Overview
An insight into the techniques used to drill oil and gas wells from start to completion and production, including oilfield terminology and the purpose of floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units.
Learning objectives
- Name the main parties involved in drilling a well
- Describe organisation structures offshore and onshore
- Describe the main functions of a drilling rig and its equipment
- Understand common oilfield terms
- Explain the purpose of FPSO units
Topics covered
- The concession
- The oil company and the drilling contractor
- Types and design of drilling rigs
- Drilling organisations onshore and offshore
- The drilling process
- Rig move operations
- Shore bases and subcontractors
- The drilling rig and its components
- Drilling a well from spud-in to completion
- Core sampling
- Casing and cementing
- Formation and drilling fluid pressures
- Drilling problems and solutions
- Drilling fluid and the circulation system
- Simulator exercises
- FPSO units: background, design and benefits