DRILLING PRACTICES

Presented by
Richard S. Carden

Authors
Robert D. Grace
Jerald L. Shursen
Richard S. Carden

DISCLAIMER
The information contained herein and/or these workshop/seminar proceedings (WORK) was prepared by
or contributed to by various parties in support of professional continuing education.
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interpretations, recommendations and descriptions utilizing the WORK. Company Group cannot and does
not warrant the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any interpretation, recommendation or description. Under no circumstances should any interpretation, recommendation or description be relied upon as
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COPYRIGHT 2004
BY PETROSKILLS, LLC. AN OGCI COMPANY.
TULSA, OKLAHOMA
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NO PART OF THIS MANUAL MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY
FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM PETROSKILLS.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1

PLANNING A WELL ..............................................................................................1-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................1-1
DATA ACQUISITION ...............................................................................................1-1
FORMULATE DRILLING PLAN .................................................................................1-7
ALTERNATE PLANNING APPROACH ........................................................................1-8
Technical Limit..............................................................................................1-9
Benefits of the Approach ............................................................................1-11
Cautions using the approach......................................................................1-12
Extending The Alternate Approach to Drilling Cost Management ..............1-12
EXAMPLE DRILLING PROGRAM ............................................................................1-14
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1-15
SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................1-15
DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................1-16
Location and Geology.................................................................................1-17
Previous Drilling Performance ....................................................................1-17
Casing and Hole Program ..........................................................................1-17
Hazards ......................................................................................................1-17
Drilling Fluid Program .................................................................................1-18
Bit Program.................................................................................................1-20
Bit Weight, Rotary Speed, Deviation Control, Directional Surveys, and
Hydraulics...................................................................................................1-21

CHAPTER 2 DRILLING COST CONTROL ........................................................................................2-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................2-1
FACTORS AFFECTING PENETRATION RATE ............................................................2-3
Bit Type and Formation Hardness................................................................2-4
Bit Weight .....................................................................................................2-4
Rotary Speed................................................................................................2-8
Bottom Hole Cleaning.................................................................................2-10
Hydraulics and PDC Bits ............................................................................2-15
Mud Properties ...........................................................................................2-16
Auxiliary Practices ......................................................................................2-21
SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................2-23
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................2-24
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................2-25
REFERENCES .....................................................................................................2-25

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CHAPTER 3 HOLE PROBLEMS .....................................................................................................3-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................3-1
LOST CIRCULATION ..............................................................................................3-1
Lost Circulation in the Surface Hole or Intervals with High Primary Porosity
and Permeability...........................................................................................3-3
Lost Circulation in Deeper Intervals - Hard Rocks........................................3-5
Lost Circulation in the Presence of Potential Production..............................3-8
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE STICKING ...................................................................3-11
KEY SEATING .....................................................................................................3-13
BOULDERS .........................................................................................................3-14
SALT ..................................................................................................................3-15
SLOUGHING SHALE ............................................................................................3-15
Water Sensitive Clays ................................................................................3-16
Pressured Shales .......................................................................................3-16
Tectonic Stresses .......................................................................................3-17
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................3-18
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................3-19
NOMENCLATURE FOR SI UNITS EQUATIONS ........................................................3-19
REFERENCE .......................................................................................................3-19
CHAPTER 4 DRILLING FLUIDS .....................................................................................................4-1
INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................4-1
PURPOSE OF DRILLING MUD ................................................................................4-1
Hole Cleaning ...............................................................................................4-2
Containment of Pore Pressure .....................................................................4-3
Bit Cleaning ..................................................................................................4-3
Hole Lubrication............................................................................................4-3
Protect Formation Productivity and Assist in Formation Evaluation .............4-4
Retardation of Corrosion and Prevention of Adverse Effects .......................4-6
Assist in Cementation...................................................................................4-6
Deposit a Thin Mud Cake and Reduce Filtrate Invasion ..............................4-6
Summary ......................................................................................................4-7
COMPOSITION OF DRILLING FLUIDS ......................................................................4-7
Liquid Phases ...............................................................................................4-7
Solids Phase.................................................................................................4-9
VISCOSITY .........................................................................................................4-12
Methods of Measurement...........................................................................4-14
Control of Viscosity.....................................................................................4-26
GEL STRENGTH..................................................................................................4-30
CONTROL OF FILTRATION RATE ..........................................................................4-31

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Horizontal and Directional Drilling

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CONTROL OF SOLIDS .........................................................................................4-35

