SPE/IADC 85333

Cantilever Drilling Ushering a New Genre of Drilling

Diwakar Sinha, Maharashtra Inst. of Tech
Copyright 2003, SPE/IADC

Fig-1

Example kerfing conditions

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling Technology
Conference & Exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 20-22 October 2003.
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Abstract:
Cantilever drilling is a new concept of drilling which will
enable us to drill superwide boreholes with radii of the order
of a few feet selectively in zones of our choice. This enlarged
hole will facilitate better artificial lift and enhance production
among other things.
Introduction:
The width of a hole in the payzone is limited using the
conventional drilling methods. This is because hole size is
limited due to factors like cost of drilling a wide hole, rate of
penetration, power requirements, size of BOP required, larger
rigs required to handle more power and more weight, hence
dramatically escalating the cost of the project.
Having a large borehole in the payzone is beneficial
because it would:
1. Enhance production
2. Control the problem of sand production
3. Accommodate a lot of downhole equipment.
Cantilever drilling allows us to enlarge the borehole radius up
to the order of a few feet selectively in zones we choose.
This is made possible by the Cantilever drilling tool, which
uses water jets and rotary drilling along with its unique
cantilevering action to drill a superwide borehole.
Theory:
In vertical drilling, weight on bit is the major force that
penetrates the rock. However in Cantilever drilling, since
drilling is taking place in upward direction an effective rock
removal mechanism should replace the weight on bit factor.
Kerfing is done to unsupport the rock so that mechanical
cutters can more easily remove the rock. Unsupporting a rock
by producing deep and narrow kerfs can reduce specific
energy required to remove the rock by 50 to 75 percent.

Specific energy, S.E. is defined as amount of energy

required to remove unit volume of rock as follows:

S .E. =

Energy Input
Volume Re moved

(J / cm ) ........................(1)
3

However S.E. is not a true measure of performance of a

kerfing device because little rock is removed in the kerf and
the function of the kerf is to provide a free face to which
fractures can propogate. As we see in Fig-1, a deep, narrow
kerf is more effective to unsupport a rock than a wide shallow
kerf. And Specific energy does not differentiate between
the two.

SPE/IADC 85333

Hence we use the term Specific Kerfing Energy (SKE).

SKE =

Power
(J/cm2).........(2)
(KerfDepth ) (TraverseSpeed )

Various parameters associated with kerfing are shown in Fig.2

High-pressure water jets produce kerfs very effectively. Water

jet kerfing data for various rocks is shown in Table.2
.
Cutting Action:
Jet crater mechanisms are shown in Fig.3
Moderate pressure: The water jets at moderate pressure
unsupport the rocks by creating kerfs. This unsupported rock
is then removed by drill-bits far more easily.

Fig.2

Kerning parameters

High pressure: At high-pressure, water jets can absolutely

shatter the rocks removing large chunks of rock.
Fig.3
Jet crater mechanisms

Various devices can produce kerfs.

performance of these kerfing methods

Table.1

shows relative
At high-pressure water jets disintegrate rocks by three
main fracture modes, as seen in Fig.4
1. Granular erosion
2.
Shear craters
3. Tensile splitting

Table-1

Drill

Comparison of different kerfing devices

SKE(J/cm2)

Water jet
Laser
Electron beam
Cavitating jet
Plasmas

250-500
1000-2000
3000-6000
20,000-40,000
50,000-100,000

Fig.4
Jet drilling mechanisms

Table-2
Water Jet kerfing data
Water Jet

Rock
Type

Power
Output
(kW)

Traverse
Speed
(cm/sec)

Kerf
Depth
(cm)

Kerf
Width
(cm)

Specific
Kerfing
Energy
(J/cm2)

0.58mm
@69 Mpa

Berea
Sand
stone

4.9

214

0.36

0.2

63

0.25mm
@490 Mpa

Sand
stone

23.8

150

0.64

0.1

250

0.25mm
@490 Mpa

Barre
28.8
Granite

150

0.32

0.1

500

SPE/IADC 85333

Effect of Jet pressure, Traverse speed, Nozzle diameter,

Standoff distance on SKE:
SKE is decreased by:
1. Decreasing jet pressure Table.3
2. Increasing traverse speed Table.4
3. Increasing nozzle diameter Fig.5
4. Decreasing standoff distance Fig.6

