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Question (2): Describe the difference between over-balance pressure and under-balance
pressure.
Solution (2):
The differential between the mud pressure and the pore pressure at any given depth is known as the
Over-balance pressure at that depth. If the mud pressure is less than the pore pressure then the
differential is known as the under-balance pressure. It will be seen below that the fracture pressure
gradient of the formations is also expressed in units of psi/ft.
Note: It is highly recommended to include graphs in your solution as shown below (Most
students lost marks last year because of this).
b) By using the SAFE mud weight (value above) at a certain depth (15000 ft TVD for
example), Determine the leak-off pressure at the surface?
Solution (b): USE the following equation (ALWAYS REMEMBER IT):
1- Max. Bottom hole pressure during leak-off = Pressure when the formation already
fractured (fracture pressure value given above in Psi) / TVD (15000 ft).
2- Hydrostatic pressure of mud colom = (0.052 * TVD (15000 ft) * SAFE mud weight).
3- From equation above, Leak-off pressure at surface = (1) (2).
Question (4): (Drill pipe, Drill Collars, Collapse Loading and Total Tension Load):
NOTE: FOCUS on Tutorial (1), Problems (1) and (2):
a) Calculate the number of 8 1/4 x 2 13/16 (83.9 Ib/ft) drill-collars (25ft/joint), drill
pipes (19.5 Ib/ ft) and Total Length of Drill string that would be required to provide
20,000lbs WOB and keep the drill pipe in tension in 12 ppg mud.
Solution (a):
1- Length of Drill Collars = WOB / (Ib/ft * fraction (if it is NOT given, always assume
it 1))
= 20,000 / (83.9 * 1) = 238.4 ft
2- Number drill collars= 238.4/25 = 10.
3- Length of Drill Pipe = [WOB (20,000)/ (19.5 Ib/ft)] Length of Drill Collars (NOT
SURE)
4- Number of Drill pipes = Length of Drill pipe / 25 ft/joint
5- Total Length of Drill string = Length of (Drill Pipe + Drill Collars)
b) From Data above, calculate the collapse loading and total weight of drill string at a
TVD of 12,000 ft (This part is easier than the one in Tutorial 1, because the area was
given)?
Solution (b):
Step (1): Collapse loading at 12,000 ft = 0.052 * MW * TVD.
Step (2): Follow STEP 2 in TUTORIAL 1.
Step (3): Total Weight of Drill String (EASY) = Wc + Wp
(NO NEED TO CALCULATE THE WEIGHT FOR EACH SECTION, AT THE TOP AND
BOTTOM OF DRILL COLLAR AND DRILL PIPE).