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Blowout contingency plans can cut firefighting and capping risks

Journal Article · · Oil and Gas Journal
OSTI ID:40355
 [1]
  1. Wild Well Control Inc., Spring, TX (United States)
Prepared in advance of drilling, blowout contingency plans and immediate response plans can reduce firefighting, well capping, and possible relief well costs during a blowout. Regional and site-specific blowout contingency plans are especially beneficial for operators working world-wide, where logistics difficulties can easily bog down operations. This article is the first of an 8-part series on well control. Future articles will cover pressurized tree removal, well capping operations, techniques for killing wells after capping, snubbing operations, handling H{sub 2}S, shallow gas hazards, and project management. Because it is impossible to eliminate the potential for a blowout, the only logical and responsible position is to make plans to react before an accident occurs. Such a blowout contingency plan for operations should include information about the following: Immediate reaction plan (evacuations, internal and public notifications, and data collection); Blowout contingency plan (general logistic plans or site-specific plans with relief well details); Engineering modeling; Mobilization of resources to control the blowout (first wave of equipment and personnel); and Means for taking and verifying appropriate responses. The paper discusses immediate response plans, blowout contingency plans, regional and site specific plans, and recommends the absolute minimum requirements for a plan that should be created.
OSTI ID:
40355
Journal Information:
Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 93; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English