csscrrti al fbr pr.cci se r.vcl l posi ti oni ug
u,hi ch i s cruci al to tl te success
of dri l l i ng advancetl hori zon{al and extended_
rcach wel l s.
IU.]Y.I). I)OWN IIOI,E SYS' INM
l;-T
- - -
aAI r LnY
<
3 6
^?,"
I
-t
o
u| l l t I
Fig. 4.11 I4\I.D dov,n hole sys/en.
/ ) / M. S. I ' xr : r hxl
CIr- Y Drilst,i g Dcsign 72
CHaprBn V
DnrllsrRnc DnsrcN
Many different traiectories can be used to drill a horizontal well to a given
l ar gct . l wo cdr l r or nl t cr ' r t l t i vcs l r l c sl r or vr r i l l I i g. 5. l . l r or r r l l r i s l i gr r l e, t l r c
broken linc shows the traicctqry that would be followed if there were a
cur sl ut t l l t cl i us ol our vt l ur c. l l t c t l r j cct ot y, l cpi ct cr l I r y l l r c sol i r l I i t r c sl t ocs
l r i l l l r r r ' cr r r v: r l r r r c nl l l r c sl r r r l , r ' r r r r r cr ' l cr l l , y r r l r nl l ( | | l scr ' l i on l o r r r r ol l r . r cr r r vcr l
secti on at the botton' I. Thi s tangel t traj ectory has been used fi equentl y, but i t i s
not as common now as i t oncc was. The mai n reason for usi ng i t was to
gi vc
.nore
flexibility as the reservoir is penetrated.
A difficulty with thc constant
radius approach is that, if it is found not to be
practicable
to achievc thc radius
ofcuwature assumed, the hol c may end up too deep. In somc cascs, when thi s
has occutred, the l ong-radi us Bl l A chosen i ni ti al Jy has bcen rcpl accd by a
rrredi um racl i us on to al l ow morc rapi d devi ati on. Wi th rnodem adj ustabl e
motors, such a change can be achio,ed by motor adjushncnt. It is now
conr nr on 1o dl i l l r vi l l r a cor sl anl 8 t o l l / 30 nr ( l ( X) l ' t ) l r r r i kl l at o or l o r r sc 15"
to 20' 130 m (100ft)
rate up to 65"to 75' and thcn fi ni sh the angl e-bui l d secti on
at 7' or 8' 130 m.
I RAJECTOFY
WI I H
I I I GHFI |
BUI LD
nAi L
AND TANGENT
SECTI ON
Pai h l or co.rl 6nt n
\
Fi g.5.L
D/. M.S. Fnl.'lh^t
CII. Y Dti sttitry Desigt'
In dri l l i ng verti cal
wel l s, fi -i cti on betwecn the dri l l pi pe and the wal l ofl l re
hol e
has little effect upon the weight on the bit
(WOB) This weight is basically the
buoyant
wei ghl ofl he dri l l stri ng
i n the hol e l ess the
pul l on the ri g bl ock
Tt i s
adjusted
to the desired
level by the driller' When drilling inclined,
and
particularly hot'izontal
holes, friction has a much
greater effect ln the
horizontal
section,
the drillpipe
lies on the bottom of the hole and its weight
does nothing
to drive the bit folward; mther, its weight multiplied
by the
coefficient
of ftiction of friction results in a force that decreases
the weight
on
the bit. As the hole is clrilled farlher horizontally,
the weight on the
bit
decrcases.
Thi s effect i s commonl y
reduced by usi ng l i ghl wei ght
pi pe i r the
horizontal
section of the hole and heavier
pipe or ddllcollars
in the verlical
section. Suclr a string is refetred to as inveded.
The makeup
of an inverted
stri ng used to dri l l an earl y, very l ong hol e i n the Norman
wel l s fi el d i s shown
i n Fi c. 5. 2 and Sal am f i el d as shown i n Fi g 41.
I NVERTFD
DRI LL
STRI NG
-
i 2l mn' HEV|' ,ATE
to SUFFACE
Fi 9.5.2.
I'lowevcr, suggestions
have been made for using lightweight exotic materinls,
e.
g., aluminum, titanium, or carbon-reinforced
plastics, in the horizontal
sccti on ol ' hol cs. Irr
gcncral , howevcr,
thcsc havo bcen consi dotcd too costl y
and it has not been found necessary to develop drillpipes of this lype'
/ r . M. S. Fnl xh: r l
a l l . I l r i l l nr i q: I r , \ i gn l 1
Heavy-
Wei ght
Dri l l pi pe
Spi ral Dri l l
Col l ar
Compressi ve
S t reng t h Dri l l pi pe
MWD
Angl e
Bui l d
Mol or,
207100
f t .
Bt l
Fl et ri evabl e
Whi pst ock
I"ig- 5-3 Drillslring ltsign
/br
lrilling tlnti gsc(tiou ol ttulitrn" nulitu
horizontal utell or draithole usittg MlltD tool.
The analysis of the forces on the drillstring as they affoct dmg and torque ate
of great i nterest to dri l l el s and several contpani es l rave devi sed contputer
;rtogtatrrs
l oL thi s anal ysi s.
' l hcsc
cl cpcncl upon a knowl cdgc (ol ol l cn an
assunrpti on) ofthe coeffi cj ent of fri cti on between the pi pe and the hoJe and
nlost stem.
Accotdi ngl y, a torque and drag progtam devel oped by Maurer Engi neeri ng
was uscd i n the dri l l stri ng desi gn. The fol l owi ng assumpti ons/desi gn cri teri a
were used:
l . A maxi mum of 15000 l b wei ght on bi t
(WOB)
woul d be requi red.
/ )/ . M. S. t rarrhat
(
t t . t l hi l ht r i r t : I r ' si ( i
2.
' l hc
nraxi nrt t nr WOR worrl d hc rcqt t i rcd cl rrl i ng <l ri l l i nl ; i n l hc ori crrt ct i
rrodc
(sl i di ng) al ' l D
(total
dopth).
3. It woul d be acceptabl e to rotate tl re dri l l pi pe u' hi l e i n compressi on as l ong
as the cri ti cal buckl i ng l oad and thc nl axi mum bcl l di l l g stress wel e not
cxceeded.
75
' Ihus,
an
j nve
ed dri l l stri ng wottl d be
spcci f i cat i ons.
An i nvct t ccl dt i l l st t i ng cl csi gn
above thc l egul ar dl i l l pi pe, as shown i n Fi g.
5. 6.
Heavy- Wei ght Dri l l pi pe
Spi ral Dri l l Col l ar
desi gn
dr i l l pi pc
ancl Fi g.
r Angl e hol d
. . \ ^r
/ DTU, 1"
. St a bl l l zed
mot or
-
4" I 10
rotary
0 fr.
tool s
Ret rl evabl e
Whi pst ock
MWD
Bi l
Compressi ve
St rengt h Dri l l pi pe
Fig. 5.4 Drillstring de;ign
for
drillin g ltorizontal section of rcdiutr raditt.t
l nri zutl ul tvt' l l ot rl ni thol c u,ti ng l ,l l l /1) trxtl .
' l
l rrrs, l l rc rcgul ar dl i l l pi pc as shorvn i n l l i 1. 2..12 and Fi g. 5.7. l vottl d bc rtttt i n
cot npt cssi on. Fi g. 5. 8 shows t l r r r t t hc ct i l i cal br r ckl i r r g l ol t l wot t kl t r t r l l r c
cxcc<: r l t : r l <i r | i n1; r ' ( ) l ' r l i ( ) r . n l so. l r i 1l . 2. I B | cI r ' uscr r l s l l r c r l r i l l st I i r t 1l l l t t l l w( ) t l l ( l
bcuscr l kr t ! i l l l l r c8 l / 2 i r r . l r ol c.
