Drilling Operations

Submitted by: Ahmed Haitham Mohammed

University No. 435107843

 INTRODUCTION TO DRILLING:
Chronological order of operations

Well drilling is the process of drilling a hole in the ground for the extraction of a natural
resource such as ground water, brine, natural gas, or petroleum, for the injection of a
fluid from surface to a subsurface reservoir or for subsurface formations evaluation or
monitoring. Drilling for the exploration of the nature of the material underground (for
instance in search of metallic ore) is best described as borehole drilling, or 'drilling.

The drilling hole is drilled by various mechanism from which most applied technique is
Rotary Drilling, in which a drill string (combination of series wise drill pipes and bits etc)
Is forced down with rotation to perform the drilling process and the cuttings are
extracted through the circulating mud from hole bore. As the depth increases drill pipes
are connected over one another to provide the length to drill string. After each specific
formation of earth (prognoses by experts) the casing is run in the hole to support the
well bore and cemented within the volume of bore’s internal diameter to casing’s outer
diameter until the reservoir (oil or gas) is reached.

As the total depth is achieved the liner is run in the hole to protect the open well hole
and cemented, through which the bullet perforator is run in the hole at bottom which on
blast creates the perforation on liner which serves as a gateway for the trapped oil or
gas extraction. The trapped oil or gas is extracted on the principle of pressure difference
flow. The formation pressure at bottom is higher than the atmospheric pressure which
causes the oil or gas to flow outward the hole. A Christmas tree structured combination
of valves, pressure gauges, and chokes are assembled at the top of well opening to
control the flow. Also a pump is set at the opening to increase the pressure difference.
The extracted oil or gas is then separated on the basis of compositions and purified
through various plants.
 Drilling Rig Components

The Rig comprises of a derrick, the draw works with its drilling line, crown block and the
travelling block and a Mud circulation system including the stand pipe, swivel, Mud pits
and pumps.
While drilling a stand is connected to the Top drive System and the swivel. The Top
drive System and the swivel are suspended from a hook beneath the travelling block.
The TDS rotates the drill string while the Swivel allows the drill string to rotate and
allowing the drilling fluid to pass into the borehole.

The 5 major systems:

1. Hoisting System
2. Rotatory System
3. Circulation System
4. Blowout Prevention System
5. Power System
 1. Hoisting System:

The Hoisting System consists of the Derrick, elevator, travelling block, drilling line,
crown block and the draw works.

Mast or Derrick:

Used for elevating and placing the drilling string and piping above the well bore, and
containing the machinery for turning the drilling bit around in the hole.
Draw works:

The draw work is the main hoisting equipment which is powered by a series of prime
movers. The operation of the draw work is controlled by the driller using a series of
clutches, gears and brakes.

Travelling Block, Crown Block, Drilling Line and Hook:

The travelling block, crown block, drilling line and the hook are all connected to the
derrick. The drill string is lowered down into the borehole or pulled out of the hole using
all these equipment. The drilling line is connected to the draw works.
 2. Rotary System:
Top Drive System:

The modern drilling rigs use Top drive system for

Rotating the drill string. The TDS is present below Travelling Block

the Swivel. In such a system the Kelly and the

Kelly bushing are not required therefore stands Swivel

are Used instead of joints. Each stand is a Top Drive System

Combination of Three drill pipes.
Hose Pipe

Drill Stem:

Swivel:

The swivel is present above the top drive system.

The Swivel does not rotate by itself but allows
the drill pipe to rotate. Mud is pumped into
the drill string from the goose neck which
connected to the swivel.
 The old Kelly – turntable system 

Drill String:

The drill string comprises of drill pipes and the bottom-hole assembly.
Drill Pipe:

Each drill pipe has a particular OD which is always the same the OD might change
depending upon the strength and weight of the drill pipe. The OD and ID of drill pipe is
important to be noted properly as it is used in various calculations that are carried out
during different drilling operations.
Heavy Weight Drill Pipe

The HWDP has the same OD as that of the drill pipe but has a smaller OD thus giving it
more strength. HWDP has two major functions; one that it adds load to the drilling Bit
and second as we have heavy drill collars, jars and bit below therefore sudden change
in pipe strength will break the string even with a slight increase in torque the HWDP
provides a gradual shift in weight and strength.

