Well Control Program

Drillers Course

Home Work Exercises

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES

BASIC & CAUSES OF KICKS 1

FRACTURE & MAASP 17

WARNING SIGNS 23

SHUT IN METHODS 33

DATA TO COLLECT 41

KILLING METHODS 51

KILL SHEETS 57

EQUIPMENT 69
BASICS & CAUSES OF KICKS
1. A kick is:
A. An influx of formation fluids down-hole
B. An uncontrolled flow of formation fluids at the surface
C. The increase in pressure on bottom when the pumps are started
D. The increase in shut in pressure due to gas migration

2. What term means "an uncontrolled flow of formation fluids"?

A. Blowout
B. Kick
C. Fractured Formation
D. Lost Circulation

3. What is the correct definition of Permeability?

A. The density of the formation fluids
B. The amount of solid rock in the formation
C. The pressure of the fluid in the pore space
D. The ability of formation fluids to move through the rock

4. What is the percentage of void space in a formation?

A. Permeability
B. Porosity
C. Shale Density
D. Low pressure formation
5. What is the primary means of well control during a drilling or work-over operation?
A. Surface Pressure held on the choke
B. Hydrostatic pressure of fluid in the well bore
C. Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD)
D. The BOP equipment and drill pipe with full opening safety valve {FOSV) installed

6. What is the SECONDARY means used to control formation fluid pressure?

A. Mud hydrostatic pressure
B. The Blowout Preventers
C. Cement Plugs
D. Mud Viscosity

7. What is defined by "the force acting on an area"?

A. Mud Weight
B. Pressure
C. Formation Integrity Test
D. Density

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8. The trip tank measurement is 6 feet x 6 feet x 10 feet deep, fluid depth is 4 feet 3 inches. (Use
5.615 to convert cubic feet to barrels) How many barrels of mud in the trip tank)?
A. 45.5 bbls
B. 18.7 bbls
C. 64.1 bbls
D. 27.3 bbls

9. There are four (4) Mud Pits, each measuring 9 feet x 12 feet x 8 feet deep
Fluid depth is 6 feet. (Use 5.615 to convert cubic feet to barrels)
How many more barrels of mud can be added to the surface tanks?
A. 205 bbls
B. 154 bbls
C. 148 bbls
D. 137 bbls

10. The formula for calculating hydrostatic pressure is: Mud Weight, ppg x 0.052 x True Vertical
Depth, feet, If you change mud weight units from ppg to pcf (pounds per cubic foot) what
change will you have to make to the formula?
A. Use Mud Weight pcf+ 0.052 x True Vertical Depth. feet
B. Change depth to meters
C. Replace 0.052 with a different constant
D. Use Mud Weight pet x 0.052.; True Vertical Depth, feet

11. What is the mud gradient in psi/foot if the circulating mud weight is 16.6 ppg?
A. 0.8632 psi/foot
B. 319.2 psi/foot
C. 0.0474 psi/foot
D. 0.166 psi/foot

12. What is the density of a fluid with a pressure gradient of 0.567 psi/foot?
A. 12.8 ppg
B. 11.4 ppg
C. 10.9 ppg
D. 10.1 ppg

13. With a Mud Weight gradient of 0.499 psi/foot, and a True Vertical Depth (TVD) of 12,600 feet.
What is your Hydrostatic Pressure?
A. 6150 psi
B. 3270 psi
C. 327 psi
D. 6287 psl

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14. An open well is full of clean fluid and you are not circulating. What is the Bottom Hole Pressure
(BHP)?
A. BHP equals hydrostatic pressure plus Annular Pressure Loss equals
B. BHP equals hydrostatic pressure minus annular pressure loss
C. BHP equals hydrostatic pressure

15. How can circulating bottoms-up affect the mud hydrostatic pressure?
A. Circulating the drilled gas to surface will increase mud hydrostatic as it expands
B. Circulating bottoms up requires base fluid to be added to the mud
C. Pumping clean mud into the annulus, to replace the mud with drilled cuttings can reduce
hydrostatic pressure in the well
D. Bottoms-up is normally circulated at the slow circulating rate and the ECD is reduced

16. What is the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of a horizontal well with a mud weight of 9.2
ppg, a MD of 12,750 feet and a TVD of 6,130 feet?
A. 3250 psi
B. 6100 psi
C. 2933 psi
D. 3097 psi

17. A well 9,850 feet (TVD) is filled with 9.2 ppg brine. The plan is to run in the hole to 6,200 feet
TVD (6,600 feet measured depth) and displace with drill water of 8.4 ppg. Calculate the
hydrostatic pressure at 9,850 feet when the drill water has been circulated back to the surface?
A. 4,815 psi
B. 5,164 psi
C. 4,454 psi
D. 4,303 psi

18. What is it called when Formation Pressure is greater than the Hydrostatic Pressure exerted on
the bottom of the hole?
A. Balanced
B. Overbalanced
C. Underbalanced

19. The following information was recorded, while drilling ahead.

True Vertical Depth (TVD) - 13,205 feet Mud Weight- 10.5 ppg

Formation Fluid Gradient at bottom

Measured Depth (MD)- 13,970 feet
of the hole- 0.556 psi/foot

What is the situation at the bottom of the hole?

A. Underbalanced
B. Overbalanced
C. Balanced

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20. What is the Hydrostatic Pressure on bottom using the information below?

14,675 foot BitTrue Vertical Depth (TVD) Current Mud Weight = 12.2 ppg

14,936 foot Bit Measured Depth (MD) Shoe Test Mud Weight= 11.6 ppg

9,873 foot Shoe True Vertical Depth (TVD) Annular Pressure Loss= 175 psi

9,901 foot Shoe Measured Depth (MD)

A. 9485 psi
B. 8852 psi
C. 9310 psi
D. 9786 psi

21. The well is full of 12.2 ppg mud. A 500-foot cement plug is set and tested. If the mud above the
plug is replaced with 10.2 ppg brine, what will happen to the differential pressure between the
top and bottom of the cement plug?
A. Pressure differential will increase
B. Pressure differential will decrease
C. Pressure differential will be zero

22. What can happen down-hole as cement sets?

A. Hydrostatic pressure can increase and cause losses
B. Cement can increase down-hole temperature and damage rubber goods
C. Cement can swell and cause casing to collapse
D. Hydrostatic pressure can reduce and cause a kick

23. What will happen to the hydrostatic pressure of a column of cement as it sets?
A. Hydrostatic pressure decreases
B. Hydrostatic pressure increases
C. Hydrostatic pressure stay the same

24. Why do we pressure test a cement job?

A. To test for leaks due to cement not creating a seal
B. To reduce the effect of wet cement on the drill Bit
C. To test integrity of the wellhead seals
D. To increase the hardness of the cement before drilling out the Casing Shoe

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25. Calculate the time required to circulate surface to bit strokes
If Pump displacement = 0.121 bbls per stroke
Pump speed= 40 strokes per minute
Drill string volume= 167 bbls
A. 130 minutes
B. 42 minutes
C. 330 minutes
D. 34.5 minutes

26. Given the following information; calculate the displacement if 5 stands of drill pipe are run in
the hole with a float.
Drill Pipe OD 5 inches
Drill Pipe ID 4.276 inches
Drill pipe length 94 feet/stand
A. 11.4 bbls
B. 2.3 bbls
C. 1.7 bbls

27. What is the definition of abnormal pressure?

A. Formation pressures that differ from the hydrostatic pressure caused by a full column of
formation oil
B. Formation pressures that differ from the hydrostatic pressure caused by a full column of
formation gas
C. Formation pressures that differ from the hydrostatic pressure caused by a full column of fresh
water
D. Formation pressures that differ from the hydrostatic pressure caused by a full column of
formation water

28. What is meant by abnormal pressure?

A. The excess pressure that needs to be applied to cause leak-off
B. The excess pressure due to circulating mud at high rates
C. Heavy weight mud used to give an overbalance
D. The formation pressure is greater than formation water hydrostatic pressure

29. How does abnormal pressure affect primary well control?

A. Allows Driller to increase tripping speed per stand
B. Increase surge pressure when tripping
C. Increases the hydrostatic pressure overbalance
D. Reduces the 'trip-margin'

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30. What is the term for the total pressure felt at the bottom of the well bore when the well is
being circulated?
A. Hydrostatic Pressure
B. Total System Pressure Loss
C. Pump pressure
D. Bottom Hole Pressure

