TORQUE AND DRAG ANALYSIS IN EXTENDED REACH DRILLING USING LANDMARK SOFTWARE

Abstract

This study discusses the design of extended reach well using data from previous offset horizontal wells. The focus of this research is modeling torque and drag using a simulator to answer how to calibrate the friction factor resulting from the simulation/design with actual data during the drilling operation. By using data from offset well, torque and drag simulation is carried out, then validated with field data. The optimized parameter is the friction factor for an open hole. In the initial simulation, the friction factor for the open hole is assumed based on the type of drilling fluid used for drilling. After design validation, the resulting friction factor value will be used to simulate torque and drag on the well to be drilled, the extended reach well.

DR4 Extended Reach Well would be drilled in MCL Field to increase the field production. Different from previous wells drilled at MCL Field which the most recent is DR3 Horizontal Well, the well planning for near future drilling faced several challenges, one of them is high torque and drag. Torque and drag simulation contucted to examine the drillability of the extended reach well if it would be drilled using the same drillstring component as the previous horizontal well, only adding the drill pipe at the same length of 5100 ft horizontal displacement extension.

The results show several predictive drilling problems that may occur, consisting of sinusoidal and helical buckling that may occurred during the tripping in operation. All the buckling affected the 5” 19.5# G-105 NC50 drill pipe. The recommendation that given by the result of replacing the affected drill pipe at the buckling depth intervals are changing the 5” 19.5# G-105 NC50 drill pipe with 5" 25.60# S 5 1/2 FH drill pipe. Buckling problem solved, with consequences of increasing value of torque and drag.