MECHANICAL FEASIBILITY AND TORQUE-DRAG OPTIMIZATION FOR CONVERTING HIGHLY DEVIATED J-SHAPE WELLBORES INTO EXTENDED REACH DRILLING (ERD) PROFILES

The economic sustainability of mature assets depends on maximizing reservoir drainage by repurposing existing infrastructure. This study evaluates the mechanical feasibility of converting a highly deviated J-shape well into an Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) profile to access stranded hydrocarbon volumes. Using Torque and Drag (T&D) simulations as the primary technical metric, the research benchmarks the mechanical loads of a conventional Positive Displacement Motor (PDM) against a modern Rotary Steerable System (RSS).
Operational constraints, including surface torque, hoisting capacity, and helical buckling limits, were modeled across various friction factors. Results demonstrate that while the conversion is technically viable, the RSS BHA is essential to mitigate torque and drag compared to PDM configurations. By establishing a decision-making framework based on precise modeling, this research underscores advanced simulation as a requirement for safe well conversions in mature fields.