Drilling Engineering-I (PPE-414) - Module 1 Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering the history, equipment, systems, and operations of rotary drilling as presented in PPE-414 Module 1.

James Miller Williams

Dug a 49-ft oil well in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada, in 1858 to produce kerosene.

Edwin L. Drake

Drilled the first purposefully planned oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859, using a cable tool rig powered by a 6-hp steam engine.

Cable Tool Drilling

A dominant 19th-century method that drilled wells by repeatedly lifting and dropping a heavy iron bit attached to a cable.

Spindletop Discovery

The 1901 Lucas well near Beaumont, Texas, which blew in at nearly 100,000 BOPD and marked the beginning of the modern rotary drilling era.

Exploration (Wildcat) Wells

Wells drilled to discover new oil or gas reservoirs in unexplored areas.

Appraisal Wells

Wells drilled after a discovery to evaluate the size, extent, and productivity of the reservoir.

Development Wells

Wells drilled after a reservoir is proven economically viable, used for production.

Joint Operating Agreement (JOA)

An agreement among a consortium of companies to share costs and profits of a drilling operation.

Land Rigs (Conventional)

Rigs using a standard derrick assembled at the site, requiring more time for rig-up and rig-down.

Mobile Rigs

Rigs using a portable mast or cantilever derrick that can be raised as a single unit for greater efficiency and mobility.

Submersible Drilling Barge

A bottom-supported offshore rig used in shallow water (8–20 ft) that is sunk by flooding compartments and floated by pumping water out.

Power Output ($P_{sp}$)

Calculated by the formula $P = \omega T$, where $\omega$ is angular velocity and $T$ is torque.

Diesel-Electric (AC-SCR) System

The most common power system on modern rigs, using an AC generator with SCR and DC motors for flexible distribution and smooth speed control.

Drawworks

The main machinery of the hoisting system that reels in or releases the drilling line to lift or lower pipe and controls heavy loads via brakes.

Mechanical Advantage (MA)

In the hoisting system, defined as $\frac{\text{Traveling Block Load}}{\text{Fast Line Load}}$, equal to the number of drilling lines between the blocks.

Triplex Mud Pump

A single-acting pump with three pistons used in most modern rigs to provide smoother flow and higher efficiency.

Duplex Mud Pump

A double-acting pump with two liners that displaces fluid during both the forward and backward strokes.

Pulsation Dampener (Surge Chamber)

A device containing compressed gas separated by a diaphragm, used to reduce pressure fluctuations produced by mud pumps.

Shale Shaker

The primary solids-control equipment that uses vibrating screens to remove most drilled cuttings from the drilling fluid.

Hydrocyclones

Devices like desanders and desilters that use centrifugal force to remove fine solids (16–100 $\mu m$) from drilling fluid.

Decanting Centrifuge

Equipment used after hydrocyclones to remove very fine colloidal solids (about 5 $\mu m$) from weighted water-based muds.

Vacuum Degasser

Removes entrained formation gas from drilling mud by flowing mud over inclined surfaces at reduced pressure (~5 psia).

Static Fluid Pressure

The pressure exerted by a non-flowing fluid column, calculated for incompressible fluids as $\Delta p = \rho g \Delta Z$.

Swivel

Connects the circulating system to the rotary system, allowing mud to flow into the drillstring while it rotates.

Kelly

A square or hexagonal pipe that transmits torque from the rotary table to the drillstring.

Topdrive

A modern rotation system using hydraulic or electric motors to rotate the drillstring directly, allowing for drilling with pipe stands.

Bottomhole Assembly (BHA)

The lower part of the drillstring, including drill collars, stabilizers, shock absorbers, jars, and the drill bit.

Drill Collars

Thick-walled, heavy pipes used to provide weight on bit (WOB) and maintain wellbore straightness.

Kick

Occurs when formation pressure is higher than hydrostatic pressure, causing formation fluids to enter the wellbore.

Blowout

The uncontrolled flow of formation fluids to the surface, resulting from a failure to control a kick.

Trip Tank

A small, calibrated tank (10–15 bbl) used to accurately monitor hole fill-up and detect kicks during tripping operations.

Ram Preventers

BOP components using closing blocks; includes pipe rams (size-specific), blind rams (no pipe), and shear rams (cuts pipe).

Annular Preventer

A bag-type preventer that can seal around any shape or size of pipe or close on an open hole.

Accumulator System

A high-pressure hydraulic storage system that provides immediate power to close BOPs if rig power fails.

Stripping

The process of moving pipe through closed Blowout Preventers (BOPs).

Mud Logging

The examination of rock cuttings and gas analysis (using a gas chromatograph) to evaluate formations and detect hydrocarbons.

Measurement While Drilling (MWD)

Downhole tools that measure well inclination and direction in real time, transmitting data via mud pulses.