Directional Drilling (DD)
BASIC MATHEMATICS
FOR DIRECTIONAL WELL PLANS
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Definition
Directional Drilling
Is the science of
deviating a well bore
along a planned course
to a subsurface target
whose location is a given
lateral distance and
direction from the
vertical.
Tool Face Orientation
Tool-face Orientation or Angle - is
the angle between vertical and the
orientation of the bent portion of a
directional drilling tool measured in a
plane perpendicular to the borehole.
If the tool-face orientation is 0 or
180, the well will generally build or
drop angle (inclination) in a vertical
plane (i.e., constant azimuth). A 2d
well path.
Any other tool-face orientations will
generally result in the well turning,
changing azimuth, while building or
dropping in inclination. A 3d well path.
TFO
ig
de
i
S
Bit
Bent Motor
w
o
L
de
i
S
1998 Maurer Engineering, Inc.
MWD Operations: Tool Face Angle showing good directional control
LAST SURVEY
90.6
inclination
265.4
azimuth
LEFT
UP
++
+
LAST TOOL FACE
1.4 R
+
+
++ ++
+ ++
degrees
RIGHT
1.5 BH motor
configuration
DOWN
Tool Face Display
pp27
MWD Operations: Tool Face Angle showing poor directional control
LAST SURVEY
LAST TOOL FACE
UP
-82.4L
90.6
degrees
inclination
265.4
azimuth
LEFT
+
+ +
+
+
+ +
+
+
+
+
DOWN
Tool Face Display
RIGHT
1.5 BH motor
configuration
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Circumference of a Circle
Circle = 3600
Basic Math For Directional Wells
MEASUREMENTS AND FORMULAS
C = D
C = 3600
C = 2R
Diameter
Radius
1 Ra
1 unit of Radius = 1 Radian (Ra)
3600
3600/2
1800
1800/
1Ra
= 2R
= 2R
= R
= R
= Ra
= 57.29580
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Drilling a Circular Arc
Example: Drilling a Circle at
1/100 ft Build Up Rate
C = 360 100 ft 1 = 36,000 ft
C = 2R
Radius
Radius
C 36,000 ft
=
R=
2
2
R = 5729.58 ft 5730 ft
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Single Build Curve
R
R
5730
B
R = Radius, ft.
B = Build Rate, deg. 100 ft.
R=
Our Radius Definitions
Long
Radius
Note:
2 - 6 /100 ft
3000 - 1000 ft radii
Definitions not consistent
across industry
Medium
Radius
6 - 40 /100 ft
1000 - 140 ft radii
2000 - 6000 ft
1500 - 4000 ft
Intermediate
Radius
(Flex Motors)
40 - 70/100 ft
140 - 82 ft radii
300 - 3000 ft
199 5 Baker Hu ghes Incorp orat ed
All rights r eser ved.
Short
Radius
(Articulated
Motors)
70 - 150/100 ft
82 - 40 ft radii
300 - 1000 ft
303 -01 9. 4 0 5/95
Summary of Buildup Rate
Long Radius
Radii of Curvature and Measured Depths (Arc Lengths)
Buildup Rate
(BUR)
Degrees /100ft
Radius of
Curvature (ft)
Arc Length
per 1 Degree
Built (ft)
1
2
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
5729.6
2864.8
1909.9
1637.0
1432.4
1273.2
1145.9
1041.7
954.9
881.5
818.5
763.9
716.2
674.1
636.6
603.1
573.0
100.0
50.0
33.3
28.6
25.0
22.2
20.0
18.2
16.7
15.4
14.3
13.3
12.5
11.8
11.1
10.5
10.0
Arc Length
Circumference
per 90 Degrees
of Circle (ft)
Built (ft)
9000.0
4500.0
3000.0
2571.4
2250.0
2000.0
1800.0
1636.4
1500.0
1384.6
1285.7
1200.0
1125.0
1058.8
1000.0
947.4
900.0
36000.0
18000.0
12000.0
10285.7
9000.0
8000.0
7200.0
6545.5
6000.0
5538.5
5142.9
4800.0
4500.0
4235.3
4000.0
3789.5
3600.0
Summary of Buildup Rates
Medium Radius
Radii of Curvature and Measured Depths (Arc Lengths)
Buildup Rate
(BUR)
Degrees /100 ft
Radius of
Curvature (ft)
Arc Length
per 1 Degree
Built (ft)
Arc Length
per 90 Degrees
Built (ft)
Circumference
of Circle (ft)
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
954.9
818.5
716.2
636.6
573.0
520.9
477.5
440.7
409.3
382.0
358.1
337.0
318.3
260.4
238.7
220.4
204.6
191.0
179.0
168.5
159.2
150.8
143.2
16.7
14.3
12.5
11.1
10.0
9.1
8.3
7.7
7.1
6.7
6.3
5.9
5.6
4.5
4.2
3.8
3.6
3.3
3.1
2.9
2.8
2.6
2.5
1500.0
1285.7
1125.0
1000.0
900.0
818.2
750.0
692.3
642.9
600.0
562.5
529.4
500.0
409.1
375.0
346.2
321.4
300.0
281.3
