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Soclety of Petrolet.m Engineers

SPE 28774

A New Approach to Selecting Optimum Bottomhole Assembly

Configuration for Any Given Well Tajectory
Mamdouh Agawani and S.S. Rahman, U. of New South Wales, and E.E. Maidla, Unlcamp
SPE Members

copyright,694,.sCde!y Of PE!mleum Enmeeri, 1,.

M W9ti W*5 SWPW@ i.; P7i%=fm&- 16,SPE--%%?% $i-kia% COrifeinnc, held ~-M&, m;. .&rdia 7-10 N&mbe, 1S34.

TM, paper vim selectee for premmmr by an SPE Fm$rm Cmmiti6+ Ialloting wk. 01 iorwm!lon mWri~ In em abm~ submru+ by. @ wtiq(al. Cm!!mts 0! tha caper,
al Presented, have M been ,wewed by the Sc@ly d Petroleum Englnem and W. Sub]m+ b corrw!on by the atlku(,], Th, nm,,dal, as P,e,mw doe, ,0$ .Mw,8Y reflect
w POSMCO.flbe SOC18W.X Pel@um Eng!mws, lb dilcw w nwmbws PaPws Prmmled d SPE nw,!ng, am $ubjwl ,. Fubllc,tion review by Ed,twld anm,,,sm o, ,be sac,my
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.af where and by whom the Papa Is P,,,oM. Write Llbrar!n., SPE, P.O. Box @3383s, RkIwdso. TX 7.508?-w3S, U-SA Telex , s3245 SPm.

~ drilling tie.
Jir recent years the application of
steerable bottomhole assembly mmQDumQ N
(BHA) systems in drilling direction~ .Motors with bent housing (steerable
and horizontal wells is quite system) have been widely used to
common. The qutilty of their drill highly deviated and horizontzd
performance and the amount of drne wells. Usually the motor housing has
spent in the hole often determines the a single bend with the angle varying
successful execution of the planned from O to 3 degr%s. The double bent
trajectory and cost effectiveness of housing motor has also been used to
the well. This paper presents an minimise over gauged hole sections
analyhcal model for predicting by maintaining a minimum bit offset.
performarice of kerable BHA These skerable systems are used in
systems containing bent housing both sliding and rotary modes. Rate
motors, stabilisers, wear pads etc.. of build is achieved @ the sliding
Based on field data a design cri@mr mode while in the rotary mode, the
is proposed which allows selection achieved angle is -maintained. In the
and opti.rnkation of BHAs for a given past, a number of stkies have
well trajectory. This will reduce focused on the estimation of direction
undesired dog legs and increase cost m-d magnitude of the forces achrrg at
effectiveness ofthe wells by reducing the bit &d rdong the bottomhole

