BHASYS Software

Baker Hughes INTEQ
BHASYS Software
Version 2.00
User’s Guide
750-500-095 Rev. B January 2000
Confidential
Technical Communications Group

P.O. Box 670968
Houston, TX 77267-0968
USA
713-625-4694
This manual is provided without any warranty of any kind, either expressed
or implied. The information in this document is believed to be accurate;
however, Baker Hughes INTEQ will not be liable for any damages, whether
direct or indirect, which results from the use of any information contained
herein.
© 2000 Baker Hughes INTEQ

Table of Contents
Preface
Hardware Requirements and Software Installation
Hardware Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
BHASYS Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
To Install BHASYS Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Chapter 1
Introduction
Critical Speeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Vibration Mode Shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Drillstring Dynamic Analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Excitation Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Bit Excitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Drillstring Excitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Whirling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Stabilizer Excitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
PDM Excitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Factor Effecting Vibration Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Effect of Drilling Fluid on Natural Frequencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Theory of BHASYS Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Lateral Vibrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Torsional and Axial Vibrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Buckling of Drillstring/BHAs in High Angle Boreholes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Sources of Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Tips for Analysis and Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Overview of New Functionality in Version 2.00. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Axial and Torsional Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Simplified Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Simplified Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Simplified Pane Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Headers and Footers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
User’s Guide i
750-500-095 Rev. B / January 2000 Confidential
Table of Contents BHASYS
New Unit System Logic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

Materials Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Material Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Interface Options Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Stress Axes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
On/Off Splash Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
On/Off Tooltips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Geometry Tooltips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Data Importing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Data Exporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Data Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
New Summaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
New Options Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
New Advanced Options Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
New Clear Window Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
New Check For Errors Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
New Spreadsheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Resizable Spreadsheet Dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Memory, Revisited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Faster Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Improved Example File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Chapter 2
Using BHASYS
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Main Window Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Unit Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Interface Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Entering and Editing Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Input Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
General Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Wellbore Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Materials Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Dialog Buttons (Material and Drillstring) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Drillstring Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
ii Baker Hughes INTEQ

Confidential 750-500-095 Rev. B / January 2000
BHASYS Table of Contents
Options Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21

Critical Speed Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Lateral Map Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
Axial and Torsional Map Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Advanced Options Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
Statics Options Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Spring Options Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Check for Errors Command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
Summary View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
Input Geometry Plot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
Input Data Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-32
Calculating Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
Calculate Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
Results Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
Standard Results Command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-35
Critical Speeds View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-36
Lateral Mode Shapes View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-39
Axial Mode Shapes View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40
Torsional Mode Shapes View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-41
Lateral Stresses View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-42
Buckling View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-43
Static Results View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-46
Static Displacement Profile Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-47
Static Contact Force Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-47
Static Bending Stress Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-47
Static Axial Stress Plot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-48
Lateral Maps View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-49
Axial and Torsional Maps Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-50
Delete All Results Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-52
Clear Window Command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-52
Using the Help System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-53
Help Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-53
General Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-53
Search Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-54
Contextual Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-55
What’s This? Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-55
About This Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-55
User’s Guide iii

Preface
Hardware Requirements and Software

Installation
This section describes the hardware requirements for the

computer and how to install the BHASYS software.
Hardware Requirements
• Pentium PC
• Windows 95 or NT (4.0; 3.5 may work)
• At least 3 MB of disk space (15 MB if the optional RES database is
installed)
• At least 16 MB of RAM
• Video resolution of at least 800 x 600 x 32768
User’s Guide v
Hardware Requirements and Software Installation BHASYS
BHASYS Software Installation

This program is available on CD or it may be downloaded from a site on the
BHI network. The compressed executable file is 11.3 megabytes in size and,
when executed, will occupy approximately 15 megabytes onto your hard drive.
To Install BHASYS Software

1. Run Setup.exe.
2. Select the Typical button for a typical installation, Minimum for an
installation that does not include the RES database, or Custom to
install just selected components.
3. Select the directory in which to install this software.
4. Allow the installation to complete.
5. Run this software.
6. Select the General Help command from the Help menu.
7. Read the Getting Started section of the on-line help.
vi Baker Hughes INTEQ

Chapter 1
Introduction
BHASYS is a software program which models the tendency

of a bottomhole assembly and drillstring to deform axially,
torsionally or laterally.
When the RPM of a rotating drillstring matches any one of the natural bending,
axial or torsional frequencies of the drillstring, one or more sections of the
drillstring will have a tendency to whirl laterally, or vibrate axially or
torsionally with continuously increasing amplitudes. This deformation of the
drillstring in the lateral, axial or torsional direction (also called mode shapes) is
different for each natural frequency.
This program provides information on natural frequencies and their associated
mode shapes and bending stresses in various sections of the drillstring. It also
computes the buckling load and buckled mode shape.
The following steps are involved in a BHASYS analysis:
1. Enter the drillstring and relevant operational parameters, such as
WOB and inclination.
2. Run either a static or standard analysis, or a detailed lateral map
analysis.
The static analysis calculates forces and displacements of the BHA

under a static load (applied WOB).
The standard analysis calculates buckling loads and displacements of
the drillstring, lateral natural frequencies, mode shapes, and stresses
in the BHA. It also calculates axial and torsional natural frequencies
and mode shapes for the drillstring.
The lateral map analysis shows the evolution of the lateral natural
frequencies with an applied WOB for each section of the BHA.
3. Display the various results in individual sections or in combined form
(critical speeds analysis) and print or save the relevant analysis.
User’s Guide 1-1

Introduction BHASYS
Critical Speeds
The natural frequencies of the BHA are dependent on its physical parameters
(length, outside and inside diameters, density and Young's modulus of each
section), applied weight and operating environment (or boundary conditions),
and are independent of rotary speed. Critical speeds occur whenever a natural
frequency of the drillstring/BHA and any excitation frequency match.
Therefore, in estimating critical speeds of a drillstring/BHA, the following are
needed:
• Estimation of natural frequencies for the given drillstring/BHA which
depend on the BHA and drillstring components and boundary conditions
• Determination of excitation sources (drill bits, stabilizers,
mud motors, etc.)
• Computation of critical speeds based on natural frequencies and
excitation frequencies
• Determination of recommended operating rotary speed ranges
(rule of thumb: ±10% or ±10 RPM margin from the critical speed).
Vibration Mode Shapes

The manner in which a system vibrates is called its mode shape and the
number of independent coordinates that are needed to describe its motion are
called the degrees of freedom of the system. Each vibration mode shape is
associated with a particular natural frequency of the system and represents a
degree of freedom. A single degree of freedom system, therefore, will have
only one vibration mode shape and only one natural frequency.
A continuous elastic body (wherein every point on the body can be described
by three coordinates) will need an infinite number of coordinates to describe its
motion and, thus, will have infinite degrees of freedom. As such, it will have
an infinite number of vibration mode shapes. This is saying that a beam can
have an infinite number of different shapes corresponding to each of its
resonant frequencies, which are also infinite.
The fundamental resonant mode shape (or first harmonic mode shape) of a
vibrating system is usually called the first natural frequency (or resonant
frequency) of the system. It has the greatest displacement amplitude and,
generally, has the greatest stresses. The displacement amplitudes decrease
continuously for higher resonant modes.
1-2 Baker Hughes INTEQ

BHASYS Introduction
Drillstring Dynamic Analysis

A drillstring/BHA can vibrate in one or all of the basic forms (types or modes
of vibration):
Lateral Mode This represents vibrations which cause the BHA to deform (or
whirl) laterally or side ways, normal to its axis.
Axial Mode This represents vibrations up and down, along the drillstring/
BHA axis.
Torsional Mode
This represents vibrations which causes the drillstring/BHA to
wind and unwind about its axis.
A number of natural frequencies and associated mode shapes exist for each of
the vibration types. The fundamental (or the first mode shape) has the lowest
frequency and is the easiest frequency to excite. Higher order mode shapes
have higher frequencies and more complicated shapes.
Dynamic analysis requires evaluation of lateral, axial and torsional stresses,
which are generated by excitation loads at the bit or at other locations along the
drillstring. As is well known, washouts or twist-offs in BHA components are
generally caused by lateral vibrations due to high frequency bending stresses
which lead to bending fatigue and the development of cracks.
In addition, lateral vibrations and shocks can damage the electrical and
hardware components in downhole tools, resulting in loss of data transmission.
Axial vibrations, on the other hand, can cause bit bounce which can damage
cutters (or teeth) and bearings. Torsional vibrations and shocks can lead to
stick-slip and twist-off.
Although axial and torsional vibrations are probably not the cause of washouts,
the three modes – axial, torsional, and lateral – are all coupled. Induced axial
vibrations at the bit can lead to lateral vibrations in the BHA, and observed
axial and torsional vibrations at the rig floor may actually be related to severe
lateral vibrations near the bit downhole. Also, severe axial vibrations near the
bit may show no visible vibrations at the surface.
User’s Guide 1-3

Introduction BHASYS
Excitation Sources
A drillstring vibrates as a result of load or displacement excitations applied at
various locations and at various frequencies. Mass imbalance, misalignment,
or an initial bend in a rotating drill collar system can create excitations with
frequencies generated either at the applied rotational frequency or at multiples
of the rotational frequency. The forces created by these excitation mechanisms
oscillate at the same frequencies as those of the excitation mechanisms.
Therefore, excitation may be defined as the number of times a force is applied
to the drillstring per revolution of the drillstring. Time varying forces or
excitations can also be applied to the drill collars from other sources (for
example – stabilizer blades, bit-formation interaction, bit types, geometric
irregularities in well bore, pump pressure, PDM, collar-borehole wall friction,
etc.). Some of these mechanisms are described below.
Bit Excitations
A rotating bit may come into contact with a discontinuity in the formation
being drilled, thereby creating a “force” on the drillstring/BHA. A tri-cone bit,
for example, may contact a discontinuity three times per revolution. Similarly,
a PDC bit may contact a discontinuity several times per revolution, depending
on the number of blades on the bit.
Drillstring Excitations
Mass imbalance, misalignment, or a slightly bent drill collar can develop a
centrifugal force when rotating, proportional to its mass, eccentricity, and
square of rotation rate. This force can cause an excitation at 1× RPM in the
lateral direction. In addition, it can also cause axial and torsional excitations at
2× RPM.
Whirling
An important phenomenon caused by centrifugally induced bowing of the
drillstring/BHA is called “whirling”. In such cases, the drillstring/BHA does
not rotate only along its own axis. Its rotation is a combination of rotation
around the center-line of the borehole and around its own axis. As a result,
complex motion of the BHA is generated which results in lateral
displacements, borehole wall impacts, and drillstring-wall friction. Whirling is
destructive when the rotation rate of the drillstring matches a lateral natural
frequency of the BHA.
Forward synchronous whirl causes the same side of the drillstring to make
continuous contact with the borehole wall. This may cause a flat spot to be
worn on one side of the pipe. In this type of whirl, the whirl frequency is the
same as the rotating frequency of the drillstring.
Backward whirl causes connection fatigue failures. In pure backward whirl,
the collar rolls without slipping on the inside of the borehole wall with its
center rotating in a direction opposite to the imposed direction of BHA

