GATE Petroleum Engineering Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology Syllabus

Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology in GATE Petroleum Engineering, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Well Planning

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

2. 2

   Drilling Method

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

3. 3

   Drilling Rigs

   1 topic

   • Rig Operating Systems
4. 4

   Drilling Fluids

   2 topics

   • Function and Properties
   • Maintenance Equipment
5. 5

   Oil & Gas Well Cementing Operations

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

6. 6

   Drill Bit Types and Applications

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

7. 7

   Drill String & Casing String

   1 topic

   • Function, Operations, Selection & Design
8. 8

   Drilling Problems, Control & Remedies

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

9. 9

   Directional Drilling Tools

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

10. 10

    Directional Survey

    overview

    Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

11. 11

    Application of Horizontal, Multilateral, Extended Reach, Slim Wells

    overview

    Examined as a single unit within Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology — no further topic split in the official outline.

Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology flashcards for GATE Petroleum Engineering

23 of 49 cards from the Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the five major operating systems of a rotary drilling rig?

   (1) Power system, (2) Hoisting system, (3) Rotary (rotating) system, (4) Circulating system, and (5) Well control (blowout prevention) system. Some classifications also add the monitoring/recording system.

2. What is the primary function of the hoisting system on a drilling rig?

   To raise, lower and suspend the drill string and casing in and out of the wellbore. Its main components are the drawworks, derrick/mast, crown block, traveling block, drilling line, hook and elevators.

3. In a block-and-tackle hoisting system, how is the mechanical advantage related to the number of lines strung between crown and traveling blocks?

   The ideal mechanical advantage equals the number of lines ($n$) supporting the traveling block, so $W = n \cdot F_{fl}$ where $W$ is hook load and $F_{fl}$ is the fast-line tension (neglecting friction).

4. State the formula for fast-line tension including sheave (block) efficiency.

   $$F_{fl} = \frac{W}{n \cdot E}$$ where $W$ is hook load, $n$ is the number of lines strung, and $E$ is the block-and-tackle efficiency.

5. How is the hoisting (block-and-tackle) efficiency $E$ expressed in terms of the number of lines $n$ and the sheave efficiency $K$?

   $$E = \frac{K\,(1 - K^{n})}{n\,(1 - K)}$$ where $K$ is the efficiency per sheave (commonly $K \approx 0.98$ for roller bearings).

6. What is the function of the drawworks in the hoisting system?

   The drawworks is the hoisting machine (winch) that spools the drilling line on its drum to raise/lower the traveling block; it houses the main brake, catheads and transmission, and controls the rate of penetration during drilling.

7. Differentiate between the dead line and the fast line in a hoisting system.

   The fast line is the drilling-line segment running from the drawworks drum over the crown block (the moving, spooled end); the dead line is the segment anchored to the deadline anchor where line tension is measured (via the weight indicator).

8. What is the purpose of the deadline anchor (deadline tie-down)?

   It securely fixes the dead end of the drilling line and houses the load sensor that transmits dead-line tension to the weight indicator, allowing measurement of hook load and weight on bit.

9. What is the ton-mile (service) rating of drilling line used for, and how is it calculated for round-trip operations?

   It quantifies the work done by the line to schedule slip-and-cut programs. Round-trip ton-miles: $$T_{rt} = \frac{W_m \cdot D \,(L_p + D) + 4D(W_b + W_c \cdot D/2 \cdots)}{2640000}$$ — generally, ton-miles = (work in ton-feet)/5280 to convert to ton-miles, summed over hoisting/lowering cycles.

10. What is the main function of the rotary (rotating) system?

    To transmit rotary motion and torque to the drill string and bit so the bit can cut/crush rock. Key components: swivel, kelly, kelly bushing, rotary table (or top drive), drill string and bit.

11. Compare a conventional rotary-table/kelly system with a top drive.

    A rotary table rotates the drill string via the kelly and kelly bushing, requiring single-joint connections, while a top drive is a motor that hangs from the traveling block and rotates the string directly, enabling drilling/back-reaming in 90-ft stands, faster connections and better well control.

12. What is the function of the swivel in the rotary system?

    The swivel suspends the rotating drill string while allowing drilling fluid to be pumped down through it via the rotary (gooseneck) hose; it provides a rotating-to-stationary seal between the hoisting and circulating systems.

13. What is the function of the kelly and the kelly bushing?

    The kelly (square or hexagonal pipe) transmits torque from the rotary table to the drill string; the kelly bushing engages the master bushing of the rotary table so that rotation is transmitted while the kelly is free to slide vertically as the hole deepens.

14. Name the main components of the drill string from the swivel to the bit.

    Swivel → kelly (or top drive) → drill pipe → heavy-weight drill pipe (HWDP) → drill collars (BHA) → bit. Stabilizers, jars, reamers and subs are placed within the bottom-hole assembly (BHA).

15. What is the primary purpose of drill collars in the bottom-hole assembly?

    To provide concentrated weight on bit (WOB) in compression while keeping the drill pipe in tension, thereby preventing buckling of the drill pipe and helping maintain hole direction.

16. What is the main function of the circulating system in drilling?

    To circulate drilling fluid (mud) down the drill string, out through the bit nozzles, and back up the annulus to remove cuttings, cool/lubricate the bit, and maintain hydrostatic control of the well.

17. Trace the complete flow path of drilling mud through the circulating system.

    Mud pit → mud pump → standpipe → rotary (kelly) hose → swivel → kelly/drill pipe → drill collars → bit nozzles → up the annulus → flow line → shale shaker → desander/desilter → degasser → mud pit (back to suction).

18. What type of pump is most commonly used as the mud pump, and what are the common configurations?

    Positive-displacement reciprocating piston pumps. Common types are the duplex (two cylinders, double-acting) and the triplex (three cylinders, single-acting); triplex pumps dominate modern rigs due to smoother flow and lighter weight.

19. Give the theoretical output (discharge per stroke) formula for a single-acting triplex mud pump.

    $$Q = \frac{\pi}{4} D^{2} \, L \, n_{c} \, E_{v}$$ per stroke, where $D$ is liner diameter, $L$ is stroke length, $n_{c}=3$ cylinders, and $E_{v}$ is volumetric efficiency.

20. What are the four basic functions of drilling fluid (mud)?

    (1) Remove cuttings from the wellbore, (2) control formation (pore) pressure and prevent influx, (3) cool and lubricate the bit and drill string, and (4) seal permeable formations and maintain wellbore stability (filter cake).

21. How is the hydrostatic pressure exerted by a mud column calculated (field units, psi)?

    $$P = 0.052 \times \rho \times TVD$$ where $\rho$ is mud weight in $\text{lb/gal}$ (ppg) and $TVD$ is true vertical depth in feet; $P$ is in psi.

22. Define the pressure (mud-weight) gradient and its typical value for fresh water.

    The pressure gradient is the hydrostatic pressure increase per unit depth: $$G = 0.052 \times \rho$$ in psi/ft. For fresh water ($\rho = 8.33$ ppg), $G \approx 0.433$ psi/ft.

23. What is plastic viscosity (PV) and how is it obtained from a Fann viscometer?

    Plastic viscosity is the resistance to flow caused by mechanical friction of solids and liquid in the mud (Bingham model). $$PV = \theta_{600} - \theta_{300}$$ in centipoise, where $\theta$ are the dial readings at 600 and 300 rpm.

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