Drill Collars:

Drill collars have a larger OD and a smaller ID. The drill collar performs the following
major functions.
 Adds weight to the bit while drilling
 The weight of collar keeps the drill string in tension
 The drill collars has outer spirals that helps in penetration

The number of drill collar depends upon the mud weight, the greater the mud weight the
greater will the buoyancy and more drill collars will be needed to provide sufficient
weight to the drill string.
Jars: The jars are similar to the HWDPs having a shock absorber in the middle. They
absorb the shock in case of sudden jerk to the drill string.

Stabilizers:

Stabilizers are short length pipe having Ribs that

have diameter equal to the hole size. The Ribs are either
straight or spiral. Stabilizers keep the string straight
protecting it from vibration plus they help to maintain
hole diameter. Cross-Over Subs: Cross over subs link two
pipes of different diameter.
 3. Circulation System:

This system circulates the drilling mud

to the bit & back to the surface for
cleaning and circulation. It consists of
the following:

Mud pumps
They provide sufficient pressure required for the movement of mud from mud pit to drill
bit.
A drilling rig usually has two or three Mud pumps. Mud Pumps are the heart of the rig
circulating the drilling fluid through the borehole. The function of the pumps is to
circulate the mud from a mud pit at the surface through the drill string into the bore hole,
out of the bit bringing it up the annulus, back to the Mud tanks.
Stand pipe
It delivers the mud from the mud pumps up to the swivel via the goose neck.
Rotary hose
It provides a passage war for drilling mud.

Swivel/top drive
It provides a pressure tight passage way for the drilling mud

Drill string
It consists of drill pipe and drill collar through which mud is pumped.
Bit
Mud is pumped through the nozzles and lifts the cuttings back to the surface via
annulus.

Mud return line/flow line

Mud returns to the mud tanks via these lines.

Mud tanks
It provides mud and circulates it. It contains agitators that provide continuous mixing of
the mud.
Shale shaker
It removes solid particles from the mud.

4. Power system:-
The power system of a rotary drilling rig has to supply power to the main components
such as rotary system, hoisting system and drilling fluid circulation system. In addition,
auxiliaries like the blowout preventer, boiler-feed water pumps, rig lighting system, etc.
have to be powered. Since the largest power consumers on a rotary drilling rig are the
hoisting and the circulation system, these components determine mainly the total power
requirements. At ordinary drilling operations, the hoisting (lifting and lowering of the
drillstring, casings, etc.) and the circulation system are not operated at the same time.
Therefore the same engines can be engaged to perform both functions.
The power itself is either generated at the rig site using internal-combustion diesel
engines, or taken as electric power supply from existing power lines. The raw power is
then transmitted to the operating equipment via mechanical drives, direct current (DC)
or alternating current (AC) applying a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). Most of the
newer rigs use the ACSCR systems. As guideline, power requirements for most rigs are
between 1000 to 3000 hp.
Following are the important components of power system:-
 Prime mover
It provides basic source of electricity.

 Drives
It transfers electricity to other components of the rig

Well control System:-

Well control system consists of a series of stacks that are used to isolate the borehole
from the surface in the event of flow of formation fluid into the borehole. The increase in
pressure is term as “kick” or “blow-out” in the drilling terms.
Following are the important components of well control system.
 BOP
It assists in controlling a kick before it becomes a blowout.
 Annular Preventer
It seals the annulus between the Kelly, drill pipe or drill collars.
 Pipe Ram
It closes on the drill pipe.
 Blind Ram
It closes on an open hole.
 Shear Ram
It cuts the drill pipe & seals the hole.