31. How does gas cut mud affect bottom hole pressure?
A. There will be a small decrease
B. There will be a large decrease
C. It stays the same

32. In a well with gas-cut mud, when is the reduction in bottom hole pressure greatest?
A. When the gas is at the bottom of the hole
B. When the gas is half way up the open hole section
C. When the gas is at the casing shoe
D. When the gas at the top of the well

33. Does a kick always occur after a total loss of circulation?

A. Yes, losses will always occur above any potential kick zone
B. No, it depends on the mud level in the annulus and the formation pressure
C. No, it depends on the reduction in drill string weight
D. Only when losses are greater than 5 bbls/hour

34. Current mud weight = 12.1 ppg

TVD = 10,000 feet
The formation pressure at 10,000 feet (TVD) is equivalent to 11.6 ppg.
The fluid level drops 500 feet.
What is the situation at the bottom of the hole?
A. Overbalanced
B. Balanced
C. Underbalanced

35. What will increase surge pressures when running in the hole?
A. Running-in slowly
B. Low gel strength mud
C. Large annular clearance
D. High gel strength mud

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36. Which of the following situations will create the highest surge pressures when tripping in the
hole?
A. Fast trip speed and high gel strength fluid in the well bore
B. Fast trip speed and low gel strength fluid in the well bore
C. Slow trip speed and low gel strength fluid in the well bore
D. Slow trip speed and high gel strength fluid in the well bore

37. What can increase surge pressures when you are running in the hole?
A. A small annular clearance
B. A large annular clearance
C. Large bit nozzles
D. Low gel strength mud

38. What is a definition of swabbing?

A. Formation fluid entering the well due to an increase in bottom hole pressure when the pipe is
raised
B. Formation fluid entering the well due to a decrease in bottom hole pressure when the pipe is
raised
C. Formation fluid entering the well due to an increase in bottom hole pressure when the pipe is
lowered
D. Formation fluid entering the well due to a decrease in bottom hole pressure when the pipe is
lowered

39. What will increase the risk of swabbing?

A. Spiral drill collars in the BHA
B. High gel strength mud
C. Low permeability formation
D. Pumping out of the hole

40. What term describes the pressure change felt at the bottom of the hole when pulling the drill
string out of the hole?
A. Swab pressure
B. Annular pressure
C. Shut-in pressure
D. Surge pressure

41. Over pull while tripping out is a warning sign of stuck pipe. What well control problem can be
caused by over pull?
A. Surging and possible lost circulation
B. Decrease in equivalent circulating density
C. Swabbing and possible loss of mud hydrostatic
D. Gas migration due to an increase in bottom hole pressure

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 42. Which of the following problems is associated with swabbing?
A. Fracturing of the formation
B. Increase of Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP)
C. Fluid loss to the formation from the well bore
D. Influx of formation fluid into the well bore
43. What is the most common cause of abnormally high formation pressures worldwide?
A. Trapped fluid in shale
B. Limestone fractures
C. Depleted sands
D. Carbonate layers

44. How can a kick be caused due to the Driller not following correct tripping practices?
A. Not keeping the hole full
B. Lost circulation
C. Gas cut mud
D. Abnormal pressures

SLUG & LIGHT MUD

45. You are ready to pull out of the hole 'dry' and monitor the trip. How much mud should be
added to the well?
A. A volume of mud to replace the volume of metal removed
B. A volume of mud to replace the open hole volume of an equal length of pipe
C. One barrel per stand of drill pipe and two barrels per stand of collars
D. A volume of mud to replace the internal capacity of the pipe removed

46. You have pumped a 'slug' to pull out of hole. Slug size = 20 bbl.
Slug Weight = 13 ppg. TVD = 9,750 feet.
Mud level in pipe falls by 180 feet. Mud Weight in hole= 10.7 ppg
How does the 'slug' affect Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) when it is in position?

A. Increases BHP
B. Decrease BHP
C. BHP stays the same

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47. Mud Weight= 10.5 ppg
Slug Mud Weight = 12.5 ppg
Volume of Slug= 20 bbls
The slug is pumped into the drill pipe to allow pipe to be pulled 'dry'.
What will happen to the mud level inside the pipe?
A. Slug will maintain same level of mud inside the pipe to give 'dry' pipe
B. Mud level will drop as slug settles to give 'dry' pipe
C. Mud level will drop in the drill pipe and also cause the annulus level to drop
D. Mud level in drill pipe will drop by 20 bbls

48. A 30.0 bbl 14.5 ppg slug is pumped prior to tripping out of the hole. Mud Weight is 12.3 ppg.
What mud volume, in addition to the slug volume, should we expect returned due to the slug u-
tubing into position?
A. 5.36 bbls
B. 7.35 bbls
C. 5.96 bbls
D. 6.35 bbls

49. You pump a 30 bbl. slug with the following parameters:

o Slug Weight 16.2 ppg
o Mud Weight: 15.2 ppg
o Well Depth: 12335 feet MD and 12121feet TVD
Calculate how much mud, in addition to the slug volume, would u-tube from the well?
A. 5 bbls
B. 6.35 bbls
C. 2 bbls
D. 5.36 bbls

50. The slug is pumped into the drill pipe, the pump is shut down and the well is shut in.
o Mud Weight= 11 ppg
o Slug Weight = 13 ppg
o Length of slug = 1000 feet
o Well Depth (MD and TVD) = 8000 feet
What pressure will you see on the Casing Pressure gauge due to the u-tube effect?

A. Zero psi
B. 104 psi
C. 676 psi
D. 572 psi

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51. Your current Mud Weight (MW) is 11.5 ppg. You were instructed to pump a 35 bbl. slug
weighting 13.5 ppg. Your Drill Pipe capacity is 0.0178 bbl. /ft. How many feet of dry pipe will
you have after pumping?
A. 34 feet
B. 342 feet
C. 321 feet
D. 84 feet

52. Given the following information, calculate the volume inside 100 stands of drill pipe.
Drill Pipe OD 5.0 inches
Drill Pipe ID 4.276 inches
Drill pipe length 94 feet/stand

A. 61 bbls
B. 120 bbls
C. 167 bbls

53. During a drilling operation, you are pumping a light mud pill into the drill string. When will
bottom hole pressure start to decrease (ignore dynamic pressure losses in the annulus)?
A. Once all the pill is pumped inside the drill string
B. As soon as the pill starts to be pumped down the drill string
C. Once all the pill is in the annulus
D. Once the pill starts to be displaced into the annulus

54. During a drilling operation you circulate a heavy mud pill with the pumps running continuously.
When will the bottom hole pressure start to increase? (Ignore the dynamic pressure losses in
the annulus.)
A. Once the pill starts to be displaced into the annulus
B. After all the pill is inside the drill string and before it reaches the bit
C. After all the pill is in the annulus
D. As soon as the pill starts to be pumped into the drill string

55. You are displacing cement down the inside of the casing with mud that is lighter than the
cement. What will happen to the pump pressure as the cement is circulated from inside the
casing to outside the casing?
A. Pump pressure will start to decrease
B. Pump pressure will stay the same
C. Pump pressure will start to increase

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56. What is it called when there is a difference in the hydrostatic pressure, between two connected
columns of fluid, and the fluid flows to reach a "balance point'?
A. “U" tubing
B. Balanced mud column
C. Fluid level drop
D. Slug pressure

57. You are tripping a tapered string out of the well. The larger diameter pipe is in the upper part of
the string. What will happen to the trip tank volume as the 'slug' is being displaced into the
smaller diameter pipe?
A. There will be no change in trip tank level until all the slug has been displaced into the small
diameter pipe
B. The trip tank reading will indicate swabbing as the slug length gets longer
C. The trip tank will show same rate of change for both pipe diameters
D. The trip tank reading will indicate surging as the slug length gets shorter

58. You are tripping a tapered string out of the well. The smaller diameter pipe is in the upper
part of the string. What will happen to the trip tank volume as the 'slug' is being displaced
into the larger diameter pipe?
A. The trip tank reading will indicate down hole losses as the slug length gets shorter
B. The trip tank reading will indicate down hole gains as the slug length gets longer
C. The trip tank reading will indicate swabbing if the smaller diameter pipe displacement is used
on the trip sheet
D. There will be no change in trip tank level until all the slug has been displaced Into the large
diameter pipe

59. The pump is shut down, the well is flowing, and there is a gain in the mud pit. The pump is
restarted and the gain in the mud pit stops. Why does the mud pit stop gaining when the
pump is running?
A. Mud hydrostatic pressure is greater than formation pressure
B. Annular pressure loss is creating an overbalance against formation pressure
C. Pump pressure is greater than mud hydrostatic pressure
D. Mud weight inside the drill string is creating an overbalance against formation pressure

60. TVD = 6,700 ft. MD = 7,500 ft. Mud weight= 9.4 ppg
Annular Pressure Loss = 210 psi. Calculate the equivalent circulating density {ECD).

