Well Control Equipment

This module covers why controlling pressure in the well is important, the role of drilling fluid in controlling the well, BOP stacks and how they work, and the function of other equipment used in well control activities. Instrumentation used in well control operations is also discussed.

Units of Measure

The second module covers units of measurement used in the oil field, calculating surface area and volume, calculating pressure, and the definition of density and how it is measured.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure discusses the linear relationship between depth and pressure, how to calculate it, the importance of true vertical depth(TVD), and how the hydrostatic pressures in different sections of a well add to determine bottom hole pressure.

Pressure Balance

Topics covered in this module are how the drill string and annulus can be represented as a U-tube, differences between normal, abnormal and subnormal formation pressures, and balancing formation pressures with hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid.

Causes of Kicks

In this module, you will learn how to identify the different conditions that can cause a kick, describe how a kick develops, describe the warning signs and the indicators of kicks, and describe the effects of a gas kick.

Controlling the Well

This module covers the steps involved in shutting in the well when a kick is detected, how closing in the well can be used to increase bottomhole pressure and stop flow, why responding quickly to a kick is important, and how migrating gas in a shut-in well effects surface and downhole pressures.

Restoring the Well

The final module in the IWC series covers the special problems that kicks from shallow formations present, why maintaining constant bottomhole pressure is important when handling a kick, and the steps in two methods used to restore normal circulation.