BHASYS Introduction
rotation. The frequency with which the BHA rotates about the borehole center
is much higher than the rotation rate of the drillstring itself. Even though this
whirling mode is generally nonabrasive, it causes high frequency stress cycles
in the drillstring due to bending which can lead to accelerated fatigue failures.
For backward whirl, the precessional frequency ωb of the center of the pipe is
given by:
dc
ω b = – ω c -----------------
-
Db – dc
where
ωc = pipe rotational frequency
dc = O.D. of pipe
Db = hole diameter
An excitation at this frequency can be caused by imperfections along the
borehole wall, such as a bump or hole. The rotational walk frequency ωω is the
difference between the rotational and precessional frequencies and represents
the angular velocity of a point on the cross section of a drill collar:
Db
ω ω = ω c – ω b = ω c -----------------
-
Db – dc
An excitation at the rotational walk frequency is due to the shape of the collar.
Thus, bending excitations due to drillstring/BHA ovaling would occur at ωω..
Due to coupling between lateral and axial vibrations, axial vibrations may also
occur at 2ωb and 2ωω.
Stabilizer Excitations
Depending on the number of blades, stabilizers cause excitations in the BHA
due to contact with the borehole wall at a frequency depending on the number
of blades per revolution. Thus, a 4-bladed stabilizer may cause an excitation of
4× RPM.
PDM Excitations
Mud motors included in a BHA are often a major source of excitation. Mud
motors can cause excitations, due to:
• rotor whirl frequency, Nrωm,
• (# of cones or blades on the bit)* (ωm + ωc)
• modulated whirl frequencies (due to pump stroke frequency) Nr (ωm + ωs)
where ωm and ωs represent the motor and pump stroke frequency, and Nr is the
number of rotor lobes. Thus, if motor and bit speeds are constant, in addition to
the 1× ωc for drillstring and 3× (bit RPM) for a tri-cone bit, whirl and
modulated whirl frequencies may also be observed.
User’s Guide 1-5

Introduction BHASYS
Factor Effecting Vibration Response

The displacement amplitude of the drillstring is a function of the proximity of
the rotary speed to the critical speed, and the damping of the system. Thus, the
tool size, wellbore diameter, and drilling mud are important factors in
predicting both critical speeds and damping:
• Mud weight and mud type: The heavier the mud, the lower the natural
frequencies. In addition, since the kinematic viscosity of oil-based muds
is greater than that for water-based muds, oil-based muds provide greater
damping, thereby reducing lateral natural frequencies.
• Hole diameter: The larger the clearance between the borehole and the
drillstring, the greater the fluid damping and the lower the lateral natural
frequency.
• Length and composition of drillstring.
• Formation type.
• Boundary conditions at the bit and other points of contact with the
formation.
Effect of Drilling Fluid on Natural Frequencies

Drilling fluids affect the natural frequencies by increasing internal mass and
increasing the damping on the drillstring.
Both effects decrease the natural frequency of the drillstring. The fluid effects
the lateral frequencies, but not the axial and torsional frequencies.
Because the fluid is contained inside the drillstring, the fluid moves along with
the drillstring as it is displaced. This effectively increases the mass of the
drillstring and, therefore, causes lowering of its natural frequencies.
Consequently, additional mass, due to the fluid, must be included in the mass
of the drillstring.
Similarly, the fluid surrounding the drillstring in the annulus is displaced from
one side of the wellbore to the other side as the drillstring moves laterally. This
again develops added mass on the drillstring. In addition, it damps the
drillstring motion, thereby reducing natural frequencies.
For axial and torsional modes, the internal fluid is not moved or displaced and,
therefore, does not contribute to the mass of the drillstring. The damping is
small and has little effect on the natural frequencies of the drillstring.

BHASYS Introduction
Theory of BHASYS Analysis

BHASYS performs three separate computations for lateral, torsional, and axial
vibration modes. The following sections briefly describe the analysis for each
vibration mode to determine the natural frequencies, as well as the mode
shapes. A detailed description of the model is given in Ref [1, 2, 5].
Lateral Vibrations
The BHA is analyzed as a full beam column, i.e., the influences of bending
stiffness and axial load on lateral displacement are taken into account. For
boundary conditions, the BHA is assumed free at the top and the stabilizers are
modeled as pinned connections. The natural frequencies and mode shape
calculations also assume a linear, undamped, freely vibrating system. The
influence of added mass, due to the lateral motion of the BHA filled with fluid
and displacing laterally in the annulus fluid, is taken into account, according to
the method developed by Chen et al [3]:
Added mass = mass + CM * (mass of displaced fluid), where the coefficient
CM depends on the kinematic viscosity of the mud, the collar and hole
diameters, and the rotational frequency.
In matrix form, the equations of motion for an undamped vibrating system
(BHA in our case) are:
M X+K X=0 [1]
If the solution is assumed in the form
iωt [2]
X = X0e
where
Xo represents the amplitude vector independent of time, and
ω is the circular frequency,
then, substituting this solution into equation (1) results in the following eigen
value problem:
2
[ K ] • [ X0 ] = ω • [ M ] • [ X 0 ] [3]
where
[K] is the stiffness matrix, which is related to the properties of the
system, and
[M] is the mass matrix, which is a diagonal matrix whose elements
represent the masses or moments of inertia of the system.
User’s Guide 1-7

Introduction BHASYS
The solution to this problem is the desired result for free, undamped vibrations
of the system. The eigen values, ω, and the corresponding eigen vectors, [Xo],
represent the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the system.
The procedure for analyzing the drillstring/BHA using the above system of
equations is as follows:
1. The drillstring/BHA is broken into discrete masses (small sections)
concentrated along the elastic beam column.
2. The number of degrees of freedom is twice the number of masses as
each mass has both lateral and rotational degree of freedom.
3. The diagonal terms in the diagonal mass matrix [M], as mentioned
above, are discrete masses and their corresponding moments of
inertia, and the terms in the spring matrix [K] are based on results of
elementary beam column problems.
4. Thus, to obtain the term in the ith row of the jth column of the
stiffness matrix [K], it is necessary to find the force (or moment) on
the jth degree of freedom owing to a displacement (or rotation) of one
unit of the ith degree of freedom.
5. The forces and moments for this problem are in static equilibrium and
the displacements and rotations are zero, except for the ith
displacement (or rotation). However, there are two distinct problems
in the case of a system whose solutions permit calculations of all the
elements of [K]. The solutions to these problems are mathematically
different, depending on whether the drillstring/BHA is in tension or
compression.
Note: In the solution to the above eigen value problem, if the eigen
values computed using equation (3) are negative, the drillstring/
BHA is buckled. Buckled configurations are unstable.
Consequently, the results of any analysis using this method for
a buckled BHA are invalid.
For vertical boreholes, a procedure is used to determine the load at which the
eigen values change from positive to negative. This determines the buckling
load for the system. This value is very close to the values computed by other
methods. However, in cases where the borehole inclination increases beyond a
few degrees (approximately 10 degrees), the computed buckling load may be
in error if the deflection within any portion of the BHA exceeds the borehole
clearance. The buckling loads for such cases must be determined using other
methods. One of the methods of buckling analysis for deviated wellbores,
developed by Dawson et al [4], has been included in this model and is
discussed in later sections of this document.

BHASYS Introduction
Torsional and Axial Vibrations

The torsional and longitudinal vibration computations are governed by the
same form of equations as for lateral vibrations. The drillstring is modeled as a
linear system with a series of rigid masses which are connected by massless
elastic springs to represent the torsional (or longitudinal) dynamic
characteristics of the system. In addition, the two rigid masses at the ends of
the drillstring are attached to the ground through elastic springs. The number of
degrees of freedom is equal to the number of rigid body masses included in the
assembly. The choice of the number of rigid body masses in the model is
related to the highest frequency for which the model can accurately predict the
behavior of the drillstring. The transition from torsional to longitudinal
vibration analysis is accomplished by replacing mass moments of inertia and
torsional spring constants with the masses and longitudinal spring constants.
As far as boundary conditions are concerned, unlike lateral vibrations, the
stabilizers are free to move axially and torsionally and are not affected by wall
contact.
The following are some basic assumptions used in the above analyses:
• Stabilizers are treated as pin connections in lateral analysis. The program
will always assume this when a “stabilizer” is specified in the drillstring.
• The influence of the masses of the swivel and block and the elasticity of
the rotary table are neglected.
• In case of longitudinal motion, the entire drillstring is modeled as a series
of masses connected by springs.
• The top of the drillstring is assumed to be free in lateral analysis.
• The effect of fluid is taken into account as an added mass influence when
in lateral analysis.
• The effects of drillstring-borehole wall contact are neglected.
Buckling of Drillstring/BHAs in High Angle Boreholes

Long slender columns such as drill pipes, which have a low resistance to any
applied bending moments, tend to fail by buckling when subjected to vertical
compressional loads. Buckling indicates a condition of unstable equilibrium
and does not necessarily mean a structural collapse. This means that although
an elastic system changes from one shape to another when a critical load is
reached, the strains may still be elastic.
User’s Guide 1-9

Introduction BHASYS
The simplest form of buckling equation known in literature, also known as the
Euler buckling equation, is used to predict the onset of buckling in slender
columns and is given by:
π 2
P cr = EI  ---
 L
where
Pcr is the critical buckling load,
E is Young’s Modulus, and
L is the length of pipe.
This equation shows that buckling forces are primarily resisted by the moment
of inertia (I) of the drill pipe, which is given by:
4 4
π ( do – d i )
I = -------------------------
64
where
do and di are the outside and inside diameters of the drill pipe.
For drill collars, the moment of inertia is large and is generally assumed to be
large enough to prevent buckling. Comparatively, for drill pipe, the moment of
inertia is very small. Therefore, the buckling tendency in a drillstring generally
exists in the drill pipe above the BHA where helical buckling can occur.
Drill pipe, rotated in a buckled condition, can fail very quickly through fatigue
failure of the tool joints. A general practice in the oil industry is to keep the
neutral point within the drill collars to avoid any buckling in the drill pipe.
There are two definitions for neutral point in literature:
(1) the location of the cross section where axial stress changes from
compression to tension,
(2) the location of the cross section where axial stress is equal to the local
hydrostatic pressure.
The first definition is too conservative and requires more drill collars. The
second definition is more realistic and is commonly accepted. The location of
the neutral point, Lnp, based on the second definition, is given by:
WOB
L np = ------------------------------
ρf
W dc  1 – -----
 ρ s
where
WOB is the bit weight,
ρf and ρs are the densities of the fluid and drillstring material, and
Wdc is the weight per unit length of the drill collars.

BHASYS Introduction
In directional wells, it is a common practice not to add more drill collars as the
borehole inclination and drilling depth increases. The high incidence of
drillstring/BHA failure that would be expected with this practice does not
actually occur in reality. This is because the drill pipe can tolerate significant
levels of compression in small diameter, high-angle holes due to the support
provided by the low side of the bore hole and due to its constraining effect on
the drill pipe. This allows the use of lighter BHAs in high angle (particularly
horizontal) wells, thus, reducing the torque and drag on the BHA while
drilling.
For an inclined hole, the critical buckling load is given by:
 π 2 2 L 4 ρAg sin ( θ )
F cr = EI  -----2- n + ---------------------------------
- [4]
L  2 4
n π EIr
where
L is the length of pipe,

E is Young's Modulus,
θ is the hole inclination,
ρ is the density,
A is the pipe cross sectional area,
r is the radial clearance between pipe and borehole
n represents the order of buckling.
I is the moment of inertia
Under buckling conditions, the first buckle occurs when the value of Fcr is the
lowest. In equation [4] the value of n for which Fcr is minimum, is obtained by
setting:
∂F cr
---------- = 0
∂n
This yields
1---
4 2
2 L ρAg sinθ- (5)
n = -----------------------------
4
π EIr
If n2 is substituted back into equation (4), the following simplified equation

results:
1
---
EIρAg sinθ 2
F cr = 2 ------------------------------ (6)
r
User’s Guide 1-11

Introduction BHASYS
Simplified equation (6) gives accurate values for Fcr for longer drillstring/
BHAs. Equation (4) is called the “Pasley-Bogy” equation, while the simplified
equation (6) is referred to as the “Dawson-Pasley” equation. The BHASYS
model uses equation (4) for computing the buckling load and finds the
minimum Fcr for integer values of “n” by iteration.
Sources of Error
The results from this analysis can sometimes be in error because of any or all
of the following unknowns and some basic assumptions (or limitations) in the
mathematical model:
• Hole size is not known in real time; the model assumes a perfectly
smooth hole
• BHA-Borehole wall interaction
• Hydraulic effects
• Variation in RPM due to stick slip; the model assumes a single average
rotary speed
• Uncertainty regarding boundary conditions (transition from normal to bit
bounce conditions while drilling)
• Stiffness of some tools (e.g. MWD, PDM etc.) not known (e.g. inner
diameter)
• Stabilizer blades too long. Therefore, the assumption that stabilizers act
as point supports may not be applicable.

