Directional Drilling Planning, Surveying and Anti-Collision Training Course

1. Introduction to Directional Drilling

1.1 Directional Drilling Fundamentals

• Evolution of directional drilling including (historical developments, technological advancements, and current practices)

• Applications and objectives including (target access, multiple wells, sidetracking, and relief wells)

• Well classification including (build and hold, S-type, horizontal, and multilateral configurations)

• Economic considerations including (cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, and project economics)

• Key terminology including (inclination, azimuth, dogleg severity, and tool face)

• Integration with other disciplines including (geology, reservoir engineering, and completion engineering)

• Directional well planning workflow including (data gathering, trajectory design, and execution planning)

1.2 Wellbore Positioning

• Coordinate systems including (geographic, projected grid, and local reference frames)

• Reference systems including (true north, grid north, and magnetic north references)

• Geodetic considerations including (datum transformations, projections, and conversions)

• Position uncertainty concepts including (error ellipses, confidence regions, and probability calculations)

• Positioning standards including (ISCWSA uncertainty models and industry best practices)

• Global positioning systems including (GPS, land surveys, and offshore positioning methods)

• Wellhead positioning including (slot surveys, platform surveys, and template positioning)

2. Trajectory Planning and Design

2.1 Planning Fundamentals

• Planning objectives including (geological targets, clearance requirements, and operational constraints)

• Target definition including (coordinate specification, target size, and geological uncertainty)

• Clearance constraints including (lease boundaries, existing wells, and surface obstacles)

• 2D and 3D planning methods including (vertical section displays, horizontal projections, and 3D visualization)

• Computer-aided well planning including (software capabilities, input requirements, and output interpretation)

• Planning workflows including (preliminary design, optimization, and final approval)

• Documentation requirements including (well plans, survey programs, and anti-collision reports)

2.2 Trajectory Design Methods

• Basic trajectory types including (vertical, build and hold, S-type, horizontal, and complex 3D)

• Directional profile calculations including (build rates, turn rates, and hold sections)

• Minimum curvature method including (mathematical basis, implementation, and limitations)

• Advanced calculation methods including (radius of curvature, balanced tangential, and quaternion methods)

• Tortuosity considerations including (micro-doglegs, sliding intervals, and wellbore quality)

• Directional drilling constraints including (build rate capabilities, tool limitations, and formation constraints)

• Optimization techniques including (minimum torque and drag, minimum ECD, and optimal target approach)

2.3 Advanced Planning Considerations

• Extended reach drilling including (ERD envelope, technical limits, and design considerations)

• Multilateral well planning including (junction design, branch trajectory, and re-entry considerations)

• HPHT well planning including (temperature effects on tools, survey corrections, and material limitations)

• Relief well planning including (interception strategy, ranging techniques, and kill operations)

• Geological steering including (geosteering techniques, real-time adjustments, and target navigation)

• Shallow hazards and top hole considerations including (conductor design, shallow gas, and shallow water flow)

• Formation-specific considerations including (anisotropy effects, bedding planes, and stress orientation)

3. Directional Surveying

3.1 Survey Measurements and Instruments

• Basic survey measurements including (inclination, azimuth, and toolface orientation)

• Magnetic survey tools including (magnetic single-shot, multi-shot, and MWD systems)

• Gyroscopic survey tools including (north-seeking gyros, rate gyros, and gyro-while-drilling)

• Inertial navigation systems including (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and integration techniques)

• Continuous surveying methods including (MWD, RSS integrated surveys, and wired pipe telemetry)

• Environmental effects including (magnetic interference, temperature, and vibration)

• Survey tool specifications including (accuracy, range, and operational limitations)

3.2 Survey Calculation Methods

• Basic calculation methods including (tangential, balanced tangential, and minimum curvature)

• ISCWSA standard calculation method including (implementation details and industry adoption)

• Survey station spacing including (regulatory requirements, operational considerations, and uncertainty impacts)

• Interpolation between survey stations including (methods, limitations, and applications)

• Definitive surveys including (final survey compilation, quality control, and official record creation)

• Survey validation techniques including (consistency checks, error detection, and quality indicators)

• Visualization of survey data including (2D plots, 3D models, and uncertainty visualization)

3.3 Survey Error Models

• Error sources including (instrument errors, magnetic field variations, and misalignment)

• Error propagation including (systematic errors, random errors, and correlation effects)

• ISCWSA error models including (standard models, revisions, and implementation)

• Tool error models including (MWD, gyro, and combined systems)

• Weighting functions including (error model adjustment and survey quality incorporation)

• Covariance methods including (error ellipse calculation and statistical interpretation)

• Error model validation including (field testing, benchmark datasets, and industry collaboration)

