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Systems of Drilling Operation

The document describes the five main systems involved in drilling operations: [1] the circulating system, which removes rock cuttings from the drill hole; [2] the rotating system, which achieves bit rotation; [3] the hoisting system, which raises and lowers drilling equipment; [4] the power system, which provides energy to the other systems; and [5] the well control system, which prevents uncontrolled fluid flow from the wellbore and detects kicks. Each system has specific components and functions that work together to create boreholes and shafts in the ground during drilling.

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276 views4 pages

Systems of Drilling Operation

The document describes the five main systems involved in drilling operations: [1] the circulating system, which removes rock cuttings from the drill hole; [2] the rotating system, which achieves bit rotation; [3] the hoisting system, which raises and lowers drilling equipment; [4] the power system, which provides energy to the other systems; and [5] the well control system, which prevents uncontrolled fluid flow from the wellbore and detects kicks. Each system has specific components and functions that work together to create boreholes and shafts in the ground during drilling.

Uploaded by

kurddoski28
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Systems of Drilling Operation

The drilling process is an operation which creates a hole (usually called


boreholes) and/or shafts in the ground. As well as the generally process consists
of many systems that turns on together, the systems refers to the complete
complex of equipment that is used to make a well. so Fundamentally, the
drilling process is consisted of several systems, including :

1. Circulating system. 2. Rotating system. 3. Hoisting system.


4. Power system. 5. Well control system.
Each system has their specific functions and will be explained below.
1. Circulating system : A major function of the fluid circulating system is to
remove the rock cuttings from the hole as drilling progresses.
The drilling mud travels: 1. From the steel tanks to the mud pump. 2. From
the pump through the high- pressure surface connection to the drill string.
3.Through the drill string to the bit. 4.Through the nozzle of the bit and up the
annular space between the drill string and hole to the surface.
5. Through the contaminant- removal equipment back to the suction tank
The principle components of the rig circulating system include:
1. Mud pumps. 2. Mud pits. 3. Mud-mixing equipment.
4. Contaminant- removal equipment.
(The drilling fluid that is being circulated is called mud)
The main functions of mud include:
1. Lifting –up the cuttings. 2. Covering the underground pressure.
3. Restraining the well bore.
4. Creating mud cake and preventing filtrate loss.
5. Lubricating drill bit and drill string.
6. Gathering down hole information.
7. Transferring hydraulic force to down hole motor.
The mud density can be altered by adding different amount of additive. The
mud density is very important to control the hydraulic pressure and prevent
blowout accident. During this experiment, the mud balance will be used to test
and determine the mud density followed by the FANN viscometer to determine
the gel strength, yield point and plastic viscosity.
2. Rotating system : The rotary system includes all of the equipment used to
achieve bit rotation. Besides, this system also helps when tightening and
loosening the pipe connection.
There are 2 types of rotary sources:
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1) Rotary table: The drill string is turned in clockwise direction as viewed
from above by the revolving or spinning section of the drill floor. The drill
string receives the rotary motion and power through the Kelly bushing and the
Kelly. Nowadays, almost all rigs have a rotary table. It will either act as the
primary or backup system for rotating the drill string. Power for driving the
rotary table usually is provided by an independent rotary drive. However, in
some cases, power is taken from the drawworks. A hydraulic transmission
between rotary table and the rotary drive is often used.
2) Top Drive: Top drive technology, which allows continuous rotation of the
drill string, has replaced the rotary table in certain operations. A few rigs are
being built today with top drive systems only, and lack of traditional Kelly
system. Top drive is a device that turns the drill string. It consists of one or
more motors (electric or hydraulic) connected with appropriate gearing to a
short section of pipe called a quill, that in turn may be screwed into a saver sub
or the drill string itself. The top drive is suspended from the hook, so the rotary
mechanism is free to travel up and down the derrick. This is radically different
from the more conventional rotary table and kelly method of turning the drill
string because it enables drilling to be done with three joint stands instead of
single joints of pipe. It also enables the driller to quickly engage the pumps or
the rotary while tripping pipe, which cannot be done easily with the kelly
system.
3. Hoisting System: The function of the hoisting system is to provide a mean
of lowering or raising drill strings, casing string and other subsurface equipment
into or out of the hole. The principle components of the hoisting system are:
1. The derrick and substructures. 2. The block and tackle. 3. The drawworks.
Drilling operations performed with the hoisting system are called:
1.Making a connection this process refers to the periodic process of adding a
new joint of drill pipe as the hole deepens.
2. Making trip this process refers to the process of removing the drill string
from the hole to change a portion of the downhole assembly and then lowering
the drill string back to the hole bottom. A trip is made usually to change a dull
bit.
4. Power System: Most rig power is consumed by the hoisting and fluid
circulating system. The other rig systems have much smaller power
requirements. The early drilling rigs were powered primarily by steam.
However, because of high fuel consumption and lack of portability of the large
boiler plants required, steam powered rigs have become impractical. Modern
rigs are powered by internal combustion

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diesel engines and generally sub classified as:
1. Diesel- electric type Diesel- electric rigs are those in which the main rig
engines are used to generate electricity. Electric power is transmitted easily to
the various rig systems, where the required work is accomplished through the
use of electric motors.
2. Direct drive type Direct- drive rigs accomplish power transmission from the
internal combustion engines using gears, chains, belts and clutches rather than
generators and motors. The initial cost id less compared to diesel electric type.
The development of hydraulic drives has improved greatly the performance of
this type of power system.

5. Well Control System : The well control system prevents the


uncontrolled flow of formation fluids from the wellbore. When the bit
penetrates a permeable formation that has a fluid pressure in excess of the
hydrostatic pressure exerted by the drilling fluid, formation fluid begins
displacing the drilling fluid from the well. The flow of formation fluids
into the well in the presence of drilling fluid is called a kick.
The well control system permits:
1. Detecting the kick. 2. Closing the well at surface.
3. Circulating the well under pressure to remove the formation fluids and
increase the mud density.
4. Moving the drill string under pressure.
5. Diverting flow away from rig personnel and equipment.
There are several causes of a kick, including:
1. Low density drilling fluid. 2. Abnormal reservoir pressure.
3.Swabbing. 4. Not keeping the hole full on trips.
5. Lost circulation.
Failure in well control system results in an uncontrolled flow of formation
fluids and is called a blowout. Blowout can cause loss of life, drilling
equipment, the well, oil and gas reserves and environment. Hence, the well
control system is one of the most important systems on the rig. Kick
detection during drilling operations usually is achieved by use of a pit
volume indicator or a flow indicator. Both devices can detect an increase
in the flow of mud returning from well over that which is being circulated
by the pumps. The flow of fluid from the well caused by a kick is stopped
by using special pack- off devices called blowout preventers (BOP’s).
Multiple BOP’s used in a series are referred to a collectively as a BOP
stack. The BOP must be capable of terminating flow from the well under
all drilling conditions. When the drill string is in the hole, movement of the
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pipe without releasing the well pressure should be allowed to occur. In
addition, the BOP stack should allow fluid circulation through the well
annulus under pressure. These objectives are usually accomplished by
using several ram preventers and one annular preventer.

References

Oil and Gas Field Development Techniques book

https://www.ektinteractive.com/drilling/drilling-well/

Oilwell Drilling Engineering, Principles and Practice, by H. Rabia.


Graham .

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