BHASYS Introduction
Tips for Analysis and Interpretation

1. Check whether the drillstring is buckled under the applied load. This
can be done by running a standard analysis and checking the buckling
results. If the drillstring is buckled (if the applied weight-on-bit has
exceeded the buckling load), the lateral analysis may not be valid.
2. Run the static analysis. This will help verify assumptions concerning
boundary conditions in the natural frequency computations (e.g.,
when stabilizers touch and when they don’t; where the “top” of the
BHA is; whether collars sag enough to touch the hole between
stabilizers; etc.). The static stress distributions are useful for
identification of potential hot spots for fatigue accumulation with
more realistic stress values then these obtained from “scaled” mode
shapes. The contact force magnitudes and displacement shapes also
provide indication of directional tendencies for rotary assemblies.
3. Determine the critical speeds for the drillstring/BHA.
4. Avoid rotary speeds in the vicinity of critical speeds when running a
drillstring. (As a rule of thumb, rotary speeds within ±10% or
±10 RPM of the critical speed should be avoided.)
5. In particular, check critical speeds which may cause excessive
vibrations in collar sections of interest; for example, the MWD
section of the BHA. This can be done by looking at the mode shapes
for the critical speeds in the vicinity of the rotary speed used. In cases
where stick/slip is a problem, the downhole rotary speed may vary
significantly, so that a larger RPM window may be used to avoid
resonance problems.
6. Since critical speeds are effected by weight-on-bit, a range of WOBs
may be examined. Many times, the applied WOB may not be
completely transmitted to the bit due to friction in the borehole or
ledges which may cause stabilizers to hang.
7. Due to computational time limitations, the maximum excitation
factor for which the critical speeds are valid is 5. The reasons to use
factors of 1,2,3 are for:
a. the drillstring rotational speed excitation,
b. a misalignment or imbalance, and
c. tri-cone bit excitation.
Other excitation factors that may be used could have to do with:
a. PDM rotor lobe excitation
[such as 5 for a 5/6 motor configuration],
b. PDC blade number, or
c. excitation frequency given by the whirl factor
[pipe O.D./(hole I.D. – pipe O.D.)*RPM].
Probably, the best setup would be to set the factors at 1,2,3, and 5.
User’s Guide 1-13

Introduction BHASYS
Overview of New Functionality in Version 2.00

The following describes the new features and changes that have been
incorporated into BHASYS 2.0.
Axial and Torsional Maps

These new maps are analogous to the lateral maps calculated by BHASYS 1.0
and 1.1. They display the intensity of axial and torsional vibrations as a
function of measured depth and rotary speed. (Lateral maps, on the other hand,
display the intensity of lateral vibrations as a function of weight on bit and
rotary speed.)
Select Input/Options/Axial and Torsional Map Options... for specifying
options related to axial and torsional maps.
Select Calculate/Axial Maps for calculating axial (torsional) maps.
Select Results/Axial Maps to view axial (torsional) maps.
Speed
The BHASYS 2.0 user interface is faster than BHASYS 1.x in almost every
respect. Dialogs open faster, spreadsheets scroll faster, and plots draw faster.
Memory
The BHASYS 2.0 user interface uses approximately half the memory of
BHASYS 1.x, so it will run comfortably on older desktop machines and field
laptops.
Simplified Menus
The BHASYS 2.0 menu structure has been reorganized and simplified. The
File menu has been standardized so that it looks and behaves like all other
Windows applications (including its Print commands), and the Input menu has
been significantly reorganized to more clearly separate required and optional
data.
Simplified Printing
BHASYS 2.0 no longer contains the previous confusing array of printing
options. All printing is now handled through the standard Windows Print
Setup... / Print Preview / Print... commands.
Note: We apologize for the removal of some of the original printing

options. Fortunately, the new scheme will be an improvement
for the vast majority of users. The new scheme does not allow
the printing of multiple panes at once; you now need to print
each pane separately (similar to the behavior of most Web
browsers).

BHASYS Introduction
Simplified Pane Navigation

You can now navigate between window panes using the Tab key; this allows
you to switch between panes and scroll using only the keyboard in “split
screen” views.
Headers and Footers

Each page that you print in BHASYS 2.0 now contains headers and footers that
display the name of the file being printed, its wellname and BHA number (if
specified), the page number, and the date and time the page was printed.
New Unit System Logic

The underlying unit system logic has been completely rewritten. It's now
faster, more compact, more accessible, and has a cleaner user interface. In
addition, it no longer relies on the installation of non-Microsoft DLLs.
In addition to being able to access the Unit Systems dialog from the Setup
menu, you can now access it from any data-entry field simply by right-clicking
on that field and selecting the Unit Systems command.
Materials Dialog
BHASYS 2.0 handles materials in a completely different manner than
BHASYS 1.x.
In BHASYS 1.x, material data was entered directly into the Drillstring dialog.
This tended to clutter up the dialog with many columns of redundant data, and
made the changing of material properties tedious.
In BHASYS 2.0, you now enter and edit material data on a new Materials
dialog, which can be accessed from both the Input menu and the Materials field
on the Drillstring dialog.
Material Names
The names of the material properties imported from the default RES database
are now mapped to more intelligent names, such as “Steel” (instead of the
cryptic “S” used in BHASYS 1.x).
Interface Options Dialog

The Interface Options dialog has been cleaned up considerably by rewording
some of the more confusing options, and adding new options.
Stress Axes
The vertical plot axes on the Lateral Stresses view can now be forced to use the
same scale via the new Normalize Stress Axes option on the Interface Options
dialog, making it easier to compare one plot to another.
User’s Guide 1-15

Introduction BHASYS
On/Off Splash Screen

You can now turn the initial splash screen dialog ON and OFF by selecting the
Display About Dialog at Startup option on the Interface Options dialog.
On/Off Tooltips
You can now turn tooltips ON and OFF as necessary on each input dialog by
pressing its Tips button.
Geometry Tooltips
Geometry plots now have tooltips that reflect the drillstring components'
Names, I.D.s, and O.D.s.
Data Importing
BHASYS 2.0 correctly imports *.bha files created with BHASYS 1.0 and
BHASYS 1.1.
Note: BHASYS 1.0 and BHASYS 1.1 cannot correctly read BHASYS
2.0 files. BHASYS 1.x and BHASYS 2.0 can coexist on the same
machine. However, if you double-click a *.bha file that was
created by BHASYS 2.0, the operating system may attempt to
open it with BHASYS 1.x and an error will result. If this
happens, simply start BHASYS 2.0 and manually open the file
within BHASYS 2.0 using the File/Open command.
Data Exporting
You can now export plots and summaries as Enhanced Windows Metafiles,
bitmaps, or text. Simply right-click on the desired plot or report and select
either Save As or Copy As.
Save As saves the data to a file, and Copy As copies the data to the Windows
clipboard.
Data Editing
You can now jump directly to any input data of interest by simply double-
clicking that data on the input summaries and input geometry plots.
New Summaries
You now have your choice of summaries -- an abbreviated summary showing
just the required data, or a complete summary showing the optional data as
well.

BHASYS Introduction
New Options Submenu

All of the basic optional data has been collected into a new Options submenu,
which is found under the Input menu. This structure more clearly delineates
required and optional data, and conveniently collects it all into a single
location.
New Advanced Options Submenu

All of the advanced optional data has been collected into a new Advanced
Options submenu, which is found under the Input menu. This structure more
clearly delineates required data, basic optional data, and advanced optional
data, and conveniently collects it all into a single location.
Note: This submenu is hidden unless you explicitly select the Enabled
Advanced Options checkbox on the Interface Options dialog. By
default, this option is not selected. The commands found in this
submenu are intended only for researchers and other users
with very specific modeling needs.
New Clear Window Command

The new Clear Window command, which is found near the end of the Results
menu, simply forces BHASYS to display an empty window. This is useful
when editing input data, since it allows you to avoid the potentially long screen
updates every time you close a dialog.
New Check For Errors Command

The new Check For Errors command, which is found near the end of the Input
menu, forces BHASYS to check your input data for potential errors. Errors and
warnings are displayed in a dialog from which you can jump directly to the
offending data, simply by double-clicking the corresponding message.
New Spreadsheets
The look and feel of all dialog spreadsheets has been greatly improved. They
now scroll more smoothly, draw faster, and look better.
Resizable Spreadsheet Dialogs

All dialogs that contain spreadsheets (such as the Drillstring dialog) can now
be resized vertically. This allows you to see as many entries as your screen will
hold.
Memory, Revisited
Dialog, window and splitter locations are now remembered, even between
sessions.
User’s Guide 1-17

Introduction BHASYS
Faster Maps
Lateral maps (as well as the new Axial and Torsional maps) now scroll and
redraw four to five times faster than they did in BHASYS 1.x.
Improved Example File

The Example.bha file located on the Input menu now has intelligent
component names.
References
1. Paslay, P.R., “BEAMTOR, A Program for Lateral, Torsional and
Longitudinal Vibrations of Bottom Hole Assemblies”, Conference
Report for ARCO Oil & Gas Company Research & Technical
Services, Plano, Texas, Jan 27, 1991.
2. Paslay, P.R., “Problems for Longitudinal Vibrations of Drill Strings”,
Conference Report for ARCO Oil & Gas Company Research &
Technical Services, Plano, Texas, Sept 11, 1990.
3. Chen, S.S., Wambsganss, M.W. , Jendrzejczyk, J.A., “Added Mass
and Damping of a Vibrating Rod in Confined Viscous Fluids”,
Journal of Applied Mechanics, June 1976, pp 325-329
4. Dawson, R., Paslay, P.R., “Drillpipe Buckling in Inclined Holes”,
Journal of Petroleum Engineering, Oct 1984, pp 1734-1738
5. Paslay, P. R., Jan, Yih-Min, Kingman, J.E.E., “Detection of BHA
Lateral Resonances While Drilling With Surface Longitudinal and
Torsional Sensors”, SPE 24583, Presented at 67th Annual Technical
Conference, Oct 4-7, 1992, pp 365-372
6. Vandlver, J.K., Shyu, Rong-Juin, “Case Studies of the Bending
Vibration and Whirling Motion of Drill Collars”, SPE Drilling
Engineering, Dec 1990, pp 282-290
7. Jogi, Pushkar N., MacPherson, John D., Newbert, Micheal, “Field
Verification of Model Derived Natural Frequencies of a Drillstring”,
Energy Services Technology Conference & Exhibition, February 1-4,
1998, Houston, Texas

Chapter 2
Using BHASYS
This chapter describes the operation of the BHASYS

software.
Getting Started
Main Window Descriptions
This is the main window (screen) that appears when BYASYS is executed.
User’s Guide 2-1

Using BHASYS BHASYS
File
Clicking on the File button displays a dialog which allows you to create a New
file or Open an existing file. Once a file is created or changed, you can Save the
file or Save As a different file name. BHASYS files have the extension *.bha.
The Properties option displays a dialog box showing the data file name, type,
location, and size; file creation, modification, and access dates and times; and
the file attributes.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
The Print settings have three options.

