American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 49

SpecialReport: Horizontal Well Operations
Given its light weight and strengthto-weight characteristics, ADP is well
suited to long deviated or extended-reach
wells, where reducing torque and drag
loads is critical to drilling performance.
The most common alloy used in manufacturing ADP has a maximum yield
strength of 58,000 psi. While this is considerably lower than common steel pipe
grades, the strength-to-weight ratio of
ADP is equivalent to or better than steel
pipe because of its lighter material density
and greater buoyancy effect. ADP typically
has a greater wall thickness than equivalent
SDP, and is generally at least 40 percent
lighter than equivalent-sized steel pipe.
Table 1 compares the mechanical
properties of steel and aluminum grades
in terms of density, Young's modulus,
yield and tensile strength, and the strengthto-weight ratio for 5-inch SDP and 57⁄8inch ADP. The strength-to-weight ratio
represents the ultimate length of a single
size drill string that can be suspended
without exceeding the yield strength of
the material.
ADP's high strength-to-weight ratio
decreases torque and drag loads while
maintaining resistance to axial, torsional
and lateral loads. Since aluminum alloys
are more flexible than steel, ADP buckles
at a lower given compression than SDP.
However, the increased flexibility is balanced by the fact that the lighter weight
reduces contact side forces to minimize
friction between the drill string and borehole. Minimizing friction decreases hook
load and torque at the surface, and importantly, reduces compression while
running an ADP string in the hole to
potentially extend horizontal reach.
Extending Lateral Reach

The favorable results in the Eagle
Ford test indicate that using ADP in as-

sociation with a steerable mud motor
could be an economically and technically
viable alternative to rotary steerable systems. The principal advantage of using a
rotary steerable system is the ability to
control the direction of the well in the
rotary mode, overcoming drag friction to
extend the lateral section further into the
target formation.
Horizontal drilling with a steerable
mud motor consists of a sequence of
sliding phases (generally 10-20 percent
of the total footage drilled) and rotary
phases (80-90 percent of the footage).
Pipe rotation at surface is stopped during
the sliding mode to adjust tool face orientation to steer the bit in a given direction,
and weight is then applied on the mud
motor-rotated bit.
In the slide mode, drag friction generates compression all along the drill string,
with a risk of buckling and poor weight
transfer to the bit. When a steerable mud
motor is in slide mode, it creates a situation
for maximum compression along the drill
string, and the excessive friction limits
the extent of the horizontal section. In
the rotary mode, drill pipe rotation at
surface resumes, overcoming the drag
friction (rotary mode ROP can be 10
times greater than in sliding mode), but
the direction of the well is not fully controlled.
Oscillation, where the drill pipe is
rocked alternatively to the left and right
at surface at low rotation speed to reduce
axial drag, is one solution to limitations
while drilling in the sliding mode with a
steerable mud motor. Instead of generating
axial drag while sliding, friction occurs
along the tangential direction (torque)
because of the oscillation from the surface
on a given portion along the drill string
(the drill string is twisted). This technique
has proven effective, leading to better

weight transfer to the bit and higher
sliding mode ROP.
Another option is an axial oscillation
tool, which generates pressure pulses
along the drill string to produce an axial
motion to partially reduce drag friction
around the tool.
The solution applied in the Eagle Ford
project consisted of simply replacing
joints of standard SDP with lighter ADP
while keeping the same BHA and well
design to reduce the amount of drag friction while sliding to increase ROP and
extend the lateral section.
ADP Technology

ADP is manufactured in an extrusion
process, and can be produced with varying
wall thicknesses along a seamless tube
pipe body. This tapering allows for increased
thickness and greater strength around the
tool joint interface, and an upset wear band
can be extruded integrally in the center of
the pipe body (ADP can be fitted with any
type of API or premium steel tool joint
through a thermal shrink fit process). The
tapering and center wear band both play a
role in increasing the pipe's resistance to
bending fatigue, and to an extent, help
reduce helical buckling tendencies. They
also reduce pipe body wear and mitigate
fatigue risk caused by bending stress.
Given the design and geometrical properties of ADP (steel tool joints, aluminum
alloy body, and larger-outside diameter
wear band on the middle of the pipe), advanced numerical modeling is required
to fully predict the occurrence of buckling
and calculate the state of stress along the
pipe to avoid possible damage. In the
Eagle Ford wells, torque and drag were
calculated using advanced numerical modeling software (Buckling Severity Index)
that considers the effects of friction, tool
joint, rotation and well bore geometry in

TABLE 1
Characteristics of Steel and Aluminum Drill Pipe
Specific
Weight

Young's
Modulus (Msi)

Yield Strength
(ksi)

OD Pipe (in)

Tensile
Strength (lbf)

Linear Weight
(lbf/ft)

Strength-to-Weight
Ratio (ft)*

Steel S135

7.85

30

135

5

712,000

23.6

35,613

Steel E75

7.85

30

75

5

395,600

22.1

21,130

Aluminum 2014-T6

2.78

10

58

5.743

505,000

16.6

53,237

Material

*Mud weight = 10 ppg

AUGUST 2015 49



American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015

Contents
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - Cover1
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - Cover2
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 3
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 4
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - Contents
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 6
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 7
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 8
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 9
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 10
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 11
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 12
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 13
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 14
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 15
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 16
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 17
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 18
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 19
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 20
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 21
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 22
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 23
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 24
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 25
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 26
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 27
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 28
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 29
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 30
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 31
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 32
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 33
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 34
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 35
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 36
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 37
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 38
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 39
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 40
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 41
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 42
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 43
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 44
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 45
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 46
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 47
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 48
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 49
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 50
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 51
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 52
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 53
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 54
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 55
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 56
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 57
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 58
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 59
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 60
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 61
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 62
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 63
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 64
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 65
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 66
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 67
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 68
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 69
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 70
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 71
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 72
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 73
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 74
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 75
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 76
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 77
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 78
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 79
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 80
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 81
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 82
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 83
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 84
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 85
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 86
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 87
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 88
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 89
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 90
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 91
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 92
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 93
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 94
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 95
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 96
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 97
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 98
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 99
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 100
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 101
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 102
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 103
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 104
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 105
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 106
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 107
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 108
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 109
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 110
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 111
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 112
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 113
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 114
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 115
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 116
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 117
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 118
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 119
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 120
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 121
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 122
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 123
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 124
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 125
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 126
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 127
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 128
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 129
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 130
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 131
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 132
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 133
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 134
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 135
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 136
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 137
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 138
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 139
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 140
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 141
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 142
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 143
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 144
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 145
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 146
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 147
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 148
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 149
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 150
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 151
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 152
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 153
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 154
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 155
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 156
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 157
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 158
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 159
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 160
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 161
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 162
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 163
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 164
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 165
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 166
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 167
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 168
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 169
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 170
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - Cover3
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - Cover4
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201702/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201701/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201612/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201611/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201610/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/pbios2016_programguide/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201609/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201608/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201607/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201606/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201605/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201604/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201603/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201602/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201601/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201512/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201511/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201510/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201509/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201508/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201507/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201506/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201505/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201504/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201503/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201502/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201501/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201412/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201411/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201410/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201409/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/pbios2014_programguide/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201408/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201407/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201406/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201405/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201404/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201403/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201402/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201401/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201312/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201311/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201310/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201309/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201308/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201307/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201306/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201305/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201304/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201303/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201302/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201301/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201212/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201211/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201210/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201209/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/2012_pbios/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201208/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201207/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201206/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201205/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201204/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201203/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201202/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201201/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/demo/aogr_clone/stage.php
http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201112/stage.php
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com