Program Overview

Course Overview

The course TPG4215, Drilling Engineering 2, is a second-degree level course that covers in-depth methods for planning extended reach and horizontal wells. This includes survey calculation techniques, directional surveying techniques, survey errors, selection of bottom hole assembly, stuck pipe and fishing, torque and drag analysis in bore holes, flotation of casing and liners, and loads on the drill string.

Course Content

The course covers the following topics:

• Survey calculation techniques
• Directional surveying techniques
• Survey errors
• Selection of bottom hole assembly
• Stuck pipe and fishing
• Torque and drag analysis in bore holes
• Flotation of casing and liners
• Loads on the drill string
• Innovative drilling techniques like the use of coil tubing, snubbing, underbalanced drilling (UBD), managed pressure drilling (MPD), and controlled mud level (CML) drilling
• Wellbore hydraulics
• Cementing operations
• Well completion
• Drilling automation
• Measurements while drilling (MWD)
• Methods for real-time communication using wired pipe

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

After completing the course, students will understand:

• Well design criteria and well integrity
• Wellpath and directional drilling, downhole tools
• Horizontal and directional well construction
• Drill string and bottom hole assembly design
• Drilling fluids and wellbore hydraulics
• Wellbore cementing operation
• Drilling problems and mitigating actions
• Well completion and well intervention
• Drillstring torque and drag analysis
• UBD, MPD, CML, and CTD, geothermal drilling tools and techniques
• MWD, wired pipe, and real-time communication
• Applied cybernetics in drilling automation
• Evaluation of new and innovative drilling techniques

Skills

After completing the semester, students will master:

• Planning of drilling high deviated and horizontal wells
• Calculating loads in drill string and downhole equipment
• Performing hydraulic pressure loss calculations
• Calculating and planning for cementing operation
• Understanding of wellbore telemetry and related tools
• Detecting drilling problems and how to mitigate the problems
• Understanding of direction drilling system and applied tools
• Evaluation of new and innovative drilling techniques with a minimum of environmental footprint

General Competence

The course qualifies students for planning drilling operations.

Learning Methods and Activities

The course includes lectures and compulsory exercises, with exercises also including the use of programming tools (e.g., MS Excel and Python). Course evaluation is undertaken using a reference group.

Compulsory Assignments

• Exercises

Evaluation

70% of the exercises must be approved before the exam. The final exam counts 100%. The examination papers will be given in English. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English for written assessments. If there is a re-sit examination, the form of assessment may be changed from written to oral examination.

Required Previous Knowledge

TPG4210 Drilling Engineering 1, or equivalent.

Course Materials

Course contents will be provided electronically.

Credit Reductions

The course has academic overlap with SIG4077. If students take overlapping courses, they will receive a credit reduction in the course where they have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject Areas

• Petroleum Engineering - Drilling Engineering
• Technological subjects

Course Details

• Credits: 7.5
• Level: Second degree level
• Course start: Autumn 2025
• Duration: 1 semester
• Language of instruction: English
• Location: Trondheim
• Examination arrangement: School exam

Examination

• Examination arrangement: School exam
• Grade: Letter grades
• Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025: School exam, weighting 100/100, examination aids Code D, date and time to be announced, duration 4 hours, exam system Inspera Assessment.
• Re-sit examination - Summer 2026: School exam, weighting 100/100, examination aids Code D, duration 4 hours, exam system Inspera Assessment, place and room to be announced.