DRILLING

Basic Petroleum Technology - BPT

Discipline: Introductory and Multi-Discipline Training

Level: Basic
Instructors: Dr. Kirk E. Boatright, Mr. Eric A. Foster, Mr. Ron Hinn, Mr. Scott B. Randolph, Mr.
Gerry H. Ross, Dr. Helmy Sayyouh, PetroSkills Specialist, Dr. Michael I. Treesh
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Secretarial, administrative, management, field support, accounting, purchasing, economics, legal, finance, human
resources, drafting, land and data processing personnel, as well as investors and royalty owners
Participants involved at the technical level of the industry, particularly engineers, technicians or others with
mathematics background through basic calculus, should register for the Basic Petroleum Engineering Practices
course.

YOU WILL LEARN

• Basic geology as related to oil and gas reservoirs
• Reservoir fluid and rock properties
• Basics of seismic technology
• Reservoir definition and development; production and recovery
• Unconventional gas (“tight shale” gas)
• Fundamentals of drilling, well completions and production operations
• Basic concepts of primary and enhanced recovery operations
• Surface operations
• Terminology of exploration and production (language of the oil field)

ABOUT THE COURSE

This course presents a non-technical, practical understanding of petroleum industry
technology in an interesting, effective, and efficient manner. Included are the
basics of the industry from terminology through basic technology and from geology
through processing of the petroleum product. Participants are placed in the position of
Reservoir Engineer, and “Our Reservoir” is defined, analyzed and put in production.
Next, drill sites are chosen. Participants are then placed in the position of Drilling/
Completion Engineer, and the drilling/completion programfor “Our Well” is analyzed.
Participation results in greater job confidence, enthusiasm and productivity.

COURSE CONTENT
○ Reservoir fluid properties
○ Petroleum geology
○ The petroleum reservoir
○ Unconventional gas (“tight shale” gas)
○ Exploration technology
○ Drilling technology
○ Well completion and workover
○ Production operations
○ Recovery
○ Surface processing
○ Offshore operations

Exploration and Production Process Basics: Understanding the Petroleum Industry Value Cycle -
EPB

Discipline: Introductory and Multi-Discipline Training

Level: Basic
Instructors: Dr. Omar Barkat, PetroSkills Specialist, Dr. Michael I. Treesh
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Newly-hired engineers and geoscientists

YOU WILL LEARN

• Exploration/production overview
• Basic petroleum geology and geophysics principles
 • Log interpretation basics
• Drilling basics
• Basic reservoir, production and facilities engineering
• Business principles governing E/P

ABOUT THE COURSE

This workshop describes the petroleum value chain from prospect identification, to project commissioning and to
final abandonment. Participants will leave this course with a firm understanding of the petroleum industry including,
the knowledge and tools necessary to understand the relationships and dependencies across the E&P industry.
The course offers a fresh look at a range of critical, inter-related topics and will be taught with the modern learner in
mind. Multiple tools, such as peer-based learning, internet resources, hands-on exercises, in-depth team workshops,
and group discovery sessions, will be used to ensure learning retention and recall. Participants work as members of
multi-disciplinary teams using real oil-field data in interactive workshops that illustrate technology/business
concepts. Each team will be accountable for the results of their interpretations in a safe, constructive learning
environment. Other skills will be learned in short hands-on exercises that reinforce the lectures. Lecturers are
widely-experienced oil field professionals who can share experiences from a number of technical settings and
organizational approaches to give the students a broad view of the industry and its participants.
The extended workshops conducted during the course include an exploration/discovery workshop, an appraisal
workshop to define the static and dynamic models for a new discovery and a facilities workshop in which the
students fit the facilities to their newly-defined discovery. Uncertainties, risk management, business practices and
project management lessons are learned through these team events.

COURSE CONTENT
• Opportunity identification
• Elements of petroleum environment
• Play to prospect to field technologies
• Concessions and contracts
• Find and define an asset
• Appraise an opportunity
• Build a field development plan
• Facilities: gas, oil, design, construction, processing, maintenance, decommissioning
• Building an effective team
• Company/industry processes and procedures

Basic Petroleum Geology - BG

Discipline: Geology
Level: Basic
Instructors: Mr. John F. Dillon, Dr. D. Andy Link, PetroSkills Specialist
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Petroleum industry personnel in need of basic geological training, including engineering, geophysical, technical
support, and administrative personnel

YOU WILL LEARN

○ About plate tectonics and petroleum
○ About geological time and history
○ The fundamentals of rock formation and deformation
○ The essentials of various depositional environments and the reservoirs created by them
○ The distribution of porosity and permeability in reservoirs produced in different depositional environments
○ How rock characteristics are related to modern geological processes and applied to the ancient record
○ About petroleum reservoir and source rocks
○ Of petroleum origin, migration, and trapping
○ How to correlate electric logs and recognize depositional environments on logs
○ How to make contour maps and cross sections
○ Elements of geophysics and exploration
○ How geology bears directly on engineering practices

