Faculty of Engineering

Petroleum Engineering Department

Drilling Well Design

Fourth Stage

Lecture # 01
Drill String

Pshtiwan Jaf 1
[Link]@[Link]
 Overview
Outlines:
• Drill String Elements
• Drill Pipes
• Tool Joints
• Heavy Weight Drill Pipes

2
 Drill String
Introduction:
• The term drill string is used to describe the tubulars and accessories on which the drill
bit is run to the bottom of the borehole.

• The drill string consists of:

1. Kelly or Top Drive
2. Drill Pipes
3. Heavy Weight Drill Pipes (HWDP) (if required)
4. Drill Collars
5. Accessories including:
▪ Stabilizers
▪ Reamers
▪ Drilling Jars
▪ Directional control equipment

• The drill collars and the other equipment which is made up just above the bit are
collectively called the Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA). 3
 Drill String Functions
Drill String Functions:

1. To lower and raise the bit in the well.

2. To transmit rotary torque from the rotary table to the bit.

3. To provide a conduit for circulating drilling fluid to the bit.

4. To allow weight to be set on the bit.

4
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe
• Drill pipe is the major component of the drill string. It
generally constitutes 90-95% of the entire length of the drill
string.

• The main function of the drill pipe is to transmit rotary

motion and drilling mud under high pressure to the drill bit.

• Drill pipe is a seamless pipe with threaded connections,

known as tool joints.

• At one end of the pipe there is the box, which has the
female end of the connection. At the other end of each
length of drill pipe is the male end of the connection known
as the pin. 5
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.
• Each length of drill pipe is known as a joint or a single.

• The standard dimensions for drill pipe are specified by the American Petroleum
Institute.

• Singles are available in three API length “ranges” with range 2 being the most
common.

6
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.

• The exact length of each single must be measured on the rig site since the
process used to manufacture the drill pipe means that singles are not of uniform
length.

• Since the only way in which the driller knows the depth of the drill bit is by
knowing the length of the drill string the length of each length of drill pipe (and
all other drill string components) made up into the drill string must be measured
and recorded on a drill pipe tally.

7
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.
• The drill pipe is also manufactured in a variety of outside diameters, and weights:

8
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.
• The drill pipe is also manufactured in a variety of material grades:

9
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.
• If drill pipe is stretched, it will initially go through a region of elastic deformation. In this
region, if the stretching force is removed, the drill pipe will return to its original
dimensions.

• The upper limit of the elastic deformation is called the Yield Strength, measured in psi.

• Beyond the upper limit of elastic deformation, there exists a region of plastic
deformation. In this region, the drill pipe becomes permanently elongated, even when
the stretching force is removed.

• The upper limit of plastic deformation is called the Tensile Strength.

• If the tensile strength is exceeded, the drill pipe will fail. 10

 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.

11
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.

• When manufactured, new pipe will be subjected by the manufacturer to a series

of mechanical, tensile and hydrostatic pressure tests in accordance with API
Specifications.

• This will ensure that the pipe can withstand specified loads.

• A joint of drill pipe will however be used in a number of wells. When it has been
used it will undergo some degree of wear and will not be able to withstand the
same loads as when it is new.

• It is extremely difficult to predict the service life of a drill string since no two
boreholes experience the same drilling conditions.
12
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.

• However, as a rough guide, the length of hole drilled by a piece of drill pipe, when
part of a drill string will be:

soft drilling areas: 220000 - 250000 ft.

hard or deviated drilling areas: 180000 - 210000 ft.

• This means that a piece of drill pipe may be used on up to 25 wells which are
10,000 ft. deep.

13
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.
• The API has established guidelines for pipe classification according degree of wear in API RP7G. A
summary of the classes follows:
– New: No wear, has never been used.
– Premium: Uniform wear and a minimum wall thickness of 80% of new pipe.
– Class 2: Drill pipe with a minimum wall thickness of 65% with all the wear on one side so long as
the cross sectional area is the same as the premium class.
– Class 3: Drill pipe with a minimum wall thickness of 55% with all the wear on one side.

For each type we have a specific table (See the handouts)

14
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.

• The tensile and collapse strengths of 5”, 19.5 Ib/ft, X95 drill pipe for different
classes are shown in table:

15
 Drill Pipes
2- Drill pipe, cont.

• Therefore, the specification for a particular string of drill pipe could therefore
appear as:

Class 2 5” 19.5 lb/ft Grade S Range 2

16
 Tool Joints
Tool Joints
• The tool joint or coupling are short and cylindrical
pieces attached to each end of drill pipe joint.

