Drilling Calculations

Course

Common Units and symbols

parameter

Unit

Symbol

length

Feet,inches or Mtr

Ft ,inor M

Area

Square feet, Square

inches or square
meters

Volume

Cubic feett, cubic

centimeters cubic
meters or

Cuft. Cu In or Meters
cube

Capacity

US barrels,US
gallons, Cubic ft

bbl, gal(US), cuft

Mass

Pounds,Short tons

lbs, Sh tn

Force (weight)

Pounds-force

lbf

Presure

Ppounds force per

square inch

psi

Density (mudweight)

Pounds per gallon,

pounds per cubic ft

Ppg ,pcf

torque

Foot pounds

ftlbs

AREAS

Areas
Length

Area of a square

breadth

Area of a Square = length X breadth

Length

This same expression is applicable to a

rectangle and parallelogram
breadth

base

Height

Height

Area of a Triangle

base

Area of a triangle = Base x Height

2

Area of a Circle

Diameter

Area of a circle = x radius x radius

Where r= radius of the circle
= 3.142
Since diameter= 2 x radius
Area of circle= x Diameter x Diamater
4

Radius

VOLUMES

Annular area
d

Annular or cross sectional area = {(D x D)-(d x d)}

4
This can be used to calculate annular areas of the wellbore or
Cross sectional areas of tubulars

Volumes
hieght

Volume of a cube
h
dt
a
e
br

length

Volume of a cube = length x breadth x height

Height

Cylindrical Capacities

Area

Volume of a cylinder = Area x Height

= x Diameter x Diameter x Height
4
This is the basis for all volume the capaciy calculations in well control

Capacity Calculations
Rule of thumb:
Capacity of a cylinder in bbls/ft= Diamater x Diameter
1029.4
Multiply this by the Height of the cylinder ( or length of the hole)
gives the volumetric capacity in barrels
HVolume = Diameter x Diameter x height(or length)
1029.4
This expression is generally used on the rig for volume and capacity
calculations

Annular volume calculations

Top view

Annular Volume
in bbls

{(D x D)-(d x d)}xlenght

1029.4

Hole volume calculations

ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DP =
[( D3 - D1 ) / 1029.4] x L1

ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DC =

[( D3 - D2 ) / 1029.4] x L2

Hole volume calculations

example
Using the following data, calculate the total
annular volume.
L1 = 4000 ft
L2 = 800 ft
D1 = 5 in
D2 = 6.5 in
D3 = 8.5 in

Hole volume calculations

ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DP =
[( 8.5 - 5 ) / 1029.4] x 4000 = 183.6 bbls
ANNULAR VOLUME AROUND DC =
[( 8.5 - 6.5 ) / 1029.4] x 800 = 23.31 bbls

Total Annular Volume =183.6 + 23.31 =

206.91 bbl

Pump displacement volumes

The same expression for calculation od hole volumes can

also be used for the calculation of mud pump displacements
Triplex Pump displacement in bbls/ft =
D x L x e x3
1029.4 x 12 x100
Where D= liner size in inches
L= Stroke length in inches
e= Volumetric efficiency in %

Pump displacement volumes

example

Where D= 7 inches
L= 11 inches
e = 97%
Pump displacement= 7 x 7 x 97 x 11 x 3
1029.4 x 12 x 100
= 0.127 bbls/ stroke

Weight on bit
Drill collars and/or heavy wall drill pipes are uses
to put weight on the bit
Drill collars are also used to keep the string in
tension and prevent it from buckling
There is a point in the drill collars where
compression stops and tension starts this point
is called the neutral point
Weight on bit is usually about 75-90%of the
buoyed drill collar weight