Available online at http://ijcpe.uobaghdad.edu.iq and www.iasj.

net
Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum
Engineering
Vol.19 No.3 (September 2018) 19 – 31
ISSN: 1997-4884

Torque and Drag Forces Problems in Highly Deviated Oil Well

Hasan Ali Neamah and Ayad A.Alhaleem A.Alrazzaq
University of Baghdad\College of Engineering\Petroleum Engineering Department

Abstract
Excessive torque and drag can be critical limitation during drilling highly deviated oil wells. Using the modeling is regarded as an
invaluable process to assist in well planning and to predict and prevent drilling problems. Identify which problems lead to excessive
torque and drag to prevent cost losses and equipment damage. Proper modeling data is highly important for knowing and prediction
hole problems may occur due to torque and drag and select the best method to avoid these problems related to well bore and drill
string. In this study, Torque and drag well plan program from landmark worldwide programming group (Halliburton Company) used
to identify hole problems.one deviated well in Zubair oil fields named, ZB-250 selected for analyses the effect of friction factor on
torque and effective `tension of the drill string along well depth, moreover the effect of well bore problems such as; mud losses,
accumulation of cutting bed in the well bore, stuck pipe, caving, sloughing, high torque and drag values on drill string components
and well trajectory. Wells data which include hole section size, mud properties, well profile survey, casing string depth, rig
specification, drill string components, drilling parameters like weight on bit, rotary speed and flow rate were used to compare
between planning and drilling stages for these wells and identify the reasons of difference between these stages. The results showed a
difference for the drilling phase and increasable in effective tension, torque, pick up and slack off drag, measured string weight, and
possibility to occur the buckling if compare with planning phase. Wellbore instability, high friction factor, high tortuosity, high flow
rate ,stuck pipe , excessive drag spot, partial to total losses, increase of drilling parameters, hard formations and bad hole cleaning,
all these factors yield to this difference between planning and actual phases. When drilling hole section 8.5", the main causes of
varying were drilling fluid losses, high value of friction factor, stuck pipe and friction forces when the maximum torque was (16 to
20 klb-ft) and pick up weight (20-40 klb)

Keywords: Torque, Drag, Stuck pipe, Well bore instability

Received on 03/01/2018, Accepted on 22/05/2018, Published on 30l09l2018

https://www.doi.org/10.31699/IJCPE.2018.3.3

1- Introduction While planning stage the models are used to optimize

the well trajectory design to minimize torque, drag and
Directional drilling represents a tool to reduce drilling contact forces between drill string and wellbore, during
operations costs of an oil field, due to two concerns; drilling phase it uses for monitoring of hole condition.
Improve formation production when drill high deviated Torque and drag models are especially useful in
wells; hence, it can produce from low permeability zones diagnosing hole cleaning problems, impending
better than vertical drilling, and the cost of rig operations differential sticking, and severe dogleg in addition to
and mobilization will be minimized because drilling more determine the possibility of reciprocating and movement
than well in the same land or platform. casing and drill string during operation, In post-analyses
There are worldwide achievements of highly deviated phase the models help to determine the root causes of hole
drilling wells instead of vertical wells due to some problems that previously were unexplained or attributed
challenge limitations. Facility of reciprocating and to other factors like mud density, mud chemical or shale
rotating drill string in directional wells and large well problems ‎[2]. There are a number of causes for excessive
bores area are two of the major concerns .In spite of torque and drag, like tight-spot condition, sloughing and
drilling high deviated wells have many benefits, but still swelling of shale, key seats, differential sticking, build-up
have limitations along drill deviated sections. The of cutting caused by poor hole cleaning and well bore
difficulties must be controlled by engineering activities. sliding friction. Conversely, in wells with good hole
For examples getting optimum drilling parameters conditions, the primary source of torque and drag is
become more difficult in deeper wells especially with sliding friction ‎[3]. In highly deviated wells, solutions of
complicated well profile. Two of these critical limitations torque and drag problems are essential to complete the
called torque and drag that occur due to roughness drilling and completion operations because of many
between well bore in the cased or open hole and drill limitations are imposed by drilling rig, well path, drill
string ‎[1].Torque and drag models have proven to be string component, and drilling parameters, the
useful in all three stages of highly deviated wells: engineering work have discovered methods to reduce
planning, drilling and post-analyses. torque and drag while drilling and tripping.

Corresponding Authors: Ayad A.Alhaleem A.Alrazzaq, Email: [email protected], Hasan Ali Neamah, Email: [email protected]
IJCPE is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
 H. A. Neamah and A. A. A.Alrazzaq / Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering19,3 (2018) 19-31

