Well Types
Wildcat wells: drilled outside of & not in the vicinity of known oil or gas fields.(wildcat wells that are
drilled where little or no known geological information is available.)
Exploration wells: drilled purely for exploratory (information gathering) purposes in a new area
Appraisal wells: used to assess characteristics (such as flow rate) of a proven hydrocarbon accumulation
Development wells: drilled within the boundaries of a known producing reservoir to increase the
production in the field
Offset well: a type of development well that is drilled near a well that is producing or had previously been
productive
Production wells: drilled primarily for producing O & G, once the producing structure & characteristics
are determined
Disposal well: used to dispose of produced water, drilling cuttings or any other unwanted fluid
Water or gas injectors: drilled to inject (water or gas) into the reservoir to maintain reservoir pressure
Storage well: drilled to store hydrocarbons for later production (strategic reserves)
Relief well: A relief well is a secondary well drilled to intersect a blowout or uncontrolled well (also
called a "wild well") in order to control or kill the flow of oil or gas. It is a safety and emergency
response measure used when primary well control methods have failed.
Well profiles/Designs
Ideally, all wells would be drilled vertically, with the rig positioned on the surface and directly above the
sub-surface target. But that is not always possible. For example, if drilling close to a city or populated
area, the target may be located under construction, building or houses.
In this case, the rig and surface location of the well will be at some distance away form it. In the case of a
drilling offshore platform (fixed structure), several wells, each with a different geological target can be
drilled from the same location
A well design and profile can become quite complex and difficult. Today technologies has made possible
drilling wells than in the past were considered un-drillable
The type of profile selected will depend upon the geological objectives and the production mechanism of
the well.
Today, wells with highly complex profiles and designs are planned and drilled. Advances in drilling tools,
MWD/ LWD, metallurgy, survey accuracy and drilling dynamics make these wells possible.
Basic well Profile
1. Vertical/Straight Well
• Definition: A well drilled straight down into the Earth, perpendicular to the surface.
• Geometry: Follows a nearly vertical trajectory from the surface to the reservoir.
• Purpose: To access reservoirs located directly beneath the drilling site.
• Applications:
o Suitable for simple, conventional reservoirs.
o Often used in early exploration to evaluate subsurface geology.
• Advantages:
o Easier and cheaper to drill.
o Simplified well control and logging.
• Limitations:
o Limited drainage area; may require multiple wells for large reservoirs.
2. Directional Well
• Definition: A well intentionally drilled at an angle from vertical to reach a target not directly
below the rig.
• Geometry: Starts vertical, then curves at a controlled angle toward the target zone.
• Purpose: To reach reservoirs located laterally away from the surface location.
• Applications:
o Accessing offshore reservoirs from land or central platforms.
o Drilling beneath cities, rivers, or protected areas.
o Sidetracking to bypass obstructions or re-enter old wells.
• Advantages:
Greater access to otherwise unreachable zones.
Reduced environmental impact on the surface.
• Limitations:
More complex planning and drilling.
Requires advanced drilling tools and monitoring.
3. Horizontal Well
• Definition: A directional well where the wellbore is turned horizontal (roughly 90°) within the
reservoir.
• Geometry: Vertical or directional descent followed by a horizontal path along the reservoir layer.
-have a bore with a straight section, a build section, tangent section, a second build section (most
of the time), and a horizontal section‐ Short‐ Medium‐ Long radius horizontal wells.
• Purpose: To maximize contact with the productive formation.
• Applications:
o Ideal for thin or low-permeability reservoirs (e.g., shale, tight sands).
o Widely used in hydraulic fracturing operations.
• Advantages:
o Greater reservoir exposure—higher production rates.
o Fewer wells needed to develop a field.
• Limitations:
o Higher costs and technical complexity.
o Increased risk of mechanical problems.
4. Multilateral Well
• Definition: A single main wellbore with multiple branches (laterals) drilled into the reservoir.
• Geometry: One vertical or deviated parent well with two or more lateral [Link]
wells have several wellbores running laterally and originating from one original [Link]
types– Stacked – fishbone
• Purpose: To access multiple reservoir compartments from one surface location.
• Applications:
o Reservoirs with segmented or compartmentalized structures.
o Offshore or remote areas where minimizing surface footprint is key.
• Advantages:
o Maximized recovery with reduced surface installations.
o Lower environmental and infrastructure costs.
• Limitations:
o Complex design and completion.
o Challenging to monitor and control production from each branch.
5. Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) Well
• Definition: A well with a very long horizontal departure (reach) compared to its vertical depth.
• Geometry: Directionally drilled with extremely long horizontal sections (e.g., up to 10+ km).
• Purpose: To reach distant targets from a centralized surface location.
• Applications:
o Accessing offshore fields from onshore facilities.
o Drilling beneath infrastructure, towns, or ecologically sensitive areas.
• Advantages:
o Reduces need for multiple platforms or surface locations.
o High recovery with centralized operations.
• Limitations:
o Technically demanding (requires advanced torque, drag, and pressure control).
o High drilling cost and time.
Directional Well Profiles
Well profiles can be simply divided into two groups which are 2-D design and 3-D design.
Basic Concepts
The distance from rotary table to Point B as measured along the wellbore is called a measured depth.
The vertical distance from rotary table to Point B is called a true vertical depth.
The inclination angle is the angle between vertical and the wellbore.
The direction angle 'A' is specified as the azimuth between the geographic north and the projection of a
wellbore on a horizontal plane.
Types Of Directional Wells Profile & Pattern
With the advent of steerable systems, some directional wells are planned and drilled with complex profile
types involving 3-dimensional turns. Generally, this happens mainly in the case of re-drills, where old
wells are sidetracked and drilled to entirely new targets.
