Rotary BHA Design

Rotary BHA Design

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
o Understand how BHA rotary tendency is affected by stabilizer size
and spacing, BHA flexibility, drilling parameters and hole washout
o Design typical rotary BHA to build, hold or drop
o Calculate position of neutral point in drill string
o Generate BHA tendency and SAG reports in Drilling Office
Slick Assembly – Pendulum
If WOB = 0, only pendulum force applies
(-ve side force)
The max. pendulum force at bit is given
by:
H = (Wc x L x BF x sin(inc) ÷ 2

where:
L = Tangency length
BF = Buoyancy Factor
Wc = Weight of collar in air (lbs/ft)
Inc = Inclination

If WOB is applied a Positive bending force is

introduced. Tangency Point moves closer to
the bit And pendulum effect decreases
 The Principles
When we consider the side force, we are only able to use the unsupported
weight that lies between the tangent and the bit. Because the weight is
supported at each end, only half of the weight is available at the bit as
side-force. Bar of mass M

Weight of 1/2 M Weight of 1/2 M

Slick Assembly – Pendulum
If WOB = 0, only pendulum force applies
(-ve side force)
The max. pendulum force at bit is given
by:
H = (Wc x L x BF x sin(inc) ÷ 2

where:
L = Tangency length
BF = Buoyancy Factor
Wc = Weight of collar in air (lbs/ft)
Inc = Inclination

If WOB is applied a Positive bending force is

introduced. Tangency Point moves closer to
the bit And pendulum effect decreases
Positive Side Force
Weight on Bit
With WOB we can induce Bit Tilt
by moving the tangent closer to
the bit and thus generate a Build
Force (positive side force).

If the Build Force is great enough

it will become greater than the
pendulum force and an increase in
hole angle will result.
Two stabilizers
With Two stabilizers, by
controlling their relative position
to the bit we may induce build or
drop tendencies.

The spacing in this example is

twice that of the Tangent point
from the first stabilizer, so there is
no effect from the second
stabilizer.
 Regular Drill Pipe

Principles of Rotary BHA Packed Hole Heavy Weight Drill Pipe(s)

BHA

Slick BHA

Drillpipe
Smaller Drill Collars

Full Gauge Stabilizer

Drill Collar

Full Gauge Stabilizer

Drill Collar

Collars Full Gauge Stabilizer

Drill Collar

Near Bit Fill Gauge Stabilizer

Bit
Bit
Stabilization
Stabilizer Placement and resultant side forces
Stiffness – BHA as a Hollow
Cylinder
Stiffness Coefficient = E x I
where:
E = Young’s Modulus (lb/in2 )
I = Moment of Inertia (in4 )

Moment of Inertia
I = π (OD4 - ID4 ) ÷ 64
OD = outside diameter
ID = inside diameter
Drill Collar Stiffness
Stiffness Coefficient = Moment of Inertia X Young’s Modulus of Elasticity
For a 8 1/4” x 2 13/16” DC
I =  ( O D 4 - I D 4) / 6 4 , E = 3 0 x 1 0 6

For a 8 1/4” x 2 13/16” DC

S C =  ( O D 4 - I D 4) / 6 4 x 3 0 x 1 0 6
=  ( 8 . 2 5 4 - 2 . 8 1 2 5 4) / 6 4 x 3 0 x 1 0 6 = 6 . 7 3 x 1 0 9

For a 7” x 2 13/16” DC
S C =  ( O D 4 - I D 4) / 6 4 x 3 0 x 1 0 6
=  ( 7 4 - 2 . 8 1 2 5 4) / 6 4 x 3 0 x 1 0 6 = 3 . 4 4 x 1 0 9

For a change in O.D. of 1 1/4”(12.5%) the stiffness has almost halved (42%).
Drill Collar Stiffness

Collar O.D Moment of Intertia Weight/ft

4.75 25 45
6.50 85 100
8.00 200 160
9.50 400 235

ID
OD
 Effect of Flexibility On Side Force
o Tangency occurs between
9-1/2”
Collars 8”
the stabilizers.
Collars 7”
Collars
6”
o Various bits and collar
90’

Collars sizes with 30 Klbs WOB

8-1/2”
o Smaller hole size
14-3/4” 12-1/4” 9-7/8”
Bit Bit Bit Bit
• more flexible collars
S.F.=814 lb S.F.=1521 lb S.F.=2587 lb S.F.=3343 lb
• bigger side force
 Effect of Weight On Bit On Side Force
o Increase WOB
o Induce Tangency Point
70’

o Increase Side Force

S.F.=855 lb S.F.=962 lb S.F.=1,002 lb

20,000 lb WOB 30,000 lb WOB 40,000 lb WOB
Effect of Inclination
Inclination versus side-force for
3 two stabilizer BHA's

Bit Side Force, lb

Hole Inclination
Effects of Stabilizer Gauge
o Full Gauge Vs Under Gauge for
Near Bit Stabiliser
o Full Gauge vs Under Gauge for
second Stabiliser
Under gauge Near-bit Stabilizer
o Results in changes of bit side
force
o Build BHA will have less build
o Lock-up BHA will drop
o More under gauge = greater
effect
Under gauge Second Stabilizer
o Becomes easier to get a
tangency point below it.
o More under gauge = greater
effect
o Hold assembly = try to get zero
net side force
BHA's for building Inclination
90’ 30’
Highest building 9.
Response 90’
8.