A. 9.7 ppg
B. 10 ppg
C. 11 ppg
D. 10.5 ppg

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61. How can the Driller recognize if a lighter mud weight is being pumped into the drill string?
A. Increased flow at the flow line during a connection due to the u-tube effect
B. Gradual increase in pump pressure as mud is pumped down the drill string
C. Gradual decrease in pump pressure as mud is pumped down the drill string
D. Decrease in hook load

62. What changes in pump pressure will be seen after one complete circulation if the mud weight
is increased?
A. The pump pressure will stay the same
B. The pump pressure will decrease
C. The pump pressure will increase

63. While pumping at 50 Strokes per Minute (SPM) the standpipe pressure reads 1250 psi. What is
the approximate stand pipe pressure if you increase the pump speed to 60 SPM?
A. 1500 psi
B. 1800 psi
C. 868 psi
D. 575 psi

64. While circulating out a kick, you were instructed to decrease the pump rate from 25 SPM to 20
SPM. The Final Circulating Pressure (FCP) is 320 psi at 25 SPM. What will be the new calculated
Final Circulating Pressure (FCP) at 20 SPM?
A. 485 psi
B. 205 psi
C. 390 psi
D. 400 psi

65. How does annular pressure loss affect Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP)?
A. It will have no effect on BHP
B. It will cause BHP to be greater than hydrostatic pressure
C. It will cause BHP to be less than hydrostatic pressure

66. What happens to bottom hole pressure (BHP) when circulation is stopped during connections?
Disregard Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD).
A. The BHP will stay the same
B. The BHP will decrease
C. The BHP increases by ECD then decreases

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BALLOONING
67. While drilling, the well is losing mud at 15 bbls per hour. At the connection, the well is flowing.
When the pumps are restarted mud losses occur again. What could be happening down-hole?
A. The formation may be "ballooning"
B. The mud is u-tubing due to different weights in the string and annulus
C. Swabbing is occurring when making the connection
D. The well is underbalanced while drilling and overbalanced at the connection

68. Ballooning formations happen when the bottom-hole pressure is slightly greater than the
formation fracture pressure. What causes this increased bottom-hole pressure?
A. Abnormal formation pressure
B. Low formation permeability and porosity
C. Annular friction while circulating
D. Failure to fill up when tripping out

69. When making a connection, the well was still flowing after 3 minutes. The well is shut in and the
shut-in pressures have stabilized as follows:
Shut-In Drill Pipe Pressure (SIDPP} 200 PSI
Shut-In Casing Pressure (SICP} 350 PSI
Pit Gain 5 bbl
What has happened?
A. This indicates an influx in the well
B. This is normal, Resume drilling
C. This is a ballooning formation
D. This is trapped pump pressure

70. Measuring flow back volumes and times at connections, pit level changes at connections, and
loss rates while drilling help to "fingerprint" wellbore behavior. How can this information assist
the Driller?
A. It can help identify if the well is "kicking' or "ballooning'
B. It can help determine when to increase pump rate
C. It can help identify when to run Casing
D. It can help to identify stuck pipe problems

71. You are circulating down the drill string and back up the annulus. Which of the following affects
bottom hole pressure?
A. Drill string pressure loss
B. Bit nozzle pressure loss
C. Surface line pressure loss
D. Annular pressure loss

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CASING FLOAT VALVE
72. When running casing with a self-fill float assembly, what would indicate that the self-fill
assembly is working correctly?
A. Returns from the well equal the closed end volume of the casing run in the hole
B. The hook load decreases by the buoyed weight of steel run in the hole
C. When reverse circulating, the number of strokes pumped before mud flows out of the casing
does not match calculated values
D. Returns from the well equal the volume of steel run

73. When running casing with a self-fill float assembly, what would indicate that the self-fill
assembly was plugged and the casing was not filling?
A. Inability to reach TD with casing
B. Hook load would increase by buoyed weight of the steel run in the hole
C. Inability to rotate the casing
D. Trip monitoring would show deviations from planned volumes

74. Casing is run in the hole with a non-return float assembly. The casing is not being filled. With
the shoe at 3000 feet, the float assembly fails and mud u-tubes up inside the casing. What will
happen to the bottom hole pressure (BHP)?
A. Bottom hole pressure will stay the same due to the u-tube effect
B. Bottom hole pressure will increase
C. Bottom hole pressure will decrease
D. Bottom hole pressure will remain the same since the mud volume in the hole has not changed

75. What can cause a kick when running casing in the hole?
A. Keeping the casing full of mud
B. Swabbing the formation
C. Surging induced losses causing a drop in mud level
D. Conditioning mud before running casing

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BARRIERS
76. What is the generally accepted minimum number of barriers that must be in place and tested
for most drilling operations?
A. 3
B. 2
C. 4
D. 1

77. What is a well control 'Barrier System" (Envelope)?

A. Drilling fluid and the barite mixing system
B. More than one barrier that act together to contain flow from the formation
C. A BOP stack and the control unit
D. A set of procedures that prevent the well from kicking

78. What is a hydrostatic barrier?

A. A mechanical seal inside the casing or wellbore to isolate potential flow
B. Cement located in the open-hole or casing to isolate different zones
C. Pressure of fluid in a Pipe Ram closing chamber that maintains a seal on a shut-in well
D. A column of fluid that exerts a greater pressure than the formation fluids

79. What is a mechanical well control 'Barrier'?

A. A piece of equipment that contains flow from the formation
B. A piece of equipment or a practice that reduces the risk of mud losses
C. A tool in the BHA that prevents the well from kicking
D. A procedure for removing a kick from the well

80. A drilling break is observed while drilling ahead. A flow check was performed and the well is
flowing. Which barrier has failed?
A. Cement around the casing
B. Mud hydrostatic
C. Mud Filter Cake
D. Wellhead or Casing Head seals
81. Which one of the following is NOT classified as a barrier?
A. Mud hydrostatic pressure
B. Drill String Float
C. Pipe Ram
D. Full Opening Safety Valve

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 82. What is the primary means of well control during a drilling or work over operation?
A. Surface Pressure held on the choke
B. Hydrostatic pressure of fluid in the wellbore
C. The BOP equipment and drill pipe with full opening safety valve (FOSV) installed
D. Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD)

83. You have set a liner and are now circulating the well to clean mud before drilling out the Liner
Shoe. Where are potential leak paths to allow formation fluid to enter the well?
A. Drill string
B. BOP opening chamber
C. Leaking Liner Lap or shoe
D. BOP closing chamber

84. For most operations it is recommended that two independent barriers are in place. From the list
below, which pair of barriers is NOT independent of each other?
A. An Annular and a Ram on a BOP stack
B. A tubing plug set down hole and a backpressure valve in the hanger
C. Kill weight mud in the well and the blow out preventer
D. A cemented shoe track over a non-hydrocarbon bearing zone and a casing bridge plug

NEGATIVE TEST

85. Why is a negative test performed on a cement plug or liner lap?

A. To check for flow from above the plug/liner lap
B. To test if plug is hard enough to drill-out
C. To check for flow from below the plug/liner lap
D. To squeeze cement into the liner lap

86. What is a negative test?

A. A test on a barrier where the pressure on the formation side of the barrier is less than the
pressure on the surface side of the barrier
B. A test on a barrier where the pressure on the formation side of the barrier is greater than
the Pressure on the surface side of the barrier
C. A test on a barrier where the pressure on the formation side of the barrier is equal to the
pressure on the surface side of the barrier

16
17
FRACTURE & MAASP

18
19
1. When development drilling in an established field, what type of pressure test is commonly
used to determine the formation strength?
A. Formation Integrity Test
B. BOP Function test
C. Drill Stem test
D. Sheen test