Physical limitations effect how far a well can reach, 1.4. Area of Case Study
especially in non-rotating operations such as slide drilling.
If the compressive forces in the drill string are too high, Directional drilling performed in Iraqi oil field about
pipe will buckle as a result from loss of weight transferred 2013 especially in Zubair oil field. It is one of the largest
to the bit. If the rotary torque is too high, torsional failure oil fields in the world which located in the southern part
will occur, or if the drag force is too high, the drilling of Iraq; it was discovered in 1949 and went on stream in
string will become stuck or fail. Therefore, it is essential 1951. Which located in 20 km southwest of Basra city,
for engineering to accurate account for the torque and the extension of Zubair oil field is from south-west
drag forces and attempt to reduce them in order to prevent Safwan passing near Zubair city to al-hammar mishrif
these scenarios from occurring ‎[4]. zone, the field is an anticline that runs roughly north-west
to south-southeast approximately 60 km long and 10-15
1.1. Problem Statement km wide. This field consists of four domes from southeast
into northeast as the following; Safwan, Rafidhyah
The torque and drag are generated in the well bore Shuaiba, and Al-Hammar. Safwan Dome extends to
during drilling. The miscalculated and misinterpreted of Kuwaiti territory but it is in communication with the other
these parameters values will lead to time and money domes of the Zubair Field through an aquifer.
losses, because the special and expensive equipment and The Zubair Field includes three production reservoirs
technology are involved in the drilling operations. The that have been appraised and produced; upper Cretaceous
torque and drag magnitudes are required to be calculated Mishrif Limestone, lower Cretaceous Upper Sandstone
for complete interval of the well bore as opposed to single (3rd Pay), and lower Cretaceous Lower Sandstone (4th
depth torque magnitude, therefore these parameters are Pay) ‎[5].
applying in the planned operations and updating the well
bore trajectory in the next wells objectives. 1.5. Review of Previous Work

1.2. The Objectives of Study Torque and drag modeling has been originally started
with Johancsick (1984) he assumed torque and drag to be
This analyses study has been performed to get the caused by sliding friction forces that result from contact
following objectives: of wellbore with the drill string, and define this friction
a. To be able to calculate and predict the frictional forces force to be a function of the normal contact force and the
affecting the drill string and wellbore problems (Torque and friction factor between contact surfaces based on
drag) by using well plan program from landmark Coulomb's friction model. He wrote the force balance for
programming group for this purpose in order to planned to an element of the pipe concerning that the normal
keep the torque and drag forces at a minimum and with
allowable limit and control this values while drilling highly
component of tensile force acting on the element
deviated wells. contributing to the normal force, this force is a different in
b. To calculate the tension, pick up, slack off, minimum weight case for a straight section like in hold section ‎[3].
on bit and compression limits to prevent the buckling
behavior belongs the drill string in order to get the The normal force is given by the following equation:
opportunity before choosing the drill string components that
consider these extra forces involved in the operations with √[( ) ( ) ] (1)
high torque and drag values in deviated sections.
c. To analyses the influence of well bore problem and high Where:
values of the torque and drag on planned and actual well : Net normal force acting on element, [ ]
trajectory in order to get the lesson learned to consider this
: Axial tension acting at lower end of element,
consideration in the next planned well profile, as a result the
well path must be design to reduce frictional forces and hole [ ]
problems like; stuck pipe, mud losses, tortuosity and well : Increase in inclination angle over length of element,
bore instability. [ ]
: Inclination angle at lower end of drill string
1.3. Significant and Contribution of Study element, [ ]
: Buoyed weight of drill string element, [ ]
a. To assist drilling oil field an engineer to make quick [ ]
calculations for the torque and drag analysis while
drilling directional and horizontal wells. The above equation is then used to derive the tension
b. To find the torque, drag, tension, compression, and increment tension which is used for drag calculations:
buckling calculation during the well path design
process that could prevent risks and problems before = (2)
they happen.
c. To get an idea for the drilling an engineer about torque : Increase in tension over length of element [ ]
and drag at any interval depth of the well bore section. : Buoyed weight of drill string element, [ ]
: Sliding friction coefficient between drill string and
well bore

