Business Sub-

Segment segment
IPM D&C

Barriers Standard
Document Number:
IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

Amendment Summary

Revision No Date Description

1.0.0 31January 2002 Supersedes IPM-WELL-S010
1.0.1 17 May 2011 Added clarification that standard applies after surface
casing is set
1.0.2 27 September 2009 Definitions-Change of wording
1.0.3 01 March 2011 Clarified wording and standardized format
2.0.0 01 March 2014 Clarified wording, standardized format and references
update
2.0.1 26 January 2015 Update Sub-Segment name from WCI to D&C

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

Preface

Document Classification
This document is classified as Schlumberger Private. It is available to anyone in Schlumberger
and authorized third parties. A security incident involving unauthorized disclosures will have a
severity level of Serious or Major, depending on the financial or time-to-recover impact, but never
less than Serious.

Review and Update

The Drilling and Completions (D&C) Standards and all associated documentation shall be
periodically reviewed where necessary to respond to change (e.g. to requirements, processes or
business conditions). As part of this formal review process, the Technical Authority who approved
the document shall define an appropriate review team to include document holders, document
users and any other key stakeholders that may be affected by changes to the D&C Standards.
At any time, individuals may express an opinion regarding the content of this Standard, highlight
any identified errors, and/or suggest improvements. Any such submissions should be made in
writing to the Technical Authority who approved the document.

Document Control
This document is uncontrolled when printed. A controlled version of this document is stored in the
IPM Document Management System (InTouch).

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

Contents

1 Statement of Standard ........................................................................ 5

2 Objective .............................................................................................. 5
3 Applicability ......................................................................................... 5
4 Definitions ............................................................................................ 5
5 Minimum Requirements....................................................................... 7
6 Responsibilities ................................................................................... 9
7 Guidance, Tools and Documents ...................................................... 10

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

1 Statement of Standard
On all IPM D&C Operations, barriers will be incorporated in the plan during the design phase and
this design implemented during the execution phase to prevent unplanned well flow.

2 Objective
To define the acceptable quality, quantity and application of barriers to be installed in a well during
its construction, operation, workover and abandonment in order to prevent the unplanned escape
of wellbore and formation fluids to the atmosphere or seabed.

3 Applicability
This standard applies to all wells where IPM D&C manages any combination of design,
construction, testing, operation, intervention, or abandonment.

This standard also applies to non-naturally flowing wells.

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4 Definitions
Term Definition
ALARP - As Low As A risk is reduced to levels such that further risk reduction measures
Reasonably would be so disproportionate to the probability and consequences of
Practicable occurrence that it would be objectively unreasonable to implement them.

Drilling Blind Drilling with no return of fluid to surface.

Independent Having no common mode of failure.
Inflow test (also called A test in which the hydrostatic pressure in a well is deliberately reduced,
negative test, negative under controlled conditions, such that the integrity of a pressure seal is
differential test) tested in the potential direction of flow to the extent of the net differential
pressure applied, which must exceed the maximum underbalance that
the well will be exposed to.
Primary Well Barrier A barrier element, or combination of barrier elements, in direct (primary)
contact with the potential outflow source; e.g. the element(s) that see(s)
pressure during normal operation.
As an example, while drilling the primary barrier is a homogenous drilling
fluid column with hydrostatic overbalance on the pore pressure of the
exposed formations.

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

Term Definition
Secondary Well Barrier Second set of barrier elements that prevents flow from a source. Barrier
elements that make up the Secondary barrier are those, which are or
might be exposed to contact with well pressure should any of the
elements described as a primary barrier element fail. This is defined as
the ultimate defense should any of the primary barrier elements fail and,
as such, prevents outflow to surface and environment.
For example while drilling the secondary barrier is formed by the open
hole section, the cemented casing, wellhead, BOPs and drill string with a
closed safety valve or check valve (inside BOP) installed.

Surface Casing The surface casing is the first casing where the BOPs will be installed for
pressure containment.
Surface casings shall be set within competent formations thereby
allowing the installation of BOPs prior to drilling into potentially
hydrocarbon-bearing and/or pressured formations.

Tested Barrier Qualified barrier tested to withstand maximum anticipated pressure in the
direction of flow.