• Tool joints are threaded either externally or

internally

• The externally threaded end of drill pipe tool joint

is described as the “Pin”

• Internally threaded end of drill pipe tool joint is

called “Box”

17
 Tool Joints
Tool Joints, cont.
• When two joints of pipe are being connected the
rig tongs must be engaged around the tool joints
(and not around the main body of the drill pipe),
whose greater wall thickness can sustain the
torque required to make-up the connection.

• The strength of a tool joint depends on the cross

sectional area of the box and pin.

• With continual use the threads of the pin and

box become worn, and there is a decrease in the
tensile strength. 18
 Tool Joints
Tool Joints, cont.
• The size of the tool joint depends on the size of the drill pipe but various sizes of
tool joint are available.

• It should be noted that the I.D. of the tool joint is less than the I.D. of the main
body of the pipe. 19
 Tool Joints
Tool Joints, cont.
Thread types and Numbered Connections (NC)

• There are different thread styles and forms

used in the oil industry. The most common
thread style is the Numbered Connection
(NC).

• The thread has a V-shaped form and is

identified by the pitch diameter, measured at
a point 5/8 inches from the shoulder; the
gauge point, multiplied by 10.
20
 Tool Joints
Tool Joints, cont.
Thread types and Numbered Connections (NC)
• Thus NC 50 has a gauge point pitch diameter of 5.0417 inches. The first two digits of this last
number identify this thread as NC50.

• There are 17 NC’s in use: NC-10 (1 1/16") through NC-77 (7 3/4").

• There are obsolete connections which are still used in the oil industry. These obsolete connections
were replaced in 1968 by the API by 17 NC‘s equivalents: NC23 through NC-77. Obsolete
connections include:

▪ 4 1/2 IF
▪ X-Holes
▪ Open Holes
▪ Slim Holes
▪ External Flushes, PAC’s, H-90
21
 HWDP
3- Heavy Weight Drill Pipe
• Heavy weight drill pipe is another
component of the drill string and is used
OD (in) ID (in) Weight
in conjunction with the drill pipe and (Ib/ft)
drill collars.
3½ 2 1/16 26
• Most commonly it is used as a transition
between the drill pipe and the heavier 4 2 9/16 28
drill collars.
4½ 2¾ 42
• In some applications, heavy weight also
can be used instead of the drill collars. 5 3 50
22
 HWDP
3- Heavy Weight Drill Pipe, cont.
• The extreme stress and vibrations that drill collars are made to withstand is usually also
passed on to the tubulars that are a few hundred feet above the drill collars.

• Standard drill pipe is not made to withstand the majority of these conditions, so heavy
weight drill pipe is used in this portion of the drill string.

• In some applications, heavy weight drill pipe may also be used in place of the drill
collars. This is most common in directional oil well drilling.

• Heavy weight drill pipe is made of the exact same material as a drill collar, which allows
more flexibility than a drill collar.

• The flexibility of the heavy weight drill pipe allows for a sharper change in the drilling
direction, while the weight on the drill bit can still be maintained.
23
 Drill Pipes & Tool Joints
Approximate weight of tool joint and drill pipe assembly

• The drill pipe weight in the given table is described as a nominal weight and used mainly for the purpose
of identification when ordering.

• Nominal weight of drill pipe is always less than the actual weight of the drill pipe and tool joint because of
the extra weight added by the tool joint and due to the extra metal added at the pipe ends to increase the
pipe thickness.

• This increased thickness is called "Upset" and is used to decrease the frequency of pipe failure at the
point where the pipe meets the tool joint.

• The drill pipe can have internal upsets (IU), external upsets (EU) and internal and external upsets (IEU).

• The exact weight of drill pipe is difficult to determine and in stead, an approximated weight is usually
calculated.
• The calculation of the approximated weight of a drill pipe and tool joint assemble involves the
24
determination of adjusted weights of drill pipe and tool joint.
 Drill Pipes & Tool Joints
Approximate weight of tool joint and drill pipe assembly
A. Approximated adjusted weight of drill pip
𝒖𝒑𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
= plian end weight +
𝟐𝟗.𝟒

B. Approximated adjusted weight of tool joint

= 𝟎. 𝟐𝟐𝟐 × 𝑳 𝑫𝟐 − 𝒅𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝟕 𝑫𝟑 − 𝑫𝟑𝑻𝑬 − 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎𝟏 𝒅𝟐 (𝑫 − 𝑫𝑻𝑬 )

𝑳 + 𝟐. 𝟐𝟓𝟑 (𝑫 − 𝑫𝑻𝑬 )
𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒕 = 𝒇𝒕
𝟏𝟐
C. Approximated adjusted weight of tool joint and drill pipe assembly
𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙. 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 × 𝟐𝟗.𝟒 𝒇𝒕 + 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙. 𝒘𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒐𝒏𝒕
= 𝟐𝟗.𝟒 + 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉.

