Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering: Multiple Choice Questions and Workout
Examples for Beginners and Engineers. M. Enamul Hossain.
© 2017 Scrivener Publishing LLC. Published 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Introduction
1.1 Introduction
This book is designed to help in solving the exercises and workout examples that are
related to drilling engineering. This chapter introduces the fundamental aspects of the
drilling engineering problems in general. Sets of multiple choice questions (MCQs)
are included which are related to basic definitions about drilling engineering, impor
tance and the procedure for drilling operations. The MCQs also cover the applications
and history of drilling, the systematic approach and the aspects of sustainable drilling
operations. The MCQs are based on the writer’s textbook, Fundamentals of Sustainable
Drilling Engineering – ISBN: 978-0-470-87817-0.
1.2 Introduction to Drilling Engineering
Some scholars consider petroleum hydrocarbons to be the lifeblood of modern civiliza
tion. The complete cycle of petroleum operations includes seismic survey, exploration,
field development, hydrocarbon production, refining, storage, transportation/distribu
tion, marketing, and final utilization to the end user. The drilling technology has been
developed through the efforts of many individuals, professionals, companies and orga
nizations. This technology is a necessary step for petroleum exploration and production.
Drilling is one of the oldest technologies in the world. Drilling engineering is a branch
of knowledge where the design, analysis and implementation procedure are completed to
drill a well as sustainable as possible. It is the technology used to utilize crude oil and
1
2 Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering
natural gas reserves. The responsibilities of a drilling engineer are to facilitate the efficient
penetration of the earth by wellbore and cementing operations from the surface to an
optimum target depth that prevents any situation that may jeopardize the environment.
1.3 Importance of Drilling Engineering
It is well known that the petroleum industry drives the energy sector, which in turn drives
modern civilization. Every day human beings are benefiting from the petroleum industry.
Modern civilization is based on energy and hydrocarbon resources. The growth of human
civilization and the necessities of livelihood over time inspired human beings to bore a
hole for different reasons (such as drinking water, agriculture, hydrocarbon extraction
for lighting, power generation, to assemble different mechanical parts, etc.). There is no
surface hydrocarbon resource; rather, all resources are underground in this planet. To
keep serving the whole civilization, drilling engineering has a significant role in this issue.
Moreover, the world energy sector is dependent on drilling engineering. Without drill
ing a hole, how are we going to extract the hydrocarbon from underground and bring it
to the surface of the earth? To the best of our knowledge, right now, there is no alterna
tive technology available to extract hydrocarbon without drilling a hole. If the petroleum
industry falls, the whole civilization will probably collapse. Therefore, for the survival of
our existence, we need to know and keep updating our knowledge especially about the
technology, drilling engineering. Based on this motivation, the human necessity of drill
ing a hole by excavation on earth has motivated researchers to develop different sophis
ticated technologies for drilling engineering. Drilling engineering has a vital role in our
daily life, economy, society, and even in national and international politics.
1.4 Application of Drilling Engineering
In the development of human civilization over time, human beings have needed to make
a hole in different objects for different purposes. This ranges from just a child playing a
game with a toy to the drilling of a hole for the purpose of any scientific and technologi
cal usage. Humans have been using this technology for underground water withdrawal
since ancient times. Drilling technology is a widely used expertise in the applied sciences
and engineering such as manufacturing industries, pharmaceutical industries, aerospace,
military defense, research laboratories, and any small-scale laboratory to a heavy industry
like petroleum. Modern cities and urban areas use drilling technology to get underground
water for drinking and household use. The underground water extraction by boring a
hole is also used for agricultural irrigation purposes. Therefore, there is no specific field
of application of this technology. It has been used in a wide range of fields based on its
necessity. This book focuses on drilling a hole with the hope of hydrocarbon discovery;
therefore, here the drilling engineering application means a shaftlike tool (i.e., drilling rig)
with two or more cutting edges (i.e., drill bit) for making holes toward the underground
hydrocarbon formation through the earth layers, especially by rotation. Hence the major
application of drilling engineering is to discover and produce redundant hydrocarbon
from a potential oil field.
