Drilling Principles & Practicing Training Course

1. Introduction to Drilling Operations

1.1 Drilling Fundamentals

• Historical development of drilling technology including (early rotary systems, modern advances)

• Drilling process overview including (spudding, drilling phases, well completion)

• Rig types and capabilities including (land rigs, offshore platforms, drill ships)

• Drilling terminology and conventions including (depth references, directional terms)

• Introduction to API RP 59 and IADC guidelines for drilling operations

1.2 Drilling Equipment and Systems

• Hoisting systems including (drawworks, crown block, traveling block)

• Rotating equipment including (rotary table, top drives, kelly drives)

• Circulation systems including (mud pumps, surface equipment, downhole components)

• Power systems including (prime movers, power distribution, control systems)

• Auxiliary systems including (monitoring equipment, safety systems)

2. Well Planning and Design

2.1 Well Design Fundamentals

• Well objectives and requirements including (target depth, production goals, reservoir access)

• Well trajectory design including (vertical, directional, horizontal, multilateral)

• Geological considerations including (formation types, abnormal pressures, temperature gradients)

• Risk assessment methodologies including (hazard identification, consequence analysis)

• Well design documentation including (drilling programs, AFE preparation)

2.2 Casing Program Design

• Casing setting depth determination including (pressure transition zones, problem formations)

• Casing types and functions including (conductor, surface, intermediate, production)

• Design factors and load cases including (burst, collapse, tension, special considerations)

• Wellhead and BOP requirements including (pressure ratings, configuration)

• Casing program optimization including (contingency planning, cost-benefit analysis)

3. Drilling Fluids

3.1 Drilling Fluid Functions and Properties

• Primary functions including (cutting removal, wellbore stability, pressure control)

• Physical properties including (density, viscosity, gel strength, filtration)

• Chemical properties including (pH, alkalinity, hardness, contamination)

• Fluid types including (water-based, oil-based, synthetic, pneumatic)

• Testing methods including (field tests, laboratory analysis)

3.2 Drilling Fluid Engineering

• Water-based mud formulations including (dispersed, non-dispersed, polymer systems)

• Oil-based mud systems including (invert emulsions, all-oil systems)

• Specialty fluids including (completion fluids, workover fluids, foams)

• Contaminant treatment including (cement, salt, gas, formation solids)

• Environmental considerations including (waste management, ecological impact)

4. Drilling Hydraulics

4.1 Hydraulic Fundamentals

• Fluid flow principles including (laminar flow, turbulent flow, rheological models)

• Pressure calculations including (hydrostatic pressure, circulating pressure, ECD)

• Pump performance including (output, pressure capability, volumetric efficiency)

• Nozzle hydraulics including (jet impact force, hydraulic horsepower)

• Annular velocity calculations including (cutting removal, hole cleaning)

4.2 Hydraulic Optimization

• Bit hydraulic optimization including (jet velocity, TFA selection)

• Hole cleaning strategies including (flow rate, rheology adjustment, pipe rotation)

• Surge and swab considerations including (tripping procedures, running casing)

• Hydraulic modeling including (software tools, simulation methods)

• Optimization for special applications including (extended reach, HPHT)

5. Drilling Mechanics

5.1 Drill String Design

• Component selection including (drill pipe, heavy weight, drill collars)

• Stress analysis including (tension, compression, torsion, bending)

• Buckling considerations including (critical buckling loads, stabilization)

• Fatigue management including (connection design, inspection practices)

• Bottom hole assembly design including (directional tendencies, vibration control)

5.2 Drilling Parameters and Optimization

• Weight on bit management including (transfer efficiency, limitations)

• Rotary speed selection including (RPM optimization, vibration prevention)

• Drilling optimization techniques including (specific energy, drilling efficiency)

• Parameter adjustment strategies including (formation transitions, problem zones)

• Performance monitoring including (drilling recorders, trend analysis)

6. Drill Bits and Cutting Mechanics

6.1 Bit Types and Selection

• Roller cone bit designs including (tooth types, bearing systems, seal types)

