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DRILLING OPERATION OVERVIEW

SECTION 1: RIG COMPONENTS

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1.1 Hoisting System

1.2 Circulating System
1.3 Power System
1.4 Rotating System
1.5 Well Control Equipment

SECTION 2: DRILLING PROCESS

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2.1 Section 12-1/4”

2.2 Section 8-1/2”
2.3 Section 6-1/8”
2.4 Completion Stage

Punnada K.
Drilling HES Trainee

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SECTION 1: RIG COMPONENTS

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1.1 Hoisting System

Purpose of hoisting system is to pull drill string and tubing or casing up from hole
and run it in hole.

Derrick
A Derrick to support the traveling and crown blocks and heavy weight of drill
stem. Also supports the drill pipe and drill collars when pulled out of the hole and set
back.

Figure 1 Derrick

Blocks and Drilling Line

The Traveling block, crown block and drilling line support the load of the drill pipe in
the derrick as it is being moved in or out of the hole. The crown block sits at the top of the
derrick and never removes. The traveling block travels up and down in the center of the
derrick and have a drilling hook extends from the bottom. Top drive holds the drill stem,
hangs from the drilling hook.

Figure 2 Crown block at the top of derrick

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 A

Figure 3 (A) Traveling block and (B) Top drive

The part of drilling line running from the drum through the traveling block and
the crown block is called the fast line because it moves rapidly on and off the drum. The
part of drilling line from the crow block to the supply reel is the deadline. It does not
move at all during hoisting. The deadline runs from the deadline anchor to the crown
block. The deadline is firmly clamped to the deadline anchor.

Drilling line

Figure 4 Drilling line

Deadline
A B

Figure 5 (A) Supply reel on the BOP deck (B) Deadline anchor and deadline
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Drawworks
Drawworks raises or lowers the traveling block and the drill stem hanging from it.
The driller operates the drawworks at the driller’s console, on the front left side of the
drawworks. Driller’s console has controls for the power, transmission, and brakes of the
hoisting system.

Figure 6 Drawworks

Extending out of each end of the drawworks has catshaft and end of the catshaft
have cathead. These two catheads are makeup cathead (located on the driller’s side); used
to tighten the drill pipe joints and breakout cathead (located opposite the driller); used to
loosen the drill pipe joints.

Figure 7 Cathead

The crew uses an air hoist to move heavy equipment around the rig floor.

Figure 8 Air hoist

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1.2 Circulating System
The circulating system pumps a special liquid is drilling fluid or drilling mud
down the hole through the drill stem, out of the bit on the end of the pipe at the bottom of
the hole, and back to the surface.
Cutting overboard

Cutting overboard

Mud return line

Centrifuge
Shale shaker

Well

Catch Mono pump

tank Active
Pit
Holding
Mud pump tank Mixing hopper

Figure 9 Circulating systems.

Drilling Fluids
Basically mixture of water, clay, and special minerals and chemicals, mud
performs very important to the rotary drilling process.

Basic functions of mud are;

To maintain hydrostatic pressure and against formation pressure.
To create a mud cake in an open hole.
To cool the drill bit and lubricate the drill string.
To bring or transport cuttings to the surface, for analysis and clean the well.
To provide the hydraulic horse power.

Circulating Equipment

Mud pumps; The mud pump pumps drilling fluid into the hole. It is used to move large
volumes of fluids at high pressures from the pits. On the rig have two pumps. Only one at
a time is normally in use during drilling. The second serves as a backup if the first
requires repair. The driller can use two pumps if drilling requires a large volume of mud.

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 The mud pump pumps mud travels up the standpipe, through the rotary hose, into
the top drive and the mud goes down through the drill string, and out of the bit nozzles.
After that the mud lifts cuttings off the bottom, and return to the surface.

Figure 10 Mud Pump

Mud return line; The pipe of the mud and cuttings leave from the well.

Figure 11 Mud return line

Shale shaker; The device have a vibration screen used to remove cuttings from the
circulating fluid.

Figure 12 Shale shaker

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Degasser; The device used to remove unwanted gas from a drilling fluid, if contains gas.

Figure 13 Degasser

Mud pits; The drilling fluid or mud is mixed and stored in the mud pits.

Figure 14 Mud pits.