• L Combined length of pin & box (in)

• D Outside diameter of pin (in)
• d Inside diameter of pin (in)
• 𝐷𝑇𝐸 Diameter of box at elevator upset (in) 25
 Drill Pipes & Tool Joints
Approximate weight of tool joint and drill pipe assembly

26
 Drill Pipes & Tool Joints
Example 1:

Calculate the approximate weight of tool joint and drill pipe assembly for 5 in OD,
19.50 lbm/ft Grade E drill pipe having a 6.375 in OD 3.5 in ID With NC50 tool
joint. Assume the pipe to be internally-externally upset (IEU) and the weight
increase due to upsetting to be 8.6 lb.

27
 Drill Pipes & Tool Joints
Solution:
Referring the tool joint of 6 3Τ8 in OD / 3 ½ in ID, NC50 tool joint for 19.5 Ibm/ft nominal weight of drill pipe is
available in Grade X95 only:
1 3
Thus; 𝐿 = 17 𝑖𝑛, 𝑫𝑻𝑬 = 5 𝑖𝑛 , 𝑫 = 6 𝑖𝑛, d= 3 1/2 in
8 8
𝒖𝒑𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
• Approximated adjusted weight of drill pipe = plian end weight +
𝟐𝟗.𝟒
𝝅 𝟏 𝟖.𝟔
= 𝟓𝟐 − 𝟒. 𝟐𝟕𝟔𝟐 × × 𝟒𝟖𝟗. 𝟓 + = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟐𝟐 𝑰𝒃𝒎/𝒇𝒕
𝟒 𝟏𝟒𝟒 𝟐𝟗.𝟒

• Approximated adjusted weight of tool joint =

𝟑𝟐 𝟏𝟐 𝟑𝟑 𝟏𝟑 𝟏𝟐 𝟑 𝟏
𝟎. 𝟐𝟐𝟐 × 𝟏𝟕 𝟔 −𝟑 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝟕 𝟔 −𝟓 − 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎𝟏(𝟑 ) 𝟔 − 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎. 𝟐𝟕 𝑰𝒃
𝟖 𝟐 𝟖 𝟖 𝟐 𝟖 𝟖
𝟑 𝟏
𝑳+𝟐.𝟐𝟓𝟑 (𝑫−𝑫𝑻𝑬 ) 𝟏𝟕+𝟐.𝟐𝟓𝟑 ( 𝟔 − 𝟓 )
• 𝑻𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒕 = =
𝟖 𝟖
= 1.65 ft.
𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐

𝟏𝟖.𝟐𝟐×𝟐𝟗.𝟒+𝟏𝟐𝟎.𝟐𝟔
• 𝑯𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒚 =
𝟏.𝟔𝟓𝟏+𝟐𝟗.𝟒
= 21.13 Ibm/ft
28
 Drill Pipes & Tool Joints
H.W:

Calculate the approximate weight of tool joint and drill pipe assembly for 5 in OD,
19.5 lbm/ft Grade G drill pipe having a 6.625 in OD 2.75 in ID With NC50 tool
joint. Assume the pipe to be internally-externally upset (IEU) and the weight
increase due to upsetting to be 9.5 lb.

Ans. 22.32 Ibm/ft

29
 Faculty of Engineering
Petroleum Engineering Department

Drilling Well Design

Fourth Stage

Lecture # 02
Drill String

Pshtiwan Jaf 1
[Link]@[Link]
 Overview
Outlines:
• Drill Collars
• Accessories
• DS Design

2
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar
• Drill collars are tubulars which have a much larger outer diameter and generally smaller inner
diameter than drill pipe.
• A typical drill string would consist of 9” O.D. x 2 13/16” I.D. drill collars and 5” O.D. x 4.276” I.D.
drill pipe.
• The drill collars therefore have a significantly thicker wall than drill pipe.
• Since the drill collars have such a large wall thickness tool joints are not necessary and the
connection threads can be machined directly onto the body of the collar.
• The weakest point in the drill collars is the connection and therefore the correct make up
torque must be applied to prevent failure.
• The shoulders and threads must be lubricated with the correct lubricant (containing 40-60%
powdered metallic-zinc or lead).
• The drill collars are manufactured in an average length 30 ft. 3
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.

