This course will expose participants to terminology, concepts, processes, and equipment used to drill oil and gas wells. The planning process followed by drilling engineers is covered to the extent that participants will understand the process and be able to initiate a well plan and well design. Non-complex calculations and basic problems are included so that participants will do and see how this is done by the drilling engineer.

This class will serve to introduce the entry level drilling engineer to the drilling engineering profession. Participants will be able to identify rig components, make simple rig sizing calculations, describe basic drilling fluids, drillbit selection concepts, directional drilling plans and tools used in this technology. Additionally some cost estimating processes, fundamentals of well control, drilling tool selection and the important standards used in the drilling industry.

Sub-Discipline                                                        Drilling Technology

Discipline                                                               Drilling Engineering

Modality                                                                Classroom

Course Level                                                          Foundation

Course duration                                                     5 Day

Course Objective

This course will expose participants to the terminology, concepts, processes, and equipment used to drill oil and gas wells. The planning process followed by drilling engineers will be covered to the extent that participants will understand the process and be able to initiate a complete well design.

Topics Covered

Day 1 – The value of drilling, well types, Time versus depth curve, AFE, The drilling team, Trajectory Design, Directional Drilling, Drill String Design and Bit design.

Day 2 – Fluids engineering, Drilling hydraulics, rheology. Day 3 – Casing design, Wellheads and Well Control

Day 4 – Cementing operations, cementing equipment, primary cementing, stage and liner cementing, Rig types, hoisting system, rotary system, circulating system.

Day 5 – Rig well control system, Rig automation system, rig power system, Completions and Fishing

Audience

This course is aimed at entry level drilling engineers.

Prerequisite

Having some exposure in the oilfield will be beneficial though not essential. Simple calculations will be performed during this course and participants will need to be able to operate a basic hand held calculator.

Activities

Day 1

Day 1 – The Well Construction Process

Drilling purpose, where it fits into the Exploration and Production (E&P) process and its value. Exploration, appraisal, and development drilling

The drilling Team, TvD and AFE Rig types

Rig systems

On the first day, participants will learn about the well construction process. This will cover topics such as where drilling fits into the E&P process, what information can be obtained from drilling, and the exploration, appraisal, and development of a well. Well costing, AFE, and drilling operation procedures will be discussed as well.

In the afternoon, we will continue with the different type of rigs and will continue with the description of the Rig systems, key variables to design the hoisting, rotary, circulation, power and well control systems. Further the automation system, we’ll drive the student through digital Intelligence concepts and robotics applied to the rig.

Day 2

Day 2 – Directional Drilling, Well trajectory, Drillstring components and drill bits

Trajectory Design Directional Drilling

Drill String components Drill Bits Overview

The day will continue with the basics about well trajectory design and key concepts about drilling surveying and the drill string components and drill bits overview.

Day 3

Day 3 – Drilling Fluids and hydraulics

Functions of drilling fluids Composition of different type of fluids Hydraulics

Rheology

The third day will focus on the basics of drilling fluids. Participants will learn about the functions of the different drilling fluids as water based, oils based, synthetic based , air based, Air/water and Air/polymer. Drilling hydraulics and rheology will also be covered on this day, key for an optimal engineering.

Day 4

Day 4 – Casing Design and Well Control

Casing Manufacturing Process Casing Properties

Casing Design Wellheads Well Control

This day will focus firstly on casing design, both from an engineering and an operation perspective. Design concepts will be covered for a wide range of straightforward, as well as hostile environments. The course will examine the nomenclature of casing design, manufacturing processes, material properties and material selection. The theory of burst, collapse, and axial loading will be discussed, along with design policies and procedures. Important API specifications and other industry standards will be discussed in order for the participants to become familiar with these documents. Casing setting depths and depth design concepts will also be covered, key for an optimal

engineering.

This day fill follows with Wellheads, Well kicks, basic calculations required to kill a well, and the main functions of the BOP system will also be covered. The day will end with participants learning about the difference between a blow out and a well control situation.

Day 5

Day 4 – Cementing, completions and introduction to fishing

Cement purpose and additives Primary and secondary Cementing Casing hardware

Completions introduction Fishing introduction

The importance of effective cement placement will be taught, as well as the hardware used to accomplish quality primary cement jobs. Cementing additives, Mud removal methods, techniques, and systems will be covered so that the participants will be able to recommend appropriate methods for their wells.

At the end of the day, we’ll make a n introduction about completions and fishing ope