327

Agawani, M., Rabmrm, S. S. and Maidla, E.E.
assembly (BHA) of a steerable
system. A limitation of most of these
studies is the assumption of an
initially stmight centreline of the
rnrdeforrned drillstring which usually
precludes the use of the bent housing
of a steerable system. With the
exception of the study by Brett et. al.,
1986 and Williams et.al., 1989very
little information is available. in open
literature about the modelling of the
steerable BHA systems. The above
authors adopted the approach of
Millheirn and Apostal, 1981 by
implementing a series of coordinate
transformations to achieve the desired
result of a slope dkcontinuity in the
centre line of the udefonned
bottomhole assembly.. Fuitherrnor.e,.
no systematic approach to select and
optimise steerable BHAs for a given
well trajectory is available in the
literature. This paper describes an
analytical model to predict the
behavionr of fire ..bottomho!e
assembly and proposes design criteria
for sekting appropriate parameters
of a steerable system: bend wrgle to
be set in the bent housing, the
position of the top stabiliser, weight
on bit etc..
P~ HE MODEL
Figure 1 describes t$e major
components of a steerable .B.I-LA
system with its bent housing Wd
328
SPE287Z4 .
we~ pads. Figures 2a, bandc
describe the sliding and the rotary
modes of the BHA and the forces
acting on it. In the rotary mode, the
effect of bend angle can be reduced
to a minimum. The bottomhole
assemblies shown in Figure 2 a and b
were modelled using the theory of an
elastic beam colrrrnrr composed of
several pipes of different geometries .
and materials restrained in a curved
hole in a 3D coordinate system
(Timoshenko and Gere, 1961, and
Hoff, 1956). The formation is
assumed not to deform, hence the
tube geometry and its position never
change. The shape of the pipe, the
side force, and the tilt angle at ~e blt
were. determined by .enwgy method.
This method states that at
equilibrium, the total potential energy
of a system ii a minimum. In this
case, the totrd potential energy is
given by the sum of the total amo!rnt
of_bending simin energy (Ubn). the
variation due to the effect of the .aial
component of weight and the effect
of initiaf curvature (UWc), the
variation due to the laterrd component
of the weight (1..JJ and. we @fec! @
reaction force from the formation
(U,). It can be expressed as (Agawani
et..al., 1994):
U ..Ubn + UWC+ UL +.u, (1)
- ;. y.? . . ..
$.j&J%?-.. ,_. . :: ~~
Agawiwi, M., Rahman, S. S. and Maidla, E.E
The following boundary conditions
are applicable to the modek
. All parts of the BHA are
restrained within the borehole.
. The bit is centrcd.
Once the pipe buckles under its
axiat load, it contacts at a point
a. At this point a the upper
part of the drillstr&g rests against
the wall. Point a is not the
neutral point of buckfing as it is
always located above the top
stabiliser for-any given weight on
bk (WOB). The point a should
atways be checked, preferably by
looking at a graphical display of
the final shape of the BHA.
The function that represents the shape
of the deflected BHA can be
expressed by Fourier Series. The
coefficient of tbe seriei can be
regarded as generalised coordinates
(Agawani et. al., 1994). The
projection of the..deflectcd shape of
the pipe irr the X2 plane (see Figure
2c) can be expressed as:
(2)
where ~ is a general coeftlcient
which satisfies a number of
assumptions stated earlier and L is
the dktance between the bit and the
point a. Irr practice, equation 1 is an
329
.- --. ........ :. ~ sp~2~ .f74
admissible displacement function
because it is continuous and satisfies
the forced boundary conditions.
The Raleigh-Rlz method was used to
solve the energy equation (Eq. 1). The
solution algorithm used to deveIop
the computer program is preserrtcd in
Figure 3.
PREDICTION OF BOTTOM-
HOLE M3$EMBLY PERFoRM-
AN! x
For a steerable syi~m, generally a
side force is app&d to the bit by one
or a comblmtion of &o methorkx
introducing a bend irrto the motor
housing, and positioning the top
stabitisers to an appropriate distance
from the bent housing. It is assumed
that the orientation of the bend atlows
the penetration of the blt in the same
direction as the trajectory of the well.
Whereas, by positioning the top
stabiliser at certain locations along
the BHA, the lateraI force at the bit
can be con~olled to make the
bottomhole assembly build, hold or
drop to a certain extent. The rationale
here is that as the bend angle is
increased the lateral force at the bit is
increased and as a result, the BHA
deflects through a given ~ajectory.
Fi@fes 4 drrongh 7 obtained from the
application of the previously
described model show the effect of
Y , .-..~m
~- ~:i<.. t :. .:. .,.j : ,~... .i:.c
,4gawarri, M., Rahman, S. S and Maidla, E.E.
the bend angle, stabiliser position and
the WOB. on the side force and shape
of the pipe for a typical BHA with
zero (degree) orientation from ..tie
high side. As,expected the side force
at tIIe,bit increases w the bend .aogle
increases.
Figure 5 shows that the side for~e
increases with an increase in distance
of the top stabiliser position from the
bent housing. At a cer@r distance,
however, it reaches its maximum
value. Any further increase irr
distance does not increase the side
force signific@.ly. This is due to the
fact that as the distance betieen the
top stabiliser and the bent horrsing of
the mo~r increases, the contact area
between the BHA and the wall of the
hole increases which reduces the
effect of the position of the stabiliser
on the side force. The effect of the
stabiliser position on we shape of the
deformed BHA and contacts between
the BHA and the hole wall is shown
in Figs 6 a and b. . during the sliding modes. The
Irr Flgrrre 7, the .effgct of weight .o.n
bit on the side force at the bit is
prese&@... ,.@Ie
. ...c2II. sge, from., @is
fig~e mat the side force dpes not
change very much with changes in.
WOB. This is an ipport@ result
b~ayse it,can explain why .~e wei@t,.
on bit is not a critical par~eter for
330
&_. SPE287T74 ;:
controlling the well trajectory for a
steerable BHA system. Because of
the use of bent housing the bottom
P@ of W! ~~ aJways_.ljes .on the
low side of the hole. Any increase in
WOB does not change @e shape of
the lower part of. the pipe (between
the bent housing and me bit)
significantly and hence the WOB has
no measurable effect on the buildlng
~ndency of the BHA.
SELECTION AND oPrmm&
~
Based on the field data available to
the authors, the computer model was
used to predict the resultant wellbore
angle for a number of BHAs which
were oriented zero degrees, ,from the
high side. The assemblies used in this
study and resrdts of the analysis are
presented in Figure 8 through 10. The
data points shown at the bottom left
of these plots 8 and 9 are the rotary
modes. of the BHA which are meant
to maintain the build angle achieved
average build rate that can be
obtained by using these assemblies in
a typical shale are 5.7 /K)Oft, 6.8o
/100fL 7.7 /100ft and 11.7/100ft
respectively.
Figw.e 10 describes the efftit of side
force on the build rate of the above
mentioned four dtiferent bottom hole
 t ~ .< ,=..= -+ .-i . .
,~. .8
i-l:
~.. .-.,
J ; ,4
sPt28774