Drill collars stacked in front of drill pipe

4
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
The functions of drill collars are:
➢To provide enough weight on bit for efficient drilling.

➢To keep the drill string in tension, thereby reducing bending stresses and failures
due to fatigue.

➢To provide stiffness in the BHA for directional control.

➢To minimize the stability problems from vibrations, wobbling and jumping.

5
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
• Drill pipe will tend to buckle when run in compression. Repeated buckling will
eventually lead to early drill pipe failure by fatigue.

• Since elastic members can only buckle in compression, fatigue failure of pipe can be
eliminated by maintaining drill pipe in tension.

• Research and field experience proved that buckling will not occur if weight on bit is
maintained below the buoyed weight of the collars.

• In practice weight on bit should not exceed 85% of the buoyed weight on the collars.

• This practice also place the neutral point at the drill collars.

• The drill collars are the first section of the drill string to be designed. The length and size
of the collars will affect the grade, weight and dimensions of the drill pipe to be used.
6
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.

7
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Drill collar length calculations.
𝑊𝑂𝐵 = 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝐶 × 0.85 × 𝐵𝐹

𝑊𝑂𝐵 = 𝐷𝐶 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑡 × 𝑊𝑑𝑐 × 0.85 × 𝐵𝐹

𝑊𝑂𝐵
𝐷𝐶 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑡 =
𝑊𝑑𝑐 × 0.85 × 𝐵𝐹

𝑀𝑊
𝐵𝐹 = 1 −
65.5
𝐷𝐶 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
For directional wells: 𝐷𝐶 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑡 =
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝐼 8
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Example:
Determine the number of 9/3’’ (OD/ID) drill collars required to provide a weight-
on-bit of 55,000 lbf assuming mud density = 12 ppg for:

A. Hole deviation = 0°
B. Hole deviation = 30°

Solution:
A. ≈ 14 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠
B. ≈ 16 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠

9
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Drill collar features
Drill collar possess the following features:
A. Fishing Neck
B. Stepped-bore drill collars
C. Slip and elevator recesses
D. Spiral grooving
E. Square drill collars
F. K-monel drill collars 10
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Drill collar features, cont.
A. Fishing Neck
• Large-size drill collars with OD in excess of 8 in are manufactured with
reduced diameters near the pin and box ends.

• This features is introduced to allow the drill collars to be fitted with

smaller connections which can be properly torqued with the available
rig tongs and line pulls.

• The Name of “Fishing Neck” comes from original use, which was to
receive an overshot and grapple in case of joint failure in hole which
demanded a fishing jobs. 11
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Drill collar features, cont.
B. Stepped-bore drill collars
• In small and medium-sized drill collars where large bores are
required, to reduce losses, the pin strength can be increase by
stepping its bore.

• For example; in a 6 ¼ in OD drill collars with a 2 13/16 in bore, the

pin bore in reduced to 2 ¼ in , to increase its strength.

12
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Drill collar features, cont.
C. Slip and elevator recesses
• Slip and elevator recesses are introduced to allow drill
collars to be handled like drill pipe by simply changing the
drill pipe elevators and slips.

13
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Drill collar features, cont.
D. Spiral Grooving
• Differential sticking is more prevalent with drill collars than with drill
pipe.

• A drill collar with spiral grooving has a much reduced contact area; this
greatly reduced the magnitude of the differential sticking force.

• Spiral grooving only reduced weight of drill collars joint by 4%.

14
 Drill Collars
4- Drill collar, cont.
Drill collar features, cont.
E. Square drill collars
• Squared-section drill collars are used for special drilling purpose such as;
❑ Reducing deviation in crooked hole formation, and
❑ To maintain the existing hole direction in directional drilling.

F. K-Monel drill collars

• K-monel drill collars are manufactured from non-magnetic steel alloys, and are
used to shield direction survey instrument from the magnetic effects of normal
steel drill collars. 15
 Drill String Accessories

5- Drill String Accessories

16
 Drill String Accessories
Stabilizers
• Stabilizers are tools placed above the
drill bit and along the bottom hole
assembly (BHA).

• Stabilizers consist of a length of pipe

with blades on the external surface.

• These blades may be either straight

or spiral and there are numerous
designs of stabilizers.

• The blades can either be fixed on to

the body of the pipe, or mounted on
a rubber sleeve. 17
 Drill String Accessories
Stabilizers, cont.
Functions:
1. Centralize and provide extra stiffness to the BHA.

