Slide 1 Title: Most Effective at Reducing Hazards Most Difficult To Implement
Slide 1 Title: Most Effective at Reducing Hazards Most Difficult To Implement
Well Barrier
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SLIDE 2 OUTLINE
• Barrier Terminology
• Barrier Philosophy
• Barrier Requirement
• Barrier Elements
• Documentation
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Elimination and substitution, most effective at reducing hazards, also tend to be the most difficult to
implement in an existing process.
Engineering controls
These do not eliminate hazards, but rather isolate people from hazards.
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SLIDE 5 BARRIER TERMINOLOGY
Well Barriers. A barrier is an object that prevents flow from a source. Well barriers prevent fluids or
gases from flowing unintentionally from a formation
barrier elements : One of several dependent components cement, casing, DP, tubing, packer,
HIGHWAY ILUSTRATION
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The designer’s objective is to achieve a high level of well reliability by combining operational and
physical barriers
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A well’s barrier plan should include maintaining well control via hydrostatic pressure from fluids,
selection and use of well control equipment, and the placement of cement or other mechanical
barriers in the well.
The well center design (i.e. wellhead, BOP equipment, riser, etc.) should include a minimum of two
barriers available during any operation to prevent uncontrolled flow from the well to the atmosphere.
– the operating environment [TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, CORROSIVE FLUID] is within the design
specifications of the barrier element
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In addition, at least one of the barriers should have the capability to do the following:
– Shear any device that passes through the barrier and seal the wellbore after shearing. If this is not
possible, an alternative pressure control plan should be created.
– Seal the wellbore with any size device penetrating the well barrier. If this is not possible, an
alternative pressure control plan should be created.
Plans for testing of well barriers should be part of each well design. Plans should address well control
issues each time a barrier is removed or replaced.
Pressure testing
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SLIDE 12 DOCUMENTATION
The Well Operator shall be able to demonstrate the status of well barrier envelopes for each well and
well type.
§ The Well Operator should consider recording the current barrier envelopes and their
respective elements. It is suggested that a well barrier schematic be used to convey this
information.
§ Any failed or impaired well barrier elements should be clearly marked and stated on the well
barrier record.
§ It shall be clear from the well handover documentation which components in the well are
well barrier elements and comprise which barrier envelope, the primary or the secondary
(where applicable).
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SLIDE 13 DOCUMENTATION – WELL BARRIER SCHEMATIC
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SLIDE 14 MEDCO STANDARD – WELL DESIGN AND OPERATION STANDARD
1. Well Integrity Management shall be applied within planning and execution of Drilling & WOWS /
Well Operations Division activities. Well Integrity principle shall refer to Well Integrity Management
System Guideline.
2. During all operations, there shall be a minimum of 2 barriers for all potential flow paths and at
least one shall be a physical barrier. A contingency plan should be in place for loss of a barrier. If the
minimum number of barriers cannot be maintained, action shall be taken immediately to reinstate
them prior to proceeding.
3. The barriers and acceptance criteria shall be defined prior to commencement of operations. The
barrier elements shall meet/exceed the casing/tubing design load cases.
4. For a fluid column to serve as a barrier, it must be part of a monitored and maintained system.
5. For set cement to serve as a physical barrier the cement slurry shall be designed and laboratory-
tested for anticipated well conditions and must be tested as per regulation.
6. Exceptions to this standard include riserless and surface hole drilling prior to installing BOP’s.
These exceptions must include detailed, risk mitigation plans.
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THANK YOU
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