Drilling Engineering and Well Completion

Undergraduate | 2026

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Area/Catalogue
ENGP X405
Course ID icon
Course ID
206835
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
4
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

The aim of the course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of petroleum well drilling procedures, its mechanics, and design methodology. The course gives an overview of drilling rig operations and related equipment; offshore drilling and advanced drilling tools; drill-string design; drill bit technology; drilling hydraulics; drilling mud design; pore pressure and fracture pressure calculations; basic casing design; basic well control; well planning. The objective of this course is to provide students the broad understanding of petroleum well completion process. The course covers the fundamental principles of the design and evaluation of well completions, casing design in various loading condition with various downhole situations; placement of casing, liners and well tubing; cementing techniques; perforation techniques; gravel packing; sand control and measurement, use of different sand control devices; fundamentals of fracturing including acid fracturing and hydraulic fracturing; and matrix acidizing. This course also covers the broad overviews of various completion techniques, tools, and wellhead types, and surface gathering systems.

  • Drilling Engineering
  • Well Completion

Course learning outcomes

  • Explain key aspects of drilling operations, drill rig types and fundamental differences between onshore and offshore drilling
  • Explain key aspects of well completion practices including casing design, downhole completion, and hydraulic fracturing
  • Describe the hydraulics of mud flow through the borehole including calculation and application of hydraulics through the string, across the drill bit and up the annulus
  • Analyse critical safety parameters associated with drilling, such as safe drilling window, pore pressure, fracture pressure and well control
  • Apply key safety features in well control procedures and well completion practices
  • Apply appropriate models for casing design and hydraulic fracturing
  • Explain the concepts and equipment required for downhole completion
  • Apply a critical-thinking and problem-solving approach towards the principles of drilling engineering and well completion

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A