PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 35
Wellbore Surveying Methods

1
Wellbore Surveying Methods

Average Angle
Balanced Tangential
Minimum Curvature
Radius of Curvature
Tangential

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

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

( See comments on previous years design

projects )

3
Homework Problem #18

Balanced Cement Plug

Due Friday, December 6

4
I, A, DMD

5
Example - Wellbore Survey Calculations

The table below gives data from a directional survey.

Survey Point Measured Depth Inclination Azimuth

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

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

Based on known coordinates for point C well calculate

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

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

I. Calculate the x, y, and z coordinates

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

(iv) The Radius of Curvature method

(v) The Tangential method
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 The Average Angle Method

Find the coordinates of point D using

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

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

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

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

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

DEast DMD sin IAVG sin A AVG

DNorth DMD sin IAVG cos A AVG

DVert DMD cos IAVG

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

The Average Angle Method

IC ID 14 24
IAVG 19
2 2

A C AD 20 80
A AVG 50
2 2

DEast DMD sin IAVG sin A AVE

Dx 400 sin19 sin 50

Dx 99.76 ft
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 The Average Angle Method

DNorth DMD sin IAVG cos A AVG

Dy 400 sin19 cos 50

Dy 83.71 ft

DVert 400 cos IAVG

Dz 400 cos19
Dz 378.21 ft
14
 The Average Angle Method

At Point D,

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

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

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

15
 The Balanced Tangential Method

This method treats half the measured distance

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

DMD
DEast sin I1 sin A1 sin I2 sin A 2
2
DMD
DNorth sin I1 cos A1 sin I2 cos A 2
2
DMD
DVert cos I2 cos I1
2

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

The Balanced Tangential Method

DMD
DEast sin IC sin AC sin ID sin AD
2

400
2

sin 14 o sin 20o sin 24 o sin 80o

Dx 96.66 ft

17
 The Balanced Tangential Method

DMD
DNorth sin IC cos AC sin ID cos AD
2

400
2

sin 14 o cos 20o sin 24 o cos 80o

Dy 59.59 ft
18
The Balanced Tangential Method

DMD
DVert cos ID cos IC
2

400
2

cos 24 o cos 14 o

Dz 376.77 ft

19
The Balanced Tangential Method

At Point D,

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

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

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

20
Minimum Curvature Method

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

DMD
DEast sin I1 sin A1 sin I2 sin A 2 RF
2
DMD
DNorth sin I1 cos A1 sin I2 cos A 2 RF
2
DMD
DVert cos I1 cos I2 RF
2
22
 Minimum Curvature Method

The Dogleg Angle, b, is given by:

cos b cos ID IC sin IC sin ID 1 cos(AD AC )

cos 24o 14o sin 14o sin 240 1 cos(800 20o )
cos b = 0.9356

b = 20.67 = 0.3608 radians

o

23
Minimum Curvature Method

The Ratio Factor,

2 b
RF tan
b 2

2 20.67o
RF tan
0.3608 2

RF 1.0110
24
 Minimum Curvature Method

DMD
DEast sin IC sin AC sin ID sin AD RF
2

400
2

sin 14 o sin 20o sin 24 o sin 80o 1.0110

96.66 * 1.011 97.72 ft

Dx 97.72 ft
25
 Minimum Curvature Method

DMD
DNorth sin IC cos AC sin ID cos AD RF
2

400
2

sin 14 o cos 20o sin 24 o cos 80o 1.0110

59.59 * 1.011 60.25 ft

Dy 60.25 ft
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 Minimum Curvature Method

DMD
DVert cos ID cos IC RF
2

400
2

cos 24 o cos 14 o 1.0110

376.77 * 1.0110 380.91 ft

Dz 380.91 ft
27
 Minimum Curvature Method

At Point D,

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

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

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

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 The Radius of Curvature Method

DMD cos IC cos ID cos A C cos AD 180

2

DEast
ID IC AD AC

o

400 cos 14 cos 24 cos 20 cos 80 180
o o

o
2

24 14 80 20

Dx 95.14 ft

29
 The Radius of Curvature Method

2
DMD (cos IC cos ID ) (sin AD sin AC ) 180
DNorth
(ID IC ) ( AD A C )

2
400(cos14 cos 24 )(sin 80 sin 20

) 180

(24 14)(80 20)

Dy 79.83 ft

30
The Radius of Curvature Method

DMD (sin ID sin IC ) 180

DVert
ID IC

400 (sin 24o sin 14o ) 180

24 14

Dz 377.73 ft

31
 The Radius of Curvature Method

At Point D,

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

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

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

32
 The Tangential Method

Measured depth from C to D, DMD 400 ft

IC 14 A C 20
ID 24 A D 80

DEast DMD sin ID sin AD

400 sin24 sin 80

Dx 160.22 ft
33
The Tangential Method

DNorth DMD sin ID cos AD

400 sin 24o cos 80o

Dy 28.25 ft

DVert DMD cos ID

400 cos 24

Dz 365.42 ft
34
 The Tangential Method

At Point D,

x 1,000 160.22 1,160.22 ft

y 1,000 28.25 1,028.25 ft

z 3,500 365.42 3,865.42 ft

35
Summary of Results (to the nearest ft)

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

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

LEAD ANGLE

42
b

43
Tool Face Angle

44