COURSE OVERVIEW:

Under-balance drilling (UBD) is a key enabling technology for drilling in depleted, fractured, or pressure-sensitive reservoirs where conventional overbalanced drilling can lead to severe formation damage, loss of circulation, stuck pipe, and poor well productivity. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the concepts, design principles, and field implementation of UBD in both onshore and offshore environments.

Participants will explore the pressure management philosophy behind under-balance operations, the integration of surface and downhole equipment, the selection and design of appropriate drilling fluids, and the operational practices required to drill safely while intentionally allowing the well to flow. The course bridges theory with practical application by combining rigorous technical explanations with real-world case studies from various reservoir types and well architecture.

Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on risk assessment, well control in a flowing-well environment, and multidisciplinary collaboration between drilling, reservoir, production, and HSE teams. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools required to evaluate candidate wells, design an under-balance program, and support safe and efficient execution of UBD operations.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Explain the fundamental differences between overbalanced, under-balanced, and managed pressure drilling practices.
• Describe the main technical drivers and economic motivations for implementing under-balance drilling.
• Interpret reservoir and wellbore pressure relationships and define the required under-balanced operating window.
• Identify suitable candidate reservoirs and wells for UBD based on geology, pressure regime, and well objectives.
• Analyse offset well data to anticipate UBD requirements, hazards, and performance opportunities.
• Select and describe the main types of UBD drilling fluids (aerated mud, foam, mist, gasified fluids) and their properties.
• Evaluate multiphase flow behaviour in the annulus and its impact on cuttings transport, pressure profile, and surface separation.
• Recognise the function and configuration of key UBD surface equipment, including rotating control devices, choke manifolds, separators, and gas handling systems.
• Describe the roles of downhole tools and bottom-hole assemblies specific to UBD, including deployment valves and specialised bits.
• Apply well control and pressure management concepts to safely operate a flowing under-balanced well.
• Conduct basic risk assessments for UBD operations, including identification of HSE, environmental, and integrity hazards.
• Develop a high-level UBD program that integrates drilling, reservoir, production, and HSE requirements.
• Interpret real-time UBD monitoring data to recognise early indicators of operational problems and take corrective actions.
• Review field case studies to extract lessons learned, best practices, and performance benchmarks for future UBD projects.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Drilling engineers and drilling supervisors are involved in planning or executing wells in challenging reservoirs.
• Wellsite leaders, company representatives, and drilling foremen supporting under-balance or managed pressure operations.
• Reservoir and production engineers are interested in productivity improvement and minimising formation damage while drilling.
• Well completion and workover engineers working on wells drilled or recompleted under-balanced.
• HSE, risk management, and operations support staff engaged in well construction and intervention projects.
• Technical authorities and engineering managers are responsible for approving UBD programs and standards.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and after the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants who complete at least 80% of the total attendance time requirement.