Directional Surveying

AVERAGE ANGLE METHOD

This method assumes a straight line between survey stations A and B. The
inclinations and directions are averaged. The objective is to calculate the following
for the survey point B in the diagram below:

- TVD
- North Co-ordinate
- East Co-ordinate
- Vertical Section (VS)
- Dogleg Severity (DLS)

A North

East

P C

B
According to the diagram above:

A + B
= = average drift angle
2

A + B
= = average azimuth angle
2

AB = MDB - MD = course length

PB = course displacement = AB sin

(i) True Vertical Depth of Station B:

PA = true vertical distance = AB cos

Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University 21

(ii) North and East Co-ordinate of Station B:

PC = North Displacement (N) = PB cos

CB = East Displacement (E) = PB sin

North

E B
N T

A X

East

From the plan view of the above:

NB = NA + N

EB = EA + E

(iii) Vertical Section of Station B:

From the plan view of the above:

Vertical section (VS) = OX = OB cos

closure OB = EB2 + N B2

= Angle TON - Angle BON (target bearing - bearing of B)

EB
tan (Angle BON) =
NB

(iv) Dogleg Severity (DLS):

Dog leg severity = cos-1( cosA cosB + sinA sinB cos (A - B))

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 Directional Surveying

EXERCISE 1 Calculating the Position of a Survey Station

Whilst drilling a deviated well, the Measured Depth, Inclination and Azimuth of the
well are measured at station 23 (See survey data below). Calculate the:
North and East co-ordinates,
TVD
vertical section and
dogleg severity

of the next station according to the average angle method

The target bearing is 095o.

STATION MD INC. AZI. N E TVD VS

22 3135 24.5 92 -30.78 344.60 3086.95 345.02

23 3500 25.5 92.5

Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University 23

Solutions to Exercise

Exercise 1 Calculating the Position of a Survey Station

S A N

C P

B

(i) Average Angles:

= 24.5 + 25.5
2

= 25 0 (Average Drift Angle)

= 92 + 92.5
2

= 92.250 (Average Azimuth Angle)

(ii) Course displacement (Station 22 to 23):

AB = MDB - MDA = course length

Course displacement (PB) = AB sin

PB = 365 Sin 250

= 154 ft

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 Directional Surveying

(iii) True Vertical Depth Station 23:

TVD Station 23 = TVD Station 22 + True vertical distance (PA)

True vertical distance (PA) = AB cos a

PA = 365 Cos 250

= 330.80 ft

TVD Station 23 = 3086.95 + 330.80

= 3417.75 ft

E
O A E
N

B

(iv) Northerly Position Station 23

(Note that the well trajectory is in a southerly direction and that the calculations
must take account of this):

From the plan view above:

NB = NA + DN

Northerly Position Station 23 = Station 22 (N) - PC

PC = Northing Displacement = PB Sin 2.25

PC = 154 Sin 2.25

= 6.05 ft

Northerly Position Station 23 = -30.78 - 6.05

= -36.83 ft

Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University 25

(v) Easterly Position Station 23

From the plan view above:

EB = EA + DE

Easterly Position Station 23 = Station 22 (E) + CB

CB = Easting Displacement = PB Cos ( - 90)

= 153.9 ft

Easterly Position Station 23 = 344.60 + 153.9

= 495.8 ft

(v) Vertical Section:

From the plan view of the above:

Vertical section (VS) = OX = OB cos

closure OB = EB2 + N B2

Closure = 36.832 + 495.82

= 497.19 ft

Angle q = Angle TOE - Angle BOE (target bearing - bearing of B)

tan (Angle BOE) = Northing B
Easting B

= 36.83
495.8

tan BOE = 0.0743

Angle BOE = 4.250

q = Angle TOE - Angle BOE (target bearing - bearing of B)

= 95 - 94.25

= 0.750

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 Directional Surveying

Vertical section(VS) = OX = OB cos q

= 497.19 Cos 0.75

= 497.15

(vii) Dog leg severity (DLS):

Dog leg severity (DLS) = cos-1( cosaA cosaB + sinaA sinaB cos (bA - bB))

= cos-1( cos24.5 cos25.5 + sin24.5 sin25.5 cos (92 - 92.5))

= cos-1(0.9998)

DLS = 1.15

Since this DLS is measured over 365 ft it can be expressed as:

= 1.15 x 100 = 0.310 per 100ft

365

STATION MD INC. AZI. N E TVD VS

22 3135 24.5 92 -30.78 344.60 3086.95 345.O2

23 3500 25.5 92.5 -36.83 495.8 3417.75 497.15

Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University 27