Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved Practical Directional Drilling Problems and Solutions At the end of this lecture, YOU should be able to: 1. List common problems encountered in directional drilling 2. Propose solutions to these problems Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 2 Problems and Solutions 1 Costs related to directional versus vertical well Rule of thumb 1.50 to 1.75 times the cost of vertical well Proper planning and communication is essential to reducing costs Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 3 costs Large target will reduce total well cost. Problems and Solutions 2 Torque Caused by dog-leg severity, keyseating, balled-up drilling assemblies, poor mud properties and well path. Some corrective measures are: use HWDP, minimize dog- Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 4 Some corrective measures are: use HWDP, minimize dog- leg severity, and maintain drill fluid properties (mud weight, viscosity, filtrate and lubricity). Problems and Solutions 3 Drag - related to torque Clean hole properly Make short trips to reduce total drag (trip every ~300 mtrs of drilled hole, or every ~18 hours of drilling time) Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 5 drilled hole, or every ~18 hours of drilling time) Optimize BHA design Optimize drillstring design Use drilling fluid lubricants Control dogleg development and eliminate keyseats Problems and Solutions 4 Dog legs - lead to torque Shorten interval between surveys when drilling with limber hookups. This takes more time to survey. Do not assume that dog-leg is removed by reaming. Make Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 6 Do not assume that dog-leg is removed by reaming. Make sure by re-surveying at same depth. Plug back and sidetrack well if an excessive dog-leg cannot be eliminated Problems and Solutions 5 Key seats - more problematic in soft formations Keep dog-legs to minimum Design well KOP either deeper in well or in firm formation Use keyseat wipers (hard formations) and string reamers Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 7 Use keyseat wipers (hard formations) and string reamers (soft formations) Run stabilizer near top of drillcollars Make daily wiper trips Monitor tripping drag, do not pull into keyseat Problems and Solutions 6 Differential sticking (wall sticking) a potential problem when drill string is stationary, for instance during surveys and sliding portion of motor runs Add lubricant (oil, surfactant, gel, etc,) to the mud system Minimize time pipe is stationary Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 8 Reduce wall contact area - Use HWDP and spiral DC Use stabilizers to prevent wall contact Use drilling jars Locate casing points to reduce open-hole exposure time Locate casing seats to prevent having under pressured formation in same openhole with higher pressured formation Problems and Solutions 7 Hydraulics Reduce bit hydraulic energy while building angle in soft formation Control erosion with nozzle design and nozzle type selection Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 9 Control erosion with nozzle design and nozzle type selection High annular velocities may erode hole while jetting Do not circulate without moving location of pipe, avoid keeping bit at same location while circulating especially at high flow rates Problems and Solutions 8 Lateral drift Normally influenced by bedding planes, hence use geologic structural maps for pre-planning Use true rolling-cone bit (zero offset) Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 10 Use true rolling-cone bit (zero offset) Use rebel tool (azimuth control tool) Jet with packed BHA Lead hole direction to plan for right hand walk Problems and Solutions 9 Small Hole and Ream Vs. One Pass Larger holes are more difficult to control the direction Dog-legs for larger hole are often not uniform Small hole needs to be opened up to larger hole and adds to Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 11 Small hole needs to be opened up to larger hole and adds to drilling time Two BHA assemblies may be needed adding to handling time and tool rental Smaller hole may yield higher quality logs Problems and Solutions 10 Plan Vs Actual Plan the well will a lead to the left so as to anticipate normal right hand bit walk Design left hand lead so that if no walk occurs, only one Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 12 Design left hand lead so that if no walk occurs, only one deflection tool run will bring it back to desired direction/inclination Rule of thumb Never allow yourself to be more than one tool run away from the target area Problems and Solutions 11 Weight on Bit and Rotary Speed Variation is used to control angle & walk Because WOB & RPM are reduced, this method is not always conducive to maximum penetration rates Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 13 always conducive to maximum penetration rates Varying WOB or RPM may introduce doglegs Plan to maximize ROP by designing for high WOB with proper BHA design Problems and Solutions 12 Off-bottom Rotation Creates a ledge and may lead to sidetrack Aggravates and initiates keyseating Increases cyclic stress on drillstring and may lead to Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 14 Increases cyclic stress on drillstring and may lead to drillstring fatigue failure Unless pipe is reciprocated may lead to localized erosion and hole washout Problems and Solutions 13 Well Collision Common consideration for multi-platform or drilling pads develop structural plots (spider diagram) Project radius of uncertainty and traveling cylinder Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 15 Project radius of uncertainty and traveling cylinder Curved conductors may be necessary Magnetic interference very likely, use gyro orientation survey and short course lengths between surveys Ensure all other wells are accurately surveyed Monitor pressures in all wells on pad/platform subject to potential intersection Problems and Solutions 14 Target Definition - Hard & Soft Lines Soft lines ( e.g. target radius, target intersection requirement, etc.) are preferred because hard lines cannot be changed, varied, or extended (lease or fixed areas). Select big target Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 16 varied, or extended (lease or fixed areas). Select big target size Problems and Solutions 15 Casing Wear Use drillstring protectors on the drill string Slow rotary and tripping speeds Monitor torque and drag in casing Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 17 Monitor torque and drag in casing Use ditch magnets to monitor wear rates Run casing inspection logs Reduce low gravity solids content in mud Design with lower KOP, control dogleg severity Consider potential for wear in casing design phase Directional Drilling Problems and Solutions Now, YOU should be able to: 1. List common problems encountered in directional drilling 2. Propose solutions to these problems Copyright 2010, NExT, All rights reserved 18