Drilling & Production Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real CPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Drilling & Production Techniques flashcards as text
What is the primary function of a mud motor (downhole motor) in directional drilling?
Answer: To rotate the drill bit using hydraulic power from circulating fluid without rotating the whole drill string
A mud motor converts hydraulic energy from circulating drilling fluid into mechanical rotation at the bit, allowing directional drilling without rotating the entire drill string.
What is 'formation damage' in well completion and production?
Answer: Reduction in near-wellbore permeability that restricts production
Formation damage is the reduction in near-wellbore permeability caused by invasion of drilling fluids, fines migration, or scale precipitation that restricts fluid flow to the well.
Which well logging tool measures the natural radioactivity of formations to identify shale content?
Answer: Gamma ray log
The gamma ray log measures natural radioactivity emitted by potassium, uranium, and thorium; shales are naturally radioactive, making this log useful for lithology identification.
What is the 'kill line' on a drilling rig?
Answer: A high-pressure line used to pump kill-weight fluid into the wellbore during well control
The kill line is a high-pressure pipe connecting the surface pump system to the wellhead, used to pump heavy mud into the well to control a kick.
In production operations, what does a 'separator' do?
Answer: Separates produced fluids into oil, gas, and water streams
A production separator uses gravity and pressure changes to separate the produced stream into distinct oil, gas, and water phases for individual processing.
What is 'cementing' primarily used for in well construction?
Answer: Bonding casing to the formation and isolating pressure zones between formations
Primary cementing pumps cement slurry into the annulus between the casing and wellbore wall to bond the casing in place and isolate different pressure zones from each other.
What is the purpose of a 'packer' in a completed well?
Answer: To provide a mechanical seal in the annulus between tubing and casing to isolate zones
A packer is a downhole tool that expands to seal the annulus between tubing and casing, isolating the producing zone from other wellbore areas and protecting the casing from reservoir pressure.