The junction is the whole problem. A branch drilled out of a casing window is straightforward; making that junction mechanically stable, hydraulically isolated if required, and re-enterable years later is what drives cost and complexity. The TAML levels exist to describe exactly how much of that is provided, from an open hole split to a fully cased and pressure-isolated junction.

The parent well has to be designed for it. Casing size, cement quality at the junction depth, window position relative to the trajectory and the hardware that will be run later all have to be planned before the parent well is drilled. Retrofitting a lateral into a well that was not designed for one is possible but usually compromised.

The economic case has to be honest. A multilateral saves a slot, a top hole and sometimes a riser trip, but it adds milling time, junction hardware, higher intervention cost and the risk of losing the whole well if the junction fails. It makes sense where slots are scarce and reservoir contact is valuable, and much less sense where land wells are cheap.

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

• Identify multilateral applications and the value drivers behind them.
• Compare multilateral options against separate wells on cost and risk.
• Describe TAML junction levels and select an appropriate level.
• Plan parent well design to accommodate laterals.
• Plan window milling and whipstock operations.
• Drill and complete lateral sections.
• Construct junctions and install junction hardware.
• Plan selective re-entry and access to each lateral.
• Address well integrity requirements at junctions.
• Assess multilateral risk, cost and decision criteria.

The course is instructor-led. Junction levels, hardware and construction sequences are covered with drawings, procedures and field records. Participants plan a multilateral well, selecting junction level, sequencing operations and assessing risk and cost against a single-lateral alternative. Field cases include junction failures and lost laterals. Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects for discussion.

Organisations sending participants to this training will:

• Increase reservoir contact per slot in constrained developments.
• Select junction levels appropriate to the reservoir and intervention plan.
• Reduce junction failures and lost lateral access.
• Plan parent wells so that future laterals remain possible.
• Make multilateral decisions on realistic cost and risk comparison.

Participants will:

• Understand multilateral architectures and junction levels.
• Be able to plan a multilateral well and its construction sequence.
• Understand window milling and junction construction operations.
• Understand re-entry and intervention constraints.
• Be able to assess multilateral risk and economics.

• Drilling and well engineers
• Completion engineers
• Reservoir engineers involved in well design
• Field development engineers
• Rig site supervisors on complex wells
• Service company engineers supporting multilateral work

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.