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The plus and minus sign depends on pipe movement A crooked well profile shows higher torque and drag
direction whether tripping in or pulling out of hole. values. The buckling of the tubular should also be taken
And for the torsion increment which is used for torque as a major factor in order to have a sense of excessive
calculations: drag limit which may put the string in compression.
Aadnoy (2008) generalized the equations for different
(3) sections of the well bore and the status of the pipe either
moving up or down to be applied simpler ‎[10].
: Increase in torsion over length of element
[ ] Mirhaj et. al. (2010) has analyzed a field case study that
= Characteristic radius of drill string element [ ] back-calculated the friction factor during drilling from
field hook load and the result showed a friction factor of
Aston (1998) addressed techniques to minimize torque 0.05 for drilling interval while it was 0.2 for lowering
and drag in the wellbore by mechanical and chemical and hoisting in that well. In this field, study also is in
methods. Mechanical methods are like using special agreement with the angle and previous case study and a
equipment or tubular in the wellbore to reduce torque and friction coefficient of 0.01 is needed to give a good match
drag and chemicals methods are those which use of the field and models data. The model used in this study
lubricants ‎[6]. by well plan program is soft-string model, in other words
the drill string is assumed to be like a cable and forces due
Opeyemi et al. (1998) perform well planning and drill to bending moments have not been considered to affect
string design by using a torque and drag analysis with the normal forces and thus friction. This is fairly good
considering all constrains might be encountered while assumption as it may contribute small normal forces on
planning stage such as, surface location and target the overall force balance ‎[2].
coordinates, geometric specification, casing program,
geological obstacles. It also suggests that the torque and 2- Research Methodology
drag model which is used for planning and modeling
processes must be updated with the dynamics of the field Well Plan program can define as drilling operation,
operation by performing drilling, tripping and frictional completion activities, and production service operations
sensitivity analyses. This will ensure more precise and engineering programing. Its might be used at the office
clearer understanding of drill string and well bore engineering work and well site activity to provide a tool
interactions from surface to total depth ‎[7]. for solving problems between engineering functions and
oil field operations. It is based on a database and data
Rae et al.(2005) used torque and drag simulator to structure common to many of Landmark’s drilling
firstly plan a drilling well and then use it to calculate applications.
surface torque and hook load with the model has been This database is called the Engineer’s Drilling Data
used for planning after that comparing the values with Model (EDM) and supports the different levels of data
surface hook load and torque field data. If they match this that required using the drilling software. The significant
means that the well is drilling as it planned otherwise advantage while using the software because of improved
either a problem in the modeling or this is a warning sign integration between drilling software products,currently,
of a problem in the well bore ‎[8]. well Plan, compass, stress check, casing seat, well cat,
and casing wear software use the common data base and
Schamp et al. (2006) suggested some industrial methods data structure. The competitive environment companies
to reduced torque in the well bore while drilling. He are facing increasing numbers of technician difficulties
explained two sources of torque in the wellbore: the such as; Deep wells drilling, extended-drilling wells, thin-
frictional resistance between the drill string and casing or hole drilling, underbalanced drilling operations, and
open hole and the bit/stabilizer torque and proposed some environmentally effect of drilling zones ‎[11].
methods to mitigate the frictional resistance which The results from using well plan that offers more
containing enhancing drilling mud properties, using efficient analysis using only necessary inputs, saving
lubricants, adequate hole cleaning, promoting surface time, and minimizing analysis steps. Well Plan is
roughness and reducing side loads as much as possible by integrated with the other engineering data training (EDT)
reducing the number of unnecessary dogleg or using applications enabling you to install it on the same
rotary steerable system(RSS) which gives a smother well computer or server in multi-user environments, and share
path, applying a catenary well path if possible ‎[9]. data with other EDT software applications.
The Torque and Drag options represent one from well
Mason et al. (2007) pointed out different major effects plan application can be used to calculate and predict
that should be considered in the soft string model. One of effective tension weights, buckling limit, allowable pick
these factors is the drag force as a result of pipe up and slack off forces, minimum WOB can exerted
movement in opposite direction of the drilling fluid flow. without get buckling, over pull margin, drill string
Another effect is tortuosity. Although the planned well is analyses, and torque that can be phases while the
a smooth path, the crooked profile will be resulted in operating conditions[12]; Running in the hole, Pulling out
reality. For this reason the model has to take this factor of the hole, Rotating on bottom, Rotating off bottom
into account.

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while pulling out of the hole, Slide drilling without rotary 3- Rig information: The Rig tab is used to define
table rotation , and Back reaming after drilling. mechanical limits information, including rig hoisting
The Construction of well plan model which includes the capacity and rotary torque rating. Furthermore,
input data as follows: circulating system information including rated
working pressure for surface equipment, blow out
1- Datum information for a land well: as shown in Fig. 1 preventer (BOP), pressure rating, surface pressure
the datum information for well ZB-250. loss, mud Pit, and mud pumps specification, as shown
in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1. Datum information for well ZB-250 Fig. 3. Rig capacity for well ZB-250

2- Fluids editor type: data entry that is used to 4- Hole section editor: Hole section editor tab to input
define drilling fluid properties such as; mud based the riser, casings and liner, open hole sections, friction
type, rheology model, density, viscosity, and yield factors for cased and open hole sections, as shown in
point, as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4.

Fig. 2. Mud properties for well ZB-250 Fig. 4. Casing information for well ZB-250

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5- Operation editor:The Operations tab is used to define 6- Drill string components: The String tab accesses the
the operations that appear on various outputs with the String Editor that is used to define the drill string
parameters needed to generate that output. As shown component details such as, length, size, weight, make-
in Fig. 5, output normal analysis - select the analysis up torque, minimum yield strength , over pull margin,
type and enter the parameters to be used in the and depth of BHA, furthermore the length, size,
analysis. The options available are tripping in, tripping weight, grade , make-up torque, minimum yield
out, and rotating on Bottom, slide drilling, back strength, and depth of drill pipe, additionally; this
reaming, and rotating off bottom. details are defined on this panel, as shown in Fig. 6.
and the Table 1

Fig. 5. Operation parameters for ZB-250

Fig. 6. Drill string components for ZB-250

Table 1. Drill string components configuration for well ZB-250 ‎[13]