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Excluding BOPs, barriers will not be considered effective after they have
been disturbed.
Fluids acting as a barrier may be qualified as a tested barrier when
proven fit-for-purpose on the basis of specification, stability, condition,
position, and monitoring/observation.

Well Barrier Envelope An envelope (combination) of several dependent barrier elements

preventing formation fluids from flowing unintentionally from the formation
into another formation or to the surface.
Set of limitations within which a well can perform safely and effectively,
consisting of one or several dependant barrier elements to provide
containment of fluids or gases from the formation, and to prevent cross
flow into another formation, or to the surface and environment.

Well Barrier Element An object or element (fluid) that alone or in combination with other
elements will create an envelope capable of containing well pressure and
preventing uncontrolled flow of fluids and gases from the formation, into
another formation, or to the surface or environment, if properly deployed.
For example: drilling fluid, properly cemented casing, wellhead and
associated components, BOP and its’ associated parts, drill string with
kelly valve or check valve, cement plugs, casing bridge plugs,
mechanical or hydraulic retrievable bridge plugs, packers, tubing.

Well Intervention Entry into a well to repair or maintain the existing well components.

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

5 Minimum Requirements
On all IPM D&C well operations after setting the surface casing string, wells shall have two or more
dissimilar and tested barriers at all times to ensure that the risk of an unplanned flow of wellbore
and formation fluids into another formation, to the atmosphere or seabed is as low as reasonably
practicable. The requirement for two barriers does not apply to Underbalance or near balance well
operations with a rotating head.

Note on drilling blind: Refer to section 5.1 of the IPM-D&C-WC-ST-008 Kick Prevention Standard.

Design of Barrier Elements

Wherever possible Barrier Elements shall be applied such that:

• Re-establishment of a lost barrier can be achieved quickly

• The location, position and status can be monitored
• It can be pressure tested, or verified by other means, such as, observation
•

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It is independent of other barriers in contact with the same fluid; in other words, there is no
common mode of failure
• It can operate competently in the planned environment throughout its potential service life.

Testing of Barriers
Positive pressure tests shall be conducted for periods of:

• Casing, liner and tubing – 15 minutes

• BOP and wellhead elements – 5 minutes for low pressure, 10 minutes for high pressure

Negative pressure tests or inflow tests shall be conducted for 30 minutes where the volume being
monitored is large in comparison to any possible leakage rate.

Inflow test of a liner lap: in anticipation of situations such as, but not limited to a mud weight
reduction subsequently to setting a liner or well testing with underbalance fluid in the annulus, a
liner lap will be imperatively inflow tested simulating the future pressure reduction to which it will be
exposed.
When planning for an inflow test, always be prepared for the barrier to fail the inflow test and a
subsequent well control event to occur: include contingency plan on how to handle potential influx
and return well to overbalanced condition in the case of a failed inflow test.
Test pressures shall be specified in the Operations Program.

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

Barriers for Wireline Operations in Open Hole

All equipment used during electric line, stranded line, and slickline operations shall be configured
such that the minimum of 2 barriers are maintained at all times.
In normal operations the two barriers are the drilling or completion fluids and the rig BOP.
Where the drilling mud is not considered a barrier due to losses or gains, then a suitable risk
assessment must be carried out and an exemption obtained. In such circumstances wireline
surface pressure equipment shall be considered. If the lubricator is to be used, its length should be
sized to accommodate the string of tools to be run, plus the required fishing assembly if fishing with
cable.
Only certified shooting nipples rated to the maximum anticipated surface pressure shall be used as
part of the rig up as per the Wireline Pressure Operations Manual. Any such pressure control
equipment must be pressure tested prior to commencing operations.
Additional risk is involved when running the dual packer MDT tool (or similar tools), as formation
fluid is discharged above the tool after a sample has been taken. This could result in a loss of
overbalance against overlying formations.
Note: the wireline Conical Side Entry Sub (CSES) is not to be considered a pressure barrier, its
design is limited to allow circulation during TLC operations.