ABOUT THE COURSE

What is Basic Petroleum Geology? For all practical purposes it closely resembles the freshman level course that a
non-science major at a university would take to satisfy the science requirement. Presentation is oriented toward
topics of interest to the petroleum industry. While high school chemistry and physics might help in understanding a
very few selected topics, the course is designed for those with no technical training (and those who studiously
avoided science in school).
Primary objectives of the course are to broaden your geological vocabulary, explain selected geological principles
and processes, and describe how certain petroleum reservoirs and source rocks are formed. If you have had a
geology course at the university level and remember most of it, this course is not for you. If you have had a geology
course and don’t remember much of it, then consider this course for a refresher. If you are an engineer, geophysicist,
petrophysicist, geotech, lawyer, or financial analyst dealing with geologists and don’t understand the geological
terms used in discussions and/or do not know the characteristics of a point bar, barrier island, channel-levee
complex, or some other reservoir, then this course may be for you. Read on.
Geology is a visual science, and there are some 700 slides presented in class. Participants receive a three-ring binder
with over three hundred 8.5”X11” pages with annotated copies of the slides. Also provided is the textbook, “Basic
Petroleum Geology”, a box of 16 common rocks and minerals, a small, pocket-size 10 power magnifier (handlens or
loupe), and a number of exercises and handouts that go into the binder. Class participants from out of town should
bring a suitcase with sufficient room to accommodate an extra thickness of some six inches (16cm) of class
materials.
To let you know what Basic Petroleum Geology covers, what follows is essentially a verbal agenda of the course.
The first two days present geological materials along with fundamental geological processes and principles. We start
with minerals important to the petroleum business and then move on to igneous and metamorphic rocks. Chemical
stability of various kinds of igneous rocks is considered and how the stability relates to potential reservoir problems,
a significant issue for reservoir and production engineers. The effect of igneous intrusions on reservoirs in the
subsurface and a sequence of metamorphic rocks associated with increasing temperature and pressure are presented
along with the effects on petroleum potential.
After lunch on day one, we look at the rock and mineral box. Relationships between the minerals, rocks, and
petroleum are examined, and participants learn how to use the 10X magnifiers.
Clastic and nonclastic sedimentary rocks are of primary interest to the petroleum business. We go over the various
grain sizes in clastic rocks with slides of the loose, unconsolidated sediments and the solid rock equivalents.
Nonclastic rocks are classified and briefly illustrated.
With porosity and permeability being the requisite properties for a reservoir, we consider the processes that affect
these properties in sedimentary rocks, packing, sorting, fracturing, and diagenesis. Some of the properties are
illustrated with slides of thin sections and scanning electron microscopy.
Now that we know the various types of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary) and the properties needed to
make a reservoir, we will put rocks into the regional context of plate tectonics. In this section we consider the
interior structure of the earth, how the interior affects the surface, the differences between continental and oceanic
crustal rocks, division of the Earth’s surface into a number of moving plates, and the different types of plate
margins. We care about the plate margins because they generally control what rocks are found there and how the
rocks are deformed. All this bears on where we look for petroleum. A short video of plate positions and movements
over the last 750 million years and slides of various plate margins from Iceland, Africa, Asia, the US, and elsewhere
support the presentation.
Structure follows the session on plate tectonics, covering strike, dip, folds (anticlines and synclines), and six
different kinds of faults. Slides, contour maps and seismic lines illustrate various structures. Exercises require
participants to contour data to produce a structure map and locate faults on seismic lines.
Time and stratigraphy come next. Relative and absolute (radiometric) times are presented along with ways to
determine each. Both concepts lead to the relative and absolute geological time scales and the associated
terminology. Three exercises are given to determine the relative timing of geological events as seen in cross
sections.
Correlation based on outcrops and well logs is presented and integrated into stratigraphy. Stratigraphy is subdivided
into sessions on sequence stratigraphy (with the changes related to sea level rise and fall), lithostratigraphy and
facies changes, biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and the relevance and applications of each in the oil business.
Exposure of the various types of rocks at the surface of the Earth leads to their weathering (breakdown) by both
mechanical and chemical means. We examine agents and mechanisms of weathering, see resulting landforms and
landslides from catastrophic failures of slopes, and take a quick look at some of the chemical reactions,
Loss of rocks at the surface by weathering and erosion produces unconformities (breaks or missing data in the
geological record). Three types of unconformity are defined and illustrated. Depending on class interest and
questions, the first two days generally end on the topic of weathering.
Sediments generated by weathering and erosion are ultimately delivered to basins and deposited in a variety of
depositional environments. We care about and discuss these environments because this is where source rocks for
petroleum and the reservoirs are created.
Clastic depositional environments range from those closest to the sediment source (proximal) to those farthest from
the sediment source (distal). Seven clastic environments are covered in class: alluvial fans; braided and meandering
rivers; deserts; deltas; beach/barrier islands; and submarine fans. In each case, the modern environment is illustrated
first, followed by examples of each environment exposed in outcrops and concluded with producing field examples.
The object here is to show what the environments look like on the ground today because that is the way they look in
the subsurface. The rocks in outcrop or in cores illustrate further what the reservoirs are like and the rock properties
(porosity and permeability distribution) should mimic those seen in the modern environment.
Several environments are presented for nonclastic sedimentary rocks: ramp, rimmed shelf, and flat-topped shelf.
Presentation follows the same format as that for clastic rocks, the modern environment, illustrations of the rocks,
and producing field examples.
With the reservoirs in place (we made them in the various environments of deposition), we next consider the
generation of petroleum in the source rocks and migration from the source rocks into the reservoirs. And once the
petroleum is in the reservoirs, we finally consider the traps into which the petroleum is localized or concentrated and
from which we can extract it.
In Denver there is a field trip. The object of a trip is to show various environments of deposition and reservoirs.
What is seen on the surface looks the same as its equivalent in the subsurface. The field trip takes about 5.5 hours. It
features a nonconformity, fractured granite, metamorphic rocks, granitic dikes, alluvial fan sediments, nonmarine
and marginal marine sandstone reservoirs, an oil seep, and a visit to a government core laboratory. We return to the
classroom after the field trip to cool off and for more class work. Past participants have given good reviews to the
field trips.
For venues where there is a field trip (Denver), you should plan to be in class until 5 PM or a bit later each day and
until about 3-4 PM on Friday. At venues with no field trip, class will run to about 4:30 PM each day and to about
noon on Friday.

