RADIUS OF

CURVATURE
Prepared by:
Ahmed Fadhil Kareem A7
Ibrahem Abbas Abdulmuneem A3
Muhammed Sabeeh Abshara A41
01
INTRODUCTION

As the demand for more accurate and precise directional drilling increased, so did the
need for more sophisticated surveying techniques.
The concept of curvature in surveying can be traced back to the early work of
mathematicians and geodesists who studied the curvature of Earth's surface. As
directional drilling evolved, engineers adapted these mathematical principles to
develop techniques for calculating the curvature of the wellbore trajectory.
01
INTRODUCTION
The radius of curvature method gained prominence as computing
technology advanced, enabling engineers to perform complex
calculations quickly and accurately. By the latter half of the 20th
century, it had become one of the primary methods used for
surveying and planning directional drilling operations.

Over time, refinements and improvements have been made to the

radius of curvature method, enhancing its accuracy and reliability.
Today, it remains a fundamental tool in the arsenal of directional
drilling professionals, offering a precise means of determining the
trajectory of a wellbore and optimizing drilling efficiency.
01
INTRODUCTION
The radius of curvature method is
currently considered to be one of the
most accurate methods available. The
method assumes the wellbore course is a
smooth curve between the upper and
lower survey stations. The curvature of
the arc is determined by the survey
inclinations and azimuths at the upper
and lower survey stations. The length of
the arc between I1 and I2 is the
measured depth between surveys.
01
INTRODUCTION
With the inclination and hole direction measured at the upper and
lower ends of the course length, this method generates a circular
arc when viewed in both the vertical and horizontal planes.
The radius of curvature is calculated to find the directions (North
and East) as well as to calculate the True Vertical Depth (TVD) in
each survey station.
02
EQUATIONS
02
EQUATIONS
WHERE:

ΔTVD: Change in True vertical depth

between the two surveys
ΔMD: The difference between surveys depth
I1: Inclination of survey 1
I2: Inclination of survey 2
A1: Azimuth of survey 1
A2: Azimuth of survey 2
ΔNorth: Change in north direction between the
two surveys
ΔEast: Change in east direction between the
two surveys
03
EXAMPLES
Two survey stations with below information:
Survey 1
Depth = 7500 ft
Inclination = 45 degree (I1)
Azimuth = 130degree (A1)

Survey 2
Depth = 7595 ft
Inclination = 52 degree (I2)
Azimuth = 139 degree (A2)
MD = 7595 – 7500 = 95 ft

Calculate N,E and TVD

03
EXAMPLES

As per the calculation above:

North = -49.97 ft
East = 50.66 ft
TVD = 62.91 ft
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HOMEWORKS
Find ΔTVD, ΔN and ΔE from information below:
1) I1=10.8 deg, A1=36.5 deg, I2=21.08 deg, A2=45.8 deg and ΔMD=200 ft

2)
Survey 1 Survey 2

Depth = 3200 ft Depth = 3300 ft

Inclination = 17 deg Inclination = 27 deg
Azimuth = 22.45 deg Azimuth = 47 deg
THANK YOU