Basic Geology and Petrophysics.

After this course the student should be able to:

Define the science of geology, petrophysic and production geology.
Explain the build up of the earth.
Name the three main groups of rocks in the earth crust.
Explain plate tectonics.
Define terms porosity and permeability.
Explain and sketch folds and faults. Describe how migration can occur and oil and gas can be trapped.
Sketch and describe structural traps and stratigraphic traps.
Describe the various exploration methods.
State steps and successive stages in an exploration program.
Give and describe the well logging methods and the tools used to measure the formation parameters.
Describe how the results of logging are worked out and explain the task of the reservoir engineer.

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Drilling Sites and Drilling Rigs:

After this course the student should be able to:

Name the major components of a drilling rig
Describe the lay-out of an onshore drilling site
State the considerations which influence the choice of a rig
Name the various types of derricks and masts.
Explain where the load ratings of a derrick or mast on site can be found
Name the forces acting upon a derrick or mast.
Calculate the static and dynamic load of derricks and masts.
Give possible defects of a derrick or mast.
Inspect a rig using a rig-inspection report.

Prime Movers, Transmissions, Rotary and Hoisting Equipment, Wire Ropes.

After this course the student should be able to:

Give the criteria which apply when selecting power systems
Describe what direct mechanical drive is.
Give the advantages and disadvantages of electrical diesel drive compared to direct mechanical drive.
Give a list of rules and regulations which a driller must follow to prevent accidents and breakdowns.
Describe the basic operation of clutches and where they are used.
Describe the basic operation and properties of torque converters, and give their advantages.
Describe the electric drive system for both electric drive and the SCR system
Explain why rig power is required.
Calculate the rig power required by hoisting equipment, rotary mud pumps and DC motors
Describe the composition and use of the rotary table
Describe the use of a top-drive system
List the main parts of hoisting equipment.
Describe and explain the drawworks.
Explain why drawworks have grooved drums.
Describe different types of brakes used in drawworks
Draw a diagram and explain the speed/torque characteristics of drawwork brakes.
Describe and list the components of the blocks and how they are inspected.
Describe the composition of the hook
Name the various types of elevators and their application.
Describe composition and how of slip-type elevators/spiders and how to inspect them.
Describe construction and physical properties of wire rope.
Name several kinds of wire rope terminations and give their strength in relation to breaking strength.
Calculate the capacity of a drum or reel.
Describe the reeving of a new block line.
Calculate the work done during drilling, round trips, coring and casing.
Explain the aim of the slip and cut program.
Name the principal causes of wireline problems
Make complete block line calculations.

Mud, Mud Pumps and Mud Systems.

After this course the student should be able to:

Describe the function of mud and state the field tests carried out on drilling fluids.
Calculate hydrostatic pressure, draw pressure gradients, calculate buoyancy.
Give factors influencing the flow properties of the mud.
Explain: viscosity, shear rate, shear stress, Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strength.
State and explain the factors influencing the carrying capacity of mud.
Explain fluid loss and how to control it.
Describe the filtration test.
Describe where oil-based fluids are used and state the advantages/disadvantages.
Explain where salt-saturated fluids are used.
State types of fluids used in workover and well completions.
Name the mechanical and formation factors that influence the choice of brine.
Explain the causes of lost circulation, how to restore circulation and state the main types of lost circulation materials.
Describe the working of single- and double- acting pumps. Explain why and where pulsation dampeners are used.
Calculate pump capacity, required power, volumetric efficiency.
Give reasons why pistons and liners have to be changed.
Explain the function of a relief valve.
Give applications of centrifugal pumps on the rig site.
Explain cavitations, calculate required input power
Describe the correct use of hopper and bulk storage tank.
Explain the working of the mud cleaning system.
Explain the basic working of a degasser and give possible causes of malfunction.

Rig Instrumentation.

After this course the student should be able to:

Explain the importance of drilling instrumentation.
Name the most important instruments on the rig.
Explain the function and working of the weight indicator and rotary torque instruments.
Explain how RPM's and SPM can be counted.
Give some causes of standpipe pressure variations.
Explain how to mount remote pressure gauges correctly.
Explain how drilling parameters are recorded.
Explain and describe flow line recorder, pit volume totalizer.
Explain the dangers of H2S and MAC value and explosion limits.
Describe the function of the mud gas detector

Basic Drilling Engineering Courses

Drill String Design.

After this course the student should be able to:

Define the terms stress, strain, yield point, yield strength and yield stress.
List the forces exerted on a drill string
State causes of fatigue and corrosion.
List the tests and inspections carried out on drill pipe, drill collars and drill string accessories.
List and explain the characteristics of drill pipe and tool joints.
Calculate the maximum height of tool joints above the slips to prevent bending during tonging.
Determine the allowable torque and pull on API drill pipe.
Calculate length and number of drill collars needed for a particular WOB.
Describe the function and application of casing protectors, stabilizers, crossover subs, float sub and HWDP.
List five items important for preventing drill string failures.
Explain the working of a mud motor and a turbine, their application and correct use.

Drill Bits.

After this course the student should be able to:

Describe the composition of roller cone bits, PDC bits and diamond bits.
Determine the correct bit choice via a bit classification system.
List the design considerations for the different bit types.
Determine the terms crushing, scraping and gouging and in what formation these cutting actions take place.
Describe the various types of nozzles used in bits
Name the factors that influence bit performance.
Describe the drilling parameters (WOB, RPM, flow rate) and their relation to each other.
Describe why and how a drill off test is carried out.
Describe and carry out a rock bit evaluation.
Give the causes of wear and possible remedies.
Explain when coring is used.
Describe the composition and correct use of a conventional core barrel.

Drilling Hydraulics.

