Courses

In a well being drilled, what separates the reservoir from the surface may be no more than a column of fluid and a set of valves. In this advanced theory course for professionals and candidates for the oil sector and for suppliers, you follow the crew of a fictitious rig on a development well. Calculate hydrostatic pressures and relate pore pressure, fracture pressure, equivalent circulating density and the maximum allowable annular surface pressure. Recognise the causes and warning signs of a kick and use the trip sheet. Explain the two-barrier principle and barrier envelopes, identify well control equipment and its tests, put the general shut-in steps in order and interpret the shut-in pressures. In a theoretical exercise, calculate the kill mud weight and the pumping schedule for the Driller's and Wait and Weight methods, and analyse, in general terms, the lessons of Montara and Macondo and the role of human factors. Aligned with API Std 53, IOGP Report 476 and ISO 16530-1. A preparatory theory course: it does not replace certified practical training, IWCF or IADC WellSharp well control certification, or practical simulator exercises. The course is delivered in Portuguese.

What you will learn

• Calculate hydrostatic pressures and relate pore pressure, fracture pressure, ECD and MAASP.
• Recognise the causes and warning signs of a kick and use the trip sheet to detect them.
• Explain the two-barrier principle, barrier envelopes and how they are verified.
• Identify well control equipment, its function and the tests that prove it works.
• Put the general steps for shutting in a well in order and interpret the pressures and volumes recorded.
• In a theoretical exercise, calculate the kill mud weight, circulating pressures and the pumping schedule.
• Analyse lessons from well control accidents and the role of human factors, communication and the authority to stop work.

Modules

1. Pressures in the well90 min
2. Kicks: causes and warning signs80 min
3. Well barriers80 min
4. Well control equipment79 min
5. Shutting in the well87 min
6. Well control methods90 min
7. Lessons from accidents and human factors79 min

Who it is for

Professionals and candidates for the oil sector, and suppliers