Directional Drilling

About Directional Drilling

Directional boring uses a surface drilling machine to dig an underground path. The borehole is drilled following a specific bore path, resulting in a minimal disturbance on the ground. There is many advantages to directional drilling including the following:

1. No need for shoring or open trenches.
2. No disturbance to existing asphalt, concrete or sod.
3. Avoid open trenches in high traffic areas.
4. Ability to get conduit under rivers or wet locations without the need for dewatering.

What's part of the service?

The service includes the bore, installation of conduit, and a pull string if needed.

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What is Directional Drilling?

Directional drilling refers to the process of controlling the direction and deviation of a borehole to reach a specific underground target. Unlike traditional vertical drilling, which drills straight down, directional drilling allows for angled paths, horizontal approaches, or even multiple branches from a single well. This technology is particularly useful for accessing hard-to-reach resources, reducing surface disruption, and optimizing resource extraction.

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Directional drilling has its roots in the oil and gas industry, but its versatility has seen it expand into many sectors, making it a crucial part of modern infrastructure.

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How Does Directional Drilling Work?

Directional drilling begins with careful planning and design. Engineers assess the site, determine the desired path, and select the appropriate drilling method. The process involves drilling a pilot hole, using specialized tools to guide the drill bit along the predetermined path. Sensors in the equipment provide real-time feedback to ensure accuracy, and adjustments are made as needed.

Directional drilling involves several precise steps:

1. Pilot Hole Drilling: A small, guided hole is drilled along a predetermined path.
2. Monitoring and Steering: Specialized sensors in the drill head provide real-time data to operators, allowing them to adjust the drilling direction as needed.
3. Reaming and Installation: After the pilot hole is drilled, it is enlarged to fit the required pipeline or conduit. The reamer is pulled through the hole to widen it.
4. Pullback Process: The pipeline or cable is then pulled through the enlarged hole and installed in place.

This entire process is monitored closely to ensure precision, especially when drilling near sensitive areas like underground utilities or protected ecosystems.

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What Tools and Equipment Are Used in Directional Drilling?

Directional drilling requires specialized equipment to ensure accuracy and efficiency. The most common tools include:

• Drill Bits: The cutting edge that penetrates the earth. There are various types of drill bits designed for different ground conditions, such as rock, clay, or sand.
• Downhole Motors: These power the drill bit at the bottom of the hole and enable the steering process.‍
• Tracking and Guidance Systems: Advanced sensors (such as GPR) and gyroscopic tools allow operators to track the drill’s position underground and make adjustments in real time.

How Much Does Directional Drilling Cost?

The cost of directional drilling depends on how much you need done. The more drilling you need, the cheaper each foot will be.

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What is the difference between directional and horizontal drilling?

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

Horizontal directional drilling is one of the most common forms used today. It allows for the installation of underground pipelines, conduits, or cables with minimal surface disruption. This method is particularly effective for crossing under rivers, roads, or existing infrastructure. HDD is widely used in the telecommunications, oil, and gas sectors due to its flexibility and precision.

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Vertical Directional Drilling

Vertical directional drilling is mainly employed in oil and gas exploration, where reaching deep underground reservoirs is essential. The ability to steer the drill at different angles allows for better access to these resources and enhances production efficiency.

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Multilateral Drilling

Multilateral drilling is a specialized technique used in the oil and gas industry, allowing companies to access multiple wells from a single borehole. This improves resource extraction efficiency and reduces the environmental impact by limiting the number of surface disruptions.

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Who Invented Directional Drilling?

Directional drilling, a technique that allows drillers to steer a wellbore along a specific path, was pioneered by several inventors and companies over time. The initial concept of deviating a well from a vertical path was developed in the early 20th century to solve various drilling challenges.

The first significant advancements in directional drilling are often credited to the American inventor H. John Eastman and Romanowski brothers, who in the 1920s developed a tool called the “whipstock.” The whipstock was a wedge-like device placed at the bottom of the wellbore to guide the drill bit in a non-vertical direction.

In the 1930s and 1940s, further improvements were made, particularly by Claude Brown and Texaco Oil Company, which refined techniques to drill controlled deviated wells.

The technology advanced significantly in the 1970s with the invention of Measurement While Drilling (MWD) tools, allowing for real-time monitoring of the drill bit’s position. This enabled more precise control over well direction. Over time, innovations in rotary steerable systems (RSS) and MWD technologies have further revolutionized directional drilling, making it a core technique in the oil and gas industry for reaching previously inaccessible reservoirs and for complex well paths, including horizontal drilling.

Today, Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes are among the major companies in directional drilling, continuing to improve tools and methods used in modern drilling operations.

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How Far Can Directional Drilling Go?

Directional drilling can extend remarkably far horizontally, depending on the geological conditions, drilling equipment, and techniques used. In ideal conditions, directional drilling can reach several miles away from the vertical drilling site.

Current record-breaking wells have reached horizontal distances of over 40,000 feet (about 7.5 miles) from the vertical starting point. For example, one of the longest directional wells drilled was completed by Rosneft and ExxonMobil in the Sakhalin-1 project in Russia, extending over 49,000 feet (15 kilometers) in length. So regardless of the project size 

In typical applications, such as for oil and gas extraction, wells are often drilled horizontally for distances of 10,000 to 20,000 feet (around 2-4 miles). However, the achievable distance depends on factors like the strength and flexibility of the drill string, the friction encountered along the wellbore, the rock formations, and the accuracy required.

In horizontal drilling for shale oil or gas, longer lateral wells (around 1-2 miles) are preferred to increase contact with the target formation, maximizing resource extraction.

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