DRILLING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER # 1
Rotary Drilling Rigs

Objective
To familiarize the student with
(1) the basic rotary drilling equipment and operational
procedures.
(2) introduce the student to drilling cost evaluation.

Drilling Team
Large companies vs. small
Specialized skills
Service companies

Types of Wells
(1)

Wildcat Well: to discover new petroleum reservoir.

(2)

Development Well: exploit a known reservoir.

Geological Group: recommends wildcat location.
Reservoir Engg. Group: recommends development
Drilling Group: designs and cost estimate.
Tool pusher
Driller
Ass. Driller
Derrickman (monkey board)
2-3 rotary helpers (floormen or rough necks)
Motor man
Rig mechanics

Types of Wells...

Rig electrician
Company man
Roust abouts
Head roust about is the crane operator
Mud engineer
Casing crew
Cementing service
Legal Group: secures drilling rights
Surveyors: establish and stake well location
Drilling Contractor (Bid basis)
Cost per Foot drilling in area is routine.
Cost per Day unknown area
Location Preparation
Water Wells

Types of Wells...

South Louisiana marshlands: inland barge

Canadian Arctic Islands: man-made ice platform
Extensive storage & Supply
Manpower:
Operator

Contractor
Service Company

Consultants

1.1 Types of Drilling Rigs

Drilling and workover rigs come in a variety of shapes and sizes with
each having its own characteristics suited for a particular job. Although
there are many factors to be considered in selecting the best rig for the
job, a few are especially critical. They are:

Surface location (land, inland water, offshore)

Estimated maximum hole depth
Horsepower requirements
Cost
Availability
As can be imagined, the selecting of drilling and workover rigs is best
accomplished by use of good, sound judgement and engineering
experience.

Rigs
Marine

Land

Bottom
Support

FLoating

Semi/
Submersible

Platform

Self
-Contained

Barge

Jackup

Tendered

Drill ship

Conventional

Jacknife
(Deeper)

Mobile

Portable
Mast (Small)
(Small

Common Types of Drilling Rigs

1. Land Rigs
As the name implies, these rigs are primarily used on
land; however, some have been transported offshore for
structure rig assignments. Most land rigs have to be
transported to location in sections, but some are selfcontained, permanently mounted on trucks. On location
they are usually set up on a board mat with a substructure
of 8 to 40 feet high, and a few are capable of drilling holes
to 30,000+ feet.

2. Inland Barges
Inland Barges are composed of two types:
a.

Barge mounted rigs

This type rig is capable of drilling in water depths from 0 to
12 feet. After being towed on location, the rigs hull is filled
with water until it rests on bottom.

b. Posted barge mounted rigs

These type rigs have an upper deck supported by posts from
the lower hull. The deck contains all drilling equipment and
accommodations. Posted barges are capable of drilling in
water depths from 0 to 20 feet. The rig is towed on location
and the lower hull filled with water to secure it on bottom.

3. Submersible Rigs
These rigs are towed on location and are capable of working in
water depths from 18 to 70 feet. They are composed of an upper
deck and lower hull connected by beams. On some types a large
bottle, or something similar, is located on each corner of the rig for
stability. These bottles, as well as the lower hull itself, are filled
with water to set the rig on bottom and stabilize against movement.

4. Jack-up Rigs
These rigs are normally towed on location, but a few are selfpropelled. They are composed of an upper deck supported by
either three or more legs attached to mats or spud cans and are
capable of working in water depths from 30 to 350 feet. These
mats or cans rest on the ocean floor with the deck jacked up into
drilling position. There are two common types of jack-up rigs;
Bethlehem and Letourneau. The former uses stabilized column
legs attached to mats while the latter uses three, truss-type legs
mounted on spudcans.

5. Semi-Submersible
These rigs can be towed on location, or some types are
self-propelled. They are capable of drilling in water depths
of 20 to 2,000+ feet. The rig itself remains stationary in the
drilling position by a series of anchors (usually two
connected at each corner of the rig) positioned on the ocean
floor at a distance away from the rig. It should also be
noted that some Semis can be used as a submersible rig.

