Well Barriers Concepts

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, into another formation or back to surface.

Well Barriers
Well Barrier Elements (WBEs)

1. Fluid Barriers (Drilling fluids, Brine)

2. Casing and Cement

3. Drill string

4. Drilling, Wireline, Coil Tubing or Workover BOPs

5. Wellhead

6. Deep set tubing plug

7. Production Packer
8. Stab-in Safety Valves

9. Completion String

10. Tubing Hanger

Primary well barrier:

 Primary Well Barrier
Drilling Fluid
This is the first object that prevents flow from a source. This is generally provided by drilling fluids. Only effective if the
hydrostatic head of the wellbore fluid is greater than the formation pressure.
 Primary Well Barriers
Secondary well barrier:

This is the second object that prevents flow from a source. It provides the second line of defense in the event of primary well barrier
failure. This is generally provided by cement, wellhead, BOP system or stab-in safety valves.
Secondary Well Barriers
The Well Barrier Envelope

Combinations of one or more well barrier elements which surround or enclose the well to prevent flow of fluids.

Barrier Envelope
Well Barrier Acceptance Criteria
Well barrier acceptance criteria are technical and operational requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to qualify the well
barrier or WBE for its intended use.

Well barrier(s) shall be defined prior to commencement of an activity or operation by description of the required WBEs to be in
place and the specific acceptance criteria. The function of the well barrier and WBE shall be clearly defined.

Acceptance Criteria for number of well barriers

One well barrier in place during all well activities and operations, including suspended or abandoned wells, where a pressure
differential exists that may cause uncontrolled cross flow in the wellbore between formation zones.

Two well barriers available during all well activities and operations, including suspended or abandoned wells, where a pressure
differential exists that may cause uncontrolled outflow from the

borehole/well to the external environment.

Leak and Function Testing of Well Barriers

It is important that mechanical barrier is to be tested to ensure that they are holding pressure & it must be tested preferably from
the direction of anticipated flow.

If it is not possible (e.g. in case of plug) to apply pressure below the barrier (i.e. direction of flow) to test that it is holding
pressure then the best solution is to inflow test the barrier element.
Occasionally it may not be possible to pressure test from below or to inflow test, in that case the only option is to pressure test
the devise from above (i.e against the flow direction) provided the barrier is constructed to seal in both direction.

Fluid is also to be tested as barrier if it provides hydrostatic overbalance.

Routine for Leak and Function Testing of Well Barriers

This table gives the frequency of leak and function tests to be carried out for well barrier elements (BOPs, well control
equipments, etc.). It also states the pressures at which leak tests should be done for different well control equipments and other
guidelines for testing BOPs and well control equipments.
Well Barriers Routine Testing
Inflow Test or Negative Test or Negative Differential Test:

A test in which the hydrostatic pressure is reduced such that the net differential pressure direction is from the formation into the
well bore. Inflow tests are generally carried out to verify if there is communication with the formation through the casing, a liner lap
or past a cement plug (bridge plug).

Most of the applications are in connection with testing or squeezed off perforations and casing leaks, testing liner laps, float shoes
and float collars, cement plugs and bridge plugs.

Inflow Test Procedure:

An inflow test is performed by reducing the hydrostatic head above the item to be tested by circulating to a lighter fluid and
watching for a pressure build up that would show that the barrier element is leaking. It is normal in this situation to bleed down
to approximately 100 psi or any suitable amount that can still see on a surface pressure gauge. It is then much easier to see a
small build up on the pressure gauge if the barrier is leaking.

Actions to be taken on when drilling BOP and control systems fail leak or function tests

Barrier Element Actions to be taken when failure to test

Annular Preventer Repair Immediately.

Shear ram If WBE, repair immediately.

Pipe ram (upper, middle, lower) If WBE, repair immediately if no other pipe rams is available
for that pipe size.

Rams that failed to test to be repaired at a convenient time.

Choke valves, inner/outer Kill valves, inner/outer If both valves in series have failed, repair immediately. If one
valve in series has failed,

repair after having set casing.

Marine riser choke and kill line * If one has failed, repair immediately.

Yellow and blue pod * If both have failed, repair immediately. If one has failed,
repair at a convenient time.

Acoustic shear ram * Same as for shear ram.

Acoustic pipe rams * If one or more have failed, repair after having set casing if size
is covered by another

ram. If not, repair immediately.

Floating Installations Nomenclature: Immediately: Stop operation and temporary abandon

well.After having set casing:

Carry on with the operation and repair after having set the
next casing.

Convenient time: Applicable for WBEs that are not required.

Documentation of leak and function testing of well barriers

All well integrity tests shall be documented and accepted by an authorized person. This authorized person can be the driller, tool-
pusher, drilling and well intervention supervisor or the equipment and service providers representative.

The chart and the test documentation should contain

Type of test,
 Test pressure,

Test fluid,

System or components tested,

Estimated volume of system pressurized,

Volume pumped