Drilling oil and gas

wells
By
Dr: Taher El-fakharany
 Introduction
Oil well drilling is one of the most important
branches of petroleum industry. Drilling is widely
used in exploration for oil and natural gas in the
early stage of a search for oil.
Drilling a well is the only method to find oil or gas
and to prove profitability of the deposit discovered.

After discovering oil or gas it is necessary to extract

them from the deep underground to make them
available for further processing and consumption.

2
*

*Petroleum is found in well defined

geologic structures occupying the crests of
anticlines, domes or other structurally high
portions of the reservoir rock.

*The field present in the reservoir rock exist

under pressure and temperature which vary
according to the depth and the location of
the reservoir rock.

3
 *Formation
Structures
4
*Pressure relations in the earth and the bore
holes:
It is seen in Darcy’s equations that the fluid
movement from a reservoir rock to a well bore
can take place only if a pressure differential can
be established between the reservoir and the well.

This requires that the fluids in the rock be

confined under an elevated pressure.

5
*The measurement of subsurface ( bottom
hole, reservoir rock , etc.) pressures and
utilization of pressure data are important
phases of petroleum engineering.

* In the process of drilling oil and gas

wells, three kinds of pressure are of the
particular interest for an operator.

6
i) Hydrostatic pressure
ii) Overburden pressure
iii) Formation ( Rock, Reservoir)
pressure.

7
 *Hydrostatic pressure
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted
at any point, caused by the weight of the
liquid.

In a particular case of oil well drilling,

hydrostatic pressure exerted by the weight of
the drilling fluid at any point of the hole
drilled.
8
 *Hydrostatic pressure equation
In general,hydrostatic pressure can be expressed
by the following relationship:

Hydrostatic pressure
Or Ph = =
Where Ph, hydrostatic pressure , kg /
In metric system:
or height of fluid column, m
- density of fluid, gm/ or ton /

9
*In metric system units:
the formula for hydrostatic pressure of any fluid will
be:

*Ph = or 0.1 * kg /
* In English System:
*Ph. =
Where : Ph = hydrostatic pressure , psi.
h= height of fluid column,ft
- density of fluid,Ibs/
144= conversion factor, from Ibs / to Ibs /
10
*If the sp.gr of the fluid is used instead of density,
the correct equation will be: ( In English system).

Ph = 0.433* S* h
Where: S = sp.gr.( S for water = 1.0)
0.433 = conversion factor ( 62.4/ 144)

Sp.gr =

11
* Ex.1
What is the pressure at 10000 ft exerted by a column of
salt water having a Sp.gr. Of 1.06

*In many parts of the world , both drilling mud and

cement slurry densities are reported in terms of
Ibs/ .
For these units another conversion factor is required, and
the equation is:
* Ph = 0.052*
Where: = liquid density, Ibs / .
0.052 = conversion factor 12( 0.433/ 8.33)
* Ex.2
*Calculate the hydrostatic pressure exerted at a depth of
5000 ft. by drilling mud weighing 15 ppg.
It is usual to express hydrostatic pressure in
terms of pressure gradient ( i.e., pressure
corresponding to the increase of the fluid column
height by one meter or one ft).
Phg= = =
kg / /m or = Ibs / /ft

13
*The End of Lecture One

14
2- Overburden pressure
 

15
* Since weight = volume * density
The weights of sediments and fluids can be calculated as
follows:
Weight of fluids = h *A* f *Ø
Weight of sediments = h *A* s*(1 – Ø)
* Where:
Ø = porosity of sediments , fraction
h,= thickness ( depth) , feet
A = cross sectional area ,
f,= density of fluids, Ibs /
s,= density of sediments, Ibs /

16
Po =

Or

Po =
Where:
Po = overburden pressure . Psi.
144 = conversion factor ,from Ibs / to - Ibs /

17
*Because we drill many different formations having many
different types of fluids.

