Purpose of Audit

• Ensure all well control equipment is of

sufficient rating
• Verify proper installation of all well control
equipment
• Ensure “good drilling parctices” are in use
• Raise crew awareness of well control issues
 Who Participates in Rig Audit?
• Boots and Coots Well Control Specialist
• Well Site Company Representative
• Drilling Contractor Toolpusher
• Drilling Contractor Crews
 What is Inspected?
• Accumulator
• Blowout Preventers
• Choke Manifold
• Gas Separation Equipment
• Drilling and Tripping Practices
• Rig Crew Safety and Training
 Accumulator

• Volume adequate
• Pressures Correct
• Unused lines Plugged
• Safe Distance from Wellhead
• Isolation Valve Open
• Lights so crew is aware when running
• Fluid and Strainers in Good Condition
• Floor Mounted and Remote Unit
• Alternate Power Source
• Valve handles in “open” or “closed”
position
 Blowout Preventer
• Adequate Rating of BOP and associated
items
• Are WECO 1502 hammer unions on
surface casing valves
• Can manipulations be made from floor
• Is stack well anchored
• Necessary spare parts
• Control lines low
• Testing procedures
• Equipment in compliance with API
standards
• Is it possible to pump into well with
blind rams closed
Chokes and Choke Manifold
• Is choke line straight
• Is fill-up line used
• Emergency back-up for operating
hydraulic choke available
• Are lines and valves well supported
• Is choke flow line at least 4”
• Chokes, choke lines and valves of
adequate pressure rating
• Spare parts for chokes
• Are lines arranged so fluids can be
discarded, gas separated safely, or mud
recovered and de-gassed
 Gas Separation
• Is mud gas separator of adequate
volume
• Dimensions of mud/gas separator
• Can gas separated from mud be
safely discharged or flared
• Height of Gas Flare or vent line
• Is mud/gas separator vent line at
least 8”
• To prevent gas surging to shakers
is an adequate ‘U’ tube mud line
provided
 Drilling and Tripping Practices
• Is functional TIW and valve handle on
rig floor
• Are crossovers available so TIW can be
made up on drill collars
• Is drill pipe float used
• Is PVT and flow show in easy view of
the driller
• Is wear bushing used and how is casing
wear monitored
• Is MASP, maximum allowable MW,
and leak off pressures kept current and
posted
• Is approved updated well killing
worksheet posted on rig floor
• Is the rig equipped with a trip tank
• Does the crew keep a trip sheet
• Is pipe slugged for trips
• Are flow checks made prior to pulling
off bottom, at the shoe and before
pulling drill collars through the BOP
• Are mud pump pop-offs properly
pinned and in working condition
• Are drill pipe, drill collar, hole and mud
pump capacity figures available
• Are slow pump rates and pressures
recorded tourly and after every mud
weight change
 Safety and Training
• Is emergency shut down of rig engines
possible
• Are storage house doors facing away
from well bore
• Are shaker motors explosion proof
• Are matches, lighters and cigarettes
prohibited from rig floor
• Are safe welding areas designated and
area inspected prior to hot work
• Are lights and wiring systems vapor
proof
• Are fire extinguishers at suitable points
and in good condition
• Are safety regulations clearly posted
• Does crew have certificates of well
control training for their position
• Are all employees trained in their suties
in the event of a kick
• Are crews instructed of proper
procedures during trip if swabbing or
lost circulation is detected
• Are kick drills held and recorded on the
IADC (ex. On bottom, tripping, drill
collar and out of hole)
 Goal of Rig Audit
• Minimize chance of well control situation
• Increase crew awareness of well control as a
safety concern