Print Setup Allows you to select a printer type and its printing properties.
Print Preview Provides an on-screen “snapshot” of what the item will look
like when printed.
Print Executes the Print command
The options you select on this dialog applies to all files, not just the current
file. In addition, they are remembered from session to session.
The file names located next are BHASYS analysis files that were created and
saved. BHASYS will remember the 9 files that you visited last. You can click
on any one of these file names instead of using the Open option.
The Exit option simply exits the program.
Note: Included in the BHASYS File menu is Example.bha which, when

selected, will present a drillstring using default and “example”
values. This allows the user to familiarize himself with the
software by experiencing errors, modifying input values, making
calculations, and viewing results before attempting a “real-life”
scenario. The Summary and Results screens used in this manual
are calculated using the Example.bha file.
Setup
Clicking on the Setup button displays a dialog which allows you to select a
Unit System and various Interface options.
Unit Systems
This dialog is used to create, select, and edit Unit systems. “Custom” Unit
Systems can be created from this dialog, which allows you to work in units
with which you are most comfortable.
User’s Guide 2-3

Using BHASYS BHASYS
The default unit system is S.I. (System International) which most oilfield
engineers do not use on a day-to-day basis. By default, two Unit Systems are
supplied in addition to the internal S.I. Unit System – U.S. and Oilfield Metric.
With the exception of the default S.I. unit system, all unit systems are stored in
files whose names end with the extension *.us. If a unit system file is
read-only, the corresponding unit system is considered “locked” which means
it cannot be deleted, renamed, or changed. By default, the U.S. and Oilfield
Metric unit systems are locked. Through Windows Explorer, change the file’s
status to read/write to unlock it, and then restart the software.
Note: Any changes made to unlocked unit systems will automatically

be saved to the corresponding unit system file.
Unit Type
A Unit Type can be thought of as an expression of a physical parameter or
dimension. Units, such as degrees and meters, are grouped into logical Unit
Types, such as Angle and Depth. This grouping conveniently associates
physical dimensions with applicable units.
When a particular Unit System is chosen, the applicable Unit Types for that
system are selected from a pull-down menu. When you select a different unit
system, the Units field will be updated to reflect the units associated with the
currently-selected Unit Type.
Units
For any given Unit Type, there exists a set of Units with which that Unit Type
can be expressed. For example, values associated with the Depth unit type can
be expressed in either feet or meters. Every value is associated with a specific
unit type. When the units currently associated with a given unit type are
changed, these values are automatically converted everywhere.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Creating/Changing/Deleting a Unit System

A new Unit System, using an existing unit system as its basis, can be added to
the existing list by clicking the New button and recording a new name.
Note: All unit system names must be unique. If you attempt to enter a
name already in use, an error message will be issued.
When the OK button is pushed, a new unit system file is created (with the *.us
extension) and placed in the same directory as the BHASYS software.
Note: For a unit system file to be recognized on startup, it must be

located in the same directory as the BHASYS software.
Although the newly-created Unit System will initially be a copy of the unit
system on which it is based, any subsequent change to one will not affect the
other.
To “lock” a unit system so that it cannot be deleted, renamed, or changed, exit
the BHASYS software and change the corresponding unit system file to
read-only using Windows Explorer.
The name of an existing Unit System can be changed by clicking on the
Rename button and typing in the new name. If a unit system is “locked”, it
cannot be renamed (nor can the internal S.I. unit system be renamed).
Any Unit System can be eliminated by highlighting its name and clicking on
the Delete button. This action cannot be undone or cancelled!
Decimal Places
The number of decimal places, up to nine, is selected using small up/down
arrow keys located on the Unit Systems dialog next to the Decimals field.
User’s Guide 2-5

Using BHASYS BHASYS
Note: Tooltips can be turned ON and OFF be pressing the Tips button
located in the bottom right-hand corner of each input dialog.
Interface Options
This dialog allows you to turn ON or OFF display options. These options
govern the look and behavior of the user interface. Each of the options checked
above is selected by default and must be deselected to disengage the activity.
This allows you to turn ON or OFF display options. Each of the options
checked above is selected by default and must be deselected to disengage the
activity.
Right-clicking on the checkbox or option text produces a submenu for
obtaining Requirements, Errors, and Unit System data for the option.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Draw Shaded Lateral Mode Shapes

This option determines whether the Lateral Mode Shape plots are drawn using
shaded whirls or solid black-and-white graphics. Turn this checkbox ON if you
prefer shaded lateral mode shapes, or turn it OFF for solid, less shaded (but
slightly more accurate) black-and-white mode shapes.
• If selected, each mode shape is drawn as a single graphic element that is
stretched to fit within a certain rectangle. Otherwise, each mode shape is
drawn as a series of quadrilaterals.
• In general, turning this option OFF will more accurately reflect the
results generated by the engineering engine, but many users prefer the
more colorful version.
• This option has very little effect on the speed with which Lateral Map
plots are drawn and printed, unlike the Draw Shaded Maps option.
• The effect of this option on the underlying view is seen by pressing the
Apply button when the Lateral Mode Shapes view is selected.
• This selection applies to all files, not just the current file. In addition, it is
remembered from session to session and is used by every copy of the
BHASYS software that is currently running.
Draw Shaded Maps
This option determines whether map plots (i.e., Lateral Map plot) and some
mode shape plots (i.e., Axial Mode Shape plot) are drawn using smooth
gradients or solid rectangles. Turn this checkbox ON if you prefer slow,
smooth gradients, or turn it OFF if fast, coarse rectangles are preferred.
• This option has a dramatic effect on the speed with which maps are
drawn and printed. The drawing and printing of these plots are sped up
by a factor of ten or more by turning this option OFF.
Apply button when one of the affected views is visible.
Clean Up Temporary Files
This option determines whether temporary files are automatically deleted when
they are no longer needed. Unless a problem associated with the engineering
engine is being diagnosed, it is best this option remain ON. Turn this check box
ON to automatically delete all temporary files when they are no longer needed,
or turn it OFF to leave them undisturbed.
BHASYS actually consists of two separate programs:
Bhasys.exe - the graphical user interface, and
Engine.exe - the engineering program that does a large portion of the number
crunching.
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
These two programs pass data to each other using a flat file system of
temporary files with the extension “.dat”. bhasys.exe is in charge of cleaning
up these temporary files.
When a command from the Calculate menu is selected, bhasys.exe writes the
current input data to a temporary text file called Input.dat. It then launches the
engineering program in the background. Engine.exe reads the text file,
performs its calculations, and writes its results to new temporary text files
(most of whose names begin with “Junk” and end with the extension *.out).
When Engine.exe terminates, Bhasys.exe reads these text files and deletes
them when it’s done. If this option is OFF, a number of files will be found in
the BHASYS directory after calculation are complete. These are the raw text
files through which the user interface and the engineering engine
communicate.
• Calculations can be made from the DOS command line by placing a
correctly formatted file called Input.dat in the same directory as
Engine.exe, and then executing the Engine.exe command.
• These temporary files only reflect the input data results associated with
the most recent calculations.
• The effects of this option are not seen until the next calculation results.
Normalize Stress Axes
This option determines whether all of the Lateral Bending Stress plots use the
same y-axis. This is useful for comparing one plot to another. Turn this
checkbox ON to force all Lateral Bending Stress plots to use the same y-axis
scale, or turn it OFF (default) to let each plot determine its own ideal scale.
Apply button when the Lateral Stresses view is selected.
Enable Advanced Options
This option determines whether advanced options are enabled. These options
are intended for use by researchers and other advanced users with specific
modeling needs. Turn this checkbox ON to enable advanced options, or turn
OFF to hide advanced options.
Note: Most users will not need to change these options so, by default,
this option is disabled.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
• These advanced options govern the behavior of the underlying model,

and certain combinations of values may affect the stability of the
software or the validity of the results.
• When this option is enabled, the Input menu will add an Advanced
Options menu just below the Options submenu. In addition, the Summary
views will display the data found inside this submenu.
• Even when this option is disabled, any data entered via this submenu will
still be used when performing calculations. For example, you could turn
this option ON, change one of the advanced options, then turn this option
OFF again. Your newly-entered value will still be used in the
calculations, even though it will not appear in any of the Summary views.
Display About Dialog At Startup
This option determines whether the About This Software dialog is displayed
when the BHASYS software starts up. By default, this option is enabled, so
this dialog will be seen for a few seconds while the software is starting. Turn
this checkbox OFF to allow the software to start faster, or turn it ON to show
the application’s name, logo, version, and part number when it starts up.
User’s Guide 2-9

Using BHASYS BHASYS
Entering and Editing Data

Most time will be spent iterating between the Input, Calculate, and Results
menus. Commands found in the Input menu are used to enter and edit all of the
input data. Each of these commands opens an input dialog which is a separate
window that “floats” above the software’s main window.
Fields
You'll use these to enter your input data. A typical field includes a label and an
area in which you can type or select a value.
This software employs a number of different types of fields:
Integer Fields These handle integer values, such as –1, 0, and 10.
Real Fields These handle non-integer such as –0.5, 0.000, and 10.01.
String Fields These handle string values such as Client Oil Co.
Boolean Fields These handle boolean values such as True, False, Yes and
No. They can also take the form of a checkbox.
Selection Fields These handle lists of predefined choices.
All of these different types of fields have several features in common.
First, they are all tightly coupled to an underlying error-checking system. Error
checks occur as soon as you enter a value and then attempt to leave that field,
either by pressing the tab key or by clicking on something else using your
mouse. Color coding the field’s background helps identify the level of error.
Field Background Type of Data
Red Erroneous
Yellow Questionable
White Correct and Reasonable
Second, a pop-up menu is accessible from every field. To display this menu,
either click on that field using your right mouse button, or place your cursor in
that field and press [Shift]+[F10].
This pop-up menu contains a list of commands applicable to that field. Any
commands that do not apply to the field in its current state are disabled. In
addition to the standard editing commands of Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete
and Select All, the menu contains several custom commands.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Requirements This command displays a dialog summarizing all of the

requirements associated with the selected field.
Errors This command displays a dialog describing any warnings or
errors associated with the selected field.
Unit Systems This command displays a dialog that allows you to edit your
current unit system, or switch to a different unit system.
Help This command provides a direct link into the help system. It
will take you directly to the help topic associated with the
selected field.
In addition to the contextual help command described above, all fields have
tooltips associated with them. These provide a short (80 characters or less)
description of that field, and act as an intermediary level of help between the
field's short label and the full-blown help system. To activate a field's tooltip,
simply move the mouse cursor over the field and pause for a second. This same
information is displayed in the first line of the Requirements dialog, described
above.
To resolve errors and warnings, use the Requirements, Errors and Help
commands available from the field’s pop-up menu.
In addition to help on individual fields, an overview of the entire dialog is
available by pressing its Help button.
Many fields have default values associated with them. These simply provide
reasonable values that you may or may not want to change. To restore a field to
its default state, simply delete the current value and press the [Tab] key.
After entering or editing all of the fields on a given dialog, close the dialog by
selecting either the OK button, which commits the changes to memory, or the
Cancel button with discards the changes.
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
Input Menu
Use the options in this menu to enter and edit the input data associated with the
current analysis.
• At minimum, enter information on the Wellbore and Drillstring dialogs.