D/ : M. S. I rxr: t hrl
CIl. Y Dti striry Desigli 76
Anctl e
Fl ol e
Build
Bottonr
Assembl y
Hcavy
-
Wei gl rt
Dri l l pi p
c
Dri l l
Col l ar
Compressi ve
Strength Dri l l pi pe
Angl e
Bui l d
Motor,
1.7
' /
f oot
Survey
Tool
Bi r
Retri evabl e
Whi pstock
1 i11. 5.5 l) illstr ing lesigrt
JU'drilling
tut i g
se(tion oJ ucliuttr,tudius
hotizoutul tvell or dmlnhole usitlg steet'ing st!rve\, lool.
Dr. i\{.S. Irarnhat
I l l . , I t t i l l t r l ' t ' t i I t t l l l t t
'/7
Anql e l "l ol d Bottonr
Hol e Assembl v
Heavy- Wei ght
Dri l l pi pe
Spi ral Dri l l
Col l ar
Angl e hol d
motor
oo
c S t a bi l i zed
rotary
to ors
Bir
Fig. 5.6 Drillstring tlesigrtfor tlrillirtg hr.u'izorltdl sec on ol redirutt-r'rtdius
horizonta.l t'ell or drai hole using sleeing sut ret' tool
1he speci fi ed BHA s al e shown i n Fi g. 5.9 thtough 5. i 2. Otrl y l wo stabi l i zcl s
rvoul ti bc trscd; onc on tl rc rl otor-[]cl t i ng l toLtsi ng attd otrc i ttrttrccl i al cl y al xrvc
the rno{of. Fi g. 5.9 and 5.10 shorvs that BILrys dcsi gn ftrl dl i l l i ng hol i zontal
sccl i or rl rcdi urr-radi us ol ' hoti zonl al wcl l Lrsi ng sl i di ng tnodc and r-ol aty nrode.
Al so, r i g. 5- l l and 5. 12 sl r ows t l r at I Jl l . ( s dcsi gi l cr | dr i l l i ng l ur ni ng sccl i on
and hori zontal secti on ofl org-tadi us ofhol i zonl al ucl l .
F[om case hi story op an opposed-bore dual hori zontal u' ci l i u tbc ALrsl i on
Cl hal t formati or ol SotLth fex:rs
(t-l SA), i t i s l bund thst: i n thc 121/2 and l i l /2
Compressi ve
Strength
Dri l l pi pe
Ir: h'LS. Ihl:lhnl
(:11.Y
Dri nri g Dcsisn 78
i r vcr t i cal l x) 1cs, 4. 5 i r cLi l l pi pc l r r d 6. 25 i n r l r i l l col l l l s woul d bc uscd i n
convent i onl l t [ i l l i ug conf i gl rral i ons. t f or t he 6. 25 i n. hol e, l he l ol l owi ng st rat egy was
phnl l c{1:
I . l ol que arxl rl l i rg woLrl d be nri ni nri zcd by runni ng 3. 5 i D, 15. 5 l b/ f t dl i l l pi pe i n t he
l r or i zonl i r l l r ol 0 i r r l cf vr l s.
2.
( i r r ( i e
Sl l 5 r l r i l l pi l r c wor r kl bu r r sr xl i r r l l r e hof i zont i r l hol e. ' l l r e hi gl r l ensr l u
sl rengl h ol t hi s pi pe i s l ot ^t ed i n compressi on t hf oLrgh t he hi gh cl ogl egs i n t he
cuwi j
(l ul ni ng
sl j cl i oD).
3. ALl equal e 3. 5 i n heavy wei ghl dri l l pi pc woul cl ruD i n t he verl i cal hol e t o prori de
wci ghl od L)i t
(WOl l )
and t o ovcroonrc hol c d. ag whi l c ori eDl ed.
4. l l crrdi ng sl rcsscs i nrersurel rent whi l c dri l l i l t g col l ar corDecl i ons and i n t l t e
downhol c nrot or woul d be mi ni nri zccl wi t h nonnt agnet i c, cof t l pressi ve seNl ce
df i l l pi pc( NMI ( Si ) l ' ) asshowr l i nl r i g. 2l 2i npl aceol r oumagoet i c dr i l l col l ar s.
Art i cul at ed
Pl pe
Co mp re ss l ve
St reng t h
Pi p e
Fig. 5.7 lllidtlttel drillpipe dDtlcatnptessi|e sr'et\th
(ltillpipe
5in-\rutt-ktlats
D. Nl . S. F: r | r hi t
CII. I' Dtt st'i'ry Desig 79
i
!-ig. 5.8 Buckling lootl ts. hole anglefot'4.5 i
,
20
ft
tlrillpve.
AnEIe
Hold
Motor
Stri ng
Stabi l i zer
Secti on
Beari ng
Housi ng
wi th
Ceni ral i zer
/
Stabi l i zer
Bir
Fig. 5-9 BLl,'l rlesign
Jor
sliding mode dw'ing drilling horizonlal seclion oJ
netlhn>rulius tlf horizontal u'ell or drairthole.
Dr. vl . S. I hrnl rt
CII. I' Dti rhitls D.,!itn llll
Angle
Flotd
Tool
Rotary
Specl al
Dr l l l
St r l ng
St abi l l zer
Sccl l on
Bi r
Itig. 5.10 Special drill.slring de.signJttr t'otdt.t'nnde dL!ritg drilling horizontol
scclion oftitediukt iddius ofhori.o ttl t<:ll or dtuittltolc.
s
Dr. A' 1. S. I i ' : rrnhrt
C -V Dti s it'g Desis 8I
l u4otor
Secti on
Ki ck
-
ol f
Sub
Upper
Beari ng
Housi ng
Central i zer
/
Stabi l i zer
with
Stri ng
St
abi l i zer
Bent
Sub
Angle
Build
Motor
20"i
100'
Ti l ted
Dri ve
Shafl
Bi r
lrig. 5.1 I l) I t.4 desigu
Jbr
drilling ttutting sectie,n o1f long+atlius cj horizot Ltu I
nel l .
I ). l \ t . S. l rnrrhat
CIL I/ IrillstrirB D.sigu 82
Stri nq
Stabi l i zer
AnEle Hold
Motor
1-4" /
100'
Motor Secti on
Doubl e Ti l ted
U
-
Joi nt
Beari ng Housi ng
wi th
Central i zer / Stabi l i zer
Bi t
Fig. 5.12 lllJA design.[or drilling ltorizolttal section oflong rodius of
hu izrtttttl m,ll.
A
j oi nt
ot NMCI SDP t esenr bl es a
l oi nt
of 3. 5 i r r . hcavy- wci ght dr i l l pi pc. I t i s
nra ul ' actured by mi l l i ng the OD o1' a 4.' i 5 i n. tool
j oi nts.
' fwo
I ft l oug
secti ons, evcnl y spacecl ol tLre pi pe
bodv, are l efty unnri l l ccl to for.rn wear
knots as sl ro\,vl t i n Fl g. 2.12. A ful J
j oi nt
oi NMCSIIP i s rrrn above the MWD
col l al and a | 0-ftj oi nIwi th no wear rl ragrcti cal l y
i soi ate thc M\\rD scnsors.
D/: i\t.S. nrr.rhat
CH,Y Dti ltti,tg Dtsigtl rJ3
Srrgsr irr
&Aryt:
pLtstLt(
ll!!r!!L
cun, el h ole
ltllJllJtirSgttlilJ!
' l ' he
<l i i l l sl r i ng pas: ; i r g al ong r r cr i r vcd l r ol c i s bent l i kc a bcat n ancl i s st r cssc( l
accorcl i ngl y.