Field Name ENI_Zubair Borehole Name ZB-250(SAF-HOR) PILOT HOLE Hole Size (in) 8.500
Structure Name ZB-250(SAF-HOR)Well BHA Name Depth In (m) 3051.00
8.5in Rotary BHA With MWD -130214
Well Name ZB-250(SAF-HOR)Well Depth Out (m) 3216.00
Bot
OD Bot
Manu. Size Bot Type
(in) Max Gender Cum.
(in) Length Cum. Weight
Desc. OD Length
Top (m) (t)
ID (in) Top (m)
Size Top Type
(in) Gender
(in)
8 1/2 " PDC Smith International 5.750
1 8.500 0.25 0.25 0.0
Bit 2.250 4.500 Regular Pin
8.25NB 6.750 4.500 REG Box
2 8.250 1.52 1.77 0.3
Stabilizer 2.500 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
6.500 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
3 Float Sub 6.500 1.52 3.30 0.5
2.813 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
6.750 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
4 NMDC 6.750 9.14 12.44 2.0
2.250 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
TeleScope Schlumberger 6.750 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
5 6.890 7.53 19.97 2.9
675 NF 5.109 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
6.750 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
6 NMDC 6.750 9.14 29.11 4.4
2.250 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
6.750 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
7 8.5 Stabilizer 8.250 1.52 30.64 4.6
2.813 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF Box
6.500 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
8 6.5" Collar 6.500 9.14 39.78 6.0
2.810 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
Heavy Weight 5.000 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
9 Drill Pipe (2 6.500 19.70 59.48 7.4
3.000 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
joints)
Smith 6.500 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
10 Jar 6.500 6.86 66.34 8.5
2.810 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
Heavy Weight 5.000 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
11 Drill Pipe (13 6.500 130.00 196.34 18.2
3.000 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box
joints)
5" DP (302 5.000 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Pin
12 6.625 3020.00 3216.34 145.5
joints) 4.000 4.500 NC50 (4 1/2 IF) Box

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7- Well path: Vertical section, survey data imports and

tortuosity are defined on the Well path tab. It can be
entered well path data points directly, measured depth
values (MD), inclination (Inc), and azimuth (Az) must
be entered for each depth, as shown in Fig. 7.

Other common well path information is calculated

automatically, it can be viewed using the Well Path table,
as shown in the Table 2.

Fig. 7. Well path information for ZB-250

Table 2. Well path details for well ZB-250
MD Inc Azi TVD DLS AbsTort RelTort VSect North East Build Walk
(ft) (°) (°) (ft) (°/100ft) (°/100ft) (°/100ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (°/100ft) (°/100ft)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
98.4 0.08 172.73 98.4 0.08 0.08 0 -0.1 -0.1 0 0.08 0
196.9 0.07 194.7 196.9 0.03 0.06 0 -0.2 -0.2 0 -0.01 22.32
295.3 0.04 136.88 295.3 0.06 0.06 0 -0.3 -0.3 0 -0.03 -58.75
393.7 0.1 143.54 393.7 0.06 0.06 0 -0.4 -0.4 0.1 0.06 6.77
492.1 0.11 181.16 492.1 0.07 0.06 0 -0.5 -0.5 0.1 0.01 38.22
590.6 0.02 239.22 590.6 0.1 0.07 0 -0.6 -0.6 0.1 -0.09 58.99
689 0.12 103.58 689 0.14 0.08 0 -0.7 -0.7 00II.2 0.1 -137.81
787.4 0.19 80.77 787.4 0.09 0.08 0 -0.7 -0.7 0.5 0.07 -23.17
885.8 0.21 68.3 885.8 0.05 0.08 0 -0.6 -0.6 0.8 0.02 -12.67
984.3 0.28 64.19 984.2 0.07 0.08 0 -0.4 -0.4 1.2 0.07 -4.18
1,082.70 0.19 84.39 1,082.70 0.12 0.08 0 -0.3 -0.3 1.6 -0.09 20.52
1,181.10 0.14 77.85 1,181.10 0.05 0.08 0 -0.2 -0.2 1.8 -0.05 -6.64
1,279.50 0.19 78.3 1,279.50 0.05 0.08 0 -0.2 -0.2 2.1 0.05 0.46

8- Analyses setting ‎[11]: Analysis Settings tab can be These depths are used to generate output for four torque
used to configure the analysis parameters settings and drag plots like; effective tension and compression
pertaining to the outputs, only the analysis settings or with buckling limit, torque plot along well depth, drill
options required for the selected outputs are displayed string analyses (include minimum WOB, allowable pick
on this tab. If the parameters are not required for the up and slack off weight, and over pull margin), and well
displayed plot, the section will not be visible. The path with tortuosity.
settings are divided into many groups,

Common analysis options are not specific to one type of

analysis (torque and drag, Hydraulics), for example,
the Pump rate specified will be used for any torque and
drag or Hydraulics, other analyses options available are
torque and drag, it can be used torque and
drag parameters to specify analysis options outputs
currently have in the output area. Two of the common
setting are necessary especially in torque and drag
analyses setting, as shown in Fig. 8, operational pump rate
and run parameters.
These options allow specifying the depth of the bottom
of the string at numerous intervals along the wellbore for
the purpose of analysis.
Fig. 8. Analyses setting parameters for well ZB-250

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9- Output data: A listing of outputs for Torque and Drag In this chapter a discussion of the output plots such as;
analysis, use torque & drag tab to access plots and effective tension and compression with buckling limit,
tables for torque and drag analysis. These plots can torque value with different friction factor, the well path
show and calculate the possibility of drilling the well, inclination with tortuosity and drilling time curve, drill
in addition to indicate what the challenges while string analyses include minimum WOB to prevent
drilling the well will occur. Drill strings, casing buckling, allowable pick up and slack off weight, and
strings, and liners can be analyzed, as shown in Fig. 9 over pull margin for three wells that result from torque
that shows all torque and drag output plots available and drag model to be calculated and then performed study
can be determine by well plan program. and analyses the hole problem effect on these parameters
in planning and drilling phases.

