Impacts of Well Control Incident:
The successful detection and handling of threatened blowouts and kicks is a matter of utmost importance to any company in the business of oil and gas exploration and production. Today’s oil and gas operator must be prepared to adequately manage a well control incident. Due to increased liability of health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues, postponing the actions to be taken in case of any unwanted incident is quickly becoming a non-option. Though catastrophic blowouts happen less frequently, potential consequences for an unprepared operator are higher than ever.
Recent events have shown that even blowout incidents that happen to other operators can by causing implementation of restrictive and costly government regulations. If fatalities or oil spills occur, the whole industry may be indirectly affected by negative public exposure, closing of sensitive environmental areas to leasing and increased insurance premiums. Therefore, it is in the interest of the industry as a whole, that all operators maintain acceptable levels of preparedness and critical resources to effectively manage an incident.
A primary objective for all operators is to provide a working methodology to safely and effectively manage, respond to and recover from a well control incident. The complexity of this methodology will vary with operation size and operator as well as risk and vulnerability associated with the area.
The reasons for promoting proper well control and blowout prevention are overwhelming. An uncontrolled flowing well can cause any or all of the following:
- Personal injury and/or loss of life
- Damage and/or loss of contractor equipment
- Loss of operator investment
- Loss of future production due to formation damage
- Loss of reservoir pressures
- Damage to the environment through pollution
- Adversepublicity
- Negative governmental reaction, especially near populated areas
- Increased regulation from Government increasing the cost of operations
At times the cost of handling a blowout can wipe out the entire net worth of a drilling company.
Through the Well control courses, it is ensured that the drillers and supervisors are having requisite knowledge of procedures and equipment involved to handle all probable situations of well control and also have the necessary skills to execute the well control operations. Promotion of crew to next higher level cannot be ascertained unless crew is able to demonstrate requisite knowledge and skills.
Need for Well Control Training
The main objective of any company engaged in drilling of oil and gas wells is to drill the well safely (Safe well in all aspects) to its planned target depth and put in production. The well control with respect to drilling a safe well is very important aspect in oil industry operations. It needs the years of rigorous experience and proper trainings to tackle the well control problems in a safe manner. It includes the safety of rig crew, equipment and all stakeholders associated with the drilling.
Through the introductory level well control training like iwcf or iadc it is ensured that all the rig going personnel is having the basic knowledge and understanding of how well control incidents can occur, their consequences and prevention methods.
The main advantages of the well control training are as follows:
- Know the consequences for well control problems.
- Know how to control a well.
- Client’s well drilled without well control problems.
- Others rely on them.
- Avoiding government over regulations.
- Safety of crew and equipment.
The Concept of Systematic Risk Management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities.
Risks associated with control of well are no different from other risks. Once identified, risks and their contributing factors can be effectively managed–reducing the chance of a well control event from occurring, and being prepared to handle one if it does occur, in the most effective and safest manner possible.
To develop a complete risk management plan, the organization first identify all risks relevant to control of well. Once identified, companies must analyze each risk as to the level of risk that may be incurred and the consequences of each risk. Following the analysis, an assessment is made comparing each risk, and possible consequences, against the risk threshold that has been predetermined. At this point, the organization can develop a total risk management plan to properly manage those risks that cannot be avoided or transferred. In order for the plan to be effective, it should also incorporate a process for the proper management associated with control of well.
Principles of Risk Management Identifying Risks
The first step in development of risk management plan is the identification of the associated risks and their contributing factors associated with control of well issues. When done properly, it becomes apparent very quickly that there are many, many risks that can, and do, affect well control issues.
Those risks identified particular to the well itself might include:
- Drilling target–oil versus gas;
- Formations to be drilled;
- Well depth;
- Well location–onshore, inland waters, offshore, deep water;
- Casing string design; and
- Drilling technique employed–conventional, underbalanced, or drilling with casing.
A more thorough assessment is warranted due to the implementation of new drilling techniques (i.e. underbalanced drilling, deep water drilling, drilling with casing, etc.), the utilization of high specification rig equipment, the use of expensive, highly technical bottom- hole assemblies, and extended drilling environments, etc.
Assessment and Analysis of Risks
Hazard and Operability Analysis is a method for analyzing hazards and operability problems during operations.