Introduction 3
1.5 Multiple Choice Questions
1. Technology necessary for extracting oil and gas reserves is
a) Drilling
b) Coiled tubing
c) Hydraulic fracturing
d) None of the above
2. Technology which is used to utilize crude oil and natural gas reserves is
a) Reservoir engineering
b) Stimulation technology
c) Drilling technology
d) All of the above
3. All the hydrocarbon resources present on the globe are found
a) At surface
b) Underground
c) At rivers
d) None of the above
4. The only method available to extract hydrocarbon reserves to date is
a) Process engineering
b) Production engineering
c) Drilling technology
d) All of the above
5. In early days, drilling was done to extract
a) Underground water
b) Coal
c) Oil and gas reserves
d) None of the above
6. Large deposits of untapped crude oil was mostly hidden below the surface until the
middle of which century?
a) 1700
b) 1900
c) 1800
d) None of the above
7. In early days, oil seeps were used for
a) Medicinal purpose
b) Caulk boats
c) In buildings
d) Lubricating machinery
e) All of the above
8. The first oil was drilled
a) In Iraq and in 450 BC
b) In China and in 347 BC
c) In Macedonia and in 325 BC
d) In Canada and in 1857
4 Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering
9. The petroleum industry in the Middle East was established by the
a) Ninth century
b) Eighth century
c) Seventh century
d) None of the above
10. In early days, the Chinese were using as modern drill pipe to
extract oil.
a) Bamboo
b) Cable tool rig
c) Rotary system
d) None of the above
11. Mohammad ibn Zakariya Razi produced from petroleum using
the distillation process in the ninth century.
a) Diesel
b) Kerosene
c) Gas
d) All of the above
12. Distillation process became available in Western Europe through Islamic Spain by
a) Eleventh century
b) Twelfth century
c) Tenth century
d) None of the above
13. In the West, was the first place of commercial production.
a) United States
b) Canada
c) Brazil
d) France
14. The first breakthrough in the oil industry’s drilling history was the year
.
a) 1839
b) 1849
c) 1859
d) 1921
15. The first oil well drilled in the United States was ft deep.
a) 59 feet
b) 69 feet
c) 79 feet
d) 89 feet
16. The principal party in the oil industry is called
a) Service company
b) Operator company
c) Contractor
d) Consultant
Introduction 5
17. The first task an operator has to do is the engagement of a
a) Consultant
b) Geologist
c) Landman
d) Surveyor
18. A is hired by the operator to acquire drilling rights.
a) Landman
b) Surveyor
c) Geologists
d) None of the above
19. A contractor who owns the drilling rig and employs the crew to drill the well is
called
a) Drilling contractor
b) Service company
c) Operator
d) None of the above
20. Operator hires to conduct other rig jobs.
a) Specialist consultants
b) Geologists
c) Landman
d) Surveyor
21. Petroleum and mineral resources are usually owned by the of the
host country.
a) Gangsters
b) Government
c) Private Sector
d) Bureaucrats
22. licenses allow licensees to drill for, develop and p
roduce
ydrocarbons from whatever depth is necessary.
h
a) Exploration
b) Production
c) Drilling
d) Seismic
23. A well that helps to determine the presence of hydrocarbons is called
well.
a) Wildcat
b) Development
c) Exploration
d) None of the above
6 Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering
24. A well that is drilled to establish the extent (size) of reservoir is called
well.
a) Wildcat
b) Development
c) Appraisal
d) None of the above
25. A well that is drilled in a proved production field or area to extract natural gas or
crude oil is called well.
a) Wildcat
b) Development
c) Appraisal
d) None of the above
26. A well that is sealed and closed is called an
a) Wildcat
b) Development
c) Appraisal
d) Abandonment
27. licenses do not allow a company to drill any deeper than certain
depth.
a) Exploration
b) Production
c) Drilling
d) Seismic
28. On average, only one in eight exploration wells are successful in .
a) Red Sea
b) North Sea
c) Atlantic Ocean
d) Pacific Ocean
29. The role of drilling engineer during drilling operations is
a) Planning
b) Design
c) Supervision
d) All of the above
30. Which one is not a type of drilling well?
a) Exploration well
b) Appraisal well
c) Development well
d) Wild dog Well
Introduction 7
31. It is believed that the revolution of modern civilization benefited much from the
revolution of:
a) Drilling technology
b) Seismic technology
c) Oil industry
d) EOR technology
32. Considering the lifecycle of the well, drilling operations are required at
a) The middle stage of the lifecycle
b) The initial stage of the lifecycle
c) The last stage of the lifecycle
d) All of them
33. The main objective of drilling engineering is to
a) Have sustainable drilling operations
b) Explore deep reservoirs
c) Increase productivity
d) Avoid breaking the formations
34. A sustainable drilling operation can be achieved by
a) Efficient designing
b) Analyzing the drilling data
c) Implementing the right procedures
d) All of the above
35. The responsibilities of a drilling engineer are to
a) Decide the location of the well to be drilled
b) Prepare the well pad
c) Determine the depth of the well
d) None of the above
36. Which of the following does the drilling engineer has some flexibility to decide on?
a) Well location
b) Well trajectory
c) Well depth
d) Well cost
37. Which of the following does the drilling engineer not have flexibility to decide on?
a) Well location
b) Casing depths
c) Holes diameter
d) Rig maintenance
38. For which of the following operations does the drilling engineer need assistance
and recommendations?
a) Drilling fluids design
b) Cementing design
c) Drill bits design
d) All of the above
8 Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering
39. Which of the following is not one of the technologies needed to prove the existence
of petroleum accumulations?
a) Seismic technology
b) Reservoir simulation
c) Formation evaluation
d) Drilling technology
40. Petroleum accumulations can only be proved after
a) Performing seismic operations
b) Performing reservoir simulation
c) Drilling a well
d) Well stimulation
41. Commercial hydrocarbon accumulations can only be proved after performing
a) Well testing
b) Well logging
c) Drilling a well
d) None of the above
42. Human civilizations used drilling technology for
a) Drilling water wells
b) Mega constructions
c) Drilling oil wells
d) All of the above
43. The first oil discovery was in , whereas the first nation to drill deep
wells was
a) China and Babylon
b) Kirkuk and Macedonia
c) Iraq and China
d) Kirkuk and Canada
44. Breakthrough of oil production all over the world was in
a) The eighteenth century
b) The nineteenth century
c) The twentieth century
d) The twenty-first century
45. The earliest known oil well was drilled in
a) Canada
b) United States
c) Macedonia
d) China
46. The first country to drill a commercial oil well was
a) China
b) Canada
c) United States
d) Iraq
Introduction 9
47. A small exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field to get the
geological information is known as
a) Wildcat well
b) Appraisal well
c) Pilot well
d) Abandonment well
48. A well drilled in a land that has dry wells drilled earlier is a/an
a) Appraisal well
b) Wildcat well
c) Development well
d) Observation well
49. A well drilled in a land which has one discovery well drilled is a/an
a) Exploration well
b) Development well
c) Wildcat well
d) Appraisal well
50. A well drilled in a land known to have proven commercial oil is a/an
a) Wildcat well
b) Appraisal well
c) Injection well
d) None of the above
Answers: 1a, 2c, 3b, 4c, 5a, 6c, 7e, 8a, 9b, 10a, 11b, 12b, 13b, 14b, 15b, 16b, 17a, 18a, 19a,
20a, 21b, 22b, 23c, 24c, 25b, 26d, 27a, 28b, 29b, 30b, 31c, 32b, 33a, 34d, 35d, 36b, 37a,
38d, 39b, 40c, 41a, 42d, 43c, 44c, 45d, 46b, 47a, 48b, 49d, 50c.
1.6 Summary
This chapter developed the MCQs on some of the core issues related to drilling engi
neering. Even before starting drilling operations, many activities need to be completed
to fulfill the different parties’ requirements, which are well covered here. Moreover, this
chapter added some more MCQs for the student’s self-practice and the answers are given
in Appendix B. The MCQs covered almost all the materials covered in this chapter.
1.7 MCQs (Self-Practices)
The solutions are in Appendix B.
1. A well which is drilled with no traces of oil accumulations is known as
a) Abandonment well
b) Appraisal well
c) Dry well
d) Wildcat well
10 Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering
2. All of the following well types can be converted into a producing well except
a) Injection well
b) Exploration well
c) Observation well
d) Dry well
3. A producing well should be in a sustainable fashion if it is not
producing commercially any more
a) Abandoned
b) Shut in
c) Stimulated
d) None of the above
4. The first well that is drilled in a discovered field for gathering more information is
called
a) Exploration well
b) Wildcat well
c) Appraisal well
d) All of the above
5. After drilling a wildcat well, which decision should be made right after completing
the testing operation?
a) Put the well on production
b) Kill the well
c) Abandon the well
d) All of the above
6. The exploration well is drilled due to the following reason(s)—which one is the
correct answer?
