Page 60 - Well Control for Completions and Interventions

Introduction and Well Control Fundamentals 51

• Ensure that the unit system (oilfield or SI) used during the operation
is the same as that used in the completion or intervention program.
• Ensure regular scenario-based well control drills are carried out.
Where appropriate report on crew performance.
• Ensure that there is an adequate supply of lost circulation material and
kill weight brine on location.
• For work on wells where H 2 S is present or expected, confirm that
there is sufficient breathing apparatus and monitoring equipment at
the well site and all personnel have been adequately trained in its use.

1.1.11.1.2 Responding to a well control incident
In the event of a well control incident on a well where the primary bar-
rier is a column of kill weight fluid, and that barrier has been compro-
mised, the person in charge of well control will:
• Confirm that the crew on the drill floor have made the well safe.
• Gather together as much information as possible.
• Convene a meeting with all of the key personnel who will be involved
with the well control (kill) operation.
• Be present at the drill floor at the beginning of the well control (kill)
operation.
• Most operating companies will insist on having their own represen-
tative, or the senior representative of the drilling contractor (the
Toolpusher) present on the drill-floor until the well control situa-
tion has been resolved.
• Maintain communications with the operating company base office.
• Assign responsibility for keeping a record of events.
Produce reports as necessary in accordance with company and juris-
dictional requirements. In addition to these responsibilities, the person in
charge of the well control incident will ensure that the other key mem-
bers of the team are carrying out their assigned duties.
Drilling contractor’s Toolpusher (if not the person in charge):
• Overall responsibility for implementing the well control operations.
• Ensure that the driller and the drill crew are properly deployed.
• Should be present on the rig floor when the well control operations
begin.
• Ensure that handover between shifts is accomplished with the mini-
mum disruption to the operation—ensure continuity.
Driller:
• Responsible for detecting kicks or losses and making the well safe.