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Rotary
(B)ottom
(H)ole
(A)ssembly
Module

Objectives
Describe the minimum number of BHA
changes needed in:
a slant directional well
an S type directional well

Describe what is meant by:

bit side force

fulcrum effect
pendulum effect

Explain the effect of drill collar stiffness

in BHA design
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Objectives #2

drop-off BHA's
build-up BHA's

Show why an under gauge second is used in a

locked BHA for tangent section
Describe the effect of hole washout on BHA
behavior
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Explain why minimizing the number of DC's

and stabilizers is advisable in directional BHA's
Describe the effect of an under gauge near-bit
stabilizer in:

Objectives #3
Describe the effect of drilling parameters

Explain why frequent surveys is advisable

when an MWD tool is available
Give examples of typical BHA designed to
build and drop inclination at various rates

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have on inclination & direction with each

type of BHA

Drilling

- Deflection Devices

eg., to:
Kick-off, nudge (build angle from vertical to a desired direction)
Trajectory correction (turn, build, drop to the desired trajectory)
Sidetrack (deflect the well from its original course)

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Tools & Techniques to deflect the course of the well in a

controlled manner, (overcoming natural tendencies)

Jetting
Used in soft formations
One large bit nozzle oriented to the desired direction
Wash a pocket in the formation
Spud and rotate, wash, until angle is built
Continue building with rotary BHA
Azimuth corrections more difficult with > inclination

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Near Bit Stabilizer and limber assembly

Open Hole Whip-stocking

Used in medium to hard formations
Bit, NB Stab. pinned to whip and conveyed to bottom
Whip is wedged on bottom and pin sheared
Undersized pilot hole is drilled
Only one joint drilled before POOH the BHA
Pilot hole opened up and process repeated

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Tool Face oriented

1960s - Dynadrill
First commercial PDM
Hydraulic power to Mech. power driving
the Bit
Bent sub above motor provides side force
to the bit
Deflects the hole trajectory - kick-off from
vertical, sidetrack, correction run, etc.
Very efficient when compared to
contemporary deflection devices, (jetting,
whip-stocks ..)

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String kept stationary - only sliding

Other Motor Designs

Turbines, Turbodrills

High shaft speeds, high pressure

requirements
No elastomers - good downhole life,
no temperature limitations
Not as versatile as the PDM

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Used for improving drilling ROP and

for deflection

Late 1980s - Steerable Motors

Bend closer to the bit reduces bit
offset for equivalent curvature.
-< bit offset = < component stress
component failure.

After kick-off, drill tangents, adjust

trajectory without POOH.
-Bit walk and
build/drop tendencies not always
predictable with rotary BHAs.
Efficiency achieved with motor bits,
multi-lobe power sections and
wireless MWD.

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-Rotation possible without concern for

Rotary Steerable-PowerDrive

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Side force or push the bit tool

Pads extend dynamically from a rotating
housing
Curvature defined by 3 points of contact
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Principles of Rotary BHA

PowerPulse
Stabilizer
Pony NMDC

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NMDC

BHA Side Force

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BHAs cause a side force

at the bit that makes the bit
build, drop or hold angle

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Stiffness BHA as a Hollow

Cylinder

Moment of Inertia
I = (OD4 - ID4) 64
OD = outside diameter
ID = inside diameter
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Stiffness Coefficient = E x
I
where:
E = Youngs Modulus (lb/in2)
I = Moment of Inertia (in4)

Stiffness - Example
Determine stiffness of a steel drill collar having:
a)

OD = 8" and ID = 2-13/16"

E I = 30.0 106 (8.04 -2.81254) 64 = 5.9397 109

b)

OD = 7 and ID = 2-13/16"

Solution:
E I = 30.0 106 (7.04-2.81254) 64 = 3.444 109

In this case, a reduction in O.D. of 12.5%

(for the same I.D.) results in a reduction in
stiffness of 42%!
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Solution:

Stiffness
Sag

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5 W L4
Sag
384 E I

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Neutral Point (Vertical

Hole)

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Is the point where the

drill string transitions
from tension to
compression
Needs to be kept in the
BHA
Drill Collars and HWDP
picked up to ensure
enough weight is
available

Neutral Point (Inclined

Hole)

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For an inclined
hole the inclination
has to be taken
into account.

For a well at 45
only 71% of BHA
weight is available
in air.