*The Sp.gr of many rocks encountered don’t vary greatly.

*For example ( sp.gr of clay and quartz = 2.7).

It can usually be safely assumed that the pore openings in the
rocks will be filled with salt water having a sp. gr. of 1.06.

18
 In English system
the general equation of Overburden pressure will be:
Po = 0.433* h ( )
the equation of Overburden pressure gradient becomes: = 0.433*
()
psi/ ft.

* Ex.3- Calculate the overburden pressure gradient in an

area where the average porosity is 0.10, the average
Sp.gr. Of the sediments is 2.6 and the average Sp.gr. Of
the formation fluids is 1.06.

19
 In metric system:
Po = 0.1 * h (
overburden pressure gradient :
Pog= =0.1 (
Because the density of formations varies, but not very much (2.6) and
formations may contain fluids of various densities but it can be safely
assumed that the pore openings in the rocks are filled with salt water
having a density of 1.06 gm/ , average porosity 0.10 so the average
overburden pressure will be:
Po = 0.10*h((1 - 0.10)*2.6+ 0.10* 1.06)= 0.2446 *h
It is shown that the Pog slightly differs from 0.25 kg / /m and
1 psi/ ft.
for this reason such values are usually assumed to be equal to
theoretical overburden pressure.
20
*Overburden pressure is very important for a drilling
operator because of the possibility to “lift” the entire
overburden accidentally , while a heavily weighted mud is
used , high hydrostatic pressure is exerted on the
formations, the overburden is “lifted” means fractures may
be created and circulation may be lost.

*The other reason why the value of overburden pressure

for every particular area should be known:
is that maximum pressure which can be held on the
blowout preventers is a function of the overburden pressure
and the setting depth of the surface casing or the casing
supporting the preventers.
21
*Or the setting depth of the surface casing is a
function of the overburden pressure and
formation pressures which may be encountered
while drilling through deeper zones.
*The values of the actual overburden pressure is
usually obtained in the process of formation
fracturing as the pressure required to fracture
the formation, i.e., “lift” the overburden.

22
*Studies of numerous formation fracturing
operations showed that:
actual overburden pressure gradients are
usually lower than the average theoretical
value.

Ex.4.
If the actual overburden pressure gradient is 0.7
psi/ ft. what is the maximum mud weight which
could be used in drilling a well.

23
 * 3- Formation pressure:
Formation pressure is the pressure of the fluid contained
in the pore spaces of formations.( it is also referred to as
reservoir pressure or rock pressure.

Usually formation pressure results from the weight of the

fluids filling pore spaces of the overlaying formations.

These formations may contain gas , oil and water ,but

practice shows that formation pressure usually
corresponds to the hydrostatic pressure of the column of a
slightly mineralized water extended.
24
Assuming the average salt water density
we can express the formation pressure with the following
formula:
Pf = 0.1* *h = 0.106*h
And the average formation pressure gradient is :
= 0.106 /m
Usually formation pressure gradient may be“ normal”formation
pressure gradient ranging from 0.100 to 0.110 /m ,
Sub normal formation pressure ( pressure gradients lower than
0.100 /m)
and abnormal formation pressure (pressure gradients greater than
0.1100 /m) may be encountered.

25
The Low formation pressure can be encountered in very shallow
depth .
Abnormal high formation pressure are usually encountered at depths
greater than 2400 m ,though sometimes such pressures may be found
at more shallow depths.
Abnormally high reservoir pressure appears because part of the
weight of the overlaying formations is supported by the fluid which
fills pores of the formations.

Such conditions may have happened because the pores of sediments

are compacted with fluids which could not flow away from it and
remained in the pores, supporting a part of the overburden pressure.

26
*The End of Lecture Two

27
*The Pressure relations encountered during drilling.

