Directional Drilling Operating Guidelines

Fundamental Differences - Directional vs. Conventional Drilling

 Mud viscosities may need to be higher, especially in tectonically stressed

areas.

 More horsepower is required for cleaning, motor and ancillary equipment

losses

 Optimized connection practices to minimize possibility of sticking pipe.

 Optimized trips, increased possibility of stuck pipe, remove cutting beds, etc.

 Special attention to "low side" cuttings removal.

 Additional drilling trends monitoring requires a higher level of documentation.

 Measured Depth to True Vertical Depth conversion requires special attention.

 Directional drilling results in more formation exposure.

 Reservoir differential pressures have a larger effect.

 Fractured reservoirs and vuggy reservoirs impose a greater fluid loss risk.

 Under balanced operations could complicate all of the above, or conversely

can simplify all of the above. The focus of these guidelines, however, is not
underbalanced drilling which requires a fundamentally more rigorous data
set.

Classifications of Directional Drilling:

 Short Radius: Radius of curvatures between 45' - 125', with build rates of 30
degrees/100 Ft. The angle build assembly generally requires specialized
equipment such as knuckle joints in the BHA, along with articulated
stabilizers and can be accomplished with conventional surveying equipment.
It does not require a steerable assembly. The horizontal section however, is
usually limited to less than 1000'

 Medium Radius - Radius of curvatures between 286' - 700' with build angles
from 8-30 Deg./100'. Medium radius allows for a greater horizontal extension.
The angle build BHA is usually comprised of a bit, a stabilizer equipped with

Directiional_Checml;ist - IPM
 low speed, high torque motor (depending on compressive rock strength), an
orienting bent sub, a non-mag collar, and MWD equipment, then proper
weight. This assembly is not rotated, and is used for the "build" section.

 Long Radius: - Radius of curvature rages from 1,500' - 4,500' plus, with
builds of 2 Deg./100' - 6 Deg./100'. The curvature allows for conventional
casing and assemblies, and steerable motors. Rotation is usually slow, and
driven by a top drive, or power swivel, to facilitate continuous pipe movement
and circulation.

Specific Considerations for Directional Drilling:

Drilling Fluids

 Less than 45 Degrees:

1. High yield point and laminar flow, high viscosity and high density
sweeps.

 Greater than 45 Degrees:

1. Low yield point and turbulent flow, low vis sweeps in turbulent flow.

2. Horizontal cleaning is best accomplished with scouring turbulence

while laminar flow results in poor low side cleaning. Erosion and
cleaning is sometimes difficult to balance. Therefore, mud lubricity
and a low friction system becomes critical.

Bit Selection.

 Diamond bits and PDC's can also help the cleaning issues as they produce
finer cuttings.

Mud Type.

 Consider bi-polymer systems.

Hydraulic Considerations.

 Torque and drag trends indicate the effectiveness of hole cleaning efficiency.

Actions to Consider:

 Pipe rotation with movement to stir cuttings, hole sweeps with pipe rotations,
short trips with rotation and high yield sweeps. Consider ECD effect at TVD.
Friction can become a real factor in the ECD equation as the annulus
extends horizontally.

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Wiper Trip Guidelines:

 When significant torque and drag are noted, or increasing.

 When in a permeable zone for a lengthy time.

 After rotating for (15) or so hours since the last short trip to the casing shoe

 As other hole conditions dictate.

 Maintain a special vigilance watch on slack off drag forces. Record slack off
weight with pumps off for drag criteria to establish rig drag limits.

 The top drive should be used to back-ream the first 5-10 stands out at
maximum strokes. Slack off with the pumps off to set the slips. If the slack-off
weight falls below the slack-off limit, repeat reaming until the desired slack-off
weight is achieved. If drag increases as the stabilizers enter a gauge hole
section, slack off, engage the top drive, establish circulation on the down
stroke, ream out of the hole.

General Guidelines

 Ensure a brief history of the well related to directional operations highlighting

failures, outstanding achievements, recommended methods for the next well,
proposed changes to standard procedures, improvements on previous well,
etc. This should be kept up to date during the drilling of the well and
included in the End of Well Report.

 Drill the straight section of the hole to kick-off point as vertical and straight as
possible.

