Well Planning And Design

---
name: drilling-well-planning-and-design
description: 'Sub-skill of drilling: Well Planning and Design (+5).'
version: 1.0.0
category: engineering
type: reference
scripts_exempt: true
---

# Well Planning and Design (+5)

## Well Planning and Design


- **Well Architecture**: Vertical, deviated, horizontal, multilateral wells
- **Trajectory Design**: Build/hold/drop sections, dogleg severity, torque and drag
- **Casing Design**: Casing string selection, burst/collapse calculations, cement programs
- **Wellbore Stability**: Geomechanical modeling, mud weight windows, breakout analysis
- **Anti-Collision**: Well spacing, separation factor, collision avoidance
- **Drilling Programs**: AFE preparation, time/depth curves, operational procedures

## Drilling Operations


- **Drilling Parameters**: WOB, RPM, ROP optimization, MSE calculations
- **Hydraulics**: ECD management, hole cleaning, cuttings transport
- **Drilling Fluids**: Mud properties, rheology, filtration control, lost circulation
- **Directional Drilling**: MWD/LWD, RSS, mud motors, geosteering
- **Managed Pressure Drilling**: MPD, UBD, dual gradient drilling
- **Drilling Automation**: Auto-driller, closed-loop systems, real-time optimization

## Drilling Equipment and Technology


- **Rig Systems**: Drawworks, rotary systems, mud pumps, BOPs
- **Drill String Components**: Drill pipe, collars, HWDP, stabilizers, jars
- **Bits**: PDC, roller cone, hybrid bits, bit selection, dull grading
- **Downhole Tools**: MWD/LWD tools, motors, RSS, drilling jars
- **Surface Equipment**: Shale shakers, centrifuges, mud tanks, degassers
- **Rig Instrumentation**: EDR, WITS, real-time data acquisition

## Well Control and Safety


- **Kick Detection**: Flow checks, pit gain, drilling breaks, gas shows
- **Well Control Methods**: Driller's method, wait and weight, volumetric
- **BOP Systems**: Stack configuration, testing procedures, shear calculations
- **Formation Pressures**: Pore pressure prediction, fracture gradients, LOT/FIT
- **H2S Operations**: Sour gas procedures, safety equipment, emergency response
- **Barrier Management**: Primary and secondary barriers, barrier verification

## Drilling Fluids Engineering


- **Water-Based Muds**: Bentonite, polymer, KCl systems
- **Oil-Based Muds**: Invert emulsion, synthetic-based muds
- **Specialty Fluids**: Foam, air/gas drilling, formate brines
- **Mud Properties**: Density, viscosity, gel strength, fluid loss
- **Additives**: Viscosifiers, thinners, LCM, shale inhibitors
- **Solids Control**: Particle size distribution, centrifuge operations

## Specialized Drilling Operations


- **Deepwater Drilling**: Riser management, shallow hazards, hydrates
- **HPHT Wells**: Equipment ratings, well control, mud stability
- **ERD Wells**: Torque/drag limitations, ECD management, hole cleaning
- **Geothermal Drilling**: High temperature tools, lost circulation, scaling
- **Coiled Tubing Drilling**: CTD operations, limitations, applications
- **Casing While Drilling**: CwD systems, level 1-3 operations