During  

28
* vggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
ggggggggggdbhdnn 

29
In practice the pressure balance condition can not secure
safe operations, because the pressure exerted on
formations may accidentally increase due to a fall down
of the level of drilling fluid in the process of trip out,
( surge pressure).
For this reason the following general equation can be
written
Hydrostatic pressure = safety allowance* reservoir
pressure
For depth less than 1200 m , S A ( from 1.10 to 1.15)
For deeper depth , ( from 1.05 to 1.10)

30
Hydrostatic pressure of drilling fluid should be planned,
taking into account the fracture pressure.
Fracture pressure is the pressure sufficient to ( lift) the
overburden and widen the fractures existing in formations or
to create new fractures.
If the hydrostatic pressure applied to the formation is higher
than the fracture pressure of this formation, the formation
can be fractured and may start taking the drilling fluid.
Fracture pressure gradient can be used for calculating the
maximum drilling fluid density which formations can
withstand without being fractured.

31
Fracture pressure ≥ Hydrostatic pressure of the
drilling fluid
Pfr ≥ 0.1 h ρ
For safe and trouble less during drilling operations
it is necessary to study actual fracture pressure .
Good knowledge of fracture pressure gradient for
all the formations (off set wells) will allow the
operators to make a good planning for casing
programs and avoid difficulties in the process of
drilling
32
 *Subsurface Temperatures
* It is accepted that the Earth has an extremely hot molten
core which serves as a source of heat for heating the
Earth’s crust. .
Heat flows from the Earth’s core to the surface through
various rocks which consequently are permanently
heated. the closer a rock is to the Earth’s core the more
heat it receives. .

High temperatures which may be encountered by

increase depths influence drilling operations.

33
*High temperature affects drilling fluid properties
adversely.
Chemicals used for treatment lose their stability and
efficiency.
High temperature influences greatly the thickening and
setting time and other properties of cement.
So that special types of cement and special additives are
necessary for high temperature wells.
High temperature may affect the material of drill pipes,
drill collars, casing and bits, because the metal
toughness and strength decrease with temperature.
34
*High temperature should be taken into
account while designing long casing
strings ,because casing extension due to
heating , and may cause a failure of the
casing string cemented in it’s lower portion
and fixed at the surface (low temp).

35
* The factors affecting formation
temperature:

1)Depth
2) Heat conductivity of rocks
3)surface temperature

36
*Different formations have different heat conductivity.
Hence, the relationship between rock temperature and
depth will be graphically represented by a broken line,
have different slopes.
As heat conductivity of the most common sedimentary
rocks varies within rather narrow range, it was accepted
that the broken “ rock temperature Vs. depth” line might
be replaced by a straight line.
The slope of this line will represent an average
geothermal gradient for the area considered.

37
*The effect of air temperature on rock temperature is limited
and cannot be considered at depths greater than 10- 30 m.

*Formation temperature may be expressed by:

Tf = To + K h
Where:
To --Surface or average air temperature , centigrade
K – geothermal gradient (( 1/100) m or 1.6/100 ft)
h – depth, meters

Tf = To + 0.01 h Cْ
38
*The End of Lecture Three

39
 Drilling fluids circulation
*During drilling operations, drilling fluid is circulated
through the bore hole.
Relatively, drilling fluid with low temperature is pumped
down into the drill string and upward to the surface,
through the annulus.
The drilling fluid is heated by formation temperature.
The fluid coming out from the well has a higher
temperature than the fluid pumped into the drill string.
When drilling fluid circulation is stopped, formation and
drilling fluid temperatures tend to return back to the
original rock temperature.
40
Mud circulation system

41
After discovering oil or gas it is necessary to extract
them from the bottom of the hole up to the surface to
make them available for processing and consumption.
general requirements of drilling methods:
 A means of fracturing or abrading the rock
formations
 A means of excavating the cuttings from the bottom
of the hole as drilling proceeds
 A means for preventing the walls of the well from
caving and for sealing off water or gas.