6. Drill Ships
Drill ships are self-propelled drilling vessels capable of
drilling in water depths of 18 to 2,000+ feet. There are two
basic types of drill ships - one that positions itself with
anchors and one that uses dynamic positioning.

7. Structure Rigs
Structure rigs are mounted on a fixed platform with all
drilling equipment secured on deck. The rig itself is
capable of changing positions on the structure;
however, the structure is permanently based and
designed to last many years. Structures are capable of
being set in water depths of 10 to 850+ feet. Structure
set-ups usually follow a successful exploratory program
in order that many development wells can be drilled
from one location. These wells are almost always
directional.

Rotary Drilling Process

Rotary table rotates the drill string

Downward force applied to the bit
Cuttings are lifted to the surface by circulating a fluid down the
drill string.
Main Component Parts of a Rotary Rig are:are
1. Power System
2. Hoisting System
3. Fluid Circulating System
4. Rotary System
5. Well Control System
6.

Well Monitoring System

A Rotary Drilling Rig

1.2 Rig Power System

Most power consumed by :
hoisting system and fluid circulation
Not used at same time
Total power requirements 1000 3000 hp
Old days steam
Now internal combustion diesel engines types (1) dieselelectric type (electric motors), (2) direct-drive type (gearschains) depending on power method.

Power-System Performance Characteristics

Are stated in terms of:
1.
2.
3.

Output horse power

Torque
Fuel consumption for various engine speeds

T = 2N.F.r

Where,
P

T
N

=
=
=
=

shaft power (hp)

2N, Angular velocity of the shaft (engine speed), rad/min
output torque (lb-ft)
Rev./min

(1.1)

Power-System Performance Characteristics ...

Overall power efficiency determines the rate of fuel consumption (Wf)
at a given engine speed.
Heating values (H Btu/lbm) of various fuels for internal combustion
engines are shown in Table 1.1.
Fuel
Density (lbm/gal)Heating Value H(Btu/lbm)
Diesel 7.2
19,000
Gasoline
6.6
20,000
Butane 4.7
21,000
Methane
-24,000

Heat energy to the engine Q i

Qi = Wf.H

(hp)

(1.2)

Et = P /Qi = Energy Output / Energy Input

Et = overall power system efficiency

(1.3)

Example 1.1: A diesel engine gives an output torque of

1,740 ft-lbf at an engine speed of 1,200 rpm. If the fuel
consumption rate was 31.5 gal/hr, what is the output
power and overall efficiency of the engine?
The annular velocity, , is given by
=2(1,200) = 7,539.8 rad/min.
The power output can be computed using Eq. 1.1:
P= T
7,539.8(1740) ft lbf / min

= 397.5 hp
33,000 ft lbf / hp

Solution:

Since the fuel type is diesel, the density is 7.2 lbm/gal

and the heating value H is 19,000 Btu/lbm (Table 1.1).
Thus, the fuel consumption rate is wf is

wf = 31.5 gal/hr (7.2 lbm/gal)

1hour

60 min utes

= 3.78 lbm/min
The total heat energy consumed by the engine is given by Eq.
1.2:
Qi= wf H

3.78lbm / min(19,000 Btu / lbm)( 779 ft lbf / Btu )

33,000 ft lbf / min/ hp

= 1,695.4 hp.
Thus, the overall efficiency of the engine at 1,200 rpm given
by Eq. 1.3 is
P
397.5
Et

= 0.234 or 23.4% Answer

Qi 1695.4

1.3 Hoisting System

Function:
Function
Used to lower or raise drill strings, casing string and other subsurface
equipment into or out of hole.
Principal Components:
1. Derrick and substructure
2. Block and tackle
3. Draw works
Functions of Derrick:
1. Provides vertical height required to raise sections of pipe.
2. Rated according to their ability to withstand compressive loads and
(wind loads)
Components of Block and Tackle:
1. Crown block
2. Travelling block
3. Drilling line

Components of
the hoisting
system

Principal Function:
To provide a mechanical advantage which permits easier
handling of large loads.

