Dr. Eng.

Labib Omar Hugari

INTERNAT. TRAINER & PETROLEUM EXPERT E-mail: [email protected]
Online Education Division (OED) Mobile: +967- 777-736-333
1
 November 3, 2024

1. Introduction to Directional Drilling.

2. Understand the reasons for drilling a directional well.
3. Historical Development of Directional Drilling
4. Definition of Directional Drilling.
5. Applications of Directional Drilling
6. Directional & Horizontal Wells Profiles (Well Geometry)
7. Types of Directional & Horizontal Wells.
8. Planning A Directional Well Path.
9. Deviation and departure calculations.
By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 2
 November 3, 2024

• In 1930, the first controlled directional well was drilled in

Huntington Beach, California, USA.

• The well was drilled from an onshore location into offshore

oil sands.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 3

 November 3, 2024

• In 1934, directional drilling was

used to kill a wild well near
Conroe, Texas, USA.

• As a result, directional drilling

became established as one way
to overcome wild well.

4
By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 4
 November 3, 2024

Is the science
and art of deviating a wellbore along a planned
course from a starting location (surface) to a
target location (subsurface), whose location is a
given lateral (horizontal) distance and direction
from the vertical.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 5

 November 3, 2024

▪ Directional wells are deviated from vertical

(straight).
▪ Directional wells are drilled with intentional
control to hit a pre-determined target:
➢ Inclination (angle).
➢ Azimuth (direction).

▪ Think 3D when drilling a directional wells.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 6

• (α)- The inclination angle is the angle
measured from vertical to the axis of z
accelerometer. α

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 7

• (ꞵ) - Azimuth is the direction angle
measured (0-359°) clockwise from North
to the position of the Z axis as seen in the
horizontal plane. 359o 0
o

150o
270o 90o

S 30o E (150o)
180o
• Quadrant - ‫الربع‬: The quadrant bearing of a well is the angle in the horizontal plane measured
from either a North or South reference direction towards the East or West, defining the direction
of the wellbore.
By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 8
 N 18o E
Azimuth angle (ꞵ) is the direction of
the wellbore at any point on horizontal
plane measured clockwise from a
North reference. 23o

S 23o E

N 55o W
55o

20o

S 20o W

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 9

 N
o
359o 0

W 270o 90o E

180o
S

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) November 3,

2024
10
The polar coordinate of a point (target) is the distance projected in a horizontal plane
from a fixed reference point and the angle of this line from a reference direction
(usually True North).

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 11

Wells are generally classified as:
1. Exploration Wells (wild cat well): ‫اآلبار االستكشافية‬
These wells probe the earth where no known hydrocarbon exist to determine
whether oil or gas are present in a subsurface rock formation.
2. Appraisal Wells: ‫اآلبار التقييمية‬
They are drilled to determine the extent of a field or the amount of area it
covers.
3. Development or Production Wells: ‫اآلبار التطويرية أو االنتاجية‬
They are drilled in an existing field to produce the obtainable hydrocarbons.
By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 12
The applications of Directional Drilling become covering a wide range of the
drilling applications.
Such as:
• Beneath cities (Populated areas)
• Sea or lake or river beds
• Plants
• Mountain
• Roads

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 13

Sidetracking was the original directional drilling technique used to get past
fish (obstructions). And obstructions in the path of the wellbore.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 14

Fault controlling is an application used to drill a directional well into faulted
subsurface formations without crossing the fault line. (it is parallel or
perpendicular to a fault plane).

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 15

Salt domes have been found to be natural traps of hydrocarbons accumulating
beneath the overhanging hard cap.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 16

 Onshore drilling takes place when a
reservoir is located below large bodies of
water that are within drilling reach of land.

The wellheads are located on land, and the

borehole is drilled directionally underneath
the water to reach the reservoir.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 17

• Relief wells are used to kill wells that are blowing by intercepting the
borehole.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 18

• Multilateral wells have several wellbores running laterally and originating
from one original hole.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 19

• Multiple exploration wells from a single wellbore use a single hole to drill
multiple new wells by deviating away from the original well at a certain
depth.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 20

• Offshore multi-well drilling is the most economical way to develop offshore
fields.
• Several directional wells are drilled in "clusters" on a multi-well offshore
platform.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 21

• Horizontal wells are used to intersect a producing
formation horizontally to better produce the
reservoir.

At an angle of up to 90o.
By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 22
• Extended reach wells are drilled to reach reservoirs that have a horizontal
displacement in excess of 16,400 ft (> 5,000 m) from the starting point.

Horizontal Displacement > 16,400 ft (> 5,000 m) from KOP.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 23

• Short radius wells, typically re-entries of old vertical wells, have curves with a 143 ft
(44m) radius or smaller that cannot be drilled with conventional motors.
LONG RADIUS MEDIUM RADIUS SHORT RADIUS

140-20 ft Radius

VD
1.5o – 4o/100 ft

VD
KOP
VD

KOP 700-300 ft Radius 300 - 750 ft

8o – 20o/100 ft Horizontal
Displacement
KOP

3000-1000 ft Radius
1500 -3000 ft
2o – 6o/100 ft
Horizontal Displacement
Target Deflection

2500 -5000 ft
Horizontal Displacement
By Dr. Eng. Labib Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 24
• It’s the planned well trajectory from the surface to the final
drilling depth by projecting the wellbore into two plotted
planes.

• The objective of any directional well profile is to provide the

safest and easiest path from the surface location to the target
location.

