18.

STABILIZERS
Stabilizers are an indispensable part of almost all rotary directional BHAs.
Near-bit stabilizers have BOX x BOX connections. They are usually bored
out to accept a float valve.
String stabilizers have PIN x BOX connections.
Most stabilizers have a right-hand spiral.
Stabilizers are used to:
Control hole deviation.
Reduce the risk of differential sticking.
Ream out doglegs and keyseats.
Here we are going to discuss the following types of stabilizer :
Integral Blade Stabilizers
Welded Blade Stabilizers
Sleeve Type Stabilizers
Clamp-on Stabilizers
Non-Rotating Stabilizers
INTEGRAL BLADE STABILIZERS (IB)

I.B. stabilizers are made from high-strength alloy steel as a single piece tool. They
are rolled and machined to provide the blades.
The unitized construction features three spiraled ribs designed to minimize down hole
torque, reduce damage to the hole wall and ensure maximum fluid circulation.
The IBS is well suited for use in most formations from soft and sticky to hard and
abrasive.
It is available in both bottom-hole and string designs, providing the flexibility to run it
anywhere in the BHA.
When the blades wear down to an unacceptable diameter, the tool should be removed
from the drilling assembly and returned for servicing where it can usually be
redressed to full gauge size.
They can have either three or four blades.

I.B. stabilizers normally have tungsten carbide inserts (TCIs). Pressed-in TCIs are
recommended
in
abrasive
formations.

Features and Benifits :

The blades are an integral part of the tool body, eliminating the risk of leaving
components or pieces in the hole.
Available in both open and full wrap designs, providing optimum hole wall contact
while ensuring maximum fluid bypass area.

Application in Directional Drilling :

A packed hole assembly typically requires the placement of multiple IB stabilizers
throughout the three zones of stabilization. Contact a OTI - representative for BHA
recommendations.
A pendulum assembly is a recommended application for the IBS due to its unitized
design. For the most effective pendulum assembly, two stabilizers should be run
separated by one drill collar.
Vibration and drill collar whip can be reduced through the placement of stabilizers in
the BHA and upper drill collar string.
Extended Life IBS Specification :

Standard IBS Specification :

WELDED BLADE STABILIZERS (WBS) :

The Welded Blade Stabilizers used in the B.H.A for drilling soft to medium hard
formation holes are available in three types (straight, straight-offset or spiral design).
They are best suited to large hole sizes where the formation is softer
because they allow maximum flow rates to be used.
Stabilizer bodies are manufactured from AISI 4145 H Modified Steel with mechanical
properties in accordance with API Specification 7.
Mid steel blades are welded onto the body using strictly controlled pre-heating, post
weld heat treatment and weld application techniques.
All areas affected by the process of welding are subject to full non-destructive
examination to assure the mechanical integrity of the joint.
Standard Welded Blade Stabilizers are available in 3 or 4 blade configuration with the
spiral type available with open or tight spiral.

HF 1000 or HF 2000 Hardfacings are most commonly applied to Welded Blade

Stabilizers.

Standard dimension of WBS :

Welded blade stabilizers are available in following three configurations:

NOTE : IBS are more expensive than welded blade type stabilizers, since they
are machined from one piece of metal.

SLEEVE TYPE STABILIZERS :

These consist of replaceable sleeves that are mounted on the stabilizer body. They
offer the advantage of changing out a sleeve with worn blades or replacing it with one
of another gauge size. The blades can be dressed with tungsten carbide inserts for
abrasive formations.

Sleeves :

There are two main designs of sleeve-type stabilizer as shown in figure below:

Two-piece stabilizer (mandrel and sleeve):

The sleeve is screwed onto the coarse threads on the outside of the mandrel and
torqued up to the recommended value.
Sleeve makeup torque is low.
There is no pressure seal at the sleeve.
It is convenient to change sleeves on the drill floor.
This design of stabilizer is manufactured by several companies.
It is in wide use today.
Three-piece stabilizer (mandrel, sleeve and saver sub):
The sleeve is screwed onto the mandrel first, by hand.
The saver sub is then screwed into the mandrel and this connection is torqued up to
the recommended value.
In this case, there is a mud pressure seal at the mandrel/saver sub connection.
Makeup torque of this connection is the full value for that size of API connection.
Great care must be taken (clean and dope the shoulders properly, use correct makeup
torque), otherwise downhole washouts etc. will result.
It can be quite difficult any time-consuming to change/service the sleeve. For
these reasons, this design of sleeve-type stabilizer is not as widely used
today as it was some years ago.

CLAMP-ON STABILIZER
Clamp-on stabilizers allow more flexibility in BHA design.
They can be positioned on NMDCs, MWD, PDMs etc. at the required spacing to
maintain directional control.
Nonmagnetic clamp-on stabilizers are available on request Some clients are
apprehensive about running clamp-on because of the danger of them moving position
downhole. Sometimes theyre difficult to take off after POOH.

NON- ROTATING STABILIZER

These stabilizers are used to centralize the drill collars, but the rubber sleeve allows
the string to rotate while the sleeve remains stationary. The wear on the blades is
therefore much less than in other stabilizers and so they can be used in harder
formations.

Stabilizers can be installed just above the bit (near-bit stabilizers) or at any
point within the BHA (string stabilizers).
Two stabilizers can also be run in tandem if necessary ("piggy-back").
Stabilizers are inserted at drill collar connections. This limits their spacing to

30

ft

or

multiples

of

30

ft.

Closer spacing can be achieved by using shorter drill collars (pony collars)
that are 10-15 ft long.
"Clamp on" stabilizers can be used to provide support at some point along
the length of a collar.
Any stabilizer that is placed near a magnetic surveying tool must be made of
non-magnetic material, to prevent distortion of the survey results.
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