Hole Cleaning .............................................................................................4-36
Shakers ......................................................................................................4-36
Settling Traps .............................................................................................4-37
Cyclones.....................................................................................................4-37
Centrifuges .................................................................................................4-41
CONTROL OF ALKALINITY ...................................................................................4-42
How to Use Alkalinity Measurements .........................................................4-43
Treatment ...................................................................................................4-44
SPECIALIZED FLUIDS ..........................................................................................4-45
Calcium Treated Muds - Lime Treated Muds .............................................4-45
Oil Muds .....................................................................................................4-46
Potassium Muds .........................................................................................4-47
Phosphate Muds.........................................................................................4-47
Magnesium Muds .......................................................................................4-48
A Perfect Mud System................................................................................4-48
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................4-48
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................4-50
Nomenclature For SI Units Equations ........................................................4-51
APPENDIX ..........................................................................................................4-52
REFERENCES .....................................................................................................4-62
CHAPTER 5

LIFTING CAPACITY ...............................................................................................5-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................5-1
HISTORY ..............................................................................................................5-2
HOLE CLEANING ...................................................................................................5-3
EMPIRICAL CORRELATION.....................................................................................5-9
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................5-11
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................5-12
Nomenclature for the Equations in SI Units................................................5-13
REFERENCE .......................................................................................................5-13

CHAPTER 6

PRESSURE LOSSES IN THE CIRCULATING SYSTEM ................................................6-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................6-1
TURBULENT FLOW ................................................................................................6-1
PRESSURE LOSSES THROUGH BIT NOZZLES .........................................................6-9
LAMINAR FLOW ..................................................................................................6-10
EQUIVALENT CIRCULATING DENSITY ...................................................................6-18
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................6-18
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................6-20

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Nomenclature for Equations in SI Units......................................................6-21

CHAPTER 7

HYDRAULICS ........................................................................................................7-1
INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................7-1
CLASSIC HYDRAULICS ..........................................................................................7-1
MAXIMIZING HYDRAULICS USING FIELD DATA ......................................................7-15
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................7-19
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................7-20
Nomenclature for Equations in SI Units......................................................7-21
REFERENCE .......................................................................................................7-22

CHAPTER 8

ROTARY DRILLING BITS .......................................................................................8-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................8-1
DEVELOPMENT OF INSERT BITS ............................................................................8-1
FUNDAMENTALS OF BIT DESIGN ............................................................................8-2
THE INSERT BIT....................................................................................................8-4
Seals.............................................................................................................8-7
Friction Bearings.........................................................................................8-10
Insert Bit Selection and Evaluation.............................................................8-12
IADC ROLLER BIT CLASSIFICATION ....................................................................8-22
IADC FIXED CUTTER BIT CLASSIFICATION ..........................................................8-27
DULL BIT GRADING SYSTEM ...............................................................................8-28
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................8-31
SI UNITS ............................................................................................................8-31
Nomenclature for Equation in SI units ........................................................8-32
APPENDIX ..........................................................................................................8-32
REFERENCES .....................................................................................................8-71

CHAPTER 9

AIR AND GAS DRILLING ........................................................................................9-1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................9-1
Advantages:..................................................................................................9-1
Disadvantages:.............................................................................................9-1
ADVANTAGES .......................................................................................................9-2
Penetration Rate...........................................................................................9-2
Formation Damage.......................................................................................9-3
Productivity Evaluation .................................................................................9-4
Minimizing Lost Circulation...........................................................................9-4
Increased Footage per Bit ............................................................................9-4
DISADVANTAGES ..................................................................................................9-4
Lithological Limitations .................................................................................9-4

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Limitations of Pore Pressure Regimes .........................................................9-5

Drill String Wear ...........................................................................................9-5
Hydraulic Dampening of Drill String..............................................................9-5
Downhole Fires and Explosions ...................................................................9-5
AIR VERSUS MUD DRILLING PERFORMANCE CURVES FROM FIELD DATA................9-5
AIR DRILLING EQUIPMENT...................................................................................9-10
Compressors and Boosters ........................................................................9-10
Surface Equipment .....................................................................................9-12
Downhole Equipment .................................................................................9-16
DOWNHOLE AIR AND GAS REQUIREMENTS ..........................................................9-18
Lifting Capacity ...........................................................................................9-19
Determining Air and Gas Volume Requirements........................................9-20
DIAGNOSTICS OF DRILLING PROBLEMS ...............................................................9-22
MIST DRILLING ...................................................................................................9-28
Unloading the Hole .....................................................................................9-30
Attempt to Dry the Hole ..............................................................................9-30
Inhibition .....................................................................................................9-31
STIFF FOAM .......................................................................................................9-31
Mixing .........................................................................................................9-32
Back Pressure Valve ..................................................................................9-34
Excessive Cuttings .....................................................................................9-34
AERATED MUD ...................................................................................................9-34
AIR VOLUME CHARTS .........................................................................................9-36
AIR VOLUME CHARTS IN SI UNITS .......................................................................9-45
NOMENCLATURE ................................................................................................9-54
REFERENCES .....................................................................................................9-55
CHAPTER 10

