Toolface

Magnetic
Gravity
 Magnetic and Gravity Toolface
• How to interpret the meaning of directional
drilling
– Magnetic and gravity toolface are terms in
directional drilling to describe the direction of the
well.
– They are different in meaning and application
therefore this presentation will teach you about
these terminologies.
 Magnetic Toolface
• The magnetic toolface is
an angle projection onto
the horizontal plane
between the tool face
and magnetic north.
• Typically, directional tools
use the magnetic tool
face when the inclination
is less than 5 degree.
– The figure demonstrates
that the mud motor is
lined up to kick off at 30
degree azimuth magnetic.
 Gravity Toolface
• The gravity toolface or
high-side toolface is used
for a section of the well
which has an inclination
more than 5 degree.
• The high-side is the top of
the hole perpendicular to
the wellbore axis and the
low side is the bottom of
the hole.
• Set a tool face either Left
(-ve) or Right (+ve) of the
well highside.
 What Does Toolface Tell You About
Directional Drilling?
Toolface at 0 degree Toolface at 180 degree
 What Does Toolface Tell You About
Directional Drilling?
Toolface at 90 degree Toolface at 270 degree
 What Does Toolface Tell You About
Directional Drilling?
Toolface at 45 degree Toolface at 135 degree
 What Does Toolface Tell You About
Directional Drilling?
Toolface at 225 degree Toolface at 315 degree
Summary
 Terms for equations
• α – current inclination • d - dogleg severity
• aN – required •  - angle change
inclination • Lc – course length
• Da – inclination change •  - DLS unit length
•  - current azimuth •  - toolface
• N – required azimuth
 Some formulae
𝛽
• 𝛿= ×𝜄
𝐿𝐶
𝛿
• 𝛽 = × 𝐿𝐶
𝜄
• 𝛽 = cos −1 cos Δ𝜖 sin 𝛼𝑁 sin 𝛼 + cos 𝛼 cos 𝛼𝑁
 Some formulae
−1 cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽−cos 𝛼𝑁
• 𝛾= cos
sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽
−1 sin 𝛼𝑁 sin ∆𝜖
• 𝛾= sin
sin 𝛽
tan 𝛽 sin 𝛾
• ∆𝜀 = tan−1
sin 𝛼+tan 𝛽 cos 𝛼 cos 𝛾
• 𝛼𝑁 = cos −1 cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 − sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 cos 𝛾
Toolface spreadsheet
sin cos tan
Current inc α 60.0000 0.866 0.500 1.732
Required inc αN 63.2642 0.893 0.450 1.985
Δα 3.2642 0.057 0.998 0.057
Current azi ε 60.0000 0.866 0.500 1.732
Required azi εN 62.0984 0.884 0.468 1.889
Δε 2.0984 0.037 0.999 0.037
DLS to set δ 7.5000
DLS by Lubinski δ 7.5000
Angle change β 3.7500 0.065 0.998 0.066
Angle change by Lubinski β 3.7500
Course length LC 50.0000
index of β ι 100.0000
toolface to set γ 30.0000 0.500 0.866 0.577
toolface from angles γ 30.0000
toolface from angles γ 30.0000