Directional Drilling
And Surveying
What is Directional Drilling?
Directional Drilling is the process of directing a
well bore along some trajectory to a
predetermined target.
Basically it refers to drilling in a non-vertical
direction. Even “vertical” hole sometimes require
directional drilling techniques.
Examples: Slanted holes, high angle holes (far from vertical),
Extended Reach Holes, and Horizontal holes.
Non-Vertical
Wellbore θ, α or I
Inclination Angle
t i on
lin a Z Axis (True Vertical
Inc e Y Depth)
P la n
North
Direction
Angle φ, ε or A
Direction Plane X
Lease Boundary
Surface Surface Location for Well No. 1
Location for
Well No. 2
Bottom Hole Location for Well 2
Houses
Oil-Water
Contact
Figure 8.2 - Plan view of a typical oil and gas structure under a lake showing how
directional wells could be used to develop it. Best locations? Drill from lake?
Top View
NOTE: All the
wells are
directional 5 - 50 wells
per platform
Figure 8.3 - Typical offshore development platform
with directional wells.
Drilling Rig Inside Building
Figure 8.4 - Developing a field under a city
using directionally drilled wells.
Why not
drill from Maximum
top of lateral
mountain displacement
?
Fig. 8.5 - Drilling of directional wells where the reservoir
is beneath a major surface obstruction.
Cement Plug Fish Lost in Hole
and Unable to
Recover
Sidetracked Hole
Around Fish
Figure 8.6 -
Sidetracking
around a fish.
Figure 8.7 -
Using an old Oil Producing
Well Ready to
well to explore Abandon
for new oil by
Sidetracked
sidetracking Out of Casing
out of the
casing and Possible
New Oil
drilling
Old Oil Reservoir
directionally.
Horizontal
Departure
to Target
Type II
Build-hold and Drop (“S Type”)
Type I Build and Build-hold Drop and/or
Hold Type Hold (Modified “S” Type)
Type III Continuous
Build
Figure 8.8 - Major types of wellbore trajectories.
Figure 8.10 -
Geometry of the
build section.
Build Section
θ Build Radius:
18,000
r1 =
π * BUR
Build Section:
Length of arc, L = r1θ1
Vertical depth = C’D’ = r1 sin θ1
Horiz. Depart. = DD’ = r1 (1-cos θ1 )
L 100
r1 = 1
=
θ π
1 θ 1 *
180
↑ ↑
rad deg
18,000
r1 = BUR = build rate in deg/100 ft
π * BUR
Start of Buildup
End of Build
Type II
Drop Off
Target
Build-hold-and drop for the case where:
r1 < x 3 and r1 + r2 < x 4
Kickoff
Type II End of Build
Maximum
Inclination
Angle
Build-hold-and
drop for the case Drop Off
where:
Target
r1 < x3 and r1 + r2 > x4
Projected Trajectory
Projected
Trajectory with Left
Turn to Hit Targets
Target 1
Target 2
Target 3
Fig. 8-14. Directional well used to intersect
multiple targets
N18E S23E
A = 157o
Fig. 8-15.
Directional
quadrants and
compass
measurements
N55W
S20W
A = 305o
A=?
Lead Angle Projected Well Path
Surface
Location
for Well
No. 2
Target at a
Lake TVD 9,659
Figure 8-16: Plan View
Well profile
Directional Drilling Operation
Deviation due to Formation Dip
Deviation due to Hardness of
Formation
Deviation due to Miniature
Whipstock Theory
Directional Tools
• (i) Whipstock
• (ii) Jet Bits
• (iii) Downhole motor and bent sub
Whipstocks
Standard retreivable Circulating Permanent Casing
Setting a Whipstock
• Small bit used to start
• Apply weight to:
– set chisel point &
– shear pin
• Drill 12’-20’
• Remove whipstock
• Enlarge hole
Jetting Bit
• Fast and economical
Small Jets
• For soft formation
• One large - two small
nozzles
• Orient large nozzle
• Spud periodically
• No rotation at first
Jetting
• Wash out pocket
• Return to normal
drilling
• Survey
• Repeat for more
angle if needed
Mud Motors
Drillpipe
Non-magnetic
Drill Collar
Bent Sub
Mud Motor
Rotating
Sub
Increasing Inclination
• Limber assembly
• Near bit stabilizer
• Weight on bit forces
DC to bend to low
side of hole.