However, these complex well paths are harder to drill, and the old adage that “the simplest method is
usually the best” holds true. Therefore, most directional wells are still planned using the traditional
patterns which have been in use for many years.
2-D Well Profile Design
The 2-D design well plan is a profile which inclinations are changed in order to hit required target but it
does not have or slightly change in azimuth.
3-D Well Profile Design
The 3-D well design has changes in both inclination and azimuth.
3D well profile
Build and Hold Type of Directional Wells
The features of the type of this directional drilling well are:
-Shallow kick-off point (KOP)
-Build-up section (which may have more than one build-up rate).
-Tangent section to TD
Applications
-Deep wells with large horizontal displacements.
-Moderately deep wells with moderate horizontal displacement, where there is no requirement for
intermediate casing type.
S Type Well
S Type Directional Wells Profile
The features of this trajectory are:
-Shallow KOP
-Build-up section
-Tangent section
-Drop-off section
The drilling of such type will be with the following sequence:
[Link], the wells can be vertically drilled to the kick-off point (shallow depth).
[Link], the well is deflected smoothly until a maximum inclination angle with the desired azimuth.
[Link], it is preferred to run casing if this is applicable.
[Link] that, keep holding both inclination and azimuth (HOLD).
[Link], Start dropping smoothly till well became vertical again.
[Link], keep holding the angle till you reach well target.
In addition, there are several variations for these directional wells type:
-Build, hold, and drop back to vertical
-Build, hold, drop, and hold (illustrated here)
-Build, hold, and continuously drop through the reservoir
S Type Wells Profile Applications
-Multiple pay zones.
-To reduce the final angle in the reservoir for easier completions.
-Lease or target limitations.
-For well spacing requirements on multi-well fields.
-Deep wells with a small horizontal displacement.
Disadvantages of Directional Wells S Type
-Increased torque and drag.
-Increased risk of key-seating.
-It may cause logging problems due to increased maximum inclination.
Deep Kick-off and Build/J Profile
Deep Kick-off and Build profile
Generally, the features of this trajectory are:
-Deep KOP
-Build-up section
-Short tangent section (optional)
Its applications are:
Firstly, Appraisal wells to assess the extent of a newly discovered reservoir.
Secondly, Repositioning of the bottom part of the hole or re-drilling.
Finally, Salt dome drilling.
The Disadvantages of the Directional Deep Kick-off and Build-Type well
-Formations are more complex, so the initial deflection may be more challenging.
-In addition, it is harder to achieve desired tool face orientation with downhole motor deflection
assemblies – more reactive torque.
-Longer tripping pipe time for any bottom hole assembly changes required.
-On multi-well platforms (Platform Rig), only a few wells may be given deep kick-off points because of
the slight separation of the slots and the difficulty of keeping wells vertical in firmer formations.
Most wells must be given shallow kick-off points to reduce congestion below the platform and minimize
the risk of collisions.
Drilling Rigs
Types of Drilling Rigs
Before selecting a rig, understanding the different types is essential:
• Rotary Drilling Rigs: These use a rotating drill bit to create holes, suitable for various
applications.
• Percussion Drilling Rigs: They employ a hammer-like action to break rock, commonly used in
mining.
• Directional Drilling Rigs: These can create holes at angles, essential for accessing resources in
challenging terrains.
Key Considerations for Choosing a Drilling Rig
1. Purpose and Terrain: Clearly define your drilling objectives and the terrain you'll be working
on. This will help you select a rig with appropriate capabilities.
2. Rig Type: Consider the specific type of drilling rig needed for your project, such as rotary,
percussion, or down-hole hammer.
3. Depth and Diameter: Determine the required depth and diameter of the borehole. This will
influence the rig's capacity.
4. Geological Conditions: Understand the geological conditions of the drilling site, including soil
type, rock formations, and groundwater presence.
5. Safety Features: Prioritize safety by selecting a rig with robust safety features, such as
emergency stop mechanisms and operator protection.
6. Maintenance and Support: Consider the rig's maintenance requirements, availability of spare
parts, and the provider's after-sales support.
7. Cost-Effectiveness: Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including purchase price, operating
expenses, and maintenance costs.
Classification of rotary rigs
Rigs can sub-divided according to the conditions, location and environments that exist
Land/onshore Rigs
▪ Conventional rigs: Small, medium and large land rigs.
▪ Mobile rigs: Portable mast, jacknife.
▪ Helipad Transportable
Rig Power System
The power system of a rotary drilling rig has to supply the following main components:
-Rotary system
-Hoisting system
-Drilling fluid circulation system.
Offshore Drilling Rigs Types in Oil & Gas
How do you select the right offshore rig?
Offshore mobile drilling unit.
Offshore floating production unit
Bottom-Supported Offshore Drilling Rig:
• Submersibles. Mobile floating structures can be ballasted to sit on the bottom. Two types are
available:
-Barge design
-Column design
• Jack-up rigs. Mobile units jack their legs down to the bottom and then elevate the hull from the
water. Mat-supported and independent leg rigs are available as
-Mat supported
-Independent leg
-Slot type
-Cantilever type
• Platforms. Structures piled into the sea bed, gravity set on the bottom or tension-legged. Steel
jackets, gravity structures, compliant towers, and tension leg platforms differ.
-Steel jacket
-Gravity structure
-Compliant tower
-Tension leg platform
Floating bottom-moored drilling units:
-Drilling tender
-Drilling barge
-Drillship
• Conventionally moored
• Turret moored
-Semi-submersible
Floating dynamically positioned drilling units:
-Drillship
-Semi-submersible
Drill Ship
Leiv Eiriksson – semi-submersible drilling rig
Drilling Tools- Bits
Bit Selection
Main considerations are the expected rate of penetration and formation strength/ hardness (Compressive
Strength).