Directional Drilling- Lecture 2

Directional drilling Fundamentals

&

Directional Trajectories

1
Major Directional Well Profiles
 Directional Drilling Terminologies

KICK-OFF POINT
The kick off point is defined as the point below the surface location
where the well is deflected from the vertical. The position of the kick
off depends on several parameters including: geological
considerations, geometry of well and proximity of other wells.

BUILD UP AND DROP OFF RATES

The maximum permissible build up /drop off rate is normally
determined by one or more of the following:
• The total depth of the well
• Maximum torque and drag limitations
• Mechanical limitations of the drill string or casing
• Mechanical limitations of logging tools and production strings.

The optimum build up and drop off rates in conventional

directional wells are in the range of 1.50 to 30 per 100 ft,
although much higher build up rates are used for horizontal and
multilateral wells.
INCLINATION ANGLE
The inclination angle of a well at any point is the angle the wellbore
forms between its axis and the vertical, see Figure 11.11.

MEASURED DEPTH
Measured depth (MD) is the distance measured along the well path
from one reference point to the survey point. Measured depth is
also known as Along Hole Depth and is measured with the pipe
tally or by a wireline.

True vertical depth (TVD) is the vertical distance measured from

a reference point to the survey point. TVD is usually referenced to
the rotary table, but may also be referenced to mean sea level.

Northing: Horizontal distance between one survey point and the

RKB, measured to the North. A distance to the South is generally
denoted as being negative.

Easting: Horizontal distance between one survey point and the

RKB, measured to the East. A distance to the West is generally
denoted as being negative.
Circular Functions
Circular Functions
Radius of curvature
Radius of curvature
 Azimuth & Departure
Azimuth
The azimuth of a wellbore at any point is defined as the direction of the
wellbore on a horizontal plane measured clockwise form a north
reference. Azimuths are usually expressed in angles from 0-360 ,
measured from zero north.
Azimuths can also be expressed in a quadrant system from 0-90
measured from north in the northern quadrants and from south in the
southern quadrants. The azimuth reading of 135 equates to S45 E in
quadrant readings.
Azimuth and departure
 Azimuth and departure

B
A

84

W E Dt Dn
C O

1852

g0

S a0

AZIMUTH = 272.6 degrees

De
 Azimuth and departure

2 2
Horizontal Departure: Dt  De  Dn

1  De 
Azimuth of the well ( ) = tan  
 Dn 
 Azimuth and departure

Given the following grid coordinates, determine the departure

and azimuth of the target from the surface location.

Grid Coordinates: Target

6,334,400.00 N (m)
200,600.00 E (m)

Grid Coordinates: Surface

6,335,000.00 N (m)
200,400.00 E (m)
Build & Hold Trajectory (J-Profile)
 Build & Hold Trajectory (J-Profile)
To carry out the geometric planning for a Type I
well, Figure 11.13, the following information is
required:

• Surface Co-ordinates

• Target Co-ordinates

• TVD of target

• TVD to KOP

• Build-up rate
 Base Equations
Using the detailed trigonometry shown in Figure 11.13, the
maximum inclination angle αmax for type I trajectory can be
calculated for two cases:
Base Equations
Base Equations