42
*Oil wells vary in diameter within wide limits.
It is usually necessary to decrease the diameter of a well
progressively as the depth increases , in order to provide
adequate clearance for the drilling tools and to permit the
entrance of casing to line and excluding water.
The initial diameter of the casing depending upon:
 The depth to be attained
 The number of reductions in diameter necessary
 The size with which it is considered desirable to finish
the well.

43
How a well bore is drilled
hole diameter and pipe diameter
Surface

Conductor/
stovepipe

Surface
casing

Intermediate
casing

Production
casing

Production
44 liner
The maximum depth to be penetrated depend upon:

 The character of the formations to be penetrated;

 The size and weight of the equipment used;
 The power available; and
 The skill of the driller.
The depth to which it is profitable to drill is the
determining factor in most drilling operations.

45
*The economic limit of depth varies with:
 The quality of the oil;
 The prevailing selling price;
 The productivity of the well;
 The cost of drilling, and other factors.

46
Rotary drilling:

In the rotary method, the formations is drilled by rotating all the drill
string, then the bit will be rotated. and by WOB the formation will be
fractured.

During drilling new interval or sections , new joints must be added as

drilling progresses.

The cuttings are lifted from the hole by the drilling fluid which is
continuously circulated down inside the drill string through nozzles of
the bit, and up word in the annular space between the drill pipe and the
bore hole.

47
*Making a connection:
The process of adding a new joint of pipe to the drill string
consists of the following steps:
 Bringing the single pipe from pipe rack and lowering it
in mouse hole,
 raising the kelly above the rotary table, setting slips
around the drill string and then breaking the kelly , kelly
bushing and swivel from the top most joint, and stacking
them in mouse hole.
 stabbing the added single joint into top joint of drill
pipe.
After the single joint is added it is ready to drill new
section. 48
 kelly

rotary table

mouse hole

49
 Slips:
A device used to grip the drillstring in a relatively nondamaging manner and
suspend it in the rotary table. This device consists of three or more steel
wedges that are hinged together, forming a near circle around the drillpipe.
On the drillpipe side (inside surface), the slips are fitted with replaceable,
hardened tool steel teeth that embed slightly into the side of the pipe. The
outsides of the slips are tapered to match the taper of the rotary table.
* Making a trip

51
52
*Sometimes the drill pipe must be removed from the
hole in order to replace the bit.
The pipe is pulled in stands of (2- 4) joints each,
mainly the stranded is 3 joints.
drill pipe ranges
• Range 1 # from 18 to 22 ft
• Range 2 # from 27 to 30 ft
• Range 3 # 38 , over.
• The standard length used 30 ft. then one stand =90 ft.

53
Drill pipe:
Drill pipe is a tubular steel conduit fitted with
special threaded ends called tool joints (short
cylinder peices attached in both ends). The
drillpipe connects the rig surface equipment
with the bottomhole assembly and the bit, both
to pump drilling fluid to the bit and to be able to
raise, lower and rotate the bottomhole assembly
and bit.
Drill Collar:
A component of a drillstring that provides weight on bit(WOB) for
drilling. Gravity acts on the large mass of the collars to provide the
downward force needed for the bits to efficiently break rock.

Drillpipe

Drill collar
*The End of Lecture Four

56
 *Drilling rig and its elements
* Drilling rig is a set of mechanisms and prime movers
designed for drilling wells. . .

Or Drilling rig is a machine used to drill a wellbore.

In onshore operations, the rig includes virtually
everything except living quarters. Major components
of the rig include the mud tanks, the mud pumps, the
derrick or mast, the drawworks, the rotary table or
topdrive, the drillstring, the power generation
equipment and auxiliary equipment.