3.1. Well ZB-250

The well ZB-250 is planned as a horizontal well, it is a

part of development plan in Zubair oil field, its objective
to develop and produce oil from upper cretaceous Zubair
sandstone reservoirs (3rd Pay). The spud date for this well
was performed on 10th November 2013, and the date
which complete the drilling activity and reached to total
depth (TD) was implemented on 18th February 2014 ‎[14].
The first hole section 23" was drilled with only one bit
Smith type and spud mud through the following
formations, dibdibba , lower Fars, ghar and 4m inside
Dammam Formation and the depth for this section was
509 m. The second hole section 17.5" was drilled to 1776
m through the following formation, dammam, rus, umm-
er-radhuma, tayarat, shiranish, hartha and 4m inside saadi
Formation. The third hole section 12 1/4" was drilled
Fig. 9. All torque and drag output available in well plan with one bit with Kcl/Polymer Mud through the following
software ‎[11] formations, Saadi, Tanuma, Khasib, Mishrif, Rumaila,
Ahmadi, Mauddud, Nahr Umr to depth 3060m ‎[14].
Appendix- A which gives the summary configuration The objective for this well is the drilling 8 1/2" hole
section with salt-polymer mud through nahr umr,
for the well plan entering data steps and the output which
used in this study, as called well plan flow chart. shuaiba, upper Shale formations and performed blind
drilling (without mud returns) vuggy limestone shuaiba
formation through potential loss zone of formation with
3- Results And Discussion directional bottom hole assembly (BHA),because in case
of total losses the exposure of the stuck pipe will
In order to analyses the results that resulted from well minimize when used directional BHA, and effectively
plan model and study the effect of the friction factor, well cure losses by pumping losses cure material (LCM)
path, drill string component on well bore problems, three through the bit. The hole section8 1/2" drilled from
wells data are examined, namely, ZB-250, This deviated 3060m to 3228m, while drilling this section observation
oil well were drilled in Zubair oil field with different hole of mud losses varied to (2 m3/ hr to total losses) and
problems during drilling operations such as; accumulation observed high torque value (15 klb-ft), furthermore high
of cutting bed, pipe sticking, mud losses, tortuosity and over pull (35 ton) while trying to pull out the drill string
well bore instability, then discuss the effect of these back to the casing shoe and pump losses cure
problems on drill string tension and compression, torque material(LCM) to cure the losses ‎[14].
and drag behavior, well path with tortuosity, and drill At depth 3110m observed drill string stuck, high torque,
string behavior. hard reaming, the total losses, and rotation stopped while
All the input data for well ZB-250 in this study, such try to pick up the string immediately to casing shoe to
as; well path survey, BHA details, hole sections, casing pumping LCM, then try to make drill string free by
string setting depth, drilling fluid properties, and drilling jarring and (25 ton over pull) and slack off 10 tons,
parameters for well planning stage were got from drilling combine with rotate at 50 rpm, string went up gradually
and geological program that prepared by the operator and get free at 3104 m. Finally, due to the total loss
company Zubair field operation division (zfod) and problem from 3108m to 3228m and tried to cure it with
service companies like Halliburton and Schlumberger. pumping LCM , different types of cement plugs and ran
Furthermore the wells data for drilling phase, were got Rotary Slick BHA, no success to cure losses zone,
from final well report that prepared by zubair field decided to set cement plug to temporary abandon for this
operation division (zfod) after complete drilling well, as shown in Fig. 10 well ZB-250 profile ‎[14].
operations for this well.

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The following Figures (10 to 22) show the following

output data (effective tension and torque value with
different friction factor, well path inclination with
tortuosity and drill string analyses include minimum
WOB to prevent buckling, allowable pick up and slack
off, over pull margin and drilling time curve) for planning
and drilling phases for well ZB-250.

Fig. 12. Effective tension with MD, well ZB-250, FF CH/OH

0.25/0.4,- planning

Fig. 10. well ZB-250 profile ‎[14]

Fig. 13. Effective tension with MD, well ZB-250, FF

CH/OH 0.3/0.35- drilling

The Figs.(11 to 13) show the effective tension and

compression in the drill string for the operations
conditions available in the well plan program (tripping in,
tripping out, rotating on bottom, slide drilling, back
reaming, and rotating off bottom) with measured depth
from surface to drill string depth.
Furthermore these figures indicating the loads required
to helically or sinusoidally buckle the drill string.
If an operation curve crosses a buckling load curve, the
string will begin to buckle in the buckling mode
corresponding to the buckling load line.
These plots show that the tripping out and back reaming
Fig. 11. Effective tension with MD, well ZB-250, FF conditions effective tension is greater than the other
CH/OH 0.25/0.3-planning operation conditions because of the direction of the drill
string movement for them against the gravity forces, as a

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result will get additional tension force added to drill

string weight if compare with tripping in condition for
same drill string components.