264.7
250.0
236.8
225.0
6000.0
5142.9
4500.0
4000.0
3600.0
3272.7
3000.0
2769.2
2571.4
2400.0
2250.0
2117.6
2000.0
1636.4
1500.0
1384.6
1285.7
1200.0
1125.0
1058.8
1000.0
947.4
900.0
Summary of Buildup Rates
Intermediate - Short Radius
Radii of Curvature and Measured Depths (Arc Lengths)
Buildup Rate
(BUR)
Degrees /100 ft
Radius of
Curvature (ft)
Arc Length
per 1 Degree
Built (ft)
Arc Length
per 90 Degrees
Built (ft)
Circumference
of Circle (ft)
Intermediate Radius - Flex Motors
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
143.2
127.3
114.6
104.2
95.5
88.1
81.9
2.5
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.4
225.0
200.0
180.0
163.6
150.0
138.5
128.6
900.0
800.0
720.0
654.5
600.0
553.8
514.3
Short Radius - Articulated Motors
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
110
120
130
140
150
81.9
76.4
71.6
67.4
63.7
60.3
57.3
52.1
47.7
44.1
40.9
38.2
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
128.6
120.0
112.5
105.9
100.0
94.7
90.0
81.8
75.0
69.2
64.3
60.0
514.3
480.0
450.0
423.5
400.0
378.9
360.0
327.3
300.0
276.9
257.1
240.0
D
Tangent Section - or Hold Section - A section of constant
inclination designed in the build section of a horizontal well.
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Basic Build and Curve Equations
5730
R=
B
= I 2 I1
100 (I 2 I1 )
B
V = R (sinI 2 sinI 1 )
L=
I1
D = R (cosI 1 cosI 2 )
I2
D
Where B = Build Rate, deg . 100 ft.
R = Build Radius, ft.
I1 = Initial Inclination, deg.
I 2 = Final Inclination, deg.
L = Arc Length of Hole, ft.
V = Vertical Height, (TVD), ft.
D = Displacement, (Distance Out), ft.
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Straight Tangent Section Equations
Where I = Inclination, deg.
L = Length of Hole (Measured Depth, md), ft.
V = Vertical Height, (TVD), ft.
D = Displacement, (Distant Out, DO), ft.
L2 = V2 + D2
V = L cosI
D = L sinI
D
Exercise 1
2D - Horizontal Well Profile
Design
KOP
EXERCISE 1
R=
50
SIMPLE TANGENT BUILD CURVE
R=
V=
L=
R=
L=
R=
V=
V=
L=
V=
V=
40
Given:
Target Depth at Landing = 9000
BUILD RATE = 8 /100
TANGENT ANGLE = 50
TANGENT LENGTH = 120
Determine:
1) Build Radius (R)
2) Kickoff Point (KOP)
3) Total Measured Depth at Landing
4) Total Displacement at Landing
Landing
D=
D=
D=
8206
EXERCISE 1 Answers
SIMPLE TANGENT BUILD CURVE
794
Given:
Target Depth at Landing = 9000
BUILD RATE = 8 /100
TANGENT ANGLE = 50
TANGENT LENGTH = 120
Determine:
1) Build Radius (R) = 716
2) Kickoff Point (KOP) = 8206
3) Total Measured Depth at Landing
= 9451
4) Total Displacement at Landing
= 807
807
70 Tangent
Tangent Adjustment
70 Tangent
Required Final Curvature to Target
B
B
R
R
5730 (Sin I Sin I)
T
TVD TVD
T
Build Rate required to hit target , deg/100 ft
I
=
T
I
=
TVD =
T
TVD =
Target Inclinatio n,
deg
Present Inclinatio n,
Target TVD,
deg
ft
Present TVD,
ft
Exercise 1a
2D - Horizontal Well Profile
Design - Revising Plan for
Well ahead on the Curve
Exercise 1a
Well is drilled ahead of plan along
dashed line an is currently at:
8800 TVD
348 Distance out
53 degrees inclination
Compute:
1) Final Build rate to reach the
target depth of 9000 at 90 degrees
B = (5730(sinIt-sinI))/(TVDt-TVD)
2)At what Distance out will the well hit
the target?
R = 5730/B
D = R(cosI1 -cosIt)
It and TVDt = target inclination and TVD
Exercise 1a Answers
B=(5730(sin90-sin53))/(9000-8800)
=(5730*.2)/200 = 5.8 degrees/100ft
R = 5730/5.8 = 988
D = 988(0.6 - 0.0) = 593
Total distance out of new wellpath
Ht=348+593 = 941
Compared with 808 of initial design
results in a potential loss of 133
of reservoir penetration.
Directional Drilling (DD)
BASIC MATHEMATICS
FOR DIRECTIONAL WELL PLANS
Map or Plan View Projections
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Map View Well Path Equations
D2 = N2 + E2
E
D= N +E
N = D cosA
2
E = D sinA
Where A = Azimuth Direction, 0 - 360 deg.
D
N = Northing/Latetude ft.
