Air and Gas Drilling Manual. Applications for Oil, Gas, Geothermal Fluid Recovery Wells, Specialized Construction Boreholes, and the History and Advent of the Directional DTH. Edition No. 4

Table of Contents

1. Introduction, Calculation Programing and Unit Systems 2. Air and Gas versus Mud 3. Surface Equipment 4. Downhole Equipment 5. Compressors and Nitrogen Generators 6. Direct Circulation Models 7. Reverse Circulation Models 8. Air, Gas and Unstable Foam Drilling 9. Aerated Fluids Drilling 10. Stable Foam Drilling 11. Mathcad Field Example Comparisons Appendixes A. USCS and SI Unit Definitions and Conversions B. Average Annual Atmospheric Conditions C. Minimum Air Drilling Volumetric Flow Rates D. 11.1 Mathcad Directional DTH in Appalachian Region E. 11.2 Mathcad RC DHH Secant Borehole F. 11.3 Mathcad Underbalance Shallow Three Well Solution G. "Rules of Thumb" for Air and Gas Drilling

Authors

William C. Lyons Chevron's Clear Leader Center, Houston, TX, USA. William C. Lyons, Ph.D., P.E. (retired), holds nine patents in industrial drilling and has been responsible for the development of several important innovations in drilling and production technology. He is the lead Editor of the Standard Handbook of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, 3rd edition, publishing with Elsevier and co-author of several other professional books in drilling and production engineering for the petroleum industry. Dr. Lyons was a Professor in Petroleum Engineering and in Mechanical Engineering at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for 30 years. He also served two one-year tours as a Distinguished Visiting Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs during his academic career. Since retiring from teaching, Dr. Lyons is currently a Technical Learning Advisor with Chevron's Clear Leader Center in Houston, TX. James H. Stanley Drilling Engineer, Chevron, Houston, TX, USA. James Stanley is currently a Drilling Engineer, Instructor, and Training Advisor with Chevron. He has more than 35 years' worth of experience in both operating and service sectors and is recognized as a subject matter expert in well barrier design and well control requirements. He previously worked for Schlumberger, Weatherford, Crimson Energy Company LC, and Champlin Petroleum. He earned a BS in petroleum engineering from the University of Oklahoma and is active in SPE, AADE, and IADC, and issued three US patents. Francisco J. Sinisterra Operations Regional Manager, QES Energy Services, Midland, TX, USA. Francisco Sinisterra is currently the Operations Regional Manager at QES Energy Services in charge of QES's most productive directional district, providing technical support and advising customers during directional drilling operations. He previously worked for Schlumberger, Petrobras, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Ingeniar SA, and Speery Sun Drilling Services, based in Colombia. He earned a BS in petroleum engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and Master's of Science in petroleum engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Tom Weller Independent Consultant, Texas, USA. Independent consultant