2. Allow higher WOB since the string remains concentric.

3. Increase bit life by reducing wobble (i.e. all three cones loaded equally).

4. Control hole deviation and dogleg severity.

5. Prevent differential sticking.

18
 Drill String Accessories
Roller Reamers
• Wellbores are not always as smooth as they need to be which is critical for tripping in
and out of the hole, conducting wireline open hole logging, and running casing.

• Reamer is a tool used in drilling to smooth the wall of a well, enlarge the hole to the
specified size, help stabilize the bit, and straighten the wellbore if kinks or doglegs are
encountered.

• Roller reamers are used to replace near bit and string stabilizers in bottom hole
assemblies where swelling or abrasive formations are encountered.

• A roller reamer consists of stabilizer blades with rollers embedded into surface of the
blade.

• The rollers may be made from high grade carburized steel or have tungsten carbide
inserts. 19
 Drill String Accessories
Roller Reamers, cont.

20
 Drill String Accessories
Drilling Jars
• The purpose of these tools is to deliver a sharp blow to free
the pipe if it becomes stuck in the hole.

• A jar is basically a sliding mandrel that allows a brief and

sudden axial acceleration of the drill string above the jar.

• Hydraulic jars are activated by a straight pull and give an

upward blow.

• Mechanical jars are preset to operate when a given

compression load is applied and give a downward blow.

• Jars are usually positioned at the top of the drill collars. 21

 Drill String Accessories
Subs (Substitutes)
• Sub is a short, threaded piece of pipe used to adapt parts of the drilling string that
cannot otherwise be screwed together because of differences in thread size or design.

• A sub (a substitute) may also perform a special function.

• Lifting subs are used with drill collars to provide a shoulder to fit the drill pipe elevators;

• A Kelly saver sub is placed between the drill pipe and the Kelly to prevent excessive
thread wear of the Kelly and drill pipe threads;

• A bent sub is used when drilling a directional hole;

• Shock subs are used to reduce the effect of bit bounce and isolate it from the drill string
to reduce fatigue wear of the string.
22
 Drill String Design

Drill String Design

23
 Drill String Design
Introduction
• Drill string design involves the determination of the lengths, weight and grade of
the drill pipe which can be used during drilling, coring, or any other operation.

• Drill string design depends on several factors, including:

1. Hole depth
2. Hole size
3. Mud weight
4. Desired safety factor in tension and/or margin of over pull
5. Length and weight of drill collars, And
6. Desired drill pipe size and inspection class.
24
 Drill String Design
Introduction
• The following design criteria will be used to select a suitable drill string:

A. Tension
B. Collapse
C. Shock Loading
D. Torsion

25
Drill String Design

[Link]

26
 Drill String Design
A. Tension
• Prior to driving any equation, it should be observed that only
submerged weights are considered, since all immersed bodies
suffer from lifting or buoyancy forces.

• Buoyancy force reduces the total weight of the body and its
magnitude is depend on fluid density.

• Referring this figure, the total weight , P, carried by the top joint
of drill pipe at JJ is given by:

P = (weight of drill pipe in mud) + (weight of drill collars in mud)

• Note: weight of drill bit and other accessories is normally

included within the weight of drill collars. 27
 Drill String Design
A. Tension, cont.
• The total weight, P:
𝑷= 𝑳𝒅𝒑 × 𝑾𝒅𝒑 + 𝑳𝒅𝒄 × 𝑾𝒅𝒄 × 𝑩𝑭 equ.1

• The buoyancy factor:

𝝆𝒎 𝜸𝒎
𝑩𝑭 = 𝟏 − = 𝟏− equ.2
𝝆𝒔 𝜸𝒔
Where:

28
 Drill String Design
A. Tension, cont.
• As can be seen in the provided tables, drill pipe strength is expressed in term of
yield strength. This is defied as the load at which deformation occurs.

• API has tabulated the strength properties of drill pipe according to its condition;
New, Premium, Class 2 and Class 3.
• Drill string design is never based on the tabulated yield strength value but,
instead, on 90% of the yield strength, to provide an added safety in the resulting
design.

• Thus: Maximum tensile design load (𝑃𝑎 )=theoretical yield strength (tables) x 90%

𝑷𝒂 = 𝑷𝒕 × 𝟗𝟎% equ.3
29
 Drill String Design
A. Tension, cont.
• The difference between equations 1 and 3 will give Margin of over Pull (MOP):

𝑴𝑶𝑷 = 𝑷𝒂 − 𝑷 equ.4

• Note : The design value for MOP normally range from 50 000 – 100 000 Ibs.

