EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT OF OIL AND GAS FIELDS

Paper code 40200

ASSIGNMENT – A
(End-Semester evaluation)
1. COMPONENTS OF ROTARY RIG

2. GEOTECHNICAL ORDER

Submitted to- Submitted by-

Prof. Uttam Goswami Angana Saikia
Dept. of Applied Geology.
MSc 4th Semester
Roll no: 07
Date of submission Dept. of Applied Geology
09/09/2020 Year: 2020
 1. COMPONENTS OF ROTARY RIG IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT
DRILLING SYSTEMS

A traditional rotary drilling rig is mainly consists of three systems-

 Hoisting System
 Circulating System
 Rotating System

Two other systems, although not associated with the drilling process, must be mentioned when
considering rig components:

 Motion Compensation System

 Blowout Prevention System

Fig 1: Drilling systems

1.1. Hoisting system

The main function of hoisting system is to raise and lower drill string during drilling operation. It
consists of following components-

1.1.1. Derrick or Mast: The function of a derrick is to provide the vertical clearance necessary to the
raising and lowering of the drill string into and out of the hole during the drilling operations.
Whenever the drill stem is suspended by the travelling block and drill line, the entire load rests on
the derrick. The derrick is erected on a substructure which supports the rig floor and rotary table
and provides work space for the equipment on the rig floor. The ramp at the side of the drilling rig
where pipe is laid to be lifted to the derrick floor is called catwalk.
 1.1.2. Crown block and Traveling block, Drill Line and Hook: Crown block is seated on top of drilling
rig, while traveling block moves up and down during drilling operations, to raise or lower drill
string. Crown block, traveling block and drill line form a typical block and tackle system, while the
feeding of drill line is controlled by draw-works. This system effectively reduces load on drill line.
Hook is a large, hook-shaped device from which the swivel is suspended.

1.1.3. Draw-works: It is the control center from which the driller operates the rig. It contains the clutches,
chains, sprockets, engine throttles, and other controls which enable the rig power to be diverted to
the particular operation at hand. It houses the drum which spools the drilling line during hoisting
operations and allows feed-off during drilling.

Fig 1.1: Components of the hoisting system.

1.2. Circulating System

The function of the circulating system is to circulate drilling fluid from the mud pits through the drill
string and out the bit. The main components of circulating system are-

1.2.1. Mud Pumps: A mud pump is a reciprocating piston/plunger device designed to circulate drilling
fluid under high pressure up to 7500 psi (or 52000 kPa) down the drill string and back up the
annulus. A drilling rig usually has two mud pumps. Mud pumps are either duplex, double-acting
reciprocating pumps or triplex, single-acting pumps.

1.2.2. Standpipe and Rotary Hose: In addition to the mud pumps, the surface portion of the fluid
circulating system consists of high pressure piping from the pumps to the standpipe.

1.2.3. Solid control equipment

 Shale shakers, which remove relatively large cuttings from mud.

  Desander and desilter: They are solid control equipment with a set of hydrocyclone that
separate sand and silt from the drilling fluids.

Fig 1.2a: Components of the Circulating System Fig 1.2b: A complete drill stem

1.2.4. Drill stem: The drill stem consists of three main components:

 Kelly and Swivel: Kelly is commonly square or may be hexagonal or even octagonal in shape
which primary function is to allow the table's rotation to be transmitted to the entire drill string.
The swivel, which is attached to the hook, does not rotate but supports the kelly. Drilling
fluid is introduced into the drill stem through a gooseneck connection on the swivel, which is
connected to the rotary hose.

 Drill string: The drill string is made up of the drill pipe, drill collars, and specialized subs
through which the drilling fluid and rotational power are transmitted from the surface to the bit.

 Drill pipe: The drill pipe furnishes the necessary length for the drill string and serves as a
conduit for the drilling fluid. It must have proper outer diameter (O.D.) in order to fit
properly in the threaded fittings. Lengths of drill pipe are generally between 31 to 45 feet,
and are usually measured to the hundredth of a foot. Heavy-weight drill pipe is used for
tubing which is an intermediate sized drill pipe, having the same nominal O.D. as drill
pipe, but having a smaller inside diameter (I.D), thus giving it more strength.

