Surface Well Control

Surface Well Control: Theory is an educational work from well-renowned drilling expert Dr. Hussain Rabia. Based on decades of experience in the oil industry - as a drilling engineer, drilling manager, consultant and trainer - Dr. Rabia provides a detailed description of everything related to well control issues, encountered on both land and jack-up operations.

This publication is written in a comprehensible language, including detailed descriptions and visuals of well control operations and equipment. The mathematics is elucidated in detail - including derivation. Numerous examples and exercises are included in the book, including internationally-certified examination questions.

Volume One covers the fundamentals of well control. The first chapter gives an overview of well control events and their impact on the environment and people. Chapter two covers wellbore pressures, including hydrostatic and formation pressures. Chapter three gives details of wellbore barriers, their acceptance criteria and documentation of well integrity tests. Chapters four to six deal with causes of kicks, kick warning signs and circulating pressures. In particular, chapter six provides details on rig hydraulics and pressure loss calculations. Chapter seven deals with formation integrity tests and the correct methods of interpreting test results. The importance of calculating MAASP before and after taking a kick, and the re-calculation of MAASP, as the well is drilled, is also covered in chapter seven. Chapter eight presents the theory and calculation method of kick tolerance. Kick tolerance is an essential element in well control and well design.