Employment prospects and drilling technology of oil & gas drillers
Employment prospects and drilling technology of oil & gas drillers
Blog Article
Drillers play a vital role in the oil industry. They are responsible for drilling oil and gas wells and conducting drilling operations, going deep underground and working hard to extract oil or natural gas resources.
Key Responsibilities of Drillers
Drillers are indispensable in the oil industry, and their main responsibilities cover many aspects:
- Well Site Preparation: Based on exploration and geological data, they need to carefully select and prepare suitable well sites, involving work such as accurate measurement of well location, installation of wellhead equipment, and proper arrangement of drilling platforms.
- Drilling Operations: Drillers use professional drilling rigs and other related equipment when performing drilling tasks. They need to operate the drilling rigs skillfully, accurately lower the drill bit and drill pipe into the well, and use the method of rotating and pushing the drill rod to drill. In this process, drillers must implement drilling according to the characteristics of the formation and the pre-established drilling plan, while ensuring the safety and efficiency of the operation.
- Wellbore Stability Control: During the drilling process, it is very important to maintain the stability of the wellbore to prevent accidents such as formation collapse or wellbore collapse. Drillers need to use drilling fluid and casing to strengthen the wellbore and implement necessary plugging measures to ensure the steady progress of drilling operations.
- Sampling and Testing Work: During the drilling process, drillers are responsible for collecting formation samples and conducting related tests. They use core drill bits to collect formation samples and then analyze the physical and chemical properties to evaluate the oil or gas reserves and quality of the formation.
- Safety and Environmental Responsibility: Drillers must strictly follow safety operating procedures and are committed to ensuring safety and environmental protection during operations. They are responsible for installing and maintaining safety equipment and monitoring the working environment to prevent accidents and pollution.
Employment Opportunities for Drilling Technology Majors
Graduates of this major have a wide range of employment directions in the job market. They can join the drilling companies, mud companies, cementing companies, downhole operation companies and other units in the oil field, as well as other drilling operation service companies, and serve as process technology and technical management in engineering construction, engineering design, production and other links in these enterprises. At the same time, they also have the opportunity to go to the production front line of oil drilling exploration, development and other production lines, engage in drilling and well repairing industry, serve as drillers, well repairers, cementing workers, mud workers and other positions, and be responsible for related process, technology and management work.
To enhance your understanding of drilling technologies and career opportunities, exploring resources like Oil and Gas Simulation tools can provide valuable insights.
Employment Prospects of Drilling Technology Majors
The drilling technology major has developed rapidly in recent years, and the employment prospects of graduates are extremely broad. With the vigorous development of the national economy, the stable development of the petroleum industry is also particularly important. Therefore, the society has a strong demand for high-level and high-quality management and scientific and technological talents, and also needs a large number of talents with the ability to solve job problems and guide job operators to use advanced equipment. It can be seen that choosing the drilling technology major will be full of hope for future employment.
Daily Work of Drillers
Drillers, also known as oil workers, oil drillers or oil exploration and production grassroots workers, are professionals who specialize in deep well drilling operations such as oil, natural gas, geothermal, potash, etc. on land and sea. This occupational name may not be unfamiliar to most people. They not only work hard on land, but also look for valuable resources in the depths of the sea. Oil, natural gas, as well as deep well drilling operations such as geothermal, potash, etc., all require them to complete carefully. In the complex and changing drilling environment, they not only need superb technology, but also firm determination and strong will.
Key Drilling Techniques and Procedures
Back-Marking Operation
The back-marking operation steps include pulling the drill to the stuck section, connecting the square drill pipe, starting the pump circulation and adjusting the drilling fluid performance, zeroing the pointers of the hanging weight meter and the sensitive meter, lifting the drill string at a low speed and applying tension, braking the drum and paying attention to the change in pump pressure, inserting the drill pipe cava at the wellhead to clamp the drill bit, slowly turning the turntable forward to start back-marking, and repeating the operation after confirming that the well is normal until the drill string is pulled out.