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 25

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 26
TYPES OF DIRECTIONAL WELL PROFILE

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) November 3,

2024
27
 Build & Hold Applications
Surface Location
A Type I well is drilled vertically from the surface to
kickoff point (KOP) at a relatively shallow depth.
VD

Vertical Section
• At KOP, the well is steadily and smoothly deflected
KOP = Start of Buildup until a maximum inclination angle and the desired
Buildup Rate (BUR) Section direction are achieved.
• The established inclination angle and the direction are
TVD

EOB -End of Build

maintained while drilling to the target depth.
Hold-angle or
Tangent Section
• Usually this type is employed when drilling shallow
wells or moderate depth.
Target = • Where intermediate CSG is not required.
End of Hold
• Single oil producing zones.
• Wells requiring large lateral displacement.
Horizontal Displacement
Target Deflection BUR = Build up Rate in deg/100 ft (deg/30m)
By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 28
 ‘J’ Type Applications
Surface Location
The Type II well is called an “J” curve. And this Type II well is a
continues build to target. And the kickoff point (KOP) is at a deeper
depth, and surface casing is set prior to deflecting the well.
The well is deflected at the KOP, and inclination is continually built
through the target interval. And it is not used very often.
VD

Vertical Section
• For deeper depth drilling.
• For fault drilling.
• For multiple sand zones.
TVD

KOP = Start of Buildup • For High inclinations angle.

• For salt dome drilling.
Build up Rate (BUR)
Section
• For low lateral displacement.
Disadvantages:
Target =
End of Build • Formations may be harder so initial deflections may be more difficult.
• Harder to achieve tool face orientation with downhole motor deflection
Horizontal assemblies - more reactive torque.
Displacement • Longer trip time for BHA changes.
Target Deflection
By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) November 3,
2024
29
 ‘S’ Type Applications
Surface Location
The Type III well is often called an “S” curve. It is
similar to the Type I because the well is deflected at a
Vertical Section
relatively shallow depth.
VD

• The angle and direction are maintained until a specified depth

KOP = Start of Buildup
and horizontal departure has been reached. Then, the angle is
Buildup Rate (BUR) Section steadily and smoothly dropped until the well is near vertical.
• Used where multiple pay zones are encountered.
TVD

End of Build = Start of Drop

• In Gas Trouble Formations.
Drop Section
• Salt Water Flows.
• Since most of the directional drilling is done in the more
shallow portions of the hole where trips are shorter and
Target = penetration rates are higher, the overall cost of the well is
End of Drop
reduced.
Horizontal Displacement • A disadvantage of the Type III is that it will generate more
Target Deflection torque and drag for the same horizontal departure.
By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) November 3,
2024
30
 ‘‘HORIZONTAL’’ Type Applications
Surface Location
• The type IV wells can be categorized as horizontal
or extended reach wells. Design of these wells can
vary significantly, but they will have high
inclinations and large horizontal departures.
Vertical Section
VD
TVD

• Used to isolate higher / lower -pressured

production zones or water sands without setting
KOP = Start of Buildup
and cementing a liner.
Build up Rate (BUR) Section

End of Build
Target
• Horizontal wells will have an inclination greater
than 80°.
Horizontal Displacement
Target Deflection

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) November 3,

2024
31
 Definition of A Well Planning
• Well planning is an organized process used to put
together data that will be used to design a successful Surface
Location
well. Direction
• A well plan is a very important stage prior to the Vertical Section

VD
start of the drilling operation, to ensure that all aspects
KOP = Start of Buildup
are designed to meet the specific objectives of that well.
Buildup Rate (BUR) Section
Components of a Well Plan i

TVD
End of Build = Start of Drop
▪ Surface Location ▪ End of Drop
Hold angle (Tangent Section)
▪ Target Location ▪ Azimuthal Direction (Quadrant) Inclination
▪ Kick Off Point (KOP) ▪ Well Inclination angle
Drop Section
▪ Buildup Rate ▪ Vertical Section (VD)
▪ End of Buildup ▪ True Vertical Depth (TVD)
Target =
▪ Hold Angle (Tangent Section ▪ Horizontal Displacement (HD) End of Drop
▪ Drop Angle Rate ▪ Measured Depth (MD) Horizontal Displacement

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) November 3,

2024
32
Deviation is defined as departure of the wellbore from the vertical, measured by the
horizontal distance from the rotary table to the target.
The amount of deviation is a function of the drift angle (inclination) and hole depth.
Diagram is illustrates how to determine the deviation/departure
Where:
0 Surface Location • AB= Distance from the surface location to the KOP
A • KOP= Kick Off Point
VD

• BC= Distance from KOP to the true vertical depth (TVD)

B KOP • BD= Distance from KOP to the bottom of the hole Measured Depth (MD)
Inclination
I • CD= Deviation/departure of the wellbore from the vertical (Horizontal
angle
Displacement-HD).
TVD

• I= Inclination Angle
• AC= True vertical depth (TVD)
• ABD= Measured depth (MD)
Target
To calculate the deviation/departure (CD), ft:
D
C
HD -Horizontal Displacement CD, (ft) = sin I x BD
By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) November 3,
2024
33
 November 3, 2024

Dr. ENg. Labib Omar Hugari

Directional Drilling Supervisor Engineer
By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 34
 November 3, 2024

By Dr. Eng. Labib Omar Hugari (Directional Drilling Expert) 35