 Drill collars: Drill collars are heavy walled, large O.D. steel tubes whose function is to
furnish the compressive load on the bit, allowing the lighter drill pipe to remain in
tension.
  Specialized Subs: The word “sub” refers to any short length of pipe, collar, casing, etc.,
with a definite function. Different subs used are- Crossover Sub, Shock Sub to absorb
the impact of the bit bouncing on hard formations, thereby damaging the rest of the drill
string and Stabilizers to maintain a straight hole by keeping the collars centralized.

 Drill Bit: The drill bit is the most critical component of a rotary rig operation. The two main
types of bit used in rotary drilling are-

 Roller Cone Bits: Commonly known as tri-cone bits as the cutting structures are
located on three rolling cones attached to the bit body. Two main types are milled-
tooth and insert bits. Milled- tooth bits have steel teeth which have been milled on
the cones. Insert bits differ from milled-tooth bits in that the cones do not have steel
teeth milled into them; instead, tungsten carbide inserts (teeth) are pressed into the
cones.
 Fixed Cutter Bits: Fixed Cutter Bits have no moving parts. The bit body and cutting
structures rotate as one. The main types of fixed cutter bits are drag bits, diamond
bits, PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) bits, and TSP (Thermally Stable
PDC) bits.
The cutting structure of drag bits are sharpened steel and can only be used in
soft formations, and is rarely used today. In case of diamond bits natural diamond is
used as the cutting structure. In PDC bits the cutting structure is composed of man-
made diamond dust/crystals bonded to a tungsten carbide stud, used for soft to
medium-hard formations. A TSP bit is composed of the same man-made diamond
dust/crystals as a PDC bit but here the cutters are used by themselves and not bonded
to a stud.

1.3. Rotating System

The function of rotary system is to generate rotation to rotate the drill string. Rotary system may be of
two types-

1.3.1. Lower rotating system: It comprised mainly of Kelly drive bushings, master bushing and the
rotary table.

 The rotary table: It has two primary functions- (1) It transmits the rotation to the drill string by
turning the kelly joint (2) It suspends the pipe weight during connections and trips.

 Master Bushing: Through the master bushing, the rotary table transmits rotary motion to the
kelly drive bushing and the kelly. It is also the connecting link between the rotary table and the
slips, which supports the pipe during trips.

 Kelly bushing: It is an adapter that serves to connect the rotary table to the kelly. It is connected
to the rotary table by four large steel pins that fit into mating holes in the rotary table. The rotary
motion and power are transmitted through the kelly bushing and the kelly to the drill string.
 1.3.2. Top Drive Rotary System

In this type, the master bushing and rotary table serve only as conduits for the drill string to be
raised or lowered into the borehole. Kelly and kelly bushings are not required and all drill stem
rotation is accomplished by a drive motor located below or attached to the swivel.

 Drive Motor and Transmission: To provide rotary torque to the drill stem, an electric motor
and a simple step-type transmission are used. It is located directly below and attached to the
swivel using a drive-sub, allowing normal drilling fluid circulation.

1.3.3. Slips, Tongs, spinning wrench: Slips are placed between the drill pipe and the sides of the master
bushing in the rotary table when making a connection or tripping. Their purpose is to support the
drill string and hold it suspended in the borehole. Tongs are used for tightening and loosening drill
pipe and drill collars. Spinning wrench is used for rapidly spinning the drill pipe or collars when
breaking out or making up the pipe.

Fig 1.3: Components of Rotating System

1.4. Motion Compensation System: This system is used entirely on offshore floating rigs, semi-submersibles
and drill ships. There are three basic motion compensation components:

1.4.1 Drill string Compensator: The drill string compensator system is designed to nullify the effects
of rig heave on the drill string or other hook-supported equipment.

1.4.2 Marine Riser and Guideline Tensioner: The functions of the marine riser are to provide a path
for the returning drilling fluid, from the borehole to the surface and to guide the drill string and
other tools to the wellhead on the sea floor.
 1.4.3 Telescopic Joint: The telescopic joint is used at the top of the marine riser and is used to
compensate for the vertical motion of the rig.

