IADC/SPE 49495

Optimizing Bent Housing Angle in Steerable BHA

Mohamed O. AI Attas, ADMA-OPCO, Abu Dhabi, UAE

This paper was selected for presentation by the IAOC/SPE Program Committee following
review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author/sl Contents of the
paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers or the

and the components of the drilling motor below it to

cause deflection.

International Association of Drilling Contractors and are subject to correction by the

author(s). The m"aterial. as presented. does not necessarily reflect any position of the lADe

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Abstract
This paper describes the bent housing optimization in
Steerable drilling System. The performance of drilling
was found as a result of this optimization which was
produced from increasing the drilling ROP and
reducing the hole profile spiral. Reducing sliding
drilling is reflected on drill string while drilling by
increasing the torque between drillstring and hole side
at high inclination. Since ADMA OPCO used steerable
drilling technique the directional drilling became easier
to correct the well direction, if required, this
correction achieved without any' additional trips in
presence of surface real time survey reading out.
However adjusting and tuning of drillstring bottom
hole
components
(BHA)
still
requires
some
optimization such as choosing correct bit, proper
motor, right bent housing angle etc. The data used in
this study was collectep from ADMA OPCO offshore
areas mainly while drilling 12 y.. ",
8 %" and 6" holes.
Introduction
ADMA OPCO
is an offshore operating company
which has a wide experience in drilling a deviated
wells .In 1989 the company introduced steerable
drilling and then different types of drilling operations
that had been successfully achieved including vertical
,deviated and horizontal wells.
Furthermore ADMA OPCO had also experienced
various drilling technique in medium and short radius
horizontal wells .these horizontal wells are drilled as
single, dual and multi-lateral drains .
In order to minimize tripping and have smooth hole
profile this paper explain how to optimize the bent
housing angle .
A bent housing sub is the most widely used for
building angle from straight holes , this is normally
placed directly between the bit and the motor.
Bent housing in other hand is a housing, enclosing
the articulated drive shaft connected to the stator
housing at the top and the bearing assembly at the
bottom Figure 3 . It creates an angle between the
axis of the components of the drilling motor above it

There are a number of variants types of bent housing

subs like fixed angle types and adjustable types .The
later can be 'changed before running in hole without
having to dismantle the unit.
The selection of the required degree of bending
depends on the anticipated maximum dog leg severity
in the drilled . Furthermore to optimize this setting
local area experience should
be taken
into
consideration.
Well bore Geometry
It was noticed from rotary and sliding drilling using
steerable bottom hole assembly that the hole profile
takes spiral shape due to frequent sliding driling . This
is due to the fact that the hole profile is affected by
many factors and as a result the hole becomes over
gauged. These factors are bent housing angle, motor
stiffness, formation strength and rate of penetration

With increasing hole diameter there is a tendency for

hole spirally. The high wear on upper portion of the
bit gauge in spiraled hole is resulted from excessive
contact with the hole spiral edges .
Factors Affecting on Dog leg
Bit Size (that indicates to the hole size)
Near Bit Stabilizer :Whereby the outer diameter
of the near bit stabilizer is
used in predicting the dog
leg severity.
Bent housing angle : Bent housing angle has
major
affective
in
changing the dog leg
severity.
Motor OD

Reflect the flexibility of the

bottom hole assembly .

Upper Stabilizer: This stabilizer handled similarly

to the near bit stabilizer and its function to
decrease build up rate of the assembly .
Dog leg Severity Calculation
The dog leg is an angle between two different
inclination surveys. Referring to Fig. 1 it can be seen
that the model has three contact points at the bit ,

386

M. O. AL ATTAS

bent housing sub and second stabilizer .For slick and

one stabilizer assemblies the third contact point will
be located in this case at the motor body
The tilt angle of the bit axis with respect to the
drilling string axis, oc. is the equivalent to the angle
formed by lines drawn perpendicular to the stabilizer bottom stabilizer segment (L,). and the bottom
stabilizer-bit 'segment (L 2) then L = L, + L2

R=

............ (1 )

2
Sin oc
assuming that the tool drilling along a circular path,
the directional drilling change, or dog leg-severity I'lA
I'lA = 360
2 OR
Since for small angle
Since

oc

oc

The navigation motor will always create the same "

dog leg severity I'lA , so there is the following
relationship between the I'lA, the directional , or
azimuth , change I'lH, and the change of inclination
I'lV .( Vo and V, are angles of hole inclination at
measured - degree points 0 and 1 ) .
sin 2 1'lA = sin 2 I'l V + sin 2 I'lH (sin V o)(sin V,) .... (9)
2
2
2
This equation is generally valid where both direction
and inclination change . When only the hole inclination
changes, the azimuth change is zero .
I'lV = I'lA

for I'lH =0

.................. (3)

180
The dog leg severity I'lA is found by combining
equations 1 through 3

/\A

sin

I'lH

sin

2
I'lA =

2 oc
L

................... (10)

When only an azimuth correction has to be done, the

hole inclination is constant and the change of the
inclination is zero. The horizontal change ,or change
of azimuth, then is :
I'lA
2
OR
I'lH = 2 x arc sin
sinV ...................... (11)

.................. (2)

-.It

IADC/SPE 49495

2
sinV

..................... (12)

.................... (4)

for Vo = V, = V and

Use the following equation when considering the tool

as a part of the drilling path (see fig 2). The tool then
has to be considered as arc S, which equals the total
length (L) :-

_S_

~ ..... (5)

20R

360

or with this equation

I'lA
20c

............... (6)

I'lV=O

BHA Components
The bottom hole assemblies used in this study are
slick assembly -no stabilizers fig. 3 , One stabilizer
assembly fig. 4 , two stabilizers assembly fig.5 .
The major effected components of these bottom hole
assemblies on choosing bent housing angle the
following :Bit.