EQUIPMENT AND CASING DESIGN.......................................................................10-1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................10-1
TYPES OF CASING STRINGS................................................................................10-1
Structural Casing or Drive Pipe ..................................................................10-1
Conductor Casing.......................................................................................10-1
Surface Casing ...........................................................................................10-1
Intermediate or Protective Casing ..............................................................10-2
Production Casing ......................................................................................10-2
Liners..........................................................................................................10-2
CASING SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES.................................10-3
Casing Manufacturing Process...................................................................10-3
Casing Chemical Composition ...................................................................10-3
Casing Mechanical Properties....................................................................10-4

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Dimensions, Weights and Lengths .............................................................10-7

Casing Threads and Couplings ..................................................................10-8
Markings ...................................................................................................10-11
COLLAPSE RESISTANCE ...................................................................................10-12
Yield Strength Collapse Pressure.............................................................10-12
Plastic Collapse Pressure.........................................................................10-13
Transition Collapse Pressure ...................................................................10-14
Elastic Collapse Pressure.........................................................................10-15
Collapse Pressure Under Axial Tension Stress........................................10-16
Collapse nomenclature.............................................................................10-22
BURST OR INTERNAL YIELD PRESSURE .............................................................10-23
JOINT STRENGTH .............................................................................................10-26
PIPE BODY YIELD STRENGTH............................................................................10-29
CASING DESIGN ...............................................................................................10-30
Casing Setting Depths..............................................................................10-30
BENDING STRESSES .........................................................................................10-53
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................10-54
CARE AND HANDLING .......................................................................................10-58
SIZING OF BLOWOUT PREVENTERS ...................................................................10-61
DRILL STRING DESIGN ......................................................................................10-63
Combined Torque and Tension ................................................................10-73
DRILL STRING INSPECTION ...............................................................................10-78
SI UNITS ..........................................................................................................10-80
APPENDIX ........................................................................................................10-83
REFERENCES .................................................................................................10-123
CHAPTER 11

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PRIMARY CEMENTING.........................................................................................11-1
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................11-1
MANUFACTURE AND COMPOSITION OF CEMENTS.................................................11-1
GENERAL PROPERTIES OF OIL WELL CEMENTS...................................................11-2
Viscosity .....................................................................................................11-3
Thickening Time .........................................................................................11-3
Density........................................................................................................11-6
Yield............................................................................................................11-6
Fluid Loss ...................................................................................................11-6
Free Water..................................................................................................11-7
Compressive Strength ................................................................................11-7
CEMENT ADDITIVES ............................................................................................11-9
Density Control ...........................................................................................11-9
Accelerators..............................................................................................11-13

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Retarders..................................................................................................11-14
Fluid Loss Additives..................................................................................11-15
Friction Reducers .....................................................................................11-15
Lost Circulation Material ...........................................................................11-16
Special Cements ......................................................................................11-16
THE CEMENT JOB.............................................................................................11-21
Cement Sheath Requirements .................................................................11-25
Displacement Mechanics in Primary Cementing ......................................11-27
Summary ..................................................................................................11-37
Gas Migration ...........................................................................................11-37
CEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION ......................................................................11-39
Review of Cement Program .....................................................................11-41
NOMENCLATURE ..............................................................................................11-43
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................11-50
CHAPTER 12

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING ......................................................................................12-1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................12-1
USES OF DIRECTIONAL DRILLING ........................................................................12-1
SURVEY CALCULATIONS .....................................................................................12-6
Tangential...................................................................................................12-6
Average Angle ............................................................................................12-7
Radius of Curvature....................................................................................12-7
Minimum Curvature ....................................................................................12-8
Closure and Direction .................................................................................12-9
Vertical Section.........................................................................................12-14
DOGLEG SEVERITY...........................................................................................12-16
MAGNETIC DECLINATION CORRECTIONS AND NON-MAGNETIC DRILL COLLAR
SELECTION ......................................................................................................12-20
SURVEYING AND ORIENTING TOOLS ..................................................................12-22
METHODS OF DEFLECTING A WELLBORE ...........................................................12-29
Bottomhole Assemblies ............................................................................12-30
Jetting .......................................................................................................12-34
Whipstock .................................................................................................12-35
Downhole Motors......................................................................................12-35
PLANNING A DIRECTIONAL WELL .......................................................................12-36
NOMENCLATURE ..............................................................................................12-37
SI UNITS ..........................................................................................................12-38
Nomenclature for Equations in SI Units....................................................12-38
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................12-39