• Bit face kicks up
Hold Inclination
• Packed hole
assembly
• Stiff assembly
• Control bit weight and
RPM
Decrease Inclination
• Pendulum effect
• Gravity pulls bit
downward
• No near bit stabilizer
Packed Hole Assemblies
Drill
String String String NB
pipe
Stabilizer Stabilizer Stabilizer Stab
Monel
HW DP Steel DC Steel DC DC
Vertical Calculation Horizontal Calculation
3D View Dog Leg Angle
Deflecting Wellbore Trajectory
0
270 90
180
Bottom Hole Location
o
Direction : N 53 E
Distance : 2,550 ft
TVD : 10,000
E = 2,550 sin 53 o
= 2,037 ft
N = 2,550 cos 53 o
= 1,535 ft
Closure = 2,550 = E 2 + N2
⎛E ⎞
Closure Direction = tan ⎜ ⎟ = 53 o
-1
⎝N⎠
Horizontal
N View
Vertical
View
We may plan a 2-D well, but we always
get a 3D well (not all in one plane)
MD, α1, ε1
∆MD
β = dogleg
angle α2 , ε 2
Fig. 8-22. A curve representing a wellbore
between survey stations A1 & A2
Bottom Hole Location
Direction : N 53o E
Distance : 2,550 ft
TVD : 10,000
E = 2,550 sin 53 o
= 2,037 ft
N = 2,550 cos 53 o
= 1,535 ft
Closure = 2,550 = E 2 + N2
⎛E⎞
Closure Direction = tan ⎜ ⎟ = 53o
-1
⎝N⎠
Survey Calculation Methods
1. Tangential Method
= Backward Station Method
= Terminal Angle Method
Assumption:
Hole will maintain constant
inclination and azimuth angles,
IB and AB , between survey points.
A
Known : Location of A
Distance AB
IA Angles IA , IB
Angles A A , A B
IB
Calculation : VAB = AB cosIB
HAB = AB sinIB
B
Poor accuracy!!
IB
Average Angle Method
= Angle Averaging Method
Assumption: Borehole is parallel to the
simple average drift and bearing angles
between any two stations.
Known: Location of A, Distance AB,
Angles I A , IB , A A , A B
A
Average Angle Method
(i) Simple enough for field use
IA (ii) Much more accurate than
“Tangential” Method
IB
IAVG ⎛ I A + IB ⎞
Iavg =⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠
B
⎛ A A + AB ⎞
IAVG A avg =⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠
A
Average Angle Method
Vertical Plane:
IA
IB ⎛ I A + IB ⎞
Iavg =⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠
IAVG
V AB = AB cos Iavg
B
H AB = AB sin Iavg
IAVG
N Average Angle Method
Horizontal Plane:
H AB = AB sin Iavg
AB
B ∆ E = AB sin Iavg sin A avg
AAVG ∆ N = AB sin Iavg cos A avg
∆N
AA ∆ Z = AB cos Iavg
∆E
E
A
Change in position towards the east:
⎛ IA + IB ⎞ ⎛ A A + AB ⎞
∆ x = ∆ E = L sin ⎜ ⎟ sin ⎜ ⎟..(1)
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
Change in position towards the north:
⎛ I A + IB ⎞ ⎛ A A + AB ⎞
∆ y = ∆ N = L sin ⎜ ⎟ cos ⎜ ⎟..( 2 )
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
Change in depth:
⎛ I A + IB ⎞
∆ Z = L cos ⎜ ⎟ ..( 3 )
⎝ 2 ⎠
Where L is the measured distance
between the two stations A & B (∆MDAB).
Example
The coordinates of a point in a wellbore are:
x = 1,000 ft (easting)
y = 2,000 ft (northing)
z = 3,000 ft (depth)
At this point (station) a wellbore survey shows that
the inclination is 15 degrees from vertical, and the
direction is 45 degrees east of north. The
measured distance between this station and the
next is 300 ft….