This data is required.
• The General dialog is optional. It simply provides a place to record
information about the analysis being conducted. It is recommended that
this information be provided.
• The Materials dialog is required. For most analyses, the default set of
material properties is sufficient.
• The Options submenu contains only optional inputs. These won’t be
changed for most analyses, however, they should be reviewed.
• The Advanced Options submenu (if enabled) contains only optional
inputs for researchers and other advanced users with specific modeling
needs. This submenu will only be shown if the Enable Advanced Options
checkbox is selected from the Setup/Interface Options dialog.
• The Check For Errors command checks your input for errors and
conflicts. Any errors or warnings will be displayed in an error log.

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• The Summary (Basic or Detailed) command displays the input as a

printable view. In addition, an input can be edited by double-clicking on
it within this view.
General Dialog
Use this dialog to enter information about the well, the bottomhole assembly,
and your analysis. Enter known data into the fields – Well Name, BHA
Number, and Comments. This information is optional and does not affect the
analysis. The wellname and BHA number (default value of 1), if entered, are
displayed in the header and footer of each page when you print the contents of
a Summary view.
Click either Apply or OK. Apply will store the data, but will not close the
dialog box. OK will store the data and close the dialog box.
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
Wellbore Dialog
Use this dialog to enter the conditions under which the drillstring will operate.
These conditions are divided into three categories.

• Hole Geometry of the hole in the vicinity of the bottomhole assembly
• Drilling Parameters under which the drillstring will operate
• Mud Properties of the fluid surrounding the drillstring in the vicinity of
the bottomhole assembly.
All of the fields in this dialog are required except the Mud Viscosity field for
which a reasonable default value is provided.
Input Fields
Hole Diameter and Inclination
Hole Diameter is the nominal (bit) diameter of the borehole in the vicinity of
the bottomhole assembly. It is used in the static, lateral, and buckling analysis
and for the display of results. It must be greater than or equal to the outside
diameter of every component entered on the Drillstring dialog, or the value
will be flagged as an error.
Note: BHASYS does not model borehole washouts.
Hole Inclination is the nominal inclination of the hole surrounding the

bottomhole assembly.
Note: BHASYS does not model curved boreholes.

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Weight-On-Bit
This is the amount of weight transmitted to the drill bit during the analysis. It
includes the nominal weight of the drill pipe, drill collars, stabilizers, and the
bit itself, less any tension applied to the string at the surface, any friction
between the string and the wall, and any buoyant force supplied by the
borehole fluid.
Weight-On-Bit is used in the static and lateral analysis. All results, except for
Buckling and Lateral Maps, assume the weight-on-bit is constant throughout
the analysis. If the drilling schedule requires a range of weights-on-bit, this
value should be manually changed and the results recalculated for each value
of interest. Alternatively, the Lateral Maps view provides vibration
information as a continuous function of weight-on-bit.
Average Rotary Speed
This is the average number of revolutions of the drillstring per unit of time
(often reported in terms of revolution per minute or RPM). The average rotary
speed must be less than or equal to the maximum rotary speed, or the value will
be flagged as an error. If it is exactly equal to the maximum rotary speed, the
value will be flagged as a warning.
This is an average, not minimum, rotary speed which is always assumed to be
zero. BHASYS does not specify minimum rotary speed.
The Average Rotary Speed is used in added-mass calculations and in the
critical speeds analysis. All calculations assume this rotary speed is constant
throughout the analysis. It does not take into account any fluctuations in speed
due to the string catching on various imperfections in the borehole. If the
drilling schedule requires a range of rotary speeds, this value should be
manually changed and the results recalculated for each value of interest.
Alternatively, both the Lateral Maps and Critical Speeds view provide
vibration information as a smooth function of rotary speed.
Maximum Rotary Speed
This is the maximum number of revolutions of the drillstring per unit of time
(often reported in terms of revolution per minute or RPM).
The Maximum Rotary Speed must be greater than or equal to the average
rotary speed, or the value will be flagged as an error. If the maximum rotary
speed is exactly equal to the average rotary speed, the value will be flagged as
a warning.
This field simply places an upper limit on the highest natural frequency to
calculate. Foe example, if a maximum rotary speed of 240 RPM is specified,
the horizontal axis on each Lateral Map plot will range from 0 to 240 RPM,
and most of the remaining views such as the Lateral Mode Shapes view will
only display plots associated with natural frequencies at or below 240 RPM.
The maximum rotary speed is used to control results: All calculated lateral
natural frequencies (and mode shapes) are accurate up to the maximum rotary
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
speed; axial and torsional natural frequencies and mode shapes are accurate up
to 5 times the maximum rotary speed.
Mud Weight and Viscosity
Mud Weight and Mud Viscosity are used in calculating buoyed weights and
for the added-mass calculation in lateral and buckling analysis.
Note: BHASYS does not require detailed fluid information to arrive at

accurate answers.
Mud Weight is the average density of the fluid surrounding the drillstring in
the vicinity of the bottomhole assembly. This value affects added-mass
calculations and the damping of lateral vibrations.
Mud Viscosity is the average plastic (dynamic) viscosity of the fluid
surrounding the drillstring in the vicinity of the bottomhole assembly.
Note: A reasonable default value has been provided, so this

information is optional.
This is a dynamic or plastic viscosity, not a kinematic viscosity. This value

affects the damping of lateral, axial and torsional vibrations.
Click either Apply or OK. Apply will store the data, but will not close the
dialog box. OK will store the data and close the dialog box.
Materials Dialog
Use this dialog to enter the material properties of the drillstring. Each row in
the spreadsheet represents a single material, such as steel or titanium. These
materials are used by the Materials field on the Drillstring dialog.
• To add a material, select the Add button, then use the fields above the
spreadsheet to fill in the material’s Name, Density, Poisson’s Ratio,
Young’s Modulus, and any Comments regarding the material or its use.
• To edit a material, select the row containing the material of interest, then
edit its properties in the field above the spreadsheet.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
• To delete a material, select the appropriate row, then select the Delete
button.
• To insert a material, select the material row that will appear below the
new material and select the Insert button. The new row is always placed
above the highlighted row. Then complete the fields above the
spreadsheet for the new material.
By default, this dialog always contains material properties for steel. The
optional RES database contains entries for aluminum, copper, iron, and
titanium.
If a material’s name is grayed out (disabled), that material is in use on the
Drillstring dialog and cannot be deleted or renamed. The material properties,
however, can still be edited. If a material’s properties are disabled, that
material was loaded from the RES database and cannot be edited.
Note: If a file created by BHASYS 1.0 or 1.1 is opened, additional

materials will be found and are often poorly named. These
material names typically begin with a single letter, such as A or
T, or the word “other”, and probably have the same properties
as one of the default materials. Once you update the Materials
field for each component on the Drillstring dialog, any unused
materials can be safely deleted.
As with the earlier dialogs, right-clicking on the input field produces a pop-up
menu allowing a view of requirements, unit system, and errors associated with
the field, as well as a direct link to Help.
Dialog Buttons (Material and Drillstring)

OK After entering the necessary information on the spreadsheet,
click OK to save the data and exit the dialog box.
Cancel This discards all data that was entered since the data was last
saved.
Apply This stores the data, but does not close the dialog box.
Help This button opens another dialog with Help Topics.
Add This button allows you to add an additional row of data to the
bottom of the spreadsheet.
Insert The Insert button allows you to insert a row of data above the
highlighted row in the spreadsheet.
Delete This allows you to delete a highlighted row of data from the
spreadsheet.
Tips This button turns the dialog's tooltips ON and OFF. When this
button is depressed, tooltips are turned ON. When tooltips are
turned ON, you will see a short prompt whenever you move
your mouse over a field and leave it there for half a second.
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These tooltips are intended to fill the gap between what the
field's label provides and what the full-blown help system
provides.To turn OFF the dialog's tooltips, simply select the
Tips button again.
Drillstring Dialog
This dialog is used to define that portion of the drillstring to be modeled.
Each row in the spreadsheet represents a single drillstring component, such as
length of pipe, an MWD tool, a drill collar or a bit. The first row represents the
deepest component to be modeled (usually the bit), while the last row
represents the topmost component to be modeled.
• To add a component, select the Add button, then use the fields above the
spreadsheet to fill in the component’s Name, Length, Body O.D., Body
I.D., Material, and whether it is a Stabilizer, and if so, its Blade O.D.
• To edit a component, select the row containing the component of interest,
then edit its properties in the fields above the spreadsheet.
• To delete a component, select the row containing the component of
interest, then select the Delete button.
• To insert a component, select the component row that will appear below
the new component and select the Insert button. The new row is always
placed above the highlighted row. Then complete the fields above the
spreadsheet for the new component.
With regard to modeling, it is not necessary to enter the entire drillstring from
bit to surface, if lateral vibration is the only interest; only the portion of interest
need be entered. For example, if various sensors have been incorporated into
the bottomhole assembly, it may only be necessary to minimize vibration in the
BHA near the MWD tool, while vibration in the rest of the drillstring can be
safely ignored. In this case, you would typically define the bit, the entire BHA,
and some portion of the drillstring above the BHA.
The drillstring definition can be as simple or as complex as you want to make
it. The more detailed the definition, the more accurate the analysis. On the
other hand, the more detailed the definition, the more information that must be

BHASYS Using BHASYS
entered, the longer the calculations will take, and the more memory that will be
required.
To see a graphical representation of the drillstring as it is created, see the Help
associated with the Summary views.
Input Fields
Name
This field helps to identify a drillstring component. You will typically specify
either a general type, such as “Bit”, a particular model, such as “HCC Tricone
XTC”, or a short description, such as “The new bit”. Enter a name or select a
general type from the drop-down list.
Note: This information is optional and will not affect your results in
any way. However, you are strongly encouraged to enter a bit
description anyway.
The contents of the drop-down list are generated from a list embedded in the
optional RES database. If you have questions about this database or have
problems installing it, please contact the BHASYS Support Team.
Note: This database is optional; BHASYS will run fine without it.
However, if the database is not installed, an annoying error
message will be displayed the first time the database is
accessed, and the only available selection in this field will be
“Other”.
The values at the top of the drop-down list are your most recent selections.
These values are continually updated and are remembered from session to
session.
Identifiers need not be unique. They are simply to help you identify a particular
component.
If the specified value might reasonably be expected to help stabilize the
drillstring, the value in the Stabilizer field will automatically default to “Yes”.
However, you can override this default value by selecting “No” instead.
This name is reported in the tooltips on the geometry plot in the top half of the
Summary views.
Note: Right-mouse clicks on the field do not work correctly on the