Agawani, M., Rabrnan, S. S. and Maidla, E.E.

assemblies. From this plot one can
observe that there exists a standard
relationship between the side force
and the build rate. Several interesting
points can be noted from plots 8
through 10. First, one c&r obt& a
desired build rate by mntrollirrg the
side force at the bit. As discussed
earlier, the side force at the bit is a
function of a number of parameters
which are related to BHA
configuration, for ex~ple drill
collar dimension and stiffness,
position of stabilisers, bent housing
(bend- airgle), WOB, etc. It is,
therefore, possible to con~ol the side
force at the bit by selecting
appropriate BHA configuration. For
example, a side force of 620001b
would be necessag if one wish to
build an angle of So/loOft. This side
force at the bit can be generated by
using a B~ of following
configuration 8 1/2 in bit 6 3/4 h..
motor with 8.2 in screw in stabiliser
and 1.7 degrees bent housing, 7 3/4 in
top stabiliser and 44ft between tire
bent housing Wd the top stabiliser.
Secondly, selection and optiinisation
of BHAs require an understanding of
their behaviorrr in different
foliations. This can be developed
by establishhrg bit and formation
aniso@opy index (Maidla et aL,
1989). Alternatively, one can
establish the build rate of a number of
BHAs for different
formatioirs of interest as described in
Figs. 8 and 9. The later approach has
been found simple and effective
provided that drilling data is properly
recorded.
co NCLUSIONS
Theenergy method has been found
very effective and reliable in
modelIing steerable BHAs containing
bent housing motors, stabilisers, wear
pads etc.. Results predicted by the
model is very close to those observed
in the field.
The proposed selection and
opdmkation procedure of steerable
BHAs, which is based on the
computer modelling and field
observation, has been found simple
and effective provided that the data
related to. BHAs and drilling
conditions is cmrectly recorded.
~ E
The authors wish to thank APCRC,
HADSON Energy Ltd., and
Woodside offshore petroleum Ltd. for
their support without which this study
could not have been completed. They
also-wish to thank Mr. D. Estralla for
assisting in collecting and evaluating
field data.

331
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. . . ..
:_ :. ~::: : : :.
:::=-: ::! :.- ---- ::.::, ,. 33E28774 .

Agaward, M., Ralunan, S. S. and Maidla, E.E.