Elements of Directional Wells
The three elements of directional wells include well depth, well inclination and azimuth.
Working Principle of Screw Drilling Tools
The screw drilling tool forms a pressure difference at the inlet and outlet through the drilling fluid flowing through the motor, thereby driving the rotor to rotate. The torque and speed generated by this rotation will be transmitted to the drill bit through the universal shaft and the transmission shaft, realizing the purpose of converting the pressure energy of the liquid into mechanical energy.
Drilling Time Logging
Drilling time logging is to use a timer to record the time required for drilling a specified unit of footage, usually expressed in "minutes/meters".
Core Recovery Rate
The core recovery rate refers to the ratio of the length of the core taken out in a drilling to the length of the footage, which is used to evaluate the drilling effect.
Completion Testing
Completion testing includes methods such as electrical logging, radiometric logging and engineering logging, which are aimed at checking the quality of the wellbore and cementing, and providing a basis for accurate perforation.
Types of Drill Bits
Drill bits can be divided into four types according to their types: scraper bits, roller bits, diamond bits and PDC bits.
Static Liquid Column Pressure
The size of the static liquid column pressure is closely related to the density of the liquid and the vertical height or depth of the liquid column.
Underground Conditions for On-Duty Cadres
The on-duty cadres need to understand the well depth and formation, the structure and hanging weight of the drilling tools, the use of the drill bit, the mud performance and complex conditions when taking over, and also need to understand information such as square penetration and drilling speed.
Reverse Circulation Salvage Basket
When using reverse circulation salvage basket, you need to first combine the drill bit and drill down and tighten the threads of the salvage basket, then drill down to 1 meter from the bottom of the well to start pump circulation. Next, remove the square drill rod and throw the steel ball to observe the change of pump pressure. After starting the turntable, slowly lower the drill bit, and pressurize it to 10-20kN after it reaches the bottom for milling operation. After milling 3 meters, apply 5kN drilling pressure to continue milling. When it reaches 2 meters, stop the pump and lift the drill bit. Lift the drill bit about 1-2 meters, then lower it to explore the square, confirm whether it has been successfully salvaged, and repeat salvage or drilling according to the situation.
Hydrostatic Pressure Gradient
It is closely related to the concentration of minerals and gases dissolved in the liquid.
Formation Pressure
Formation pressure refers to the pressure of the fluid in the pores of the rock.
Overburden Pressure
The overburden pressure refers to the pressure generated by the total weight of the fluid in the rock matrix and pores above the formation.
Drilling Fluid Density
Too high a drilling fluid density will damage the oil and gas layer, reduce the drilling speed, and may cause problems such as filter cake adhesion, drill bit jamming, and formation leakage. At the same time, excessive viscosity and shear force will consume more drilling fluid materials and power, and the anti-pollution ability will also decrease. If the drilling fluid density is too low, it may cause risks such as blowout, well collapse, diameter reduction, and reduced rock carrying capacity.
Safety Precautions for High-Altitude Operations
When working at high altitudes, you must wear a safety belt and conduct tension tests regularly, and ensure that the tools used are tied with a tail rope and tied firmly. It is prohibited to use an electric (pneumatic) small winch to lift people or ride a traveling crane to get on and off the derrick. Other personnel on the derrick must also meet the requirements for high-altitude operations and obtain permission from the driller on duty.
Grinding Wheel Machine Usage
When using a grinding machine, ensure that the direction of rotation of the grinding wheel is correct so that the grinding chips fly downward from the grinding wheel. After starting, wait until the grinding wheel speed is normal before grinding. At the same time, pay attention to prevent the tool or workpiece from violently hitting the grinding wheel or applying excessive pressure. The operator should stand on the side or oblique side of the grinding wheel to ensure safety.
Handover by On-Duty Cadres
When handing over, the on-duty cadres need to hand over detailed information such as the use of the drill bit, the structure of the drilling tool, the entry data, the performance of the drilling fluid, and the formation conditions. In addition, it is necessary to hand over the problems that occurred in this shift and the precautions for the next shift, as well as the instructions from the superiors, key measures, and complex underground conditions. At the same time, equipment maintenance and operation are also essential handover contents.