3.4 Survey Quality Control and Management

• Quality assurance procedures including (pre-job verification, operational checks, and post-job validation)

• Magnetic quality control including (MWD calibration, magnetic field monitoring, and interference detection)

• Gyro quality control including (reference checks, drift analysis, and initialization procedures)

• Data management processes including (real-time validation, transfer protocols, and archiving requirements)

• Survey program design including (station frequency, tool selection, and uncertainty management)

• Correction techniques including (magnetic correction, multi-station analysis, and gyro referencing)

• Survey database management including (data storage, retrieval systems, and integrity verification)

4. Anti-Collision Management

4.1 Collision Risk Management

• Collision risk definitions including (separation factor, collision probability, and risk categories)

• Well proximity calculations including (center-to-center distance, closest approach, and clearance factor)

• Risk assessment methods including (qualitative assessment, quantitative analysis, and acceptance criteria)

• Separation rules including (company standards, regulatory requirements, and special situations)

• Scanning methods including (traveling cylinder, traveling ellipse, and closest approach scanning)

• Risk mitigation measures including (survey program enhancement, operational procedures, and contingency planning)

• Documentation and reporting including (risk matrices, exception handling, and management approval)

4.2 Anti-Collision Calculation Methods

• Center-to-center distance including (calculation methods and interpretation)

• Separation factor calculation including (uncertainty incorporation and safety factor application)

• Traveling cylinder method including (implementation details, advantages, and limitations)

• Traveling ellipse method including (statistical basis, implementation, and interpretation)

• Closest approach algorithms including (optimization techniques and computational considerations)

• Advanced methods including (probability of collision, combined uncertainty regions, and enhanced models)

• Special situations including (slot patterns, conductor proximity, and fish hook wells)

4.3 Anti-Collision Planning and Protocols

• Hazard identification including (offset well inventory, facility structure mapping, and subsurface objects)

• Well avoidance planning including (separation strategy, survey program enhancement, and contingency plans)

• Critical section management including (enhanced surveying, reduced drilling parameters, and vigilant monitoring)

• Separation assurance including (real-time monitoring, update frequency, and verification surveys)

• Reference well data including (quality assessment, position uncertainty, and data reliability)

• Collision avoidance protocols including (separation rules, approval workflow, and exception management)

• Operational implementation including (directional driller responsibilities, communication procedures, and management oversight)

5. Directional Drilling Tools and Systems

5.1 Directional Drilling Assemblies

• Bottom hole assembly design including (stabilization, bend configuration, and drill string components)

• Positive displacement motors including (operating principles, specifications, and applications)

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

• Directional control elements including (bent housing, stabilizers, and specialty tools)

• Tool selection criteria including (hole size, formation characteristics, and directional objectives)

• Performance expectations including (build rate capability, turning radius, and dogleg limitations)

• Specialty tools including (whipstocks, drilling jars, and reaming tools)

5.2 Measurement While Drilling Systems

• MWD tool configurations including (sensor packages, power systems, and telemetry options)

• Directional sensors including (magnetometers, accelerometers, and gyroscopic components)

• Formation evaluation sensors including (gamma ray, resistivity, and additional measurements)

• Data transmission methods including (mud pulse, electromagnetic, wired drill pipe, and acoustic)

• Real-time data management including (surface systems, data quality control, and visualization)

• Survey acquisition procedures including (static surveys, continuous surveys, and enhanced protocols)

• Tool limitations including (temperature, pressure, vibration, and flow rate constraints)

5.3 Rotary Steerable Systems

• Operating principles including (steering mechanisms, control systems, and mode selection)

• Tool capabilities including (dogleg capability, steerability, and operational envelope)

• Operating parameters including (weight on bit, rotational speed, and flow rate requirements)

• Tool selection including (application-specific considerations, hole size range, and formation compatibility)

• Performance optimization including (parameter selection, sequence programming, and response monitoring)

• Advanced features including (auto-trajectory control, closed-loop steering, and automated drilling)

• Specialty applications including (high-temperature environments, extended reach, and hard formations)

6. Real-Time Directional Drilling and Monitoring

6.1 Directional Drilling Operations

• Pre-job planning including (BHA design, survey program, and operational procedures)

• Operational techniques including (slide drilling, rotary drilling, and hybrid approaches)

• Toolface control including (orientation methods, maintenance techniques, and verification)

• Course correction procedures including (projection analysis, correction magnitude, and implementation)

• Operational decision-making including (real-time adjustments, contingency implementation, and optimization)

• Communication protocols including (well site to office, interdisciplinary coordination, and reporting requirements)

• Performance tracking including (drilling efficiency, directional accuracy, and quality indicators)

6.2 Real-Time Monitoring Systems

• Data acquisition systems including (surface systems, WITSML implementation, and data integration)

