Introduction

The drill string assembly consists primarily of the Kelly, drill pipe, bottom hole assembly (BHA), and
drill bit. Th e drilling fluid and rotational power are transmitted from the surface to the bit through
the drill string. Th e drill pipe is attached with a square or hexagonal pipe called Kelly at the upper
end of the drill string.

The BHA may contain the following items such as:

i) drill collars,
ii) stabilizers
iii) jars
iv) reamers
v) shock subs
vi) bit sub

In addition, the drill string may include shock absorbers, junk baskets, drilling jars, reamers, and
other equipment. There are some special tools in the BHA or drill pipe, which may include
monitor-while-drilling (MWD) tools, and drill stem-testing tools. Finally, there exists drill bit at
the lower end of the drill string. Heavy walled large-diameter drill collars furnish bit load.

Kelly

It is a special section of pipe that is attached to the bottom of the swivel by threading it used for:

 Used to transmit rotation and weight to bit via drill pipe and drill collars
 Rotation and weight on bit are essential for breaking rock and making hole
 Manufactured from high grades of chrome molybdenum steel and heat treated
 Has either square or hexagonal shape
 Hexagonal is stronger than square
 Lengths are 40 ft (12.2 m) or 54 ft (16.5m)
 Manufactured in various sizes
 Kelly is connected to Kelly drive bushing
 Kelly drive bushing engages in master bushing
 Rotation of rotary table transmits to master bushing to the Kelly bushing to the Kelly
 Kelly accessories
 Kelly saver sub; small sub connected to the Kelly at the bottom to protect its
threads from excessive wear
 Kelly cock; a small sub installed on the top of the Kelly, or below the saver sub
protect equipment above Kelly from high pressure, can be used to shut in drill pipe
in case of kick

Drill pipe

Drill pipe is the major component of the drill string, which forms the upper part of the drill string. It
has a seamless pipe with threaded joints at either end known as tool joints. Each section of pipe is
called a joint with a box (female) and pin (male) located on the ends, These tool joints provide a
shoulder that suspends the drill pipe in the slips or elevators. Th e drill pipe is hollow and allows fluid
or transmitting wires to pass through it.

There are ¾ Five grades are available, D, E, X95, G105, S135 ¾ The grades are manufactured in
different sizes; 2 3/8, 2 7/8, 3 ½, 4, 4 ½, 5, 5 ½, 6 5/8 in ¾ Each grade specified by nominal weight,
internal diameter, collapse resistance, internal yield pressure and pipe body yield strength

Drill pipe, unlike other oilfield tubulars such as casing and tubing, is re-used and therefore often
worn when run. As a result the drill pipe is classified to account for the degree of wear. According to
API its calssified as:

(New:No wear)

(Premium:Uniform wear and a minimum wall thickness of 80% of new pipe)

(Class 2: Drill pipe with a minimum wall thickness of 65% with all the wear on one side)

(Class 3: Drill pipe with a minimum wall thickness of 55% with all the wear on one side).

Tool Joint
Tool joints are positioned at each end of a length of drill pipe, which are shown in Figure 7.5. It
provides the screw thread for connecting together the joints of drill pipe and the only seal is the
shoulder-to-shoulder connection between box and pin .

Tool Joints have to face additional problems such as:

i) when pipe is being tripped out the hole, the elevator supports the string weight underneath the
shoulder of the tool joint,

ii)frequent engagement of pins and boxes, if done harshly, can damage threads, and

iii) the threaded pin end of the pipe is often left exposed. Tool joint life can be substantially
extended if connections are greased properly (dope) and a steady torque applied. Rubber thread
protectors are also used

Heavy Wall Drill Pipe (HWDP)

The use of a heavy weight drill pipe (HWDP) in the drilling industry has become a widely accepted
practice. HWDP is used between standard drillpipe and drillcollars to provide a smooth transition
between the section moduli of the drillstring components. Its Manufactured in four sizes: 3 ½, 4, 4 ½,
5 in. and in length 0f 30.5 f . also, HWDP consists from 30 to 70 joints.it can be Used to provide
WOB in directional and horizontal wells.

HWDP provides three major benefits to the user :

i) it reduces drilling cost by virtually eliminating drill pipe failures in the transition zone.
ii) it signifi cantly increases performance and depth capabilities of small rigs in shallow
drilling areas through the case of handling and the replacement of some of the drill
collars,.
iii) it provides substantial savings in directional drilling costs by replacing the largest part of
the drill-collar string, reducing down hole drilling torque, and decreasing tendencies to
change direction.
iv) Th is pipe has less wall contact than drill collars and therefore reduces the chances of
differential pipe sticking
 Bottom hole Assembly (BHA)

The bottomhole assembly (BHA) is the component of the drill string located directly above the
drill bit and below the drill pipe. Th e primary component of the BHA is the drill collar. Therefore,
it has a significant effect on drill bit performance. Th e other components of BHA are stabilizers,
jars, reamers, crossovers, shocks, hole-openers, and various subs such as bit subs, shock subs.