Load supported by travelling block

Load imposed on the draw works

M

W
Ff

M= Mechanical advantage
F = tension in the fast line

The ideal mechanical advantage that assumes no friction in

the block and tackle can be determined from a force analysis
of the travelling block.
n Ff = W

Input power of block and tackle = pi

Pi = Ff Vf

(1.5)

Ff = draw works load

Vf = velocity of fast line
Ph = output power of the hook load

Pn = W.Vb

(1.6)

W = travelling block load

Vb = velocity of travelling block

Vb

Vb

Vf
n

Vf
h

Ph ( nF f ) (V f / n )
E

1
Pi
Ff V f

no friction

Power efficiency is
E

W
Ff n

actual system

Tension in the fast line

W
Ff
Eh

(1.7)

Eq. 1.7 is used to select drilling line size.

Fd

= W + Ff + Fs

Fd
Fs

= load applied to the derrick

= tension in the lead line

W W
1 E En
Fd W
W

En n
En

fast

dead

(1.8a)

(1.8b)

Example 1.2: A rig must hoist a load of 300,000 lbf. The

drawworks can provide an input power to the block and tackle
system as high as 500hp. Eight lines are strung between the
crown block and traveling block.
Calculate
(i) the static tension in the fast line when upward motion is
impending,
(ii) the maximum hook horsepower available,
(iii) the maximum hoisting speed,
(iv) the actual derrick load
(v) the maximum equivalent derrick load, and
(vi) the derrick efficiency factor.
Assume that the rig floor is arranged as shown in Fig 1.17.

Solution:
(i) the power efficiency of n=8 is given as 0.841 in Table 1.2.
The tension in the fast line is given by Eq. 1.7.
W 300,000
Ff

44,590lbf
En 0.841(8)

(ii) The maximum hook horsepower available is

Ph = E. I = 0.841 (500) = 420.5 hp
(iii) The maximum hoisting speed is given by

33,000 ft lbf / min

hp

300,000lbf

Ph
vb

420.5hp

= 46.3 ft/min

To pull a 90-ft stand would require

t

90 ft
1.9 min
46.3 ft / min

(iv) The actual derrick load is given by Eq. 1.8b

1 E En
W
En

Fd

1 0.841 0.841(8)
(300,000)
0.841(8)

= 382,090 lbf

(v) The maximum equivalent load is given by Eq. 1.9

84
n4
Fde
(300,000) 450,000lbf
W
8
n
(vi) The derrick efficiency factor is
Fd 382,090

Ed
0.849 or 84.9% Answer
Fde 450,000

Drawworks
Provide the hoisting and braking power required to raise or
lower the heavy strings of the pipe.
Principle Parts
The drums
The brakes
The transmission
The catheads

1.4 Rotary System

Main Parts:
1. Swivel
2. Kelly
3. Rotary Drive
4. Rotary Table
5. Drill Pipe
6. Drill Collar
1. Swivel:
Supports the weight of the drillstring and permits rotation i.e. Bail
and Gooseneck.
2. Kelly:
Square or Hexagonal to be gripped easily. Torque is transmitting
through kelly bushings. Kelly saver sub is used to prevent wear on
the kelly threads.

Rotary System...

3. Slips:
During making up a joint slips are used to prevent drillstring
from falling in hole.
4. Rotary Drive:
Provides the power to turn the rotary table.
* Power Sub:
can be used to connect casing.
5. Drill Pipe:
Specified by
(a) Outer Diameter
(b) Weight per foot
(c) Steel grade
(d) Range Length
Range

Length (ft)

1 18 to 22
2 27 to 30
3 38 to 45

Rotary System...

* Tool Joint:

Female is called Box.

Male is called Pin.
* Upset :
Thicker portion of the pipe.
* Internal upset: Extra thick.
* Thread Type:
Round, tungsten carbide hard facing.

6. Drill Collar:
Thick walled heavy steel pipe used to apply weight to the bit.
* Stabilizer Subs : Keep drill collars centralized.
* Capacity : Volume per unit Length.
2
d
4

2
Aa ( d 2 d12 )
4
2
As ( d1 d 2 )
4
Ap

= Capacity of pipe

(1.13)

= Capacity of annulus

(1.14)

= Displacement

(1.15)

Rotary System...

Capacity and displacement nomenclature

Rotary System...