S
Since S is assumed to equal L
I'lA = 2
L

Bearing Assembly with optional stabilizer.

Adjustable kick off sub

................ (7)

oc

Flexible motor section.

Since dog leg severity is normally expressed in units

of degrees change per 100 ft
more practical
equation is :

I'lA =

2000c
L

(deg/1 00') ........ (8)

Top stabilizer (optional).

Bent Housing Angle Prediction
The dog leg is a function of resulted bending of the
bottom hole assembly at two different inclination
points as will as a change in the azimuth angle.

387

IADC/SPE 49495

OPTIMIZING BENT HOUSING NAGLE IN STEERABLE BHA

Bent housing used in the past was of a single fixed

angle sub type which was normally connected to
drillstring . Nowadays an adjustable angle type ,
ranging from 0 - 3 often used.
Directional drilling companies normaly use their own
software programme to predict bent housing angle
and select motor type and other components of
bottom hole assemly . The estimated angle will be
subjected to further tuning depending on drilling
location , formation softness , formation bedding ,
hole size, bottom hole assembly stifness and so on .

3.

bent housing angle increases by decreasing

the stiffness degree of drillstring.

4.

bent housing angle increases by increase the

dog leg. severity

5.

2.

Statistical Output
The relationship between bent housing angle and
other classified components mentioned above has
been expressed in the following formula:
BH = 0.094645 X, - 4.67126X2 + 0.167764 X3
+0.11002 X 4 +0.654878
........ (13)
X, : (MOD/HS)
(for slick
and
one
stabilizer assembly) ........ (14a)
X, : (SOD/HS)
(for
two
stabilizers
assembly)
........ (14b)
X2
(15)
L
hole size
- 2 3/8" - 8 %"

Section Length (l)

a.

Length between bit to bent housing sub (L2)

(ft).

b.

Length from bent housing sub to end of motor

(L 1) -or to stabilizer above the motor if found(ft)

Bottom Hole Assembly configuration as slick ,

one stabilizer and two stabilizers assemblies.
The slick assembly has major tendency to
build up then one stabilizer has lower and
then two stabilizers has lowest build up rate.

For this study over 700 bottom hole assemblies runs

had been used.

1.

Dog leg severity (deg/1 00')

Bent housing angle function of the dog leg
severity.

This study concentrates on drilling slant and medium

radius holes using 12 y.." ,8 %" and 6" holes.

While processing these data in order to find out the

major effected factors on bent housing angle , the
following relative parts had been investigated:

Bottom hole assembly stiffness

The low stiffness drillstring the bigger
tendency of build up rate

Case of History

Only sliding mode drilling data was used for the

purpose of this study . The behavior of the subject
assemblies was then analysed
and
classified
according to field , hole size , formation , bent
housing make, section length (L) and assembly type slick or stabilized .

=...u

.............

X4
dog leg range (0.5 - 3.0)
MOD: motor 00 (inches)
SOD : second stabilizer 00 (inches)

The length between bit and bent housing has

major effect on the dog leg then the distance
between bent housing sub and end of motorhas less impact on the build up rate

L 1 : Length form bit to bent housing sub.

L2 : Length from bent housing to end of
motor or to second stabilizer

Bent housing angle increases by decreasing

the "L" section.

L = L 1 + L2
total section range

(9' - 30')

Hole size (inch)

This formula has good results at the above
mentioned ranges of the section length and dog
legs angle.

The hole size plays big major effect on

increasing the build up rate where it found
the
bent
housing
angle
increases by
increasing the hole size.

388

M. O. AL ATTAS

Results
The. benefit in Optimizing the bent housing angle was
found on the following :
1.

Reduces sliding mode drilling.

2.

Drill smooth profile section.

3.

Increase the rate of penetration.

4.

Reduce tripping bottom hole assembly.

5.

Rotating the string to hold angle rather than

continuing to build or to ease WOB transfer may
lead to premature failure of motor bearing or
housing.

6.

It is good practice to antIcIpate lower build up

rates at low inclination or in soft sections where
enlargement occurs.

Summary
Optimizing the bent housing angle proved to have a
good impact on the steerable drilling , which resulted
in a smooth hole profile and minimum torque and
drag . Many directional drilling companies use their
own software to optimize the motor and motor
components .
Optimizing bent housing angle giving the keeps the
drillstring more time down as long as possible before
tripping.
The outcome of this study was according to the
historical data used in ADMA opeo fields, therefore
necessary modification and revIsIon should be
considered prior to the use of this study .

389

IADC/SPE 49495

r!

---

Top Stabilizer

I~:'\l--

t 1 ! '~;'\-'----

I\
~ StabiliZ:r~
Bottom

.2

__

~--

______ _

Fig. 2-CaJculating dogleg severity considering the tool

as an arc.

Fig.l -Calculating dogleg severity.

Bypass Valve

=--==- Bearing Assembly

POC Bit

Fig.3

390

:::::::~-

~-

Control Stabilizer

Crossover

Flex Stator

~--t~-

Adjustable or Fixed
Bent Housing

1!&fIiJ>.V+o_-

Fig.4

Fig.5

391

Adjustable or Fixed
Bent Housing