In addition to these main components, the BHA typically consists of a down hole motor, rotary
steerable system (RSS), and measurement and logging while drilling tools (MWD and LWD
respectively, However, some classify the drill bit as a part of the BHA.

the functions of BHA are

i) to protect the drill pipe in the drill string from excessive bending and torsional loads.
ii) to control direction and inclination in directional holes.
iii) to drill more vertical and straighter holes.
iv) to reduce severities of doglegs, key seats, and ledges.
v) to assure that casing can be run into a hole.
vi) to reduce rough drilling (rig and drill string vibrations).
vii) as a tool in fishing, testing, and work over operations.

Drill Collars

Drill collars (DC) are heavy, stiff steel tubulars, which have a much larger outer diameter and
generally smaller inner diameter than a drill pipe. Also, are the predominant component of the
bottom hoe assembly (BHA).

Since the drill collars have such a large wall thickness, tool joints are not necessary and the
connection threads can be machined directly onto the body of the collar. Drill collars are available in
many sizes and shapes, such as round, square, triangular, and spiral grooved. The most common
types are round (slick) and spiral grooved. The drill collars are normally supplied in ranges two
lengths (30–32 ft .). Drill pipe and drill collar come in sections, or joints, about 30 feet long. There are
several types of drill collars that are explained below:

Some of the functions of the drill collars are as follows:

i) Provide weight for the bit ·

ii) Provide strength needed to run in compression ·
iii) Minimize bit stability problems from vibrations, wobbling, and jumping ·
iv) Minimize directional control problems by providing stiffness to the BHA.

Square Drill Collars: Square drill collars provide the ability to maximize the available weight on the
bit when drilling in challenging formations. Th e square design has a larger cross-sectional area than
round drill collars, which increases its stiff ness and rigidity to prevent deviation while drilling. square
drill collar achieves objectives which are:

i) it provides continuous centralization over their length

ii) it maximizes bending resistance (stiff ness)
iii) it minimizes axial vibrations.
These collars are usually 1/16 less than bit size and are run to provide maximum stabilization of the
BHA.

Spiral Drill Collars: Spiral drill collars decrease the risk of differential pressure sticking of the
BHA. In directional drilling, spiral drill collars are preferable. The spiral grooves machined in the
collar reduce the wall contact area by 40% for a reduction in weight of only 4%, thus reducing the
chances of differential sticking.

Non-Magnetic Drill Collar: Th is type of collar is also called a monel drill collars. Non-magnetic
drill collars are usually non-spiral. They are made of a special nonmagnetic steel alloy. The primary
purpose of non-magnetic drill collars is to reduce the interference of the magnetic fields associated
with those sections of the BHA, which are both above and below the magnetic compass contained in
the survey tool with the earth’s magnetic field. Four critical factors play an important role in
selecting non-magnetic collars. Th ese factors are:

 total length
 the location of the survey compass with the non-magnetic collars
 the type of material of which the collars are composed
 and the distinguishing hot spots

Medium and Large Round Collars: Th e purposes of large round collars are to provide stiff
ness next to the drill bit and to add weight to the BHA. Th e medium collars add weight to the BHA
and reduce ever-present flexure stresses between large collars and drill pipe or other tools of less
rigidity than the large collars. Both may be used for jarring weight

Short Drill Collars: Short drill collars (SDC’s) are also called pony collars. They are simply
shortened versions of a steel drill collar. Short drill collars may be manufactured, or a steel drill collar
may be cut to make two or more short collars. For a directional driller, the SDC and the short non-
magnetic drill collar have their widest application in the make-up of locked BHAs.

Short Non-Magnetic Drill Collars: It is a short version of the non-magnetic collars. Cutting a
full-length non-magnetic collar often makes them. Th e short non-magnetic collars may be used
between a mud motor and an MWD collar to counteract magnetic interference from below. It is
used in locked BHAs, particularly where the borehole’s inclination and direction give rise to high
magnetic interference. 

Stabilizers
A stabilizer consists of a length of pipe with blades on the external surface and located above the bit.
Th ese blades may be either straight or spiral and there are numerous designs of stabilizers. The
blades can either be fixed on to the body of the pipe or mounted on a rubber sleeve (sleeve
stabilizer), which allows the drill string to rotate within it. At which to allow the bit to rotate
perpendicular to the hole.
There are basically two type of stabilisers:
Rotating stabilisers
Non-rotating stabilisers
Rotating stabilizers include: integral blade stabilizer, sleeve stabilizer and welded blade stabilizer.
Which are machined from a solid piece of high strength steel alloy. The blades can be
either straight or spiral.
Non rotating stabilizers: comprise a rubber sleeve and a mandrel The sleeve is
designed to remain stationary while the mandrel and the drillstring are
rotating. This type is used to prevent reaming of the hole walls during drilling
operation and to protect the drillcollars from wall contact wear.

