An Interactive 5-Day Training Course
Directional Survey Calculations Using MS Excel
Survey Calculations Built in Excel
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Duration
5 Days
Price
$ 2,000
Starting From
06 Mar 2027
Directional Survey Calculations Using MS Excel
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Directional Survey Calculations Using MS Excel - DC-SRV-EXCEL-PEA27
| Code | Date | Time | Duration | Location | Currency | Early Bird Fee Per Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC-SRV-EXCEL-PEA27 | 06 - 10 Mar 2027 | 10 AM CST | 4 Hours / Day |
Online |
USD |
2000 |
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Directional Survey Calculations Using MS Excel
This course builds well trajectory and survey calculations in Microsoft Excel. Participants build minimum curvature survey sheets, trajectory planning workbooks, dogleg and build rate calculations, coordinate conversion, error ellipse and anti-collision separation calculations, projections to bit and plotting, using live formulas with no macros, add-ins or coding.
Description
Trajectory and survey work is calculation-heavy and repeated on every well, and most of it is done in software whose outputs engineers cannot check. Building the same calculations in Excel gives engineers a working understanding of what the software does and a tool for checking, planning and quick analysis.
This course builds those calculations from the ground up. It starts with survey data, coordinate systems and references, then builds the minimum curvature calculation and a complete survey sheet with true vertical depth, northing, easting, closure and dogleg severity. It builds trajectory planning workbooks for build and hold, S-shaped and horizontal wells, with build rate and section length calculations. It then builds coordinate conversion between grid and geographic systems, survey error modelling and ellipse calculation, anti-collision separation factor calculations between wells, and projection to bit and ahead. The course closes with plotting: vertical section, plan view and three-dimensional representation. Everything uses live formulas with no macros, add-ins or coding.
Minimum curvature is the whole foundation. Once the ratio factor and the incremental calculations are built correctly, every other survey output follows from them, and an engineer who has built it can diagnose why two software packages disagree about the same survey file.
Anti-collision calculation is the one worth building most. Separation factor depends on the positions of two wells and the uncertainty ellipses around each, and understanding how the ellipses are constructed and combined is what allows an engineer to judge whether a reported separation factor is conservative or optimistic.
Everything here is built with live formulas. The workbooks run on any computer with Excel, can be checked line by line and are useful for quick planning and verification without opening specialist software.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Set up survey data, coordinate systems and reference points correctly.
- Build the minimum curvature calculation from first principles.
- Build a complete survey sheet with depth, position and closure outputs.
- Calculate dogleg severity, build and turn rates.
- Build trajectory planning workbooks for build and hold, S-shaped and horizontal wells.
- Calculate section lengths, build rates and targets.
- Convert between grid, geographic and local coordinate systems.
- Build survey error models and ellipse calculations.
- Calculate anti-collision separation factors between wells.
- Build projections to bit and ahead, and plot trajectories in vertical, plan and three-dimensional views.
The course is instructor-led and entirely hands-on in Microsoft Excel. Participants build each calculation themselves from blank sheets, verifying results against published examples and software outputs. All work uses live formulas with no macros, add-ins or coding, and participants keep the workbooks they build.
Organisations sending participants to this training will:
- Give engineers the ability to check survey and trajectory software outputs.
- Build quick planning and verification tools without software licences.
- Improve understanding of anti-collision calculations.
- Reduce errors in trajectory planning and survey handling.
- Standardise survey calculation practice across the team.
Participants will:
- Understand survey and trajectory calculations from first principles.
- Be able to build and check survey sheets.
- Be able to plan trajectories in Excel.
- Understand error ellipses and separation factors.
- Take away working trajectory and survey workbooks.
- Drilling engineers
- Well planners
- Directional drilling staff
- Surveying and wellbore positioning specialists
- Service company directional engineers
- Graduate engineers in well planning roles
Module 1: Survey Data and References
- Survey data structure
- Measured depth, inclination and azimuth
- Reference systems and datums
- Magnetic and true north
- Setting up a survey workbook
Module 2: Minimum Curvature
- Dogleg angle and ratio factor
- Incremental calculations
- True vertical depth, northing and easting
- Building the calculation step by step
- Verification against published examples
Module 3: The Survey Sheet
- Complete survey sheet construction
- Closure and departure
- Vertical section calculation
- Dogleg severity
- Quality checks within the sheet
Module 4: Trajectory Planning
- Build and hold trajectories
- S-shaped trajectories
- Horizontal well planning
- Kick-off point and build rate selection
- Target intersection calculations
Module 5: Build Rates and Sections
- Build, drop and turn rate calculation
- Section length determination
- Tool face and course correction
- Nudging and slant well planning
- Plan versus actual comparison
Module 6: Coordinate Systems
- Grid and geographic coordinates
- Map projections and convergence
- Grid to true north corrections
- Local coordinate systems
- Conversion sheets
Module 7: Survey Error Models
- Error sources and models
- Error ellipse construction
- Position uncertainty along the well
- Tool accuracy and error terms
- Building an uncertainty sheet
Module 8: Anti-Collision
- Centre to centre distance calculation
- Combined uncertainty
- Separation factor calculation
- Scanning methods between wells
- Interpreting results and limits
Module 9: Projections and Plotting
- Projection to bit
- Projection ahead
- Vertical section plots
- Plan view plots
- Three-dimensional representation in Excel
Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.
Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
All course bookings made through PEA are strictly non-refundable. By registering for a course, you acknowledge and accept that all fees are payable in full and are not subject to refund under any circumstances, including changes in personal or professional commitments or partial attendance.
PEA reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to course content, trainers, or schedules where necessary, without entitling delegates to a refund. Comprehensive details of each course — including objectives, target audience, and content — are clearly outlined before enrolment, and it is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure the course's suitability prior to booking.
For any inquiries related to cancellations or bookings, please contact our support team, who will be happy to assist you.