COURSE CONTENT
○ Minerals and rocks
○ Plate tectonics
○ Geological times
○ Weathering and erosion
○ Deposition
○ Diagenesis
○ Reservoirs
○ Structural geology and petroleum
○ Origin, migration, and trapping of petroleum

Basic Drilling Technology - BDT

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Basic
Instructors: Mr. Richard S. Carden, Mr. Mark S. Hackler, Mr. Thomas Gregory Hamm, Mr.
William (Bill) McKee, Dr. Leon H. Robinson, Dr. Donald D. Schmidt, PetroSkills Specialist,
Mr. Marc Summers, Mr. Larry Wolfson, Mr. Richard G. Wright
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Upcoming Sessions

Description
DESIGNED FOR
Petroleum and Production Engineers, Completion Engineers, Geoscientists, Managers, Technical Supervisors,
Service and Support Personnel, Entry Level Drilling Engineers, Drilling Operations Personnel, Drilling Office
Support Staff.

YOU WILL LEARN

• About drilling equipment and how it is used

• Drilling terminology and abbreviations

• Keys to planning a successful well

• Common drilling problems and how to avoid them

• How to read a morning report

• Technology behind information in a morning report

ABOUT THE COURSE

Equipment and procedures involved with drilling oil and gas wells are described for those who are interested in
understanding the drilling process regardless of the academic background. During the first day, the overall drilling
process is presented along with definitions and descriptions of drilling equipment. During the remainder of the
week, the various components are discussed in greater detail with explanations of the basic science concepts which
guide these processes. Subjects include descriptions of drill bits, directional drilling, drilling fluids, solids control,
cementing, casing, well bore stability, well control, measurement-while-drilling techniques, stuck pipe, lost
circulation, and well bore hydraulics.

Some technology enhancements are included to improve understanding of drilling operations for all participants,
with or without a science background. An understanding of clay mineralogy helps understand well bore instability
and drilling fluids. A discussion of pressure and pressure effects helps explain many of the procedures and problems
associated with drilling wells. Rocks behave differently under pressure and understanding this behavior helps
understand drilling performance. The art and science of drilling are explained in simple terms.

After all of the various components and procedures are discussed, the information contained in morning reports is
explained and used as a summary of the course content.

COURSE CONTENT
• The overall drilling process and equipment

• The language of drillers – understanding their terminology

• Understanding the abbreviations and acronyms associated with drilling

• Rig equipment and types

• Types of drill bits

• MWD

• Drill strings

• Drilled solids management

• Mud tank arrangements

• Drilling fluid properties

• Well control

• Cementing

• Casing design

• Hole problems (stuck pipe, lost circulation)

• Well control

• Directional drilling operations and tools

• Safety

Basic Drilling, Completion and Workover Operations - BDC

Discipline: Introductory and Multi-Discipline Training

Level: Basic
Instructors: Dr. Iskander R. Diyashev, Mr. William (Bill) McKee, Mr. William K. Ott, Mr. Scott
B. Randolph, Mr. Richard H. Schroeder, PetroSkills Specialist, Mr. Marc Summers, Mr. Hector
Hugo Vargas
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 Upcoming Sessions

Description
DESIGNED FOR
Technical, field, service, support and supervisory personnel desiring to gain an introductory overview of these topics
and how they interrelate. Excellent for cross-training of other technical disciplines such as reservoir and surface
facility engineers plus geoscientists, and anyone who interacts with drilling, completion or workover design
engineers such as technical supervisors and technical service personnel.
This is not a fundamental course for training engineers seeking a career in drilling or workovers (for these,PO1 is
recommended).

YOU WILL LEARN

○ How drilling, completing and reworking a well affects its ability to produce
○ What can be done within open-hole and cased wells, as a part of reservoir management
○ How drilling practices can damage or stimulate producing wells

ABOUT THE COURSE

This course gives a technical overview of the science and art of drilling operations, completion practices and post-
completion wellbore enhancement or remedial workover techniques (well intervention). It develops an
understanding of the WHAT, WHY, and HOW of each of these areas of engineering practice. Reservoir Engineers
will learn what can be done within open-hole and cased wells as they execute reservoir management. Drilling and
completion personnel will learn how the producing reservoir can be damaged or stimulated by what they do. The
participants learn to visualize what is happening "downhole", discover what can be accomplished and gain an
appreciation for wellbore risks and the possibility of damage to the formation; and how drilling and completion
practices can alter reservoir interpretation and performance. The participant will become conversant with specific
technical terminology and aware of practical applications, which should enhance communication and interaction
between disciplines.

