Drilling and Reservoir EngineeringDrill String Design and Failure Prevention
A twist off at the pin of a heavyweight joint costs days of fishing, and the fracture face nearly always shows fatigue cracks that started long before the final load. Delegates follow the string from top drive to bit: drill pipe, heavyweight, collars, jars, stabilisers and tool joints. Sessions cover tensile and torsional capacity, margin of overpull, neutral point location, critical buckling and the BHA arrangement that keeps compression where the components can take it. Fatigue mechanisms, stress concentration at connections, makeup torque and thread compounds are then linked to inspection categories under DS1 and API RP 7G practice. The programme closes on failure investigation from recovered pieces. Delegates leave able to design a string for a given well and set inspection and handling rules that prevent washouts and parted pipe.
Course objectives
- Calculate tensile, torsional and combined load capacity of drill pipe
- Determine margin of overpull and neutral point position
- Design a BHA that limits buckling and keeps collars in compression
- Explain how cyclic bending produces fatigue cracks in connections
- Specify makeup torque and thread compound practice for rotary shouldered connections
- Select inspection categories and frequency for drill string components
- Investigate a string failure from fracture surface and operating records
- Set handling and running rules that reduce washouts and twist offs
Who should attend
- Drilling engineers designing strings and BHAs
- Toolpushers and drillers
- Drill string inspection technicians and supervisors
- Rental tool and tubular asset managers
- Drilling supervisors investigating downhole failures
Course outline
- 01Drill string components and their roles
- 02Tensile, torsional and combined capacity
- 03Overpull margin and neutral point
- 04BHA design, buckling and stabiliser placement
- 05Fatigue, bending and stress concentration
- 06Rotary shouldered connections and makeup
- 07Inspection categories and acceptance
- 08Failure investigation from recovered parts
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 to 30 October 2026 | Maputo, Mozambique | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | |
| 21 to 25 December 2026 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | |
| 25 to 29 January 2027 | Durban, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 1 to 5 February 2027 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 1 to 5 March 2027 | Cape Town, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate |
Drill String Design and Failure Prevention
From R8,500