Definition - What does Deviated Drilling mean?
Deviated drilling is an intentionally carried out drilling that allows the wellbore to incline from the original vertical path of the oil well. Usually, deviated drilling is carried out to improve the reservoir exposure and to access the resources in maximum ways. A wellbore can be drilled at a deviated angle by using different machinery such as bottomhole assembly, whipstocks, steerable motor assembly, and steerable rotary motors to name a few. By opting to use deviated drilling, an oil manufacturing company can get increased exhibition to an oil reservoir that was less accessible in a vertical position.
Petropedia explains Deviated Drilling
Deviated drilling is also known as slant drilling or directional drilling. This drilling procedure is carried out on wells that are horizontal in nature. Therefore, by drilling at a deviated angle, engineers can access the oil reservoir better. Deviated drilling is further categorized into directional boring, oilfield directional drilling, and horizontal directional drilling to name a few. Different types of equipment are brought into use for deviated drilling such as BHA (bottomhole assembly) configuration, rotary steerable systems, whipstock and other drill bits machinery.