Learning from well control mistakes can help prevent future blowouts
- O`Brien-Goins-Simpson and Associates, Houston, TX (United States)
Well closure is often done under conditions of high stress. If things appear to go wrong, there is little time to analyze and correct the problem and desperate acts are sometimes taken. Advanced consideration of possible problems is therefore valuable. Frequent pit drills should be carried to full BOP closure so that crews become familiar enough with the procedure so that they can close in the well without problems, even under the stress of an actual kick. No effort has been made to provide documentation for well control mistakes discussed below since this would be of little value. However, each item discussed did result in one or more blowouts. These involved several companies scattered throughout the world. The mistakes include: ram closure on a tool joint; closed isolation valve from accumulator bottles; lock on blind or shear rams control handle; stopping drill pipe flow with inside BOP or kelly; safety valve wrench not available; trip tank or fillup line connected to BOP stack; excess water spacer while cementing; failure to align surface pipe; failure to use annular preventer properly; open choke bypasses; uncapped accumulator control lines; BOP control lines reversed; lack of backup check valve; inadequate BOP and system rating; opening safety valve under pressure; closing annulus drill pipe open; and drilling or pulling pipe while gaining mud.
- OSTI ID:
- 392556
- Journal Information:
- World Oil, Vol. 217, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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