• The ratio between equation 1 and 3 will give Safety Factor:

𝑷𝒂 𝑷𝒕 ×𝟗𝟎%
𝑺𝑭 = = equ.5
𝑷 𝑳𝒅𝒑 ×𝑾𝒅𝒑 +𝑳𝒅𝒄 ×𝑾𝒅𝒄 ×𝑩𝑭

• The choice of an appropriate value of safety factor is dependent on overall

drilling conditions.
30
 Drill String Design
A. Tension, cont.

• Simplifying the equation 5 further gives:

𝑷𝒕 ×𝟗𝟎% 𝑾𝒅𝒄
𝑳𝒅𝒑 = − 𝑳 equ.6
𝑺𝑭×𝑾𝒅𝒑 ×𝑩𝑭 𝑾𝒅𝒑 𝒅𝒄

• Equation 6 can also be expressed in term of MOP instead of the SF term by combing
equations 1 and 3 to obtain:

𝑷𝒕 × 𝟗𝟎% − 𝑴𝑶𝑷 𝑾𝒅𝒄

𝑳𝒅𝒑 = − 𝑳𝒅𝒄 𝒆𝒒𝒖. 𝟕
𝑾𝒅𝒑 × 𝑩𝑭 𝑾𝒅𝒑

• The term Ldp is sometimes expressed as Lmax, to refer to the maximum length of a given
grade of drill pipe which can bed selected for a given loading situation. 31
Drill String Design

B. Collapse

32
 Drill String Design
B. Collapse
• Collapse pressure may be defined as the external pressure required to cause
yielding of drill pipe or casing.
• Cases:
– In normal drilling operations, the mud columns inside and outside the drill pipe are both equal in
height and are of the same density. This results in zero differential pressure across the pipe body
and in turn of zero collapse pressure on the drill pipe.

– In some cases, as in DST operation, the drill pipe is run partially full to reduce the HP exerted
against the formation pressure. This is done to encourage formation fluids to flow into the well bore.
Once the well flows, the collapsing effects are small, as the drill pipe is now full of fluid.

– Thus, maximum differential pressure Δp across the drill pipe exists prior to the opening of the DST
tool, and can be calculated as follows:
33
 Drill String Design
B. Collapse, cont.
𝐿𝜌1 𝐿−𝑌 ×𝜌2
∆𝑃 = − equ.8
144 144 Surface

• Where
Y Drill pipe

L Mud

L-Y

• When densities expressed in ppg:

𝐿𝜌1 𝐿−𝑌 ×𝜌2

∆𝑃 = − equ.9
19.251 19.251
34
 Drill String Design
B. Collapse, cont.

• Other variations of equation 8 include the following: Surface

1) Drill pipe is completely empty, Y=0 and 𝜌2 = 0:

Y Drill pipe

𝑳𝝆𝟏
∆𝑷 = equ.10 L
𝟏𝟒𝟒 Mud

L-Y
2) Fluid density inside drill pipe is the same as that
outside drill pipe, i.e. 𝜌1 =𝜌2 =𝜌

𝒀𝝆
∆𝑷 = equ.11
𝟏𝟒𝟒
35
 Drill String Design
B. Collapse, cont.
• Once the collapsing pressure, ∆𝑃, is calculated, it can be compared with the
theoretical collapse resistance of the pipe as determined by manufacturer (see
provided tables).

• A safety factor in collapse can be determined as follow:

𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒑𝒔𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
𝑺𝑭 = equ.12
𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 (∆𝑷)

• A SF of 1 1/8 is normally used.

36
 Drill String Design
B. Collapse, cont.

• It should be observed that the collapse resistance in API or manufacturer’s

table is that value under zero load.

• Normally, drill pipe is under tension resulting from its own weight and the
weight of drill collars.

• The combined loading of tension and collapse is described as biaxial

loading.

• During the biaxial loading of drill pipe stretches and its collapse resistance
decreases.

• The corrected collapse resistance of drill pipe can be determined as follow:

37
 Drill String Design
B. Collapse, cont.
1. Determining tensile stress at joint under consideration by dividing the tensile load by
the pipe cross-sectional area.

2. Determine the ratio between tensile stress and the average yield strength.

3. Using this figure to determine the percentage reduction in collapse resistance

corresponding to the ratio calculated in step2.

38
 Drill String Design

C. Shock loading

39
 Drill String Design
C. Shock loading
• Shock loading arises whenever slips are set on moving drill pipe and can contribute
to parting of pipe in marginal design.

