An Interactive 5-Day Training Course
Drilling Hydraulics Using MS Excel
Hydraulics Calculations Built in Excel
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Duration
5 Days
Price
$ 2,000
Starting From
21 Feb 2027
Drilling Hydraulics Using MS Excel
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Drilling Hydraulics Using MS Excel - DC-HYD-EXCEL-PEA27
| Code | Date | Time | Duration | Location | Currency | Early Bird Fee Per Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC-HYD-EXCEL-PEA27 | 21 - 25 Feb 2027 | 10 AM CST | 4 Hours / Day |
Online |
USD |
2000 |
Need this for a group? We deliver the same course in-house — face-to-face at your location or online — tailored to your assets and team level. Contact info@peassociations.com
Boost your team's skills and your budget! Enjoy group discounts for collaborative learning. Send an inquiry to info@peassociations.com.
Drilling Hydraulics Using MS Excel
This course builds drilling hydraulics workbooks in Microsoft Excel. Participants build rheology model fitting, pressure loss calculations through the circulating system, bit hydraulics and nozzle optimisation, equivalent circulating density profiles, hole cleaning calculations, surge and swab, temperature and pressure effects, and optimisation sheets, using live formulas with no macros, add-ins or coding.
Description
Hydraulics determines hole cleaning, equivalent circulating density, bit performance and the pressure the formation sees. The calculations are well established but tedious, and in most organisations they sit inside software or an inherited spreadsheet nobody has checked.
This course builds them properly. It starts with rheology: fitting Bingham plastic, power law and Herschel-Bulkley models to viscometer readings and comparing their predictions. It builds pressure loss calculations through each part of the circulating system, surface equipment, drillstring, bit and annulus, with laminar and turbulent flow handled by formula. It builds bit hydraulics, nozzle sizing and the optimisation of hydraulic horsepower and impact force, then equivalent circulating density profiles along the wellbore. It covers hole cleaning calculations for vertical, deviated and horizontal sections, surge and swab, temperature and pressure effects on mud properties, and closes with optimisation sheets that find the best flow rate and nozzle combination within the pressure window. All with live formulas and no macros, add-ins or coding.
Rheology model choice changes the answer. The same viscometer readings fitted as Bingham plastic, power law or Herschel-Bulkley give different annular pressure losses, and the difference matters most in the narrow margins where the calculation is being relied on. Building all three side by side makes the sensitivity visible.
Equivalent circulating density is the output that drives decisions. Flow rate, rheology, cuttings loading and hole geometry all feed into it, and in narrow margin wells the choice of flow rate is a trade-off between hole cleaning and fracturing the formation. A sheet that shows both at once is what supports that decision.
Optimisation is straightforward once the calculations are built. Finding the flow rate and nozzle combination that maximises bit hydraulics while keeping equivalent circulating density below the limit and annular velocity above the cleaning requirement is a constrained problem Excel handles directly with live formulas.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Fit Bingham plastic, power law and Herschel-Bulkley rheology models to viscometer data.
- Compare rheology models and assess their effect on predictions.
- Build pressure loss calculations for surface equipment, drillstring and annulus.
- Handle laminar and turbulent flow regimes by formula.
- Build bit hydraulics calculations and optimise nozzle sizing.
- Build equivalent circulating density profiles along the wellbore.
- Build hole cleaning calculations for vertical, deviated and horizontal sections.
- Calculate surge and swab pressures and tripping speed limits.
- Apply temperature and pressure effects on mud density and rheology.
- Build optimisation sheets that select flow rate and nozzles within constraints.
The course is instructor-led and entirely hands-on in Microsoft Excel. Participants build each calculation from blank sheets and verify against published worked examples and field data. All work uses live formulas with no macros, add-ins or coding, and participants keep every workbook they build.
Organisations sending participants to this training will:
- Optimise hydraulics for hole cleaning and bit performance.
- Manage equivalent circulating density in narrow margin wells.
- Give engineers tools to check hydraulics software output.
- Improve tripping practice through surge and swab calculation.
- Standardise hydraulics calculation across the team.
Participants will:
- Understand drilling hydraulics calculations in detail.
- Be able to fit rheology models and judge their effect.
- Be able to build full circulating system pressure loss calculations.
- Be able to optimise flow rate and nozzles within constraints.
- Take away working hydraulics workbooks.
- Drilling engineers
- Drilling fluids engineers
- Rig site supervisors
- Well planners
- Service company technical staff
- Graduate engineers in drilling roles
Module 1: Rheology Models
- Viscometer data and readings
- Bingham plastic model fitting
- Power law model fitting
- Herschel-Bulkley model fitting
- Comparing model predictions
Module 2: Flow Regimes
- Reynolds number and critical velocity
- Laminar and turbulent flow
- Regime selection by formula
- Friction factor calculation
- Effect of regime on pressure loss
Module 3: Circulating System Pressure Losses
- Surface equipment losses
- Drillstring internal losses
- Downhole tool losses
- Annular losses by section
- Total system pressure sheet
Module 4: Bit Hydraulics
- Nozzle pressure drop
- Hydraulic horsepower at the bit
- Jet impact force
- Nozzle sizing calculations
- Optimisation criteria
Module 5: Equivalent Circulating Density
- Annular pressure loss contribution
- Cuttings loading effects
- Profile along the wellbore
- Comparison with fracture gradient
- Narrow margin operating sheets
Module 6: Hole Cleaning
- Cuttings transport in vertical wells
- Deviated and horizontal hole cleaning
- Transport ratio and cuttings bed indicators
- Flow rate and rotation requirements
- Hole cleaning assessment sheet
Module 7: Surge and Swab
- Surge and swab pressure calculation
- Open and closed ended pipe
- Tripping speed limits
- Comparison with the pressure window
- Trip planning sheet
Module 8: Temperature and Pressure Effects
- Mud density variation with temperature and pressure
- Rheology at downhole conditions
- Effect on equivalent circulating density
- Correction sheets
- When these effects matter
Module 9: Optimisation
- Defining objectives and constraints
- Flow rate optimisation
- Nozzle selection within limits
- Sensitivity analysis
- Presenting hydraulics recommendations
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.