' l
he rrraxi rnunr l erl si l e sl fess i n the wal l of tl re pi pe cau be
esti mal od as showrr i n Fi g. 2.13 and i s gi vcn by the fol l owi ng equati on:
o,= Maxi rnrrrn strc:;s: E
(Ii ,"/R),
where E i s Youug' s nroci ul us ofcl asti ci ty, R* i s the radi us ofthe dri l l str:i ng arrtl
I { i s t hc r ar l i us ol er r r vat ur c ol ' t ho l r oi " .
l f, i n adcl i ti on to bci ng around l he cttn ature of the hol e, the dri l l stri ng i s al so,
rotating, tlre stiesscs at any point on the circumference of the string vary l'iorD
tensi l e to corrpl cssi ve as i l rotates. Thi s tcnds to cause metal l i ti guc. l rr
addi l i on, bccuusc l l rc pi pc i s not conti nuous, but i n secti ous
j oi ntcd
l )y
coupl i ngs, the stfcsses are
greoter
thaD cal cul ated fi om the si mpl e eqttati t' n
above. It fol l ows then, that i f equati on
(1)
i s to be used thcre shoul d bc a
srrbstanl i al l i rctof ol si rfoty. Nazzcl
(1990) suggests fol stecl col l ars, n stfcss ol '
20000 psi combi Deri wi th a factor of safcty of2, shoul d bc used.' l hi s rcsul {s i n
a val ue of 10000 psi {o be used i n the above equati on. Ihi s val ue i s used i n thc
fol l orvi rtg cxampl c.
Ex. I:
Ci rl crrl atc l l re radi rrs ol ' cuwature to u,hi ch a cyl i ndl i cal ddl l cal l aI carr bc bcrtl
wi l l uruL cxccctl i rrg i r l unsi l o stl oss ol 70 Mpa (100{-}0 psi ), assrttrti rg Yo ug' s
nrodLrl us ol ' cl asti ci l y i s 200000 Mpa
(29' k10' ' psi ) and ttre col l ar di amctel i s
127 r r r nr
( 5
i r r .
) .
Sohttion:
R
=
[f)l o,]R,-
=
12.01)0001701*|27121*.001
n- l 8l m(s95 1i ).
01= t cnsi l o sl r css,
psi ( Mpa) .
1l r M. S. [ ' arrhrrt
CII. l, Drillstuing DesiC" 84
Or,
R
=
[E/ol
R,"
:
[29
*
106 / 1000]* 512*Ll I l2l
=
604 ft
l hcrcfore, thc values in thc following table werc calculated ir the same
rrrai ncr'
(usi ng Eq. l ):
' l ' abl c
5. 1: C' al cr r l r t l cd t l i l l ool l r r l r I r l af or
Lr 1. 1
Collor dianreler Re drudi s Angle-buikl
Ifiches
ft
"/to
-
50 2. 0 71 234 24
15 3. 0 107 152 l 6
100 3. 9 l . l 3 469 12
125 4.9 17,) 586 9. 6
150 5. 9 2t4 703 8. 0
I / i 6. 9 250 820 6. 9
200
' 7.9
286 93'7 6.0
Fl om thi s tabl c i t b seen that even l arge-di anretcr dri l l col l al s are sttffi ci cntl y
l l cxi bl c l o bc uscd l or l ong radi rrs dri l l i rg, c.g.
(r' l 30
nr (l (X) l t). Wi l l t tttccl i ttttt
radi us d| i l l i ng, these i s an i ncreasi ng restri cti on on the di anrctct ofl hc ttl bul ars
that can bc uscd as cl ogl eg sevel i ty "/30rrr i s i rtcl casul . A cl i atttcl cr of 75 nrnr i s
needed for a devi a{i on of 16"/30m (R
=
107 nr or' 352 ft).
For no axi al l oad, an al l owabl e bendi ng sl ress of 18000 psi ensures Grade E
pi pe rernai ns bel ow the fati guc cml urancc l i mi t of 107 cycl cs. CratJe S pi pe a
maxi nrum al l owabl e bendi ng stress of 21 000
psi .
Dr. l I . S. l t arahnt
CIL V Dti shi'19 )).sign 85
Le
pth
of s rigid c)'litrder wlticlt cttn ass along
e
g!!t!9!L!!,ell
willry-q-t
distortion
1'lre limiting lcngth, L, of a rigid cylinder that can pass along a hole section of
curvature radius, R, can be calculated from the geometry
of the diagram tn
Fi s. 5. l 3.
GLOMF
tRy or nrcro cvrrr,roen
rr,r cunvEo
Hoi r
Fig. 5.13.
Using Pythagoras theorem for the triangle marked with the heaqr broken line:
R' ?:(L/2F+(R-AD),,
Or,
(r./2F
:
R' ?:
(R' z 2RAD
+ (AD)1,
Which if we neglect thc AD'term becomes,
| 2 sq. root (2RAD).
Note that R and AD nust be in tlre same units as L.
Dx 2:
It i s pl anned to bui l d an arti cul ated motor consi sti ng of strai ghl cyl i ndri cal
sccti ons
j oi nted
togcthcf wi th fl cxi bl c parti cul ated
j oi nts.
Assumi trg tho motor
i s 95 nrm i n di amcter, what woul tl bc the maxi mum l cngth of nrol or secti on i l -
.)r. M.S. lr.lrahrt
Solutiort:
l. Calcrrlate radius ofcunr'ature
I I R/ l 80 10/ 20 l hus. I l
-
36 r n.
2. LD=
t l zl 95) / 1000
:
0. 02( r nr
L
=
2 sr1 root (2*86*0.026
=
4.2 m or 13.9 ft.
'I
he allorvable lengths for the same hole and tool diamelers and for other build
rales are calculated below.
Tabl e 5.2: Cal cul abl e 5.2: C cul ated accountab ensl h date.
"/30
rn
(100
ft) R Cal cul ntcd L
M ft m Irt
25 69 225 3. 8 12.4
20 88 282 4. 2 13. 9
t 5 I l 8 316 4. 9 16. 0
l 0 172 564 6. 0 19. 6
5 344 1128 8. 5 27. 8
Thc fol | ' wi ng l abl e shows thc cal cul atecl cl cfl mnce, AL), nl eas!rc(l i n nrrrr and
i nches, rcqui rcd to accommodate 10. 5 and 2.5 m l ong l ool s i n hol es havi ng
cr l vct r r r , nr di i o[ 50, 100 ar r d 200 r n.
(
l l . I l r i l l nt i t { l t . \ i r yt BG
i t i s desi red to dri l l hol cs wi th a devi ati on of20 /30 nr (100 ft) and i fbcndi ng
ofthe nrotor section is to be avoided . Tlre hole diameter is to be l2l mm.
,,.. M.S. rrrahaf
(
I L I I t r i l ht , i r g t t , \ i gn lt7
Tabl e 5.3: Cl rcc rcqurrco t )erween Dol L- ano t oot ol amc
___fglefr"j
m
Itl rrdi us
r:T::
Bol e di anretcr' -tool C)l )
L: 10 nt or 32.8
ft
50 t64 250 !,.8
100 32i i 125 4.9
200
6e6 63 2. 5
L: 5mor 16. 4f t
50 164 63
100 323 3l 1. 2
200 656
_L
16
ll
n
o
L: ) - S n or 3- 2
f t
50 t64 16 t,.6
i 00 328 8 0. 1
200 656 4 t).2
tween di lct-s.
