Table of Contents
1 Drilling Geology 1
Overview 1
Origins of Rock 1
Plate Tectonics 4
Lithology 7
Rock Strengths and Stresses 12
Hydrostatic Pressure Imposed by a Fluid 14
Geological Input to Drilling Wells 17
Summary 20
2 Oil and Gas Reservoir Formation 21
Overview 21
Source Rock and Hydrocarbon Generation 22
Vital Rock Properties 24
Primary Migration 25
Structural Traps 25
Reservoir Rock 26
Seal Rock 27
Secondary Migration 28
Reservoir Drives 29
Problems Related to Fluids in the Reservoir 31
Summary 31
3 Drilling a Land Exploration Well 33
Overview 33
Identifying a Prospect 33
Well Proposal 34
Well Design and Drilling Program 37
Drilling the Well 52
Production Testing the Well 80
Abandoning the Well 83
Summary 84
4 Planning and Drilling a Development Well Offshore 85
Overview 85
Well Planning 86
Hole and Casing Sizes 90
Writing the Well Program 92
Drilling the Well 93
Summary 108
5 Rig Selection and Rig Equipment 109
Overview 109
Selecting a Suitable Drilling Rig 109
Classifications of Drilling Rigs-Descriptions 110
Rig Systems and Equipment 123
Summary 140
6 Drill Bits 141
Overview 141
Roller Cone Bits 141
Fixed Cutter Bits 143
Core Bits 146
Optimizing Drilling Parameters 147
Grading the Dull Bit 150
Bit Selection 151
Drillbit Economics 153
Summary 154
7 Drilling Fluids 155
Overview 155
Functions of the Drilling Fluid 155
Basic Mud Classifications 156
Designing the Drilling Fluid 164
Summary 172
8 Directional and Horizontal Drilling 173
Overview 173
Why Drill Directional Wells? 173
Directional Well Planning 175
Deviating the Wellbore 178
Navigating to the Target 188
Directional Drilling Problems 194
Summary 195
9 Casing and Cementing 197
Overview 197
Casing Types 198
Designing the Casing String 202
Role of the Cement outside Casing 205
Mud Removal 206
Cement 208
Cement Design 209
Running and Cementing Casing 217
Cementing Surface Casings 220
Cement Evaluation behind Casing 223
Other Cement Jobs 223
Summary 225
10 Evaluation 227
Overview 227
Evaluation Techniques 227
Physical Sampling at the Surface 228
Physical Sampling Down Hole 233
Electrical Logging 239
Production Testing 249
Summary 253
11 Well Control 255
Overview 255
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Well Control 255
Blowout Preventer Stack 258
Kick Detection Equipment 268
Killing the Well 269
Shallow Gas 274
Special Well Control Considerations 277
Certification of Personnel for Well Control 282
Summary 282
12 Managing Drilling Operations 283
Overview 283
Personnel Involved in Drilling Operations 283
Contract Types 288
Incentive Schemes 290
Decision Making at the Wellsite 292
Decision Making in the Office 293
Interfacing with Service Companies 294
Estimating the Well Cost 295
Logistics 298
Handling Major Incidents 300
Summary 302
13 Drilling Problems and Solutions 303
Overview 303
Lost Circulation 303
Stuck Pipe 312
Fishing 320
Summary 327
14 Safety and Environmental Issues 329
Overview 329
Safety Meetings 330
Newcomers on the Rig 333
Training and Certification 334
Drills 336
Permit to Work Systems 338
Safety Alerts 339
Equipment Certification 339
Safety Equipment 340
STOP 342
Minimizing Discharge and Spills 342
Environmental Impact Studies 344
Severe Weather-Suspension of Operations 345
Summary 345
15 Getting Work in the Drilling Industry 347
Overview 347
Financial Health Warning 347
Types of Employers 348
Some Drilling-Related Job Definitions 350
Drilling-related employment glossary 350
Index 353
