Torque & Drag Application

Neil Armstrong Ali Blair

Engineering Director Engineering Manager (Eastern Hemisphere)

Torque & Drag Mini-Series Episode 5 of 8

7th February 2023

Sponsored By:

01
Content
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices
• Correct inputs
• Appropriate assumptions

2. Reporting – Recommended Practices

• Fundamentals of output charts
• Operating limits
• Planning comparisons
• Annotations
• Actual data

3. Interpretation

4. Summary – Top 13 Key Points

5. Q&A
02
 1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Application
All models are wrong – but are useful if:
• User can check validity
• Input assumptions are justifiable
• Limitations are understood

Planning Operations
Planned Well Info + Offset FF = Modelled Loads Actual Well Info + Actual Loads = Actual FF

Aims:
Determine margin between loads and limits as accurately as possible
Friction factor trend monitoring as an indicator of hole condition
03
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices - Results

04
 1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Inputs

Correct inputs:
1. Trajectory inc. tortuosity NWA-2

2. Wellbore definition (ID)

3. String definition (OD and PPF)
4. FFs to display
5. MW
6. Travelling assembly weight
7. Friction adjusted intervals (NRPs etc.)

05
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Assumptions
Friction Factor Selection
• Display minimum of LS, ML and HS
• Based on offsets (valid offsets e.g. floated casing)
• Account for outliers
• CHFF = OHFF for drilling
• FF are not necessarily the same for all operations
• Beware of reducing average FF

06
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Assumptions
Trajectory inc. tortuosity
• Different methods of accounting for
tortuosity not accounted for in the survey
file.
• Simple approach is to use standard inputs
for the model for different directional tools
(PDM v RSS etc.) and hole sizes.
• More advanced approach is to match with
tortuosity in offset wells

07
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Assumptions
String definition (BHA simplification)

BHA equivalent weight:

cumulative length /
cumulative weight
= 13,000 / 146.56
= 88.70 ppf
Upper BHA equivalent
weight:
= (34,900 - 13,000) /
(545.10 - 146.56)
= 54.95 ppf

08
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Assumptions
String Definition (BHA Simplification – buckling limits implication)

In this liner-running string, the

push-pipe is made up of “hybrid”
stands of 2 x HWDP & 1 x DC.

While the buckling limits are

different between the actual and
approximated models, the
implications for allowable weight
to buckle are unchanged.

09
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Assumptions
Travelling Assembly Weight
• At planning stage use 0 and produce a tension plot if uncertain on weight

0 10
1. Modelling – Recommended Practices – Assumptions
Friction Modified Intervals

0 11
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Basics

0 12
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Operation
Fundamentals – Define the operation

0 13
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Operation
Straight Lateral
U-Shaped Lateral
OBT w/0.2FF = 18 kft.lbs

The operation is important

Plan View
(3-D well path /
U-Turn Lateral)

0 14
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Operation
The curve…

0 15
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Validity
Fundamentals – Show data required to check validity:
• Inputs (actual adjusted weight used for string NOT nominal)
• Operation (tripping, drilling, reaming)
• Model type (stiff v soft)
• Calibration (if showing actual data on drag plot)

0 16
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Operating Limits
Operating Limits

0 17
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Operating Limits

0 18
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Comparisons
Planning Comparisons

0 19
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Actual Data
- Clearly label data
- Differentiate SO and
PU weights from
reaming weights
- Annotations to
explain changes and
anomalies

0 20
2. Reporting – Recommended Practices – Annotations
Annotations – Related to all factors that influence FFs and actual data:
- Additional tortuosity above what was assumed in the inputs
- Formations changes (tops)
- Bed height (ROP, clean-ups, changes in AV, RPM, rheology etc.)
- Instability (will influence solids on low side, hole size and rugosity)
- Fluid lubricity changes (lubricants)
- Connection practices (reaming approach or additional circulating)

0 21
3. Interpretation – Understanding Friction Factors
Fundamentals of Dynamic Friction
• Frictional force (Ff) required to keep
an object moving is directly
proportional to its weight.
• The weight in this case is the same as
the normal force (Fn) – i.e. the force
acting perpendicular to the
contacting surfaces.
Coefficient of Friction (CoF) • The constant of proportionality in this
case is known as the coefficient of
Frictional ΔFf friction (CoF).
Force μ (CoF)
ΔFn • The CoF is solely dependent on the
ΔFf two materials in contact with each
other.
ΔFf
ΔFn
ΔFn μ

Normal Force (weight) 0 22

 3. Interpretation – Understanding Friction Factors
Downhole Friction • Apparent drag between the drillstring
DRAG
and the borehole wall is assumed to
follow the same principle as dynamic
friction.
• In this case, the assumed constant of
Normal
Force proportionality is known as the friction
(Side-force)
Pipe Weight TORQUE factor (FF).
Rotation • This is not the same as CoF because:
o The apparent drag is not solely due
Friction Factor (FF)
to sliding friction.
Frictional Drag
FF o The incremental side-force is based
Force
(drag)
Side- on a model.
force Δ drag/torque • However, despite this, T&D modelling is
still remarkably useful – provided the
Δ side-force Drag
above limitations are understood.
SF FF

Normal Force (side-force) 0 23

3. Interpretation
Avoid using data in isolation – consider all factors influencing FFs
• Torque increase – RPM or WOB change?
• Drag divergence – Driller, flow rate or calibration change?
• Torque change – formation change?

Limitations – understand what the model does not do

X Model static drag and torque
X Provide indication of instability and hole enlargement
X Identify cuttings bed height

0 24
3. Interpretation

0 25
3. Interpretation

0 26
 4. Summary – 13 Key Points
1. Basic inputs at the early planning stage then refine
2. Refine tortuosity by hindcasting
3. Ensure assumptions are valid and initially conservative e.g. friction reduction
tool assumptions
4. Complete the feedback loop with consistent data collection
5. Explain results to operations team – get them onboard
6. Properly annotate charts to highlight key points
7. Show inputs to allow data validity check
8. Know your limits! Describe them clearly
9. Be rigorous with using different markers for different operations (actual data)
10. The operation is important – it will influence the results
11. Understanding FFs is fundamental to interpretation
12. Effective data interpretation requires the use of other non-T&D related data
13. Understand the limitations of the models

0 27
Questions?

0 28