Drilling Calculations
Course
Common Units and symbols
parameter Unit Symbol
length Feet,inches or Mtr Ft ,inor M
Area Square feet, Square
inches or square
meters
Volume Cubic feett, cubic Cuft. Cu In or Meters
centimeters cubic cube
meters or
Capacity US barrels,US bbl, gal(US), cuft
gallons, Cubic ft
Mass Pounds,Short tons lbs, Sh tn
Force (weight) Pounds-force lbf
Presure Ppounds –force per psi
square inch
Density (mudweight) Pounds per gallon, Ppg ,pcf
pounds per cubic ft
torque Foot pounds ftlbs
AREAS
Areas
• Area of a square
Length
breadth
Area of a Square = length X breadth
This same expression is applicable to a
Length
rectangle and parallelogram
breadth
Area of a Triangle
Height
Height
base base
Area of a triangle = Base x Height
2
Area of a Circle Diameter Radius
Area of a circle = Π x radius x radius
Where r= radius of the circle
Π = 3.142
Since diameter= 2 x radius
Area of circle= Π x Diameter x Diamater
4
VOLUMES
Annular area
Annular or cross sectional area = Π {(D x D)-(d x d)}
4
This can be used to calculate annular areas of the wellbore or
Cross sectional areas of tubulars
Volumes
Volume of a cube
hieght
h
adt
e
br
length
Volume of a cube = length x breadth x height
Cylindrical Capacities
Height
Area
Volume of a cylinder = Area x Height
= Π x Diameter x Diameter x Height
4
This is the basis for all volume the capaciy calculations in well control
Capacity Calculations
Rule of thumb:
Capacity of a cylinder in bbls/ft= Diamater x Diameter
1029.4
Multiply this by the Height of the cylinder ( or length of the hole)
gives the volumetric capacity in barrels
HVolume = Diameter x Diameter x height(or length)
1029.4
This expression is generally used on the rig for volume and capacity
calculations
Annular volume calculations
Top view
Annular Volume {(D x D)-(d x d)}xlenght
in bbls 1029.4
Hole volume calculations
ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DP =
[( D3² - D1² ) / 1029.4] x L1
ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DC =
[( D3² - D2² ) / 1029.4] x L2
Hole volume calculations
example
Using the following data, calculate the total
annular volume.
L1 = 4000 ft
L2 = 800 ft
D1 = 5 in
D2 = 6.5 in
D3 = 8.5 in
Hole volume calculations
ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DP =
[( 8.5² - 5² ) / 1029.4] x 4000 = 183.6 bbls
ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DC =
[( 8.5² - 6.5² ) / 1029.4] x 800 = 23.31 bbls
Total Annular Volume =183.6 + 23.31 =
206.91 bbl
Pump displacement volumes
D
L
The same expression for calculation od hole volumes can
also be used for the calculation of mud pump displacements
Triplex Pump displacement in bbls/ft = D² x L x e x3
1029.4 x 12 x100
Where D= liner size in inches
L= Stroke length in inches
e= Volumetric efficiency in %
Pump displacement volumes
example
D
L
Where D= 7 inches
L= 11 inches
e = 97%
Pump displacement= 7 x 7 x 97 x 11 x 3
1029.4 x 12 x 100
= 0.127 bbls/ stroke
Weight on bit
• Drill collars and/or heavy wall drill pipes are uses
to put weight on the bit
• Drill collars are also used to keep the string in
tension and prevent it from buckling
• There is a point in the drill collars where
compression stops and tension starts this point
is called the neutral point
• Weight on bit is usually about 75-90%of the
buoyed drill collar weight
