Advanced Well Control

A valuable reference for students, working engineers, and supervisors alike, Advanced Well Control addresses all phases of well control, from the design stage of a well through plug and abandonment. The fundamental science underlying the techniques is discussed, and the practical application of the concepts is covered in detail and demonstrated with example problems.

Well-control fundamentals have been understood and taught since at least the early 1960s. Accident statistics have demonstrated the merits of training, and most individuals involved in drilling or other well operations have received some well-control training. Yet, for various reasons, well-control problems and blowouts persist in the industry. The consequences of a blowout (personnel safety, environmental impact, and financial outlays) more than justify efforts to develop effective countermeasures. This book addresses almost all phases of well control, and we hope that its content will contribute to those efforts. We anticipate that the book will be used as a text to train young engineers and as a reference for working engineers and supervisors.

David Watson is a consultant petroleum engineer with Southern International Inc. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from Texas Tech U.; after graduating, he went to work for Unocal Corp. and was with Unocal for 12 years. Watson's professional experience includes responsibilities in production and reservoir engineering, but most of his career has been in drilling. He has been an instructor in numerous industry schools on drilling practices and well control and has authored or coauthored papers and articles on pipe design, horizontal drilling, and well control. Watson is a registered professional engineer in Oklahoma.

Terry Brittenham is the president and owner of Southern International Inc. He holds a BS degree with honors from the U. of Wyoming and was employed by Continental Oil Co., Monsanto Co., and Grace, Shursen, Moore and Assocs. before cofounding SII in 1982. Although practiced in many aspects of petroleum engineering, Brittenham has considerable experience in petroleum, geothermal, and scientific drilling operations, including management, engineering, and extensive assignments as a wellsite supervisor. Brittenham has taught drilling practices and well-control short courses since 1979 and has authored or coauthored several technical papers, articles, books, and manuals on drilling. He is a registered engineer in Oklahoma and Wyoming.

Preston L. Moore has been active in the drilling business since 1949, including 14 years of teaching petroleum engineering at the U. of Oklahoma. Moore received the SPE Drilling Engineering Award in 1993 and was named a Distinguished Member in 1996. He is known throughout the world for his drilling practices schools, which he initiated in 1959. Moore has written three books on drilling practices and has authored more than 100 articles in various trade magazines. He is co-owner of three patents concerning well control and is a recognized authority on well control. Moore remains active in the oil industry and is currently helping to develop a school on deep-well drilling and associated costs.