This course is designed to deliver high angle, horizontal and extended reach drilling training to engineering and operations personnel across the entire team. It combines the fundamental factors associated with high angle drilling success along with advanced engineering topics, real-world examples and detailed operational deep dives ensuring everyone in the team understands the risks and opportunities, and how their role contributes to overall project success.
Bespoke Training by Merlin
Drilling and completion problems in complex wells can quickly get out of hand, leading to a significant cost impact on the program and a reduction in overall project value in NPT terms. Getting your team up to speed on the major risks and key success factors invariably leads to better results and reduces the chance of a “wrong” reaction to a downhole problem. Our bespoke training options provide solutions designed to enhance reliability and improve efficiency of any drilling operation.
Course Options
Horizontal, high angle and ERD engineering and operations
Horizontal, high angle and ERD operations
This course has a more practical focus then the engineering and operations training, as well as a shorter duration. Bringing key members of the execution team together before spud to understand where the risks are, and the reasons for doing things in a certain way is a sure-fire way to improve operational execution. We still train on the fundamental technical aspects of high angle, horizontal and extended reach drilling but with more focus on the practical aspects such as making connections, tripping, back-reaming and proactive hole condition monitoring.
Stuck pipe prevention in high angle and ERD wells
This course is based on real-life events and lessons learned from actual stuck pipe investigations that Merlin has completed on behalf of operators over the last 15 years. The course provides your team with the knowledge to understand root causes, risk factors and risk reduction options, leading to a lower chance of an event and better outcomes if you do get stuck.
Geomechanics
Merlin has developed a comprehensive geomechanics course, developed specifically for drillers. Understanding wellbore stability limits in any high angle hole section is critical for successful execution. We start at the beginning; from the causes of geomechanical stresses and how models are built and interpreted, through to what a wellbore stability problem might look like depending on the stress regime and more importantly, how you can recognise and avoid problems occurring in the first place. As well as the science, we focus on the practical application of drilling processes and technology to mitigate, manage and control these risks.
Course Delivery
Tailored to each project, for each team
Pre and Post-Course Assessment
Assessment is fundamental to gauge the level of understanding of each topic and measure the level of learning throughout the course. Merlin will provide a detailed report with the assessment results, highlighting areas of strength and where further development may be required.
Experienced Trainers
Merlin courses are taught by industry experts each of whom has 20 years ERD/complex well experience. The team is led by Engineering Director, Neil Armstrong.
Training Material Access
All delegates retain access to Merlin’s training material after all courses, providing a valuable on-going resource via our online training platform.
Flexible Course Content
Course content can be modified to suit individual programs, including case studies based on the risk profile of your project/well. Our trainer can also be present at the DWOP to present the risk factors and mitigations.
De-risk your project, train your team for success
Testimonials
Good drilling practices & numerous examples / case studies
Geologist, Malaysian Operator
January 2023Very well presented course, great sequence of slides and descriptions
Drilling Engineer, UKNS Operator
June 2023This rig crew training opened a closed mindset
Drilling Supervisor
June 2023The interactive quiz on our smart phones was ingenious
Assistant Driller, Australian Operator
June 2023Working through the real-life examples analysing mistakes leading to stuck pipe events was really informative
Drilling Engineer, Australian Operator
June 2023· Great instructor, kept the course interesting, good real-life examples
Drill Site Manager, Oman Operator
November 2022Request a callback to discuss your training requirements
One of the team will be in touch shortly after completing the form below. Please note our business hours are Mon – Fri: 8 – 5.30pm (BST)
