Well-Site Operations

A Brief Overview

By: Mohamed Elfateh

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Part I:Introduction

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qIntroduction:
vWell Classifications.
vDrilling Rig Types.
vRig Components.
vCirculation system.
vDrilling Fluid.
vSolid Control Equipment.
v Well-Site Crew Organization
v HSE.
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vWells Classifications:
ØPurpose :
§ Exploration (Wildcat): Drilled in an area that has not been explored
before. (No offset wells, very little geological and pressure data
available).
§ Appraisal: Drilled to determine how large the reservoir is. (Some
offset wells always available).
§ Development: Drilled to enter a known productive portion of the
reservoir. (Good offset data available) & Infill Wells.
ØProfile :
§ Vertical, Deviated, Horizontal or Multilateral.

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 vDrilling Rig Types:
Well site Operations

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vDrilling Rig Types:

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v Drilling Land Rig Components:

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Rigging Up
R/U

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vDrilling Rig Components:

 Hoisting System:
Draw Work.

 Crown & Traveling Blocks.
 Drill Line (Fast line).
 Hook.
 Dead line anchor.
 supply Reel.
 Circulating System:
 Suction Tank.
 Mud Pumps.
 Standpipe.
 Rotary Hose.
 Drilling String.
 Flow Line.
 Solid Control Equipment.
 Intermediate Tank. 9
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• Rotating System:
• Rotary Table/Kelly.
• Top Drive System TDS.
• Down hole Motor.
• Power System:
• Generator Sets.
• S.C.R & VFD.
• Control Room.
• Well Control System:
• BOP Stack.
• Accumulator (Koomy) Unit.
• Gas Separator & Vacuum Degasser .
• Choke &Kill Manifold.
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§ The Drilling String:

• Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA)
• Bit & Sub Bit
• Drill Collars
• Drill Pipe
• Heavy Weight Drill Pipe (HWDP)
• Special Tools (drilling jars, bypass tools, shock subs, BHA
etc.)

Rock Bit PDC Combination

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Circulating System

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vDrilling Fluid:
It is a mixture of liquids and chemicals that allow the drilling and completion of a well.
Drilling Fluid (mud):
• Water-based(Fresh/ Brine)
Cost-effective, easy to handle
Shale sensitive
• Oil-based
Non-reactive (inert)
Expensive, environmental impact

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• Water base mud is used in Sudan oil fields, These involve the following types:
Bentonite, KCL polymer, KCL Silicate designed based on both Geological and
Operational Problems of each section in the Well.

• Functions of drilling Mud:

qControlling subsurface pressure HP Vs FP (mud density MW).
qCuttings removal (viscosity FV, PV).
q Suspending cuttings when circulation is stopped (gel strength & YP).
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qProviding an impermeable wall cake (Mud

filtrate).
qActing as medium for electrical well logging(PH
& Salinity).
qMinimizing clay swelling (Mud Inhibition).

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vSolid Control Equipment:

• Shale shaker.
• Degasser.
• Desander.
• Desilter.
• Centrifuge.

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• Shale shaker They are the first phase of a solids control system on a
drilling rig, and are used to remove large solids (cuttings) from the drilling
fluid ("mud").

• A degasser is a device used to remove gasses from drilling fluid which

could otherwise form bubbles.

• Desanders and desilters are solid control equipment with a set of

hydrocyclones that separate sand and silt from the drilling fluids in drilling
rigs. Desanders are installed on top of the mud tank following the shale
shaker and the degasser, but before the desilter. Desander removes the
abrasive solids from the drilling fluids which cannot be removed by shakers.
Normally the solids diameter for desander to be separated would be
45~74μm, and 15~44μm for desilter.

• A centrifuge is an industrial version of the device that separates fine silt

and sand from the drilling fluid. It is typically mounted on top or just off of
the mud tanks.
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v Well-Site Crew Organization
Client Representative

Drilling Supervisor Geological Supervisor

Mud logging
Rig Crew Crew

Drilling Fluid Wireline Crew

Crew

Cementing Coring Crew

Crew

Directional LWD
Drilling Crew 18
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v Rig Personnel:
1. Rig Manager.
I. Rig Engineer.
II. HSE Engineer.
III. Mechanical Engineer.
IV. Electrical Engineer.
V. Tool pusher.
VI. Driller.
VII. Assistant Driller.
VIII. Derrick man.
IX. Floor man.
X. Roughneck.
XI. Welder.
XII. Technicians.

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v Health Safety & Environment (HSE)

§ Rig safety equipment:
A drilling site is equipped with various safety features, including
I. First aid kits.
II. Fire extinguishers.
III. Emergency air supplies.
IV. Warning sirens.
V. Gas monitors.
VI. Wind indicators (wind sock).
The location of this equipment and Muster Points should be noted prior to
an emergency since emergency conditions can be noisy and can be made
more dangerous by limited visibility and confusion.

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§ Personal Protecting Equipment: includes the following:

• Hard hat.
• Safety shoes.
• Safety glasses.
• Hearing protection.
Special Equipment:
• SCBA:
Self-Contained-Breathing-Apparatus.
• The following are recommended:
• Well-fitted, protective clothing
• CPR and first aid training.

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§ Rig site Evacuation plan and Safety Signs:

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