COURSE CONTENT
Overview of the drilling process:
○ Overall drilling practices
○ Language of drilling
○ Reservoir rock and fluid properties
○ Rigs & rig equipment
○ Drilling string components & design
○ Bits
○ Drilling fluids & hydraulics
○ Rig operation
○ MWD
 ○ Well control
○ Hole problems & stuck pipe
○ Drilling risks
○ Cores and coring
○ Casing design & installation
○ Primary cementing
○ Directional, horizontal, multilateral & under-balanced drilling
○ Wellhead & trees
Overview of the completion process:
○ Zonal isolation
○ Tubing, packers & completion equipment
○ Safety & flow control devices
○ Open hole completions
○ Basic completion types
○ Perforating
○ Open & cased hole logging
○ Formation damage & treatment
○ Completion fluids Multiple completions
Overview of workover techniques:
○ Stimulation application: surfactants, solvents, acidizing, fracturing & deep perforating
○ Formation & sand control: creens, chemical consolidation, gravel packing, frac-pack, new & novel
techniques
○ Scale & corrosion
○ Paraffin & asphaltenes
○ Recompletions
○ Reworks
○ Sidetracking
○ Deepening
○ Coiled tubing

Drilling Practices - DP

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Foundation
Instructors: Mr. Stanley L. Atnipp, Mr. Richard S. Carden, Mr. Mark S. Hackler, Mr. Thomas
Gregory Hamm, PetroSkills Specialist, Mr. Marc Summers, Mr. Robert (Bob) V. Westermark
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Drilling supervisors, drilling engineers, toolpushers, managers and technical support personnel

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

○ Review drilling data and plan the well
○ Incorporate completion plans into the drilling plan
○ Drill a well cost effectively and maximize penetration rate
○ Evaluate stuck pipe problems and avoid potential problems
○ Evaluate and maintain drilling fluids
○ Optimize hole cleaning
○ Design casing, drill string and BOP/wellheads
○ Evaluate and implement cementing programs
○ Design and implement bit and hydraulics programs
○ Incorporate directional drilling and deviation control
○ Recognize and evaluate well control problems

ABOUT THE COURSE

The two-week course is designed for engineers and field personnel involved in the planning and implementation of
drilling programs. The seminar covers all aspects of drilling technology, emphasizing both theory and practical
application. Drilling is a complex operation requiring the marriage of different technologies and disciplines. Today's
drilling personnel must have a working knowledge of all these disciplines in order to effectively drill a well. The
course provides all the fundamentals necessary to drill a well whether it is a shallow well or a complex, high
pressure well. Computer programs are used to design many aspects of the modern well and the course will provide
the participants with the theory behind most programs along with practical implementation.
Participants are required to bring a scientific calculator.
COURSE CONTENT
○ Planning including requirements for the completion and testing, AFE preparation
○ HSE at the rig site
○ Cost control, evaluating alternative drilling methods and maximizing penetration rate
○ Hole cleaning, sloughing shale, lost circulation, stuck pipe and fishing operations
○ Drilling fluids
○ Lifting capacity of drilling fluids, pressure losses in the circulating system and ECD
○ Maximizing hydraulics in the planning phase and at the rig
○ Bit selection and application
○ Casing and drill string design, selection of casing seats, BOP equipment
○ Cement, cement additives and displacement mechanics
○ Deviation control, directional drilling and horizontal drilling
○ Pressure control, routine and special problems
○ Project post analysis

Examples
For in-house courses, the instructors of this course will accept examples from your company for analysis in the class
as one of the demonstration exercises. Please contact PetroSkills Training for a list of the information and support
data required, as well as the necessary lead-time.

Drilling Fluids Technology - DFT

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Foundation
Instructors: Mr. Ernest L. Escalona , Mr. Hector C. Moreno, PetroSkills Specialist
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Drilling supervisors, drilling engineers, tool pushers, managers and technical support personnel involved with
drilling operations

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

○ Use clay and polymers to achieve desired mud properties
○ Apply water chemistry to the treatment of drilling fluids
○ Perform complete API water-based mud and non-aqueous drilling fluids tests
○ Evaluate the information on an API water-based and non-aqueous drilling fluid report
○ Identify drilling fluid contaminants and prescribe corrective treatments
○ Select water phase salinity and activity for bore hole stability
○ Select non-aqueous fluids to meet drilling requirements and environmental concerns
○ Manage non-aqueous drilling fluid systems

ABOUT THE COURSE

The course is designed for engineers and field personnel involved in the planning and implementation of drilling
programs. The seminar covers all aspects of drilling fluids technology, emphasizing both theory and practical
application. Hands-on laboratory exercises are included in the five-day Houston sessions. Drilling is a complex
operation requiring the marriage of different technologies and disciplines. Today's drilling personnel must have a
working knowledge of drilling fluid in order to effectively drill a well. The course provides the fundamentals
necessary to drill a well, whether it is a shallow well or a complex, high pressure well.

COURSE CONTENT
○ Composition and properties of water-based drilling fluids
○ Analysis of API water-base mud and non-aqueous drilling fluid report
○ Identification and treatment of drilling fluid contaminants
○ Composition and properties of water-based and non-aqueous drilling fluid systems
○ Selection of water phase salinity for borehole stability
○ API water-based and non-aqueous drilling mud tests
○ Adjustment of non-aqueous drilling fluid properties
○ Managing invert emulsion fluid systems: rig preparation and displacement
○ Non-aqueous drilling fluids designed for environmental compliance

Primary Cementing - Cementing I - PCE

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Foundation
Instructors: Mr. Jerry Calvert, PetroSkills Specialist
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Operating and service company personnel responsible for planning, designing, laboratory testing, overseeing, and
executing cementing operations

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

○ Design cement slurries using API and/or field adapted procedures and laboratory testing procedures
○ Use cement additives in designing cement slurries to improve job success and/or reduce overall job costs
○ Design cement jobs to include casing, multi-stage, liner, and tie-back strings
○ Design and perform remedial (squeeze) cement jobs to include selection of tools
○ Design cement plug slurries and selection of tools to improve overall job success

ABOUT THE COURSE

Cementing is a key factor in the well construction plan. The base cement used in the designing of cement slurries
may or may not be API class cement. The operating company and the service company personnel should have a
good working knowledge of cement slurry design, cement additives, and placement procedures. The majority of the
operating companies do not have cement testing laboratories, therefore the laboratory testing is conducted by service
companies. This course is designed to give a good understanding of how the cement slurries are tested and under
what conditions depending on given well parameters. This course will also cover casing hardware (both internal and
external), cement blending, cement additive blending (dry and/or liquid), on-site mixing equipment and job
execution on location.