2. When should you recalculate the Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure (MAASP)?
A. Every-tour
B. After a mud weight change
C. After a bit change
D. After every 300 to 500 feet drilled

3. The maximum allowable mud weight based on the leak-off test (LOD is 15.8 ppg. The density of
the mud in the well is 12.9 ppg. The TVD of the shoe is 7,414 feet. What is the maximum
allowable annular surface pressure (MAASP)?
A. 1.470 psi
B. 1,118 psi
C. 2.900 psi
D. 1.731 psi

4. What is the Maximum Allowable (Fracture) Mud Weight?

Leak-off Test Pressure: 1000 PSI
Test mud weight 9.8 ppg
Casing Shoe True vertical Depth (TVD) 4500 feet
A. 13.9 ppg
B. 13.8 ppg
C. 14.1 ppg
D. 14.0 ppg

5. What is the Maximum Allowable (Fracture) Mud Weight?

Leak Off Test Pressure 1000 psi Test Mud Weight- 9.5 ppg
Casing Shoe True Vertical Depth 13,970 feet

A. 10.0 ppg
B. 10.1 ppg
C. 10.9 ppg
D. 10.8 ppg

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6. What do you need to calculate accurate formation strength at the shoe?
A. An accurate stroke counter
B. To install a retrievable packer approximately 1,000 ft., below the rig floor
C. A constant mud weight through the well
D. An accurate hole capacity

7. What is the term used to describe the highest pressure that could be seen at the surface if the
well was full of formation fluid (usually assumed to be gas)?
A. Worst Assumed Surface Pipe Pressure
B. Maximum Anticipated Surface Pressure
C. Maximum Allowable Casing Pressure
D. Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure

8. What will happen to Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure (MAASP) if Mud Weight is
increased?
A. MAASP will decrease
B. MAASP will increase
C. MAASP will stay the same

9. What affects the MAASP?

A. The fracture pressure of the formation
B. The maximum pump pressure
C. The viscosity and water loss of the mud
D. The gel strength of the mud

10. When should you do a Leak off Test?

A. Immediately after running and cementing the casing
B. Before drilling out the casing shoe
C. After drilling out of the casing shoe and between 5 and 15 feet of new formation
D. Before running the casing

11. What determines the amount of pressure a formation will support before fracturing?
A. Formation strength
B. Underbalanced pressure
C. Bottom hole pressure
D. Hydrostatic pressure

12. What can happen if you exceed Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure (MAASP)?
A. Formation can fracture
B. Casing collapse
C. Annular Preventer will be damaged
D. Damage to mud pump Liner

21
 13. At what pressure does leak-off begin to take place in the graph below?

1200
Pump Pressure

1000

800

600

400 Vertical Depth = 8500 ft.

Mud Weight = 12.3 ppg
200

Volume Pumped

A. 950 - 1150 psi

B. 1250 - 1350 psi
C. 750 - 850 psi

14. Which of the following best describes fracture pressure?

A. The maximum pressure allowed on the drill pipe gauge during a kill operation
B. The maximum allowable bottom hole pressure during a kill operation
C. The pressure that will cause the formation to fail

15. Which of the following practices should be observed when running a leak-off test {L.O.T.)?
A. Always use water, pump fast, and shut down when pressure-volume trend changes
B. Pump slowly use known mud weight; and shut down when pressure-volume trend changes
C. Establish an injection rate first use known mud weight, and pump at a fast rate
D. Displace the drill string to base oil or water, shut in the well and pump slowly until the
formation starts to take fluid

22
23
Warning Signs and Indicators

24
25
1. What is the best description of the term "Fingerprinting the Well"?
A. Recording baseline drilling data that can be analyzed against current data to help recognize
down hole problems
B. Sampling the formation fluid for grade, quality, and contaminants
C. Recording azimuth and elevation of the wellbore from logging
D. Recording block name and field number for the location of the well

2. Which kick indicator is normally detected first?

A. Flow Rate increase
B. Pump pressure increase
C. Trip Tank increase
D. Pit Gain increase

3. If a positive kick Indicator is noted at a flow check. What should be the Driller's first action?
A. Continue to monitor the well for flow. If flow continues, shut the well in , after a 5 bbl. gain
B. Continue drilling a further five 5 feet then shut in
C. Immediately shut in and secure the well
D. Call the Toll pusher for instructions.

4. What can be an indication that the well may be going under-balanced?

A. A sudden increase in the pump pressure
B. An increase in the mud weight at the shakers
C. A decrease in the size of cuttings
D. Connection gas

5. Which of the following is an instantaneous “real time” warning sign that the formation pressure
may have increased?
A. Changes in mud properties
B. Change in cutting size, volume or shape
C. Drilling Break
D. Increase in connection trip or background gas

6. Which of the following may be a lagging indicator of an increase in formation pressure?

A. Change in background gas
B. Change in RPM
C. Change in rotary torque
D. Change in SPM

26
7. Which of the following indicators may warn of an increase in formation pressure?
A. ROP
B. RPM
C. Rotary torque
D. All of the above
8. You have run back to the float shoe after a casing and cement job. The instructions are to
circulate the hole clean before drilling out the shoe. Why should you monitor the pit and flow
levels during this operation?
A. To monitor for thermal expansion of the cement
B. To check that the float shoe is not leaking
C. To monitor for losses any extra cement is cleaned out of the well
D. To determine when bottoms-up circulation is complete

9. You are drilling ahead holding weight on bit, rotary speed and pump rate constant. What can be
a warning sign of abnormal pressure?
A. An increase in shale density
B. An increase in rate of penetration
C. An increase trip tank level
D. An increase in pump pressure

10. While drilling, what is a sign that overbalance is decreasing?

A. A reduction in mud filtrate alkalinity
B. An increase in connection gas
C. A decrease in the size of cutting
D. An increase in the mud weight at the shakers

11. You are drilling ahead with a l2 1/4-inch Bit with an average ROP of 45 feet/hour. For the last 60
minutes there has been no change to the pit level. What may be happening downhole?
A. You may be gaining some formation fluid
B. You may be losing some mud to the formation
C. All is good as the pit level is constant

12. You are drilling a head with a 12 1/4 inch Bit with an average ROP of 95 fee/hour. For the last
60 minutes there has been no change to the pit level. What action would you take?
A. Make a flow check to check why pit volume is stable
B. Continue drilling all is good
C. Prepare to mix LCM as you may be losing some mud to the formation
D. Increase WOB now that ROP is stable

27
13. When tripping in the hole, mud returns to the trip tank are less than calculated. Once back
drilling, the return flow is less than expected. What is the most likely cause of this?
A. Swabbing
B. Partial losses
C. You should increase your trip speed
D. This is not an indication of any down-hole problem

14. You have tripped 10 stands into the well. The volume of mud that has entered the trip tank is 5
bbl. less than the displacement you calculated. What does this indicate?
A. This is not an indication of any down-hole problem
B. An influx of formation fluid has entered the well
C. You should increase your trip speed
D. You are losing drilling fluid to the formation

15. While drilling ahead through a faulted formation, the flow meter drops from 60% to 35%. What
is the most likely cause of this?
A. Total lost circulation has occurred
B. There is a washout in the string
C. A kick has been swabbed in
D. Partial lost circulation has occurred

16. What do you do if the hole does not take the proper amount of fluid while tripping out of the
hole?
A. Notify supervisor, prepare to run back to bottom and circulate bottoms up
B. Stab the full opening safety valve and circulate bottoms up
C. Pump a heavy slug and return to bottom
D. Empty the trip tank to correct for the fluid displacement

17. If you cannot confirm that trip displacements are correct when pulling out of the hole, what
should you do?
A. Check your trip data from the previous well and if it is only a few barrels different, then keep
pulling
B. Close the diverter and line up to the degasser
C. Connect Kelly or Top and circulate bottoms-up
D. Notify supervisor, prepare to run back to bottom and circulate bottoms up

18. What action should a Driller take if a sudden increase in mud gas level is recorded?
A. Stop drilling, circulate bottoms-up, record gas levels and inform your supervisor
B. Pull out of hole and change bit
C. Increase the mud viscosity
D. Check for flow and call Supervisor

28
19. If total losses occurred while drilling with water based mud, what should be done?
A. Stop drilling, top-fill the hole with water, and record volume
B. Pump lost circulation material immediately
C. Stop drilling, shut the well in, and see what happens
D. Drill blind

20. The flow sensor shows a total loss of returns and the mud level cannot be seen in the annulus.
What immediate action should be taken?
A. Continue drilling ahead cautiously
B. Shut the well in and pump lost circulation material
C. Pump at reduced rate adding lost circulation material
D. Prepare to top-fill the annulus with water (or lightest mud available), and record volume.

