Course Syllabus: Drilling Engineering - ERPE 260

Division Physical Science and Engineering Division

Course Number ERPE 260
Course Title Drilling Engineering
Academic Semester Spring
Academic Year 2021
Semester Start Date 01/24/2021
Semester End Date 05/11/2021
Class Schedule 08:30 AM - 10:00 AM | Sun Tue
(Days & Time)

Instructor(s)
Name Email Phone Office Office Hours
Location
Shehab Shehab.Ahmed@kaust.edu.sa +966128087823 2228, 5, Al- By appointment
Ahmed Kindi (bldg. Sunday and Tuesday
Elsayed 5) after 1 pm.

Teaching Assistant(s)
Name Email
Alexis Koulidis Jelena Skenderija alexis.koulidis@kaust.edu.sa jelena.skenderija@kaust.edu.sa

Course Information
Comprehensive Drilling Engineering is a multidisciplinary subject. The course will cover the fundamentals
Course Description of drilling engineering to allow students and researchers to appreciate the various
interacting subsystems. The class will start by an introduction to drilling systems, rigs, and
tools. We will then discuss wellbore hydraulics; drilling problems identification and
solutions; well cementing; drilling of directional and horizontal wells; wellbore surveying;
pore pressure, fracture gradients; well control; offshore drilling and underbalanced drilling.
We will utilize the PAYZONE drilling predictive simulator to corroborate learning.
Course Description Drilling Engineering is a multidisciplinary subject. The course will cover the
from Program Guide fundamentals of drilling engineering to allow students and researchers to
appreciate the various interacting subsystems. The class will start by an
introduction to drilling systems, rigs, and tools. We will then discuss wellbore
hydraulics; drilling problems identification and solutions; well cementing;
drilling of directional and horizontal wells; wellbore surveying; pore pressure,
fracture gradients; well control; offshore drilling and underbalanced drilling.
We will utilize the PAYZONE drilling predictive simulator to corroborate
learning.
Goals and Objectives 1. Understand the overall drilling process for onshore and offshore drilling.
2. Have an understanding of main drilling operations.
3. Understand wellbore hydraulics and drilling fluids function.
4. Know the different types of drilling rigs and understand the function of the several drilling
systems in a rig.
5. Understand the process of directional drilling.
6. Know the importance of pore pressure and fracture gradient on wellbore planning and how
they are attained.
7. Conduct drilling engineering simulations using PAYZONE.

Required Knowledge Fundamentals of oil field operations; engineering mathematics; fundamentals of fluids;
fundamentals of physics.

Reference Texts Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering, various authors. Edited By: Robert F. Mitchell and
Stefan Z. Miska 2011, SPE Textbook Series No. 12 ;ISBN: 978-1-55563-207-6 Society of
Petroleum Engineers Richardson, TX, 2011.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/kaust-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3404993
Text book is available through the KAUST library electronically.

Method of evaluation 25.00% - Course Project(s)

25.00% - Homework /Assignments
25.00% - Final exam
25.00% - Midterm exam
Nature of the Homework will be problems related to the lectures and reading material.
assignments Class project and presentation will cover state of the art literature in the field and develop a
general appreciation of the drilling process.

Course Policies Late assignment submissions not accepted.

Additional
Information

Tentative Course Schedule

(Time, topic/emphasis & resources)

Week Lectures Topic

1 Sun 01/24/2021 Introduction to drilling engineering
 Tue 01/26/2021
2 Sun 01/31/2021 Well construction and drilling equipment
Tue 02/02/2021
3 Sun 02/07/2021 Fundamentals of Drilling Fluids and Hydraulics
Tue 02/09/2021
4 Sun 02/14/2021 Well casing and cementing
Tue 02/16/2021
5 Sun 02/21/2021 Drilling Problems, Challenges and Solutions
Tue 02/23/2021
6 Sun 02/28/2021 Directional Drilling
Tue 03/02/2021
7 Sun 03/07/2021 Pore pressure and fracture gradient
Tue 03/09/2021
8 Sun 03/14/2021 Mid Semester Break
Tue 03/16/2021
9 Sun 03/21/2021 Review and Midterm
Tue 03/23/2021
10 Sun 03/28/2021 Fundamentals of well control (kick mechanisms, detection, prevention, well control
Tue 03/30/2021 procedures)

11 Sun 04/04/2021 Offshore drilling and Underbalanced drilling

Tue 04/06/2021
12 Sun 04/11/2021 PAYZONE Drilling Predictive Simulator
Tue 04/13/2021
13 Sun 04/18/2021 PAYZONE Drilling Predictive Simulator
Tue 04/20/2021
14 Sun 04/25/2021 PAYZONE Drilling Predictive Simulator
Tue 04/27/2021
15 Sun 05/02/2021 Project Presentations
Tue 05/04/2021
16 Sun 05/09/2021 Finals
Tue 05/11/2021

Note
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as necessary.