Page 13 - The Rotary Rig and Its Components

WELL-CONTROL EQUIPMENT

Petroleum Extension-The University of Texas at Austin
Well-Control

Equipment

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In this chapter:

• Preventing blowouts
• Detecting a kick and bringing it under control
• Closing in the well

• Powering the blowout preventers
• Applying back-pressure to the drilling column
• Treating mud from a kick

blowout is an uncontrolled flow of gas, oil, or other well fluids
A into the atmosphere or into an underground formation. It can A blowout is a dangerous
occur when formation pressure exceeds the pressure applied to it by situation. A kick, or a sign
that conditions are leading
the column of drilling fluid. A blowout endangers the lives of the crew to a blowout, can be
and wastes petroleum; it can also damage the environment and destroy detected by the crew.
a rig worth millions of dollars. Although relatively rare, a blowout is
an awesome sight. Fluid (oil, gas, or salt water) erupts from the well
with great force and often ignites into a roaring inferno, especially
if it contains gas (fig. 50). The crew uses well-control equipment to
prevent blowouts.
Another way the crew prevents these events is by using the right
amount of drilling mud of the proper density. Even when the right
mud “recipe” is used, however, if the bit drills into a formation with
higher-than-expected pressure or if the crew allows the mud level
in the hole to drop, the well can kick. During a kick, formation fluid
enters the hole and forces some of the drilling mud out.

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