DD at the Rigsite
About this chapter
The DD has other rig-site responsibilities not directly related to drilling. These include
keeping an accurate inventory of the DD tools. The logistics involved in getting
equipment to and from the rig-site varies, depending on the location. it is vital that the
DD keep the various reports up to date. This information is needed by the location
manager and, often, the unit technical manager.
Finally, knowing the rig-site politics and abiding by the rules makes the DD job run
much more smoothly than otherwise. The degree to which the DD is "his own boss"
often depends as much on himself as it does on the client. This chapter highlights the
above.
Objectives of this Chapter
On completing this chapter the directional driller should be able to do the following
exercises:
1. Acquaint himself with the safety procedures of politics.
2. Produce timely and accurate reports.
3. Professionally handle rig-site any location.
4. Control rig-site tool inventory.
12.1 On Arrival at the Rig
On arrival at the rig, the following is a recommended routine.
1. Familiarize yourself with the safety procedures on board (life raft, life boat
assignments, frequency of fire drills and abandon ship drills etc.).
2. Meet the company representative. Discuss briefly the well program. Be aware of the
present operation on the rig. Confirm that there is at least one directional plot on
board (if you’re going to do a blind sidetrack, obviously this does not apply). Put up a
copy of the plot on the wall of the company rep’s office. The anti-collision map
("Spider Plot"), if applicable, is usually updated after each well and shows the
relative positions of the wells drilled to date.
3. Meet the toolpusher. Check that there are sufficient drill collars and HWDP on board
the rig.
4. Meet the driller on tour. If there’s any instructions to be given to him, do it now. For
instance, if he’s drilling down to the kickoff point, he will need to be informed if a
multishot survey will be taken prior to POOH, the composition of the next BHA etc.
5. Attend safety meeting with the other Anadrill cell members, if applicable.
6. Do a complete inventory of the directional tools. It is advisable to caliper everything
as you check them. The serial numbers of every tool must be recorded. While it takes
a few hours to caliper everything properly, a lot of the tools (apart from those that
will be re-cut and new tools that arrive) will only need to be calipered once in the
course of a project. Thus, it’s important to do it properly the first time.
7. Use a check-list. If there’s any tool obviously missing, check that it has been ordered.
Call the Anadrill office if necessary. Also check for damaged threads and shoulders.
Check the D+C hours already on the mud motors, if a different Anadrill DD was on
the rig most recently.
8. On a new job (e.g. multiwell platform) which is expected to last several months or
more, it is advisable to get a rack fabricated by the welder to hold all the subs,
stabilizers and, possibly, short collars. This minimizes the space occupied by the DD
tools. It also helps protect the tools, makes them easy to find and easy to pick up/lay
down.
Note
Permission must be gotten from the toolpusher before the tool rack is made. He will
normally coordinate the fabrication of the rack with the welder. The DD can make
design suggestions. To store stabilizer sleeves, an area should be found which is big
enough to allow gauging of the sleeves as required. The remaining tools (e.g. mud
motors, NMDCs, EQ Jars and possibly short collars) are normally kept in the drill collar
bay.
9. Fill out a DD inventory sheet. Give a copy to the company representative. Post one
copy in the doghouse to facilitate the driller’s BHA paperwork.
10. Check all the survey instrument kits systematically (gyro and/or magnetic, singleshot
and/or multishot). Run a check shot for confirmation. Take a short multishot test
film, if applicable. Order any necessary missing equipment from the base. If you will
be using the rig floor power supply (e.g. in case of gyro), ensure that the voltages are
compatible.
11. Check all the survey running gear. Make up the complete mule shoe orienting barrel
assembly. Make up the bottom-landing shock absorber assembly also. If it’s a hot
hole, ensure that the long protective barrel is at the rig-site.
12. The running gear which might be needed during the course of the well is normally
stored on a rack behind the drawworks. Ensure the storage place is dry and clean.
13. Excess running gear should be stored in the steel box in which it arrived on the rig.
14. Check the rig equipment. Ensure the slick line unit is in good condition and that
there is sufficient line on the drum. Watch out for “kinks" in the slick line. It is
recommended to get the driller/assistant driller to cut off some slick line before
attaching the upper part of the single-shot running gear.
15. Familiarize yourself with the driller's console. Check that there are adequate sensors
operational and that there is nothing obviously wrong with the drill-floor equipment
from a DD viewpoint.
16. Run the GEOMAG program, in conjunction with the MWD engineer. Otherwise, use
Zone maps to determine the number of NMDCs needed in the BHAs in this well.
17. If on a multiwell platform, or close to other wells, ensure that the surface coordinates
of the well to be drilled (referenced to the fixed origin) are entered in the Advisor
and/or Macintosh so that the anti- collision program can be run later.
18. Set up survey files on the Advisor and/or Macintosh for the well to be drilled. If any
TOTCO surveys have already been taken, they should be entered in the file(s). Prior
to running a multishot survey in a nominally- vertical hole, TOTCO survey data
allows the DD to choose the appropriate compass/angle unit.
12.2 General DD duties as the well progresses
1. Ensure that the drilling supervisor is kept up to date on the progress of the well from
a DD standpoint. He must be informed of your intentions to change the BHA If a
correction run is required, the DD should explain why. He should also make
recommendations as to when the correction should be done. Sometimes a target
extension is the better option. That decision is made by the client.
