Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dog Leg Severity
Dog Leg Severity
Dog Leg Severity
In this section I'll discuss about one of the most important term
related to Directional Drilling "Dog Leg Severity", abbriviated as
DLS.
The dogleg severity is low if the changes in inclination and/or azimuth are
small or occur over a long interval of course length. The dogleg severity is
high when the inclination and/or azimuth changes quickly or occur over a
short interval of course length.
Let me give you an example to show how the change in inclination affects
the Dog Leg :
Let us consider four cases as given below :
Case 1 :
ΔMD = MD2 – MD1 = 1100 – 1000 = 100 ft
ΔI = I2 – I1 = 40 -20 = 20
Case 2 :
Case 3 :
ΔMD = MD2 – MD1 = 1050 – 1000 = 50 ft
ΔI = I2 – I1 = 40 -20 = 20
Case 4 :
ΔMD = MD2 – MD1 = 1050 – 1000 = 50 ft
ΔI = I2 – I1 = 60 -20 = 40
From Case 1 & Case 2, Case 3 & Case 4 it is clear that : A greater
change in inclination yields a larger dogleg severity for the same
change in measured depth.
From Case 1 & Case 3, Case 2 & Case 4 it is clear that : for the same
change in inclination, a shorter course length will result in a
greater dogleg severity.
The above example gave us idea about how the change in measured
depth and inclination affects the DLS. But this is not the end. Even the
change in Azimuth affects the DLS.
It took us just few steps to calculate the DLS for change in inclination, but
unfortunately it is not that easy to calculate the DLS for change in
Azimuth .. !
It can be easily seen from the above result that dogleg severity increases
as the inclination increases for the same change in azimuth, i.e., 10 0.
The above equations can be used to calculate dogleg severity for any
combination of changes in azimuth, inclination, and measured depth.
The drill string will experience less torque from a dogleg while
drilling, because the collars are in compression except in the case
of a horizontal well or high inclination well. However, while tripping
or reaming, the torque will be greater because the collars are in tension
and increases the overall tension in the drill string. In a horizontal or high
inclination well, the torque may be lower while rotating off bottom. Care
should be taken when tripping after a significant change in hole inclination
and/or direction. The assembly may go to the bottom, but it might not
come back up through the dogleg. An assembly should never be
forced to the bottom; it should be reamed to the bottom.
So now since the torque and drag has arisen, we need to find the
methods to reduce the torque and drag.
Other problems associated with severe doglegs are wearing of tool joints
and worn spots in the casing which can lead to collapse or a hole in the
casing. Logging tools and drill collars can become stuck in a keyseat.