~FER.EWES 6. .Agawani, M. M., Maidla, E. E.,

1. Timoshenko, S. P, and Gere, J. M.: Rahman, S. S.: BHA Design and
Theory of Elastic Stabtity, Second Steerability Optimization for
Edition, McGraw-~ Book Extended Reach Drillkrg, SPE
Cornpmy,New York, 1961. . 28328 presented at the SPE Annual
2. Hoff, N. J.: .The Anrdysis Technical Meeting and Exhibition,
Smrctrrres, John Wdey New Orleans 25-28 September,
Publications, 1956. 1994.
3. Brett J. F., Gray, J. A., Bell, R. 7. Maidla, E. E., and ,%rnpaio Jr., J.
K, ind Drmbar, M. E.: A Method H. B.: Field Verification of Lead
of Modeling the Duectional Angle and Azimuth Rate of
Behavior of .Bottornhole Change Predictions in Directi@raJ
Assemblies Jnchrdmg Those With Wells Using a New Mathematical
Bent Subs, IADC/SPE 14767, Model SPE 19337, presented at
presented ..at the IADC/SPE the SPE Eastern Regional Meeting,
Drilling Conference, Dallas, TX, Morgantown, West Virginia,
February 10-12, 1986. October 24-27, 1989.
4. William, J. B., @OS@ M. C.,
Haduch, G. A., Jordan, and
Apostal: An Analysis of Predicted
Well Bore Trajectory Using a
Three Dimensional Model of a
Bottomhole Assembly Wkb Bent
Sub, Bent Housing, and Eccentric
Contact Capabilities, SPE 19545,
presented at the 64th SPE Amual
Tecklcal Conference and
Exhibition, San Antonio, TX,
October 8-11,1989.
5. Millheim, K. K., and Apostal,
-.
M.C.: The effect of. Bottom Hole bit screw on
stabiliser
Assembly Dynamics on the
Fig. 1: A typical steerable, BHA system.
Traj&to~ of a Bi~ SPE Journal
of. Petroleum Technology, Vol. 33,
1981.

332
.,.
SPE28774 ,,
.=...

Agawani, M., Rahman, S. S. and Maidla, E.E.

(.1 8Ud1no me (b] Rotary mod. (cl Farces at th. bitand along the w

Fig,2 Dif%ent operational rncdes of steerable BHAand forcesactingonit,

EJaiii#:-An

OLVE
DEFLECTION
[OR I
IMPOSE
COtJTACT
CONSTFWNT
A 1 I

FIND BIT
FORCES AND
ANGLES

ND F
AND MOMENTS
ALONG STRING
%..

Fig. 3 Flow chart of tie computer algorithm.

333
 o
:! a5 1
Bmd W&, t!.2gIM
1,5 2 2.5
z~
o Iom394101to
Distance ban Lit, Fr
mm

~~~
Fig.4 Chmgein sideforce as a function of bend angle.

!2
Im!e d!am.: 8 W
motor dmm.: 631@
/---
Woc mwle: ;1 de.a.
stob. cmmotcx8311,U
strir?ostab.: 7 3/4 ,
/

Diice fromb+t,FC
2,.5 ~

33 25 4245 50 &5 m &

mare from bit to lop $+abiliw, Fr (b)

Fig.5 Changein sideforceas a fu@on of stabiliser position. Fig.6 ShapeofthedeflectedBHAa and b.

,,
 28-

27.9- /--- m-
20. m
.

m
$ 27?
%,
j 2zj
hde dlorm; 8 1(2
m rnotcx uhm.: 63[4
; 27,6.
m ~ ~~ bend an91e,l,5
SfQb, on motor 8 3/l@
27.5- - m -
*9 stab.:771.Y
! 1,,0 d!stance h,xrypt 4\,
,,
27A ~ -
o 10 m 33 a 93 -l 0 12 3 4
Wei@ m bit, 1~ LB ClwgeininclLwicnl, -

Fig.ZSidefarce as a function of weight on bit. Fig. 9: Build rate of BH#i D.

I

[
,:

-1 0 1 2 3 4 56
change
i incllmtion ,-.

Fig. 10:Side force vrs. build rate for four different assemblies.
Fig.,&Build rate ofBH.41.

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,,
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