2. Ensure that the driller and assistant driller is given a copy of the next BHA in good
time. Mark all the tools to be picked up. Ensure no unnecessary lost rig time occurs
because of confusion over BHA components.
3. Have good communication with the drillers. Drilling parameters usually have to be
changed regularly.
4. Surveys should be taken as necessary. Give the updated survey calculation sheet to
the drilling supervisor promptly.
5. During a kickoff, it is not always easy to have time to plot all the surveys. A good
DD will know how the kickoff is progressing without having to plot every survey.
The desired hole direction is known. It is very easy to calculate whether or not the
build-up rate achieved is "keeping up with the program".
6. Even during the kickoff, each survey should be calculated promptly and given to the
company representative. Where Anadrill’s MWD tool is in use, this is usually taken
care of by the MWD engineer on the Advisor. If there is a Macintosh on board,
MacDD Survey file should be updated by the DD as time allows.
7. When the kickoff is almost finished, it s necessary to plot a few surveys. After the
kickoff, plot the latest survey position on the DD plot promptly. Project ahead. use
BHA history from previous wells in the area to help in decision-making.
8. Keep all DD paperwork up to date. Consumables, run charges, personnel charges
(where applicable) should be noted on the Anadrill Daily Drilling Report. All other
relevant forms - Mud Motor Report, Survey Calculations & Analysis, BHA Analysis,
Steerable Report, DD Tool Inventory etc. should be comprehensively filled out.
9. Perform basic maintenance on UBHO subs, Roller Reamers, stabilizer sleeves etc.
10. Underreamers and Hole Openers should be stored in an oil bath (usually a length of
casing which is filled with oil) when not in use.
11. Survey instrument kit should be kept in the quarters (in cases where MWD tools are
in use) or in the driller’s dog-house (provided it’s clean and secure).
12. The DD should be on the drill floor when EQ Jars or Shock Guard is being picked up
or laid down. Ensure the Jack Nut (if applicable) is screwed down torqued to correct
value before RIH.
13. It’s advisable to be on the drill floor when the driller’s change tour. Don’t rely on the
driller to relay your instructions to his relief.
14. Ensure that the company representative has up-to-date survey information on his
desk at report time. He shouldn’t have to come looking for survey calculation data!
15. Grading of the bits is often a joint effort between the DD and the driller.
12.3 Location Politics
The DD has a responsible and rewarding job at the rig-site. However, there are some
minefields which, if not avoided, can lead to major problems for the DD. Some advice
and guidelines are listed below.
1. Anadrill is a service company. We work to please the client. The service quality
which we provide will make us a major force in directional drilling.
2. Drilling of a directional well is a joint effort between the client and the DD
company. From the preplanning stage to the actual drilling of a directional well, the
plan may be changed several times. However, once the final plan is agreed, it is up to
the people on the rig to make their contribution to a successful well.
3. The amount of authority that the DD actually has at the wellsite depends on several
factors:
· The level of experience and competence of the DD.
· The level of confidence the client has in the particular DD. This is often based
on the previous performance of the DD.
· The amount of experience the client has in drilling directional wells.
· The amount of control the drilling superintendent wishes to have over BHA
selection etc.
· Whether or not the company representative is a former DD or at least has a good
knowledge of DD techniques.
4. Some DDs like to make all the decisions involved in drilling a directional well -
amount of lead angle, BHA composition, deciding on when to do a correction run,
choosing drilling parameters, possibly specifying bits. This is fine, provided the
client is happy with this arrangement. However, a situation should never arise where
the DD oversteps his authority. There are many clients who make all the major DD
decisions for the DD. In such a case, the DD is merely someone who makes up
BHAs, steers a mud motor, calculates surveys and keeps the DD plot up to date. Lots
of DDs are happy with this arrangement. Some are not. They would be better suited
to a DD job where they had more autonomy. Ideally, the DD and the client together
should make a lot of the decisions.
5. It is important to keep the Anadrill manager/supervisor informed of the progress of
the well.
6. If there is a disagreement between the DD and the company representative over a
decision related to DD (e.g. BHA composition) it may be necessary to
(confidentially) call the Anadrill manager/supervisor and inform him of the situation.
Try not to be made a scapegoat for something you never did!
7. The DD should ensure that he is not "caught in the middle” between the geologist
and the drilling supervisor. Unless told otherwise, the DD always should follow
instructions from the drilling supervisor only. Any internal disagreement between the
drilling supervisor and the geologist is no concern of the DD.
8. If possible, it is advisable to be present when the drilling supervisor makes his
morning phone report to the drilling superintendent. Some input may be needed from
the DD, e.g. When is the next BHA change planned ? Is a correction run likely ? Is a
request for a target extension imminent?
9. As mentioned earlier in this manual, if a mud pump needs repair while ROP is high
(particularly in larger hole sizes at shallow depths), the DD should recommend that
drilling cease until the pump is back on line. This may not suit the toolpusher, as it
increases the rig down-time. However, drilling with insufficient annular velocity can
lead to serious hole problems later.
10. On returning to base after the job, the DD would be well advised to visit the drilling
superintendent and thus "close the loop". A short discussion on the well just drilled
might lead to a slightly different approach to drilling the next well. This will,
hopefully, lead to increased drilling efficiency.