Effect of Standoff distance

Fig.6

Submerged jet Kerfing Data

(Cheung and Hurlburt, 1976)

Effect of Jet pressure

Table. 3

Effect of jet pressure kerfing in Berea Sandstone

(0.58 mm nozzle diameter)
(Summers and Henry, 1972)
Pressure
(Mpa)

Traverse
speed
(cm/sec)

Kerf
depth
(cm)

Kerf
width
(cm)

Power
output
(kw)

34.5
69.0
103.4
138.9

214
214
214
214

0.12
0.36
0.61
0.95

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2

1.71
4.9
8.9
13.8

Specific
Kerfing
Energy
(J/cm2)
66
63
68
68

Effect of Traverse speed

Table. 4

Effect of traverse speed in Berea Sandstone

(0.58 mm nozzle diameter)
(Summers and Henry, 1972)
Traverse
speed
(cm/sec)

Pressure
(Mpa)

Kerf
depth
(cm)

Kerf
width
(cm)

Power
output
(kw)

15.4
36.1
54.3
71.3
214.0

69
69
69
69
69

1.71
0.81
0.69
0.72
0.36

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2

4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9

Effect of Nozzle diameter

Fig. 5

Jet kerfing data in Berea Sandstone

Specific
Kerfing
Energy
(J/cm2)
186
167
130
96
63

The Tool:
Fig.7 shows a sketch of the Cantilever drilling tool
The tool consists of two parts:
A] Upper Part: It houses the:
Hydraulic system Is connected to a plunger that pushes
outwards when the system is activated.
We use a rack and pinion type of arrangement between the
plunger and the cantilevering arm.
When the hydraulic system is activated the plunger pushes
outwards, the rack type gears on the plunger mesh with the
pinion type gears on the lower drilling arm thus moving the
lower arm upwards, providing a cantilevering effect.
Combustion chamber It has an electronic ignition
system that ignites the fuel that is fed into it, it has a check
valve to prevent the combustion gasses from entering
the drillstring.
The combustion gasses which are used as a power fluid for
the jet assisted drilling, are channelized into the nozzles of
the drill-bits

(McClain and Cristy, 1970)

B] Lower Part: It is fitted with several small jet assisted

rotary bits along its length.
Working:
After conventional drilling is completed up to the target
depth, the Cantilever drilling tool is lowered.
Combustion is started in the combustion chamber.
Exhaust gases of which are channelized through a conduit
in the lower arm, which leads to each of the rotary drill-bits.
Here exhaust gases are used as a power fluid as they flow
through an ejector like structure incorporated within the bit.
The outlets to the ejector are three oriented nozzles, which
are a part of the bit.
The power fluid (exhaust gas) drives the working fluid
(water) out of the jets with great force.

SPE/IADC 85333

The thrust of the oriented jets gives a high r.p.m. rotary

motion to each bit about its own axis.
As this process is taking place, simultaneously the
drillstring is given rotation about its axis, and the hydraulic
system is activated, pushing the lower arm upwards, gradually
changing its orientation with respect to the drillstring from
180o to 90o, thus creating a hemispherical hole.
Now the drillstring may be pulled upwards to cover the entire
payzone height with a large radius borehole.
Fig. 7

Cantilever drilling tool

Sand control:
Sand production is dependant on critical flow rate.
Critical flow rate is a function of flow area.
The ratios of borehole areas are:

Abig
Asmall
Table. 6

rbig h
r

rsmall h + small
2

........................................(5)

and Fig.9 show results of sample calculations

Skin damage:
If there has been any skin damage caused due to incorrect
mud system during the conventional drilling, it may be
removed while enlarging the borehole, this time the mudweight can be chosen carefully.
Stimulates the well:
The high temperature condition in the borehole due to the
exhaust gas may reduce viscosity of oil surrounding the
borehole thus increasing flowability.
A large sized bottomhole will also be beneficial for
thermal oil recovery and EOR.
Effective artificial lift:
The large borehole provides a large sump for collection of
oil, also with the increased flow rate more oil flows into the
well and gets collected.
This could mean that SRPs, which currently have to be
switched off intermittantly to wait for the oil to collects into
the borehole, need not be stopped or stoppage time may be
reduced considerably
The large sump that is created downhole enhances the
capillary effect, thus raising fluids to a greater height, thereby
improving gas lift, since gas lift valves can be installed at
higher levels.