a) Extent of the reservoir
b) Oil existence
c) Oil productivity estimations
d) Production of oil
7. The appraisal well is drilled to find out
a) Oil existence
b) Rock and hydrocarbon properties
c) Reservoir extent
d) Reserve
8. The development well is drilled to
a) Fix the designed rate
b) Know the reservoir size
c) Know the oil properties
d) Extract hydrocarbons
Introduction 11
9. Drilling operations can be categorized into three major steps—which one is not
one of these categories?
a) Drilling a hole
b) Putting well on production
c) Casing
d) Completion of the well
10. Selection of the number of casing strings in a well is dependent on
a) Well depth
b) Complexity of the drilled formations
c) Type of the well
d) a and b
11. Casing sizes of the well is dependent on
a) Well depth
b) Well type
c) Producing fluid type
d) None of the above
12. Which of the following is the main purpose of conductor casing?
a) Installation of BOP
b) Prevent surface formations collapse
c) Guide the drill bit vertically
d) All of the above
13. All of the following are the main purposes of the surface casing except
a) Prevent breaking the soft formations
b) Isolate freshwater formations
c) Decreasing well cost
d) Install rig’s BOP
14. If a well has three casing strings starting from its surface, these casings are called
a) Conductor, surface and production
b) Surface, intermediate and production
c) Conductor, surface and intermediate
d) Conductor, intermediate and production
15. The company that bears overall responsibilities of drilling operations is
a) The drill bit company
b) The rig contractor
c) The drilling fluids company
d) Drilling contractor
16. The company that may be responsible for slowing down the ROP is
a) The rig contractor
b) The drill bit company
c) The service company
d) All of them
12 Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering
17. Who is responsible for estimating the well drilling budget?
a) The rig contractor
b) Government
c) Service companies
d) Drilling team
18. Who is responsible for approving the well budget?
a) Oil operator
b) Government
c) Service company
d) a and b
19. Who is responsible for securing the well budget?
a) Government
b) Oil operator
c) Service companies
d) a and b
20. If a field is found which has no commercial hydrocarbon accumulations, who is
going to pay the exploration expenses?
a) Government
b) Oil operator
c) Land owner
d) a and b
21. If a field is found which has commercial hydrocarbon accumulations, who is going
to pay the exploration expenses?
a) Service companies
b) Government
c) Oil operator
d) b and c
22. If a well encounters problems during drilling and due to this problem the approved
budget fails, which one of the following decisions should be made?
a) Stop drilling the well and move to the next well
b) Continue drilling at the expenses of the oil operator
c) Request for supplementary budget
d) None of the above
23. A well stopped during drilling due to bad weather for several days; who is going to
pay the standby expenses?
a) Oil operator
b) Government
c) a and b
d) Service companies
Introduction 13
24. Who will be the first responsible person if one of the drilling operations fails due to
improper design implementation?
a) The specified service company representative
b) The oil operator representative
c) The drilling engineer
d) The government representative
25. In a well drilled with total cost which is less than the planned cost by 40%, this cost
saving is considered as
a) Saving oil operator’s money
b) Outstanding performance
c) Bad cost estimates
d) None of the above
26. Which one of the following wells is easier in estimating its drilling cost?
a) Wildcat well
b) Appraisal well
c) Injection well
d) Production well
27. Well cost estimation is difficult for explorations wells due to
a) Difficulties in estimating the drilling rate
b) Difficulties in estimating number of drill bits
c) Difficulties in estimating other services cost
d) All of the above
28. For a production section drilled vertically from 15,000 to 16,000 ft, what type of
casing would need to be used for safety?
a) Open hole without casing
b) Casing string from surface to bottom
c) Liner casing from last casing shoe to bottom
d) None of the above
29. A well is planned to be drilled to a depth of 5,000 ft—what will be the suitable hole
sections?
a) One section
b) Two sections
c) Three sections
d) Five sections
30. A well is planned to be drilled to a depth of 3,000 ft in two section—what will be
the suitable section sizes?
a) 36 and 30
b) 30 and 20
c) 20 and 13 3/8
d) 13 3/8 and 9 5/8
14 Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering
31. Technology necessary for extracting oil and gas reserves is
a) Drilling
b) Coiled Tubing
c) Hydraulic Fracturing
d) None of the above
32. Technology which is used to utilize the crude oil and natural gas reserves is
a) Reservoir Engineering
b) Stimulation Technology
c) Drilling Technology
d) All of the above
