School of Engineering and Technology, (SET)
 
CE71.71 : Drilling & Well Completion Operation  3(3-0)
 
Course objectives:

With the increasing demand and consumption for both oil and natural gas, most of all oil & gas companies accelerate their exploration and production activities in an effort to maintain the production output. Drilling has been one of the forefront core operations. The main objective of this course is to outline the core subjects in drilling and well completion operations to help understand better the well design, risk assessment, cost involved and environmental impact. Some local case studies and experiences with advanced drilling technology will be presented. An important part of the course is on petroleum-related rock mechanics to provide the students with a needed background regarding drilling stability and conduction of acoustic logging.
 
Learning Outcomes:

Petroleum-related rock mechanics. Elasticity; Failure Mechanics; Stresses around boreholes. Micromechanical models. Mechanical properties. Stability during drilling. Fracturing. Reservoir compaction. Basic drilling equipment; Casing design and cementation; Drilling fluids; Well completion; Risk assessment and management; Management of oil spill during operation; directional drilling and local case studies.
 
Pre-requisite(s):

None
 
Course Outline:
I.            Petroleum-related rock mechanics  
1.      Elasticity. Failure mechanics
2.      Some geological aspects of rock mechanics
3.      Stresses around boreholes
4.      Micromechanical models
5.      Mechanical properties
6.      Stability during drilling
7.      Reservoir compaction

II.         Basic Drilling Equipment
1.      Drilling Rig and Equipment (Type of Drilling Rigs, the function of Derricks, Masts, Block Lines, Hoisting and Mud Equipment)
2.      Drilling Bit (The design, function of Hydraulics and Wellheads).
3.      Drilling String Design (Purposes and function of Bottom-Hole Assembly components, i.e. drill pipe, drill collar, jar, mud motor, Limitation of Drill String and Recommended Practice).

III.       Casing Design and Cementation
1.      Casing Physical Properties,
2.      General Consideration for Casing Design. Types of Casing String
3.      Casing Design Criteria and Equation).
4.      Type of Cementation.  Functional of Cement. Cementing Properties
IV.      Drilling Fluid
1.      Properties of Drilling
2.      Fluid and its functionality

V.         Well Completion  
1.      Type of Completion,
2.      Application of Completion String Components, i.e. Packer, Nipple, SSD, Safety Valves, Surface Equipment, Completion Fluid.

VI.      Directional and other Drilling
1.      Terminology,
2.      Types of Deviated Wells,
3.      The Geometry of Directional Well Design
4.       Deviated Well Surveillance
5.       Drilling Tools for Directional Well
6.      Other drilling operation

VII.    Drilling Management
1.      Principle of Project Management.
2.      Risk Assessment and Management.
3.      Management of oil Spill during Operation.

VIII.Local Experiences and Case studies

IX.      Syndicate Exercise
Participants will be given a problem to solve as a team and make the presentation.
 
 
Learning Resources:

Textbook:
Lecture notes by instructors
Fjaer E., R. M. Holt, P. Horsrud, A. M. Raaen and R. Risnes (1992), Petroleum-related rock mechanics, Developments in Petroeum Science, Elsevier
Rabia R (1985), Oilwell Drilling Engineering, Principle & Practice, Graham & Trotman Publishing (ISBN 0-86010-661-6)
Steve Devereux (1998), Practical Well Planning and Drilling Manual, PennWell Publishing.
 
Reference Books:
Michael J. Economides, Larry T. Watters and Shari Dunn-Norman (2000), Petroleum Well Construction, John Wiley & Sons Publishing (ISBN 0-471-96938-9)
William K. Ott and Joe D. Woods (2001), World Oil’s Modern Sandface Completion, Practices Handbooks.
 
Journals and Magazines:
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science; Monthly Drilling Engineering Magazine, A PennWell Publication; Quarterly Drilling Engineering Journal, A Society of Petroleum Engineers Publication
 
 
Teaching and Learning Methods:

Lectures, homework, project work, syndicate exercise  and exams
 
Evaluation Scheme:
Mid-Semester Exam (30%)
Final Exam (50%)
Homework (20%).

Closed-book exam.
 
Instructor(s):
SECTION NAME