Well Control Practices For Work-over Operations

A Well operation that requires various remedial works to an existing well is classed as a work-over. The purpose of
remedial works is to maintain, restore or improve productivity of the Well. Such remedial works may include
replacement of damaged completion string or tubing, re-completing a Well to a higher production zone, plugging
and abandoning a zone etc.

Work-over operations performed through the X'-mas tree with the completions or production tubing in place is
generally called as Well servicing operations or Well intervention operations. In such operations, CTU (coil tubing
unit), wireline, snubbing units are normally used. Many of the well servicing operations are similar to those in
workover operations, but the internal diameter of the completion or production string is lesser in well servicing
operations.
The workover Well program provided by the client will be followed to find the present Well status and all known
details of that Well, pressures, depths, casing sizes, various restrictions (IDs).
For all conventional workover operations, the Well must be killed, barriers are to be installed and tested, X'-mas tree
is to be removed and rig BOP is to be nippled up and tested.
Well Kill Methods in Work over
CHECK WELL KILL METHODS AS PER WI-17 PAGE 39
Works Over Rigs SOP.
Prior to moving the rig onto the Well,
The Well control practices must be established by ensuring required Well Control barriers are in place and any
Well head pressure is bleed off.
A risk assessment should be conducted to ensure that the well is in safe condition and the necessary process safety
controls are established & the Well kill method will be applied based on the Well condition and content.

WELL CONTROL SCHEME FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDRY WELL CONTROL BARIERS SHOULD BE
ATTACHED TO THE RISK ASSESSMENT ILLUSTRATD THE KILL METHODS CHART
Once the rig up is complete and the rig is made ready for operations, the first operation is to make the Well safe,
this requires either of the two kill methods;
if the X'-mas tree is going to remain on the Well then wire line or coil tubing BOP must be installed and tested as per
Well program.

If the X'mas tree is to be removed from the Wellhead, maintaining a fluid barrier that has a hydrostatic pressure
higher than the formation pressure and a mechanical barrier ( eg back pressure valve) installed in the Wellhead
and should be included at the risk assessment

Once the appropriate BOP is nippled up and tested, normal Well Control requirements will take into effect.