Reach is limited by friction. As angle and length increase, the string lies on the low side and drag consumes the weight that should reach the bit. At some point the string buckles rather than transmits weight, and the well stops advancing regardless of how much hook load is available. Every ERD decision, from trajectory smoothness to lubricant selection to rotation practice, exists to delay that point.

Hole cleaning is the other hard constraint. Above about fifty degrees cuttings settle into beds on the low side that will not move without rotation and adequate flow, and a bed that forms will cause pack-offs, high torque and stuck pipe. Flow rate, rheology, rotation and pipe movement all matter, and the practice of wiper trips and sweeps has to be planned rather than improvised.

The final operation is usually the hardest. Running casing or a completion into a long horizontal section means pushing pipe with no weight available and high friction, and many ERD wells that drill successfully have trouble at this stage. Flotation, lubricants, rotation while running and careful hole conditioning are what make it work.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Assess extended reach feasibility and identify the limiting constraints.
• Design trajectories for horizontal and extended reach wells.
• Model torque and drag and manage it through design and practice.
• Design hole cleaning for high angle and horizontal sections.
• Design drilling fluids and hydraulics for long wells.
• Apply friction reduction methods, including lubricants and mechanical devices.
• Plan casing and completion running in long horizontal sections.
• Apply flotation and lubrication techniques for running strings.
• Specify rig and equipment requirements for extended reach wells.
• Diagnose and respond to the problems that limit reach.

The course is instructor-led. Participants assess feasibility and design an extended reach well, running torque and drag analysis and hole cleaning calculations, then plan the casing running operation. Field cases include record extended reach wells and wells that fell short of target, with the reasons. Participants are encouraged to bring their own wells for discussion.

Organisations sending participants to this training will:

• Extend drilling reach and access targets from existing locations.
• Reduce stuck pipe and hole cleaning problems in high angle wells.
• Improve casing and completion running success in long sections.
• Improve ERD feasibility assessment before committing to a well plan.
• Reduce non-productive time in horizontal and extended reach drilling.

Participants will:

• Understand what limits reach and how to extend it.
• Be able to design trajectories and analyse torque and drag for ERD.
• Be able to design hole cleaning and hydraulics for high angle wells.
• Be able to plan casing and completion running in long sections.
• Be able to diagnose problems in extended reach operations.

• Drilling engineers
• Well planners and directional specialists
• Rig site supervisors
• Completion engineers running strings in horizontal wells
• Drilling fluids engineers supporting ERD
• Operations and performance engineers

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.