Name field found on the Drillstring dialog, nor does
[Shift]+[F10] invoke the custom pop-up (right-mouse) menu.
You can access this field's Requirements and Errors commands
if you right-click specifically on the down arrow, rather than the
text. There is no way to invoke these commands using the
keyboard.
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
Length
As you enter the length of the component, the spreadsheet updates
automatically, changing the calculated Distance values (from the bit).
Distance
This field displays the distance from the bottom of the first drillstring
component to the top of this component.
This field displays the summation of the lengths of all prior components, and
cannot be changed directly. As component lengths change, these values update
automatically.
This value is computed in terms of measured distance along the wellbore
(MD), rather than true vertical distance from the surface (TVD). All depth
values in this software are assumed to be measured depths.
Body O.D.
This is the outside diameter of the body of a component such as a drill collar or
drill pipe, not the outside diameter of any stabilizer blades attached to it.
Stabilizers require an outside diameter for both the component body and the
stabilizer blades; the body O.D. is the outside diameter of the stabilizer's hub.
The outside diameter of the component body must be:
• Greater than its inside diameter, or the value will be flagged as an error.
If the difference between the inside and outside diameters is 1/8" or less,
the value will be flagged as a warning.
• Less than or equal to the hole diameter specified on the Wellbore dialog.
Body I.D.
This field defines the nominal inside diameter of the component's body. The
inside diameter of the component body must be less than its outside diameter,
or the value will be flagged as an error. If the difference between the inside and
outside diameters is 1/8" or less, the value will be flagged as a warning.
Stabilizer?
This field defines whether this component should be treated as a stabilizer. If
this component acts as a stabilizer, select “Yes”. The default is “No”, but
specifying certain values in the Name field (such as Stabilizer) will
automatically change the default to “Yes”. If you select “Yes”, you must
specify the outside diameter of the stabilizer blades in addition to the outside
diameter of the component body.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Blade O.D.
This field defines the nominal outside diameter of the component's stabilizer
blades. This input is only required when “Yes” is selected for Stabilizer. The
outside diameter of the component body must be:
• Greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the component body, or
the value will be flagged as an error. If the blades are less than 1/8" wide,
the value will be flagged as a warning.
• Less than or equal to the hole diameter specified on the Wellbore dialog,
or the value will be flagged as an error.
Material
This field defines the material from which this component was manufactured.
To add or delete a material from this list, or to edit or view a material's
properties, select Materials... This will bring you directly to the Materials
dialog. The contents of this drop-down list are created from the list of names
specified on the Materials dialog.
Options Submenu
Use the commands in this submenu to enter and edit the optional input data
associated with this analysis.
For most analyses, the default values provided on the Critical Speed Options
dialog are sufficient. However, if your drillstring has more than three stabilizer
blades, or you need tighter than usual tolerances on the drillstring's rotary
speed, you might want to alter these values.
For most analyses, the default values provided on the Lateral Map Options
dialog are sufficient. However, if you have a particularly heavy or light
drillstring, or you need more or less resolution on your Lateral Map plots, you
might want to alter these values.
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
For most analyses, the default values provided on the Axial and Torsional Map
Options dialog are sufficient. However, if you have a particularly long or short
drilling interval, or you need more or less resolution on your Axial or Torsional
Map plots, or you need to view the results for every excitation factor, you
might want to alter these values.
Critical Speed Options

Use this dialog to specify the Excitation Factors and Variance associated with
the Critical Speeds view.
Critical speeds are the rotary speeds that surround natural frequencies.
Excitation Factors determine the number of impulses applied to the drillstring
during each rotation of the drillstring. A tricone bit, for example, will apply
three impulses for each rotation of the drillstring, while a two-lobe stabilizer
will apply two impulses for each rotation.
The Variance defines the critical speeds surrounding each natural frequency.
The frequency calculated by BHASYS may be off slightly due to inaccuracies
in the model or the input data, or the rotary speed may be off due to
inaccuracies in the control system. The variance allows you to define the range
of rotary speeds outside of which the driller must operate to maintain an
acceptable margin of safety.
For most analyses, the default values provided on this dialog are sufficient.
However, if your drillstring has more than three stabilizer blades, or you need
tighter than usual tolerances on the drillstring's rotary speed, you might want to
alter these values.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Excitation Factor Fields

Specify the desired excitation factors. The first three fields all have defaults
associated with them. These correspond to the three most common excitation
factors – 1, 2, and 3, respectively. However, you are free to change these
values as well as specify one or two additional values.
Since these are real numbers rather than integers, fractional excitation factors,
such as 1.5, may be entered. In general, however, most excitation factors will
be integers.
Note: At minimum, three excitation factors must always be defined. If

you only need one or two, you can work around this by entering
duplicate excitation factors, e.g., 1,2,2 instead of 1,2,3.
In general, you should define excitation factors from most important to least
important. Typically, the smallest excitation factor is the most important, and
the largest, the least important.
While not required, this convention allows the Enable All Excitation Factors
(see “Axial and Torsional Map Options”) to work as expected. If not selected,
only the first excitation factor is used and, in general, you'll want this to be the
most important excitation factor.
Percentage Variance Field
This field defines the amount of variance as a percentage of the rotary speed.
Since this is a percentage of the rotary speed, the variance will be lower at low
speeds and higher at high speeds. Because the variance can grow very large at
high rotary speeds, it is capped by the Maximum Variance value.
Unlike all other input fields, changing this value does not require you to
recalculate any results.
Maximum Variance Field
This field caps the amount of variance at some maximum value. Since the
variance is a percentage of the rotary speed, the variance will be lower at low
speeds and higher at high speeds. The maximum variance will not normally be
reached until higher rotary speeds are reached.
Unlike all other input fields, changing this value does not require you to
recalculate any results.
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Lateral Map Options

Use this dialog to specify the minimum and maximum weights-on-bit used in
the Lateral Map calculations, as well as to specify the number increments
between these two values.
This analysis generates Lateral Map plots which display the intensity of lateral
vibrations as a function of weight-on-bit, rotary speed, and distance along the
drillstring. These plots are useful for minimizing potentially damaging lateral
vibrations within a certain portion of the drillstring.
However, if you have a particularly heavy or light drillstring, or you need more
or less resolution on your Lateral Map plots, you might want to alter these
values.
Minimum Weight-On-Bit Field
This field defines the smallest weight-on-bit that will be used for Lateral Map
calculations. It is shown as the lower limit for the vertical axis on Lateral Map
plots. A reasonable default value has already been provided.
The minimum weight-on-bit must be less than the maximum weight-on-bit, or
the value will be flagged as an error.
Maximum Weight-On-Bit Field
This field defines the largest weight on bit that will be used for Lateral Map
calculations. It is shown as the upper limit for the vertical axis on Lateral Map
plots. A reasonable default value has already been provided.
The maximum weight on bit must be greater than the minimum weight on bit,
or the value will be flagged as an error.
Note: The greater the difference between the minimum and maximum
weights-on-bit, the less detail will be available on each lateral
map plot. These plots have a fixed resolution of 100 vertical
increments by 100 horizontal increments. If these 100
increments are spread across a greater range, the resolution of
the results must necessarily decrease.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Number of Increments Field

This field determines the number of times results are calculated between the
minimum and maximum weights-on-bit for the Lateral Map calculations.
Most users will not need to change this value. A reasonable default value has
already been provided and extreme values may affect the stability of your
calculations.
The greater the number of increments, the greater the accuracy of the lateral
map results, but the longer they will take to compute. However, the resolution
of the lateral map plots themselves will not change, since these plots have a
fixed resolution of 100 vertical increments by 100 horizontal increments, nor
will the memory requirements change.
Axial and Torsional Map Options

Use this dialog to specify the minimum and maximum measured depths used
in the Axial or Torsional Map calculations, as well as to specify the number
increments between these two values.
This analysis generates Axial and Torsional Map plots which display the
intensity of lateral vibrations as a function of measured depth and rotary speed.
These plots are useful for minimizing potentially damaging axial and torsional
vibrations while drilling deeper.
However, if you have a particularly long or short drilling interval, or you need
more or less resolution on your Axial or Torsional Map plots, or you need to
view the results for every excitation factor, you might want to alter these
values.
Minimum Measured Depth Field
This field defines the first measured depth that will be used for Axial and
Torsional Map calculations. It is shown as the upper limit for the vertical axis
on the Axial and Torsional Map plots.
A reasonable default value has already been provided. The default value is
equal to the current distance between the top and bottom of the drillstring.
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The minimum measured depth must be less than the maximum measured
depth, or the value will be flagged as an error.
Maximum Measured Depth Field
This field defines the deepest measured depth that will be used for Axial and
Torsional Map calculations. It is shown as the lower limit for the vertical axis
on the Axial and Torsional Map plots.
A reasonable default value has already been provided. The default value is
equal to the minimum measured depth plus 1000 ft.
The maximum measured depth must be greater than the minimum measured
depth, or the value will be flagged as an error.
Note: The greater the difference between the minimum and maximum
measured depths, the less detail will be available on each axial
and torsional map plot. These plots have a fixed resolution of
100 vertical increments by 100 horizontal increments. If these
100 increments are spread across a greater range, the
resolution of the results must necessarily decrease.
Number of Increments Field

This field determines the number of times results are calculated between the
minimum and maximum measured depths for the Axial or Torsional Map
calculations.
Most users will not need to change this value. A reasonable default value has
already been provided and extreme values may affect the stability of your
calculations.
The greater the number of increments, the greater the accuracy of the axial and
torsional map results, but the longer they will take to compute. However, the
resolution of the axial and torsional map plots themselves will not change,
since these plots have a fixed resolution of 100 vertical increments by 100
horizontal increments, nor will the memory requirements change.
Enable All Excitation Factors Field
This field specifies whether an Axial and Torsional Map plot should be
calculated for every excitation factor specified on the Critical Speed Options
dialog.
If you want all excitation factors used, select this option. If you don't select this
option, only the first excitation factor will be used. In most cases, only the
smallest excitation factor (the most important) is of interest; hence, this option
is not selected by default.

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Advanced Options Submenu

Use the commands in this submenu to enter and edit the advanced optional
input data associated with this analysis.
CAUTION:
The three dialogs in this submenu are intended
for use by researchers and other advanced
users with specific modeling needs. Most users
will not need to change the settings found on
these dialogs. These settings govern the
behavior of the underlying model, and certain
combinations of values may affect the stability
of this software or the validity of your results.
Reasonable values have already been provided
for every field.
By default, this menu is not added to the Input menu. You must explicitly add it
using the Enable Advanced Options field on the “Interface Options” dialog.
Most users will not need to change the settings found in this dialog. Default
values have been provided for every field, and certain combinations of values
may affect the stability of the application.
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Statics Options Dialog

This dialog allows you to specify options that govern various aspects of statics
calculations, including the number of nodes used, the assumed minimum
inclination, and the maximum number of iterations.
Number of Nodes Field

This field allows you to specify the number of finite element nodes used to
model the drillstring while calculating static results. It determines the length of
drillstring that is included in the static calculations, starting from the bit – the
more nodes, the greater the length of drillstring analyzed.
Minimum Inclination Field
This field allows you to specify the minimum hole inclination to be evaluated
while calculating static results. If the Hole Inclination value specified on the
Wellbore dialog is less than this value, this value will be used instead.
Maximum Iterations Field
This field allows you to specify the maximum number of iterations to be
performed before returning the static results. This simply places an upper limit
on the number of iterations if the solution does not converge.
Spring Options Dialog

This dialog allows you to specify options that govern the modeling of the
drillstring, including its spring constants and spring weights.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Spring Constants Fields

These fields specify the lateral, axial, and torsional spring constants at the top
and bottom of the drillstring.
The larger the spring constant, the greater the stiffness. The default spring
constants at the bottom of the drillstring are many orders of magnitude larger
than those at the top, which implies that the drillstring is essentially pinned at
the bottom and free at the top (except in the torsional direction).
Spring Weights Fields
These fields specify the spring weights at the top and bottom of the drillstring.
The larger the spring weight, the larger the initial deflection of the drillstring.
The default spring weight at the bottom of the drillstring is much less than that
at the top, which implies that the drillstring is very nearly centered in the
wellbore at the bottom, but somewhat deflected at the top.
Miscellaneous Options Dialog
This dialog allows you to specify miscellaneous options relating to mode
shapes and drillstring truncation.
Mode Shapes Field

This specifies which mode shapes should be shown in the Lateral, Axial, and
Torsional Mode Shape views.
If No Mode Shapes is selected (Input/Advanced Options/Miscellaneous
Options), you will be missing results on the following views and plots:
• Lateral Mode Shapes View
• Axial Mode Shapes View
• Torsional Mode Shapes View
• Lateral Stresses View
• Buckling Profile Plot
• Buckling Bending Stress Plot
If All Mode Shapes is selected, BHASYS calculates all mathematical natural
frequencies, including those with complex roots. We strongly recommend that
you leave the selection at its default setting of Valid Mode Shapes Only.
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
Truncate Drillstring at Buckled Contact Point Checkbox

This instructs the software to compute lateral results for a drillstring that is
truncated where it touches the borehole wall while buckled. For example, if a
10,000' drillstring buckles 1,000' from the bit, the horizontal axes of plots such
as those found on the Lateral Mode Shapes and Lateral Stresses views will
range from 0' to 1,000'.
Check for Errors Command

This command checks all of your input data for incorrect or questionable
values.
Error messages are placed into an Error Log. This log not only displays
warnings and errors, but, by double-clicking on any error message, you jump
directly to the source of the problem. Double-clicking on the error message
activates and displays the associated dialog. The data fields causing the
problem will contain red or yellow backgrounds.
For example, double-clicking on the first five errors below causes the Wellbore
dialog to appear. Clicking on the last error will activate the Drillstring input
dialog.
After you finish entering input data, or before you begin calculating, you might
want to use this command again to verify the validity of the values you entered.
This same error-checking logic will be automatically invoked before
calculations begin. Attempting to calculate results with input errors causes the
following to be displayed.