After this course the student should be able to:

Give the objectives of a drilling hydraulics program.
List the parameters that should be considered when designing a hydraulic program.
Calculate volume output and hydraulic power supplied by the mud pump under given conditions and given pump specifications.
Give the equations for pressure drop at the bit, jet velocity and annular velocity.
Give the effects of changes in the fluid velocity, density and pipe length on pressure losses.
Determine the values of c and N in the equation P = c.QN in a given situation.

Casing Practices.

After this course the student should be able to:

Specify why casing has to run in wells.
Specify the main types of casing strings and their specific functions.
Describe the various casing connections and specify their operational characteristics.
Specify the function of float shoes and float collars.
Specify why casing centralizers are used and how they are installed.
Specify when collar-type and when slip-type elevators are used.
Specify why a circulating head is used.
Specify the importance of proper storage of casing material in offshore operations.
Make the relevant check calculations for a given derrick and casing run to be run.
Specify what should be done on receipt of casing materials and tools at the rig.
Specify and describe what should be done to prepare a rig for a casing job.
Describe why a wiper trip has to be made before the casing is run.
Describe the proper casing running procedure.

Cementing Practices.

After this course the student should be able to:

Specify why a casing has to be cemented.
List the various techniques of primary cementation.
Explain hydraulic bond and shear bond of the cement and how bonding is improved.
List reasons for a secondary cementation.
Specify and explain the use of light-weight cement slurry.
State why the quality of mix water should be checked.
Specify the function of spacers, wiper plugs and how they are used.
Specify different slurry mixing systems and compare their advantages and disadvantages.
Describe single-stage and two-stage cementing. List the sequence for two-stage cementing.
List the operating sequence for liner cementation and specify the additional equipment.
Describe the cement pressure test.
Specify how top of cement column can be estimated.
Make the calculations for preparing:

A single stage primary cementation
A two stage primary cementation
A stinger surface casing cementation.
A liner cementation.
A balance plug-back cementation

Well Control and Well Control Equipment.

After this course the student should be able to:

Define the terms kick, blow-out, primary control, secondary control.
Sketch and explain a PZ diagram with hydrostatic and overburden gradient.
Describe how the overburden or bulk gradient can be calculated.
Define the terms: normal-, over- and under-pressured formations.
State and explain the mechanism causing abnormal formation fluid pressures.
Be familiar with the stresses acting on a borehole.
Define the upper and lower limit of primary control.
Explain how the correct mud weight can be determined in an unknown area.
State how over-pressure predictions are obtained.
Explain how during drilling and tripping influx entering the well bore can be noticed.
State the close-in procedure of a well while drilling and while pulling.
State the importance of practice drills carried out on the rig.
Calculate the new mud gradient after a well is closed in.
Explain the four phases in well control and sketch these phases in a standpipe pressure graph and in a choke pressure graph.
Make the calculations necessary for killing a well.
Define the function of well control equipment.
Sketch a diagram of the well killing system and describe the functions of the equipment involved.
Describe the working of the choke.
Describe annular preventers and the precautions to increase life of rubbers.
State the requirements for a hydraulic system or accumulator unit.
Explain why the pre-charge of the accumulator is so important.
List the additional well equipment required during tripping.
Give the test procedure for all well control equipment.

Fishing Operations.

After this course the student should be able to:

Specify causes of fishing jobs.
List considerations prior to fishing jobs.
Describe junk-retrieval tools.
Explain how a bit twist-off can be prevented.
Explain how drill-pipe and drill-collar twist-off can be prevented.
Summarize the warning signs for differential sticking and key-seating.
Describe how to estimate the length of free pipe by using a stretch test.
Describe the procedure for backing-off a stuck pipe.
Describe the operation of an internal pipe cutter and internal fishing tools.
List the limitations of internal fishing tools.
Describe the composition and operation of an overshot.
Explain when wash-over tools are used.
Explain the mechanism of jars, accelerator and surface jar.
List precautions when jarring.

Directional Drilling.

After this course the student should be able to:

State reasons for directional drilling.
Draw a well plot of a deviated well and name design factors.
Define Magnetic North, True North, Grid North, declination, convergence.
Give definitions of commonly used terms in directional drilling.
Describe tools used to kick-off.
Explain how down hole motors are oriented.
Compose a building assembly, dropping- and holding assembly.
Describe the working principle and use of magnetic surveying instruments.
Explain the importance of non magnetic drill collars.
Describe the working principle and use of gyroscopic survey instruments.
Explain tool setting for inclination change only, azimuth change only and both.
Describe the use of orientation and deflection tools.

Offshore Operations.

After this course the student should be able to:

Name the environmental elements that influence offshore drilling.
Explain the general lay-out of and drilling practices on fixed platforms.
Show how to calculate the setting depth of a marine conductor.
List precautions usually taken in respect of tender stability.
Give the correct expressions for vessel movements.
Give the advantages and disadvantages of jack-up platforms.
Explain what a free standing well with surface BOP is and how it is drilled.
Explain what a mud line suspension system with BOP at surface is.
Describe the composing parts and tools used in a mud line suspension system.
Explain the terms used in floater's stability and rig motions.
Explain how floaters are kept on location.
Name and describe the equipment required to compensate for the rig movements.
Give a brief outline of a sub sea well head with BOP's on sea bed.
List special equipment for sub sea well control.
Describe the operation of a fail safe valve.
Name the main components of a sub sea BOP control system.
State the function of a marine riser and describe the different parts.
Give a summary of the drilling sequence for a well with BOP's at sea bed.
Describe the seating and the sealing of a casing string in a sub sea well head.
Describe testing a stack before it is lowered to the sea bed.
Describe the test after landing the BOP stack including the marine riser with choke and kill line.
Give a brief description of what has to be done when abandoning a well.