Advantages
Increase in fluid flow:
Darcys equation for radial flow is given by:

2hk ( p e p w )
.................................................(3)
re
ln
rw

q=

Considering change only in radius of the borehole and all

other parameters constant, we get ratio of the flow rates as:

qbig
q small
Table. 5

r
ln e
rw small
=
..................................................(4)
re
ln
rw big

and Fig.8 show results of sample calculations

Large bottomhole:
Instead of a single SRP we could install 2 or 3 submersible
electrical pumps.
Instruments like a downhole gas liquid seperator, which
are not currently in use due to space restraints, can be installed
which would help solve gas locking problems currently faced
by SRPs.
Also we could add a lot of downhole instrumentation and
equipment in the payzone to continuously monitor various
parameters in the field, which would not only have business
interest but also scientific interest

SPE/IADC 85333

Example
Substituting sample data in equation (5)
Taking:
h = 10 ft. , 50 ft. , 100 ft.
With r w (small) = 6 in. & 8 in. respectively
We get

Substituting sample data in equation (4)

Taking
re= 1000 ft.
rw small = 6in. & 8in.
we get

Table.6
Table.5

Results for sample calculations for increase in flow rate

Data:
re= 1000 ft
rw small = 6in.

qbig
q small
rw big
(ft)

q small
rw big
(ft)

Asmall

1 ft

2ft.

3ft.

4ft.

5ft.

1.1003

1.223

1.308

1.376

1.434

h = 10ft.. r = 6in.
h = 10ft. r = 8in.

1.95 3.902 5.853 7.8049.756

1.285 2.57 3.855 5.146.425

h = 50ft.. r = 6in.
h = 50ft. r = 8in.

1.99 3.98
1.323 2.646

h = 100ft.. r = 6in.
h = 100ft. r = 8in.

1.995 3.99 5.98 7.98 9.97

1.328 2.656 3.985 5.3136.641

Data:
re= 1000 ft
rw small = 8in.

qbig

Results for sample calculations for increase in area

Height of payzone &
Abig
r w (small)
When r (big) is

1.041

1.1578

1.238

1.303

1.358

5.97 7.96 9.95

3.97 5.2936.617

Results are shown graphically in Fig.9

Fig.9

Increase in ratio of surface areas for sample data

Increase in ratio of bottomhole surface areas
Enlarged radius r(big)

Fig.8

Graph of percentage increase in flow rate for sample

data

(ft)

12

10

A(big) / A(small)

h = 10ft. r = 6in.

1.95

3.902

5.853

7.804

9.756

h = 10ft. r = 8in.

1.285

2.57

3.855

5.14

6.425

h = 50ft. r = 6in.

1.99

3.98

5.97

7.96

9.95

h = 50ft. r = 8in.

1.323

2.646

3.97

5.293

6.617

h = 100ft. r = 6in.

1.995

3.99

5.98

7.98

9.97

h = 100ft. r = 8in.

1.328

2.656

3.985

5.313

6.641

SPE/IADC 85333

Nomenclature
A= Area
h= height of payzone
pe= pressure at reservoir boundary
pw= pressure at Wellbore
q= flow rate
re= effective drainage radius
rw= radius of wellbore

References
1.

Maurer, W.C.: Advanced drilling Techniques, Petroleum

Publishing Company, Tulsa (1980).

2.

Bradley, H.B., ed: Petroleum Engineering Handbook,

Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson TX. (1987)

3.

Goodman, R.E.: Introduction to Rock Mechanics, John

Wiley & Sons, New York. (1980)