 On the envelope of each single shot survey disc (if used), and also on the
directional drilling reports, the following additional information is required
(where applicable):

1. Magnetic instrument serial number and inclination range.

2. Spacing of compass from bottom of NMDC assembly (ft).

3. Total length of NMDC assembly used (ft).

4. Length of normal steel assembly (ft) used below NMDCs.

5. Spacing of compass from wireline rope socket (ft), and diameter of

wireline used (inch).

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  Ensure survey readings and the calculated results shall be passed at least
twice per day to the Project office.

 Ensure that the WSS shall extrapolate the well course, particularly where
wells are in close proximity, in order to predict possible collision points or
danger areas.

 Ensure the single shot gyro drift is checked immediately after recovery.

 Ensure that the observed drift is reported on the single shot envelope.

 Ensure that the gyro survey is rerun if the drift exceeds 5 degrees

 Ensure in large diameter casings and in near vertical casings to properly

centralize multishot instruments

 Ensure that sufficient length of nonmagnetic drill collars (NMDCs) required to

give sufficient protection against magnetic influences are run in the string.

 Ensure that dogleg severity does not exceed the programmed build-up rate.
If dogleg severity exceeds 1/100’ above BUR, contact Project office about
taking corrective action.

 Ensure that center jet and large nozzles are utilized in directional hole to
reduce erosion.

 Ensure that the length of the bottom hole assembly is kept to a minimum.

 Ensure-hole accuracy checks of MWD equipment are made prior to

commencement of each drilling run. Apart from the repeat check survey at
every station while drilling, a minimum of two other check surveys per run are
recommended.

 To provide a check on the repeatability of survey data, two sets of readings

shall be taken at every station while drilling ahead.

 Ensure great care is taken to avoid rough handling of MWD equipment;

crane drivers should be advised accordingly.

 When opening the hole to a larger size, use a bull nose (a 1/2 inch under
hole size) on a DP pup joint below the hole opener. Leave the NMDCs in the
HO assembly so that check surveys can be taken, and ensure that no new
hole is drilled.

 Ream out excessive doglegs with a stiff HO assembly rather than with a stiff
drilling assembly. If a new hole has to be started higher up, then use a stiff
drilling assembly and watch out for twist off.

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  All hole sections drilled initially with a deflection tool (Dyna-Drill, turbine, etc)
shall be reamed when running in with a follow up assembly, in order to
smooth out doglegs.

 Minimize bit weight in the build-up section to avoid excessive doglegs, and
use the highest practical rpm to maintain the best hole course.

 Make corrections to direction as soon as errors are observed.

 If continuous excessive over pulls are observed when tripping, do not change
the assembly to a stiffer one, rather leave out non-essential stabilizers and
drill collars and use more HWDP.

 Avoid rotating freely off bottom in deviated holes. This is because in marginal
cases it could be possible to exceed the DP fatigue limit in a dogleg, with the
full DC weight added to the tension of the pipe rotating through the dogleg.

 If extremely high torque is encountered when drilling deviated holes, then

consider the following (arranged in order of priority):

1. When drilling with water-based mud, add a non-polluting torque reducer

or lubricant to the mud.

Note: Do not use diesel or base oil.

2. On the next trip leave out some stabilizers and DCs (replace with
HWDP).

3. Analyze the mud for problem factors; improve the quality or increase the
gradient.

4. Replace the NB stabilizer with a roller reamer (if available). Be aware

that this may act as building assembly.

 Place a magnet in the flow line from the start of drilling each well to collect
metal cuttings and shavings coming out of the hole

 Ensure instruments are returned to shop for checking, calibration and repair
routinely after every well.

 Ensure where there is wear on the DP due to metal to metal contact down
hole (e.g. worn, polished or shiny patches on the pipe or tool joints) to carry
out the following preventative (corrective) action:

1. Check alignment of derrick over the center of the well.

2. Check the wear bushing.

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 3. Use lowest practical rpm, and consider the use of turbines or mud
motors.

4. Use a bottom hole assembly of minimum practical weight.

5. Do not rotate with the bit off bottom.

6. Use and check the magnet in the flow line for metal cuttings.

 Ensure that hard facing on tool joints is one of the smooth types or alloy such
as Parkalloy.