Al though cal cul ati ons of thi s types i l l ustrate the di i ' fi cul ty of conductrrrg a
st!ai ghl k\)l al ong a curvcd hol e. thcy assunte thc.c i s no berr,-l i i rg sl rcss
exerted by the stri ng abovc arrd bcl orv thc tool , i . Fi ., i 1 i s i i ssrrrnerl the
connccti orl i s madc b1,a l l eri bl c.j oi nl . or l hl t
(hc
l ool i s conncctcrl to fl cri bl c
sub. Lr the bcnding rnoment applied to it, at cithor cnd, by thc connecting
tubul ars.
l). ilt.lt Ixr ri[nt
(IL
l I lt'.ll
(i,rpltaiu!
88
Crr,lp ren VI
II on rzoxt'al Wur-r, Compr,nrton
TncHnrqrms
' l
he conrpl eti on of a hori zontal wel l or drai nl tol e must be choseo i u thc l i ght of
t hc f r r t r r r r ' cvol ut i on ol ' t hc nat ur c: of t hc l l ui cl s pt xi r r ccd al ong { hc l r or i zor r t al
,'
ol l or dr ai rrl rol e and thc scl ccti vc producti on nceds tl l at i vi l l ensLrre.
I)?.finilitrc cottrylelio,r: the choice of the partitioning of {he drainhole and of
tl rc cornp,,si ti on of thc l i ner nrust bc nradc vcry qrri ckl y. I' hc dcci si on nray bc
l ' ; r scd, ' r r r l at a l i t ' ur t hc geol ogi cal sLr r vcy and { i onl MWI ) ot gcost ct r i t t g
{cohni que or rvi rel i ue l oggi ng. ,A.nothcl opti on rni gl ]t consi st i n
parti l i onl ng
i l re drai nhol e i ndependentl y of the characteri sti cs of the reseruoi r. IIorr,o,er,
thi s choi ce rvhi ch techni oal l y i s nol i dcal , may l ead to very hi gh conrpl eti on
,rrsts i n nral y fi el d cases.
I anltorarl' <trrrtpleliotr: fot' consolidatcd fotnrations wlrere o|en-hoie
producti or i s possi bl c, thc dcfi ni ti ve choi ce ofi hc cornpl eti on rnay be dcfr.rrcd
i rnd a dcci si on ti i ketr l al er on accordi ng to tl rc producti on data. In pl a(i i cc,
r:cl ccti vc
l )rocfucti on
rvi l l be deci ded on onl y rvl rcn unwanl ccl fl ui rl s bcgi n l ,r bc
prroduccd. 1hc cl toi cc ntay al so bc dcfcl l cd i f i t i s possi bl c to rrrr i rr an
' rrrcemcnk:d pcrl oratcd l i tl cr and l o rcl )l :rcc i l l atcr by a scl ccti vc conrpl cl i orr.
' ,\/hcrcl s
tl tc l crnpotary conrPl cti orr sol uti on i s prcfcrabl c, i t i s not al rvays
{i asi bl c.
' l ' hc
di ffcrcncc betwcen thc l wo possi bi l i ti cs i i cs i n the
(l ata
fl vai l abl c
l i rr choosi l l g thc l ype ofconrpl eti on and i n the ti l l re betwecn the acqui si l i cn of
t l r esc
dal ; r i r r r J t l r c r r r r r ni r r g i n t he I i nel
Dr. , \ 1. S. l ' xrri hi i l
CH. YI
tt cll Conu't.tior 89
Thus, in any case, the solution to be adopted will consist in choosing a typc of
cornpletion
that is suited both to the
geological characteristics
encountered
and
to the opti rrrum
condi ti ons for sel ecti ve
producti on vi a the dtai l hol e
l t i s
thcrefore, necessary to have tecbniqucs for:
1) Describing a resenoir
from a horizontal
well or drainhole
2) Estirnating
the
production incrcases that may be obtaiued as tlre rcsult of
selective
production.
6. 1 C o tnplelipn4lepbtplpsles
fu -Ultq:!
t9!:!4 a4t4tlQ!!r,at!!s!4s!li
!!
Borelrcle
Fig. 2,2 shows the radial borehole condition after drillstring
placoment. At that
point the system consisting of a horizontal
radial borchole continuing a
drillstring
with its drillhead in place. To provide sand control or florv
regulation, the radials may be completed by altemative
ptocesses.
The firct
process
involves only an FSD
(flexible sand barier) and includes:
l . El cctrochemi cal cutoffofthe dri l l head from the dri l l sl l i ng.
2. Pumping down of the FSD through the open-ended dfillstrjng to permit a
barbed spear anchor to cxpand agri nst the fonrrati on.
3. Wi thdmwal ofthc dLi l l stLi ng to l cavc thc IISD arrchtncd i n pl acc.
ll he second altemative
process
involves use of thc drillstring as
perforation,
ard the FSD wi th:
l. Electrochemical cutoffthe drillhead fro the drillstring.
2. A two-step
(two-l i fe) gmvel packi ng process to
provi de 10096 fi l l of the
radial borehole annulus around the drillstring.
3. Electrocbemical
perforation of the drillstring along its entire leogth
dowrrhol c aftcr thc fi rst l i ft ofgravel
packi ng.
4. Pl acement of the FSD wi thi n
ontering the drillst.ing through its perforations.
Electroche,trical c..rojtt the first electrochcmical
process is io cul offthe drill
hcad at the rose of thc drillstring after
placement. Ihe cutoff tool is simple an
i nsul atcd rnctal tl i sc connccted by an cl cctti c cabl c to an cl cctti c wcl l or powcr
I),-. M.S. rauhflt
CII..VI llall Cornpletion 90
srlrlroe. A cablc stop is placed on the cablc that rvill stop at the top of the
rlrillstring and accurately locate the cutting tool at the desired position.
' llre
elecl r-ocherrrical cutoff tool has been usecl succcssfully in thc field to cut
o ff mole than 500 drillstring. The advantage of electrochemical cutting over
cxplosivcs is that no slrattered pipe or shar-p edges are l' ornred. The tool is vcry
cost effcclive and reliable downhole.
lllectroch c nical perforatiort: perforation
by electrochcmical proccsscs is
irocornplislred downhole after the 1.25 in dlillstring in place.
A flexible lube
(l ; i g.
6. 1) rs pumped down t l re vef t i cal workst ri ng and t hrough t he 1. 25 i n
, hi l l st ri ng.
The perf orat i on t ube cont i nuous an i nsul at ed f l exi bl e conduct or
rl i t hi n t hc t ube wal l . Smal l porl s l i ned wi t h el cch' i cal l y conduct i vc rnat cri al
;rrc installed irr the tube and connect to the corrductor within the nerforation-
lrrbe wall. When bl' ine is punrped
down the well and enters the perloration
l rbes, a. j ct of el ect rol yt e f l ow t ht ough each pod. An el ecl ri c wel der i s used t o
(
r cate il litc
1,1"' "r,
cnrrcnt) in the perforation tubc conduclor.. Ilach gror-t
l rr: col nes rrn cl cct rocheur i cal dri l l i ng
j et .
' f l i c
resul t i s a scri es of ol i grt ed
l x' r' f orat i oi rs
i n t he 1 . 25 i n. dri l l st ri ng.
' rhese
pcrf orat i on t ool s provi cl e about
I
r0
si rrrul t ancorrs pcrf orat i ons t hat can bc or. i crrl cd i n any di rcct i on.
Radi al
Tube
.l
Por l or nl or .
Csnt r al i zor
Fi ns
Cooxi al El ocl r i cal
Br ai d Conducl or
Fig 6. I Llectrochenical perforator.
1)r. IVI.S. l'arahat
CII.l/I
lYc Contletio,l
9l
I,',lB
(Jtcxibte saul bttt't icr): A tlcxiblc slotlcd lincr was clcvclqrcrl
b bc rrsccl
alone or to back up the perforations.