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1.3 Power System
Each of equipment on the rig must have power supply to do its function. On the
rig have generator to produces electricity that is sent through cables to electric switch and
control gear. Electricity current was sent to SCR (Silicon Control Rectifier) units, which
transmits current to equipment.

Figure 15 Generator

Figure 16 SCR Room

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1.4 Rotating System
Rotating system is to transmit toque to bit and make it rotate in order to make a
hole. Rotating system consists of Top Drive System (TDS), rotary table, drill string (drill
pipe and Bottom Hole Assembly), and bit.

Top Drive
Top drive used to rotate the drill string. Top drive hangs from the traveling block
and has two vertical rails called dolly tracks, firmly attached to the derrick and in which
the unit rides to keep the unit from rotating.

Traveling Block

Top drive
Dolly tracks

Figure 17 Top drive

Rotary Table
The rotary table, with master bushing or hydraulic slip, supplies the necessary
torque to turn the drill stem.
When remove the hydraulic slip, the crew replace the master bushing into the
rotary table and hand slip or air slip to keep drill pipe from falling into the hole. Drill
collar must be used safety clamp and hand slip together because drill collar don’t have
tool joint, so they are used double prevent falling into the hole.

Rotary table
Master bushing

Figure 18 Master bushing in the rotary table

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Drill String
Drill string consists drill pipe and bottom hole assembly. Drilling mud flows to
the bottom of the hole through them.
The purpose of using drill collars is to put extra weight on the bit.

A B C

Figure 19 (A) Mud motor (B) Drill collar (C) Drill pipe

The Bit
The bottom of the drill string is the bit. The bit used to cut or gouge the formation
to make a hole.

Bit nozzles

Figure 19 Bit

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 1.5 Well Control Equipment

BOP (Blowout Preventers)

BOP used to close the well and allow the crew to control a kick before it becomes
a blowout. BOP installs on the top of the well.

Annular preventer

Pipe ram preventers

Blind ram preventer

Figure 20 BOP

Accumulators
Accumulators or Koomey units are stores hydraulic fluid that opens and closes
BOP. The nitrogen gas in the unit’s steel bottles puts the hydraulic fluid under high
pressure to carry the hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to the BOP stack, operates
control valves, the fluid operates the preventers.

Figure 21 Accumulators or Koomey units

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Choke Manifold
Mud is circulated through a choke manifold when the BOP is closed.

Figure 22 Choke manifold

Mud Gas Separator

Mud gas separator or Poor boy separates the flammable gas so it can be vented (or
burn) at a safe distance from the rig while a kick is being circulated out of the well.

Mud gas separator

(Poor boy)

Figure 23 Mud gas separator or Poor boy

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SECTION 2: DRILLING PROCESS

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2.1 Section 12-1/4”

Make Up BHA
(Bottom Hole Assembly)

Drill Top Hole

(Spud)

Circulate the Hole

Pump Out

Run 9-5/8” Casing in

Hole

Install Wellhead

Cementing

Skid rig to drill another

holes of batch 14
 Section 12-1/4”

Make Up BHA
BHA (Bottom Hole Assembly) consists of
Bit; 12-1/4” or 11-3/4”
Mud motor; Control direction of bit
MWD; Measure while drilling
Float sup; Prevent annular fluid comes into the drill stem
Stabilizer
Drill collar
Heavy weight; Increase weight on bit

Drill Top Hole (Spud)

Riserless drilling are drilling surface hole (No riser and BOP) so must be have
stand by boat while drilling and two bubble watchers on poop deck while drilling and
circulating.
While drilling surfaces holes, no hot work (includes grinders, chippers, and
extension cords with electrical appliances) or smoking outside accommodation (Driller to
inform radio operator at start of drilling, radio operator to announce “no smoking or hot
work” and to turn on red flashing lights in smoking areas.

Circulate the Hole

Circulate the hole to remove cuttings out of hole and create mud cake. Surface
holes will be drilled with guar gum starting at 100’ below mud line, circulated with guar
gum mud after TD, and displaced and pumped out of hole with polymer mud.

Pump Out
Pump the water based mud while pulling the drill string out of the hole.

Run 9-5/8” Casing

Run 9-5/8” casing with shoe in hole, Weatherford hands operate casing tong to
make up casing. First upper two joints of 9-5/8” casing on splash zone are dimet casing
coated with corrosion inhibitor.

