PETROENG 7042 - Drilling Engineering and Well Completion

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

The course covers the fundamentals of drilling engineering and well completion. In the area of drilling; the following are covered: the drilling process; equipment and performance; well pressure control and buoyancy; fluid design; well casing design and cementing techniques; overview of drilling operations. Well Completions addresses: concepts and types of well completion design; overview of well performance; tubing string sizing and design; specialised components: wellheads, packers, expansion joints, subsurface safety valves etc; introduction to well stimulation.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PETROENG 7042
    Course Drilling Engineering and Well Completion
    Coordinating Unit Mining and Petroleum Engineering
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 5 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Course Description The course covers the fundamentals of drilling engineering and well completion. In the area of drilling; the following are covered: the drilling process; equipment and performance; well pressure control and buoyancy; fluid design; well casing design and cementing techniques; overview of drilling operations. Well Completions addresses: concepts and types of well completion design; overview of well performance; tubing string sizing and design; specialised components: wellheads, packers, expansion joints, subsurface safety valves etc; introduction to well stimulation.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Alireza Salmachi

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Effectively describe petroleum well drilling and completion principles, including key features of various components, and use these descriptions in appropriate for design, design analysis and evaluations;
    2 Understand identify key design parameters, and estimate them appropriately; and solve the relevant problems through analysing, evaluating and synthesising information;
    3 Ability to approach problems in a logical way, be able to formulate an optimum solution and decide what data / information is relevant from a range of sources, how these relate to each other and identify inconsistencies;
    4 Ability to work as a part of the team through successful completion of a group project;
    5 Ability to work clearly and concisely, and be able to communicate findings in a variety of ways (on paper, electronically).

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Entry to Practice Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer. The course develops the following EA Elements of Competency to levels of introductory (A), intermediate (B), advanced (C):  
     
    1.11.21.31.41.51.62.12.22.32.43.13.23.33.43.53.6
    B B B B B C A A A A A B
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-3

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1-3,5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    2-4

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    2-4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    2-4

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    .

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    .

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    2-4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Please bring supplied lecture handbook, pen, pencils, coloured pencils, eraser, ruler, workbook and calculator to all lectures classes.
    Recommended Resources

    1. "Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering", by Robert F. Mitchell. Stefan Z.Miska, SPE Text Book series Volume 12, 2011.

    2. “Applied Drilling Engineering” by A.T. Bourgoyne, Jr., et al., SPE textbook series, Vol. 2 (1991).

    3. “Drilling Engineering”, by A. A. Azar and G. Robello Samuel, PennWell Publisher, 2007.

    4. “Composition and Properties of Well Oil Drilling Fluids”, by G.R. Gray and H.C.H. Darley, Gulf Publishing Company.

    5. “Oil Well Drilling Engineering: principles and practice”, by H. Rabia, Graham and Trotman Publisher, UK, 1985.

    6. “Practical Well Planning and Drilling Manual”, By Steve Devereux, PennWell Publishing Limited, USA, 1998.

    7. “Modern Well Design”, by Brent S. Aadnoy, A.A.Balkema, Rotterdam, Brookfield, 1996.

    Additional lecture notes will be provided during the lecture

    Online Learning
    Lectures notes and tutorial materials will be available on MyUni (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/)
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be taught in parralel with the Drilling Engineering course (PETROENG 2010) in a semsetrized format.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A 3-unit course requires 156 hours and possibly some additional private study time.

    The whole course will be delivered in intensive short course mode. There will be total of 6 days of lectures and tutorial, which will be run through face to face lecture; discussions and problem solving.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Every week there is 2 hours of lecture. Practical and Tutorial sessions are offered every week on an alterante basis.

    The following topics are covered in this course:

    1) Drill rigs
    2) Rotary system
    3) Power system
    4) Hoisting system
    5) Circulation system
    6) Well control system
    7) Drilling fluids
    8) Drilling hydraulics
    9) Drill bits
    10) Pore pressure and fracture pressure
    11) Drill string 
    12) Well control procedure

    Specific Course Requirements

    All students are strongly recommended to bring a non-programmable calculator and work/note book in the class.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Individual / Group Due (week)* Weighting Learning Outcome
    Research Group Project Summative Group 9 30%
    Practical Reports Summative Individual TBD 10%
    Tutorial Reports Summative Individual TBD 10%
    Class Test x 3 Summative Individual 7, 10 & 12 50%

    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.
    Assessment Detail
    Three class tests during the semester.

    Tutorial reports (4 in total), A tutorial report must be submited via MyUni for each tutorial.

    Practical reports (4 in total), A practical report must be submited via MyUni for each practical.
    Submission
    Submission of Work for Assessment
    Practical and field class exercises should be submitted in hardcopy with a completed copy of the assessment coversheet that is available from the school office. This should be signed to indicate you have read the above university policy statement on plagiarism, collusion and related forms of cheating.

    Extensions for Assessment Tasks
    Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Co-ordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time.

    Penalty for Late Submission of Assessment Tasks
    Assessment tasks must be submitted by the stated deadlines. There will be a penalty for late submission of assessment tasks. The submitted work will be marked ‘without prejudice’ and 10% of the obtained mark will be deducted for each working day (or part of a day) that an assessment task is late, up to a maximum penalty of 50% of the mark attained. An examiner may elect not to accept any assessment task that a student wants to submit after that task has been marked and feedback provided to the rest of the class.

    Provision of Feedback to Students
    Exercises will be returned to students within two weeks of their submission.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.