1.

Calculations
The following are some commonly used calculations used for CPD operations.
Although spreadsheets and programs are available for most of these, the user
should know the origin and assumptions involved.

1.1 Hydrostatic Pressure

kg m N
Ph = ρ × g × h units: 3
× 2 × m ⇒ 2 ⇒ Pa
m s m
where:
Ph = hydrostatic pressure (Pa)
ρ = density of fluid (kg/m3)
g = gravity constant (9.81 m/s2)
h = vertical height of fluid column (m)

note:
• Typically the gravity constant will be divided by 1000 so that the pressure is
expressed in kPa.
• Ensure that the vertical depth is used, not the measured depth.

1.2 Pipe light (rough calculation)

1. Convert weight of drill string to force

m
F =W ×g units: kg × 2 ⇒ N
s

where:
F = force exerted by drill string (N)
W = weight of drill string (kg)
g = gravity constant (9.81 m/s2)

2. Cross-sectional Area

π ×d2
ATJ =
4

where:
ATJ = cross-sectional area of tool joint (m2)
π = radian (3.1416)
d = diameter (m)
3. Pressure to create Pipe Light

F N
P= units: ⇒ Pa
ATJ m2

where:
P = pressure to cause pipe light (Pa)
F = force exerted by drill string (N)
ATJ = cross-sectional area of tool joint (m2)

1.3 Volume of a gas with change in pressure and/or

temperature

P1 × V1 × T2
V2 =
P2 × T1

where:
V2 = volume at final conditions
P1 = pressure at initial conditions
V1 = pressure at initial conditions
T2 = temperature at final conditions (°K or R)
P2 = pressure at final conditions
T1 = temperature at initial conditions (°K or R)

note:
• The Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature scales are not linear and therefore
cannot be canceled. Temperature must be expressed in Kelvin or Rankine.
• This assumes that the composition of the gas has not changed and that it is
acting as an ideal gas.

1.4 Purge time (rough calculation)

1. Volume of drill string

V = ( A1 × L1 ) + ( A2 × L2 )...( An × Ln )

where:
V = volume of drill string (m3)
A1 = internal area of first section of drillstring (m2)
L1 = length of first section of drillstring (m)
2. Convert injection rate from STP (standard temperature and pressure)

Patm × Qatm
Q2 =
P2

where:
Q2 = gas injection rate at final conditions
Patm = atmospheric pressure
Qatm = gas injection rate at atmospheric pressure
P2 = pressure at final conditions

note:
• This formula is derived from the ideal gas law assuming constant
temperature.

3. Time to displace drillstring volume

V m3
t= units: ⇒ min
Q2 m3
min

where:
t = time to displace drillstring volume (min)
V = volume of drill string (m3)
Q2 = gas injection rate at final conditions (m3/min)

1.5 Bypass nozzle

Qn × MW × 10 6
2

An = (Metric)
Pm × 6.496

where:
n = nozzle area (mm2)
MW = mud weight (kg/m3)
Pm = Motor pressure drop (kPa)
1.6 Bottoms up for single phase
1. Calculate Annulus area for each different section of the well

π ×d2
A= − TD
4

where:
A = annulus area of first section of well (m2)
π = radian (3.1416)
d = outer diameter of annulus (open hole or inside diameter of casing) (m)
TD = total displacement volume of drill string component (m3/m)

note:
• displacement volumes for various drill string components are found in
section D of the drilling data handbook

2. Calculate Annulus volume

V = ( A1 × L1 ) + ( A2 × L2 ) + ...

where:
V = total annulus volume (m3)
A1 = annulus area of first section (m2)
L1 = length of first section (m)

3. Calculate bottoms up time

V m3
t= units: ⇒ min
Q m3
min

where:
t = bottoms up time (min)
V = total annulus volume (m3)
Q = liquid pump rate (m3/min)
1.7 Annular velocity for single phase
1. Determine annulus area