Example
The coordinates of point 1 are:
x1 = 1,000 ft (easting)
o
y1 = 2,000 ft (northing) I1 = 15
o
z1 = 3,000 ft (depth) A1 = 45
L12 = 300 ft
o o
At point 2, I2 = 25 and A2 = 65
Find x2 , y2 and z2
Solution
⎛ I1 + I2 ⎞ ⎛ 15 + 25 ⎞
Iavg =⎜ ⎟=⎜ ⎟ = 20
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ A 1 + A 2 ⎞ ⎛ 45 + 65 ⎞
A avg =⎜ ⎟=⎜ ⎟ = 55
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
H12 = L12 sin Iavg = 300 sin 20 = 103 ft
∆E = H12 sin Aavg = 103 sin 55 = 84 ft
∆N = H12 cos Aavg = 103 cos 55 = 59 ft
∆Z = L12 cos Iavg = 300 cos 20 = 282 ft
Solution - cont’d
∆E = 84 ft
∆N = 59 ft
∆Z = 282 ft
x2 = x1 + ∆E = 1,000 + 84 ft = 1,084 ft
y2 = y1 + ∆N = 2,000 + 59 ft = 2,059 ft
z2 = z1 + ∆Z = 3,000 + 282 ft = 3,282 ft
Dog Leg
Problem 3
Determine the dogleg severity following a jetting
run where the inclination was changed from 4.3o to
7.1o and the direction from N89E to S80E over a
drilled interval of 85 feet.
1. Solve by calculation.
2. Solve using Ragland diagram
α = 4 .3 o
L = 85 ft α N = 7.1 o
ε = 89 o
ε N = 100 o
∆α = 7.1 - 4.3 = 2.8. ∆ε = 100 - 89 = 11
Solution to Problem 3- Part 1
1. From Equation 8.55
1/ 2
⎡ 2 ∆α
−1 2 ∆ε 2 ⎛ α + αN ⎞⎤
β = 2 sin ⎢ sin + sin sin ⎜ ⎟⎥
⎣ 2 2 ⎝ 2 ⎠⎦
1/ 2
⎡ 2 2 .8
−1 2 11 2 ⎛ 4 .3 + 7 .1 ⎞ ⎤
β = 2 sin ⎢ sin + sin sin ⎜ ⎟⎥
⎣ 2 2 ⎝ 2 ⎠⎦
β = 3.01 o
Solution to Problem 3- Part 1
1. From Equation 8.43
the dogleg severity,
β 3 . 01
δ = (i) = ∗ 100
L 85
δ = 3 .5 o
/ 100 feet
Directional Drilling
Measurements
• The trajectory of a wellbore is determined
by the measurement of:
hinclination θ, α, I
hdirection φ, ε, A
hmeasured depth ∆MD, ∆L, L
Directional Drilling
Measurements - cont’d
• A tool-face measurement is required to
orient:
ha whipstock
hthe large nozzle on a jetting bit
ha bent sub or bent housing
Directional Drilling
Measurements - cont’d
• Tools available
hsingle-shot magnetic or gyroscopic
hmulti-shot magnetic or gyroscopic
hmagnetometers, accelerometers,
MWD tools
Magnetic Single-Shot Instrument
• Records
– inclination
– direction
– tool face position
on sensitized paper or photographic film
• Inclination may be determined by
– a float on a liquid
– a pendulum
Magnetic Single-Shot Instrument
• Unit may be triggered by:
– clock timer.
– inertial timer (after stop).
• Unit may be dropped (pumped down) and
later retrieved by wireline or the drillpipe.
Magnetic Single-Shot Instrument
• Single-shot instruments are used:
– to monitor progress of directional-control well.
– to monitor progress of deviation-control well.
– to help orient tool face for trajectory change.
Magnetic Single-Shot
Instrument - cont’d
• Procedure:
– load film into instrument
– activate timer (activate stopwatch)
– make up the tool
– drop the tool
– retrieve tool (wireline or drillpipe)
Light
Housing
Center Post
Float
Fluid
Reference Mark
Main Frame
Photographic
Disc
A. 0-20o B. 0-70o
Angle-Compass Unit Angle-Compass Unit
Fig. 8.41: Schematic diagrams of magnetic single-shot
angle-compass unit (courtesy Kuster Co.).
1. Pendulum
Fig. 8.43: 2. Circular Glass
Pendulum
3. Compass
suspended
inclinometer 4. Pressure equalization
and 5. Cover glass
compass
unit for a 0 to
oo
17 singe- Indicated inclination 5o.
shot unit. Direction of inclination
N 45 degrees 0’ or
azimuth 45 degrees.
A/C Units Plumb-Bob Units Incl. Only Units
Fig. 8.42:
Single-shot
film disks
(courtesy of
Kuster Co.).
• Inclination
• Direction
• Tool Face Angle
Fig. 8.12:
Pendulum
assembly: a) plumb-
bob angle unit b) drift
arc inclinometer
Pendulum
Glass ring
Piston
(a) (b)
Fig. 8.13: Hole direction with
Schematic reference to Magnetic North
drawing of
magnetic
single and
multi-shot
instruments.
o
N35 W
o
I = 5.5
Compass
Inclination Scale
Fig. 8.44:
Cardan suspended
compass and
inclinometer for a
single-shot
o o
5 to 90 unit.
