Payzone in Training
Introduction
The Payzone simulators were originally developed as training aids,
so they are particularly valuable for this purpose. The
intention is to give a trainee driller a "hands-on" feel for the way
that drilling operations are carried out, so that he or she learns to react
to different drilling situations as they occur.
Structured Learning
To provide the best learning experience, we have prepared sets of
training exercises that present different aspects of drilling operations
in a controlled environment. The exercises are made using an Exercise
Editor that not only allows the lithology and all the operating equipment
to be specified, but enables the instructor to include or exclude certain
features of the simulation. Thus, for the early training exercises where
the objective is to understand the relationships between the operating
parameters and the bit's rate of penetration, the bit wear is suppressed,
the well neither kicks nor loses circulation and the hole never collapses.
Each of these features is introduced later as the skill of the student
increases.
Building Exercises
Exercises can be built by the instructor. In Payzone C, instructor status
is conferred by a password. In the J version, the Exercise Editor can be
removed from a student's computer so as to discourage unauthorized access.
The procedure for making a new exercise is similar in the C and J versions.
The instructor works through a series of operations assembling the various
components of the exercise and finishes by writing a set of instructions.
These appear at the moment the exercise is started by the student.
The Payzone C Exercise Editor.
The Payzone J Exercise Editor.
The Exercises
There are fifty exercises in
five groups. The groups comprise:
Training Exercises
Eight exercises that concern basic drilling mechanics - the effect
of weight on bit, rotary speed and mud density and flow rate on rate of
penetration and wear of the bit.
Advanced Drilling
Seven exercises that deal with more advanced topics in drilling mechanics
- bit failure modes, bit run optimization, hydraulics and borehole stability.
Well Design and Evaluation
Seven exercises that broaden the scope of interest beyond strictly drilling
matters. These exercises deal with the design of drill pipe strings,
casing and cementing operations, and well logging. Two exercises unique
to Payzone J explain how to import field data in the form of LAS files
and to carry out optimization procedures with a view to helping with the
planning of real wells. For more information, see
Payzone in Well Planning
Directional Drilling
Our newest set of exercises concerns Directional Drilling. So far we have
made five exercises,"Build and Hold", "Single Build to Target",
"Build-Hold-Drop", "Methane Drainage"
and "Two Targets". The Methane Drainage exercise
concerns the location of a coal seam of uncertain depth followed by the
drilling of a horizontal drainhole to extract the gas. The "Two Targets"
exercise deals with the question of accessing a first target and then
steering to a second target that is offset in azimuth and depth. More exercises are
in preparation. These exercises are not available in the C version, as it has
no directional drilling function
The Railroad Gap Field Project
This set of exercises is intended to form the background to a
"Capstone Petroleum Engineering Course". Fifteen exercises trace the process of
discovering and evaluating an oilfield. They run from the initial seismic survey through
the planning and drilling of a wildcat well, the design of drill pipe, casing
and cementing operations, logging, well testing, PVT analysis and the
development of a production plan to the establishment of a final
analysis that determines the economic value of the field through the usual
yardsticks of Net Present Value, Return on Investment, Discounted Profitability
Index and related measures. Payzone simulations are not used in all of the exercises,
of course. Although it has been taught very successfully as a "Stand alone"
course, many students benefit from having had some previous experience of the
different sub-disciplines.
Missions and Challenges
The exercises described above are each designed to teach a specific aspect
of Drilling. We have made a further series of exercises whose intention
is to
test a student's ability to get the best out of any drilling situation.
The Missions and Challenges are, respectively, long and short test
exercises where the student is challenged to meet some sort of drilling
objective. This could be to drill a well within a set time or cost, or with
limited equipment, for example. The Missions and Challenges therefore
fill a natural place as checks to see how well a student has learned the
lessons of the teaching exercises.
Distance Learning
Payzone programs are entirely computer based. With the exception of some
supplementary materials needed for the Railroad Gap Field Project, all
manuals, all exercises and their solutions exist both as printer-ready
text and, for the J version, as html files. The entire set of material can
be stored on
one CD. A student can therefore follow a complete course of
study using Payzone from his or her remote computer, on an
offshore rig for example, and either proceed independently or communicate
with an instructor
by E-mail.
Last update 5 November 2001.