I t i s a l r cl i cal l y l i ) l l l r c( l nr cl . l l Lr bc, sr r pcr f i ci al l y
si nr i l ar ' l o cor r vcnl i onl l
fl cxi bl c-metal
conduct for el ectri cal
wi ri rrg.' l ' he FSI3 nray bc ptrrrl pcd out ol '
thc cutoff nose of thc | .25 i n dl i l l sl ri ng
and ancl l ored i nto thc fomrati on by IIn
expandi | g set of barbs on a spcer. The dri l l stri ng
can then be
pul l cd back
1()
leave the bare FSB anchored in
place
Al ternati vel y,
the FSB
nray be punrped down the dri l l stri ng 10 serve as an
i nncr sl otted
l i ner fot thc petforati ons. Fi g. 6 2 shorvs a schcnl ati c and two
cr.oss sections of the FSB. Figs 6.3 and 6.4 show schenratic
placerrents ion a
formation. lnitial tests shows a combined effect of
good sand exclusion and
effective transpqrt of high viscosity oil througb the helical
joints
at low
pressurc drop.
WITI] PENFONATED RAOIAL ' UE:
I
wn r r n^ur l l r uaF : Mr vED
Cross-sect i on
,.-".,,ffi.n***L"*-"9tr"3
Opened Joi nt Cr oss*sect i on
Schemat i c Repr esent at i on
Fi g.6.2.
D/ . M. S. F^rnl t , rt
Itig. 6.3.
AL W lI/cI CoDtl'ltlio' 92
Casi ng
Ver t i cal
Sl ot t ed Li ner
Sucl <er
Rod
HAV ZONE
Ll t LLI l r i t
r i
r r l r i l l l l l l l Ll l i I l l l l l l l l l i l I r r Lr l t l
Pump
Fig. 6.4 Completed radial systent with gravtty clrainage.
llorizontal
gravel packing: gravei packing
can be accomplished by a twoJift
l i l l i ng proccss wj th a watet/gfavel sl urry. In the fi rst l i ft, gravel i s puntped
tl own the ddl l stri ng and out of i ts cutoff nose. Conventi onal sutface
gravel
paoking equipnent is used. Aftcr leaving thc open nose of the dlillstring. the
g,r'avel sluny flows back toward the wellbore through the horizontal boreltole
rnnrl us around the dri l l stri ng. Fi g. 6.5 shows thc progl essi ve stagcs ol ' grtvcl
packing.
l o gl avcl pacl <
successful l y dul i rg thc l l l st l i l l , tl rc matcfi al nl ust bc puttrpcd
lt a sufficient rate to ensure trunsport of the
gtavel within tlrc 1.25 in
rl ri l l stri ng. It i s found that a sui tabl e
pumpi ng mtc i s i n excess of 7 ft3/sec.
oncc thc sl urty rcenters the attnul us of thc hori zontal tadi al borchol c, whi ch i s
typically about 4 in. in diameter. This larger diameter of the radial borehole
r:l uses the sl una mi xtures to sl ow and tl re
gravel to scttl c, fonni ng a dune
ilirai'|F'|rer
ii
11
r , n r r , , r r i nr Lr r l r r
i i r r nr ! r I
[i
'."]0"
i l
(
sand
Barri er
l+li+u+
Dr-. Nl . S. I ^r: rhrl
CIL I'l tl'tU Con'tndiou 93
wi thi n the annul us that trroves fi otn tl re nose ofthe dl i l l stri ng bacl i toward thc
vcrti cal wel l botc. As tl re dune parl i cul arl y l i l l s thc radi al botchol c
attttttl tts, an
ullage
( a flow space with a flat bottom and curvod top) is created between the
l ol r of l hc radi al borchol c anri l hc tl cposi l cd
grnvcl tl ttnc l hc rrl l agc rs l l rc
foundal i on of the sel f regul ati ng characteri sti cs of thi s hori zorrl al
gfavcl
packi ng
l rtoccss.
tf gravcl gradrral l y cl oscs off l hc trl l agc i n a sl andol l i t
causes the fl ui d vel oci ty to i ncrease and thus ctode out, cafl yi l l g
rl l ol e ol thc
gravel back toward the wel l bore. l f the ul l agc enl arges, thc vckrci ty of the
sl uny sl ows and more
gmvel
settl es, fonni ng a hi gher duue.
Gravol Mov6m6nt
i n Fi rst Li l l
Grevel Movment
i n Socond Li rt
:1,
6) secrion or Hon?onrJr 3D' ehoto
h) 1000/0 Fi l l Cotrrpl el i on
Fig. 6.5 Progres"sive .s/agcs of grat,el pa<:kittg.
At tcasl , Fi g. 6.3 ancl Fi g,
(r.4
show total cotrrpl cti on sys(cttrs i trcotpotrtti ttg
FSB alone or gravel packing and perforation and FSB
placenrent in the
cfi illstring for the ullta-short radius ladial systcnl.
e)Gr.vel Fl oa l hrougl r !l i .qe
c) conl i nl ed Movmenl
d) Conclusion ol First Lllt
D,: lV.S. Farihrt
CII.l/I I|. Co',' tthn 94
Radius of Horizotttsl Welk Dreinholes
(t,2
Comnletiorr r S h ort-Rad iu s, Mctli u n
-Ratli
l ri g. 6.6 and Fi g. 6-7 sl rows a schemati c di agrams of vafi ous com!l l cti on
r)pti ons for shorfradi us, medi um-radi us and l ong-radi us of hori zontal wcl l s
lnd drainholes. These completion aspects are described below.
hhr o nr D1. r ' i h h, , , r nr n sdr ( r i r oo" l
An oxoninlo
"l.lldpo
coorpl6lior ronrosDnli' rlr somo oll||. oDlloirs.v.ilnl,ln
Fig.6.6 Tailpipe contplelion in open hole ofhorizontal tt'ell.
Basi c Types ol CoDr t l et i on
Jor l l or i r oht at
We s
-\
\r--\-\-
l i r sl nr t cl l l i ' r r i n ot r r t r hr l .
-[-]-lr-
. ) Cr 1. ( l , . r nr ni l i t r ( l
t r
I or r l ( ( l
' r) s!dr(l l hs h n,,m htri .
ni r I nhr l , s. i { n{ r i ni t l ( l ' s
Fig.6.7 Basic
f,pes
of coutplel ion
for
horizontol well,s.
. D, r I U. S, l i ar. hi t
al LI l l t t l l 1 . ' , t t l dl dt 95
6.2.1 Oaen hole compluiott
Open hol e compl eti on i s i ncxpcnsi ve but i s l i mi tcd to compl cti on reservorr
rocks. Accotdi ngl y, i t i s di ffi cul t l o sti mul ato thi s opcn hol c (| i i g. 6.7 up Icft)
arrd to control either injcction or production along the well length. A few early
hori zon{l l wcl l s hnvc bccn oorrrpl ctcrl
()l )cn
hol c but l ho
l )rcsL:rrl
l rcrrtl i s u way
fiom using openhole completions, except in formations such as Austin Chalk.
6,2.2 Tail comolelion and sl.otted lhrcr conryletiotr
Fig. 6.6 shows the tailpipe completion in open hole of horizontal well. This
tai l pi pc cornpl eti on i s i ntcndcrl to rcl rcscnt onl y sornc of thc opti ons avai l abl c
for well completions. In some reservoit, or
parts
of the [cscrvoirs, the
horizontal well may be managed by non-cemented lines.
l herefore, tl'te main purpose
of inscrting a slottcd liner in a horizontal well is
to guide hole collapse. ln addition, a liner provides a convcnicnt path to insert
various tools such as coiled tubing (CT) in a horizontal well. Slotted lincr rs
installed in open hole when the reservoir is unconsolidated or loosely
consolidated sands (Fig. 6.7- up rigbt). Also, cased, ccmcntc<l anil
perforated
liner which is expensive and is used in long horizontal section (Fig.
