Welcome to onlinedrilling.ca
About Us
ePair that hands-on experience with my love for teaching, and you get
With over 30 years of experience as a directional driller, I’ve seen just about everything this industry has to offer—and I still love every minute of it. My passion for technology and innovation has driven me to explore and work with the latest advancements in drilling. From simple rotary assemblies to s-wells, directional wells, complex build-and-turns, multilateral wells, SAGD operations, and rotary steerable systems—I’ve been fortunate to experience it all.
Pair that hands-on experience with my passion for educating, and you get Online Drilling. Our courses aren’t about dull presentations or putting you to sleep with slides—they’re built around discussion, interaction, and inclusion. This approach allows each session to be tailored to the participants, maximizing engagement and understanding.
In short, we don’t just talk the talk—we teach it.
Introduction to Directional Drilling (1 Day Course)
This one-day course provides a foundational introduction to the field of directional drilling. It’s designed for those new to the industry or transitioning from other sectors who want to understand the essential concepts. Throughout the course, you will learn about:
- The purpose and principles of directional drilling
- Methods used to intentionally deviate a wellbore
- Various types of wells and their applications
- Key components and functions of a drilling motor
- Fundamentals of rotary steerable systems
- Slide/rotate drilling technique and its use in directional operations
- An introduction to Measurement While Drilling (MWD) technology
The GeoDrill Connection - Unified Thinking For Better Wells (1 day course)
Course Overview
This one-day course is designed to align the understanding and communication between geologists (and/or mud loggers) and directional drillers. In the drilling process, there is often a significant lag between where the well is and where it is intended to be. This course bridges that gap, helping both disciplines work together toward precise and efficient well placement.
By fostering a shared understanding, teams can improve coordination, reduce errors, and ultimately enhance overall well productivity.
Topics Covered Include (but not limited to):
- How mud motors / rotary steerable systems work
- How MWD's work and their limitations
- Basic directional trigonometry and quick reference calculations
- How to read and interpret a slide sheet
- Drilling a build section
- The relationship between survey depth and bit depth
- Understanding steering lag time and its impact on well trajectory
- The challenge of steering a wellbore (sliding)
- Best practices for collaborating with directional drillers to control the well path
Advanced Directional Concepts - The Supervisor's Guide To Advanced Directional Drilling (2 Day Course)
The goal of this program is to advance your understanding of directional drilling to the next level. Designed for experienced and well-rounded supervisors who work with or support directional drillers, this course bridges the gap between surface-level knowledge and true downhole comprehension.
Through clear explanations and practical examples, participants will gain a solid grasp of the mathematics, mechanics, and real-time processes involved in directional drilling. This deeper understanding empowers supervisors to make faster, more informed decisions—ultimately saving significant time and cost in the field.
Topics covered include (but not limited to):
- Key definitions and terminology used in directional drilling
- How to interpret and calculate slide sheets
- Critical factors involved in kicking off a well
- Techniques and considerations for drilling a curve
- Principles and practices of sidetracking
- Common challenges and solutions associated with sliding operations
- Introduction to MWD systems and magnetics
- Understanding MWD toolfaces and gyros
- Discussion on error of the ellipse
- Fundamentals of torque and drag management
- Optimizing ROP through control of flow rates, RPM, and weight on bit
- Identifying and understanding common causes of downhole tool damage
Directional Operations Training – Level 1 (5 Day Course)
This comprehensive five-day course is designed to teach students how to become confident, capable directional drillers. While many training programs focus heavily on complex math and theory, this course simplifies the process—breaking down calculations into easy-to-understand formulas while building a true understanding of what’s happening downhole.
Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on simulation, participants will learn not only how to drill directionally but also why each step matters. Using our cutting-edge drilling software, you’ll gain practical experience drilling build and hold sections, laterals, build-and-turns, and more—repeatedly reinforcing your knowledge and building valuable “seat time.”
Topics covered include (but not limited to):
- Drilling motor components and their functions
- Motor performance parameters and optimization
- Methods for deviating a wellbore
- Calculating build rates and motor output
- Drilling directional wells and S-shaped profiles
- Techniques for drilling curves
- Using a Ouija board and converting a gravity toolface to a magnetic toolface
- Hands-on drilling of build sections using simulation software
- Understanding basic math and key directional calculations (TVD, VS, Northing, Easting, etc.)
- Applying mental math for wellpath projection
- Managing downhole torque (uphole, downhole, and “phantom zone” torque)
- Steering techniques for vertical and horizontal drilling
Custom Directional Training
Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
If you’re interested in in-house or customized training on specific topics, we’re here to help. Our programs are flexible and can be tailored to fit your team’s needs. We’d love the opportunity to work with you and support your training goals.
If you have any questions about our courses or would like to discuss how we can build a solution for your company, please send us an email — we’ll get back to you promptly with options that fit your needs.