Randy Smith Drilling Schools

IWCF Well Control Course

Equipment Exercise A
 1. Company policy is to provide sufficient volume to close, open and close again
all rams and annulars using the information below, calculate required volume.

2. According to API RP 53, what is the maximum allowable closing time for a 20"
annular?

30 seconds
60 seconds
2 minutes
45 seconds

3. According to API RP 53, what is the recommended reservoir capacity for a

BOP closing unit?

2 times useable accumulator volume.

2 times total accumulator volume.
5 times total accumulator volume.

4. Indicate the activities that may be carried out with the BOP stack shown below.

a) No drillpipe in the hole: shut in the well

under pressure and repair the spool.

b) Drillpipe in the hole: shut the well in

while changing pipe rams to blind rams.

c) Drillpipe in the hole: circulate through

the drillpipe.

d) Drillpipe in the hole: shut the well in

under pressure, and repair the side
outlets on the spool.

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5. Indicate the activities that may be carried out with the BOP stack shown below.

a) No drillpipe in the hole: shut in the well under

pressure and repair the spool.

b) Drillpipe in the hole: shut the well in while

changing pipe rams to blind rams.

c) Drillpipe in the hole: circulate through the

drillpipe.

d) Drillpipe in the hole: shut the well in under

pressure, repair the side outlets on the spool.

6. Identify the BOP components that are controlled by manifold pressure:

a Pipe rams
b Blind rams
a Annular
d HCR valves
e Pipe rams and HCR valves.

7. Which two pressure readings would decrease if you operated the pipe rams?

a Manifold pressure
b Annular pressure
c Accumulator pressure
d Precharge pressure

8. Which of the two tools below would you use if you wanted to test the BOP stack
and the wellhead / upper casing seals.

a Plug type tester

b Cup type tester

9. Identify which type of valve should be used for the operations listed.

1) A conventional kelly cock type safety valve.

2) A stab-in non-return valve.

a. Stabbing onto a strong flow up the drill string.

b. Is closed manually with a tool.
c. May develop a leak around the key.
d. May be pumped open.
e. May not be run in the hole in the dosed position.
f. Wireline may be run through it.

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10. Identify the situations in which a BOP pressure test is required per API RP-53.

a. After circulating out a gas kick.

b. When two months have elapsed since the previous test.
c. Prior to drilling into a known transition zone.
d. After changing out BOP components.
e. After setting a casing string.

11. Identify from the sketch below, which valves should be opened to circulate the
well through the remote adjustable choke and the mud gas separator. The well
is closed in on the annular.

STAND PIPE PRESSURE GAUGE

FLOWLINE
NON-RETURN
VALVE
REMOTE CHOKE

TO MUD TANKS
MUD
PUMP
TO MGS

CEMENT
PUMP KILL TO VENTLINE

MANUAL
CHOKE

Valves

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In each of the following problems ( 12 through 15 ) below write the letter from the list
below that best describes the reason for the pressure gauge readings.

a: everything is o.k. Normal Readings:

b: malfunctioning pressure regulating valve Annular 900 psi
c: malfunctioning hydro-electric pressure switch Manifold 1500 psi
d: leakage in hydraulic circuit Accum. 3000 psi
e: precharge pressure is too low

12.

Problem

13.

Problem

14.

Problem

15.

Problem

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16. What is the primary function of weep holes (drain hole, vent hole) on a ram
type BOP? (Choose one answer).

To show that ram body rubbers are leaking.

To show that the mud seal on the Piston Rod is leaking.
To show that the Bonnet Seals are leaking.
To show that the closing chamber operating pressure is too high.

17. You only have one inside BOP with an NC50 (4-1/2" IF) lower connection on
your rig but the drill string consists of 5" HWDP, and 8" collars. Which one of
the following crossovers would you have on the drill floor in case of a kick while
tripping?

6-5/8" reg. box x 7-5/8" reg. pin.

NC50 (4-1/2" IF) pin x 6-5/8" reg. pin.
NC50 (4-1/2" IF) box x 7-5/8" reg. pin.
NC50 (4-1/2" IF) box x 6-5/8" reg. pin.

18. Two types of valves may be used In the drillstring:

Type 1: "non return, stab in safety valve", (inside BOP)

Type 2: "fully opening stab in kellycock valve", (fully opening safety valve)

Mark the type on the corresponding line with a cross.

Type 1 Type 2
a. Requires the use of a key to close
b. Must not run In the hole in the closed position
c. Has to be pumped open to read "shut-in drillpipe pressure"
d. Will not allow for wireline to be run inside the drill string
e. Has potential to leak through the open/close key
f. Easier to stab if strong flow is encountered up the drillstring

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19. Mark the following with "+" if it is an advantage or "-" if it is a disadvantage of
using a float valve in the drill string.

a. For surge pressure.

b. For reverse circulation.
c. For flowback while tripping.
d. For shut-in drillpipe pressure reading.

20. The following statements relate to the driller's remote control BOP control panel
located on the rig floor. Decide if the statements are true or false.

a. If you operate a function without operating the master control valve that
function will not work.
FALSE

b. The master control valve on an air operated panel allows air pressure to
go to each function in preparation for you operating the function.
FALSE

c. The master control valve must be held depressed while BOP functions
are operated.
FALSE

d. The master control valve must be depressed for five seconds then
released before operating a BOP function.
TRUE

21. A BOP operating unit has 8 accumulator bottles, each with a capacity of 10
gallons.

Maximum pressure is 3000 psi.

Precharge pressure is 1000 psi.

What is the total usable fluid volume when the minimum BOP Operating
pressure is 1200 psi ?

gallons

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 B.O.P. Remote Panel

Using the diagrams above answer the following questions:

22. On a 3000 psi accumulator system what are the normal operating pressures
seen on the following gauges?

Gauge #1 psi
Gauge #2 psi
Gauge #3 psi
Gauge #4 psi

23. On which 2 gauges on the remote panel would you expect to see reduction in
pressure when the annular preventer is being closed?

Gauge #1
Gauge #2
Gauge #3
Gauge #4

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24. If gauge #1 reads 0, which of the following statements is true?

No stack function can be operated from the remote panel.

All stack functions can be operated from the remote panel.
Choke and kill fines can still be operated from the remote panel.
The annular preventer can still be operated from the remote panel.

25. Mark an "X" in the box where the problem relates to the cause:

Causes Master 4-Way Valve Closing Leak in Air Bulb

Control on Line to Hydraulic Lines Pressure has
Valve Not Accumulator BOP to BOP or the Lost to Blown
Held Down Failed to Shift Blocked BOP itself Panel
Problems
1. Close light
does not
illuminate
but pressure
drops and
later rises.
Back up.
2. Light does
not
illuminate
and
pressure
gauge does
not drop.
3. Pressure
gauge drops
but does not
rise back.
4. Light
illuminates
but pressure
gauge does
not drop.

26. Which one of the following Problems above (a, b, c, or d) has not stopped the
BOP from closing? Circle your answer.

1
2
3
4

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27. Which of the following statements is true concerning Ram Packing Element?

Motion reversal of pipe increases the wear on seals.

Closing pipe rams on open hole may damage the elements.
The ram packer should normally be checked and if worn, changed
whenever the bonnet is opened.
All of the above.

28. The kill line should enter a stack so that:

the well can be circulated if the blind rams are in use.

the well can be circulated if the pipe rams are being used,
both of the above.

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29. Indicate the numbers in the following boxes which correspond with the items in
the picture below:

a. Closing Chamber.

b. Opening Chamber.

c. Wear Plate.

Hydril GK Annular BOP

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