Definitions and vocabulary in a Directional well

KOP (Kick off Point): depth point of starting building or dropping the angle.

DLS (Dog Leg): indicate the rate of angle buildup in (º/100ft).The DLS
increase when “R” decreases.

Tangent section: It occurs after a build up section where the inclination of

the borehole is held constant for a certain distance.

Well inclination: Well inclination is the angle by which the wellbore deviates
from the vertical. Start of drop: This is the location where the borehole starts
dropping inclination.

End of drop: This is the location where the wellbore finishes dropping
inclination.

EOB (End Of Build up): point of the end of the build up section and the
beginning of the hold up.

R: radius of curvature, TD: Total depth, TVD: True Vertical Depth

Azimuth: is the angle in the horizontal plane typically measured clockwise from
north.

The inclination: is the deviation of the wellbore from the vertical

Directional well types

There are several types of wellbore profiles. Below there is a description and
an illustration of the most common profiles:

 Build and hold profile (Type 1) is the most common and simplest. The
well is vertical until the KOP where it is kicked off and an angle is built.
When the desired inclination is reached, the well path is kept tangent or
straight until the target is reached.
 Build, hold and drop profile (Type 2), also called shaped wells, is the
same in the upper section as the build and hold well profile. The well is
kept vertical until KOP and an inclination is built and the tangent
section is drilled. After the tangent section, a drop-off section is drilled
where the inclination is reduced and the well path is almost vertical as
it hits the target.
 Deep build/kick-off (Type 3) is a type of wellbore drilled when there is a
hindrance, such as a salt dome, or when the well has to be side-
tracked. The well is drilled vertically to a deep KOP and then inclination
is built quickly to the target. Horizontal well profile and Horizontal Drain
hole well profile are other types of wellbore trajectories. Theoretically,
there are more than ten types of wellbore profiles.
 Build-up and drop off rate (in degrees of inclination) are the rates at which
the well deviates from the vertical (usually measured in degrees per 30 m
or 100 ft). The build-up rate is chosen on the basis of previous drilling
experience in the location and the tools available. The build-up rate is
often termed the dogleg severity (DLS). Optimum build/drop rates in
conventional wells vary from place to place but are commonly in the range
of 1.5° to 3° per 100 ft (30m).

Calculating the Trajectory

a- Slant type well where the Radius of build is less than the total
displacement of the target

Given:
 Wellhead coordinates
 Target coordinates
 Target TVD, V3
To determine:
  KOP vertical depth, V1
 Build up rate, BUR
 KOP Kick-off point.
 V1 TVD of straight section/surface to KOP.
 V2 TVD of end of build up.
 V2 - V1 TVD of Build up section with BUR corresponding to radius
of curvature R.
 V3 - V2 TVD of Tangent section to total depth.
 D1 Displacement at end of build up.
 D2 Total horizontal displacement of target.
 Φ Maximum inclination of well.

b- Slant type well where the Radius of build is greater than the total
displacement of the target
Given:

 Wellhead coordinates
 Target coordinates
 Target TVD, V3

To determine:

 KOP vertical depth, V1

 Build up rate, BUR
 KOP Kick-off point.
 V1 TVD of straight section/surface to KOP.
 V2 TVD of end of build up.
 V2 -V1 TVD of Build up section with BUR corresponding
to radius of curvature R.
 V3 - V2 TVD of Tangent section to total depth.
 D1 Displacement at end of build up.
 D2 Total horizontal displacement of target.
 Φ Maximum inclination of well.
c- "S" type well where the sum of the Radius of build and the Radius of drop
is less than the total displacement of the target

Given:

 · Wellhead coordinates
 · Target coordinates
 · Target TVD, V5
To determine:
 KOP vertical depth, V1
 Build up rate, BUR
 Drop off rate, DOR
 Vertical depth at end of drop, V4
 KOP Kick-off point.
 V1 TVD of straight section/surface to KOP.
 V2 TVD of end of build up.
 V3 TVD of start of drop.
 V4 TVD of end of drop.
 V2 - V1 TVD of Build up section with BUR corresponding to
radius of curvature R1.
 V3 - V2 TVD of Tangent section.
 V4 - V3 TVD of drop section
 D1 Displacement at end of build up.
 D2 Displacement at end of tangent
 D3 Total horizontal displacement of target.
 Φ Maximum inclination of well.
Worksheet, Slant well, R < total displacement of target
Worksheet, Slant well, R >total displacement of target
Worksheet, S type well, R1+R2 < total displacement of target