Safety Precautions for Gas Welding with Acetylene
When using acetylene for gas welding, it is necessary to ensure that the pressure of acetylene does not exceed 15MPA, and the acetylene generator should be placed at least 10 meters away from the construction site to ensure safety. When transporting oxygen cylinders, avoid collisions and store them in a cool place to prevent accidents caused by thermal expansion. 4) During the drilling process, acetylene pipelines and welding torches should be checked frequently to ensure that they are intact to prevent safety accidents caused by gas leakage.
Formation Fracture Pressure
Formation fracture pressure refers to the pressure at which the formation will fracture when the fluid pressure reaches a certain value. When conducting a formation fracture pressure test, the most likely location for the formation to fracture is the casing shoe, so special caution is required.
Secondary Drilling
During the secondary drilling process, if the equipment fails and drilling cannot continue, you should first try to circulate the drilling fluid and move the drill tool. If the drilling fluid and the drill tool cannot be circulated, the drill tool can be lowered to press 2/3 of the suspended weight to the bottom of the well to bend the drill tool to prevent sticking. After troubleshooting, the drill tool needs to be lifted in time to resume drilling.
PDC Drill Bits
PDC drill bits are suitable for homogeneous formations. If the formation contains gravel, it is not suitable to use it. The appropriate drill bit type needs to be selected according to the actual situation.
Threaded Connections
When threaded connection is made, the three conditions of equal size, same thread type and matching of male and female must be met to ensure the firmness and safety of the connection.
Drilling in Gravel Layers
When drilling in gravel layers, drill jumping, stuck drill and well wall collapse are prone to occur, and corresponding measures need to be taken to deal with them.
Reasons for Pulling Out the Drill
The reasons for pulling out the drill and pulling out the piston may include mud packing of the drill bit and wellbore shrinkage, which need to be analyzed and handled according to the specific situation.
Causes of Mud Packing and Drilling
The main reasons for mud packing and drilling are dry drilling, insufficient displacement, poor drilling fluid performance and improper drill bit selection, etc., and corresponding measures need to be taken to prevent and deal with them.
Borehole Trajectory
The borehole trajectory can be determined by directly measuring the well depth, well inclination and azimuth. The accurate measurement of these parameters is crucial for the smooth progress of the drilling project.
Wellbore Structure Design
The main basis for the design of the wellbore structure is the formation pressure and the formation fracture pressure. These data are crucial to ensure the safety and efficiency of the drilling project.
Cementing Quality Detection
At present, the acoustic amplitude logging method, the acoustic variable density logging method and the well temperature logging method are mainly used to detect the cementing quality. These methods have their own advantages and disadvantages and need to be selected according to the actual situation.
Personnel Management
Personnel management includes strictly organizing production according to job responsibilities, organizing technical research, advocating learning, rewarding the good and punishing the bad, and creating harmonious interpersonal relationships, aiming to mobilize employees' work enthusiasm and creativity.
Drilling Process
The drilling process refers to the process of breaking the bottom formation rock by applying a certain pressure to the drill bit and driving it to rotate. The broken rock cuttings are brought to the ground by circulating drilling fluid to complete the entire drilling process.
Cementing Process
Cementing refers to the process of sealing the well wall by injecting cement and other materials into the wellbore. It is of great significance to ensure the safety and efficiency of drilling projects.
Factors Affecting Drilling Speed
The drilling speed will be affected by many factors such as drill bit type, formation characteristics, drilling parameters, drilling fluid performance and operating technology.
Formation Inclination
The formation inclination is the main geological factor affecting well deviation.
Drilling Engineering Shift Report
When filling in the drilling engineering shift report, it is necessary to ensure that the data is complete and accurate, and the work content is true and reliable. At the same time, the font should be neat, the surface of the report should be kept clean, and the legal measurement units must be used.