1.5. Blowout Prevention (BOP) System

Blowout preventer (BOP) is a stack of valves that close the well when a kick is detected. BOP is
seated in the cellar under the rotary table. There are four types of BOP –

 An annular BOP closes the annulus around any shape of drill pipe, such as the drill string,
the casing or the non-cylindrical object, such as the kelly.

 Pipe Rams: These have a rubber face molded to fit around a certain size of drill pipe. If more
than one size drill pipe is in use, there must be one set of pipe rams for each size of pipe.

 Blind Rams: These are hydraulic rams which will close and completely close off the
borehole. As such, they are used only when there is no drillpipe in the borehole.

 Shear Rams: These rams have specially designed cutting structures, which when closed on
drillpipe, will cut through the drillpipe and completely close off the borehole.

The BOP stack is attached to the casing with casing head. The casing head is welded to the first
casing string. It provides support and seal for subsequent casing strings.

Fig 1.4: Components of BOP

system
A complete rotary rig with all its components is shown here-

Fig 1.5: Complete Rotary drilling system

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 2. GEOTECHNICAL ORDER (GTO) : ITS COMPONENTS AND IMPORTANCE IN
PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

2.1 Definition

Geo Technical Order, also known as Drilling program or Well Program is the most demanding aspect of
oil well drilling. An effective well programming is the first step before undertaking drilling of an exploratory
well. This programming of the well which covers all geological and other technical data and serves as guide
during the course of drilling is termed as “geotechnical order”. It is also known as Blue print of well execution.
It is an integrated product of geology, drilling, chemistry, well services, mud services, well control etc. GTO
contains a set of advisory instructions to the rig that show how it is thought that the well can be drilled most
efficiently. It is impossible to anticipate everything that might happen as the well is drilled. In some cases rig
operations may need to deviate significantly from the program if safety or efficiency might otherwise suffer.

The GTO is prepared from the following information:

 In case of Exploratory wells-

 The data acquired from the surface and subsurface exploration.

 The lighologic, bio-stratigraphy, time units may be incorporated for correlation.
 Structural contour maps, facies maps, tectonic maps.
 Prominent marks, lithological break, coal marker.
 Possible reservoir rock, cap rock.
 Their characteristics such as pressure, temperature.

 In case of Development wells-

 Possible oil water/gas oil contacts.

 Producing horizon with depth

2.2 Components of GTO

The main components of GTO are-

 General data
 Geologic data
 Mud parameters
 Drilling data

It provides information about them and serves as guidance to Geologists, Drillers, Chemists & other
Service Groups. The main data included in GTO are shown below in tabular form (Table 1). It includes
additional information about coring program, electro logging program, and procedure for sample
collection etc.
 Table 1: Information provided in GTO

GENERAL DATA GEOLOGIC DATA MUD PARAMETERS DRILLING DATA

Casing Policy and Rise
Location Depth Specific gravity
of Cement
Longitude Age Viscosity Meterage per bit
Latitude Formation Static flow Stress Type of Drilling
State Lithology Sand% Type and size of bit
Area Interval of coring pH Weight on bit
Projected Depth Electro-logging Gel% RPM of Rotary
Date of spudding Collection of cuttings ----- Stand Pipe pressure
Well number Angle of Dip ----- Discharge of Pump
Tentative seabed Oil/gas shows ----- Linear Size
Water depth Formation pressure ----- SPM
GL Formation temperature ----- Rearing of casing line
KB Mud loss/ Cavings ----- Remarks
----- ----- ----- Drilling Time

2.3 Importance of GTO in oil well drilling

 It contains the tentative well programmed which is very important to the geologist, driller,
chemist and other members working at the site. The GTO includes everything in graphical form
starting from formation tops to mud parameters to drilling progress plan for each phase of
drilling. Geologist can anticipate what is likely to be encountered during drilling viz fresh water
sands, high pressure zone, mud loss zones, pay-zones, probable caving etc. In one glance one
can have the complete well plan through GTO.
 Even if an exploratory well fails to discover the presence of a hydrocarbon deposit, the
information provided by this well is of immense value which can be suitably utilized in the
preparation of GTO for the next exploratory well(s) in the same area.
 Preparation of a good well program is very vital for safety and effective drilling operations.

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