However, the functions of stabili.zers are:

i) to control hole deviation.

ii) to reduce buckling and bending stresses on the drill collars.
iii) to prevent wall thickening.
iv) to improve performance of the bit.
v) to allow higher WOB since the string remains concentric even in compression.
vi) to centralize drill collars in hole and increase stiff ness.
vii) increase ability of drill collars to drill smooth straight hole.
viii) to wipe wall of hole to ensure full gage.

Jars
Th is type of tool is used to generate upward or downward loads to free stuck pipes or release fish.
They being Placed above the neutral point (. There are three types of drilling jars based in its
operation:

i) hydraulic Jars : they are stimulated by a straight pull and give an upward blow.
ii) Mechanical Jars: they are present at surface to operate when a given compression load
is applied and given a downward blow.
iii) Oil jars: provide means for applying upward blows to release a stuck pipe.
Jars are needed when there are:

i) sloughing formations
ii) there are sensitive shales
iii) the mud system does not have good suspension properties
iv) there is expensive equipment in BHA.

Two phenomena have to be considered when jarring. These are the impact
force and the impulse of the jarring action. The impact force must be high
enough to break the binding force causing the pipe to stick. The impact
force must also act long enough to move the pipe- this is what is termed the
impulse. Both forces are influenced by the number of drill collars located
above the jar.
The jars should be run in tension wherever possible. This is mandatory for mechanical
jars. For hydraulic manufacturers state that they can be run in compression.

Roller Reamers
Roller reamers are also called drilling reamers. Th ey consist of stabilizer blades with rollers
embedded into surface of the blade. Th e rollers may be made from high grade carburized steel or
have tungsten carbide inserts (FIGURE. Th e reamer acts as a stabilizer and is especially useful in
maintaining gauge hole. It is used to drill a bigger hole. It is also used for any potential hole problems
such as doglegs, ledges, and key seats. A roller reamer is a very useful tool for drilling operation,
especially used for the function of stabilization in drilling of the abrasive formation .

Rotary reamers are provided with tungsten carbide rollers set vertically in the body of the reamer
Won be three or six reaming cutters

Various Subs
Th ere are various subs used at BHA for different purposes. Th e word “sub” refers to any short
length of pipe, collar, casing, etc., with a definite function for drilling operations. Th e following are
some of the subs used during drilling string design :

Crossovers: A crossover sub is used between the drill string and drill collars. Short joints of pipe to
connect two pipes of different sizes or thread types are called crossovers .

Shock Subs: : Shock subs are also called vibration dampeners (Figure 7.13). They are normally
located above the bit to reduce the stress due to bouncing when the bit passes through hard rock. In
its simplest form, a shock sub consists of three parts: a grooved female housing, a matching
splined male housing and a set of entrapped spring elements. When installed above the bit,
weight on bit tends to compress the springs and close the shock sub.

When installed above the bit, weight on bit tends to compress the springs and close the shock sub.
The pressure drop through the bit nozzles below the tool tends to counteract this by acting against
the internal cross section and pumping the tool open. In theory as the bit bounces and or the
assembly vibrates the shock sub strokes rapidly up or down around a median point.

i) The functions of shock subs are to

ii) reduce or eliminate vertical oscillations
iii) maintain uniform bit load
iv) increase bit life
v) increase ROP
vi) reduce drill collar failures.
Drilling Bit

Technically, the drill bit is not a component of the BHA. However, it does generate and send axial
and torsional loads to the BHA. It is located at the bottom end of the drill string and contacts the
subsurface layers, and drills through them A drilling bit is defined as the cutting or boring tool, which
is made up on the end of the drill string. Its basic function is to cut rock at the bottom of the hole.

Th e bit consists of a cutting element (cutters) and a fluid circulation element (nozzles). Th e drill bit
is rotated mechanically to crush and penetrate new formations. The broken and loosened rocks are
known as cuttings, which are removed from the wellbore by circulating drilling fluid down the drill
pipe and through nozzles in the drill bit. The bit drills through the rock by scraping, chipping, gouging
or grinding the rock at the bottom of the hole. Drilling fluid applies hydraulic power to improve
penetration rates.

The penetration rate of a bit is a function of several parameters including WOB, RPM, mud
properties and hydraulic efficiency. There are several bit sizes ranges from 3¾ inches to 26 inches in
diameters. Th e most commonly used sizes are 17½, 12¼, 77 ⁄8, and 6 ¼ inches