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Summary View
With this option, required (Basic) input data is displayed, or a combination of
both required and optional (Detailed) input data is viewed. The top half of the
view contains a plot of your Input Geometry and the scrollable bottom pane
contains a printable report of your Input Data.
Unlike all other views, the Summary view always reflects the current input
data, not the data that existed when results were last calculated.
The Summary view currently on-screen is designated by a black dot that
appears before the menu command.
Input Geometry Plot

This plot displays your current drillstring geometry.
A 2D silhouette of the drillstring is drawn horizontally, with the deepest
portion of the drillstring (usually the bit) along the left edge of the plot. This
data is taken from the Drillstring dialog.
The borehole boundaries are shown along the top and bottom edges of the plot.
This data is taken from the Hole Diameter field on the Wellbore dialog.
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Vertical lines are superimposed on the plot at the center of each stabilizer. This
data is taken from the Drillstring dialog as well.
Unit Types are as follows:
• x-axis – Depth
• y-axis – Diameter
You can quickly edit any component simply by double-clicking on it using
your mouse. This will automatically open the Drillstring dialog to the correct
row
You can see any component's name, O.D. and I.D. simply by moving your
mouse cursor over the component and leaving it there for half a second. If the
component is a stabilizer, it's blade O.D. is displayed instead of its body O.D.
This plot can be very useful while defining the drillstring. First, select a
Summary view so that this plot is shown in the top half of the main window.
Next, open the Drillstring dialog. As you make changes in the dialog, select the
dialog's Apply button to update this plot.
Components containing erroneous data will be shown in red. Components
containing questionable data will be shown in yellow.
Unlike all other plots, this plot always reflects the current input data, not the
data that existed when results were last calculated.
Input Data Report

The “basic” input data report will not contain any data for options selected
from the Input menu. A similar view, Summary (Detailed), will display a
report that summarizes all of your input data.
After you finish entering your data using the dialogs found under the Input
menu, select a Summary view to quickly check for erroneous or questionable
data. Erroneous data will be shown in red, questionable data in yellow, and all
other data in black. You can quickly edit any of this data simply by double-
clicking on it using your mouse. This automatically opens the corresponding
dialog to the correct field.
Note: Since the contents of dialogs cannot be easily printed, you must
print this view (or some portion of it) if you want to create a
paper record of your input data. (Alternatively, you can make a
graphic image of a dialog by opening the dialog, pressing
[Alt]+[Print Screen], launching the Windows Paint utility, and
pasting the contents of the Clipboard into the Paint document.)

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Calculating Results
Calculate Menu
Use the commands in this menu to calculate one or more sets of results.
After you have entered the necessary input data using the commands found
under the Input menu, select one of these commands to calculate results based
on that data. When you select one of these commands, a dialog will appear to
indicate that calculations are under way. When this dialog disappears,
calculations are complete. You can then view the results using the commands
found under the Results menu.
This menu is organized in a manner that parallels the Results menu, making it
easier to associate result views with calculation commands.
Before selecting any of the commands found under this menu, you must first
enter the input data found on the Wellbore and Drillstring dialogs, at
minimum. All other input data is either optional or has reasonable default
values associated with it.
Each of the commands found under this menu recalculates the results
associated with corresponding commands in the Results menu.
Standard Results calculations are fast, use very little memory, and are typically
calculated many times when performing sensitivity analyses.
Static Results calculations are slower, more specialized, and less often used
than standard results.
The Lateral, Axial, and Torsional Map calculations are even slower, use more
memory, and are typically calculated less often than standard results.
The All Results selection calculates results for all three of the categories above.
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As each result is calculated, small windows appear on-screen indicating the

status of the calculation.
To cancel calculations in process, simply press the [Esc] key after the
calculation begins. Current results will not be affected and any new results will
not be processed.
Note: Results can take several seconds to process after calculations

complete, so there may be a slight delay between the time the
calculation dialog disappears and the time the software begins
responding again.
Results Menu
Use the commands in this menu to view calculated results.
This menu is organized in a manner that parallels the Calculate menu, making
it easier to associate result views with calculation commands.
After you have entered the necessary data using the commands found in the
Input menu, and successfully calculated one or more sets of results using the

BHASYS Using BHASYS
commands found in the Calculate menu, view the results using the commands
found in this menu.
Each of these commands is associated with a view. These views are displayed
in the program's main window, which is split into two “panes”. The top half of
the view depicts the geometry associated with the selected results. The bottom
half contains a series of plots depicting the results themselves.
Note: If results have not been calculated, the top pane will display a
“No Calculated Results” warning in red type while the bottom
pane remains blank.
Since the selected view fills the entire application, only one set of results can
be shown at any given time. However, if you absolutely must compare
multiple sets of results simultaneously, you can launch additional copies of
BHASYS to display the other sets.
This view currently displayed in the main application window will have a
heavy black dot next to its menu command. You can use this information to
determine which menu command corresponds to the current view.
Standard Results Command

Use this command to calculate or recalculate the results associated with the
following views:
• Critical Speeds
• Lateral Mode Shapes
• Axial Mode Shapes
• Torsional Mode Shapes
• Lateral Stresses
• Buckling Results
Enter the input data found on the Wellbore and Drillstring dialogs, at
minimum. All other input data is either optional or has reasonable default
values associated with it.
These calculations are relatively fast and require very little memory or disk
space. They are most often used to quickly locate the natural frequencies at
which the most severe vibrations occur.
Note: Each view below reflects the input data that existed when the
results were last calculated. Consequently, it's possible for the
current input data to be out of sync with the calculated results.
If this is the case, a Warning (in red) about Out-of-date Results
will be shown at the bottom of each plot. To resynchronize the
input data and calculated results, simply recalculate the results.
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Critical Speeds View

Critical speeds are the rotary speeds that surround natural frequencies. This
view displays natural frequencies as functions of rotary speed.
The top half of this view contains a plot of your drillstring geometry. The
bottom half contains a plot of combined critical speeds, followed by individual
plots for lateral, axial, and torsional critical speeds.
Critical speeds are natural frequencies of the drillstring expressed as multiples

of the rotary speed. The rotary speed multipliers are knows as excitation
factors.
If a drillstring has a natural frequency of 2 Hz (120 RPM), then the
corresponding critical speeds – for excitation factors of 1, 2, and 3 – are:
120 RPM, 60 RPM and 40 RPM.
In other words, rotating at 40 RPM with a tri-cone bit, which generates an
excitation force 3 times per revolution of the bit (excitation factor of 3.0) will
excite the drillstring’s natural frequency of 120 RPM. So, in this example,
40 RPM is a critical speed of the drillstring.
In general, the driller should try to operate the rotary speed in a range free of (or
with a minimum number of) critical speeds.

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Combined Critical Speeds Plot

This plot summarizes the critical speeds associated with lateral, axial, and
torsional vibrations.
This plot is divided into three strips, each summarizing the results from one of
the following plots:
• Lateral Critical Speeds
• Axial Critical Speeds
• Torsional Critical Speeds
Each strip combines all of the results from one of the above plots by
superimposing the critical speeds associated with each excitation factor
(effectively consolidating all of the critical speeds from that entire plot onto a
single line of this plot).
Unit Types are: x-axis – Revs/Unit Time (RM)
Excitation factors are overlaid in reverse order – the largest excitation factors
are drawn first, and the next largest are overlaid on top of those. The critical
speeds associated with the smallest excitation factor are drawn last, so they
overlay all other critical speeds.
Individual Critical Speeds Plots
These plots are divided into strips, one strip for each excitation factor. Each
strip displays the critical speeds associated with that particular excitation
factor.
Excitation Factors determine the number of impulses applied to the drillstring
during each revolution of the drillstring. A tricone bit, for example, will apply
three impulses for each rotation of the drillstring, while a two-lobe stabilizer
will apply two impulses for each rotation.
The Variance defines the critical speeds surrounding each natural frequency.
The frequency calculated by BHASYS may be off slightly due to inaccuracies
in the model or the input data, or the rotary speed may be off due to
inaccuracies in the control system. The variance allows you to define the range
of rotary speeds outside of which the driller must operate to maintain an
acceptable margin of safety.
Unit Types are: x-axis – Revs/Unit Time (RM)
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
Lateral – This plot summarizes the critical speeds associated with lateral
vibrations.
Axial – This plot summarizes the critical speeds associated with axial
vibrations.
Torsional – This plot summarizes the critical speeds associated with torsional
vibrations.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Lateral Mode Shapes View

This view displays the lateral mode shapes associated with each natural
frequency between 0 and the maximum rotary speed.
bottom half contains a series of plots showing the mode shapes at each natural
frequency, as well as the actual and nominal clearances between the drillstring
and the borehole wall.
If the Truncate Drillstring At Buckled Contact Point option had been
previously selected on the Miscellaneous Options dialog when the results were
calculated, only results associated with the truncated drillstring (between the
bit and the buckling contact point) will be shown.
Note: The bottom half of each “Shapes” view will display a blank
pane if the No Mode Shapes option was previously selected on
the Miscellaneous Options dialog.
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Axial Mode Shapes View

This view displays the axial mode shapes associated with each natural
frequency.
It also shows whether the resulting displacement is positive or negative – i.e.,
whether the drillstring is in extension or compression at any given point along
the drillstring.

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Torsional Mode Shapes View

This view displays the torsional mode shapes associated with each natural
frequency.
It also shows whether the resulting displacement is positive or negative – i.e.,
whether the drillstring is twisted to the right or left at any given point along the
drillstring.
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Lateral Stresses View

This view displays the lateral bending stresses associated with each natural
bottom half contains a series of plots showing the lateral bending stresses at
each natural frequency.
If the Normalize Stress Axes option is selected on the Interface Options dialog,
all y-axes will have the same scale.

