SYLLABUS
Course title and number
Term
Meeting times and location:
PETE 406: High Performance Drilling
Fall 2015
Rich 302 MWF 12:40-1:30 pm
*Stacked class with undergraduate (PETE 406) and graduate (PETE 639) students
Course Description and Prerequisites
The purpose of this course is to prepare the student to be able to achieve differentiating drilling
performance in the most complex wells. The physics-based practices taught represent the state of the art in
high-performance drilling. This includes the underlying physics of each major type of performance limiter,
real time operational practices, engineering redesign practices, and effective workflows for achieving the
required change in engineering and operational practices.
.
Prerequisites
PETE 661 or 355
Instructor approval, if prerequisites are not met.
Instructor Information
Name
Telephone number
Email address
Office hours
Office location
Fred Dupriest, Professor of Engineering Practices
713-548-7927 (C)
fred.dupriest@pe.tamu.edu
M 8:50-3:00 & 3:50-5:00, WF 11:10-3:00 & 3:50-5:00 pm
501L Richardson Building
Fred Dupriest retired in 2012 as the Chief Drilling Engineer for ExxonMobil. He has published 20 papers on
new operational practices to enhance drilling performance. These include design and operational practices to
that maximize bit performance using mechanical specific energy (MSE) surveillance, elimination of differential
sticking, improve borehole stability management, reduce vibrations, and enhance lost circulation and well
control management. He was instrumental in developing Fast DrillTM a nd Limiter RedesignTM performance
management workflows. He is an inductee in the AADE Drilling Fluids Hall of Fame and received the 2012
SPE Drilling Engineering Award.
Textbook and/or Resource Material
The main source of material for the course will be presentation slides and other reference material posted on
eCampus in the class file. Lectures will be recorded for Distance Learning students who may view the material
on line as their personal schedule allows.
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Grading Policies
Homework…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15%
Group Project…………………………………………………………………………………….…… 10%
3 Non-comprehensive Exams………………………………………………………………………. 75%
Total……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 100%
Grading Scale
A……………………………………………………………………………………………………..90-100%
B………………………………………………………………………………………………………80-89%
C………………………………………………………………………………………………………70-79%
D………………………………………………………………………………………………………60-69%
F………………………………………………………………………………………………………..0-59%
Letter grade will be based on achieving the exact lower end of the scale (i.e., 89.99 = B)
Course Topics, Calendar of Activities, Major Assignment Dates
Homework will be submitted on Wednesdays and returned on Fridays (10 homework
assignments). Three exams will be given, which are not comprehensive. A group project will
be due two weeks prior to the end of the semester which allows the student to practice the
steps required to implement change in how an organization works. The class will be
recorded for distance students. Late work will not be accepted without prior approval for
the delay (http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07}.
Each subject area is approached from the perspective of how it may limit performance
and what must be done to change the limitation, both in real time operations and
engineering redesign
Lesson 1: Syllabus, Business Models
Lesson 2: Performance Management
Lesson 3: Basic Bit Mechanics
Lesson 4: Rock Strength
Lesson 5: Bit Balling
Lesson 6: General Vibrations
Lesson 7: Whirl Vibrations
Lesson 8: A Process for Change
Lesson 9: Stickslip Vibrations
Lesson 10: Axial, Interfacial Severity and Bottom Hole Balling
Lesson 11: Borehole Management (stability)
Lesson 12: Filtercake Morphology and Management
Lesson 13: Elimination of Differential Sticking
Lesson 14: Hole Cleaning
Lesson 15: Formation Integrity Testing and Lost Circulation
Lesson 16: Lost Circulation
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Contributions to Professional Component:
Math and Science
Student will learn fundamental physical principles in rock mechanics, bit
mechanics, vibrations, cuttings transport and hydraulics
Petroleum Engineering
Provides students with the ability to effectively implement new practices that
will achieve differentiating field drilling performance, even as new hires.
General Education
Provides a physics-based understanding of field operations that enables the
student to learn from future experiences more effective, innovate in the
creation of new practices, and to move new practices from one operation to
another
None
Course Learning Outcomes and Relationship to Program Outcomes:
Course Learning Outcome: At the end of the course, students will be
able to…
The students will learn the key attributes of Limiter RedesignTM workflow
and concepts for applying it in Petroleum Engineering in general
The students will learn the physical process associated with each drilling
issue that may constitute a performance limiter. These include bit balling,
bottom hole balling, interfacial severity, whirl vibrations, stickslip
vibrations, axial vibrations, borehole stability, lost circulation, hole
cleaning, filter cake management, and differential sticking
Students will learn to use field data to diagnose the real time root
performance limiter, the real time response the engineer must teach the
driller, and the engineering redesign options that exist to extend the
performance limitation
Students will learn an organizational change models for achieving field
implementation of new practices and use this knowledge to design an
implementation plan based on a case history
The students will learn new expectations for their responsibility to
redesign performance limitations in an industry which is now digitally
enabled
The students will learn the basic mechanical principles of formation
stress, formation strength, near-wellbore stress, wellbore stability, lost
circulation, and formation drillability
Specific practices will be learned to enable the student to conduct and
interpret formation integrity tests, and manage filter cake quality
Program Outcomes
5,6,11
1,3,16
1,3,5,11,15,16
1,3,6,12,16
6,12,
1,11,15
1,5,11,16
Related Program Outcomes:
No. PETE graduates must have…
1
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs with
realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical,
3
health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability
5
An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems.
6
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
11
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
12
An ability to recognize and take into account the constraints offered by political and
social systems, including environmental considerations, in problem definition and
solution.
15
Competency in math thru diff eqs, probability and statistics, fluid mechanics,
strength of materials, and thermodynamics.
16
Competency in design and analysis of well systems and procedures for drilling and
completing wells.
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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For
additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu
Academic Integrity
For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.ramu.edu
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”
I take this quite seriously. If you are found to be cheating, the minimum response to the first offense will be
a letter reduction in the semester grade, and depending on the circumstances it may be a failing grade.
The department may choose to take additional action.
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