Directional Drilling and MWD Tools

Directional Drilling

Directional drilling is a type of non-vertical drilling used in the oil, utility and coal industries in order to perform precise exploratory and retraction applications. Before the advent of modern technologies such as MWD tools, drillers assumed that all wells were dug in an entirely vertical manner; it was not until several drilling companies were sued for boundary encroachment by adjacent property owners that people began to realize wells were not completely vertical. Drilling companies are developing tools to increase well accuracy, including MWD tools and Rotary Steerable tools. Most types of directional drilling machinery can give virtually real-time feed back to users as the well is being dug. Such accuracy is beneficial in the following ways:

  • Increases the exposed reservoir section length by allowing drilling through the reservoir at an angle.
  • Drills into a particular reservoir where vertical access is impossible, or at least extremely difficult.
  • Allows more wellheads to be grouped together on a single surface, which allows for fewer rig moves, less disturbance on surface areas and cheaper and easier well production.
  • Allows the drilling of “relief wells”, relieving the pressure of a well production without restraint.

MWD Tools

MWD (Measurement While Drilling) tools are extremely complex, hi-tech drilling tools that are able to take directional surveys in real time. Using accelerometers and magnetometers, MWD tools measure both the inclination (deviation from the vertical) and azimuth (direction with respect to the geographic grid) of the wellbore. This important information is transmitted instantaneously to the directional drilling company, who can then complete even more accurate wellbores that more precisely aim for the target zone.

KM Services

KM Services is a Houston-based company that designs and fabricates a line of MWD tool replacement parts, particularly for the directional drilling industry. The main focus of KM Services is to provide excellent components, built using decades of machining experienced. We are much more than just a replacement parts warehouse, however. We are also a source of specialty components that are built to meet your application’s modifications. When your directional drilling company needs MWD tool parts, call KM Services at 713.944.6130.