COURSE CONTENT
○ Basic cements
○ Cement additives
○ Laboratory Testing
○ Casing Hardware
○ Blending equipment
○ Mixing equipment
 ○ Primary cementing
○ Remedial cementing
○ Plug cementing

Stuck Pipe Prevention -- Train Wreck Avoidance™ - SPP

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Foundation
Instructors: Mr. Stanley L. Atnipp, Mr. Mark S. Hackler, Mr. William (Bill) McKee, PetroSkills
Specialist, Mr. Marc Summers, Mr. Larry Wolfson
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Entire drilling and completions team, including operator, drilling contractor, and service companies. Agendas are
typically customized to address topics relevant to the team.

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

• Identify mechanisms and risk factors that lead to stuck pipe incidents.
• Anticipate, prevent, recognize and resolve stuck pipe due to the following:
-Differential Sticking
-Wellbore Geometry
-Wellbore Instability
• Assess mechanics of wellbore stresses and the impact on wellbore stability
• Analyze trends to identify early warning signs of developing wellbore problems
• Use hole cleaning factors in both vertical and deviated wellbores
• Apply mechanics of jars and how to use them effectively
• Implement effective drilling and tripping practices
• Make cost-effective choices in planning fishing operations
ABOUT THE COURSE
The Stuck Pipe Prevention - Train Wreck Avoidance ™ workshop provides the most comprehensive coverage in the
industry for understanding and preventing the underlying causes of Stuck Pipe, Wellbore Instability, Loss
Circulation, and other sources of non-productive time (NPT) in drilling operations. The workshop also focuses on
correct responses by individuals and teams, early warning signs, and minimizing the impact to drilling operations.
Through world-class presentations, practical discussion, and the best reference and instructional materials available,
delegates hone their knowledge of basic drilling technology and how it relates to avoiding NPT.
COURSE CONTENT
• Stuck Pipe Prevention
• Rock Mechanics
• Wellbore Stress
• Wellbore Instability
• Trend Recognition
• Hole Cleaning
• Differential Sticking
• Wellbore Geometry
• Tripping Practices
• Fishing Practices

Directional, Horizontal, and Multilateral Drilling - DHD

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Intermediate
Instructors: Mr. Stanley L. Atnipp, Mr. Richard S. Carden, PetroSkills Specialist, Mr. Marc
Summers, Mr. Larry Wolfson
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Drilling, production and operations engineers, field supervisors, toolpushers, managers and technical support
personnel
YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO
○ Make survey calculations
○ Interpret TVD, polar and rectangular coordinates and vertical section
○ Interpret dogleg severity and the problems associated with dogleg severity
○ Plan a two-dimensional directional well
○ Plan horizontal wells based on the objectives of the well
○ Determine the best multi-lateral completion for an application
○ Determine declination and non-magnetic drilling collar selection
○ Apply the best survey instrument for the job
○ Directionally drill with rotary BHA's, jetting, whipstocks, motor, steerable motors, and rotary steerable systems
○ Drill horizontally underbalanced
○ Interpret torque and drag and determine what factors will affect the torque and drag
○ Determine cementing requirements for directional wells

ABOUT THE COURSE

This course builds a firm foundation in the principles and practices of directional drilling, calculations, and planning
for directional and horizontal wells. Specific problems associated with directional/horizontal drilling such as torque,
drag, hole cleaning, logging and drill string component design are included. Participants will receive instruction on
planning and evaluating horizontal wells based on the objectives of the horizontal well. The basic applications and
techniques for multi-lateral wells are covered in the course. Additionally, they will become familiar with the tools
and techniques used in directional drilling such as survey instruments, bottomhole assemblies, motors, steerable
motors and steerable rotary systems. Participants will be able to predict wellbore path based on historical data and
determine the requirements to hit the target.

COURSE CONTENT
○ Applications for directional drilling
○ Directional profiles
○ Extended reach wells
○ Survey calculations and accuracy
○ Dogleg severity calculations and problems associated with doglegs
○ Planning directional and horizontal wells
○ Horizontal drilling methods and applications
○ Logging high angle wells
○ Hole-cleaning
○ Multi-laterals
○ Types of survey instruments
○ Tools used to deflect a wellbore
○ Torque and drag calculations
○ Cementing

Practical Drilling Skills - PDS

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Intermediate
Instructors: Mr. Thomas Gregory Hamm, Mr. William (Bill) McKee, Dr. Leon H. Robinson,
PetroSkills Specialist, Mr. Marc Summers, Mr. Larry Wolfson
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Experienced drilling personnel, drilling engineers, company men, supervisors, tool pushers, drillers and technical
managers responsible for improving drilling operations at the rig site.

You will learn how to

• Use rig floor measurements to improve drilling performance.

• Minimize drilling costs and decrease visible and invisible non-productive time.

• Drill cheaper – deeper and safely.

About the course

This course concentrates on providing methods to optimize drilling performance while drilling. The purpose is to
make any rig perform to its maximum capability. Initially, hydraulics are optimized from measurements made on the
rig floor. Nozzles and flow rate will be selected which provide the maximum hydraulic impact or the maximum
hydraulic power at the bottom of the well. Theoretical calculation of pressure losses in a well bore require
knowledge of fluid properties at the various temperatures and the shear rates as the fluid flows though each interval
of a bore hole. These values are not usually available on most drilling rigs. Measurements can be made on the rig
floor can provide answers that computer programs cannot.