6.7 dorvn
l cft). Sl ottcd l i ner i n opcn hol e wi th bl ank secti ons and external casi ng packcrs
(liCP's).
This is intermediate fomr ofcompletion technique.
However, there are five tlpes ofliner have been used, namely:
l. Perforuted liner: where holes are drilled in the liner befrore landing the
liner into the open hole ofhorizontal well.
2. Slotted li er: where slots of various with and depth are rnillcd along lhc
l i ner l ength before l andi ng the l i ncr i nto l he open hol e oI l rori zortal wcl l .
3. Prepacked liners.' slotted lirrers provide limited sand control bv selected
hole size and slot width sizes. However, these liners aro susceptible to
plugging in unconsolidatcd forrnations, rvire wrapped slotted linrs havo
been used effectively to control sand
production.
Recently, the use of
gravel packing for effective sand control in horizontal wcll has bccn
succcssful l y provcd.
' l hc
rrai rr di sadvarrtagc of a shrl tctl l i no i s l l ri !t
Il,r. M.S. Falihilt
CE. Yl we Co
tl.ti'n
96
.t.
effecti ve wcl l sti mul ati on coul d be di mcul t, due to thc open annul ar spacc
between the liner and the wcll. Similarlv selective Droduction and
injection
procedures are diffi cult.
Ll nu' wi l h
I,o
l al l sol nl i on: roocntl y, oxl crrol cnsi ng
l )rokus
(l i (' l "s)
have been installed outside the slotted liner to provide a long horizontal
scti ul i nto several smal l secl i ons. Thi s method provi des l i mi ted zone
isolation, which can be used for stimulation or production control along
thc rvcl l
path
or l ength.
Cenreried and
perforated
lirtet: liner is possible to cement and perforate
mcdium and long radii horizontal wells. Cement usod in horizontal weil
completion should havc significantly less free water content than used for
verticirl well cementing. This is due to gmvity in a horizontal well, where
ftec v,ater segregates near the top poftion
of the well and heavier ccment
settl cs at the bottom.
' l
hi s resul ts i n a poor cement
j ob.
To avoi d thi s, i t i s
imporl.ant to conduct a frec water test for cement at least 45'. In additior.
the conventional API free water test is conductcd in the vertical position.
Also, Fig. 6.8 and 6.9 show schematic ofproduction liners in both well Ilrryar
3HZ and wel l Sal arn-7l {Z i rt Egypti an westem desert. Fi g.6.10 shows anothcr
case history for rveil completion status.
, D/ . M. S. I ar ahat
CIL YI lr'.
(ot'rlctit,'
97
oW . oz0l l t v oI
. oo' ! ! 01! Lv : t ot . t s t : l s- A . 2, / ! I
{ , z l 0l l - 8 Z! 60l l 95C ) $t Vl S . Z/ l I
, s
zt 60t I v
I
I AI Y U: t ddY- l J . z / t
( , 1160t - . 8z9ot )
c s 3 c: l l l o- l s . z / t 9
{ , ezsot - , 02?0t )
95t ) l Nv_t - zl l 9
( , 8Zl Ol - . 1c 9 6)
0s3 o?I l ol s. z4 t
, 00
1c9e
l v
31l i vs uf l dYoY
. z/ t s
lrt i;
=d
: <
* ' , ! ;
d ; . t
f
. F
; l <
. 09' 9896 l V
BXd 9S3' I YNA: t I X!
. 0
0' 8c48 I Y
u3l N3W3 C SOH. Z/ !
I
B=
oo
z N
z t s
rr
-I
oo
Fdi
Fig. 6.8 Schenntic ofproduction liner ir well llayar 3HZ.
D, . M. S. l ' arahrt
CH.I'I lrle Con c,iou 98
604'
t 6 54'
l 7 t 4'
7430'
f5f4.t2'
Fit. 6.9 Scllematic ofproductiotl li er in well Salam-7Hz.
7 6 S6 '
Dr M.S. Farahaf
CE VI WeIl Cottltletiotl 99
i i . :
i i i i i , , , . ; , . , . ; , ; . ; . : : : : . : : : : , , i , , r r r
Lr:.: r-r:t':.:r:
59o| l 6npl e| c<l F6eoi &dbn
Fig. 6.10 Final conrpletion stalus
Barenburg 39 a
i
p"
E! ! F
gl
9!
Dr-- M.S. Farahat
CII. |'II Cl & L\!!! lli:turi.\ llJll
CuAIrEn VII
APPLICATION oF COII,ED TunTNc Tx
Honlzol{raL DRTLLTNG
AND MULTI-LATERAL CnsB Srunrss nNn
HtsroRrns
7.
Uegiled
Tu hi n g-D ri!!!r!g
l (ccentl y, thcrc has been acti vi ty i n dri l l i ng ho zontal wcl l s usi rrg coi l cd
trrbing for the drill string together with a bent mud motor. Coiled tubing
cqui pmenl , rather than a conventi onal dri l J ri g, i s used. Seveml successful
hol es havc been dri l l ed i n the Austi n Chal k usi ng thi s techni qLre. Al though thi s
l ,..ohni quc i s rrot yct vi abl e commerci al l y, {hc prospccts l b| thc {i rturc ap| cal
11ood.
' l he
equi pment used to dri l l the fi rst hol e wi th coi l ed tubi ng i s shown i n l ri g.
/ .1,7.2,1 .3,7.4. The si detrack hol e from an exi sti ng verti cal wel l was dri l l ed
rvi th 2 i n. OD coi l ed tubi ng for a hori zontal l cngth of 504 m (1652 ft).
.Ihe
Iubing had a tensile strength of 60000 lb and the tubing injector could exert a
push-pul l force of60,000 l b.
One ofthe
problem inherent in this technique is that the coiled tubing, because
i { i s comi ng from a reel , canrrot be rotatcd to ori entcd the dri l l nrotor. l hrs tras
hoen overcome by usi ng an ori enti ng devi cc bchi nd the dri l l nrotor A srrb i s
l rci ng <l cvel opcd that can be arl j ustcd l i onr l hc sutl i cc vi a a wi l cl i nc t<r
oriented thc drill face. The diameter of the hole drilled by this techniquc has
hcen too snral l to al l ow the nse of MWD cqrri pnrent, but wi rcl i nc stccri ng
l ool s arc used successful l y. MWD tool s arc now avai l abl c c. g., advrnccd
MED (geosteering tools) that can probably be adapted to this sewice. Since
coi l ed tubi ng normal l y has a wi rel i ne wi thi n i t, thi s does not prcsent thc si tnrc
problen as that found with
jointed
drill strings. The method may develop to
,r-. tr|.S. F:|rrhrt
CH.l/II CT & Case |lisbties
I 01
, cd6d i ubhs */sLi h.
cdr rbql err!
h. coi ol dd
adtui qbh ro!. uP sub
ch!cr vdrl 8rc|
Fig. 7.1 Wellbore and directional
BHA.
D' l l
H
I
L]
u
U
il
fl
I
qi
a
Coi l ed Tubl ng Connecl or
Navl-Drlll
Slarthg Mlll
Whlpstock Assembly
l - Dr l
E
t ri t h
C7
Irig.7.2 Wit1.loi.t, cuttiqg assenl ies Fig.7.3
,r-. M.S. Farahnt
l)1t,4
for
CH. l/ C7 & Cas. llistotics lD2
: i l { . p 1 S[ ep 2 SLep 3 SLep 4 Sl . cl ) a)
Fig. 7.4 Sicletr.ack pl'ocedures.
