Medium curvature directional drilling method

Patent · Tue Aug 09 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6542993

Dech, J A; Hearn, D D; Schuh, F J; Striegler, J H

This paper describes a method for drilling a deviated wellbore characterized by a generally vertical wellbore portion contiguous with a curved wellbore portion having a radius of curvature of about 200 feet to 400 feet and a further wellbore portion extending to the bottom of the wellbore and through a formation region of interest configured in such a way that the wellbore is drilled into the formation region of interest from the kick-off point of the deviated portion of the wellbore. The method consists the steps of: forming the vertical wellbore portion; providing a drillstem including a first drillstem portion for drilling the curved wellbore portion and for extension within the curved wellbore portion comprising elongated elastically bendable sections of drillpipe each comprising a generally tubular member having joint forming portions at opposite ends thereof for connecting the sections of drillpipe end to end, and a plurality of spaced apart sleeves of a diameter greater than the tubular member and adapted for engagement with the wall of the curved wellbore portion for reducing the rotational drag on the first drill-stem portion during the rotation thereof and for distributing the bending stresses on the first drillstem portion in the curved wellbore portion; providing drilling tool means at a distal end of the first drillstem portion for drilling the curved wellbore portion; providing a second drillstem portion remaining in the vertical wellbore portion characterized by end to end connected drillstem sections which are heavier per unit length than the sections of drillpipe extending through the curved wellbore portion so as to place sufficient weight on the sections of drillpipe extending through the curved wellbore portion.

• Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co., Los Angeles, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4762186
• OSTI ID: 6542993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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