The effective tension increase when friction factor (FF)

increase and found the negative effect for this increasable
on slide drilling condition and buckling behavior
(sinusoidal and helical) from depth (7000 to 10000 ft) will
occur when used friction factor 0.4 for open hole, as
shown in Fig. 12 for planning phase, so it is not
recommended to use this value of the friction factor to
prevent drill string buckling.

The effective tension for drilling phase, as shown in Fig.

13 when FF 0.35 for open hole (back reaming operating
mode) is greater than the planning phase when FF 0.4
because of stuck pipe behavior, hard back reaming and
high over pull observed while try to pulling out the drill
string inside 9 5/8" casing shoe.

The compression of the drill string can be found in

previous figures as a negative values during tripping in, Fig. 15. Torque with MD, well ZB-250, FF CH/OH
rotating on bottom, and slide drilling due to axial load 0.25/0.4, planning
exerted on the drill string in these conditions, further more
can be noticed this axial load decreased when reached to
horizontal section in planning phase, as shown in Fig. 11
and Fig. 12 because of the drill string in the horizontal
section embedded on low side of the well bore, as a result
for this behavior the WOB will decrease and
compression will reduce.
In the drilling case not reached to horizontal section due
to abandon the well before complete the drilling, so
cannot found this behavior, as shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16. Torque with MD, well ZB-250 , FF CH/OH

0.3/0.35, drilling.

Figs. (14 to 16) show that the torque in the drill string
for the operation conditions corresponding to the
measured depth from the surface to the String depth (8.5"
hole section). From these figures can be noticed the
highest torque values in the surface and start decrease
gradually until reach to the minimum values as called
torque on bit, Furthermore can be found the torque for
drilling on bottom and back reaming conditions increase
when FF increased.
Fig. 14. Torque with MD, well ZB-250, FF CH/OH
Fig. 16 shows the torque for drilling on bottom and
0.25/0.3, planning
back reaming condition for drilling phase FF 0.35 (open
hole) are greater than the same conditions with higher
FF = 0.4 (open hole) as shown in Fig. 15, especially in the

02
 H. A. Neamah and A. A. A.Alrazzaq / Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering19,3 (2018) 19-31

deviated section after 9 5/8 casing shoe, because of high

torque , hard back reaming and high value of over pull
due to stuck pipe behavior ( no movement, no rotation),
high tortuosity and irregular well bore shape, and total
mud losses , all these factors caused hard stuck pipe that
lead to high torque in the deviated hole section 8.5".
Another two factors effect leaded to high value of
torque in the drilling phase as compare with planning
phase were built of cutting in the annulus and well bore
caving in the deviated section can be indicated that on the
shape of cutting on shale shaker as mentioned in the final
well report [14].

Fig. 19. Drill string analyses, FF CH/OH 0.3/0.35 –

drilling

Figs. (17 to 19) show the drill string behavior for

selected operating mode, it’s include load and stress data,
any failures due to stress (fatigue, over maximum yield
strength of drill string component), buckling (sinusoidal
or helical), and torque failure are indicated depend on data
entering to the model.

Fig. 17. Drill string analyses, FF CH/OH 0.25/0.3 – Minimum WOB while rotating must be not exceeded to
planning prevent buckling and its depth can be found in the
previous tables, furthermore allowable (safe) pick up and
slack off weight in case of high drag zone and over pull
margin within safe operating condition to prevent any
drill string failure corresponding to 90% from drill string
component minimum yield strength.

As shown in these figures when friction factor increased

the measured weight of the drill string will increased as a
result from increasable of contact force between drill
string and well bore especially in the slide drilling ,back
reaming, and tripping out conditions.

As shown in Fig. 18 the slide drilling mode can result

buckling behavior (sinusoidal and helical) with FF = 0.4
(open hole) for planning stage and this indicate more
certainly as mentioned before and shown in Fig. 12 for
effective tension curve which cross buckling limit curve.

Fig. 18. Drill string analyses, FF CH/OH 0.25/0.4 –

planning

02
 H. A. Neamah and A. A. A.Alrazzaq / Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering19,3 (2018) 19-31

Figs. (20 and 21) show the inclination angle at any

depth in the wellbore with tortuosity of the well path for
planning and drilling phases depending on well path input
data, it can be noticed the inclination angle for planning
stage was about 88 degree, but in the drilling phase
becomes 42 degree because of abandon the well due to
total losses problem and difficulty to cure it.as shown in
Fig. 21, for actual drilling days.
Furthermore, it can be showed more tortuosity and
deviation from planning survey due to well bore
instability and implement sidetrack operation at that time,
as a result stuck pipe problem, side track operation, and
try to cure mud losses, the extra days was needed for
these operation as shown in the Fig. 22, the difference
between planning and actual days.