\\/here i t i s usel l ul for the rcworki ng and re,compl eti on of exi sti ug wel l s
l i thout l cqui r-i ng a dri l l ri g. I-Iowever, several i nprovements are necessary
Lcfore
tlrc method can be cornpetitive econornically.
r' oi l ed
trbi ng dti l l i ng may be parti cul arl y
useful fol under bal ancc dri l l i ng
l )ccausc i t i s not neccssary to conl i nual l y added new secti ons of dr.i l l ;l rPc.
l l cvcral
col rparri cs atc acti ng dcvel opi rrg tool s l i rl coi l cd tubi ng dr i l l i rrg.
!
.2 Mttltilmunl Cose Stndies
t\lultilatcral wells are considered by many to be arnong the nrost in'rportant
lcchnoJogical
bteakthroughs to be introduced to the oil and gas industry.'l-hey
pl ovi de l he capabi l i ty to drai n the resen,oi r more effi ci entl y resul ti ng i n an
increase(l rate of rocovery in most reservoirs. Industry leaders have estinrated
Dr-. M.S. Farahai
Cn. UI CI
&
Cls( Ilhtotias 103
ll)irt lhc use of nrultilateral
systems will allow rccovery r tos to inorcase t{)
l ]( l wccl 30 1() 6()
Itorccnl
o I l l y(l r()ci t I hol s i l r
l rl acc.
Some tl ri l l i rg scrvi ces col ti nue to be thc l eader
i n the new gcrerati on
of
nr | r l l i l i l l cr f l l
cl i l l i ng and conr pl cl i ot r sysl cnl s. O r nr | l l i l l r l cr al : r ysl cl l t s
i l r c
dcsi gncd for case of use and can be customi zed to sewi ce nearl y al l
mul ti l atcral
dri l l i ng needsi The fol l owi ng case studi es offer.j ust a few
c\i l urpl cs ofwhal wc car accornpl i sh rvi l h l ocrrs on cttsl onrcr scrvi co.
22.!:eqe_1
(Fir1,5)
In 1996 and 1997, Sperry-sun successfully installed several 95/8 in RMLS1M
Retrievable Multilateral
System for Occidental
petroleum
of
eatat
Ltd. fronr
ol ' l shorc ri g
SANTA FE 127 l ocatcd i rr the l dd El Shargi fi cl d, Ofti l ror.c
eal ar.
i n tl rc Arbi an
Cul f.' Ihe RMIS provi des
ful l -bore access to the l at,:ral whi l c
nrai rtai ni rg unrcstri ctcd acccss to l hc rrai n wel l bol e bcl orv l l rc l atcr;tl .
Onc o['
thesc wcl l s was dri l l ed as a dual l ateral wi th a si ngl e 5 i n. compl cti on whi cl r
pcrmi l s
sei ecti ve reentry of ei thcr l ateral uti l i zi ng a speci al krol stri ng i nstal l ed
or coi l cd tubi l 1g.
Occidental had determined that the ISND Shuaiba Formation recovery would
bc enhanced
by drillirrg multilatcral wellbores in both the
Shuaiha A and B
Members. Historically, production
from vertical wells in this ficid has bcen
l ow, yi cl di ng
onl y 300 bopd, u?i th rates up to 3500 bopd bei ng achi evcrl i n rarc
instances where wells intersected
faults. Occidental also deci<lcd tha,. it was
imperative for the futurc managontent of the Shuaiba reservoit to desi.rn into
these wells the ability to leenter each wellbore selectivly. The mosr cost_
effecti ve method to acl ri eve thi s i s thc use of mul ti l al crutl dri l l i ng
an<l
compl cti on technol ogy. Wi th thc use of mul ti l atcml . actual
procl ur:tron
pcrfon'nance
has matched or exceeded expectations
with increases 600y0 rrver
ptevious production
rates. lnitial production
rates have averagcd 4056 bopcl
pcr
fateral, with individual wells producing
up to 7724 bopd frorn both the
Shuai ba A and B. l ol l owi ng sevcral weeks of producti on,
the wcl l s trave
stabi l i zed, wi th one wel l , averagi ng 6000 bopd combi ned producti on
fr.onr
both laterals.
D,. N{.S. F'nmhrf
a l L l / I
(
1, \
( - t 1! '
I l ^t l r i ' s l l l t l
Fi g. 7. 5
1)r. N{.S. Far ahat
CH. VII CT & Case fiisto es 105
This well was planned and drilled dual lateral well with medium reach
hori zorl tal wel l bores i n both the Shuai ba A and B. the 9 5/8 i n
pl oducti ou
casi ng was run to 6138 ft. MD. The RM LS wi ndows was set at 5476 ft. MD
wi th thc KOP at a 78 i ncl i nati on at 5488 ft. Ihcj uncti on ofthe upper Shuai ba
A l ateml wi th the pri nrary wel l bore was cemcnted at 4817 ft MD at a 90.4
i rrcl i nati on. The l owcr was thcn dri l l ed to 12686 MD. Thi s wel J i s currentl y
bei ng fl owed as a Shuai ba dual l ateral producer br.rt wi l l evenhral l y bc
pl accd
into scrvice as a
powered water injection well.
7.2.2 Case 2
(Fip.
7.6)
Sperry-sun comploted thc first 9 5/8 in LTBSTM cemented lateral for Mobil of
Canada i n November 1996. thc i nstal l ati on of the 9 5/8 i n LTBS i n wel l
AD 10-35/1D16-35-18- 17-W3 i n Battrum, Saskatchewan, Canada was onl y thc
thi rd such commerci al appl i cati on ofthi s technol ogy worl dwi dc.' l l ri s was al so
tllc first lateral reentry nade to on flate an annular casing packer for stagc
ccnrenti ng.
This well was drilled to drain two Roseray sand zoncs separated by an
i mpermeabl c l aycr mul ti l atcral s arc cxtremel y effecti ve i rr drai ni ng rcservoi rs
separated by impenrcablc rock layers and in decreasing ovemll capital costs
rcquired to devclop rcscr-vcs.
ln this heavy oil application, a 9 5/8 LTBS window
joint
was installed in the
nrai n casi ng stri ngs arr 8.5 i n mai n bore l ateral was dl i l l ed fronr thc cusi ng
shoe and tlren lined with 5.5 in wire wrapped scrcens. A secondary 6.5 in
lateral was drilled and lined with 4.5 in rvire wrapped screcns through thc
LTBS windows. The lateral was reentered using a completions dcflection tool
to inflate the ACP and stage cement thejuncture ofthe main casing and lateral
l i net. After removi ng {l rc compl cti ons dcfi ecti on tool s, ful l -borc acccss to both
l rtcral s i s avai l abl c.
./)r. M.S. Farrhat
(
t l . I l l
( - 1
. \
( nr
I l i \ ! ui ^ l l l ( t
Fi 14.7.6.
/ )/ ' . N{. S. Fr[ rl ! : rf
C . I tl
(
7 tr Ca\. tttsL,i.s
7.2-l!sss
ltf!c,7.])
Duri ng Septcrnbcr 1996, Spcrry-sun antl Dresser Oi l
-l
ool s succcssti rl l y dri l l cd
and compl eted a bi pl anar mul ti l ateral rvcl l usi ng Sperry-srrn s L' l BS l ,ateral
Ti e-Back Systcm wi th sel ecti ve through-tubi ng reentry and i sol ati on
capabilities provided
by the Dresser Oil Tools LRS Lateml Reentry System.
Thc muftilateral 2l1I)-l7AlB off the Bravo platfotm- was conrpletcd for
Phi l l i ps Petrol eum Norway i n thc El dfi sk Fi el d i n the Crcatcl Dkofi sk arca of
thc Norwcgian Sector in the North Sea.
Phillips Petroleum chose to use the LTBS and LRS prirrarily f{)r selective
isolation and shut-in capabilities rvhile maximizing the productive
flow
conhol. The combined system also allows access to the primary
casing while
maintaining full-bore access to the laterals, which may be re-enlcred at any
tinre dLu-ing the life of the u,ell.