Install Wellhead
Install wellhead on production deck.

Cementing
Pumps cement into the hole through cement head.

Skid Rig
Skid rig to drill another holes of batch.

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2.2 Section 8-1/2”

Skid Rig

Install Riser and BOP

Pressure Test

Make Up BHA

Drill with 8-1/2” Bit

Circulate the Hole

and Pump Slug

Pull the Drill String Out

of Hole

Run 7” Casing
And Casing Hanger in Hole

Cementing

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 Section 8-1/2”

Skid Rig
Skid rig to drill the holes.

Install Riser and BOP

To prepare drill section 8-1/2”

Pressure Test
Full test; Check function of each Ram
Connection test; Check function of top Ram only

Make Up BHA
BHA (Bottom Hole Assembly) consists of
Bit; 8-1/2”
Mud motor; Control direction of bit
MWD; Logging while drilling (Vertical & horizontal angle)
Float sup; Prevent annular fluid comes into the drill stem
Stabilizer
Drill collar
Heavy weight; Increase weight on bit

Drill with 8-1/2” Bit

Drill with water based mud. Before drill must be have wear busing in hole to
prevent wellhead.

Circulate the Hole and Pump Slug

Circulate the hole to remove cuttings out of hole and create mud cake, then pump
slug to remove mud off the well.

Pull the Drill String Out of Hole

Pump the water based mud while pulling the drill string out of the hole.

Run 7” Casing in Hole

Before run casing in hole must be remove wear busing. Run 7” casing with shoe
in hole, Weatherford hands operate casing tong to make up casing. After that, run casing
hanger in hole.

Cementing
Pumps cement into the hole and drop plug or wiper plug to push the cement
downward to the hole bottom through cement head.

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2.3 Section 6-1/8”

Skid Rig

Install Riser and BOP

Pressure Test

Make Up BHA

Drill with 6-1/8” Bit

Circulate the Hole

and Pump Slug

Pull the Drill String Out

of Hole

Wire Line Logging

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 Section 6-1/8”

Skid Rig
Skid rig to drill the holes.

Install Riser and BOP

To prepare drill section 6-1/8”

Pressure Test
Full test; Check function of each Ram
Connection test; Check function of top Ram only

Make Up BHA
BHA (Bottom Hole Assembly) consists of
Bit; 6-1/8”
Mud motor; Control direction of bit
MWD; Logging while drilling (Vertical & horizontal angle)
Float sup; Prevent annular fluid comes into the drill stem
Stabilizer
Drill collar
Heavy weight; Increase weight on bit

Drill with 6-1/8” Bit

Drill with oil based mud. Before drill must be have wear busing in hole to prevent
wellhead.

Circulate the Hole and Pump Slug

Circulate the hole to remove cuttings out of hole and create mud cake, then pump
slug to remove mud off the well.

Pull the Drill String Out of Hole

Pump the oil based mud while pulling the drill string out of the hole.

Wire Line Logging

Logged data
Triple combo
Resistivity > 10 (Hydrocarbon existing)
Gamma ray
High = Shale; no oil and gas existing
Low = Sand; possible of oil and gas existing
Density and Neuron porosity
Crossing of these two graph means possible of HC exist.
- Triple combo + Sonic = Quad combo

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2.4 Completion Stage

Run 2-7/8” or 3-1/2”

Tubing
TRSV and Tubing Hanger

Cementing

Pump Completion Fluid

Install X’Mas Tree

Hook Up Control Line

Perforate

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 Completion Stage

Run 2-7/8” or 3-1/2” Tubing in Hole

Before run tubing in hole must be remove wear busing. Run 2-7/8” or 3-1/2”
tubing with shoe in hole, Weatherford hands operate tubing tong to make up tubing. After
that, run TRSV and tubing hanger in hole.

Cementing
Pumps cement into the hole and drop top plug or wiper plug to push the cement
downward to the hole bottom through cement head.

Pump Completion Fluid

Pumps KCL or saraline to push the top plug down and balance the pressure of
formation and well.

9 5/8” Casing
Well Head
7” Casing
3 ½” tubing

Sea Bed
Open hole
Cement
9 5/8” casing
7” casing
3 ½” tubing (Fox)
3 ½” tubing (Vam)

Figure 24 Well schematic.

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