After hydraulic optimization, the bit flounder point will be determined so the bit can drill with the maximum
efficiency. Techniques and procedures are discussed to apply the best bit loading for the lowest cost footage.

On-site observations will permit the drilling fluid rheology to be adjusted to provide good hole cleaning and remove
the maximum number of cuttings from beneath the drill bit. This requires an analysis and an adjustment of drilling
fluid rheology, solids control, and proper drilling fluid processing.

This course is designed to help you ‘listen to the well’. Experienced drillers seek to drill at the lowest cost by
eliminating downtime and optimizing rig performance. They do that by responding to indicators present on most
rigs. This course is designed to help experienced drilling personnel listen to the well.

Completion of the PetroSkills BDT course is highly recommended before taking this course. Participants with
several years rig experience will benefit from the procedures discussed; but participants who are not familiar with
drilling rigs and drilling processes will probably not understand some of the procedures.

Course Content

• Interpretation of mud logger gas units

• Determining pore pressure

• On-site hydraulic optimization

• Selecting proper bit loading (weight on bit and rotary speed) for the fastest, cheapest hole

• Interpreting pressure integrity tests

• Hole problems (such as, stuck pipe, lost circulation, and ballooning)

• Borehole stability

• Operating guidelines

• Drilling fluid properties necessary to maximize drilling performance

• Discussion of polymers in drilling fluids

• Solids control equipment arrangement to assure best drilled solids removal

Managing Wellsite Operations - MWC

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Intermediate
Instructors: Mr. Stanley L. Atnipp, Mr. Mark S. Hackler, Mr. Morgan L. Jones, PetroSkills
Specialist, Mr. Marc Summers
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Operations managers, drilling managers drilling superintendents, drilling supervisors, wellsite drilling engineers, rig
managers, rig superintendents, contract drilling engineers

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

○ Define a well's technical limit and implement a plan that will work to reach it
○ Identify and mitigate hidden risks to reduce lost time
○ Apply practical organizational learning techniques to benefit from lessons learned
○ Build effective rig site teams

ABOUT THE COURSE

Drilling and service personnel struggle daily with the oil and gas industry's inexperienced labor force. This
inexperience at the wellsite results in excessive non-productive time, trouble time, and invisible lost time. These, in
turn, lead to unsafe incidents and excessive costs to the operator, the contractor and the service industry. Managing
Wellsite Operations teaches participants to apply organizational learning processes, wellsite technical limits analysis
and more efficient use of all resources at the wellsite.
Good well planning is essential. However, in spite of very good planning and design there exist geological and
reservoir uncertainties, surface and downhole environmental constraints, failed equipment, and misunderstood
practices coupled with inexperienced wellsite personnel that are creating unsafe work conditions and driving up
drilling cost. Participants will learn how to identify and mitigate hidden risks that often are overlooked during the
planning, design and execution phases of a drilling operation. The participant will learn how to dissect and analyze
an operational plan. In addition, applying operational innovations and advanced motion and time processes will lead
to improved efficiency of wellsite rotary operations and individual wellsite tasks. Participants will be introduced to
models, templates, techniques, and real case studies that can be used on the job.
This course brings together a documented planning and design process, maximizes drilling efficiency and transfers
the execution plan to the wellsite for implementation. Participants will learn to build effective teams by using a case
study and applying the skills of the company representative, drilling contractor and service company personnel.
Critical issues are identified and analyzed to maximize safety and reduce drilling costs. Similarly, engineering,
technical service, and drilling contract personnel learn to analyze inefficient practices at the wellsite and utilize their
newfound skills to improve the operation. Drilling organizations are using new and complex drilling technology to
maximize return on capital costs. Combine the known variables with the influx of inexperienced personnel in the
planning, design, and execution phases and you have high cost and unsafe operations at the wellsite. Mastering the
drilling operations at the wellsite will reduce costs, improve drilling budgets and maximize resources.
COURSE CONTENT
○ Critical elements of effective planning and management of drilling operations
○ Design and implement a program "checklist" for critical well drilling operations
○ Investigate various elements of a drilling operation and mitigate visible and hidden risk
○ Investigate and perform an analysis of trouble time events, non-productive time occurrences and invisible lost
time for a drilling operation
○ Dissect the drilling plan and apply total task analysis to wellsite activities
○ Enhance your knowledge of organizational learning systems and transfer lessons learned
○ Perform technical limit analysis to improve wellsite performance
○ Measure and performance monitoring of the drilling operation
○ Maximize the inexperienced resources through total task analysis in a case study to reduce drilling costs and
improve safety

Cementing Practices - Cementing II - CEP

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Intermediate
Instructors: Mr. Jerry Calvert, PetroSkills Specialist
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Operating company and service company personnel responsible for planning, overseeing, and executing cementing
operations

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

○ Use cementing additives properly to improve and reduce job costs
○ Interpret laboratory test results
○ Perform primary cementing operations to include: casing cementing, liner cementing, multi-stage
cementing
 ○ Conduct squeeze jobs and selection of squeeze tools
○ Perform cement plug operations to improve overall job success
○ Interpret cement sheath evaluation logs

ABOUT THE COURSE

Cementing is a very important phase of the well construction plan. Operating company personnel must have a good
working knowledge of cements, cementing additives and placement procedures. The use of temperature modeling,
computer programs used for job design, and placement of the cement has caused some operating companies to retain
a cement service company representative on a full time basis to assist in the overall cementing operations. The
operator is critical to the success of the job. This course covers the importance being placed on the cement sheath
integrity during the life of the well, requiring additional mechanical properties of the set cement be obtained other
than the compressive strength. The parameters that the cement sheath will be subjected to must be considered. There
are a number of joint industry projects addressing this area of work. The course covers the use of cement
formulations, cement additives, casing hardware, cement blending, on-site mixing equipment and a well-planned job
procedure. Cementing guidelines will be covered that aid in overall job performance.