Without the usc of these spccialized systenrs,
Phillips could not economically producs
the remaining reserves in this
rcscrvoirc.
Zone the higher pemreability
Cbalk formation knorvn as the Tor- as well as a
secoud hodzontal l atcml i n thc shal l ower Ekofi sk forrnati on. l )rcl i mi rrrry
producti on
resul ts suggcst that thc upper l ateral wi l l producc
approxi rnrtcl y 26
% of the total ilcrenental recovery expected from this wc]|.'lhe reser.ycs
recqvered from the tighter Ekofisk lormation would havc bcen left in placc
b_v
a sl l ntl al d
Udfi sk hori zonti rl rvcl l -
Tlris well was the first cornmercial multiJateral systern appliczrtion in the
Norwegian North Sea featuring a non-restricting 3.81 in through-tuning rnci
through bore ID, reentry and i sol ati on nrcthod-Drcssc| Oi l
' fool
s I l ts. A 7
l i rrcl ti c-back, 5.5 producti on
l i ncr, and
,
4.75 i n opcn Irol c aud rrrul ti l atcral
systcnr provided the lough-tubing lccntfy. The LRS was successfully uscd to
isolate the upper lateral while perfomring 10000 psi (BHP)
fr.ac
job
in lower.
l atcral . Thi s was al so thc fi r' st Norwegi an Nol th Sea wel l to uti l i zc a pre-mi l l cd
lateral drilling rvindo*-Sperry-Sun
s I-TBS.
t0't
/)r. lU.S. Farahat
CIL t'II CI t Crse l/isrorn,s 108
Fig. 7.7.
D/: M.S. F:rrrlr:rt
CE t/II CI & Cav llistt,i.s 109
12.4
Case 4
(Fig,
7.8)
In Febnrary
1q96. Spen)/-Sun. al ong u i rh Nederl andse Aardol i c Maatschappi j
B. B. (a
joint
venfure between Shell and Exxon) and
pressule
Conlfol
Engineering Limited (PCE),
successfully combined their expertisc to achieve
thc rvorlds first selective through-tubing.feentry
into a multilateral well RTD
l . l . l ocat ed i n t hc Rol l el danr Fi el d i n t l r e \ cr hcr i ands.
Spcrry-Sun Downhole Tool Developmenf
Group and
pCE
worked closcly
together to modi fy and devel op PCE s MLR MLrl ti l ateral Reentry
Systcm.
making it compatible with Specry-Sun s LTBS lateral Tie-llack System. Thc
integrated system uses components
developed by both Speny sun and
pCF
in
oldcr to deploy equipment such as a through-tubing
deflection tool on coiletl
hrbing, thus allowing selective reentry into lateral wellbores.
l
'l
lrrough-tubing
coiled tubing
reentry to the lateral was a fundamental
rcquirement of this project
as was the need to improve productiorr.
'l'his
well
was designed to reach different reserves in the sane rcsenoit rvhich
wcrc
scparated by layers of diflcring permeability.
NAM wantcd to reaoh nrorc of
thc fi el d and i ncrease the dr.ai nagc
area. l n thc i ni ti al prodncti on phrse,
rccrrtry
was not required. Ilowevel, the reentry operation was cauicd out ilnyway,
lc\
confirm that it will be achievable
when NAM determines the need lbr reentrv.
After successfully drilling and lining the rnain wellbore, a lateral was <lrillcd
orrt of the primary
casing using the I-TBS. This lateral was thcn comDlclcd
wi th a l i nel whi ch was ti ed back to the pr
i mary casi ng. Then, Lrsi ng
Sperry
Sun s upper muleshoe assembly, the MLR nipple was latched across the LTIIS
ptemi l l ed
wi ndorv and hel d i n pl ace usi ng the SSDS l atch systen. fhi s acri or)
al l owed NAM {o dcpl oy PCE s throdgh tubi ng defl ccti on tool coi l cd tubi ng
ard set i t i n the MLR l i ppJe asscnrbl y.
Scl ccti ve through tubi ng access to the
Iateral wel l borc rvas confi nned as a dumnry pl ug was run i n smoothl y and thcn
retrieved fiom the PCE nipple located in the lateral liner. Finally, the
dcflection tool was rctrieved on coiled tubins.
,,: M.S. Farahat
Lil. l'll
(:1
li
(.:tt?
Ilistutit | | l{'l
' fhi s
acl ri evcrnenl rvas a nul l i l atcrai anrl conrpl cti on
l r| cakt hrorrgh. l 1 provcs t hc l casi bi l i t y of scl cct i vc t o t hc i i rt cf rl
thc pel l or nranoc of wel l servi ci ng opel ati ons.
Fi g.7.8.
t cchnol ogi cal
rvcl l l t orc i i rr
Dl l V. S. Fal ahrf
CH. VII CT & fnsc llisktii.s 111
Z. 1
UUWblelsLeqrcHi s t"olLc t;
e_ ! _0'i c.
7.
Y
' I
hi s fi rst nrul ti l atcrl l wcl l i n thc Mi ddl c l i rrst wrs tl i l l ctl i rr l \,l arcl r l 996. l hc
conrpi eti on consi stcd of two hori zol tal l a{cral s cnconrpassi ng about 3500 fl of
crposed hol e i n each l eg (Fi g. 7.9)
' l
he operator dri l l cd the l ower l ateral sccl i on as an extcnsi on ofl hc parent rvcl l
borc. The uppcr' l atcral wel l secti on exi ted out a 9 5/8 i n., 40l b/ft p,rrcut
c' rsrrrg
stri ng i nto an 8.5 i n. hol e. A 7 i n l i ncr was set through thc bui l d unti l
hori zontal .
'|
his liner was set with a composite
joint
across the hollorv whipslock face as
<l i scrrsscd cnrl i cr.' l ' he l i ncr rvas ccnrcnl c(1. rrnd l hc l l l cl al rvi rs t:orrrpl ctcd thcn
llow tcstcd for 2 weeks.
' l
hc l owcr parcnt wcl l borc was l l rcn rcoponcd, l nrl l hc.j rrnc{i on \vl s
l l rcssrrrc
t( sted. Bccause of the vcrti cfl l l y penrreabl c
naturc of l hc l i rrnral i on i n whi cl r
l l rc cxi t wi rs pl acc(1, ccnl cnt sqtrcczcs wcrc ttcc<k:rl at l l rc.j urcti ()r l () pl ss l l rc
I' r)si ti ve
and negati ve pressurc tcsts.
l ' l ugs wcl e thcn
pul l cd fi onr thc prrcnt nrrtl l atcral wcl l bol os usi rrg ful l grugc
rnd tl rrough-tubi ng di vel ters and a wi ndow bushi ng asscnrbl y.
' l
hc rvi ncl ows
bushi t r g assct nbl y was ul t i nr at cl y I cf t i n t hc. j uncl i on, and a 4. 5 i n. l Lr bi ng sl r i ng
r r s r r r r r i r t hc l r l ) pcr conr I l ct i r n) .
' l hi s
i nstal l ati on took l onger to run l han anti ci patcd, ncverthel ess, both wcl l
l ' ores became producti ve. The ori cntati on ni ppl e and mati ng l ock dcvi cc
r' ,,orkcd wel l . Bascd on tl ri s cxpcfi cncc, Drodi fi cati ons rvcrc rradc to thc
rl cfl ectol s, enhanci ng effi ci enci es and besl practi cc ptoccdul cs.
, / . i \ ' I . S. t xri hrt
CH. VII C7 & Cose Ilinoli.s 112
Fi g.7.9.
, / . [ ' I . S. Farahnf