7.
50’ – 75’ 30’
6.
50’ – 75’
5.
30’ – 50’ 30’
4.
30’ 30’
3.
30’
2.
Full Gauge Stabilizer
30’ 30’
Under Gauge 1.
Stabilizer
BHA's for Holding Inclination
15’- 20’ 30’ 30’
7.
15’- 20’ 30’ 30’
6.
12’- 15’ 30’ 30’ 30’
5.
12’- 15’ 30’ 30’
4.
12’- 15’ 30’
3.
5’-12’ 30’ 30’
2.
30’ 30’ 30’
1.

Full Gauge Stabilizer Under Gauge

Stabilizer
Typical Hold up BHA for 12-1/4 in. Hole
12'-15' 30’ 8" HWDP
12 1/14"
8" SDC 8" NMDC 8"
12 1/4” 12 1/8” 12 1/4”
FG Stab UG Stab FG Stab

Full Gauge Stabilizer Under Gauge Stabilizer

The response of this type of BHA is determined by:

o Hole size

o Distance between near-bit and lower string stabilizers

o Stiffness of the collar directly above the near bit

o Gauge of the stabilizers

o Drilling parameters
Effects of Hole Gauge
o How does hole gauge effect:
o a building BHA
o a dropping BHA
Hole Washout

• Dealing with soft formations

• Loss of bit side force

• May be necessary to drop flow

rate

• May be necessary to run a

more flexible collar between NB
and String Stabilizer

• May need to pick up motor

 BHA's for Dropping Inclination
75'-90' 30’
7.
Maximum 75'-90'
Dropping BHA 6.
60'-75' 30’
5.
60'-75'
4.
30'-60' 30’
3.
30'-60'
2.
30'-75' 30’
1.
Special
dropping BHA
Full Gauge Under Gauge
Stabilizer Stabilizer
Semi-drop BHA

15' 30' 8" D.C HWDP

12 1/14"
8" SDC 8" NMDC 8"
UG Stab FG Stab FG Stab
12 1/16" 12 1/14" 12 1/14"

Full Gauge Under Gauge

Stabilizer Stabilizer
o is a lock-up BHA incorporating an under gauge near-bit to limit drop
tendency.
Stabilization
o Stabilized BHA can be designed to build, hold or
drop inclination

Critical elements:
• Stabilizer gauge
• Stabilizer position
• Drill collar OD/weight/moment of inertia
• Hole inclination
• WOB, RPM, flow rates
• Hole gauge
• Bit Type

o Prediction issues (formation effects, bit walk, hole

washout.…)
Neutral Point (Vertical Hole)
WOB = (Buoyed BHA Weight below NP)

Lnp - Distance from bit to oNP is the point where the

neutral point, ft. drill string transitions from
WOB = Weight on bit, Drill Pipe tension to compression
lbs.
BF = Buoyancy factor oWOB comes from (along
= 1-(mw/65.5)
hole) component of buoyed
mw=mud density (ppg) N Neutral Point weight of BHA below NP
W = Unit weight of
DC, lbs/ft.
WOB Drill Collars
Lnp
WOB
Lnp=
W x BF

Bit
Neutral Point (Inclined Hole)
WOB = Buoyed BHA weight below NP x COS Inclination

Lnp = Distance from bit to oNP is the point where the

neutral point, ft drill string transitions from
WOB = Weight On Bit Drill Pipe tension to compression
BF = Buoyancy Factor oWOB comes from (along
= 1-(mw/65.5) Inclination hole) component of buoyed
MW = Mud density (ppg) weight of BHA below NP
Drill
W = Unit weight of DC, Ibs/ft Collars θ

WOB
Lnp=
W x BF x Cosθ Buoyed Weight Bit
below NP
 Neutral Point (BHA Design Consideration)
o BHA designer must compute location of NP for max expected WOB (which will depend on
bit selected, formation to be drilled and selection of DC’s and HWDP’s)
o It is always preferred to keep drill pipe in tension i.e. keep NP within BHA (HWDP or DC)
to avoid buckling. (Easily achieved at low Inc by use of heavy drill collars to
concentrate weight near bit)
o In highly deviated wells this is not practical as NP may be very far from bit and
large quantities of HWDP will be required which will contribute more to frictional
drag than to WOB.
o Fortunately the compressive load required to initiate buckling increases with
inclination so at high Inc. It is acceptable to run DP in compression
(i.e.. NP within DP) provided simulation is done at max design WOB to ensure critical
buckling loads and stresses are not exceeded.
Neutral Point (NP) - Example
Hole Size: 12 ¼ “
Well Inclination: 45°
Mud Density: 11 ppg
Required WOB : 40,000 lbs

Use a design factor of 10%

How many DC’s (8 ¼ ”, 160 lbs/ft) will this BHA require if we wish to
keep DP in tension?
If the number of DC’s is limited to 6, how many HWDP should be
added to the string? (HW= 5”, 49.7 lbs/ft)
Special BHA's

1. Tandem Stabilizer

2. Roller Reamers
3. Variable Gauge Stabilizer
4. Jetting BHA
Tandem Stabilizers
o String Stabilizer run directly above near-bit
o Normally for directional purposes
o May result in high rotary torque
o Longer gauge NB Stabilizer may be an alternative
Stabilizers
Roller Reamers
o Used where there is excessive rotary
torque
– replaces some or all of the stabilizers
o Behave differently to stabilizers with
respect
to directional response – if used as a
Near Bit
– tendency is to drop angle
o Increase spacing between NB and first
string to try
and counteract the drop
o Important to check roller condition after
each run
Adjustable Gauge Stabilizer
o Various makes & sizes available – D&M,
Andergauge, Sperry AGS, TRACS
o First Rotary Steerable tool – 2D only
o Minimum two position stabilizer
o In most cases can be run as a Near Bit or
String Stabilizer
Jetting BHA

Definition
is an easy and cost-effective way of kick off a well, in very soft formation
Questions