COURSE CONTENT
○ The overall cementing operation
○ Primary cementing
○ Remedial cementing
○ Plug cementing
○ The use of cement additives
○ Laboratory testing
○ Casing hardware
○ Cement sheath integrity
○ Cement sheath evaluation
○ Mixing equipment
○ Special cement systems
○ Cement guidelines
○ Current documents

Drill String Design and Optimization - DSD

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Intermediate
Instructors: Mr. Thomas Gregory Hamm, Mr. Marc Summers, Mr. Larry Wolfson
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Participants are typically operator, drilling contractor and service company engineers, drilling supervisors and
superintendents. This is an intensive technical workshop. A calculator is required and a laptop is strongly
recommended. Class size is typically limited to 18-20.

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

• Place the drill string design process in context with other planning and operational considerations
• Refresh underlying physics of drill string failures and mechanical properties of drill string materials
• Clarify performance properties of drill string components and how to apply design margins
• Design cost-effective BHAs and match them to your bit
• Gain specific application experience analyzing common load cases for both near-vertical and high-angle
situations: Tension loads, Torque loads, Combined tension-torque loads, Fatigue loads, Buckling loads
• Understand the basis for industry software design tools, including torque and drag, casing wear, and hydraulics
• Where available, perform parameter studies with the latest software tools to optimize tool selection related to
both mechanical and hydraulic design criteria
• Identify drilling tools and operational practices to reduce both torque and drag and casing wear
• Diagnose and mitigate vibration to reduce drill string damage and failure
• Optimize your drill string inspection program using the latest industry standards
• Gain insight into emerging drill string technologies and the possible benefits to your operations

ABOUT THE COURSE

We have been presenting Drill String Design workshops for over 12 years for all types of operations around the
world. We are constantly updating our materials to reflect the latest technology applications for both near-vertical
and high-angle well designs while maintaining a thorough grounding in the fundamentals. Workshop content is
often customized to address customer-specific operational situations and software applications. Where feasible, a
field trip is included to provide a practical, hands-on opportunity.

COURSE CONTENT
• Drill String and BHA Failure Prevention
• Low-Angle Design Applications
• High-Angle Design Applications
• Torque, Drag, and Casing Wear Mitigation
• Vibration Monitoring and Avoidance
• Drill String Handling and Inspection

Solids Control Systems - SCS

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Specialized
Instructors: Dr. Leon H. Robinson, PetroSkills Specialist
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Drilling Rig Personnel, Drilling Engineers, Drilling Rig Supervisors, Tool Pushers, Drilling Managers, Operating
Company Personnel, Reservoir Engineers, and Service Company Personnel

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

• Evaluate the effect of drilled solids on the total cost of a well
• Remove drilled solids expeditiously from beneath the drill bit, [solids control starts at the bit]
• Transport drilled solids to the surface
• Arrange each component of a drilling fluid processing plant for proper performance
• Evaluate each component of a drilling fluid processing plant [called mud tanks]
• Determine the Equipment Solids Removal Efficiency of the system
• Understand the new API RP 13C (Solids Control)
• Evaluate the effect of drilled solids on drilling fluid properties
• Minimize drilling fluid discarded – Waste Management

ABOUT THE COURSE

Drilled solids in a drilling fluid can, and usually do, cause many problems while drilling wells. Drilling fluids
containing excessive drilled solids increase trouble costs or Visible Non-Productive Time [NPT]. These costs are
usually easily visible because the drilling rig can no longer drill. Drilling performance can be impacted by drilled
solids and, frequently, be unnoticed. This higher drilling cost penalty is frequently accepted as ‘normal’. Drilling
performance is significantly affected by excessive drilled solids in the drilling fluid and might be considered an
Invisible NPT. The Invisible NPT cost can be significantly larger than the Visible NPT.
The list of problems created by drilled solids include stuck pipe, lost circulation, excessive wear on expendables,
drill string vibration, poor cement jobs, low drilling rates, poor cuttings transport in the annulus, poor log
interpretation, formation damage, creating a formation fluid influx by swabbing [even when running casing], and
excessive expenditures for waste disposal. Each of these problems will be addressed during the course.
Drilled solids are easier to remove when they are large. This means that solids control starts at the drill bit. Cuttings
should be removed from beneath the bit as soon as they are generated. Failure to remove the cuttings results in
regrinding by the next row of bit teeth and decreases drilling rate. Cuttings removal from beneath the drill bit is
improved by using drilling fluid containing few drilled solids. These cuttings must be brought to the surface without
tumbling in the annulus. Cuttings transport will be discussed because it is essential for good solids control.
Removal of drilled solids require an understanding of the performance of shale shakers, hydrocyclones, mud
cleaners, and centrifuges. These are discussed in great detail. An improperly plumbed drilling fluid surface system
can prevent this equipment from performing their proper functions. Analysis procedures applicable for all drilling
rigs, large and small, as well as any drilling fluid, will be discussed. The tank arrangements do not have to be
changed for different types of fluid if they are properly planned initially. Since hydrocyclones, and other
components around a drilling rig, use centrifugal pumps, a discussion of impeller selection will ensure proper
performance.
The cost of dilution increases if the drilled solids removal efficiency is too low. Excessive dilution results in extra
expenditures for the clean drilling fluid and also increases disposal costs. Procedures will be presented to allow
calculations of removal efficiency. The economic impact of poor solids equipment efficiency can be very large.
Excessive quantities of clean drilling fluid may be required because the proper equipment is not plumbed correctly.
Procedures will be presented to determine the optimum drilled solids removal efficiency for each target drilled
solids concentration.
This course provides relatively simple guidelines for eliminating most of the Visible NPT and increasing total
drilling performance.