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

6 Responsibilities
The IPM Well Engineer shall design wells, which can be constructed, operated, maintained, and
abandoned fully in accordance with this standard.
The IPM Well Engineer is responsible for determining if more than two barriers are required.. This
should include expected: pressure, temperature, fluid chemistry, accessibility, and duration of
service. The integrity and reliability of a barrier and its intended duty will determine if more than two
barriers are to be employed.
The IPM Wellsite Supervisor shall undertake the construction, operation, intervention, and
abandonment of wells fully in accordance with this standard.
The IPM Wellsite Supervisor shall not allow the removal of a BOP, marine riser, christmas tree,
casing head, or tubing head from a well unless the formation fluids are contained behind two
independent tested barriers.
On failure of a barrier the Wellsite Supervisor shall initiate immediate measures to secure the
integrity of the well and restore or replace the failed barrier. Other activities should cease unless
doing so increases the risk of an incident.

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

7 Guidance, Tools and Documents

Internal /
Guidance How will this help users of this document? Link to Guidance
External
[1] “Casing, Liner and Tubing Pressure Internal Standard for casing and liners pressure test after InTouch ID 3286092
Testing Standard” IPM-D&C-CSG-ST-001 installation.
Revision 2.0.0 Release Date March 2014.
[2] “IPM-D&C-WC-ST-002 Well Control Internal Standard for Well Control Equipment InTouch ID 5379419
Equipment Requirements”. Revision 2.0.0
Release Date March 2014.

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[3] “Drilling Blind Recommended Practices” Internal Recommended practices if due to losses is required InTouch ID 4864890
IPM-D&C-LC-RP-001 Version 2.0.0 to drill blind.
Release Date March 2014
[4] “Kick Prevention Standard” IPM-D&C- Internal Standard for the kick prevention. InTouch ID 3286106
WC-ST-008 Revision 2.0.0 Release Date
March 2014
[5] Pressure Operations Manual for Wireline Internal Section 4: Well Integrity and WHE Equipment InTouch ID 3046294
Version 7.3. Revision 2012 Requirement and Selection.

[6] “Temporary and Permanent Internal Barrier standard specifying the barrier requirements InTouch ID 3286114
Abandonment Standard” IPM-D&C-WBA- for well suspension and well abandonment.
ST-001 Revision 2.0.0 Release Date
March 2014.
[7] “Schlumberger Well Control Manual” Internal Sections 1.21 and 3. InTouch ID 4731677
Revision 0 Release October 2006
[8] IPM Standing Orders – Well Site Internal Introduction: part 1 InTouch ID 4924177
Supervisors, Release Date 2009. Operations: part 1
[9] API RP 59 “Recommended Practice fro External Section 11.11 Rig practices for handling pressure http://www.api.org/
Well Control Operations” -. Second Section 12.6: Gas influx in cemented annulus
Edition Release Date May 2006

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Barriers Standard IPM-D&C-WC-ST-006

Internal /
Guidance How will this help users of this document? Link to Guidance
External
[10] API RP 90 “Annular Casing Pressure External Section 2.5: Diagnostic testing http://www.api.org/
Management for Offshore Wells”, First Section 3: Annular Casing Pressure Management
Edition, Release Date August 2006 Program

[11] API STD 65-Part 2 “Isolating Potential
Flow Zones during Well Construction”.
Second Edition, December 2010.
[12] API RP 96 “Deep Well Design and
Construction”, First Edition, Release Date
March 2013.
External Section 4: Barriers http://www.api.org/
Section 7.3: Cement Evaluation
Table A.1: Most frequent Primary and Secondary
Barriers that Failed in all Phases
External Section 5.2: Deepwater Well Architecture http://www.api.org/
Section 5.3: Barrier Philosophy
Annex A (informative) Examples of Barriers

[13] NORSOK D-010 Standard Revision 4
Release Date 4 June 2013
[14] Information Security Classification
Standard. Release Date Nov 2011
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Employed During Operations
Annex B (informative) Example Barrier Definitions
External NORSOK Standard for well integrity in drilling and http://www.standard.no/en/Sea
well operations. rch-and-
buy/Search/?search=d-010
Internal The Information Security Classification Standard http://www.hub.slb.com/display
describes how the classification labelling is applied /index.do?id=id2518514&file=c
to information regardless if the media on which is lassify.html
stored.

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