Directional & Horizontal Drilling Training Course

1. Introduction to Directional & Horizontal Drilling

1.1 Directional Drilling Fundamentals

• Evolution of directional drilling including (vertical, deviated, horizontal, and multilateral wells)

• Applications and benefits of directional drilling including (offshore development, pad drilling, and sidetracking)

• Directional drilling terminology including (inclination, azimuth, and dogleg severity)

• Key performance indicators including (wellbore quality, trajectory accuracy, and drilling efficiency)

• Introduction to API RP 76 and IADC guidelines for directional drilling operations

1.2 Well Planning Concepts

• Well design objectives including (anti-collision, reservoir entry points, and geological targeting)

• Technical limit analysis including (extended reach capabilities, critical parameters, and limitations)

• Risk assessment methodologies including (directional drilling risks, mitigation strategies, and contingency planning)

• Economic considerations including (cost-benefit analysis, development optimization, and well count reduction)

• Geological considerations including (formation dip, structure mapping, and geosteering requirements)

2. Directional Well Planning & Trajectory Design

2.1 Coordinate Systems & Reference Frames

• Geographic coordinate systems including (latitude/longitude, UTM, and local grid systems)

• Wellbore reference frames including (true vertical depth, measured depth, and vertical section)

• North references including (true north, grid north, and magnetic north corrections)

• Survey calculations including (minimum curvature method, balanced tangential method, and radius of curvature)

• Directional survey referencing including (tie-in points, kickoff points, and projection methods)

2.2 Trajectory Design Techniques

• Build and hold trajectory design including (kickoff point selection, build rates, and tangent sections)

• S-shaped profile design including (build-hold-drop sections, inflection points, and landing points)

• 3D well planning including (complex trajectories, azimuth changes, and dogleg management)

• Horizontal well design including (entry angle, lateral length, and undulation control)

• Multilateral well design including (junction types, parent wellbore design, and lateral placement)

3. Anti-Collision & Wellbore Positioning

3.1 Anti-Collision Management

• Ellipse of uncertainty concepts including (survey tool accuracy, error models, and confidence levels)

• Separation factor calculations including (center-to-center distance, collision risk criteria, and safety factors)

• Proximity analysis including (closest approach, critical sections, and collision avoidance strategies)

• Slot allocation and well spacing including (template design, pad layout, and wellhead positioning)

• Anti-collision scanning techniques including (traveling cylinder method, sphere method, and closest approach)

3.2 Wellbore Positioning & Accuracy

• Survey program design including (survey stations, frequency requirements, and quality control)

• MWD/Gyro comparison including (applications, limitations, and environment considerations)

• Error modeling including (random errors, systematic errors, and cumulative uncertainty)

• Correction techniques including (multi-station analysis, COMPASS correction, and gyro calibration)

• Advanced positioning technologies including (ranging techniques, electromagnetic methods, and acoustic methods)

4. Directional Drilling Tools & Equipment

4.1 Bottom Hole Assembly Design

• BHA components including (drill collars, stabilizers, and specialty tools)

• Directional tendency analysis including (fulcrum principles, stiffness considerations, and stabilizer placement)

• Modeling and analysis including (BHA modeling software, static analysis, and dynamic behavior)

• Steerable systems selection including (tool capabilities, application ranges, and formation suitability)

• Specialized BHA tools including (reamers, hole openers, and underreamers)

4.2 Directional Drilling Systems

• Positive displacement motors including (power section configurations, bent housing options, and performance specifications)

• Rotary steerable systems including (push-the-bit, point-the-bit, and hybrid systems)

• MWD/LWD systems including (directional sensors, formation evaluation tools, and real-time capabilities)

• Specialized directional tools including (rotary steerable motors, gyro tools, and whipstocks)

• Tool selection criteria including (formation characteristics, wellbore requirements, and operational constraints)

5. Surveying Methods & Technologies

5.1 MWD Survey Systems

• Magnetic survey tools including (sensor configurations, calibration procedures, and environmental corrections)

• Gyroscopic survey tools including (north-seeking, rate, and inertial navigation systems)

• Combined survey systems including (magnetic/gyro hybrids, augmented systems, and enhanced accuracy tools)

• Continuous surveying technologies including (real-time surveying, along-string measurements, and look-ahead capabilities)

• Quality control procedures including (sensor validation, field checks, and acceptance criteria)

5.2 Survey Management & Quality Control

• Survey program design including (station intervals, critical sections, and multi-run strategies)

• Magnetic interference management including (interference mapping, modeling, and correction factors)

• Survey validation including (surface checks, downhole checks, and reference measurements)

• Multi-station analysis including (consistency checks, error detection, and uncertainty reduction)

• Survey reporting including (standard formats, visualization tools, and documentation requirements)

6. Horizontal Drilling Techniques

6.1 Horizontal Well Applications

• Reservoir types for horizontal wells including (thin reservoirs, naturally fractured formations, and heterogeneous zones)

• Enhanced recovery applications including (thermal recovery, low permeability formations, and waterflood optimization)

• Extended reach drilling including (step-out ratio, critical parameters, and design limitations)

• Multilateral applications including (drainage optimization, compartmentalized reservoirs, and field development planning)

• Environmental applications including (reduced surface footprint, sensitive areas, and regulatory compliance)

6.2 Horizontal Drilling Operations

• Build section drilling including (kickoff techniques, build rate management, and course corrections)

• Landing techniques including (approach angles, target windows, and landing criteria)

• Lateral section drilling including (azimuth control, dogleg management, and undulation minimization)

• Hole cleaning considerations including (cuttings transport, flow regime optimization, and drilling fluid design)

