Directional and Horizontal Drilling Operations – Well Site Supervisor

This course is part of the Track 1: Well Site Supervisor Development Program.Well Site Supervisor Development Program - Track 1. All units emphasize the priority of Safety/minimize time on location in the non-reservoir hole intervals. More than any other, this unit underscores the value creation opportunity that comes with Safety/Reservoir/Production priorities in the horizontal section rather than the alluring trap of Safety/Speed priorities. The ultimate reserves recovered, and the recovery rate is often determined before entering the horizontal section. Learning to optimize the “entire system” rather than just the bit/formation component is highlighted in this unit, especially in the horizontal interval. The links between target requirements, drillability, and anti-collision constraints to trajectory selections are clearly explained. The emerging “gold standard” of top-tier performance of one thousand feet per day or more, spud to spud for multi-year contracts, is thoroughly vetted by capturing learnings from implementing each hole interval. A total of 23 hours are included in this course with 3 hrs eLearning and 20 hrs virtual instructor-led sessions.

View The Schedule: Track 1 Schedule by Unit (5).pdf

Target Audience

Designed for field supervisors and junior field supervisors who are being developed to be well site supervisors; entry-level well site field personnel; experienced personnel who are cross-training to move into a supervisory role and lead operations at the well site.

You Will Learn

• Directional Drilling and Trajectory Design Core

Course Content

Virtual Instructor Led Training

During five sessions spanning twenty virtual training hours, participants will meet with the instructor to discuss a philosophy of trajectory design and technical limit optimization, including the historical aspects of directional and horizontal drilling. Aspects such as surveying instruments and directional calculations are pragmatically discussed. Ensuring familiarity with existing tools for rotary BHAs, steerable motors, and rotary steerable systems complemented with specialized tools to address torque, drag, and effective weight on bit is included. The reality of hole-cleaning demands, whether open-hole or cased hole, in the “40–60” degree portion of the wellbore while living with the reduced operating window of increased mud weight for wellbore stability and reduced fracture gradient due to hole angle increases are vetted for various target reservoirs. Proper treatment of 3-D dogleg severity throughout the entire wellbore is underscored, as well as its impact on the actual horizontal section and the effect of the tortuosity on production operations.

Back-to-Work Plan

Track 1 focuses on implementing a given design. It does require that the onsite leadership can “design check” for changes in “as is” conditions” from “basis of design” assumptions. This unit requires the “design check” more than most. Often, you must play the hand that is dealt to you when it comes to rig and crew capacities. The BTW plan does a detailed walk-through of actual capacities against target objectives. It clarifies a path forward that includes continuous improvement and cost-effective results on the current well. Discussions with service providers in the office and shop, along with the company office, focus on the latest and greatest options in software and tools that can potentially be applied to achieving the trajectory objectives.

A presentation recapping the learning and recommendations from each participant for this unit is made to a designee of the participant's manager.

Product Details