21. Connection gas in the mud is a sign of what down hole problem?
A. Conditions down hole are normal
B. The formation pressure is increasing
C. The hydrostatic pressure of the mud has increased
D. The formations are getting harder and ROP is slower

22. What is a drilling break?

A. The change in rate of penetration due to Driller Increasing weight on bit
B. Change in rate of penetration due to a new bit
C. A Change in rate of penetration due to the Driller increasing rotation speed
D. A significant increase or decrease in the average rate of penetration

23. What is a positive drilling break?

A. A significant decrease in rate of penetration
B. The penetration of a harder formation
C. A significant increase in rate of penetration
D. A wash-out in the drill string

24. What is a negative (reverse) drilling break?

A. A significant increase in rate of penetration
B. A significant decrease in rate of penetration
C. A washout in the drill string
D. A significant decrease in the Hook Load

25. Why is it important to flow check after a drilling break?

A. The formation permeability or pressure may have increased
B. A drilling break is the main indicator that you have a kick
C. The geologist will want to take samples
D. To 're-cock' the drilling jars

29
26. While conducting a flow check after a drilling break, the trip tank increases by 2 barrels in 4
minutes. What action should be taken?
A. Start circulating bottoms up
B. Monitor the well for another 4 minutes to check if well is still flowing
C. Return to drilling as the gain is due to temperature changes down hole
D. Shut the well in
27. How can mud agitation in the pits prevent a decrease in bottom hole pressure (BHP)?
A. Agitation of mud increases filtration down hole
B. Agitation of mud causes Barite settling
C. Agitation causes mud viscosity chemicals settle and reduce mud gel strength
D. Agitation of mud prevents Barite settling

28. Why is it important to keep the agitators running while circulating mud in the pits?
A. To be sure the return mud weight will be correct
B. To improve suction at the degasser
C. To maintain uniform mud properties
D. To be sure the mud pH is maintained

29. Why is it important to detect a kick as early as possible?

A. To minimize size of influx to handle at surface
B. To reduce kill mud weight required to kill the well
C. To allow the volumetric method to be used
D. To prevent gas expansion as it is circulated up the annulus

30. While drilling ahead at a constant rate of penetration (ROP), the cutting load across the shakers
increased and the shale shakers cannot handle the a mount of cuttings returning from the well.
What is the safest thing to do?
A. Check for flow - if there is none, continue at the same ROP. Allow half of the mud returns to
bypass the shakers
B. Check for flow - if there is none, circulate bottoms up at a reduced rate so that the shakers can
handle the cuttings volume
C. Slow down the mud pump until the shakers can handle the amount of cuttings in the returns
and continue drilling
D. Check for flow - if there is none, continue drilling at the same ROP

31. What is a 'flow-check'?

A. Monitoring the number of barrels that flow back to the pits at a connection
B. Observing the well for flow after the pumps have been shut down
C. Observing the number of barrels it takes to keep the hole full after pulling 10 stands
D. Monitoring the time it takes for the flow-line to drain back to the pits at a connection

30
32. Which of the following does not require a flow check?
A. After the Driller has increased the WOB
B. After tripping back to bottom
C. 10% increase in ROP for 10 feet
D. 50% increase in ROP for 5 feet

33. What should a Driller do after a drilling break?

A. Reduce the pump speed
B. Circulate bottoms-up
C. Reduce the weight on the bit
D. Check for flow

34. What can cause abnormal pressure in top-hole sediments?

A. High rates of penetration in soft formations
B. Density of seawater acting on the wellbore
C. Cement contamination of formation fluids
D. Top-hole sediments charged-up from deeper formations

35. The results of a flow check are inconclusive due to the small volume of returns from the well.
Which of the following is the most accurate way to determine if the well is flowing?
A. Shut the Diverter and monitor for flow from the vent line.
B. Close in the well and line up through the mud-gas separator and monitor for flow at the
Shakers
C. Pull 5 stands and watch the well to see if it fills up
D. Line up to the trip tank and monitor for gain or losses

36. What does “heaving” Shale’s or caving seen at the Shakers normally indicates?
A. A kick has been taken
B. Increasing gas content in the formation
C. Increasing formation pressure
D. Ballooning formations.
37. What abnormal pressure data does the Mud Logger normally measure?
A. Strokes per minute
B. Weight on Bit
C. Gas level in the mud
D. Hook Load

38. When should the well be monitored with pit level and flow rate instrumentation?
A. Any time there is a potential for a barrier to fail
B. During connections
C. Only when drilling open hole
D. When running in the hole

31
39. How do rig floor crewmembers monitor for mud contamination?
A. Review Mud Engineer report every 8 hours
B. Flow check at each connection
C. Take weight and viscosity measurements at shakers and suction pit
D. Record weight on bit every 15 minutes

40. Why is it important for the Driller to know when mud is being transferred into or out of the
active system?
A. To recognize if there are gains and losses due to a kick or lost circulation
B. To know when to operate the pit agitators to prevent Barite falling out of the mud
C. To start bottoms up circulation to clean the hole before new mud is pumped
D. To line up returns through the Desilters to improve mud mixing

41. Why do drill crewmembers check mud weight at regular intervals?

A. To account for changes in pump pressure
B. To ensure primary control is being maintained
C. To detect if mud needs more viscosifiers to be mixed
D. To help Mud Engineer complete the mud report

42. What is the main reason for measuring the weight and viscosity as it exits the well?
A. It provides information about the effects of the well on the mud
B. It informs Mud Engineer when to do mud tests
C. It makes sure the well plan's mud program is followed
D. It ensures compliance with company policy

43. What is the main reason for measuring the weight and viscosity at the suction pit?
A. It ensures compliance with company policy
B. It provides data on the mud before it is pumped into the well bore
C. It keeps the man in charge of the pits busy mixing products during his tour
D. It makes sure the well plan's mud program is followed

44. How can mud contamination be recognized at surface?

A. Increased weight on bit
B. Changes to mud viscosity measurements at the Shakers
C. Increased chance of key-seating the drill string
D. Increased bottoms-up Circulating time

45. What must the drill-crew member in the pits or shakers do if they see a change in mud weight,
viscosity or mud level?
A. Inform the Mud Engineer when he makes his normal checks
B. Add base-oil or water to the mud system
C. Continue monitoring the mud to see if the change remains over time
D. Inform the driller immediately of the changes

32
46. Which of the following situations make it more difficult to detect a kick with the PVT?
A. When you keep active mud system transfers to a minimum while drilling ahead
B. When you allow mud to overflow the shakers
C. When you by-pass the solids control pits
D. When you reduce the pit level alarm settings from 10 bbls to 5 bbls

47. Why is it important for crew members to immediately inform their Driller if they see any
potential well control problems?
A. To allow the driller to disable the pit and flow alarms
B. To allow the driller to increase tripping speed
C. To allow the driller to increase rate of penetration
D. To help driller recognize kick warning signs

48. While drilling ahead and recording high connection gas levels, there is a power failure that
eliminates the ability to circulate and rotate. What is the safest action to take?
A. Space out and shut-in and monitor for pressure build-up in the well
B. Pull out to the casing shoe and work the pipe up and down
C. Line up to trip tank and monitor the well
D. Work pipe up and down to prevent stuck pipe

49. On the following sample trip sheet, identify the first evidence of abnormal fill-up that occurred
(Each Stand Group pulled= 5 stands and has a calculated displacement of 3.78 bbl.}.
Stand Group Trip tank Volume Measured Calculated Difference(bbl) Cumulative
at start (bbl.) Hole Fill (bbl.) Hole Fill (bbl) Difference(bbl)
1 51 3 3.7 +0.02 +0.02
2 47.2 3 3.7 +0.12 +0.14
3 43.3 3 3.7 +0.02 +0.16
4 39.5 3 3.7 -0.78 -0.62
5 36.5 3 3.7 -0.78 -1.4
6 33.5 2 3.7 -0.98 -2.38
A. When pulling Stand Group 5
B. When pulling Stand Group 3
C. When pulling Stand Group 4
D. When pulling Stand Group 2
E. When pulling Stand Group 1