• It can be shown that the additional tensile forces, 𝐹𝑠, generated by shock loading
is calculated from:

𝐹𝑠 = 3200𝑊𝑑𝑝 equ.13 (refer to H. Rabia, page 227 for the equation derivation)

Where:
𝑊𝑑𝑝 = weight of drill pipe per unit length

40
Drill String Design

D. Torsion

41
 Drill String Design
D. Torsion
• It can be shown that the drill pipe torsional yield strength when subjected to pure
torsion is given by:

𝟎.𝟎𝟗𝟔𝟏𝟔𝟕 𝑱 𝒀𝒎
𝑸= equ.14
𝑫
• Where

42
 Drill String Design
D. Torsion, cont.
• When drill pipe is subjected to both torsion and tension, as is the case of drilling
operation equation 14 becomes:

𝟎.𝟎𝟗𝟔𝟏𝟔𝟕 𝑱 𝑷𝟐
𝑸𝒕 = 𝒀𝟐𝒎 − equ.15
𝑫 𝑨𝟐
• Where

• It should be noted that equations 14 and 15 can be used to calculate the maximum
allowable make-up torque before minimum torsional yield strength of the drill pipe body
is exceeded. 43
 Faculty of Engineering
Petroleum Engineering Department

Drilling Well Design

Fourth Stage

Lecture # 03
Drill String

Pshtiwan Jaf 1
[Link]@[Link]
Drill String Design

Examples

2
 Drill String Design
Example 1:
A drill string consist of 600ft of 8 1Τ4 in x 2 13Τ16 in drill collars and the rest is a 5 in, 19.5 Ibm/ft
Grade X95 drill pipe. If the required MOP is 100000 Ib and mud weight is 75 pcf (10 ppg).

Calculate the maximum depth of hole that can be drilled when:

A- Using new drill pipe

B- Using class 2 drill pipe

3
 Drill String Design
Solution:
A- New Drill Pipe
From table, Pt = 501090 Ib

𝝆𝒎 𝟏𝟎
𝑩𝑭 = 𝟏 − = 𝟏− = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟕
𝝆𝒔 𝟔𝟓. 𝟓

Weight of drill collar per foot is

𝜋 2 2 1
𝐴 × 𝜌𝑠 = 8 1ൗ4 − 2 13ൗ16 × 489.5 × = 160.6 𝐼𝑏𝑚/𝑓𝑡
4 144
Determine the length of drill pipe:
𝑃𝑡 ×90%−𝑀𝑂𝑃 𝑊𝑑𝑐 501090×90%−100000 160.6
𝐿𝑑𝑝 = − 𝐿 = − × 600= 16309 ft
𝑊𝑑𝑝 ×𝐵𝐹 𝑊𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑐 19.5×0.847 19.5

Maximum Hole depth= 16309 ft +600 ft = 16909 ft 4

 Drill String Design
Solution:
B- Class 2 Drill Pipe
From table, Pt = 394600 Ib

𝝆𝒎 𝟏𝟎
𝑩𝑭 = 𝟏 − = 𝟏− = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟕
𝝆𝒔 𝟔𝟓. 𝟓

Weight of drill collar per foot is

𝜋 2 2 1
𝐴 × 𝜌𝑠 = 8 1ൗ4 − 2 13ൗ16 × 489.5 × = 160.6 𝐼𝑏𝑚/𝑓𝑡
4 144
Determine the length of drill pipe:
𝑃𝑡 ×90%−𝑀𝑂𝑃 𝑊𝑑𝑐 394600×90%−100000 160.6
𝐿𝑑𝑝 = − 𝐿 = − × 600= 14443 ft
𝑊𝑑𝑝 ×𝐵𝐹 𝑊𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑐 12.3×0.847 12.3

Maximum Hole depth= 14443 ft +600 ft = 15043 ft 5

 Drill String Design
Example 2:
If 10000 ft of the drill string in example #1 is used ,

• Determine the maximum collapse pressure that can be encountered and the resulting safety
factor. The mud density is 75 pcf (10 ppg).

• If the fluid level inside the drill pipe drop to 6000 ft below the rotary table, determine the new
safety factor in collapse.

