Formulas and Calculations

Figure 5-3 Eaton’s Fracture gradient chart

10. Directional Drilling Calculations

Directional Survey Calculations

The following are the two most commonly used methods to calculate directional surveys:

1. Angle Averaging Method

North = MD x sin.(I1 + I2) x cos.(Al + A2)

2 2
East = MD x sin.(I1 + I2) x sin.(Al + A2)
2 2
Vert. = MD x cos.(I1 + I2)
2

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2. Radius of Curvature Method

North = MD(cos. I1 — cos. I2)(sin. A2 — sin. Al)

(I2 — I1)(A2 — Al)

East = MD(cos. I1 — cos. I2)(cos. A2 — cos. Al)

(I2 — I1)(A2 — Al)

Vert. = MD(sin. I2 — sin. I1)

(I2 — I1)

where MD = course length between surveys in measured depth, ft

I1, I2 = inclination (angle) at upper and lower surveys, degrees
A1, A2 = direction at upper and lower surveys

Example: Use the Angle Averaging Method and the Radius of Curvature Method to
calculate the following surveys:

Survey 1 Survey 2

Depth, ft 7482 7782

Inclination, degrees 4 8
Azimuth, degrees 10 35

Angle Averaging Method:

North = 300 x sin. (4 + 8) x cos. (10+35)

2 2
North = 300 x sin (6) x cos. (22.5)
North = 300 x .104528 x .923879
North = 28.97 ft
East = 300 x sin.(4 + 8) x sin. (10+35)
2 2
East = 300 x sin. (6) x sin. (22.5)
East = 300 x .104528 x .38268
East = 12.0 ft

Vert. = 300 x cos. (4 + 8)

2
Vert. = 300 x cos. (6)
Vert. = 300 x .99452
Vert. = 298.35 ft

Radius of Curvature Method:

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North = 300(cos. 4 — cos. 8)(sin. 35 — sin. 10)

(8 — 4)(35 — 10)

North = 300 (.99756 — .990268)(.57357 — .173648)

4 x 25

North = 0.874629 ÷ 100

North = 0.008746 x 57.32
North = 28.56 ft

East = 300(cos. 4 — cos. 8)(cos. 10 — cos. 35)

(8 — 4)(35 — 10)
East = 300 (99756 — .99026)(.9848 — .81915)
4 x 25
East = 300 (0073) (.16565)
100
East = 0.36277
100
East = 0.0036277 x 57.32
East = 11.91 ft

Vert. = 300 (sin. 8 — sin. 4)

(8 — 4)

Vert. = 300 (0.13917 — 0.069756)

(8 — 4)
Vert. = 300 x .069414
4
Vert. = 300 x 0.069414
4
Vert. = 5.20605 x 57.3
Vert. = 298.3 ft

Deviation/Departure Calculation

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.

The following diagram illustrates how to determine the deviation/departure:

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DATA:

AB = distance from the surface location to the KOP

BC = distance from KOP to the true vertical depth
(TVD)
BD = distance from KOP to the bottom of the hole
(MD)
CD = Deviation/departure—departure of the
wellbore from the vertical
AC = true vertical depth
AD = Measured depth

Figure 5-4. Deviation/Departure

To calculate the deviation/departure (CD), ft: CD, ft = sin I x BD

Example: Kick off point (KOP) is a distance 2000 ft from the surface.
MD is 8000 ft. Hole angle (inclination) is 20 degrees.
Therefore the distance from KOP to MD = 6000 ft (BD):
CD, ft = sin 20 x 6000 ft
CD, ft = 0.342 x 6000 ft
CD = 2052 ft
From this calculation, the measured depth (MD) is 2052 ft away from vertical.

Dogleg Severity Calculation

Method 1

Dogleg severity (DLS) is usually given in degrees/100 ft. The following formula
provides dogleg severity in degrees/100 ft and is based on the Radius of Curvature Method:
DLS = {cos.—1 [(cos. I1 x cos. I2) + (sin. I1 x sin. 12) x cos. (A2 — Al)]} x (100 ÷ CL)

For metric calculation, substitute x (30 ÷ CL) i.e.

DLS = {cos.—1 [(cos. I1 x cos. I2) + (sin. I1 x sin. 12) x cos. (A2 — Al)]} x (30 ÷ CL)

where DLS = dogleg severity, degrees/l00 ft

CL = course length, distance between survey points, ft
I1, I2 = inclination (angle) at upper and lower surveys, ft
Al, A2 = direction at upper and lower surveys, degrees
^Azimuth = azimuth change between surveys, degrees

Example: Survey 1 Survey 2

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 Formulas and Calculations

Depth, ft 4231 4262

Inclination, degrees 13.5 14.7
Azimuth, degrees N 10 E N 19 E

DLS = {cos.—1 [(cos. 13.5 x cos. l4.7) + (sin. 13.5 x sin. 14.7 x cos. (19 — 10)]} x (100 ÷ 31)
DLS = {cos.—1 [(.9723699 x .9672677) + (.2334453 x .2537579 x .9876883)]} x (100 ÷ 31)
DLS = {cos.—1 [(.940542) + (.0585092)]} x (100 ÷ 31)
DLS = 2.4960847 x (100 ÷ 31)
DLS = 8.051886 degrees/100 ft

Method 2
This method of calculating dogleg severity is based on the tangential method:
DLS = 100 .
L [(sin. I1 x sin. I2)(sin. A1 x sin. A2 + cos. A1 x cos. A2) + cos. I1 x cos. I2]
where DLS = dogleg severity, degrees/ 100 ft
L = course length, ft
Il, 12 = inclination (angle) at upper and lower surveys, degrees
Al, A2 = direction at upper and lower surveys, degrees

Example: Survey 1 Survey 2

Depth 4231 4262

Inclination, degrees 13.5 14.7
Azimuth, degrees N 10 E N 19 E

DLS = 100 .
31[(sin.13.5 x sin.14.7)(sin.10 x sin.19) + (cos.10 x cos.1l9)+(cos.13.5 x cos.14.7)]
DLS = 100
30. 969

DLS = 3.229 degrees/100 ft

Available Weight on Bit in Directional Wells

A directionally drilled well requires that a correction be made in total drill collar
weight because only a portion of the total weight will be available to the bit:

P = W x Cos I
where P = partial weight available for bit Cos = cosine
I = degrees inclination (angle) W = total weight of collars

Example: W = 45,000 lb I = 25 degrees

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