PE Petroleum Drilling and Production Practice Exam
Questions, Correct Answers, and Detailed Explanations for
Students||Already Graded A+
1. A vertical well section contains a drilling mud with a
density of 12.5 ppg. What is the hydrostatic pressure at a
true vertical depth (TVD) of 10,000 ft?
• A. 5,200 psi
• B. 5,850 psi
• C. 6,500 psi
• D. 7,200 psi
• Answer: C. 6,500 psi
• Solution: Apply the standard hydrostatic pressure
equation:
𝑃 = 0.052 × 𝜌 × ℎ = 0.052 × 12.5 ppg × 10,000 ft
= 6,500 psi
2. A steel drill string has a dry weight in air of 150,000 lbs. If it
is suspended in a drilling fluid with a density of 10.0 ppg,
what is the buoyant weight of the drill string? (Assume
steel density corresponds to a constant of 65.4 lb/gal
equivalent for buoyancy factor calculations).
• A. 115,500 lbs
• B. 127,100 lbs
, • C. 134,800 lbs
• D. 141,200 lbs
• Answer: B. 127,100 lbs
• Solution: Calculate the buoyancy factor (BF):
𝜌𝑚𝑢𝑑 10.0
BF = 1 − =1− = 1 − 0.1529 = 0.8471
65.4 65.4
Buoyant Weight = Dry Weight × BF = 150,000 × 0.8471
= 127,065 lbs ≈ 127,100 lbs
3. A producing oil well has a static reservoir pressure (𝑃𝑅 ) of
4,000 psi and a test production rate (𝑞𝑡 ) of 1,400 bbl/day
at a bottomhole flowing pressure (𝑃𝑤𝑓 ) of 2,000 psi.
Assuming Vogel's inflow performance relationship (IPR)
applies to this saturated oil reservoir, what is the estimated
Absolute Open Flow (AOF) potential (𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 )?
• A. 1,600 bbl/day
• B. 2,000 bbl/day
• C. 2,400 bbl/day
• D. 2,800 bbl/day
• Answer: B. 2,000 bbl/day
𝑃𝑤𝑓 2000
• Solution: Compute the pressure ratio: = 4000 = 0.5.
𝑃𝑅
Apply Vogel's equation:
Questions, Correct Answers, and Detailed Explanations for
Students||Already Graded A+
1. A vertical well section contains a drilling mud with a
density of 12.5 ppg. What is the hydrostatic pressure at a
true vertical depth (TVD) of 10,000 ft?
• A. 5,200 psi
• B. 5,850 psi
• C. 6,500 psi
• D. 7,200 psi
• Answer: C. 6,500 psi
• Solution: Apply the standard hydrostatic pressure
equation:
𝑃 = 0.052 × 𝜌 × ℎ = 0.052 × 12.5 ppg × 10,000 ft
= 6,500 psi
2. A steel drill string has a dry weight in air of 150,000 lbs. If it
is suspended in a drilling fluid with a density of 10.0 ppg,
what is the buoyant weight of the drill string? (Assume
steel density corresponds to a constant of 65.4 lb/gal
equivalent for buoyancy factor calculations).
• A. 115,500 lbs
• B. 127,100 lbs
, • C. 134,800 lbs
• D. 141,200 lbs
• Answer: B. 127,100 lbs
• Solution: Calculate the buoyancy factor (BF):
𝜌𝑚𝑢𝑑 10.0
BF = 1 − =1− = 1 − 0.1529 = 0.8471
65.4 65.4
Buoyant Weight = Dry Weight × BF = 150,000 × 0.8471
= 127,065 lbs ≈ 127,100 lbs
3. A producing oil well has a static reservoir pressure (𝑃𝑅 ) of
4,000 psi and a test production rate (𝑞𝑡 ) of 1,400 bbl/day
at a bottomhole flowing pressure (𝑃𝑤𝑓 ) of 2,000 psi.
Assuming Vogel's inflow performance relationship (IPR)
applies to this saturated oil reservoir, what is the estimated
Absolute Open Flow (AOF) potential (𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 )?
• A. 1,600 bbl/day
• B. 2,000 bbl/day
• C. 2,400 bbl/day
• D. 2,800 bbl/day
• Answer: B. 2,000 bbl/day
𝑃𝑤𝑓 2000
• Solution: Compute the pressure ratio: = 4000 = 0.5.
𝑃𝑅
Apply Vogel's equation:
