DRILLING PRACTICES

Presented by
Richard S. Carden

Authors
Robert D. Grace
Jerald L. Shursen
Richard S. Carden
 DISCLAIMER

The information contained herein and/or these workshop/seminar proceedings (WORK) was prepared by
or contributed to by various parties in support of professional continuing education.

For purposes of this Disclaimer, “Company Group” is defined as PetroSkills; parent, subsidiary and affili-
ated companies; and, its and their co-lessees, partners, joint ventures, co-owners, shareholders, agents,
officers, directors, employees, representatives, instructors, and contractors.

Except as stated herein, COMPANY GROUP MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR

STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE WORK, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Company Group does not guarantee results. All interpretations using the WORK, and all recommenda-
tions based upon such interpretations, are opinion based on inferences from measurements and
empirical relationships, and on assumptions, which inferences and assumptions are not infallible, and
with respect to which competent specialists may differ. In addition, such interpretations, recommendations
and descriptions may involve the opinion and judgment of the USER. USER has full responsibility for all
interpretations, recommendations and descriptions utilizing the WORK. Company Group cannot and does
not warrant the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any interpretation, recommendation or descrip-
tion. Under no circumstances should any interpretation, recommendation or description be relied upon as
the basis for any drilling, completion, well treatment, production or other financial decision, or any proce-
dure involving any risk to the safety of any drilling venture, drilling rig or its crew or any other individual.
USER has full responsibility for all such decisions concerning other procedures relating to the drilling or
production operations. Except as expressly otherwise stated herein, USER agrees that COMPANY
GROUP SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY TO USER OR TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY ORDINARY,
SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES WHICH MIGHT ARISE DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY BY REASON OF USER’S USE OF WORK. USER shall protect, indemnify, hold harmless
and defend Company Group of and from any loss, cost, damage, or expense, including attorneys’ fees,
arising from any claim asserted against Company Group that is in any way associated with the matters
set forth in this Disclaimer.

The WORK may not be reproduced in any form nor may it be used in any type of training or continuing
education without the express written consent of PetroSkills.

COPYRIGHT 2006

BY PETROSKILLS, LLC. AN OGCI COMPANY.

TULSA, OKLAHOMA
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NO PART OF THIS MANUAL MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY
FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM PETROSKILLS.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 PLANNING A WELL ..................................................................................................1-1
INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................1-1
DATA ACQUISITION ...............................................................................................1-1
FORMULATE DRILLING PLAN .................................................................................1-7
ALTERNATE PLANNING APPROACH ........................................................................1-8
Technical Limit..............................................................................................1-9
Benefits of the Approach ............................................................................1-11
Cautions using the approach......................................................................1-12
Extending The Alternate Approach to Drilling Cost Management ..............1-12
EXAMPLE DRILLING PROGRAM ............................................................................1-14
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1-15
SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................1-15
DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................1-16
Location and Geology.................................................................................1-16
Previous Drilling Performance ....................................................................1-17
Casing and Hole Program ..........................................................................1-17
Hazards ......................................................................................................1-17
Drilling Fluid Program .................................................................................1-18
Bit Program.................................................................................................1-20
Bit Weight, Rotary Speed, Deviation Control, Directional Surveys, and
Hydraulics...................................................................................................1-21

CHAPTER 2 DRILLING COST CONTROL ........................................................................................2-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................2-1
FACTORS AFFECTING PENETRATION RATE ............................................................2-3
Bit Type and Formation Hardness................................................................2-4
Bit Weight .....................................................................................................2-4
Rotary Speed................................................................................................2-8
Bottom Hole Cleaning.................................................................................2-10
Hydraulics and PDC Bits ............................................................................2-15
Mud Properties ...........................................................................................2-16
Auxiliary Practices ......................................................................................2-21
SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................2-23
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................2-24
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................2-25

Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved. iii

Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

CHAPTER 3 HOLE PROBLEMS .....................................................................................................3-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................3-1
LOST CIRCULATION ..............................................................................................3-1
Lost Circulation in the Surface Hole or Intervals with High Primary Porosity
and Permeability...........................................................................................3-3
Lost Circulation in Deeper Intervals - Hard Rocks........................................3-5
Lost Circulation in the Presence of Potential Production..............................3-8
STUCK PIPE INCIDENTS, PREVENTION AND REMEDIAL MEASURES ........................3-11
Differential Pressure Sticking .....................................................................3-11
Key Seating ................................................................................................3-13
BOULDERS .........................................................................................................3-15
SALT ..................................................................................................................3-15
SLOUGHING SHALE ............................................................................................3-16
Water Sensitive Clays ................................................................................3-16
Pressured Shales .......................................................................................3-17
Tectonic Stresses .......................................................................................3-17
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................3-19
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................3-19
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS EQUATIONS ........................................................3-19

CHAPTER 4 DRILLING FLUIDS .....................................................................................................4-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................4-1
PURPOSE OF DRILLING MUD ................................................................................4-1
Hole Cleaning ...............................................................................................4-2
Containment of Pore Pressure .....................................................................4-3
Bit Cleaning ..................................................................................................4-3
Hole Lubrication............................................................................................4-3
Protect Formation Productivity and Assist in Formation Evaluation .............4-4
Retardation of Corrosion and Prevention of Adverse Effects .......................4-6
Assist in Cementation...................................................................................4-6
Deposit a Thin Mud Cake and Reduce Filtrate Invasion ..............................4-6
Summary ......................................................................................................4-7
COMPOSITION OF DRILLING FLUIDS ......................................................................4-7
Liquid Phases ...............................................................................................4-7
Solids Phase.................................................................................................4-9
VISCOSITY .........................................................................................................4-12
Methods of Measurement...........................................................................4-14
Control of Viscosity.....................................................................................4-26
GEL STRENGTH..................................................................................................4-30
CONTROL OF FILTRATION RATE ..........................................................................4-31

iv Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved.

 Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

CONTROL OF SOLIDS .........................................................................................4-35

Hole Cleaning .............................................................................................4-36
Shakers ......................................................................................................4-36
Settling Traps .............................................................................................4-37
Cyclones.....................................................................................................4-37
Centrifuges .................................................................................................4-41
CONTROL OF ALKALINITY ...................................................................................4-42
How to Use Alkalinity Measurements .........................................................4-43
Treatment ...................................................................................................4-44
SPECIALIZED FLUIDS ..........................................................................................4-45
Calcium Treated Muds - Lime Treated Muds .............................................4-45
Oil Muds .....................................................................................................4-46
Potassium Muds .........................................................................................4-47
Phosphate Muds.........................................................................................4-47
Magnesium Muds .......................................................................................4-48
A Perfect Mud System................................................................................4-48
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................4-48
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................4-50
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS EQUATIONS ........................................................4-51
APPENDIX ..........................................................................................................4-52

CHAPTER 5 LIFTING CAPACITY ...............................................................................................5-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................5-1
HISTORY ..............................................................................................................5-2
HOLE CLEANING ...................................................................................................5-3
EMPIRICAL CORRELATION.....................................................................................5-9
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................5-11
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................5-12
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS...........................................................................5-13

CHAPTER 6 PRESSURE LOSSES IN THE CIRCULATING SYSTEM ................................................6-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................6-1
TURBULENT FLOW ................................................................................................6-1
PRESSURE LOSSES THROUGH BIT NOZZLES .........................................................6-9
LAMINAR FLOW ..................................................................................................6-10
EQUIVALENT CIRCULATING DENSITY ...................................................................6-18
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................6-18
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................6-20
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS...........................................................................6-21

Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved. v

Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

CHAPTER 7 HYDRAULICS ........................................................................................................7-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................7-1
CLASSIC HYDRAULICS ..........................................................................................7-1
MAXIMIZING HYDRAULICS USING FIELD DATA ......................................................7-15
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................7-23
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................7-24
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS ...........................................................................7-25

CHAPTER 8 ROTARY DRILLING BITS .......................................................................................8-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................8-1
DEVELOPMENT OF INSERT BITS ............................................................................8-1
FUNDAMENTALS OF BIT DESIGN ............................................................................8-2
THE INSERT BIT....................................................................................................8-4
Seals.............................................................................................................8-7
Friction Bearings.........................................................................................8-10
Insert Bit Selection and Evaluation.............................................................8-12
IADC ROLLER BIT CLASSIFICATION ....................................................................8-22
IADC FIXED CUTTER BIT CLASSIFICATION ..........................................................8-27
DULL BIT GRADING SYSTEM ...............................................................................8-28
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................8-31
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................8-31
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS...........................................................................8-32
APPENDIX ..........................................................................................................8-32

CHAPTER 9 AIR AND GAS DRILLING ........................................................................................9-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................9-1
Advantages:..................................................................................................9-1
Disadvantages:.............................................................................................9-1
ADVANTAGES .......................................................................................................9-2
Penetration Rate...........................................................................................9-2
Formation Damage.......................................................................................9-3
Productivity Evaluation .................................................................................9-4
Minimizing Lost Circulation...........................................................................9-4
Increased Footage per Bit ............................................................................9-4
DISADVANTAGES ..................................................................................................9-4
Lithological Limitations .................................................................................9-4
Limitations of Pore Pressure Regimes .........................................................9-5
Drill String Wear ...........................................................................................9-5
Hydraulic Dampening of Drill String..............................................................9-5
Downhole Fires and Explosions ...................................................................9-5

vi Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved.

 Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

AIR VERSUS MUD DRILLING PERFORMANCE CURVES FROM FIELD DATA................9-5

AIR DRILLING EQUIPMENT...................................................................................9-10
Compressors and Boosters ........................................................................9-10
Surface Equipment .....................................................................................9-12
Downhole Equipment .................................................................................9-16
DOWNHOLE AIR AND GAS REQUIREMENTS ..........................................................9-18
Lifting Capacity ...........................................................................................9-19
Determining Air and Gas Volume Requirements........................................9-20
DIAGNOSTICS OF DRILLING PROBLEMS ...............................................................9-22
MIST DRILLING ...................................................................................................9-28
Unloading the Hole .....................................................................................9-30
Attempt to Dry the Hole ..............................................................................9-30
Inhibition .....................................................................................................9-31
STIFF FOAM .......................................................................................................9-31
Mixing .........................................................................................................9-32
Back Pressure Valve ..................................................................................9-34
Excessive Cuttings .....................................................................................9-34
AERATED MUD ...................................................................................................9-34
AIR VOLUME CHARTS .........................................................................................9-36
AIR VOLUME CHARTS IN SI UNITS .......................................................................9-45
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................9-54

CHAPTER 10 EQUIPMENT AND CASING DESIGN.......................................................................10-1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................10-1
TYPES OF CASING STRINGS................................................................................10-1
Structural Casing or Drive Pipe ..................................................................10-1
Conductor Casing.......................................................................................10-1
Surface Casing ...........................................................................................10-1
Intermediate or Protective Casing ..............................................................10-2
Production Casing ......................................................................................10-2
Liners..........................................................................................................10-2
CASING SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES.................................10-3
Casing Manufacturing Process...................................................................10-3
Casing Chemical Composition ...................................................................10-3
Casing Mechanical Properties....................................................................10-4
Dimensions, Weights and Lengths .............................................................10-7
Casing Threads and Couplings ..................................................................10-8
Markings ...................................................................................................10-11
COLLAPSE RESISTANCE ...................................................................................10-12
Yield Strength Collapse Pressure.............................................................10-12

Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved. vii

Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

Plastic Collapse Pressure.........................................................................10-13

Transition Collapse Pressure ...................................................................10-14
Elastic Collapse Pressure.........................................................................10-15
Collapse Pressure Under Axial Tension Stress........................................10-16
BURST OR INTERNAL YIELD PRESSURE .............................................................10-22
JOINT STRENGTH .............................................................................................10-23
PIPE BODY YIELD STRENGTH............................................................................10-23
CASING DESIGN ...............................................................................................10-23
Casing Setting Depths..............................................................................10-24
BENDING STRESSES .........................................................................................10-47
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................10-47
CARE AND HANDLING .......................................................................................10-52
SIZING OF BLOWOUT PREVENTERS ...................................................................10-55
DRILL STRING HANDLING AND MAKE UP ............................................................10-57
Multi-Pronged Approach...........................................................................10-59
Drilling String Design Considerations .......................................................10-60
Combined Torque and Tension ................................................................10-70
Drill STRING Inspection ...........................................................................10-75
Drill String Handling while Drilling.............................................................10-79
Drill String Failure .....................................................................................10-82
NOMENCLATURE ..............................................................................................10-84
SI UNITS ..........................................................................................................10-85
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS .........................................................................10-86
APPENDIX ........................................................................................................10-89

CHAPTER 11 PRIMARY CEMENTING.........................................................................................11-1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................11-1
MANUFACTURE AND COMPOSITION OF CEMENTS.................................................11-1
GENERAL PROPERTIES OF OIL WELL CEMENTS...................................................11-2
Viscosity .....................................................................................................11-3
Thickening Time .........................................................................................11-3
Density........................................................................................................11-6
Yield............................................................................................................11-6
Fluid Loss ...................................................................................................11-6
Free Water..................................................................................................11-7
Compressive Strength ................................................................................11-7
CEMENT ADDITIVES ............................................................................................11-9
Density Control ...........................................................................................11-9
Accelerators..............................................................................................11-13
Retarders..................................................................................................11-14

viii Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved.

 Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

Fluid Loss Additives..................................................................................11-15

Friction Reducers .....................................................................................11-15
Lost Circulation Material ...........................................................................11-16
Special Cements ......................................................................................11-16
THE CEMENT JOB.............................................................................................11-21
Cement Sheath Requirements .................................................................11-25
Displacement Mechanics in Primary Cementing ......................................11-27
Summary ..................................................................................................11-37
Gas Migration ...........................................................................................11-37
CEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION ......................................................................11-39
Review of Cement Program .....................................................................11-41
CEMENT EVALUATION .......................................................................................11-49
Temperature Logs ....................................................................................11-50
Radioactive Tracers..................................................................................11-50
Acoustic Logging Tools ............................................................................11-50
NOMENCLATURE ..............................................................................................11-58

CHAPTER 12 DIRECTIONAL DRILLING ......................................................................................12-1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................12-1
USES OF DIRECTIONAL DRILLING ........................................................................12-1
SURVEY CALCULATIONS .....................................................................................12-6
Tangential...................................................................................................12-6
Average Angle ............................................................................................12-7
Radius of Curvature....................................................................................12-7
Minimum Curvature ....................................................................................12-8
Closure and Direction .................................................................................12-9
Vertical Section.........................................................................................12-14
DOGLEG SEVERITY...........................................................................................12-16
MAGNETIC DECLINATION CORRECTIONS AND NON-MAGNETIC DRILL COLLAR
SELECTION ......................................................................................................12-20
SURVEYING AND ORIENTING TOOLS ..................................................................12-22
METHODS OF DEFLECTING A WELLBORE ...........................................................12-29
Bottomhole Assemblies ............................................................................12-30
Jetting .......................................................................................................12-34
Whipstock .................................................................................................12-35
Downhole Motors......................................................................................12-35
PLANNING A DIRECTIONAL WELL .......................................................................12-36
NOMENCLATURE ..............................................................................................12-37
SI UNITS ..........................................................................................................12-38
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS .........................................................................12-38

Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved. ix

Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

CHAPTER 13 THE PROBLEM OF DEVIATION AND DOGLEGGING IN ROTARY BOREHOLES ...........13-1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................13-1
THEORIES OF CAUSES OF DEVIATED HOLES........................................................13-3
CATEGORIZING CROOKED HOLES .......................................................................13-4
METHODS USED TO CONTROL DEVIATION ...........................................................13-6
DOGLEGGING IN ROTARY BOREHOLES ..............................................................13-10
A UNIQUE APPROACH TO DEVIATION.................................................................13-15
SUMMARY ........................................................................................................13-20

CHAPTER 14 PRESSURE CONTROL .........................................................................................14-1

THE ORIGIN OF PORE PRESSURES .....................................................................14-1
Tectonic Activity..........................................................................................14-1
Formation of Physical and Chemical Seals ................................................14-2
PREDICTION OF PORE PRESSURE .......................................................................14-2
Seismic Data ..............................................................................................14-3
Drilling Rate ................................................................................................14-3
Sloughing Shale .........................................................................................14-6
Shale Density .............................................................................................14-7
Gas In Mud .................................................................................................14-8
Chloride Trends ..........................................................................................14-8
Mud Properties ...........................................................................................14-9
Temperature Measurements ......................................................................14-9
Bentonite Contents In Shale Cuttings.......................................................14-10
Paleo Information .....................................................................................14-10
Wireline Logs............................................................................................14-10
Summary ..................................................................................................14-13
FORMATION FRACTURE GRADIENTS ..................................................................14-14
Matthews and Kelly ..................................................................................14-15
Eaton Method ...........................................................................................14-16
Pressure Testing ......................................................................................14-17
Special Considerations.............................................................................14-19
Summary ..................................................................................................14-21
BEHAVIOR OF HYDROCARBONS IN DRILLING FLUIDS ..........................................14-22
Compression and Expansion Characteristics of Gas ...............................14-22
Temperature Scales .................................................................................14-22
Compressibility Factor ..............................................................................14-23
Liquid-Vapor Relationships.......................................................................14-27
Behavior of Influx Fluids in Oil Muds ........................................................14-28
MECHANICS OF BUBBLE RISE ...........................................................................14-28

x Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved.

 Horizontal and Directional Drilling
Table of Contents

CAUSES OF KICKS AND BLOWOUTS ...................................................................14-29

Mud Weight Less Than Formation Pore Pressure ...................................14-29
Failure To Keep The Hole Full and Swabbing..........................................14-30
Lost Circulation.........................................................................................14-32
Mud Cut ....................................................................................................14-33
INDICATIONS OF A WELL KICK AND SHUT-IN PROCEDURE...................................14-33
Sudden Increase in Drilling Rate ..............................................................14-34
CLASSIC PRESSURE CONTROL PROCEDURES ...................................................14-36
Driller's Method.........................................................................................14-37
Wait and Weight Method ..........................................................................14-39
SPECIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CLASSIC PRESSURE CONTROL .............14-41
Determination Of Circulating Pressure At Kill Rate ..................................14-41
Determination of Shut-In Drill Pipe Pressures ..........................................14-42
Determination Of The Type of Fluid Entering The Wellbore.....................14-43
Determination Of The Annulus Pressure Profile, Gas Volume At Surface, And
Time Sequence ........................................................................................14-44
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN PRESSURE CONTROL ............................................14-54
Bubble Rise ..............................................................................................14-54
Constant Casing Pressure - Constant Drill Pipe Pressure, Alteration of the
Wait and Weight Method ..........................................................................14-54
Safety Factors ..........................................................................................14-55
Unable to Bring the Bubble to the Surface Using Classical Procedures
Without Losing Circulation........................................................................14-56
The Low Choke Pressure Method ............................................................14-57
Bullhead the Bubble Back Into the Formation ..........................................14-57
Well Kicks While Tripping .........................................................................14-57
Let The Bubble Rise .................................................................................14-60
Significance of Surface Pressures............................................................14-61
Simultaneous Well Kick and Lost Circulation ...........................................14-63
NOMENCLATURE ..............................................................................................14-63

Copyright © 2006 OGCI/PetroSkills. All rights reserved. xi