PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 35
Wellbore Surveying Methods

1
Wellbore Surveying Methods
 Average Angle
 Balanced Tangential
 Minimum Curvature
 Radius of Curvature
 Tangential

Other Topics
 Kicking off from Vertical
 Controlling Hole Angle
2
 Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch.8
(~ first 20 pages)

Projects:
Due Monday, December 9, 5 p.m.

( See comments on previous years’ design

projects )

3
Homework Problem #18

Balanced Cement Plug

Due Friday, December 6

4
I, A, MD

5
Example - Wellbore Survey Calculations

The table below gives data from a directional survey.

Survey Point Measured Depth Inclination Azimuth

along the wellbore Angle Angle
ft I, deg A, deg

A 3,000 0 20
B 3,200 6 6
C 3,600 14 20
D 4,000 24 80

Based on known coordinates for point C we’ll calculate

the coordinates of point D using the above information.
6
Example - Wellbore Survey Calculations
Point C has coordinates:
x = 1,000 (ft) positive towards the east
y = 1,000 (ft) positive towards the north
z = 3,500 (ft) TVD, positive downwards

C N (y) C
N
z z
D D
y
E (x) x
7
Example - Wellbore Survey Calculations

I. Calculate the x, y, and z coordinates

of points D using:
(i) The Average Angle method
(ii) The Balanced Tangential method
(iii) The Minimum Curvature method

(iv) The Radius of Curvature method

(v) The Tangential method
8
 The Average Angle Method

Find the coordinates of point D using

the Average Angle Method
At point C, x = 1,000 ft
y = 1,000 ft
z = 3,500 ft
Measured depth from C to D, MD  400 ft

IC  14  A C  20 
ID  24  A D  80 
9
 The Average Angle Method
Measured depth from C to D, MD  400 ft
IC  14  A C  20 
ID  24  A D  80 
C
N (y)
C
z D N
z

E (x) y D
x
10
The Average Angle Method

11
 The Average Angle Method
This method utilizes the average I1  I2
of I1 and I2 as an inclination, the IAVG 
2
average of A1 and A2 as a
direction, and assumes the entire A1  A 2
A AVG 
survey interval (MD) to be 2
tangent to the average angle.
East  MD sin IAVG sin A AVG

North  MD sin IAVG cos A AVG

Vert  MD cos IAVG

From: API Bulletin D20. Dec. 31, 1985 12

The Average Angle Method

IC  ID 14  24
IAVG    19 
2 2

A C  AD 20  80
A AVG    50 
2 2

East  MD sin IAVG sin A AVE

x  400 sin19  sin 50 

x  99.76 ft
13
 The Average Angle Method

North  MD sin IAVG cos A AVG

y  400 sin19  cos 50

y  83.71 ft

Vert  400 cos IAVG

z  400 cos19 
z  378.21 ft
14
 The Average Angle Method

At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 99.76 = 1,099.76 ft

y = 1,000 + 83.71 = 1,083.71 ft

z = 3,500 + 378.21 = 3,878.21 ft

15
 The Balanced Tangential Method

This method treats half the measured distance

(MD/2) as being tangent to I1 and A1 and the
remainder of the measured distance (MD/2) as
being tangent to I2 and A2.
MD
East   sin I1  sin A1  sin I2  sin A 2 
2
MD
North   sin I1  cos A1  sin I2  cos A 2 
2
MD
Vert   cos I2  cos I1 
2

From: API Bulletin D20. Dec. 31, 1985 16

The Balanced Tangential Method

MD
East  sin IC sin A C  sin ID sin AD 
2

400

2

sin 14 o sin 20 o  sin 24 o sin 80 o 

x  96.66 ft

17
The Balanced Tangential Method

MD
North  sin IC cos A C  sin ID cos AD 
2

400

2

sin 14 o cos 20 o  sin 24 o cos 80 o 

y  59.59 ft

18
The Balanced Tangential Method

MD
Vert   cos ID  cos IC 
2

400

2
 cos 24 o
 cos 14 o 

z  376.77 ft

19
The Balanced Tangential Method

At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 96.66 = 1,096.66 ft

y = 1,000 + 59.59 = 1,059.59 ft

z = 3,500 + 376.77 = 3,876.77 ft

20
Minimum Curvature Method

21
 Minimum Curvature Method
This method smooths the two straight-line segments
of the Balanced Tangential Method using the Ratio
Factor RF.
2 
RF  tan
 2 (DL=  and must be in radians)