• Fixed cutter bit designs including (PDC bits, diamond bits, hybrid bits)

• Bit selection criteria including (formation properties, operational requirements)

• IADC bit classification including (roller cone codes, fixed cutter codes)

• Bit records and documentation including (dull grading, performance metrics)

6.2 Bit Performance and Optimization

• Cutting mechanisms including (gouging, scraping, shearing)

• Formation drillability including (rock strength, abrasiveness, heterogeneity)

• Parameter optimization including (WOB, RPM, hydraulics)

• Performance evaluation including (ROP analysis, cost per foot)

• Bit wear mechanisms including (wear patterns, failure modes)

7. Directional Drilling

7.1 Directional Drilling Fundamentals

• Directional well applications including (geometric constraints, multi-target access)

• Well path design including (build and turn sections, tangent sections)

• Trajectory calculations including (dogleg severity, tortuosity, azimuth)

• Survey methods including (MWD, gyroscopic, magnetic single-shot)

• Directional terminology including (inclination, azimuth, toolface)

7.2 Directional Tools and Techniques

• Deflection tools including (bent subs, bend motors, rotary steerable)

• BHA design for directional control including (stabilization, pendulum effect)

• Directional control techniques including (oriented drilling, rotate-to-steer)

• Directional challenges including (ledges, sloughing holes, differential sticking)

• Extended reach drilling including (friction reduction, torque and drag management)

8. Well Control Fundamentals

8.1 Pressure Fundamentals

• Pressure concepts including (hydrostatic pressure, formation pressure, fracture pressure)

• Pressure gradients including (normal, abnormal, subnormal)

• Warning signs including (drilling breaks, fluid returns, drag)

• Causes of kicks including (insufficient mud weight, swabbing, lost circulation)

• Barrier philosophy including (primary and secondary barriers)

8.2 Well Control Equipment

• BOP stack components including (annular, ram types, control systems)

• Surface control equipment including (choke manifold, monitoring systems)

• Testing procedures including (pressure tests, function tests)

• Accumulator systems including (capacity requirements, response time)

• Well control drills including (pit drills, trip drills, stripping drills)

8.3 Basic Well Control Procedures

• Kick detection including (warning signs, confirmation techniques)

• Shut-in procedures including (soft shut-in, hard shut-in)

• Initial response including (flow checks, documentation)

• Well control methods including (driller's method, wait and weight method)

• Special well control situations including (stripping, volumetric methods)

9. Common Drilling Problems

9.1 Hole Stability Problems

• Wellbore instability mechanisms including (mechanical, chemical)

• Lost circulation including (types, severity, treatment methods)

• Stuck pipe including (differential sticking, mechanical sticking, key seating)

• Hole cleaning issues including (cuttings transport, pack-off)

• Prevention strategies including (fluid design, operational practices)

9.2 Drilling Problem Management

• Problem identification including (warning signs, diagnostic techniques)

• Fishing operations including (basic tools, recovery techniques)

• Sidetracking including (methods, window milling)

• Cement plugs including (placement techniques, testing)

• Problem documentation including (lessons learned, prevention strategies)

10. HSE in Drilling Operations

• Risk assessment techniques including (JSA, HAZID, HAZOP)

• Personal safety including (PPE requirements, injury prevention)

• Process safety including (well control, energy isolation)

• Environmental protection including (spill prevention, waste management)

• Emergency procedures including (well control emergencies, evacuations)

11. Drilling Economics

• Cost components including (fixed costs, variable costs, contingencies)

• Performance metrics including (cost per foot, time vs. depth curves)

• Economic analysis including (AFE preparation, variance analysis)

• Optimization strategies including (non-productive time reduction, efficiency improvement)

• Contract considerations including (day rates, footage contracts, turnkey)

12. Case Studies & Group Discussions

• Regional case studies from Middle East operations including (challenging formations, HPHT wells)

• Successful drilling operations analysis including (critical success factors, innovative approaches)

• Drilling problem analysis including (root causes, resolution techniques)

• Equipment selection exercises including (comparative evaluation, decision matrix approach)

• The importance of proper training in successful drilling operations