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Neutral Point
In deviated wells

Available WOB x DF

BHA Weight in air =

BF x cos

where DF = Design Factor (usually DF = 1.10)

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available WOB = (Buoyed BHA Weight) x

(cos Inclination)

Neutral Point #2
Example:
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Hole Size: 12
Well Inclination: 45
Mud Density: 11 ppg
Required WOB : 40,000 lbs
a) How many DCs (8 , 160 lbs/ft) this BHA will require?
b) If the number of DCs is limited to 6, how many HWDP
should be added to the string? (HW= 5, 49.7 lbs/ft)

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Buckling
FCR Critical sinusoidal buckling load (lbs)

Inclination of the hole at the point of interest (deg)

E Young' s Modulus
K B Buoyance factor (unitless)
I Moment of inertia (inch 4 )
W Unit weight in air (lbs/in)
r Radial clearance between pipe tool joint and hole (in)

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FCR

E I K B W sin
2
r

Stabilization

Stabilizer gauge
Stabilizer position
Drill collar OD/weight/moment of inertia
Hole inclination
WOB, RPM, flow rates
Hole gauge
Bit Type

Prediction issues (formation effects, bit walk, hole washout.)

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Stabilized BHA can be designed to build, hold or drop inclination

Critical elements:

Stabilization

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Build

Hold

Drop

Stabilizer Placement and resultant side forces

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Drop

Slick Assembly Pendulum

Force
If WOB = 0, only pendulum force
applies (-ve side force)
The max. pendulum force at bit
is given by:

L
BC
Wc
I

=
=
=
=

Tangency length
Buoyancy Factor
Weight of collar in air (lbs/ft)
Inclination

If WOB is applied a positive

bending force is introduced.
Tangency Point moves closer to the
bit
And pendulum effect decreases

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H = (Wc x L x BC x sinI) 2
where:

Single Stabilizer BHA

As the stabilizer moves closer to the bit the
tangency point changes.
There is a point of maximum negative side force.
force.
Eventually reach a point of zero side force.
Moving stabilizer closer will result in a positive side
force collar above the stabilizer bends forcing the
bit upwards Fulcrum Effect.
Increase in WOB, increase in build rate.
The more limber the collar above the stabilizer the
greater the build rate

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Moving the stabilizer closer to the bit reduces side

Two Stabilizer BHAs

Simplest BHA has a NB Stabilizer

For a given WOB the distance from

bit to first stabilizer (L1) and between
the stabilizers (L2) determines the
tangency point.

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and a second stabilizer some

distance above this.

2 Stabilizer - 90 Build
Assembly
Tangency occurs between
the stabilizers.

Smaller hole size more

flexible collars bigger side
force

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Various bits and collar sizes

with 30 Klbs WOB

Effect of WOB

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What is the effect of increasing WOB?

-to a building BHA
-to a dropping BHA

What are the limits?

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Effect of WOB on 2
Stabilizer Assembly
Increase WOB

Induce Tangency point

Increase Side Force

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Multi-stabilizer BHA's
Inclination versus side-force for 3 two stabilizer BHA's

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Hole Inclination

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Effects of Stabilizer Gauge

Full Gauge vs Under Gauge for

second Stabiliser

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Full Gauge Vs Under Gauge for

Near Bit Stabiliser

Under gauge Near-bit

Stabilizer

Build BHA will have less build

Lock-up BHA will drop
More under gauge = greater
effect

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Results in changes of bit

side force

Under gauge Second

Stabilizer
Becomes easier to get a tangency

More under gauge = greater effect

Hold assembly = try to get zero

net side force

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point below it.

Effects of Hole Gauge

-a building BHA
-a dropping BHA

Considerations:

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How does hole

gauge effect:

Hole Washout
Dealing with soft formations
May be necessary to drop flow
rate
May be necessary to run a
more limber collar between NB
and String Stabilizer
May need to pick up motor

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Loss of bit side force

BHA DESIGN

No

RSS Needed?

Yes

RSS to give low dogleg

Rotary Steerable BHA

No
What DLS is
required?
Can
motor
improve
ROP?

Yes

Motor
or
Turbine?

Yes

No

<7

Rotary BHA

Motor - Hold assembly

DD / DE

Motor

Turbine - Hold assembly

DD / DE / Vendor

Turbine

Yes

2D or 3D?

Can
motor improve
ROP?

2D

Yes

3D

Motor or
Turbine?

Motor

Turbine

No

Rotary assembly
to give 2D Dogleg
DD / DE

Motor BHA (Long)

Turbine BHA

Motor with bend & stabilised

to deliver 2D Dogleg
DD / DE

Turbine to deliver 2D dogleg

DD / DE / Vendor

Rotary BHA

No
RSS needed?