This method requires an analysis team comprised of personnel with varying fields of competence. This method is also related to the sequence of operations. It is important that the analyst knows the operation well and receives input from the operational personnel as well. A special worksheet with the following entries may be used:
• Procedural step number
• Operational details (briefly describes the operational details included in the procedural step) • Primary barriers present
• Secondary barriers present
• Evaluation of hazards (typically searching for all incidents that may occur and ruin the barriers)
The main objective of performing the dynamic barrier analyses is to identify steps of the operation where two barriers are not present, or to identify combinations of unreliable barriers.
Once all the risks associated with control of well issues are determined, then they can be individually assessed, analyzed and compared to the organization’s predetermined risk threshold which is the level of risk that the organization is willing to assume.
Proper risk management requires quantification of the associated risks and their respective consequences. The assessment allows the organization to fully understand each risk and its potential for loss. The analysis of the identified risks will compare the costs of the risks (and their associated consequences) versus the costs to mitigate, transfer or manage the risks and associated consequences. Once the assessment and analysis is completed, the organization will have identified those risks that should be mitigated, transferred, managed, or avoided.
Risks can mitigated through self-imposed restrictions on drilling environments (onshore, offshore, deep water) or taking a different position as an organization – i.e. shared working interest; or, transferred through insurance and/or turnkey drilling plans.
Those identified risks that cannot be mitigated, transferred or avoided must be properly managed in a proactive manner. This requires the development of a risk management plan to ensure the protection of personnel, the environment, and the assets.
Plan Development
An effective risk management plan promotes continuous improvement to the organization’s risk profile, thus assisting in future procurement of coverage. The plan should also be quantitative in nature, so that results can be tracked and the plan modified over time to
improve its effectiveness and the organization’s overall drilling efficiencies. A properly developed risk management plan does not have to be complex; rather, it should be focused, practical and cost effective in its implementation.
The development and implementation of an effective and comprehensive risk management plan to address control of well issues is becoming a requirement for drilling oil and gas wells. Implementation of such a plan requires the long-term commitment by the organization to be effective and reduce the number and magnitude of well control events.
Management of Change
Major incidents have taken place for a simple lack of communication or incomplete information sharing at the time of changeover of crew on rig.
This can be managed by having a management system in place at rig to ensure all activities going on and related hazards are recorded by outgoing crew in-charge and understood by the crew taking over before the process of crew change is over.
A check list should be made available to the driller and other key members for recording the information about the observations made during the tour for the crew taking over.
All critical items related hazards identified should be recorded during the shift for the knowledge of the coming shift crew.
The other aspect of change management is related to bringing in any change in the equipment or process or role.
Proper information sharing through training procedure should be at place to make crew understand the change of equipment or process. Also a proper successful induction program be available for induction of new crew or change of role of the existing crew.
Pre-Operation Planning
An effective risk management plan promotes continuous improvement to the organization’s risk profile, thus assisting in future procurement of coverage. The plan should also be quantitative in nature, so that results can be tracked and the plan modified over time to improve its effectiveness and the organization’s overall drilling efficiencies. A properly developed risk management plan does not have to be complex; rather, it should be focused, practical and cost effective in its implementation.
The development and implementation of an effective and comprehensive risk management plan to address control of well issues is becoming a requirement for drilling oil and gas wells. Implementation of such a plan requires the long-term commitment by the organization to be effective and reduce the number and magnitude of well control events.
Risks can mitigated through self-imposed restrictions on drilling environments (onshore, offshore, deep water) or taking a different position as an organization – i.e. shared working interest; or, transferred through insurance and/or turnkey drilling plans.
Those identified risks that cannot be mitigated, transferred or avoided must be properly managed in a proactive manner. This requires the development of a risk management plan to ensure the protection of personnel, the environment, and the assets.
Pre-Job Meeting
Proper pre-job planning and preparation are important for the successful completion of any service job.
In conclusion, the significance of training in oil well drilling cannot be overstated. It is a critical investment in both human capital and operational excellence, paving the way for a safer, more efficient, and sustainable industry.
You can learn more about oil well drilling at http://oilwellconsultancy.com
Disclaimer: General reading purpose only.