True vertical depth

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(a) is an imaginary line representing the True vertical depth, while line (b) is the borehole itself, and it's length is called the measured depth.
(a) is an imaginary line representing the True vertical depth, while line (b) is the borehole itself, and it's length is called the measured depth.


True vertical depth[1] is the measurement of a straight line perpendicularly downwards from a horizontal plane.


In the petroleum industry, true vertical depth, abbreviated as TVD, is the measurement from the surface to the bottom of the borehole (or anywhere along it's length) in a straight perpendicular line represented by line (a) in the image.


Line (b) is the actual borehole and it's length would be considered the measured depth [2] in oilfield terminology. The TVD is always equal to or less than (≤) the measured depth. If you imagine Line (b) were a piece of string and pull it straight down, you would see that it would be longer than Line (a). This example oilwell would be considered a directional well because it deviates from a straight vertical line.




[edit] See Also

Depth in a well


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