No

Motor with bend to deliver

3D Dogleg optimised for
build / drop
DD / DE

Motor BHA (Long)

Yes
RSS to give planned 3D Dogleg
DD / DE

>7
<15

Yes

Rotary Steerable
BHA

Dedicated Motor Assembly

No Rotating

Motor with high bend

DD / DE

No
Specialist Motor
Application
DD / DE

Drill curve XF
Run XL to get round
curve to drill target

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Motor BHA (Short)

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Motor BHA (Medium)

Motor BHA
(Long)

Turbine BHA

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BHA
design
flowchart

0?

Rotary - Hold assembly

Directional Driller (DD) / Drilling Engineer (DE)

Rotary
BHA
design
flowchart

Review off set data set

Directional Driller (DD)/ Drilling Engineer (DE)
Note features
DD / DE

PDC

Bit Type?

Rockbit

WOB needed?

Note features
DD / DE
WOB needed?

Build BHA in software

Insert Bit
Is VGS
required at
NBS?

Yes

Insert VGS at NBS

Note Size Range

No
Insert full gauge NBS
Insert / Select control DC length
Insert / Select control stab diameter

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Insert MWD
Insert stab under gauge
Yes

DC?

Insert DCs stabilised every 60 feet

Sufficient
weight from
WOB x buoyancy?

No

No
Insert HWDP
No

Yes

Sufficient
weight from
WOB x buoyancy?

Yes

Insert jar / Acc above neutral points

Insert HWPP for transition

Review 2
Variables only
control DC Length
Control stab OD

Insert Drill pipe available

Run Tendency / Prediction Power Plan
Option run
Hydraulics

Exit

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Yes

Does the
model work?

No

BHA's for building

Inclination
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BHA's for maintaining

Inclination
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UG

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Typical locked up BHA for 121/4 in. hole

1. Hole size
2. Distance between near-bit and lower string stabilizers
3. Stiffness of the collar directly above the near bit
4. Gauge of the stabilizers
5. Drilling parameters
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The response of this type of BHA is determined by:

BHA's for Dropping

Inclination
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Rarely used

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Semi-drop BHA

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- is a lock-up BHA incorporating an under gauge near-bit

Special BHA's
1. Tandem Stabilizer

3. Variable Gauge Stabilizer

4. Jetting BHA
5. Gilligan BHA's
6. Hole Openers

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2. Roller Reamers

Tandem Stabilizers
String Stabilizer run directly above near-bit

May result in high rotary torque

Longer gauge NB Stabilizer may be an alternative

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Normally for directional purposes

Stabilizers

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Roller Reamers

Behave differently to stabilizers with

respect to directional response if used
as a Near Bit tendency is to drop angle
Increase spacing between NB and first
string to try and counteract the drop
Important to check roller condition after
each run

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Used where there is excessive rotary

torque replaces some or all of the
stabilizers

Adjustable Gauge
Stabilizer
Various makes & sizes available
D&M, Andergauge, Sperry AGS,
TRACS

Minimum two position stabilizer

In most cases can be run as a Near
Bit or String Stabilizer

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First Rotary Steerable tool 2D only

Jetting BHA
Definition

- can be used with MWD

- safer to use SS

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is an easy and cost-effective way of

kick off a well, in very soft formation

Gilligan BHA
Flexible Build-Up BHA
Flexible tubular inserted above NB
Stabilizer

Vital to take surveys at close intervals

to track achieved BUR.
Common before advent of steerable
motors as a method to perform a blind
side track.

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BURs of 6 - 11 / 100 are possible

depends on flexibility of tubular.

Hole Opening BHA

Hole Opener
BHA needs to be stabilized but
limber

Cutter type various available

Bull Nose
Length:
dependant

7 9 size

Ported or non-ported?

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MWD yes or no?

Common BHA Problems

1. Formation Effects
2. Worn Bits
4. Pinched Bit
5. Differential Sticking
6. Drilling Parameters

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3. Accidental Side Track

 Given:
hole
inclination
Azimuth
MW

= 12 1/4
= 300
= N250 W
= 12 ppg

Design a tapered BHA designed to hold

inclination
-

6 1/2 Jars will run in tension

1 x 30 NMDC above MWD
maximum WOB required = 45000 lbs
DF = 1.10

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Example

Example
(required WOB x DF)
Wt. of BHA below jars =

BF x cos
(45000 x 1.10)

(0.817) x cos 300

8 x 2 13/16DC weighs 4642.6 lbs / 31 length

6 1/2 x 2 1/2 DC weights 2979.8 lbs / 31 length
5 x 3 HWDP weighs 1480 lbs / 30 length

Required BHA
8 x 8 DC
6 x 6 1/2 DC
11 x 5 HWDP
Total BHA Weight in Air

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=
=
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37 140 lbs
17 878 lbs
16 280 lbs
71 300 lbs

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= 69 960 lbs