50. You are making a 'wet' trip out of the hole. The well is lined-up to the trip tank. In which 'line-
up' would the drop in trip tank level per stand be the same as a 'dry' trip?
A. The Mud-Bucket discharge returns to the flow line after the trip tank
B. The Mud-Bucket discharge returns directly to the Shale Shakers
C. The Mud-Bucket discharge returns directly to the 'slug' pit
D. The Mud-Bucket discharge returns to the flow line before the trip tank

33
34
Shut-in Methods

35
36
1. While tripping into the hole at 6,000 feet, a flow check is positive. The rig procedure is to shut
the well in using the soft shut in procedure. What is the correct procedure to shut in?
A. Open HCR valve and choke. Close BOP, Stab full opening safety valve, Close safety valve. Close
choke
B. Stab full opening safety valve, Open HCR valve and choke. Close BOP. Close choke. Close safety
valve. Record pressure
C. Stab a full opening safety valve, Close the safety valve, Open HCR valve. Close BOP, Close
choke
D. Close the BOP, Stab full opening safety valve, Close the safety valve. Open choke, Close choke,
Record pressure

2. While tripping into the hole at 6,000 ft. a flow check is positive. The rig procedure is to shut the
well in using the hard shut in procedure. What is the correct procedure to shut in?
A. Close the BOP, Stab full opening safety valve, close the safety valve, Open choke, Record
pressure
B. Open HCR valve and choke, Close BOP, Stab full opening safety valve, close choke Record
pressure.
C. Stab a full opening safety valve. Close the safety valve, Close BOP, Open HCR valve, Record
pressure
D. Stab full opening safely valve, Open HCR valve and choke, close BOP, close safety valve, Record
pressure

3. Who has the authority to shut in the well without waiting for permission?
A. Driller
B. Floor hand
C. Derrick hand
D. Mud engineer

4. Why is the Driller given authority to shut in a well without waiting for permission?
A. The driller is the only person trained to kill the well
B. The driller is empowered to shut the well without delay
C. The driller can monitor well flow to allow a minimum 10 bbl gain
D. The driller has the “password” to activate the BOP controls

5. The well has been shut-in and the pressures are stabilizing. What is the first step that the Driller
should take?
A. Check the drill pipe pressure to determine formation pressure
B. Check the well is secure (no leaks)
C. Record the pit gain
D. Calculated kill weight fluid

37
6. Why should the well be shut in quickly after a kick has been detected?
A. To reduce the migration speed of the influx
B. To minimize kill mud weight required
C. To minimize the size of the influx
D. To minimize the Shut in Drill Pipe Pressure (SIDPP)

7. Why is it important to detect a kick as early as possible?

A. Minimizing the size of the influx will result in a higher SICP
B. Minimizing the size of the influx will result in a lower SIDPP
C. Minimizing the size of the influx will result in a lower SCIP
D. Minimizing the size of the influx will result in a higher SIDPP

8. When the well kicks, what operating practice would lead to a bigger influx when you are
shutting-in the well?
A. Testing stab in valves during BOP tests
B. Calling the tool pusher to the floor before shutting in the well
C. Regular training for the Derrick man on the duties for monitoring pit level
D. Regular pit drills for the drill crew

9. Why is it good practice during a well kill to monitor the top of the well on the trip tank?
A. To check for a secondary influx during the kill
B. To check for leaks across the BOP
C. To check for losses at the Shoe
D. To monitor returns from the mud gas separator

10. What is the safest and most reliable method for monitoring leaks through the BOP?
A. Monitor for changes in the flow rate indicator
B. Line up the trip tank to monitor for flow above the closed BOP
C. Visually check by looking through rotary table
D. Close the diverter and monitor the vent line

11. What is the main reason for a pit drill?

A. To ensure the crew is able to effectively recognize and react to a kick
B. To test the pit and flow alarms
C. To ensure the crew is trained to kill the well
D. To see how fast the driller can line up on the trip tank

12. What is the reason for a Choke drill?

A. To help the crew understand how the choke and well pressures react during a kill operation
B. To ensure the crew is trained to line up correctly for a reverse circulation well kill
C. To see how fast the driller can close the choke in an emergency
D. To test that the choke is working correctly before drilling out the casing shoe

38
 13. What is the reason for a Diverter drill?
A. To ensure the crew is able to effectively recognize and react to a surface kick by diverting fluids
away from the rig
B. To see how fast the driller can line up from the vent line to the mud gas separator
C. To ensure the crew are able to close in the well and prepare the kill mud
D. To test the pit flow and trip tank alarms

14. The well was shut in before the pumps were fully shut off. You suspect that some pressure may
be trapped in the well. What effect will this have on the well bore?
A. Gas influx would be bullheaded back Into the formation so pressures Will be lower than
normal
B. Bottom hole pressure will be higher but shoe pressure will be normal
C. All pressures in the well bore will have additional overbalance
D. There will be no effect on down hole pressures

TOP HOLE SECTION

15. What is the definition of the term 'shallow gas flow'?
A. Gas cut mud returns at surface
B. Connection gas when drilling top-hole
C. A Drill Stem Test (DST) in a top-hole hydrocarbon-bearing formation
D. Flow of fluids from a hydrocarbon-bearing zone located close to surface

16. What is the definition of the term 'top-hole' drilling?

A. Drilling surface sediments after installation of the BOP
B. Drilling surface sediments before installing the BOP
C. Drilling with weight on bit greater than 40,000 lbs
D. Drilling with RPM greater than 120

17. What can cause the well to go underbalance in top-hole formations?

A. Normally pressured formations
B. Regularly pumping high viscosity 'sweeps' to keep the hole clean
C. Pumping out of the hole on trips
D. High pressure shallow gas formations

18. Why are shallow kicks dangerous?

A. The well can flow around the casing and cause erosion around the casing or wellhead area
B. They create very high shut-in pressures
C. Mud weight required to kill are always very high
D. Shallow kicks always contain dangerous amounts of H25

39
19. You are drilling top-hole formations from a surface stack rig; the well starts to flow due to
shallow gas. What is the safest action to take to secure the safety of the rig and personnel?
A. Keep pumps running, open upwind vent line, close flow line valve to Shakers and close Diverter
B. Keep pumps running, close Diverter, open upwind vent line, close valve to Shakers
C. Keep pumps running; close Diverter, open downwind vent line. close flow line valve to Shakers
D. Keep pumps running, open downwind vent line, close flow line valve to Shakers and close
Diverter

20. While drilling the top-hole section on a surface stack rig, a shallow gas flow is encountered.
What is the safest action to secure the safety of the rig and personnel on the rig?
A. Activate the diverter system and follow rig-specific shallow gas plan
B. Keep pumping mud into the well at the same SPM and circulate bottoms up
C. Shut in the well and prepare for kill operations Immediately
D. Line the diverter up to the choke manifold, activate the diverter system, and remove non-
essential personnel from the rig floor

21. Formation strengths are generally weak when you drill top hole and you may have total losses.
How can you minimize this risk?
A. By controlling the rate of penetration (ROP) to prevent loading the annulus with cuttings
B. By pumping slowly to reduce the drill string pressure loss
C. By keeping a high overbalance
D. By circulating returns up the choke line

22. What is good practice for top-hole drilling?

A. Have a high mud viscosity
B. Pump out of the hole on trips
C. Drill at high ROP
D. Clean hole regularly with water

23. What can cause the well to go underbalance in top-hole formations?

A. Regularly pumping high viscosity 'sweeps' to keep the hole clean
B. High pressure shallow gas formations
C. A drill stem test (DST) in a top-hole hydrocarbon-bearing formation
D. Gas cut mud returns at surface

24. What procedure should you consider using when you drill top hole in a shallow gas area?
A. Maintain high mud weight to prevent influx
B. Drilling a large diameter hole
C. Maintaining high mud viscosity
D. Drilling a small diameter pilot hole

40
25. If a shallow-gas flow is detected while drilling surface hole, which of the following actions
should be taken at the same time as activating the diverter?
A. Switch off the pump
B. Increase pump rate
C. Decrease pump rate
D. Direct flow to the mud-gas separator

26. What is NOT a well control risk when drilling into shallow gas with a diverter system compared
to taking a kick with the BOPs installed?
A. Reaction time is less before gas can reach the surface
B. Shallow casing shoe depths are unlikely to support shut-in pressures
C. Casing Burst due to high shut in pressure
D. If the shoe breaks down, broaching to the surface is more likely

