A thesis based on a research related to problems in the oil and gas industry.

The importance and history of petroleum and natural gas.  Origin, formation, migration and accumulation of petroleum and natural gas.

Introduction to directional drilling. Steps in designing well profile (kickoff point and buildup rate), Directional planning (purpose, considerations and calculations). Kickoff tools (purposes and functions), Horizontal drilling (design of BHA, max. dog leg severity, fatigue, pipe sticking, miss target, etc.), Survey tools (MWD) and practices, well profile calculations,  Well control, hydrostatic pressure vs.

For Drilling Fluids: density, viscosity, gel strength, filtration, HPHT filter loss, lubricity, solids content, oil content, sand content, pH and filtrate chemical analysis. For Cement: density, viscosity, filtration, thickening time, setting time, and compressive strength.

An Oil Well Blowout While Drilling: /sites/default/files/images/15681/blowout_0607.wmv

Types, origins and methods of estimating pore pressure, formation fracture pressure and methods of its calculations, types, selection, and calculations of drilling fluids, casing seat selection, casing design, cementing, well completion, factors affecting rate of penetration, hole problems, fishing, basics of directional drilling, rig contracts.

System of units, calculation of pressure and temperature gradients. Rotary drilling, rig components, well planning, Drill string design of conventional drilling, stress analyses (yield strength, collapse and burst calculations and biaxial stresses. Hoisting system, draw-works, blocks, drilling lines, ton-mile calculation and design factor. Drilling tools, Bit design and selection. Drilling fluids, mud types, functions, Circulating system hydraulics, pressure losses and optimization of bit hydraulics.

Each participating student will attend many seminars offered by the department and oil companies and will present two or three subjects in petroleum engineering and discussion will be initiated from the participating students, faculty members and audience.

The department will select a newly developing area in petroleum engineering for offering.