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CHAPTER 13

THE PROBLEM OF DEVIATION AND DOGLEGGING IN ROTARY BOREHOLES ...........13-1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................13-1
THEORIES OF CAUSES OF DEVIATED HOLES........................................................13-3
CATEGORIZING CROOKED HOLES .......................................................................13-4
METHODS USED TO CONTROL DEVIATION ...........................................................13-6
DOGLEGGING IN ROTARY BOREHOLES ..............................................................13-10
A UNIQUE APPROACH TO DEVIATION.................................................................13-15
SUMMARY ........................................................................................................13-20

CHAPTER 14

PRESSURE CONTROL .........................................................................................14-1

THE ORIGIN OF PORE PRESSURES .....................................................................14-1
Tectonic Activity..........................................................................................14-1
Formation of Physical and Chemical Seals ................................................14-2
PREDICTION OF PORE PRESSURE .......................................................................14-2
Seismic Data ..............................................................................................14-3
Drilling Rate ................................................................................................14-3
Sloughing Shale .........................................................................................14-6
Shale Density .............................................................................................14-7
Gas In Mud .................................................................................................14-8
Chloride Trends ..........................................................................................14-8
Mud Properties ...........................................................................................14-9
Temperature Measurements ......................................................................14-9
Bentonite Contents In Shale Cuttings.......................................................14-10
Paleo Information .....................................................................................14-10
Wireline Logs............................................................................................14-10
Summary ..................................................................................................14-13
FORMATION FRACTURE GRADIENTS ..................................................................14-14
Matthews and Kelly ..................................................................................14-15
Eaton Method ...........................................................................................14-16
Pressure Testing ......................................................................................14-17
Special Considerations.............................................................................14-19
Summary ..................................................................................................14-21
BEHAVIOR OF HYDROCARBONS IN DRILLING FLUIDS ..........................................14-22
Compression and Expansion Characteristics of Gas ...............................14-22
Temperature Scales .................................................................................14-22
Compressibility Factor ..............................................................................14-23
Liquid-Vapor Relationships.......................................................................14-27
Behavior of Influx Fluids in Oil Muds ........................................................14-28
MECHANICS OF BUBBLE RISE ...........................................................................14-28
CAUSES OF KICKS AND BLOWOUTS ...................................................................14-29

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Horizontal and Directional Drilling

Table of Contents

Mud Weight Less Than Formation Pore Pressure ...................................14-29

Failure To Keep The Hole Full and Swabbing..........................................14-30
Lost Circulation.........................................................................................14-32
Mud Cut ....................................................................................................14-33
INDICATIONS OF A WELL KICK AND SHUT-IN PROCEDURE...................................14-33
Sudden Increase in Drilling Rate ..............................................................14-34
CLASSIC PRESSURE CONTROL PROCEDURES ...................................................14-36
Driller's Method.........................................................................................14-37
Wait and Weight Method ..........................................................................14-39
SPECIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CLASSIC PRESSURE CONTROL .............14-41
Determination Of Circulating Pressure At Kill Rate ..................................14-41
Determination of Shut-In Drill Pipe Pressures ..........................................14-42
Determination Of The Type of Fluid Entering The Wellbore.....................14-43
Determination Of The Annulus Pressure Profile, Gas Volume At Surface, And
Time Sequence ........................................................................................14-44
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN PRESSURE CONTROL ............................................14-54
Bubble Rise ..............................................................................................14-54
Constant Casing Pressure - Constant Drill Pipe Pressure, Alteration of the
Wait and Weight Method ..........................................................................14-54
Safety Factors ..........................................................................................14-55
Unable to Bring the Bubble to the Surface Using Classical Procedures
Without Losing Circulation........................................................................14-56
The Low Choke Pressure Method ............................................................14-57
Bullhead the Bubble Back Into the Formation ..........................................14-57
Well Kicks While Tripping .........................................................................14-57
Let The Bubble Rise .................................................................................14-60
Significance of Surface Pressures............................................................14-61
Simultaneous Well Kick and Lost Circulation ...........................................14-63
NOMENCLATURE ..............................................................................................14-63
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................14-66

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