27. Why are the risks different when drilling into shallow gas zones with a diverter system
compared to taking a kick with the BOP installed?
A. Shoe formations are more compact and stronger than deeper formations
B. You cannot contain the pressure, formation fluids are vented at surface close to the rig
C. Mud weights are normally higher when drilling top-hole, increasing the risk of losses
D. Gas is not found in shallow formations until BOP is installed

41
42
Data to Collect

43
44
SLOW CIRCULATION RATE
1. Why kill the well at a reduced pump rate?
A. To determine pump rate to displace cement
B. To minimize the effects of annular pressure loss
C. To stop down hole mud motor rotating during a well kill operation
D. To prevent bursting the casing

2. What gauge is used to record the Slow Circulating Rate {SCR) pressure?
A. The casing pressure gauge on the Choke Control panel
B. The drill pipe pressure gauge on the Choke Control panel
C. The pump pressure gauge at standpipe manifold
D. The pump pressure gauge at the mud pump

3. What gauge is used to record the Slow Circulating Rate (SCR) pressure?
A. The pump pressure gauge at the standpipe manifold
B. The same drill pipe gauge that is used to kill the well
C. The pump pressure gauge at the mud pump
D. The casing pressure gauge at the standpipe manifold

4. When would you consider taking a new Slow Circulation Rate (SCR)?
A. Before and after a leak-off test
B. When you drill long sections of hole rapidly
C. After each connection that you drill with a top drive
D. After you recharge the mud pump pulsation dampener

5. Which statement about stow circulating rates (SCRs) is correct?

A. SCRs should be taken through the choke manifold
B. SCRs should be taken with the bit at the shoe
C. SCRs are needed to calculate formation pressure
D. SCRs should be taken when mud properties have changed

6. What is a typical Slow Circulating Rate (SCR)?

A. Same as drilling pump rate
B. 75% of drilling pump rate
C. Between 75 and 95 strokes per minute (SPM)
D. Between 1 and 5 barrels per minute

45
7. What can cause an inaccurate Slow Circulation Rate (SCR) reading?
A. Constant mud weight around the well
B. Circulating mud for a period of time to break down the gels
C. An extended period of non-circulating time
D. Rotating the drill string slowly when taking SCR

8. Why take and record Slow Circulation Rates (SCRs)?

A. To calculate Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure (MAASP)
B. To stop down hole mud motor rotating during a well kill operation
C. To calculate Initial and Final Circulating Pressures (ICP/FCP)
D. To determine pump rate to displace a cement plug

9. Which of the following is a best practice when obtaining Slow Circulating Rate (SCR) pressures?
A. Circulate at drilling rate through the Choke Manifold with a fully open choke
B. Circulate with the bit inside the Casing Shoe
C. Record pressure at the mud pump gauge
D. Obtain SCRs for a minimum of two mud pumps

10. Which of the methods below could be used to find the SIDPP if a kick is taken with a float in
the drill string?
A. Bring the pump to 30 SPM while holding the casing pressure constant with the choke. When
the pump rate and the casing pressure are stable, the circulating pressure Will be the SIDPP
B. Start the pump very slowly. When the drill pipe gauge begins to move, stop pumping. That is
the SIDPP
C. Pump slowly down drill pipe until SICP starts to increase, then stop pumping. The drill pipe
pressure reading minus current trapped pressure
D. The SIDPP is not needed; use the casing pressure to determine kill weight mud

11. What does the SIDPP tell you when the well is shut-in on a kick?
A. The difference between formation pressure and the hydrostatic pressure that causes leak off
B. The difference between formation pressure and the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the
drill pipe
C. The trapped pressure caused by shutting in the well
D. The MAASP

12. At which location should the surface pressures be read after shutting in on a kick?
A. The standpipe manifold
B. At the mud pumps
C. At the casing shoes
D. The remote choke control panel

46
13. The 20-inch casing has been set and a 21 1/4 inch BOP installed. You are drilling ahead with a 17
1/4 inch bit when the well kicks. The well is shut in but there is no shut in pressure. One of the
crew observes fluid bubbling out of the ground close to the rig. What has likely failed?
A. Formation below the casing
B. Drill string float
C. Drill string IBOP
D. Blowout Preventer

14. Well control capability is influenced by several factors. Which of the following has the largest
influence on well control capability?
A. Size of drill string
B. Type fluid
C. Size of hole
D. Size of kick

15. If the shut-in pressures are 600 psi SIDPP and 800 psi SICP and both start rising slowly while the
kill mud is mixed for a Wait and Weight kill, what type of influx is in the well?
A. Gas
B. Oil
C. Fresh Water
D. Salt Water

16. When you shut in a well after a kick, it can take 5-10 minutes or longer for the pressures to
build-up. What affects the time of this build-up?
A. The formation permeability
B. The friction losses
C. The formation porosity
D. Formation strength

17. After the well is shut-in, what key data should be recorded?
A. Shut In Drill Pipe Pressure (SIDPP)
B. Weight on Bit
C. Hook load
D. Rotary Torque
18. You have just completed a successful pump start up and the pump is running at kill rate. The
choke gauge is stable. What gauge should now read Initial Circulating Pressure (ICP)?
A. The Choke Pressure Gauge
B. The Drill Pipe Pressure Gauge
C. The Accumulator Pressure gauge

47
19. How Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) is affected when there are cuttings in the annulus?
A. The BHP will decrease
B. The BHP will increase
C. The BHP will stay the same

20. Why is it important to monitor the pit volume during a well control operation?
A. To know when to adjust the drill pipe pressure
B. To keep the bottom hole pressure constant
C. To monitor the gas expansion and monitor for losses
D. To know when to adjust the pump speed

21. While drilling a long horizontal section of a well, a 10 bbl pit gain was observed and the well
was shut in. After shut in, it was noted that SIDPP and SICP were approximately the same. What
can we determine from these pressures?
A. This is a salt-water influx
B. This is probably ballooning
C. Influx is in the horizontal section of the well
D. This is probably a result of surging the well

22. A well is shut-in with stabilized SICP of 500 psi and 0 psi on the DP gauge. To obtain the SIDPP,
the Driller pumped at 5 SPM until the float was bumped and pump shut down. The gauges are
now reading the following pressures. What is the actual SIDPP?
Drill Pipe Pressure Casing Pressure

A. 500 psi
B. 280 psi
C. 580 psi
D. 360 psi

23. A well is shut-in with stabilized SICP = 500 psi. The Driller pumped at 5 SPM until float was
bumped and pump shut down. The Casing pressure gauge now reads 575 psi and the drill pipe
gauge= 380 psi. What is the SIDPP?
A. 380 psi
B. 305 psi
C. 200 psi
D. 75 psi

48
 24. A well is shut in and casing pressure has stabilized. The float was bumped and Shut in Drill pipe
Pressure (SIDPP) was recorded. While waiting on orders the casing pressure increased to 850 psi.
If the float were bumped again, at what pressure will the float open?

o Well Information:
o Initial SIDPP = 550 psi
o Initial SICP = 750 psi
o M AASP = 1,600 psi
A. 850 psi
B. 550 psi
C. 650 psi
D. 950 psi

25. If the Driller suspects the shut in casing pressure (SICP) reading on the remote choke panel is
too low, what action should be taken?
A. Compare with SICP gauge reading on the Standpipe manifold and report to Supervisor
B. Compare with SICP gauge reading on the Choke manifold and report to Supervisor
C. Bleed back SICP by 100 psi and record the SICP after it has stabilized
D. Bleed back SIDPP by 100 psi and record SICP after it has stabilized

26. The drill pipe pressure gauge on the remote choke panel reads 350 psi. The drill pipe pressure
gauge on the standpipe manifold reads 650 psi. What action should be taken?
A. Use the average pressure of 500 psi to start the kill
B. Start the kill using 650 psi because overbalance is needed for the well kill operation
C. Investigate the difference
D. Start the kill using 350 psi because the remote choke will be used during kill operation

GAS BEHAVIOR
27. What is the correct definition of “gas migration"?
A. The flow of gas through the Mud Gas Separator
B. Uncontrolled movement of gas up-hole due to its low density
C. Formation gas that enters the well during a connection
D. The process of gas expanding as it is circulated up hole