Pressure Balance After Cementing
After cementing is completed, the pressure balance in the well may be destroyed due to the weightlessness of the cement slurry and the phenomenon of gas channeling.
Big Rope Jumping into Another Pulley Groove
Once the big rope jumps into the groove, the drill string should be clamped with a slip first to remove the big rope load. Then open the crown block cover, remove the rope stop rod, and use two flat crowbars to gently pry the big rope back into the original groove. Finally, install the rope stop rod or cover, and clean the tools.
Solidification After Cementing
After cementing is completed, you can choose the open pressure or pressure holding method to wait for solidification according to the working conditions of the back pressure valve.
Sudden Drop in Pump Pressure
When the pump pressure drops by 1MP during drilling, the surface equipment and drilling fluid performance should be checked immediately. If the problem cannot be found, the drilling must be started immediately, the drilling fluid must be filled and the drilling tools must be carefully checked.
Slips and Safety Slips Before Drilling
In the preparation work before drilling, two drill pipe slips and drill collar slips of different sizes should be prepared, one of which is used as a spare. At the same time, two drill collar safety slips should also be prepared.
Tools for Handling Underground Accidents
When handling underground accidents, commonly used tools include male cones, female cones, grinding shoes, jars, reverse joints, slip salvage tubes, salvage spears, safety joints and strong magnetic salvage devices.
Eye-Marking with the "Dial Point and Stroke" Method
When drilling with the "dial and point-stroke" method, if you first encounter a situation where you cannot flush or pass through, pressurize 20KN~30KN and turn the turntable to observe the changes in the weight indicator. If the suspended weight rises, stop the turntable immediately and pressurize and rotate again. Repeat this operation until you dial and point a single rod and then lift and stroke it once. Note that you must not pressurize and rotate continuously during the process.
Casing and Wellbore Gap
The gap between the casing and the wellbore should be controlled at about 19mm to ensure the smooth progress of the drilling process.
Drilling with Two Pumps
When drilling with two pumps, you need to start one pump first, and then start the other pump after the drilling fluid returns normally. After the single rod drilling is completed, stop one pump first, lift the square drill rod, and after the elevator is seated, stop the other pump. In this process, you need to pay attention to starting the pump early and stopping the pump late to avoid complicated situations underground caused by drill cuttings deposition.
Drilling Cement Plugs
When drilling cement plugs, it is necessary to strictly follow the operating procedures, pay attention to wellhead safety, control the drilling speed, select the appropriate displacement, and fully wash the well to prevent cement block deposition. At the same time, pay close attention to the torque situation to prevent the lower casing from buckling.
Wellbore Preparation Before Logging
Wellbore preparation before logging is crucial. The drilling fluid must be fully circulated to deal with obstructions and stuck sections to ensure the safe and smooth progress of logging construction.
Drilling Engineering Factors Affecting Gas Logging
In addition, understanding the drilling engineering factors that affect gas logging, being familiar with the role and load of safety slips, and mastering the definition and preventive measures of complex downhole situations are also indispensable knowledge in drilling engineering.
Treatment Methods for Sticky Drill
The methods for dealing with sticky drill include strong activities, shock release and soaking release agents.
Collapse of the Drill
The collapse of the drill is usually caused by poor drilling fluid performance, excessive filtration loss, resulting in loose formation, or expansion and peeling of shale in the well section with large formation inclination.
Drill Jams
The mud should be circulated immediately to start drilling, and the drilling tools should be checked for damage.
Phenomena of Wellbore Collapse
When the wellbore collapses, abnormal phenomena such as sudden drilling jam, increased pump pressure, and decreased hanging weight will occur during drilling. In addition, drilling fluid backflow during drilling, and blockage during lifting and lowering are also common manifestations of wellbore collapse.
Prevention of Wellbore Collapse
Measures to prevent wellbore collapse include using anti-collapse drilling fluid with low water loss, high mineralization and appropriate viscosity, appropriately increasing the density of drilling fluid, continuously filling drilling fluid during drilling, and avoiding mud packing on the drill bit.