• Visualization platforms including (2D displays, 3D visualization, and integrated dashboards)

• Directional projection methods including (trend analysis, prediction algorithms, and uncertainty visualization)

• Anti-collision monitoring including (separation updates, alert systems, and proximity warnings)

• Advanced drilling analytics including (drilling dynamics, drilling efficiency, and performance optimization)

• Real-time survey management including (data validation, correction application, and quality control)

• Remote operations support including (collaboration tools, expert input, and knowledge sharing)

6.3 Geosteering and Target Navigation

• Reservoir navigation fundamentals including (geological markers, formation dip, and target characteristics)

• Stratigraphic correlation including (log analysis, formation identification, and structural interpretation)

• Logging while drilling applications including (gamma ray, resistivity, and advanced measurements)

• Geosteering techniques including (reactive steering, proactive steering, and integrated workflows)

• Decision-making process including (geological input, directional capabilities, and real-time adjustments)

• Target positioning including (TVD control, along-hole position, and geological uncertainty)

• Advanced applications including (reservoir mapping while drilling, look-ahead technologies, and formation imaging)

7. Survey Data Management and Reporting

7.1 Data Management Systems

• Database structure including (data fields, relationships, and integrity constraints)

• Data formats including (industry standards, company-specific formats, and exchange protocols)

• Data workflow including (acquisition, validation, storage, and retrieval)

• Quality control processes including (validation checks, error detection, and correction procedures)

• Integration with other systems including (geological databases, drilling systems, and project management tools)

• Security and access control including (permissions, audit trails, and backup procedures)

• Long-term archiving including (record retention, retrieval capabilities, and historical preservation)

7.2 Reporting and Documentation

• Well planning reports including (trajectory design, anti-collision analysis, and survey program)

• Operational reports including (daily directional reports, critical section summaries, and exception notifications)

• Final well reports including (as-drilled trajectory, definitive survey, and performance evaluation)

• Regulatory compliance documentation including (government submissions, lease requirements, and statutory reporting)

• Technical documentation including (uncertainty analysis, error modeling, and quality assessment)

• Visualization outputs including (well path plots, proximity displays, and 3D models)

• Knowledge management including (lessons learned, best practices, and continuous improvement)

8. HSE in Directional Drilling Operations

• Operational risk assessment including (hazard identification, risk evaluation, and mitigation measures)

• Well control considerations including (kick detection, response procedures, and prevention measures)

• Environmental protection including (spill prevention, waste management, and regulatory compliance)

• Personnel safety including (equipment handling, pressure systems, and high-risk activities)

• Emergency response including (blowout scenarios, equipment failure, and contingency planning)

• Regulatory compliance including (local requirements, industry standards, and company policies)

9. Advanced Applications and Technologies

9.1 Extended Reach Drilling

• Technical limits including (depth vs. departure ratio, friction limitations, and operational challenges)

• Specialized equipment including (high-torque tools, advanced materials, and friction reduction)

• Trajectory optimization including (torque and drag minimization, buckling avoidance, and wellbore quality)

• Surveying challenges including (magnetic interference, gyro limitations, and uncertainty management)

• Case studies including (world records, technical achievements, and lessons learned)

• Emerging technologies including (advanced drilling systems, specialized fluids, and innovative approaches)

9.2 Multilateral Well Construction

• Junction types including (TAML classification, construction methods, and selection criteria)

• Branch planning including (orientation selection, separation strategy, and anti-collision considerations)

• Re-entry techniques including (window milling, whipstock operations, and intelligent completions)

• Survey challenges including (branch identification, definitive positioning, and uncertainty management)

• Advanced applications including (maximum reservoir contact wells, fishbone configurations, and complex networks)

• Case studies including (field implementations, performance evaluation, and design optimization)

9.3 Relief Well Planning and Execution

• Blowout scenario analysis including (well characteristics, flow conditions, and intervention requirements)

• Target well uncertainty including (historical data, position estimation, and error assessment)

• Interception planning including (approach strategy, interception depth, and kill operations)

• Ranging techniques including (passive ranging, active ranging, and electromagnetic methods)

• Specialized equipment including (ranging tools, milling systems, and kill equipment)

• Case studies including (successful interventions, technical challenges, and lessons learned)

10. Case Studies & Group Discussions

• Complex directional well planning including (challenging trajectories, tight targets, and multiple constraints)

• Anti-collision management examples including (close proximity situations, risk mitigation strategies, and successful execution)

• Survey error analysis including (error identification, correction methodologies, and uncertainty management)

• Tool selection optimization including (application-specific considerations, performance evaluation, and lesson learned)

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

• The importance of proper training in successful directional drilling operations