π ×d2 m3
A= − TD units m − ⇒ m2
2

4 m

where:
A = annulus area of first section of well (m2)
π = radian (3.1416)
d = outer diameter of annulus (open hole or inside diameter of casing) (m)
TD = total displacement volume of drill string component (m3/m)

note:
• displacement volumes for various drill string components are found in
section D of the drilling data handbook

2. Calculate annulus velocity

m3
Q m
AV = units: min
2
⇒
A m min

where:
AV = annular velocity (m/min)
Q = liquid pump rate (m3/m)
A = annulus area (m2)

1.8 Pump output (approx)

1. Calculate volume per stroke

π ×d2 m3 m3
V = × 10 −9 × L × N units mm 2 × mm × ⇒
4 10 9 mm 3 stroke

where:
V = volume per stroke (m3/stroke)
π = radian (3.1416)
d = diameter of pump liner (mm)
L = length of pump stroke (mm)
N = number of cylinders (2 for duplex, 3 for triplex)

2. Calculate pump output

 m3 strokes m3
Q = eff × V × SPM units: × ⇒
stroke min min
where:
Q = pump output (m3/m)
V = volume per stroke (m3/min)
eff = pump efficiency
SPM = pump speed (strokes/min)

note:
• Above calculations do not take into account loss due to piston rod diameter
• Stroke counters only measure one piston
• Pump efficiency is typically assumed as 90% for duplex and 98% for triplex
Q
• SPM = is a common variation of the above equation
V

1.9 Motor equivalent – Approximate

1. Calculate pressure motor inlet

Pm = PBH + ΔP

where:
Pm = pressure at motor inlet (kPa)
PBH = bottom hole circulating pressure (kPa)
ΔP = motor pressure drop (kPa)

2. Convert gas injection rate to pressure at inlet of motor

Patm × Qatm
QG =
Pm

where:
QG = gas injection rate at final conditions (m3/min)
Patm = atmospheric pressure (kPaa)
Qatm = gas injection rate at atmospheric pressure (m3/min)
Pm = pressure at final conditions (kPa)
3. Calculate approx. motor equivalent

QT = QG + QL

where:
QT = motor equivalent (m3/min)
QG = gas injection rate at midpoint of motor (m3/min)
QL = liquid injection rate (m3/min)

1.10 Determine KOP for horizontal well

1719
R=
BUR

where:
R = radius of build section (m)
BUR = build rate (°/30m)

Derivation:

s
s = R ×θ ⇒ R = (1)
θ

90° 90°
BUR = × 30m ⇒ s = × 30m (2)
s BUR

substituting equation (2) in to (1) gives

90° 90°
× 30m × 30m
BUR BUR 90 × 30 × 2 1718.87
R= = = =
θ π BUR × π BUR
2

where:
s = arc length (m)
R = radius of build section (m)
θ = angle of arc in radians, in this case π/2 (90°)
BUR = build up rate (°/30m)
π = radian (3.1416)

note:
• Above equations are based on a 90° build section
1.11 General
Base units:
N
Pa ⇒ 2
m
m
N ⇒ kg × 2
s
J
W⇒
s
J ⇒ N ×m

1000 L = 1m 3

With respect to hook loads, 10 dec’s means 10 000 daN with is equivalent to
100 000 N

1.12 FBD - Free body diagrams

Figure 1: Free Body Diagram for Snubbing out of hole

Fs = snubbing
unit

FF = rotating
head friction

FD = drillstring
weight

FB = Buoyancy

FWH = wellhead
pressure

FWH = FS + FF + FD - FB
Figure 2: Free Body Diagram for Snubbing in hole

FS = snubbing
unit

FF = rotating
head friction

FD = string
weight

FB = Buoyancy

FWH = wellhead
pressure

FWH = FS - FF + FD - FB

Figure 3: Free Body Diagram of Annulus

WHP = wellhead

PH = hydrostatic

PF = friction

PBH = bhp

PBH=WHP+PH+PF
Figure 4: Free Body Diagram of Drillstring ID

Injection
pressure

hydrostatic

friction

downhole
motor

bhp

PBH=PINJ+PH-PF-PM