4- Conclusions

1- The study of torque and drag by landmark

Fig. 20. Well path inclination with MD,ZB-250, planning programming group showed that the friction factor
had a highly effect on the friction forces of the drill
string and well path.
2- The results show the effect of the following
parameters: [1.tension and compression, 2. torque, 3.
drill string analyses include minimum WOB to avoid
buckling types, 4. allowable pick up and slack off
weight, 5. over pull margin] on the drill string
component that caused increase the frictional forces
[torque and drag] due to the hole problems.
3- The results show that the effect of well bore problem
on well trajectory target such as; [mud losses, stuck
pipe, well bore instability, shale problems, high torque
and drag spots, caused different well path in
comparison with planning well path. These problems
increased the tortuosity and non-productive time
(NPT). Moreover the results indicated the main causes
of differences for frictional forces in the planning and
actual drilling depend on friction factor and hazards
Fig. 21. Well path inclination with MD,ZB-250,drilling for hole drilling section 8.5", the main causes of
varying were drilling fluid losses, high value of
friction factor, stuck pipe and friction forces when the
maximum torque was (16 to 20 klb-ft) and pick up
weight (20-40 klb).

Acknowledgments

I wish to express my appreciation and Thanks to Mr.

Osama Alamede, member in the Petroleum Engineering
Department for his help, guidance, encouragement and
facilitation to provided well plan software from
landmark group.
I am truly grateful to Mr. Ahmed Moayed, Landmark
country manager for this help to get well plan software
from Landmark customer support (Halliburton company),
ideas, advice and assistance during the preparation of this
work.
Great thanks and appreciation to the trouble shouting
and technician in Landmark customer support, Ahmed
Saad for this help, advise to fix some technical problems
Fig. 22. Drilling time curve, ZB-250, drilling [14] in well plan software during this work.

02
 H. A. Neamah and A. A. A.Alrazzaq / Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering19,3 (2018) 19-31

May many thanks and appreciation to Mr. Jawad [5] Geoservices, A Schlumberger company "Final drilling
Kadhim, Zfod drilling supervisor for providing the data and geological report for well ZB-250", unpublished
and information required for accomplishment of this report, Zubair field operation division, November to
work. March 2014.
[6] Aston M.S., Hearn P.J., McGhee G., "Techniques for
Abbreviations Solving Torque and Drag Problems in Today's Drilling
Environment," 1998 SPE Annual Technical Conference
BHA: Bottom hole assymbly and Exhibition held in New Orleans, Louisiana,27-30
BOP: Blow out preventer September 1998, SPE 48939.
CH: Cased hole [7] Opeyemi, A. A. and Pham, S.V., "A Robust Torque and
EDM: Engineering data model Drag Analysis Approach for Well Planning and Drill
string Design", SPE/IADC 39321 presented at
EDT: Engineering data training
SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, March
KLB: Kilo bound
1998.
LCM: Losses cure material [8] Rae, G., Lesso., W.G., Sapijanskas, M., "Understanding
MD: Measured depth Torque and Drag: Best Practices and Lessons Learnt
NPT: Non- productive time from the Captain Field’s Extended Reach Wells",
OH: Open hole SPE/IADC 91854 presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling
RPM: Revolution per minute Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, February 2005.
WOB: Weight on bit [9] Schamp, J. H., Estes, B. L. and Keller, S. R., "Torque
Reduction Techniques in ERD Wells" SPE/IADC 98969
Nomenclature presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, Miami,
Florida, February 2006.
Ft Axial tension acting at lower end of element, [10] Mason,C. J. and Chen, D. C.,"Step Changes
[ ] Needed to Modernize Torque and Drag Software",
Increase in inclination angle over length of SPE/IADC 104609 presented at the 2007 SPE/IADC
element, [ ] Drilling Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands,February
Inclination angle at lower end of drill string 2007.
element, [ ] [11] Landmark software operates Technical Assistance
Buoyed weight of drill string element, [ ] Centers,http://css.lgc.com/InfoCenter/index?page=contac
∆Ft Increase in tension over length of element Ibf t&sectio n=contact, Halliburton 2016.
[N] [12] Mirhaj Seyed Ahmad, Kaarstad Eirik, Aadnoy
Buoyed weight of drill string element, Ibf [N] Bernt S., "Improvement of Torque-and-Drag Modeling in
Long-Reach Wells",Petroleum Engineering Department,
Sliding friction coefficient between drill string
University of Stavanger, September 2011
and well bore
[13] Zubair field operation division (ZFOD),
Increase in torsion over length of element Schlumberger, "Geological and Drilling Program ZB-
[ ] 250, unpublished, Issued: 21st December, 2013.
Characteristic radius of drill string [14] Zubair field operation division (ZFOD),
element [ ] Schlumberger, "Geological and Drilling Final well
report for ZB-250 (SAF-HOR), unpublished, February
References 2014.

