Preventative well Control

Well integrity
First action on well event

Schlumberger Private
 Section 8

Schlumberger Private
Well Shut-in Procedures

2
 Section 8

• Well Shut-in Procedures with Surface BOPs

– While drilling: hard and soft shut-in

Schlumberger Private
– While tripping: hard and soft shut-in

• Hard Shut-in Vs Soft Shut-in.

• Well control drills

3
 Well Control Drills
IPM-ST-WCI-008
• Repetitive Drills:
– Increase the awareness of kick recognition.

Schlumberger Private
– Familiarize rig-site personnel with the operation of well control
equipment, the actions to be taken and their respective functions.
• Well control drills will be held, as a minimum, on a weekly basis.
• Drill will include special procedures, different from those of the
Drilling Contractor.
• The Well Site Supervisor will ensure that the drills are recorded in the
daily drilling reports.

4
 Choke Manifold Set up for Hard Shut-in
BOP Stack
Valve Open Chok
e
Valve Remote operated
Closed High Pressure side

Schlumberger Private
High Pressure
Gate Valves
Low Pressure side

To Mud/Gas Separator, To Mud/Gas Separator,

By pass line to burn pit,
Mud Tanks, Flare Pit, Mud Tanks, Flare Pit,
Mud Tanks or
Overboard Overboard
5
overboard
 Shut-In procedure while drilling with surface BOP
(Hard Shut – in)

Choke and paths on choke manifold closed, float valve in drill string:

Schlumberger Private
1. Stop rotation
2. Raise string to have first tool joint above rotary table (time permitting)
3. Shut the pumps off and check for flow (time permitting)
4. Close annular BOP and open remotely controlled choke line valve (HCR)
5. Notify person in charge
6. Record shut-in pressure in annulus and drill pipe sides
7. Estimate the pit gain

6
 Shut-In procedure while tripping with surface BOP
(Hard Shut – in)

Choke and paths on choke manifold closed, float valve in drillstring:

1. Stop tripping and set slips below last tool joint of the string

Schlumberger Private
2. Install and make up a full opening safety valve and close same.
Close annular BOP and open remotely controlled choke line valve
(HCR)
3. Notify person in charge
4. Make up Kelly or Top Drive and open safety valve installed in step 3
5. Read casing and drill pipe pressure
6. Estimate the pit gain

7
 Choke Manifold Set up for Soft Shut-in
BOP Stack
Valve Open Chok
e
Valve Remote operated
Closed High Pressure side

Schlumberger Private
High Pressure
Gate Valves
Low Pressure side

To Mud/Gas Separator, To Mud/Gas Separator,

By pass line to burn pit,
Mud Tanks, Flare Pit, Mud Tanks, Flare Pit,
Mud Tanks or
Overboard Overboard
8
overboard
 Shut-In procedure while drilling with surface BOP
(Soft Shut – in)

Choke and paths on choke manifold open, float valve in drill string:
1. Stop rotation

Schlumberger Private
2. Raise string to have first tool joint above rotary table (time permitting)
3. Shut the pumps off and check for flow (time permitting)
4. Open remotely controlled choke line valve (HCR)
5. Close annular BOP
6. Close choke and the next upstream manual valve on choke manifold
7. Notify person in charge
8. Record shut-in pressure in annulus and drill pipe sides
9. Estimate the pit gain
9
 Shut-In procedure while tripping with surface BOP
(Soft Shut – in)

Choke and paths on choke manifold open, float valve in drillstring:

1. Stop tripping and set slips below last tool joint of the string
2. Open remotely controlled choke line valve (HCR)

Schlumberger Private
3. Close annular BOP
4. Close choke and the next upstream manual valve on choke manifold
5. Install and make up full opening safety valve and close same
6. Notify person in charge
7. Make up Kelly or Top Drive and open the safety valve installed in step 5
8. Read casing and drill pipe pressure
9. Estimate the pit gain

10
 Hard Shut-in vs Soft Shut-in

Hard shut-in: Choke remains closed. Close BOP & Open

HCR
Advantages:

Schlumberger Private
• Influx stopped in the shortest possible time.
• Quick and simple procedure.

Disadvantages:
• It is believed that it induces a pressure pulse or “water hammer”
effect that may fracture a weak formation exposed in the open
hole (formation below the casing shoe)
12
 Hard Shut-in vs Soft Shut-in

Soft shut-in: choke remains open. Open HCR, close BOP & close
choke
Advantages:

Schlumberger Private
• It is believed that the there it does not have “water hammer”
effect against the formation
Disadvantages:
• A larger influx is obtained due to the delay in fully shutting
the well in
• The larger influx conducts to higher casing pressures
• More complex due to requirement of ensuring valve
13 alignment before closing BOP.
 “Hard” Shut-in Versus “Soft” Shut-in
Conclusions
Soft shut-in:
• Little improvement in pressure pulse (it also put pressure pulse)
• Significant effect from additional influx (well flowing more time)
• Higher casing pressures (and well bore pressures) while the influx is circulated

Schlumberger Private
out
Hard shut-in:
• ‘Water hammer’ smaller pressure pulse than shut-in pressure rise
• Formation exposed to a lower net pressure
Results favor hard shut-in:
• Minimum confusion, less influx volume, lower annular pressures
• Safety of personnel and equipment without risk to well

14
 Well Control Drills
• Pit drills and blowout drills will be held on a weekly basis or
more often if the PIC considers it necessary. These drill will be
logged in the IADC drilling report.
• Drills shall be designed to acquaint each crewmember with his

Schlumberger Private
function on the particular test station so he can perform it
promptly and efficiently.
• A well control drill plan shall be prepared for each crew
member outlining the assignments he is to fulfill during the drill
and a prescribed time for completion.
• Drills shall be carried out during periods that minimize the risk
of drill pipe sticking or otherwise endanger the operation.
15
 Well Control Drills
• In each of these drills, the reaction time shall be measured up to
the point when the designated person is in the position to begin
the closing sequence of the blowout preventer.
• Total time for the crew to complete its entire drill shall also be

Schlumberger Private
measured.
• PIC shall initiate all drills a
• Drills can be programmed or by surprising the driller
• Drills shall be arranged to cover a wide range of different
operations and well conditions
- On bottom drilling, tripping, etc.
- Choke (kick circulation) drills before drilling out casing shoe
16
 Well Control Drills

• A specific detailed diverter drill will be prepared for each rig/

well that should include the following:

Schlumberger Private
- Simulate diverting the well as per diverter procedures
(including line up of pumps to heavy mud).
- All essential personnel to their pre-assigned positions.

- All non-essential personnel to the muster point or to the

assigned position as per emergency plan.
- Simulate ‘get ready for disconnect and move off location’.

17