Well Drilling Course

Lesson 1 • History and Industry Overview

Traces drilling from cable-tool origins to modern rotary systems. Provides context for why current techniques and equipment standards exist.

Lesson 2 • Drilling Terminology and Units

Defines essential field vocabulary and measurement systems used on rigs. Accurate terminology is required for all subsequent technical chapters.

Lesson 3 • Health, Safety, and Environment Basics

Introduces regulatory frameworks, hazard identification, and personal protective equipment requirements. Safety principles underpin every operational decision taught in this course.

Lesson 4 • The Drilling Cycle Overview

Maps every phase from spud to well completion at a conceptual level. Gives students a mental framework for organising detailed knowledge in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Rotating System

Covers the rotary table, kelly, top drive, and swivel that transmit torque to the bit. Students connect rotating system components to rate of penetration and torque limits.

Lesson 2 • Power and Control Systems

Describes prime movers, SCR and VFD electrical systems, and rig instrumentation panels. Students understand how power distribution affects all other rig systems.

Lesson 3 • Hoisting System

Explains the derrick, drawworks, travelling block, and hook assembly that raise and lower the drill string. Mechanical advantage calculations are introduced here.

Lesson 4 • Rig Types and Configurations

Compares land rigs, jackups, semi-submersibles, and drillships by capability and application. Rig selection criteria are linked to well type and environment.

Lesson 1 • Drilling Fluid Functions and Types

Explains why drilling fluids are essential and compares water-based, oil-based, and synthetic systems. Fluid selection is tied to formation type and environmental constraints.

Lesson 2 • Fluid Properties and Testing

Covers density, viscosity, filtration, and pH measurement using standard field instruments. Accurate testing is shown as the basis for all fluid treatment decisions.

Lesson 3 • Hydraulics and Pressure Calculations

Applies fluid mechanics to calculate annular velocity, equivalent circulating density, and bit hydraulics. These calculations directly inform pump rate and nozzle selection.

Lesson 4 • Fluid Additives and Treatment

Identifies weighting agents, viscosifiers, fluid loss reducers, and inhibitors and their dosing logic. Students learn to diagnose fluid problems and apply corrective treatments.

Lesson 1 • Bottom-Hole Assembly Design

Explains stabiliser placement, pendulum and packed assemblies, and their effect on wellbore trajectory. BHA design is shown as the primary tool for directional tendency control.

Lesson 2 • Drill Bit Types and Selection

Compares roller cone, PDC, and diamond bits by formation hardness and drilling mode. Bit selection criteria are tied to cost-per-foot optimisation.

Lesson 3 • Drill String Mechanics

Covers weight-on-bit, torque, drag, and buckling behaviour under compressive and tensile loads. Students apply these concepts to prevent string failures and optimise drilling parameters.

Lesson 4 • Drill String Components

Identifies drill pipe, heavy-weight drill pipe, drill collars, and tool joints with their mechanical properties. Component selection is linked to weight-on-bit and torque requirements.

Lesson 1 • Kick Detection and Shut-In Procedures

Trains students to recognise pit gain, flow check indicators, and gas cut mud. Correct shut-in sequence for both rotating and tripping conditions is drilled step by step.

Lesson 2 • Formation Pressure and Kick Causes

Explains pore pressure, fracture gradient, and the conditions that allow formation fluids to enter the wellbore. Understanding kick causes is prerequisite to all control procedures.

Lesson 3 • Well Control Methods

Compares Driller's Method, Wait-and-Weight, and Volumetric methods for circulating out a kick. Each method's advantages and limitations are analysed against well conditions.

Lesson 4 • Special Well Control Situations

Addresses underground blowouts, H2S influx, and well control during managed pressure drilling. Students apply standard principles to non-routine scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Anti-Collision and Geosteering

Uses proximity analysis and real-time formation data to avoid adjacent wellbores and stay in reservoir. Students interpret LWD logs to make steering decisions.

Lesson 2 • Directional Drilling Fundamentals

Defines inclination, azimuth, dogleg severity, and the reasons wells are intentionally deviated. Provides the geometric foundation for all trajectory planning work.

Lesson 3 • Well Trajectory Planning

Designs build-and-hold, S-curve, and extended-reach profiles to reach subsurface targets. Students balance torque, drag, and casing wear constraints during planning.

Lesson 4 • Directional Drilling Tools

Covers mud motors, rotary steerable systems, and measurement-while-drilling tools used to steer the wellbore. Tool selection is matched to build rate requirements and formation conditions.

Lesson 1 • Casing Load Analysis

Calculates burst, collapse, and tensile loads for each casing string under worst-case scenarios. Load analysis results determine whether selected casing meets safety factor requirements.

Lesson 2 • Well Integrity Verification

Uses cement bond logs, pressure tests, and casing inspection tools to confirm barrier integrity. Students interpret results and identify remediation needs before proceeding.

Lesson 3 • Casing Programme Design

Selects casing strings based on pore pressure, fracture gradient, and wellbore stability windows. Students learn to set casing depths that protect exposed formations.

Lesson 4 • Running and Landing Casing

Details casing handling, centraliser placement, and float equipment installation before cementing. Proper running procedures prevent casing damage and ensure cement job success.

Lesson 1 • Drilling Data Acquisition and Analysis

Explains surface sensor arrays, downhole telemetry, and data historian systems used to capture drilling parameters. Data quality and sampling rate are shown as prerequisites for valid analysis.

Lesson 2 • Rate of Penetration Optimisation

Analyses the effect of WOB, RPM, flow rate, and bit type on ROP using field data. Students apply systematic parameter testing to find the optimal drilling window.

Lesson 3 • Key Performance Indicators for Drilling

Defines and calculates KPIs including footage per day, cost per foot, and flat time percentage. Students use KPI benchmarking to compare well performance against offset wells.

Lesson 4 • Continuous Improvement Processes

Applies post-well review, lessons-learned databases, and PDCA cycles to drive performance gains across a well programme. Students structure an end-of-well report with actionable recommendations.