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Buckling View
This view displays the state of the drillstring at the onset of (sinusoidal)
buckling. The top half of this view contains a plot of your drillstring geometry.
The bottom half contains the following series of plots:
• Displacement Profile
• Axial Compression
• Bending Stress
Buckling Displacement Profile Plot

This plot displays the actual shape of the drillstring at the onset of (sinusoidal)
buckling, when the drillstring first comes into contact with the borehole wall.
In addition, the title of this plot includes the weight on bit at the point at which
buckling occurs.
A 2D representation of the nominal clearance between the drillstring and
borehole wall is shown on each plot. Nominal Clearance is the hole diameter
specified on the Wellbore dialog, minus the body O.D. (or the blade O.D. in
the case of stabilizers) at each point along the drillstring:
Actual Clearance is represented by a curve superimposed on top, indicating the
actual amount of clearance between the outside of the drillstring and the
borehole wall. This shows the drillstring's deviation from the centerline of the
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Using BHASYS BHASYS
wellbore, as well as the point where the drillstring first contacts the wellbore
wall due to buckling.
Note: All actual clearances shown on this plot will be equal to the
nominal clearance if the No Mode Shapes option was previously
selected on the Miscellaneous Options dialog.
Buckling Axial Tension Plot

This plot displays the tensile (and compressive) forces present in the drillstring
at the onset of buckling, when the drillstring first comes into contact with the
borehole wall. Positive values indicate tension, while negative values indicate
compression.
This plot contains a 2D representation of the tensile forces present in the
drillstring at each point along the drillstring.
• x-axis – Length or Depth (LD)
• y-axis – Load or Force (LF)
Buckling Bending Stress Plot

This plot displays the bending stresses present in the drillstring at the onset of
buckling, when the drillstring first comes into contact with the wellbore wall.
Note: These bending stresses are due only to buckling – they do not
include bending stresses due to lateral vibrations. For those
results, see the "Lateral Stresses View”.
This plot contains a 2D representation of the bending stresses present in the

drillstring due to the bending.

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• y-axis – Stress (SR)
All stresses shown on this plot will be equal to 0.0 if the No Mode Shapes
option was previously selected on the Miscellaneous Options dialog.
Note: As of version 1.0 (Beta 4), the vertical axes of all stress plots are
independent of one another, making it difficult to compare the
magnitudes shown on one plot with the magnitudes shown on
another. For example, the vertical axis on the first plot may
range from 0 to 2,000, while ranging from 0 to 10,000 on the
second plot. However, the plots themselves are the same size,
which can too easily lead to the conclusion that the axes must be
the same as well. This oversight will be corrected in a future
version of this software.
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Static Results View

This view displays the state of the drillstring under the specified loading
conditions, the most significant of which are the weight on bit and the borehole
inclination. The top pane contains a plot of your drillstring geometry. The
bottom half contains the following series of plots:
• Displacement Profile
• Contact Force
• Bending Stress
• Axial Stress
current input data to be out of sync with the calculated results. If
this is the case, a Warning (in red) about Out-of-Date Results
If this view is currently displayed in the main application window, this menu
command will have a heavy black dot next to it. You can use this information
to determine which menu command corresponds to the current view.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Static Displacement Profile Plot

This plot displays the lateral displacement of the drillstring under the specified
loading condition, the most significant of which are the weight-on-bit and the
borehole inclination.
A 2D representation of the Nominal Clearance between the drillstring and
borehole wall is shown on each plot. Nominal clearance is the hole diameter
specified on the Wellbore dialog, minus the body or stabilizer blade O.D.
specified on the Drillstring dialog at each point along the drillstring:
Actual Clearance is represented by a curve superimposed on top, indicating the
actual amount of clearance between the outside of the drillstring and the
borehole wall. This shows the drillstring's deviation from the centerline of the
borehole under the specified loading conditions.
Static Contact Force Plot

This plot displays the contact forces between the drillstring and the wellbore
wall under the specified loading conditions, the most significant of which are
the weight-on-bit and the borehole inclination.
This plot contains a 2D representation of the contact forces between the
drillstring and the wellbore wall at each point along the drillstring.
• y-axis – Force
Static Bending Stress Plot

This plot displays the bending stresses present in the drillstring under the
specified loading conditions, the most significant of which are the weight-on-
bit and the borehole inclination.
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Note: These bending stresses are due only to these static loading
conditions – they do not include bending stresses due to lateral
vibrations. For those results, see the "Lateral Stresses View”.
This plot contains a 2D representation of the bending stresses present in the

drillstring under the specified loading conditions.
• y-axis – Stress (SR)
Static Axial Stress Plot

This plot displays the axial stresses present in the drillstring under the specified
loading conditions, the most significant of which are the weight-on-bit and the
borehole inclination.
Note: These axial stresses are due only to these static loading
conditions – they do not include axial stresses due to axial
vibrations.
This plot contains a 2D representation of the axial stresses present in the

drillstring under the specified loading conditions.
• x-axis – Length or Depth (LD); y-axis – Stress (SR)
Note: As of version 1.0 (Beta 4), the vertical axes of all stress plots are
independent of one another, making it difficult to compare the
magnitudes shown on one plot with the magnitudes shown on
another. For example, the vertical axis on the first plot may
range from 0 to 2,000, while ranging from 0 to 10,000 on the
second plot. However, the plots themselves are the same size,
which can too easily lead to the conclusion that the axes must be
the same as well. This oversight will be corrected in a future
version of this software.

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Lateral Maps View

This view displays the lateral maps associated with each inter-stabilizer
section. The top half of the view contains a plot of your drillstring geometry.
The bottom half contains a series of plots showing the lateral maps themselves.
Lateral maps show the intensity of lateral vibrations as functions of rotary
speed and weight-on-bit. Inter-stabilizer sections are the sections of drillstring
between pairs of stabilizers.
current input data to be out of sync with the calculated results. If
this is the case, a Warning (in red) about Out-of-date Results
If this view is currently displayed in the main application window, this menu
command will have a heavy black dot next to it. You can use this information
to determine which menu command corresponds to the current view.
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Axial and Torsional Maps Views

These plots display the axial (bounce) and torsional (twist) maps associated
with each excitation factor specified on the Critical Speed Options dialog.
Theses maps show the intensity of lateral vibrations as a function of rotary
speed and measured depth. These are key plots for minimizing axial and
torsional vibrations as you drill deeper, since they highlight rotary speeds that
should be avoided at a given measured depth.
• x-axis – Rotary Speed
• y-axis – Depth
Each plot corresponds to a excitation factor. Excitation factors determine the

number of impulses applied to the drillstring during each revolution of the
drillstring. A tricone bit, for example, will apply three impulses for each
rotation of the drillstring, while a two-lobe stabilizer will apply two impulses
for each rotation.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
Each plot is composed of a 100 × 100 grid of rectangles. If the Draw Shaded
Maps option is selected on the Interface Options dialog, each of these 10,000
rectangles will be drawn as solid rectangle. However, if this option is not
selected, each rectangle will be drawn line by line in a smooth gradient. This is
much more computationally intensive, but results in a better-looking plot.
However, you can speed up drawing and printing times tremendously by
turning this option OFF. This option affects the gradients shown on the axial
and torsional mode shape plots as well.
The color of each element corresponds to the maximum intensity of the axial
vibrations associated with that particular excitation factor. It says nothing
about where the vibration is occurring within the drillstring, nor does it give a
quantitative value for the amplitude of those vibrations. However, you can
assume the brightest or most intense colors correspond to actual physical
contact between the drillstring and the wellbore wall, while the darkest or least
intense colors correspond to no axial vibration. In general, you will want to
operate your drillstring in the dark regions while avoiding the light.
Unfortunately, there is no good way to observe axial and torsional vibrations in
a drillstring while drilling. In general, however, these vibrations can be
minimized by changing the rotary speed in accordance with these plots at any
given bit depth.
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Delete All Results Command

This command strips all calculated results from your file, but leaves all of your
input data intact. This is useful for reducing the size of your saved data files.
Before you archive your file or send it over a slow modem link, you may want
to select this command before you save your file. This will often turn a 500k
file into a 10k file.
If you use this technique, you will need to recalculate any desired results
before you view them again.
Note: This will only remove some of the results from files created prior
to Version 1.0 (Beta 4) due to a bug in earlier versions of this
software.
Clear Window Command

This command simply clears the current contents of the window and displays
an empty view. It does not delete any of your input or results, or affect your
data in any way.
This command is useful for those instances in which you want to edit input
data or calculate results, but don't want the program to go through a time-
consuming update cycle.

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Using the Help System

Help Menu
The BHISYS software provides a versatile and easy-to-use Help system. A

pull-down menu provides three options.
General Help
The General Help option provides a double-paned “tree” system of navigation.
Double-clicking the topic in the left-hand pane will produce a detailed help
discussion of the topic in the right-hand pane.
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Search Strategies
If you know exactly what you're looking for and where to find it on the user
interface, start with the Contents tab. This allows you to “drill down” through
the menu tree until you reach the topic of interest.
If you don't know exactly what you're looking for, start with the Index tab.
This contains an alphabetical listing of intelligent keywords. Double-clicking
on the key word will produce a discussion of the item in the right-hand pane.
If you know exactly what you're looking for, but don't know where to find it on
the user interface, start with the Index tab. Once you find the topic, click on the
Contents tab to see where it can be found on the user interface.

BHASYS Using BHASYS
If all else fails, try a full-text search using the Search tab. Type in the keyword,
i.e., “calculate”, and press the on-screen List Topics key. This lists every topic
that contains the word “calculate” in its descriptive text. To obtain the text,
double-click the topic or simply highlight it and press the on-screen Display
key. The right pane will display the associated information and highlight every
use of the word (and variation of the word) in the text.
Contextual Help
Making this selection produces the two-pane window described above, but
highlights the Help Errors topic in the left-hand pane and its associated
explanation in the right-hand pane.
What’s This? Help

When you select this, a question mark (?) appears to the right of the cursor
arrow. Simply click on the area of the screen that you need described and the
Help Text dialog box will be displayed, explaining the area you clicked.
About This Software

This simply displays the BHASYS logo, revision level, and part number.
User’s Guide 2-55

Using BHASYS BHASYS
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BHASYS Software

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Baker Hughes INTEQ

750-500-095 Rev. B January 2000

Technical Communications Group

© 2000 Baker Hughes INTEQ

New Unit System Logic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

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Options Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21

User’s Guide iii

Hardware Requirements and Software

This section describes the hardware requirements for the

BHASYS Software Installation

To Install BHASYS Software

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BHASYS is a software program which models the tendency

The static analysis calculates forces and displacements of the BHA

User’s Guide 1-1

Vibration Mode Shapes

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Drillstring Dynamic Analysis

User’s Guide 1-3

1-4 Baker Hughes INTEQ

User’s Guide 1-5

Factor Effecting Vibration Response

Effect of Drilling Fluid on Natural Frequencies

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Theory of BHASYS Analysis

M X+K X=0 [1]

If the solution is assumed in the form

User’s Guide 1-7

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Torsional and Axial Vibrations

Buckling of Drillstring/BHAs in High Angle Boreholes

User’s Guide 1-9

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L is the length of pipe,

If n2 is substituted back into equation (4), the following simplified equation

User’s Guide 1-11

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Tips for Analysis and Interpretation

User’s Guide 1-13

Overview of New Functionality in Version 2.00

Axial and Torsional Maps

Note: We apologize for the removal of some of the original printing

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Simplified Pane Navigation

Headers and Footers

New Unit System Logic

Interface Options Dialog

User’s Guide 1-15

On/Off Splash Screen

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New Options Submenu

New Advanced Options Submenu

New Clear Window Command

New Check For Errors Command

Resizable Spreadsheet Dialogs

User’s Guide 1-17

Improved Example File

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This chapter describes the operation of the BHASYS

User’s Guide 2-1

2-2 Baker Hughes INTEQ

The Print settings have three options.

Note: Included in the BHASYS File menu is Example.bha which, when