Example 1.4: A drillstring is composed of 7,000 ft of 5-in.,

19.5-lbm/ft drillpipe and 500 ft of 8-in. OD by 2.75-in ID
drill collars when drilling a 9.875-in. borehole. Assuming
that the borehole remains in gauge, compute the number
of pump cycles required to circulate mud from the
surface to the bit and from the bottom of the hole to the
surface if the pump factor is 0.178 bbl/cycle.
Solution:
For field units of feet and barrels, Eq. 1.13 becomes

2 2 gal
Ap d in.
3
4

231in.

bbl

42 gal

12in d 2
bbl / ft

ft 1,029.4

Rotary System...

Using Table 1.5, the inner diameter of 5-in., 19.5 lbm/ft

drillpipe is 4.276 in.; thus, the capacity of the drillpipe is
4.2762

0.01766 bbl ft
1,029.4

And the capacity of the drill collars is

2.752

0.00735 bbl ft
1,029.4

The number of pump cycles required to circulate new

mud bit is given by

0.01776(7,000) 0.00735(500)bbl 719cycles.

0.1781 bbl cycle

Rotary System...

Similarly, the annular capacity outside the drillpipe is given by

9.8752 52

0.0704 bbl ft
1,029.4

And the annulus capacity outside the drill collars is

9.8752 82

0.0326 bbl ft
1,029.4

The pump cycles required to circulate mud from the

bottom of the hole to the surface is given by

0.0704(7,000) 0.0326(500) 2,858cycles

0.1781 bbl cycle

Answer

Components of the rotating system

1.5 Circulating System

Components:
1. Mud Pumps
2. Mud Pits
3. Mud Mixing Equipment
4. Contaminants Removal Equipment
Pumps:
Reciprocating Positive Displacement Piston Pumps.

Two-Cylinders - Duplex (Double Acting Forward-Backward)

Three-Cylinders - Triplex (Forward only Single Acting)

Duplex
Triplex
Heavy
Light
Bulky
More Compact
High Output Pressure
Lower
Pulsation
Without Pulsation
Require more Maint. Cheaper to Operate

Therefore majority of new pumps are Triplex.

Circulating System...

Advantages
(1) Ability to move high solid content fluids
(2) Ability to move large particles
(3) Ease to operation and maintenance
(4) Reliability
(5) Ability to operate over wide range of pressure s and flow rates by
changing the diameters of the pump liners and pistons.
Overall Pump Efficiency =Mechanical Efficiency x Volumetric Efficiency
Em= Mechanical Efficiency ~ 90%
Ev= Volumetric Efficiency ~ 100%

Two Circulating pumps are installed on the rig.

Shallow portion both are used.
Deeper portion one is used.

Circulating System...

Components of the circulating System.

Circulating System...

Circulating System

Circulating System...

Pump Displacement
(1) Double Acting
Figure 1.25 (a)
dr = Piston rod diameter
dL= Liner diameter
Ls= Stroke Length (Stroke = one complete pump revolution).

Forward Stroke Volume Displaced = (/4) dL2 Ls

Backward Stroke Volume Displaced = (/4) (dL2 - dr2 ) Ls
one Cylinder)

Total Volume =Fp= 2 Ls( /4) (2LL2 - Lr2 ) . Ev

(for two Cylinders)
Fp= Pump factor or pump displacement cycle.

(1.10)

(for

Example 1.3: Compute the pump factor in units of barrels

per stroke for a duplex pump having 6.5-in. liners, 2.54in. rods, 18-in. strokes and a volumetric efficiency of
90%?
Solution:
The pump factor for a duplex pump can be determined
using Eq 1.10:
Fp = 2 Ls(/4) (2LL2 - Lr2 ) . Ev
= (/2) (18) [ 2(6.5)2 - (2.5)2] . (0.9)
= 1991.2 in.3 /stroke
or = 0.2052 bbl/stroke.
Answer

(2)

Triplex Acting
Figure 1.25(b)

Fp= 2 (/4) dL2 Ls. Ev

(1.11)

q=flow rate = Fp . N
(Where N = no. of cycles per unit time)

Pumps are rated for

1. Hydraulic Power
2. Maximum Pressure
3. Maximum Flowrate
P q
PH
1714
PH = Pump Pressure, hp
P = Increase in pressure, psi
q = Flow rate (gal/min)

(1.12)