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Table of Contents

3 Combination with other Tools .....................................................................3-1

3.1 Functional Compatibility...................................................................................................... 3-1
3.1.1 Bits ............................................................................................................................. 3-1
3.1.2 Flex Collar.................................................................................................................. 3-1
3.1.3 Drilling Fluid and Temperature .................................................................................. 3-1

3.2 Mechanical Compatibility .................................................................................................... 3-1

3.3 Electrical Compatibility........................................................................................................ 3-2

3.4 Telemetry Compatibility....................................................................................................... 3-2

3.5 ShortHop Data with PowerDrive Xtra ................................................................................. 3-2

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3 Combination w ith other Tools

3.1 Functional Compat ibility
The PowerDrive rotary steerable system has been designed to be compatible with virtually all
known tools and bits.

3.1.1 Bits
The system is intended to work with any manufacturer’s bit. It will work with a roller cone
bit, but performance is more likely to be optimised with an appropriate PDC bit, ideally
having the gauge pads relieved slightly to allow lateral penetration.
The gauge and shank length of the bit has a significant effect on system performance.
Experience indicates that the system operates more efficiently with a bit gauge of less than 2".
The shank of the bit should be as short as possible.
PowerDrive requires a pressure drop of >600 psi beneath the system. Experience to date
indicates that a bit pressure drop of 650 psi – 700 psi gives optimum performance and life.
Ideally, the bit should be nozzled to provide this pressure drop. If this is not desirable for
operational reasons, then a flow restrictor can be fitted in the bottom box connection of the
tool to provide the required pressure drop.

3.1.2 Flex Collar

The system may require use of a BeCu or stainless flexible collar to increase dogleg
capability and largely isolate it from the effects of BHA behaviour above it. The requirement
for this collar may be negated by reduced deviation rate requirement. If a deviation rate of
greater than 3º/100ft is required then a flex collar should be run. For lower deviation rates the
assembly should be run without a flex collar. This allows the MWD sensors to be closer to the
bit.

3.1.3 Drilling Fluid and Tem perature

PowerDrive has been operated in a variety of oil based, pseudo oil-based and water-based
drilling fluids without problem. When using a new or unproven fluid a small sample, of
approximately 10-litres, should be taken before operation to check the elastomer compatibility
of the fluid. Fluids with a pH value greater than 12 should not be used as this degrades the
seals excessively.
The life of PowerDrive, as with MWD systems and PDMs, is dependent on the sand content
of the mud. The sand content should be kept as low as possible and should not exceed 2%.

3.2 Mechanical Compa tibility

The PowerDrive system is designed to be compatible with other drill systems and
components. There are only a few, minor compatibility requirements;

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• The system must be run complete. The bit must be directly connected to the Bias Unit
with the Control Unit and stabiliser/ShortHop directly above. The ShortHop system has
the LTB wet connector at the top and is designed to connect with other MWD / LWD
tools. These must be equipped with a suitable lower LTB connector.

• The system must be run with a float sub fitted above the Control Unit. There is provision
for fitting a float valve between the ShortHop transmitter and Receiver. The loss of the
float valve provision with the addition of the lower LTB (e.g. RAB tool) is therefore not a
problem.

• Note that the PD900 utilises a necked-down 65/8” Reg CU collar (A4327) when using
ShortHop.
The fishing diagrams for both the PD675 and PD900 variants (Standard and Xtra) are shown
in section 2 – General Description and Specifications. The BHA is detailed in the PowerDrive
UOP manual, chapter 4.

3.3 Electrical Compati bility

The PowerDrive system is electrically isolated from any other part of the drill string. The
operation of the system is entirely dependent upon the flow of mud to turn the impellers and
thus generate electrical power for the electronics within the Control Unit.
The unit is designed to operate with mud flow rates of approx. 350 to 650 US gallons per
minute for PD675 and 480 to 1500 US gallons per minute for PD900 (see section 2 for exact
values). Operation outside these ranges can lead to the internal power supply circuitry
shutting down on either under or over-volt conditions. Note that the power supply will reset
automatically when the correct flow rate is resumed.
EMC radiation or susceptibility problems are negligible due to the screening of the complete
Control Unit within the pressure housing.
If the ShortHop system is used, power is drawn from the Low Power Tool Bus (LTB) for the
ShortHop receiver only. This has been designed to conform to the specifications of the LTB.

3.4 Telemetry Compati bility

The PowerDrive system utilises the mud flow as a medium to provide telemetry data to the
tool. It is possible that the changes in flow rates may be incompatible with another tool
situated above the PowerDrive Control Unit. To relieve this problem it is possible to
configure the PowerDrive telemetry and start-up times such that the other tools will have
stabilised and will not be effected by subsequent changes in mud flow rates.

3.5 ShortHop Data with PowerDrive Xtra

The ShortHop modules within PowerDrive Xtra allow data from the BHA to be sent to the
surface for near real-time system evaluation. The ShortHop Receiver has been designed to
interface to the LTB bus and provide data to the Integrated Drilling, Evaluation and Logging
system (IDEAL). PowerDrive is allocated its own LTB Tool ID of 133. Specific D-points are
sent from ShortHop and displayed/logged by IDEAL. Refer to chapter 5, Detailed System
description for further details.

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ShortHop has been designed to work within the specifications of the LTB and has been tested
with PowerPulse (M10), GST, CDR, AND, RAB6 and Impulse. As other tools are
encountered additional tests will be carried out. However, there should be no reason why
ShortHop should present a problem with any LTB equipped tool.
Note that at the time of writing, tool ID 132 and GST Dpoints will be used. The change to
tool ID 133 will take place once IDEAL 7 and HSPM 7 are introduced, probably during 2002.
When this occurs an MR will be release detailing the software changes to be made.

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