Specific Considerations for Directional Drilling

 If the drill string becomes stuck (see also Stuck_Pipe_Guidelines) because

of high drag or torque, or pulling into a tight spot, work the drill string down-
hole by reciprocating and applying torque with pumps off, jarring down if
possible (however, do not torque while jarring down). If the BHA is not freed,
attempt to circulate while jarring down. Spot a release pill as necessary.

 If the drill string becomes stuck due to differential sticking, utilize same
procedure as above, except jar up and down, holding torque on down stroke.

Dynamics in Horizontal / High Angle Drilling:

WOB:

 The primary WOB component must be in the vertical, or near vertical section
of the hole. HWDP is typically run from the end of the weight supplying
collars in the vertical section, through the build section and into the horizontal
section. HWDP is therefore in compression and must be used to avoid
buckling. However, conventional drill pipe may be placed in compression in
long horizontal sections, within buckling stress limitations. A guideline is to
use heavy components in well sections with less than 60-70 degrees
inclination and lighter components at higher inclinations.

Bits:

 The change from a slide mode to rotating creates a larger hole. The greater
the degree of bend, the larger the hole. Eccentrically induced side loading
can also come into play. This increase stress on the lower cone, or lower
gauge of a fixed cutter bit, accelerating wear. This can also result in high
torque and damage the motor stators. Therefore, it is important to optimize
the steerable assembly and bit, maintaining a common axis as much as
possible. If a bit fails to maintain angle, the reverse of this problem occurs,
leading to extra correction runs.

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  At high angle, the string absorbs more weight and borehole interface,
resulting in inadequate WOB, hence lower ROP.

 Abrasive drill cuttings build up on the low side will attack bits in a similar
manner, making hole cleaning even more imperative.

 Conclusions

1. Strengthened gauge rows and gauge sections.

2. When possible, drill the tangent and horizontal section with the rotary
and without a steerable assembly. The trade-off is a reduction in
directional control and increased BHA changes.

3. Ensure the "bend" angle is as near the bit as possible.

4. Aggressive fixed cutter bits, hardened across the face and reinforced
up the gauge will withstand high RPM.

5. A low RPM motor can improve bit life, the trade off is ROP. Also, a
less aggressive fixed cutter or gauge re-enforced tri-cone will also
improve on-bottom life, but again the trade-off is ROP.

6. Trajectory problems complicate bit selection. Steerable assemblies

require bits that are capable of swift corrections. Bits with long gauge
protection are difficult to steer, while one with short gauge protection
better facilitate steering. PDC pads can also enhance steerablity.

7. Maintaining an angle in a tangent section present another problem.

Longer gauge and protection are required to resist drilling angle
change.

8. All of the "trade-offs" must be taken into account, but as a rule, the
less time the hole can be drilled in while maintaining excellent
cleaning capabilities, results in a better wellbore. Consider a
reasonable trade-off of depending on the build section, then tangent,
then laying down a steerable assembly for the horizontal. Target
limitations will help in this decision. Certainly, upgrading bit gauge
requirements in the horizontal section should be considered, if a
steerable system is used.

9. Azimuth control trajectory represents still yet another problem.

Generally, roller cones walk to the right, fixed cutters walk to the left.
Consider walking tendencies in the overall path trajectory. There are
two solutions: Consider higher RPM, less weight with a steerable
system or a more aggressive bit to take advantage of weight
available at the bit.

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In Summary: the bit selection for the type of formation is probably the best choice.
Improve the gauge or roller cone leg pads. Fixed cutter bits will steer more readily and
extended gauges will hold more effectively. Steerable assemblies increase control,
reduce BHA changes, but require added attention to bit selection and gauge protection.

Other points to consider:

1. Roller Cone bits for difficult steering situations.

2. Tortuosity means that actual curve rates will be 2 deg/100ft above

planned.

3. Motor sliding ROP is usually one half of rotary ROP.

4. Directional tendency is the result of BHA, bit and formation tendency

effects.

5. Formation tendency means that the wellbore will tend to drift in the
direction perpendicular to the plane of dip.

Reference:

Wellbore Surveying and Collision Avoidance (IPM-WELL-S031)

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