Wellbore lag calculation

Accurate lag can only be done with

volume and stroke measurements
 Importance of accurate lag calculations

To accurately represent gas and lithology information on

the mudlog it is necessary to have an exact
measurement of the lag. The geologist and engineers
who are our customers depend on us to present our
data in a clean, concise and accurate mudlog. Bad lag
analysis puts gas and lithology at the wrong depth on
the log and shows a lack of knowledge and
understanding of well logging principles. Experienced
CoMen and geologist will know when data is inaccurate
and you are not able to calculate lag. We are judged by
the quality of our work.
Waiting for MainLog or Bloodhound to tell you the
lag without inputting accurate volume data is close
to useless. The default numbers in the programs are
simply that, estimated average lag for a well
anywhere from 1000’ to 20,000’ in depth. Does a
hole 12 inches in diameter have the same volume
as a hole 6 inches in diameter? Of course not. You
are responsible for getting the correct information
and calculating an accurate lag. With a little
background knowledge and some simple math it is
easy to get a good lag.
Lets get started!
 What do you need to calculate lag?

1. Drill pipe – outside diameter and length

2. Drill pipe – inside diameter and length
3. Drill collars – outside diameter and length
4. Drill collars – inside diameter and length
5. Casing – inside diameter and length
6. Open hole – diameter and length
7. Pump capacity – barrels per stroke
• Lag is a measurement of the volume of mud in
the hole minus the volume displaced by the
drill string, divided by the pump capacity per
stroke.

• Lag volume is called - Annular volume (barrels)

• Pump capacity is in - barrels per stroke

• Ann. vol. / pump capacity = lag (in strokes)

 Cement

Casing Mud flow

Drill pipe

Open hole

Drill collars

Drill bit
• DP displacement + DC disp. = total pipe displacement

• Total Casing cap. + total OH cap. = total hole capacity

• Total hole capacity – Total pipe displacement =

Annular volume ( lag volume ) in barrels

• Lag volume / pump capacity = lag strokes

• Lag strokes / strokes per minute = lag time

 Outside Diameter Inside Diameter Length

• Drill pipe _________ ________ ______

• Drill collars _________ ________ ______

• Casing _________ ________ ______

• Open hole ________ ______

• Pump cap. #1 ______ #2 ______ #3 ______

 Outside Diameter Inside Diameter Length

• Drill pipe 5.0” 4.276” 9500’

• Drill collars 7.0” 2.8125” 500’

• Casing 9.625” 8.835” 5000’

• Open hole 8.50” 5000’

• Pump capacity #1 .107 #2 .107

• (DP od x DP od) / 1029.4 = DP displacement (bbls/ft)
• (DC od x DC od) / 1029.4 = DC displacement (bbls/ft)
• (Cas. id x Cas. id) / 1029.4 = Casing capacity (bbls/ft)
• (OH od x OH od) / 1029.4 = OH capacity (bbls/ft)

• DP disp x length = total DP displacement (bbls)

• DC disp x length = total DC displacement (bbls)

• Casing capacity x length = total Casing capacity

• Open hole capacity x length = total OH capacity
 Drill pipe displacement
• DP (5” x 5”) / 1029.4 = .024286 barrels / foot

Drill collar displacement per foot

• DC (7” x 7”) / 1029.4 = .04760 barrels / foot

Casing capacity
• Casing (8.835” x 8.835”) / 1029.4 = .07583 bbls/ft

Open hole capacity

• Open hole (8.5” x 8.5”) / 1029.4 = .07019 bbls/ft
Total hole capacity
• Casing = .07583 x 5000 = 379 bbls.
• Open hole = .07019 x 5000 = 351 bbls.
• Total hole capacity = 379 + 351 = 730 barrels

Total pipe displacement

• Drill pipe = .024286 x 9500 = 230 bbls.
• Drill collars = .04760 x 500 = 23.8 bbls.
• Total pipe displacement = 230 + 23.8 = 253.8 barrels

Annular volume and lag

• Annular volume (lag volume) = 730 – 253.8 = 476.2 barrels
• 476.2 lag volume / .107 pump capacity = 4450 lag strokes
• 4450 strokes / 120 strokes per minute = 37.1 minute lag time
• Lag volume will change with depth and with hole
washout

• Lag strokes will not change unless the lag volume

changes

• Lag time will change when the strokes per minute

change (it will take twice as long for lag or bottoms up
if the SPM go from 100 spm to 50 spm)
• Now that you understand how accurate lag is
established, here is a quick lag that in normal
situations will give you a lag within 100-200 strokes of
a full calculated lag.
• Take the open hole capacity and subtract the drill
pipe displacement.
• OH capacity (bbls/ft) - DP displacement (bbls/ft)
• OH .07019 - DP . 024286 = .04590 bbls/ft
• This number .04590 times any length of hole will give
a good estimate of the lag at that point.
• (.04590 x 10,000’) / .107 = 4290 stroke lag
(compared to 4450 strokes by full calculation)
• Again, accurate lag is essential to placing information
on the mudlog. The quality of our work determines
how the customer views our service and the future
jobs they assign to TransPecos.

• You put your name on the log, produce the best

mudlog possible and take pride in your work.