MD
East   sin I1  sin A1  sin I2  sin A 2  RF
2
MD
North   sin I1  cos A1  sin I2  cos A 2  RF
2
MD
Vert   cos I1  cos I2  RF
2
22
 Minimum Curvature Method

The Dogleg Angle, , is given by:

cos   cos ID  IC   sin IC sin ID 1  cos( AD  A C )

 cos 24 o  14 o   sin 14 o sin 24 0 1  cos(800  20o )

cos  = 0.9356

o
 = 20.67 = 0.3608 radians
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Minimum Curvature Method

The Ratio Factor,

2 
RF  tan
 2

2  20.67 o 
RF  tan  
0.3608  2 

RF  1.0110
24
 Minimum Curvature Method

MD
East  sin IC sin A C  sin ID sin AD  RF
2

400

2
 o o o o

sin 14 sin 20  sin 24 sin 80 1.0110

 96.66 * 1.011  97.72 ft

x  97.72 ft
25
 Minimum Curvature Method

MD
North  sin IC cos A C  sin ID cos AD  RF
2

400

2
 
sin 14 o cos 20o  sin 24 o cos 80o 1.0110

 59.59 * 1.011  60.25 ft

y  60.25 ft
26
 Minimum Curvature Method

MD
Vert   cos ID  cos IC  RF
2

400

2
 cos 24 o
 cos 14 o
 1.0110
 376.77 * 1.0110  380.91 ft

z  380.91 ft
27
 Minimum Curvature Method

 At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 97.72 = 1,097.72 ft

y = 1,000 + 60.25 = 1,060.25 ft

z = 3,500 + 380.91 = 3,880.91 ft

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 The Radius of Curvature Method

MD cos IC  cos ID  cos A C  cos AD   180 

2

East   
ID  IC  AD  A C    


 o o
 o
400 cos 14  cos 24 cos 20  cos 80  180 
 
o
 2

24  14  80  20    

x  95.14 ft

29
 The Radius of Curvature Method

2
MD (cos IC  cos ID ) (sin AD  sin A C )  180 
North   
(ID  IC ) ( AD  A C )   

    2
400(cos14  cos 24 )(sin 80  sin 20 )  180 
  
(24  14)(80  20)   

y  79.83 ft

30
The Radius of Curvature Method

MD (sin ID  sin IC )  180 

Vert   
ID  IC   

400 (sin 24 o  sin 14 o )  180 

  
24  14   

z  377.73 ft

31
 The Radius of Curvature Method

At Point D,

x = 1,000 + 95.14 = 1,095.14 ft

y = 1,000 + 79.83 = 1,079.83 ft

z = 3,500 + 377.73 = 3,877.73 ft

32
 The Tangential Method

Measured depth from C to D, MD  400 ft

IC  14  A C  20
 
ID  24 A D  80

East  MD sin ID sin AD

 
 400 sin24 sin 80

x  160.22 ft
33
The Tangential Method

North  MD sin ID cos A D

 400 sin 24 o cos 80 o

y  28.25 ft

Vert  MD cos ID

 400 cos 24 
z  365.42 ft
34
 The Tangential Method

 At Point D,

x  1,000  160.22  1,160.22 ft

y  1,000  28.25  1,028.25 ft

z  3,500  365.42  3,865.42 ft

35
Summary of Results (to the nearest ft)

x y z
Average Angle 1,100 1,084 3,878
Balanced Tangential 1,097 1,060 3,877
Minimum Curvature 1,098 1,060 3,881
Radius of Curvature 1,095 1,080 3,878
Tangential Method 1,160 1,028 3,865

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37
38
 Building
Hole Angle
39
 Holding
Hole Angle
40
41
 CLOSURE
(HORIZONTAL) DEPARTURE

LEAD ANGLE

42


43
Tool Face Angle

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