Wire Line Socket
Overshot Rope Socket
Swivel
Stabilizer
Stabilizer Fingers
Fig. 8.45:
Protective Case Typical
Orienting
magnetic
Anchor & Plug single-shot
tool with
Mule Shoe
Mandrel landing sub.
Bottom Hole
Orienting Sub
Bottom Landing Assembly
Takes time. Rig time is costly. Temperature limitation. May have to pump down.
Ready to Free Falling Tool Retrieve
be Dropped to Bottom seated single shot
Fig. 8.46: Typical single-shot operation.
Timer On
3 min.
Compass Unit Single Shot
Ready to be
*Single Shot Dropped
Instruments are
run on slickline if
there is a mule Single Shot
shoe sub in the Free Falling in
hole
Mud to Bottom
Fig. 8.46:
Non
Magnetic Typical
Drill Collar single-shot
Orienting Sub operation.
Sleeve
3
Fig. 8.46: min. Wireline
Typical 10 min.
unit to
single-shot
Overshot retrieve
operation.
Used to single
Fish shot
Tool seated Single
in orienting Shot
sleeve or at
stop taking
picture
Fishing Neck
Top View Non Magnetic Collar
Direction of Single Shot
Tool Face Mule Shoe Orienting Sub
Via Bent Sub
Orienting Sleeve Lined up with Bent Sub
Bent Sub
Mule Shoe Mud
Key Position Motor Fig. 8.47:
Arrangement of the
mule shoe for
Existing orienting a mud
Centerline motor.
New Centerline
Magnetic Multishot Instruments
• Are capable of taking numerous survey
records in one run.
• May be dropped down the drillpipe or run
on wireline in open hole.
• The unit contains a watch that is spring
wound and uses the power of the spring
to operate a timer cam.
Non-Magnetic Drill Collar(s)
Compass Position
Fig. 8.48:
Multi-shot Instrument
Typical
arrangement
for landing a
multi-shot
Landing Plate
instrument.
Bottom Landing
Fig. 8.49:
Rope Socket
Stabilizer with Rubber Pins Drop
multi-shot
Battery Case
Battery
survey
Connector
Connector instrument
Shock
Absorber Protective Instrument Barrel
Watch
Angle Unit
Assembly
Barrel Lower Ball Plug
Aluminum Spacer Bar
Bottom Shock Absorber
Assembly
Light
Switch
Geneva
Watch Section Motor Lever
Gear
Knife Geneva Drive
Winding Switch Motor Wheel Assembly
Stem Lever
Watch Switch Terminal Film Sprocket
Switch
Time Cycle Cam Takeup Film Supply
Spool Film Spool
Fig. 8.50: Views of the watch and camera
unit of a typical multi-shot tool.
Magnetic Multishot - cont’d
• The multishot tool is usually dropped down
the drillpipe and landed in the nonmagnetic
drill collar.
• During the trip out, a survey is taken every
90 ft, i.e. every stand.
Magnetic Multishot - cont’d
• More closely spaced stations could be
obtained by stopping the pipe more often,
and waiting for a picture.
• A stopwatch at the surface is synchronized
with the instrument watch.
Fig. 8.51:
Use of the
surface
watch while
running a
magnetic
multi-shot
operation.
Synchronize with instrument watch by
starting at the instant camera lights go on.
Time Intervals:
A. 10 seconds -
Lights are on, exposing film
B. 15 seconds - Delay before moving.
This is an allowance for instrument
watch lag during survey.
Time Intervals - cont’d
C. 20 seconds - Instrument is
idle allowing movement of drill string
without affecting picture. Most moves
require sufficient time for taking one or
more shots while moving
D. 15 seconds - Minimum time for plumb
bob and compass to settle for good
picture, plus allowance for instrument
gain during survey.
Fig. 8.52b:
Projection of
one survey
frame for
determining
inclination and
direction.
Steering Tools
• Used with mud
motors and bent sub Standard
• Can either pull every Measuring
Cable
stand or use a side
entry sub for
continuous drilling
Monel DC
Probe
Mule Shoe
Bent Sub
Mud Motor
MWD Tools
MWD Tools
Gyroscopic Tools
• Non-magnetic drill
collars used to prevent
magnetic interference
from drillstring
• Gyros used if magnetic
interference is from
non drillstring source