E = Easting/Departure, ft.
D = Displacement/Closure, ft.
= or Distance Out, ft.
Note: Equations will give negative numbers for
South or West hole azimuths directions.
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Map View - Northing, Easting, and
Displacement
Northing/Latitude =
Distance North from a
fixed Reference Point,
usually the wellhead. North
is positive and South is
negative.
Easting/Departure
Di
sp
la c
em
en
t/C
Ve
los
rt
ic
ur
al
e
Se
ct
io
n
W
ell
Pa
th
Intermediate Survey Point
Northing/Latitude
Easting/Departure =
Distance East from a fixed
Reference Point, usually
the wellhead. East is
positive and West is
negative.
Bottom Hole Target
Surface Location (X,Y = 0,0)
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Map View - Displacement
CALCULATE DISPLACEMENT:
DISPLACEMENT = North + East
2
Bottom Hole Location
Easting
Pa
el
l
W
Intermediate
Survey Point
Northing
Displacement/Closure:
The hypotenuse
distance measured in
map view, from a fixed
reference point, usually
the surface location, to a
N, E point along the well
path.
th
Intermediate Survey Point
Displacement/Closure
A1
A2
A3
Surface Location (X,Y = 0,0)
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Map View - Closure Azimuth
Easting
Closure Azimuth = tan
Northing
1
Bottom Hole Location
Easting
The direction (azimuth)
of closure
displacement from the
wellhead to the point in
question.
Intermediate
Survey Point
Northing
Closure Azimuth:
el
l
Pa
th
Intermediate Survey Point
Displacement/Closure
A1
A2
A3
Surface Location (X,Y = 0,0)
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Map View - Vertical Section
VERTICAL SECTION =
DISPLACEMENT X cos(TARGET AZIMUTH - CLOSURE AZIMUTH)
or
Bottom Hole Target
VS = D x cos(AV - AC)
Easting/Departure
sp
la c
em
en
t/C
Ve
los
rt
ic
ur
al
e
Se
ct
io
n
Di
W
ell
Pa
th
Northing/Latitude
Vertical Section (VS)
is the projection of
the survey station
point onto the plane
of proposal
Intermediate Survey Point
AC
AV
Surface Location (X,Y = 0,0)
Exercise 2
Map View Well Projection
Exercise
Exercise 2 Example
Closure (D) = 2000
Calculate Northing (N) and Easting (E)
N = D cosA
E = D sinA
Exercise 2: Northing, Easting, and Closure
Calculate Northing (N)
and Easting (E) for
Calculate Closure (D)
and Northing (N) for
Closure (D) = 1050
Easting (E) = 750
N = D cosA
E = D sinA
Calculate Closure (D)
and Easting (E) for
Northing (N) = - 1500
N
D=
cosA
E = D sinA
E
D=
sinA
N = D cosA
Calculate Northing (N)
and Easting (E) for
Closure (D) = 2000
N = D cosA
E = D sinA
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Displacement - Vertical Section Exercise
CALCULATE DISPLACEMENT:
DISPLACEMENT = North + East
2
Bottom Hole Location
2
Easting
VERTICAL SECTION =
DISPLACEMENT X cos(TARGET
cos(TARGET
AZIMUTH - CLOSURE AZIMUTH)
AZIMUTH)
or
VS = D x cos(A
cos(AV - AC)
Northing
Intermediate
Survey Point
el
l
Pa
th
Intermediate Survey Point
Displacement/Closure
A1
A2
A3
Surface Location (X,Y = 0,0)
Directional Drilling (DD)
BASIC MATHEMATICS
FOR DIRECTIONAL WELL PLANS
3D Well Profiles
3D Well Profiles - Curtain X-Sections - DOAWP
Curtain X-Section
DOAWP = Distance Out
Along Well Path
DOAWP = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5
Note: DOAWP provides the
length component for a
Curtain X-Section (unfolded)
Basic Math For Directional Wells
Dogleg
The total curvature of the wellbore (the combination of changes in inclination
and direction), between two survey stations. Dogleg (DL) is measured in
degrees.
DL = cos-1 [sinI1 sinI2 cos (A2-A1) + cosI1 cosI2]
where: I1 and I2 are two successive inclination measurements.
A1 A2 are two successive direction measurements.
I1
I2
A1
A2
=
=
=
=
Previous Inclination
Current Inclination
Previous Azimuth
Current Azimuth
(Courtesy of Baker - Hughes - Integ)
Direction Surveying
Concepts
Dogleg Severity (DLS)
The amount of dogleg normalized to a standard interval (usually 100
ft. or 30 meters). Dogleg severity is reported as degrees per 100
ft. or degrees per 30 meters. In normal conversations this is
often referred to as dogleg which may be confusing to the
beginning student. It is desirable to keep dogleg severities as
low as possible in conventional drilling (less than 4 - 5 /100ft.).
High dogleg severities may lead to hole problems such as key
seats, stuck pipe, or drill pipe and casing wear.
DLS =
DL x 100
L
Where:
DL is the dogleg calculated between two survey stations
L is the measured depth between the two survey stations
