HX R D R I L L I NG SE RV I C E S

S-Well Design
Pad Development
 Section view
0 120.0 (ft) 16" Conductor

1400

2800

3995.0 (ft) 9.625" Casing

4200

5600
TVD (ft)

7000

8400
Medium-Stepout S-Well
9800

11200
11574.0 (ft) 7" Casing

12600
13540.0 (ft) 4" Liner
17° Tangent with 2°/100’ BUR
14000
0 2800 5600 8400 11200 14000 16800 19600 2278’ Stepout
Vertical section (ft) (Projection Azi = 292.31 (deg))

Plan view
2000
13540’ MD / 13208.8’ TVD
1800

1600

1400 Design Comparisons:

1200
• Planned vs Actual Surveys – Drilling
N+/S- (ft)

1000
11574.0(ft) 7" Casing 13540.0(ft) 4" Liner
800

600

400 3995.0(ft) 9.625" Casing

200

120.0(ft) 16" Conductor

0
-2200 -1800 -1400 -1000 -600 -200 200 600
E+/W- (ft)
 Dogleg
0

1400

2800

4200

5600
MD (ft)

7000

8400
Planned DLS
9800

11200

12600

14000
0.00 0.40 0.80 1.20 1.60 2.00 2.40 2.80
Dogleg (deg/100ft)

Dogleg
0

1400

2800

4200

5600
MD (ft)

7000

8400
Actual DLS (As-Drilled)
9800

11200

12600

14000
0.00 1.20 2.40 3.60 4.80 6.00 7.20 8.40
Dogleg (deg/100ft)
 8.75” Tangent Section - Hookload

When you compare these two HKLD

graphs, you begin to realize how critical
tortuosity is in relation to drilling loads.

No well is ever drilled exactly to plan,

but it is important, whether it be an S-
well, and ERD well, even a deep
“Vertical” well, that total DLS be taken
into account when planning the well,
as well as any major changes in inc/azi.

On this well, angle was built to 17°,

allowed to drop through a “dead”
zone, then built back up; adding 20° of
baseline + additional tortuosity.
 8.75” Tangent Section - Torque

The difference in Torque scenarios

between the Planned and Actual
surveys is even more obvious.

When possible, try to plan wells that

follow formation trends (build/drop
and walk rates). For example, in the
Bakken, we’d plan laterals in a “banana
peel” shape – taking the natural walk
rates into account.

If you’re using a Mmotor, don’t use a

large bend. Put in lo-DLS corrections,
since every slide results in “hidden”
doglegs.
 6.125” Tangent Section - Hookload

Once in the Drop (Production) Section,

the issues become more severe, since
in this scenario a tapered string can not
be used due to casing ID restraints, and
the DP connection is not hi-strength.

Don’t Forget Hydraulic Lift

 6.125” Tangent Section - Torque

Forget any torque spikes typically

encountered, the Actual trajectory is
very close to DP limits. WBM with low
lubricity and hi-torque/abrasive
formations can run near a .30 Torque
FF.

Staying closer to Plan, however, gives

more buffer.
 What can I do?

1. Control Trajectory / PLAN for Formation Characteristics

2. Higher-Strength Pipe
3. Tapered Strings?
4. Increased Lubricity
5. Torque-Reduction Tools?
6. RSS vs Mmotor?
7. Less “hidden” DLS / smaller motor bend angle
8. Better BHA’s – Hold Assemblies, Drop Assemblies?