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KCA Deutsche Bohrtechnik has developed a simulator that uses computer-generated 3D images, real-time simulations, and sound effects to replicate the actual conditions of drilling and oil well operations. Oil companies and drilling contractors can send their own staff to drill on full-scale simulators, providing an effective way to reduce accidents. KCA German Drilling Company’s DART virtual real-time drilling simulator has transformed the level of training in the drilling industry. The host of the DART simulator is located in Aberdeen, Scotland, while the other mobile facilities are based in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they are used to train drilling personnel there. Roger Hodgson, manager of the well services department at KCA German Drilling Company, said that the operation of these two facilities provides some opportunities for further training for engineers who lack practical experience in the oil industry. Several companies located in the United States, Norway, and Sakhalin have expressed interest in building similar facilities in their own countries. Expansion of the facilities in Aberdeen is ongoing, and the drilling rig training equipment has been upgraded to enable parallel testing with the Lonsoye-A drilling facility. In the summer of 2005, the company’s mini-DART (a small simulator) was put into operation. mini-DART has the same features as full-size DART, but its size is smaller than that of DART. mini-DART allows drilling companies to train their staff on-site without the risks of personal safety hazards or environmental pollution. This simulator helps improve safety efficiency, drilling capacity, and drilling speed, and is expected to save on unnecessary investment in well construction and downtime. Existing simulation training programs include advanced well control, drilling rig startup, drill string failure, and tutorials developed specifically for trainees. Drilling a well is not just the practical application of theoretical engineering design. Drilling operations rely on years of accumulated experience to predict complex situations and handle emergencies. It is also known that safety is extremely important. As the use of cutting-edge technologies increases, it becomes more important for drilling crew members to gain experience in a safe environment, and for engineers to carry out training programs without putting lives at risk. The benefits of training with DART are: (1) no risk to personnel or the environment ； (2) Improved the capabilities of the drilling crew members ； (3) Improved security ； (4) Improved production capacity and efficiency ； (5) Reduced shaft construction costs ； (6) Reduced downtime. The DART simulator based in Aberdeen replicates in full scale the control decks and duty rooms of offshore drilling platforms and onshore drilling rigs; drillers and assistant drillers can simulate drilling operations by using touch-trigger screen control panels. The 3D images and equipment projections on the drill floor are displayed on a 60-ft screen in the control room. When the driller operates the drilling equipment, the simulator provides realistic motion images and sounds to simulate what the driller sees and hears on the drill floor. The DART simulator can provide information on construction and project progress separately, whereas these two aspects are not entirely predictable for instructors and trainees. The downhole simulator can create detailed programs based on geological data, pressure conditions, drilling fluid properties, casing information, bottom hole assembly details, and other relevant information, providing a concise overview of the conditions underground at any given well. Simulators can easily simulate complex scenarios such as well control and stick-slip, to create realistic drilling conditions. Complex scenarios that can be simulated by the simulator include: (1) wellbore gushing ； (2) Leakage ； (3) Clogged drill bit nozzle ； (4) Diameter reduction, suction, and pressure fluctuations ； (5) Equivalent cycle density ； (6) Bit jamming ； (7) High-pressure reservoirs. The training program for the DART simulator provides drillers with clear and easy-to-understand principles and methods, enhances their safety awareness, offers unique approaches for working under difficult conditions, improves the efficiency of well design and drilling, strengthens communication and team skill development, and all of this boosts the ability of well crew members to handle accidents in advance.