57
 Rig types:

Drillship Semisubmersible Jackup Submersible Land rig

1. Crown Block and Water Table
2. Catline Boom and Hoist Line 1
3. Drilling Line
4. Monkeyboard
5. Traveling Block 2
6. Top Drive 4
7. Mast
8. Drill Pipe
9. Doghouse 5
10. Blowout Preventer 3
14
11. Water Tank
6 7 25 13
12. Electric Cable Tray
13. Engine Generator Sets 15
12
14. Fuel Tank 9 8 16
15. Electrical Control House 11
16. Mud Pumps
17
17. Bulk Mud Component Tanks
18. Mud Tanks (Pits) 18
23
19. Reserve Pit 10
20. Mud-Gas Separator
21. Shale Shakers 20 21
22. Choke Manifold
23. Pipe Ramp
22
24. Pipe Racks
25. Accumulator 24
19
• A conventional rig components :
a) Hoisting system: which consists of:
- derrick or mast
- draw works
- crown block
- travelling block
- wire rope ( drilling line)
- hook

60
 * Draw Works
(Winch used to pull drill line through crown sheaves and traveling block,
raising and lowering the drill string in the hole.)
*B) Rotary system:
Intended for transmitting the rotary motion to the
drill string to the lower end at which a drilling bit is
attached.
Rotary system consists of
i) rotary table
ii) swivel

62
 Components of the Kelly System:
The Slips.
The Rotary Table. It is a gripping
•The rotary table is the device used to hold
primary component in the up the drill string
rotating system. during connections
•It is used in both the Kelly process.
system and Top Drive
system.
•The rotary table is located
on the floor of the rig and it
is capable of producing a
strong rotating force called
"TORQUE".
•Additional equipment
transmits torque from the
rotary table to the bit.
Components of the Kelly System:

Swivel
•Hangs below the traveling block and
supports the drill stem system.
•The swivel does not rotate but it (allows)
the equipment below it to rotate.

Swivel Bail
•A curved steel rod on top of the swivel
that resembles the handle.
C) Drilling fluid circulating system: consists of”
1-) Slush or mud pumps ( to circulate drilling fluid)
2-) mud pits or tanks.
3-) Auxiliary pump
4-) mud hopper
5-) shale shaker
} for solids control
6-)Hydrocyclone

65
*Shale Shaker
•First piece of solids control
system, mud passes through
when it reaches surface
•Separates drill solids from mud
by screening
•Vibration of screen increases
the processing capacity
•Several shakers are often used
at once to process high flow
rates
Hydrocyclones - Desanders & Desilters
(Used to separate drill solids from low density muds)

* Hydrocyclones - Desanders &

Desilters
(Used to separate drill solids from low
density muds)
Centrifuges Separate Solids from High Density Drilling
Fluid by Centrifugal Force

* Centrifuges Separate Solids

from High Density Drilling Fluid
by Centrifugal Force
D) Prime movers and transmissions.
E) The drill string, consists of :
i) Kelly joint
ii) Drill pipes
iii) Drill collars

F) Bits
G) Miscellaneous and auxiliary equipment.

69
Components of the Kelly System:
Kelly Bushing and Master Bushing.
•The Kelly fit into a device called
"The Kelly bushing“.

•The "Kelly bushing" then fits into

"The Master bushing" which is
mounted on the rotary table.
* Running New Bit

A new bit has been “made up”

on the drill string and the rough
necks are preparing to run it in
the hole.
 Derricks, Masts and substructures
The function of a derrick is, to provide the
vertical clearance necessary for raising and
lowering of the drill string into and out of the
hole during drilling operations.

There are two type of derricks

a) standard
b) portable
72
Derrick:
The structure used to support the crown blocks and the drillstring of a drilling rig. Derricks
are usually pyramidal in shape, and offer a good strength-to-weight ratio. If the derrick
design does not allow it to be moved easily in one piece, special ironworkers must
assemble them piece by piece, and in some cases disassemble them if they are to be
moved (standard ).
Standard derricks:
cannot be raised to a working position as a unties ,
must be disassembled when it is transported and
then, assembled part by part.

 portable derricks( Masts)

can be erected as a unit in the new positions.
Derricks are classified according to their ability to
withstand
i) compressive loads
ii) Wind loads
74
 Mast:
Mast is a portable derrick capable of being
erected as a unit, as distinguished from a
standard derrick, which cannot be raised to a
working position as a unit.

This structure used to support the crown blocks

and the drillstring. Masts are usually rectangular
or trapezoidal in shape and offer a very good
stiffness, important to land rigs whose mast is
laid down when the rig is moved. They suffer
from being heavier than conventional derricks
and consequently are not usually found in
offshore environments, where weight is more of
a concern than in land operations.
 

76
 VL = n * V h
* VL - velocity of line being spooled ( or unspooled )
at the draw works during hoisting

V h – hook velocity
TL = ( )( 1 + friction)
TL – the line pull
n- number of line on the travelling block

77
*The End of Lecture Five

78
* Hoisting System
*Static and Dynamic Crown
(or derrick) Loading

*Static crown load (SCL)

= fast-line + hook load + dead-line

=h

80
* Static and Dynamic Crown (or derrick)
Loading
* If the crown block has three sheaves;

81
* Static and Dynamic Crown (or derrick)
Loading

* Under static conditions;

Where; N is the number of lines strung between the travelling

and crown blocks

82
 * Static and Dynamic Crown (or
derrick) Loading

* For N lines, the static crown load;

83
 * Efficiency of the Hoisting System

e.F =
*EF is the block-and-tackle efficiency factor
*K is the sheave and line per sheave (0.962)
*N is the number of lines strung to travelling
block
*N is the number of working sheaves
*FL is the Fast-line tension
*DL is the deadline tension
84
* Dynamic Crown Load

85
 *Rotary Bits
Bits is a tool designed to crush rock efficiently while drilling. As
the drillstring is rotated, the bit cones come in contact with the
bottom of the hole, crushing the rock immediately below and
around the bit tooth.
Bits may be classified into three general types:
*i) Drag type
*ii) Rolling cutter ( roller bits, or Rock bits)
* iii) Diamond
 *Drag Bits
*Have no moving parts and drill by the shoveling action of their
blades on the encountered formation.
*Nozzles used for cleaning blades ( to prevent bit balling)
* used in soft , sticky formations ,now this type have been
replaced by rolling cutter types
*The blades are manufactured from special alloy steel with
tungsten carbide.
* Rolling cutter ( roller bits, or Rock bits)

*Have moving parts , used in hard formations which

are un drillable with drag bits.
*In soft formations ( three cone bits have relatively
long, widely spaced teeth , and the tooth is long) to
obtain fastest penetration rate
*And vice versa in hard formations.
 *Jet Bits
*Jet bits are rolling cutter bits which have been
equipped with fluid nozzles.
*For rabidly remove the cuttings ,the fluids are jetting
directly on the bottom.
*The pressure losses through these nozzles require
extra pump capacity.
 *Diamond bits
*Drill by a scraping, justified in many areas , has a
reduction in trip time.
*Diamond bits are used in hard formations
 *Bit Calculations
*C
Where:
* B- bit cist $
* T- trip time hr
* t- rotating time hr
* R- Rig cost $/ hr
* F interval drilled , ft

91
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

92
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

93
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

94
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

95
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

96
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

97
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

98
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

99
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

100
 *Bit Classification
Drill Bits

Fixed Roller
Cutter Cone

Mill
PDC Diamond Insert
Tooth

Natural Impregnated Roller Journal

TSP Diamond Bearing Bearing
Diamond

101
 *Cutting Elements
* Tungsten Carbide Inserts

102
 *Cutting Elements

* Natural Diamonds
* Size
* Shape
* Quality

103
* Impregnated Diamond Blades

*Cutting Elements
104
 *Cutting Elements
* TSP

105
 *Bit Selection Process

Which
One ?

106106