[1] Burak Kağan Çağlayan "Torque and Drag Applications Appendix A

for Deviated and Horizontal wells :A case study", A
Thesis submitted to the graduate of natural and applied
science of Middle East Technical University, December
2014.
[2] Mirhaj S.A., Fazaelizadeh M., Kaarstad E., Aadnoy B.S.,
"New Aspects of Torque-and-Drag Modeling in
Extended-Reach Wells," 2010 SPE/135719 Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy,
19-22 September 2010.
[3] Johancsik, C.A., Friesen, D.B.,Dawson, R. "Torque and
Drag in Directional Wells – Prediction and
Measurement". Journal of Petroleum Technology, June
1984.
[4] McCormick J.E., Evans C.D., Le J., Chiu T., "The
Practice and Evolution of Torque and Drag Reduction:
Theory and Field Results, "International Petroleum
Technology Conference (IPTC 14863), Thailand, 7-9
February 2012.

22
 ‫‪H. A. Neamah and A. A. A.Alrazzaq / Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering19,3 (2018) 19-31‬‬

‫مشاكل قوى عزم الدوران والسحب في االبار النفطية شديدة الميالن‬

‫الخالصة‬
‫العزم والسحب الزائد من المحددات الحرجة اثناء حفر االبار شدٌدة المٌالن‪ .‬استخدام النموذج ٌعد عملٌة ذات‬
‫قٌمة للمساعدة فً تخطٌط البئر والتنبؤ لتجنب مشاكل الحفر‪ .‬عالوة على ذلك تشخٌص اي من مشاكل البئر‬
‫تؤدي الى العزم والسحب العالً لتجنب خسارة االموال وتضررالمعدات‪ .‬استخدام بٌانات النموذج المناسبة‬
‫مهمة جدا لمعرفة وتنبؤ مشاكل البئر التً تحدث نتٌجة العزم والسحب واختٌار الطرٌقة االفضل لتجنب هذه‬
‫المشاكل بالنسبة لمقطع البئر وخٌط الحفر‪.‬فً هذه الدراسة برنامج تخطٌط البئر الخاص بالعزم والسحب من‬
‫مجموعة الندمارك العالمٌة للبرمجٌات (شركة هالٌبرتون) استخدم لتشخٌص مشاكل البئر‪.‬بئر مائلة فً حقل‬
‫الزبٌر النفطً باسم‪ -‬زبٌر‪ 022 -‬اختٌرت لتحلٌل تأثٌر معامل االحتكاك على العزم والشد المؤثر لخٌط الحفر‬
‫خالل عمق البئر‪،‬عالوة على ذلك تأثٌر مشاكل مقطع البئر مثل فقدان سائل الحفر‪ ،‬تجمع قطع الفتات‬
‫الصخري فً مقطع البئر‪ ،‬استعصاء االنابٌب ‪ ،‬التكهف واالنسالخ لجدار البئر اضافة الى قٌم العزم الدورانً‬
‫والسحب العالٌٌن على مكونات خٌط الحفر ومسار البئر‪.‬‬
‫بٌانات البئرالتً تشمل حجم مقطع البئر‪ ,‬مواصفات طٌن الحفر‪,‬مسح مقطع البئر‪,‬عمق انابٌب‬
‫البطانة‪,‬مواصفات جهاز الحفر‪,‬مكونات خٌط الحفر‪,‬معامالت الحفر مثل الوزن على البرٌمة ‪,‬سرعة الدوران و‬
‫معدل التدفق استخدمت للمقارنة بٌن حالتً التخطٌط والحفر الفعلً لهذه االبار وتحدٌد اسباب االختالف بٌن‬
‫المرحلتٌن‪.‬‬
‫اظهرت النتائج اختالفا فً مرحلة الحفر اي زٌادة فً الشد الفعلً وكذلك فً العزم الدورانً والسحب لالعلى‬
‫واالسفل ووزن عمود الحفر المقاس واحتمالٌة حدوث التواء لخٌط الحفر اذا ماقورنت مع مرحلة التخطٌط‪.‬‬
‫عدم استقرارٌة مقطع البئر‪,‬معامل االحتكاك العالً‪,‬التعرج العالً للبئر‪,‬معدل التدفق العالً‪,‬استعصاء‬
‫االنابٌب‪,‬مناطق السحب الزائد‪,‬الفقدان الجزئً والكلً‪,‬الزٌادة فً متغٌرات الحفر‪,‬الطبقات الصلبة والتنظٌف‬
‫غٌر الجٌد للبئر‪.‬كل هذه الغوامل تؤدي الى هذا الفرق بٌن المخطط له والحالة الحقٌقٌة‪.‬‬
‫عند حفر مقطع البئر ‪ 2.2‬انج كانت االسباب الرئٌسٌة لهذا االختالف هو فقدان سائل الحفر‪,‬معامل االحتكاك‬
‫العالً‪,‬استعصاء االنابٌب وقوى االحتكاك حٌث ان اعلى عزم دورانً هو بٌن (‪ )02-22‬كٌلو باوند – قدم‬
‫ووزن السحب لالعلى بٌن (‪ )22 – 02‬كٌلو باوند‪.‬‬

‫‪22‬‬