Safety Alert
Drilling Breaks
Drilling Breaks
- IADC
- Safety Alert
- IADC Alert 98-31
- Hydrocarbon ReleaseProcess Safety
- Mechanical failureWell control
- Drilling
- Blowout preventerPumps
- Upstream oil and gas
Summary
A rig continued drilling after a drilling break, then suffered lightning damage to its pit-volume monitoring system and loss of one mud pump. A gas bubble entered the wellbore. Annular preventer damage and apparent upper-ram failure preceded successful closure of the lower rams and killing of the well.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Well control; kick control; loss of well control.
Classifications: Drilling; well drilling.
Classifications: Blowout preventer; BOP; blow-out preventer.
Classifications: Pumps.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Summary
A drilling rig experienced a chain of events, which could have resulted in a loss of well control.
IADC Alert 98-31. Themes: hydrocarbon release, process safety.