This book presents the fundamental principles of drilling engineering, with the primary objective of making a good well using data that can be properly evaluated through geology, reservoir engineering, and management. It is written to assist the geologist, drilling engineer, reservoir engineer, and manager in performing their assignments. The topics are introduced at a level that should give a good basic understanding of the subject and encourage further investigation of specialized interests. Many organizations have separate departments, each per­ forming certain functions that can be done by several methods. The reentering of old areas, as the industry is doing today, particularly emphasizes the necessity of good holes, logs, casing design, and cement job. Proper planning and coordination can eliminate many mistakes, and I hope the topics discussed in this book will playa small part in the drilling of better wells. This book was developed using notes, comments, and ideas from a course I teach called "Drilling Engineering with Offshore Considerations." Some "rules of thumb" equations are used throughout, which have proven to be helpful when applied in the ix x / Preface proper perspective. The topics are presented in the proper order for carrying through the drilling of a well.