• Geosteering applications including (real-time adjustments, geological correlation, and reservoir navigation)

7. Wellbore Friction & Torque and Drag

7.1 Torque and Drag Analysis

• Friction factor determination including (field measurement, correlation techniques, and calibration methods)

• Soft string modeling including (basic models, limitations, and applications)

• Stiff string modeling including (advanced modeling, buckling analysis, and contact force distribution)

• Field measurement techniques including (surface measurements, downhole tools, and real-time monitoring)

• Limiting factors identification including (surface limitations, downhole constraints, and critical sections)

7.2 Friction Reduction Strategies

• Mechanical friction reduction including (roller applications, non-rotating drill pipe protectors, and torque rings)

• Lubricants and additives including (beads, solid lubricants, and liquid lubricants)

• Wellbore quality improvement including (backreaming techniques, hole cleaning optimization, and ledge removal)

• Operational techniques including (slide-rotate sequences, RPM optimization, and weight management)

• Advanced technologies including (axial oscillation tools, lateral vibration tools, and friction reduction subs)

8. Motor Drilling & Slide Drilling Techniques

8.1 Motor Operations

• Motor specifications including (displacement, power output, and differential pressure relationships)

• Bit-motor matching including (torque requirements, RPM optimization, and formation considerations)

• Bend setting selection including (dogleg capability, stability, and application requirements)

• Motor performance optimization including (weight-on-bit, differential pressure, and rotary speed relationships)

• Troubleshooting techniques including (motor stalling, irregular performance, and downhole damage)

8.2 Slide Drilling Management

• Toolface orientation techniques including (gravity toolface, magnetic toolface, and reference alignments)

• Slide and rotate sequencing including (slide length optimization, rotation intervals, and course correction)

• Directional control including (toolface control, reactive torque management, and stick-slip mitigation)

• Friction management including (pipe reciprocation, pump rate variation, and rotation techniques)

• Advanced slide drilling including (automated slides, oscillation tools, and agitator systems)

9. Rotary Steerable Systems

9.1 RSS Technology & Applications

• Push-the-bit systems including (pad actuation mechanisms, steering principles, and application ranges)

• Point-the-bit systems including (shaft deflection mechanisms, steering principles, and application ranges)

• Hybrid systems including (combined steering mechanisms, advantages, and limitations)

• System comparison including (steering capability, dogleg severity, and operational efficiency)

• Selection criteria including (wellbore requirements, cost considerations, and formation suitability)

9.2 RSS Operations & Optimization

• Operational parameters including (weight-on-bit, rotary speed, and flow rate requirements)

• Steering commands including (steering ratios, target settings, and mode selection)

• Performance monitoring including (steering efficiency, vibration management, and downhole diagnostics)

• Advanced applications including (high-angle wells, extended reach drilling, and complex trajectories)

• Troubleshooting techniques including (steering response issues, control problems, and system limitations)

10. Directional Drilling Challenges

10.1 Wellbore Stability in Directional Wells

• Stress concentration in deviated wells including (stress transformation, critical angles, and failure mechanisms)

• Mud weight optimization including (stability window, inclination effects, and azimuth considerations)

• Formation-specific challenges including (reactive shales, mobile formations, and salt sections)

• Mechanical stability issues including (key seating, differential sticking, and hole enlargement)

• Remedial actions including (wellbore strengthening, stabilization techniques, and contingency procedures)

10.2 Problem Prevention & Solutions

• Stuck pipe prevention including (early warning signs, contributing factors, and preventive measures)

• Borehole quality issues including (spiraling, rifling, and oval hole)

• Drilling dysfunction management including (vibration types, detection methods, and mitigation techniques)

• Wellbore integrity challenges including (wellbore breathing, ballooning, and fracture propagation)

• Fishing operations including (complex trajectory considerations, specialized techniques, and recovery methods)

11. Geosteering & Reservoir Navigation

11.1 Geosteering Principles

• Geological correlation techniques including (log correlation, marker identification, and formation dip determination)

• LWD interpretation including (gamma ray, resistivity, and density/neutron interpretation)

• Structural modeling including (bed boundary detection, fault identification, and structural updates)

• Stratigraphic correlation including (sequence identification, depositional environment, and facies changes)

• Uncertainty management including (projection uncertainty, interpretation ambiguity, and decision-making processes)

11.2 Advanced Reservoir Navigation

• Look-ahead technologies including (deep resistivity, seismic while drilling, and acoustic techniques)

• Real-time decision making including (information integration, update workflows, and steering decisions)

• Target window management including (geological boundaries, optimal placement strategies, and tolerance management)

• Advanced mapping techniques including (3D visualization, real-time modeling, and structural updating)

• Multi-discipline collaboration including (geologist-driller interaction, remote operations, and decision support)

12. HSE in Directional Drilling Operations

• Risk assessment techniques including (directional-specific hazards, risk matrices, and control effectiveness)

• Environmental impact considerations including (reduced footprint drilling, sensitive area protection, and emissions reduction)

• Operational safety aspects including (high-pressure operations, rotating equipment hazards, and trapped pressure)

• Regulatory compliance requirements including (reporting standards, well spacing regulations, and boundary agreements)

• Emergency response planning including (well control considerations, complex trajectory complications, and relief well planning)

13. Case Studies & Group Discussions

• Regional case studies from Middle East operations including (extended reach wells, complex multilaterals, and challenging formations)

• Directional drilling optimization successes including (significant performance improvements, NPT reduction, and cost savings)

• Problem-solving exercises including (anti-collision scenarios, survey management challenges, and wellbore positioning)

• Integrated directional planning including (field development optimization, slot reduction strategies, and multi-well campaigns)

• The importance of proper training in successful directional drilling operations