6
 Drill String Design
Solution:
A. Maximum collapse pressure , ∆𝑷, occurs when the drill pipe is 100 % empty, thus

𝐿×𝜌𝑚 = 10000 ×75 = 5208 𝑝𝑠𝑖

∆𝑃 =
144 144

From table, the collapse resistance for new drill pipe of Grade X95 is 12010 psi.
collapse resistance 12010
SF = = = 2.3
collpase pressure (∆P) 5208

B. When the mud level drops to 6000 ft below the rotary table, thus:

6000×75
= 3125 𝑝𝑠𝑖
144

collapse resistance 12010

SF = = = 3.8 7
collpase pressure (∆P) 3125
 Drill String Design
Example 3:
Assuming that 10 000 ft of Grade X95 has been selected from example #1, determine :

a. The safety factor during drilling;

b. The magnitude of shock loading , and

c. The safety factor when shock loading is included.

8
 Drill String Design
Solution:
A- the weight carried by drill pipe

𝑷 = 𝑳𝒅𝒑 × 𝑾𝒅𝒑 + 𝑳𝒅𝒄 × 𝑾𝒅𝒄 × 𝑩𝑭

= 𝟏𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟗. 𝟓 + 𝟔𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟔𝟎. 𝟔 × 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟕 = 𝟐𝟒𝟔 𝟔𝟖𝟎 𝑰𝒃

𝒀𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒕 × 𝟎. 𝟗 𝟓𝟎𝟏 𝟎𝟗𝟎 × 𝟗𝟎%

𝑺𝑭 = = = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟑
𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝟐𝟒𝟔 𝟔𝟖𝟎

B- force due to shock loading;

= 𝟑𝟐𝟎 × 𝑾𝒅𝒑
= 𝟑𝟐𝟎 × 𝟏𝟗. 𝟓 = 𝟔𝟐 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝑰𝒃

C- Total load at top joint;

= 𝟐𝟒𝟔 𝟔𝟖𝟎 + 𝟔𝟐 𝟒𝟎𝟎 = 𝟑𝟎𝟗 𝟎𝟖𝟎 𝑰𝒃

𝒀𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒕 × 𝟎. 𝟗 𝟓𝟎𝟏 𝟎𝟗𝟎 × 𝟗𝟎%

𝑺𝑭 = = = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟔
𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝟑𝟎𝟗 𝟎𝟖𝟎
9
Drill String Design

Tutorials

10
 Drill String Design
Tutorial 1:
A drill string consist of 10 000 ft of drill pipe and a length of drill collars weighting
80 000 Ib. The drill pipe is 5 in OD, 19.5 Ib/ft, Grade S135 , premium class;

A- Determine the actual collapse resistance of the bottom join of drill pipe.

B- Determine the safety factor in collapse.

Assume (mud weight = 75 pcf)

Solution:

a. 9347 psi
b. 1.8 11
 Drill String Design
Tutorial 2:
An exploration rig has the following grades of drill pipe to be run in a 15 000 ft deep well:
Grade E : 5/4.276 in; 19.5 Ibm/ft;
Grade G: 5/4.276 in; 19.5 Ibm/ft;
If the total length and weight of drill collars plus heavy-wall drill pipe is 984 ft (300 m) and 157 374 Ib
(700KN), respectively, calculate:
a. The maximum length that can be used from each grade of drill pipe if an MOP of 50 000 Ib is to be
maintained for the lower grade, and,
b. The MOP of the heavier grade.
The maximum expected mud weight at 15000 ft is 100 pcf (13.4 ppg)
Solution:
a. 11671 ft E & 9186 ft G
b. 156052 Ib. 12
 Drill String Design
Tutorial 3:
The following data refer to a drill string stuck at the drill collar:
Drill pipe : 10 000 ft, 5/ 4.276 in, Grade E 19.5 Ibm/ft, class 2.
Drill collars: 600 ft, total weight 80 000 Ib
Make-up torque for drill pipe total joint = 20 000 Ib-ft
100% free point = 9900 ft
Mud weight = 11 ppg
Determine the maximum torque that can be applied at the surface without exceeding the minimum
torsional yield strength of drill pipe.

Solution:
27677 Ib-ft 13
 Drill String Design
𝑯. 𝑾.
Design a tapered string to run a 4 ½ in OD liner to 19 000 ft using the following
data:
Length of liner = 6000 ft
Weight of liner = 90 600 IB
Mud weight = 97 pcf
Available drill pipe:
9000 ft, 3 ½ in drill pipe, 13.3 Ib/ft, Grade E (new)
5000 ft, 3 ½ in drill pipe, 15.5 Ib/ft, Grade E (new)
10 000 ft, 3 ½ in drill pipe, 15.5 Ib/ft, Grade G (new)
An MOP of 80 000 Ib is to be maintained for the lower grade.

14