COURSE CONTENT
• Analysis of different aspects of drilling which are affected by drilled solids
• Solids transport capabilities of a drilling fluid
• How shale shakers separate drilled solids
• The new API shaker screen designation and how it works
• Types of motion of shale shakers
• How hydrocyclones and centrifuges separate drilled solids
• How equipment should be arranged on a drilling fluid processing plant
• Selecting the proper centrifugal pump impeller
• Mud tank agitation
• Mud gun placement
• Degasser operation and objective
• Guidelines for effective drilled solids removal
• Trip tank operation
• Calculating Solids Removal Efficiency
• Evaluating mud cake compressibility
• Developing a thin, slick compressible filter cake in a well bore

Advanced Casing and Tubing Design - ACD

Discipline: Well Construction/Drilling

Level: Specialized
Instructors:
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Engineers in operating companies interested in advanced design concepts applied to casing and tubing
design.
YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO
○ Use traditional WSD (Working Stress Design) and new RBD (Reliability Based Design)
methodologies for casing and tubing.
○ Understand the new ISO TR 10400 document which replaces API 5C3.
○ Understand proper material applications for critical well design.
○ Use practical tools for preparing well designs for HPHT, Deepwater and other critical wells at
extreme pressure and temperature.
ABOUT THE COURSE
This course is a hands-on course focused for engineers responsible for designing critical wells. WSD and
RBD design techniques will be taught. RBD will be coupled with a Limit and Serviceability State approach.
Material applications and selection for brittle fracture will be examined in detail. Several advanced casing
and tubing special problems will be covered including APB (Annular Pressure Build-up,), Steam Well
Design, Deepwater Conductor Design, Wellhead Growth, Designing with Expandables, Thermal Loading,
Buckling / Post Buckling Behavior, and Casing Wear.
COURSE CONTENT
○ Introduction to casing and tubing design
○ Failure criteria and theories of strength
○ Limit and serviceability states following ISO TR 10400
 ○ Combined loading
○ Probabilistic design
○ Load combinations for standard and non-standard loading
○ Working stress design
○ API and Proprietary connections following ISO 13679
○ Selection of materials for casing and tubing applications
○ Fundamentals of corrosion
○ Fracture mechanics applied to environmental cracking
○ Buckling and post buckling behavior of casing and tubing
○ Annular pressure build-up and mitigation methods
○ Casing wear and impact on strength
○ Thermal cycling and loading design
○ Wellhead growth
○ Deepwater conductor design
○ Designing with expandables

Horizontal and Multilateral Wells: Completions and Stimulation - HML2

Discipline: Production and Completions Engineering

Level: Specialized
Instructors: Dr. Boyun Guo, PetroSkills Specialist, Dr. Ding Zhu
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Description
DESIGNED FOR
Completion, production, reservoir, and research engineers; geologists; managers in completion, production, drilling,
and exploration; others involved in various phases of horizontal and multilateral wells or interested in gaining an
interdisciplinary up-to-date understanding of this continually evolving technology
YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO
• Successfully design and optimize horizontal and multilateral well completions
• Engineer wells, taking into account limitations imposed by well bore stability and borehole friction
• Determine the appropriate zonal isolation methods for horizontal and multilateral wells
• Hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells
• Design damage removal, stimulation, and workover operations

ABOUT THE COURSE

Are your horizontal and multilateral wells yielding the expected results? Why are some of these types of wells great
successes, while others are embarrassing failures? Are you hesitant to recommend these types of wells for fear they
will yield poor results? Too many operators are finding themselves asking these same questions. Successful
multilateral and horizontal wells require new considerations, interdisciplinary planning, and special techniques.
This intense course addresses the critical need for a proper understanding of all aspects of horizontal and multilateral
well design, completion and stimulation that make these wells unique. It is designed for those planning or working
with horizontal and multilateral wells, and interested in effective use of the latest technology. Basic understanding of
important reservoir characteristics, hole stability, formation damage, crucial zonal isolation and hydraulic fracturing
are just some of the issues critical to successful horizontal and multilateral wells addressed by this course. A
combined practical and technical theme is employed, with emphasis on economy and efficiency in designing,
completing and producing horizontal and multilateral wells. Participants develop an appreciation for the complexity
of these wells and become equipped to design programs for horizontal and multilateral wells.
Drilling engineers that are solely interested in the details of drilling horizontal wells should take Directional,
Horizontal, and Multilateral Drilling
Participants are required to bring a scientific calculator. One personal computer is provided, at additional cost, for
each two participants; or participants are welcome to bring their own laptop.

COURSE CONTENT
• Reservoir characteristics for horizontal and multilateral well applications
• Well performance prediction
• Wellbore stability of horizontal wells
• Stress field effect on drilling, completion, production and stimulation
• Geosteering
• Multilateral well structure, junction and application
• Formation damage and its effect on horizontal well performance
• Well completion and its effect on horizontal and multilateral wells
• Intelligent completion: downhole monitoring and control
• Well trajectory and completion optimization
• Horizontal well fracturing
• Acidizing of horizontal wells
• Other stimulation methods