Measured depth

Measured depth

Measured depth refers to the depth of a well that is measured along the path of the wellbore. It is used to calculate vertical depths based on the curvature of the well path. Measured depth is a function of true vertical depth, measured depth, and well inclination.From: Dictionary of Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Processing [2019], New Tools, Old Tasks [2017], Pressure survey, analysis and diagnostic of small diameter velocity string to improve well monitoring and surveillance [2023]

Offshore Drilling

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Published in Sukumar Laik, Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production, 2018

Sukumar Laik

The cement-filled shoe of the 20″ casing is next drilled out with a 17½″ bit, after which a 17½″ hole is drilled to a vertical depth, in this well’s case, of 3000′. However, not the entire distance is drilled vertically. At 1800 ft TVD there is a ‘kick-off point’ where the drill bit will be deviated by directional drilling techniques. By the time the bit arrives at a level 3000′ directly below the sea bed it will actually have travelled 3219′ along the hole. This is termed the ‘measured depth’ (MD).

Drilling in Action: Two Short Stories

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Published in Torgeir K. Haavik, New Tools, Old Tasks, 2017

Torgeir K. Haavik

In connection with depth measurements, it should be noted that there are two different types of depth values; measured depth and vertical depth. Measured depths are calculated as the sum of every joint making up the drill string from surface to the drill bit. The composition of the drill string is listed in a manually produced paper or computer file, the tally. Vertical depths are then calculated on the basis of the measured depth and the curvature of the well path.

Offshore oil and gas records circa 2020

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Journal Information

Published in Ships and Offshore Structures, 2022

Mark J. Kaiser

Circa 2020, wells have been drilled about 14,000 m (39,400 ft, 7.5 mi) horizontally or straight down but not both at the same time (Figure 12). The longest wells have a measured depth of about 15 km (49,500 ft, 9.4 mi), and researchers have proposed concepts enabling simultaneous drilling and completion of wells up to 30 km.

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Offshore Drilling

Drilling in Action: Two Short Stories

Offshore oil and gas records circa 2020