1. ‘Fishing’as a Petroleum (Drilling) Engineer

2. Fishing in Petroleum Engineering
In Petroleum Engineering, Drilling Engineers use the term ‘Fishing’ to recover any objects accidentally lost/dropped in an oil/gas well
The ‘fish’ could be anything including drill-pipe, drill bits, cable, tools and junk.
‘Fishing’ requires ability to identify the ‘fish’, and design a retrieving tool to recover the fish (think rod, reel & hook! No bait required)

3. Steps in ‘Fishing’
Identify the fish and obtain information on the size, dimensions & “latch on” characteristics.
Design or select an appropriate fishing tool
Use tool selected to locate, latch and retrieve fish
Finally, as with fishing, be patient – trial and error & improvement is required.

4. Common “Fish” in oil/gas wells
Drill Bits
Drill pipe
Tubing
Cable
Logging tools
Chains
Miscellaneous items

5. Common ‘Fish’ Drill pipe or tubing Cable Drill bit Wire & logging tool
Chain

6. Common Fishing tools Overshot Grapple Magnets Spear Hook
Custom design tools

7. Common “Fishing”tools
Hooks
Magnet
Overshot
Spear
Hook
Grapple
Drill Bits
Drill pipe
Tubing
Cable
Logging tools
Chains
Miscellaneous items

8. Activity - Time to go fishing!
<- Gusher#1
Two wells Gusher #1 & Gusher#2 are being drilled in Million-Barrel Oil Field.
Both wells have ‘fish’ in them
Your task is to retrieve the fish and continue drilling so that you can produce your well first.
Gusher#2 ->

9. Time to go fishing! Identify fish
Use Playdough ito create an“impression” block to identify fish

10. Time to go fishing!
Select/design an appropriate fishing tool based on fish identified

11. Time to go fishing
Insert fishing tool into well and try to retrieve ‘fish’

12. Time to go fishing!
FISH ON !!

13. Fishing Challenge! Horizontal well fishing !
Retrieve the fish from a horizontal well!
Did you know?
Horizontal wells in the Barnett Shale in North Texas are drilled ~7000’ deep and ~3000’ laterally!
Horizontal wells in the Bakken Shale are drilled 10,000 ft (~ 2 miles) deep and 10,000 ft (~ 2 miles) laterally!

14. Being a Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum Engineers have many sub-specialities.
Drilling Engineers drill for oil/gas.
Reservoir Engineers calculate the amount of oil/gas and the best way to produce the oil/gas.
Production Engineers produce & transport the oil/gas.