Page 346 - Drilling Technology in Nontechnical Language

Chapter 14 – SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 337

assigned room and lifeboat. It is always kept up-to-date and is sent into the

office daily.)
The medic will prepare the rig hospital for casualties.

Abandon rig drill

An abandon rig drill may be done as part of the fire drill. The toolpusher
or OIM will change the fire alarm to the abandon rig alarm, and everybody

at the muster point will get into the lifeboats.

Kick drill (also called a pit drill)

The toolpusher or drilling supervisor will cause an indication to
the driller that the active pit level is increasing (there are several ways
to achieve this). The driller is expected to stop drilling and make a flow

check. Once a flow check is under way, the driller will be told that this is a
drill, and he or she is to simulate closing the BOP. The reaction time of the
driller and crew will be noted.

Trip drill

While tripping in or out of the hole, the toolpusher or drilling supervisor

will tell the driller to assume that the well is flowing. The driller will lower
the drillstring so that the crew can place a valve on top of the drillpipe.
This valve is closed, then the BOP is closed, and the well secured. The
total time from initiating the drill to securing the well will be noted.
A drill crew can expect either a trip drill or a kick drill each week,
without any prior notice.

H S drill
2
If working on a well where H S might be present, H S drills will be
2
2
held regularly. The alarm will sound, and personnel will either don an
SCBA set (if working) or will take an escape set and report to the upwind
muster point.

_Devereux_Book.indb 337 1/16/12 2:13 PM