Practice Test Geeks(SPE) Society of Petroleum Engineers Certification Practice Test
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Drilling & Well Completion Flashcards

7 cards from real SPE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which rheological model best describes drilling muds that exhibit both viscosity and gel strength?

    Answer: Bingham plastic model

    The Bingham plastic model characterizes fluids with a yield stress (gel strength) that must be exceeded before flow begins, plus a linear viscosity relationship.

  2. What is the main purpose of using a liner rather than a full string of casing?

    Answer: Reduce cost and casing string weight by hanging it from the previous casing shoe

    A liner is hung from the previous casing string and does not extend to surface, reducing the amount of casing required and saving cost.

  3. During directional drilling, what does 'dogleg severity' (DLS) measure?

    Answer: Rate of change in wellbore inclination and azimuth per unit of measured depth

    DLS is expressed in degrees per 100 ft (or 30 m) and quantifies how quickly the wellbore path changes direction in both inclination and azimuth.

  4. In a gravel pack completion, what is the primary function of the gravel?

    Answer: Prevent formation sand from entering the wellbore while maintaining productivity

    Gravel pack sand bridges formation sand particles at the wellbore face, forming a permeable filter that blocks fine particles while allowing hydrocarbon flow.

  5. What is 'lost circulation' in drilling and what material is commonly used to combat it?

    Answer: Loss of whole mud to the formation through fractures or vugs; combated with lost circulation materials (LCM) such as nut shells or fiber

    Lost circulation occurs when drilling fluid flows into highly permeable, fractured, or vugular formations; LCMs plug the loss zones to restore returns.

  6. What is the 'formation integrity test' (FIT) designed to verify?

    Answer: That the formation at the casing shoe can withstand the maximum anticipated wellbore pressure during drilling ahead

    A FIT pressurizes the wellbore to a predetermined value just below fracture gradient to confirm the shoe can contain pressures expected in the next hole section.

  7. Which completion technique involves pumping acid into the formation under pressures below the fracture gradient?

    Answer: Matrix acidizing

    Matrix acidizing injects acid below fracture pressure to dissolve damage around the wellbore and restore or improve natural permeability.