Well control roundtable focuses on using shear blind rams with surface stack BOPs
Chevron is currently studying the use of SBRs to determine the necessity of establishing practices for uniform use of SBRs and potential ramifications on well design. The discussion revealed wide variances in practice and philosophies among different companies. Mr. Sonnemann suggested the topic be explored further, possibly in a panel discussion at an IADC Well Control Conference.
Ed Ramsay of Drilling Systems UK provided an introduction to the IADC Well Control Committee’s new Simulator Subcommittee. Mr. Ramsay gave the presentation on behalf of Subcommittee Chairman Steve Vorenkamp of Wild Well Control.
The purpose of the subcommittee is to seek industry input on potential ways to improve well control simulator modeling and performance, and techniques to enhance their effective use as training tools.
Other topics discussed included new WellCAP instructor qualification requirements recently adopted by the IADC Well Control Committee. The new requirements, to be implemented in 2009, will impose hourly instruction minimums and other requirements on applicants seeking approval as new WellCAP instructors. The requirements also include guidelines that existing instructors must follow for continued requalification.
Another discussion topic Shell’s recent inclusion of IADC’s WellCAP program in its official well control manual.
Well Control Roundtables are designed to provide informal forums for discussing well control topics of interest or expanding on topics discussed at IADC Well Control Conferences. Those present urged IADC to continue to hold such meetings in conjunction with its Well Control Conferences. IADC will hold two such conference in 2009: IADC Well Conference of the Americas in Denver on 25-26 August, and IADC Well Control Asia Pacific 2009 in Bangkok on 18-19 November.