28. Where does the majority of expansion occur with a gas kick?
A. At the bottom of the well
B. In the open hole
C. Near the top of the hole
D. Just past the casing shoe

49
29. What type of mud makes it more difficult to determine the size of the influx down hole?
A. Oil based muds
B. Brines
C. Water based muds
D. Salt based muds

30. When would you expect dissolved gas in an oil-based mud to break out of solution?
A. As it gets closer to the surface
B. As it passes through the casing shoe
C. As it moves around the bottom hole assembly (BHA)
D. As it is enters the wellbore at very high pressures

31. What causes gas to break out of solution in an Oil Based Mud (OBM)?
A. The decrease in hydrostatic pressure above the gas when it gets close to surface
B. The temperature of the mud as it gets cooler near surface
C. The increase in mud hydrostatic pressure at down hole conditions
D. The reduction of mud compressible and salinity at surface conditions

32. What effect does increasing pressure have on fluid density?

A. It decreases the fluid density
B. It does not affect the fluid density
C. It increases the fluid density

33. What effect does increasing temperature have on fluid density?

A. There is no effect on fluid density
B. It will increase the fluid density
C. It will reduce the fluid density

34. Which density measuring device should be used when a fluid has entrained air and/or gas?
A. A triple beam mud balance
B. Hydrometer
C. Atmospheric Balance
D. Pressurized Balance

35. Why are gas kicks more difficult to detect in oil-based fluids than in water-based fluids?
A. Gas is very soluble in oil-based fluids
B. Most gas is not soluble in water-based fluids
C. The mud in the well has no effect on detecting gas kick
D. Oil is more dense than water

50
36. Swabbed gas from a trip is allowed to expand as it is circulated up-hole with the BOPs open.
What effect will this expansion have on bottom hole pressure?
A. Bottom hole pressure will stay constant as the gas is circulated up hole
B. Bottom hole pressure will decrease as the gas is circulated up to the casing shoe. then it will
stay constant
C. Bottom hole pressure will decrease as the gas is circulated up-hole
D. Bottom hole pressure will increase as the gas is circulated up-hole

37. When pumping the first circulation of the Driller's Method, what will happen to the mud pit
volume as the gas is circulated up the hole?
A. It will decrease
B. It will stay the same
C. It will increase

38. What can result from gas migration in a shut in well, if no action is taken?
A. Possible formation fracture
B. Reduction of shut-in pressures
C. Decrease in bottom hole pressure
D. Bottom hole pressure stays same

39. While preparing to circulate Kill Weight Mud, the gas bubble begins to migrate. If no action is
taken, what will the pressure in the gas bubble do as the gas rises?
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Stay approximately the same

40. What type of formation fluid can have a down hole density of less than 2.0 ppg?
A. Fresh Water
B. Gas
C. Salt Water
D. Oil
41. What could happen if gas migrates after a well is shut in and the shut in pressures have
stabilized (no float in string)?
A. Only the annulus pressure will increase
B. Shut in pressures will remain constant
C. Only the drill pipe pressure will increase
D. Both drill pipe and annulus pressures will increase

51
42. A well is shut in on a kick and the pressures have stabilized. Due to equipment problems the
kill operation is delayed. Shut in Drill Pipe Pressure and Shut In Casing Pressure are both
slowly rising after stabilization. What is the most likely cause of this?
A. There is a non-return valve in the BHA
B. The influx is gas and it is migrating
C. The mud in the hole is heating up and it is causing the volume to decrease
D. The formation that kicked has high permeability

43. What type of drilling conditions can make kick detection more difficult for the Driller?
A. Drilling low permeability formations with oil-based muds
B. Drilling high permeability formations with oil-based muds
C. Drilling low permeability formations with water-based mud
D. Drilling high permeability formations with water-based muds

44. The Mud Engineer starts the vacuum degasser and the desilter. What will normally happen to
pit level?
A. Pit level will decrease
B. Pit level will stay the same
C. Pit level will increase

45. The Mud Engineer starts the vacuum degasser and the desilter. What will normally happen to
flow rate from the well?
A. Flow rate will decrease after two or three minutes
B. Flow rate will stay the same
C. Flow rate will increase after two or three minutes

46. You are tripping out of a well with a horizontal section. Mud in the hole is water-based. The
Trip Sheet indicates 5 bbls of fluid has been swabbed into the well. You trip back to bottom
and circulate bottoms up. If the swabbed fluid is gas, when would it start to expand?
A. Gas will only start expanding above 2000 feet TVD
B. Gas will expand when circulated above the horizontal section
C. Gas will remain at 5 bbls volume for the complete circulation
D. Gas will start to expand immediately after you start circulation

52
53
KILLING METHODS

54
55
1. When preparing for a tour change during a well kill operation, what would be the best
practice when conducting the handover?
A. All parties involved should stay on duty for a sufficient time to allow for thorough
communication of current activities
B. Immediately take over from current crew and work with supervisors to help kill the well
C. Once current crew have left location, call crew to rig floor for a meeting to discuss duties
D. Request Mud Engineer discusses duties with each of the crew members

2. What is the purpose of the recommended 'start-up' procedure on a surface stack rig?
A. To allow constant drill pipe pressure to be maintained
B. To ensure correct bottom hole pressure is maintained
C. To compensate for Annular friction pressure during start-up
D. To maintain a constant casing shoe pressure

3. On a surface stack rig what pressure is maintained constant as the pump rate is increased to kill
rate?
A. Final Circulating Pressure
B. Drill Pipe Pressure
C. Casing Pressure
D. Fracture Pressure

4. During a well kill operation what pressure do we want to keep the bottom hole pressure at least
equal to?
A. At least equal to formation fluid pressure
B. At least equal to Drill Pipe pressure
C. At least equal to Shut In Casing pressure
D. At least equal to slow circulating rate

5. What is the basic principle involved in all constant Bottom hole Pressure IBHP) methods of well
control?
A. Maintain a pressure at least equal to slow circulating rate pressure
B. Maintain a pressure at least equal to formation pressure
C. Maintain a pressure that is equal to the Annulus Friction pressure
D. Maintain a pressure that is at least equal to shut in Drill Pipe Pressure

56
 6. While controlling a well by circulating out an influx, what pressure do we want to keep
constant?
A. Casing pressure
B. Bottom hole pressure
C. Choke pressure
D. Pump pressure

DRILLER METHOD
7. A kick is being circulated from the well using the Driller's Method on a surface stack rig. When
the kick is in the open hole section it is decided to stop pumping and shut the well in. Before
shut-in the pumping pressure= 800 psi and casing pressure= 450 psi. After shut-in the SICP = 550
psi. What could be the cause of this higher casing pressure?
A. Mud in the well is cooling down and causing an increase in wellbore pressure
B. Pressure was trapped at shut in
C. Kill mud weight is too high causing increased pressure
D. Kill mud weight is too low causing increased pressure

8. What is the objective of the first circulation of the Driller's Method?

A. Circulate out influx using the original fluid weight
B. Circulate out the influx using kill weight fluid with an added safety factor
C. Circulate out influx using kill weight fluid
D. Circulate out influx while displacing the drill string with kill weight fluid

9. What pressure is held constant during the first circulation of the Driller's Method?
A. Initial Circulating Pressure
B. Shut In Drill Pipe Pressure
C. Final Circulating Pressure
D. Shut In Casing Pressure

10. After the first circulation of the Driller's Method the well is shut-in. What should the shut in
pressures read if all the influx was circulated out successfully?
A. SICP greater than original SIDPP
B. SICP equal to original SIDPP
C. SIDPP greater than original SICP
D. SIDPP equal to original SICP

57
 11. What is the objective of the second circulation of the Driller’s method?
A. To pump kill mud and kill the well
B. To remove the influx and kill the well
C. To bullhead kill mud down the annulus
D. To remove trapped gas from the BOP

12. Which method removes the influx from the hole before pumping kill mud?
A. The Volumetric Method
B. The Wait and Weight Method
C. The Driller's Method
D. The Bull heading techniques

W&W METHOD
13. During the Weight & Wait method, how do you control Bottom-hole Pressure when kill weight
fluid is being pumped down the drill-string?
A. Hold casing pressure constant
B. Hold drill pipe pressure constant
C. Follow a drill pipe pressure schedule
D. Follow a casing pressure schedule

14. What kill method requires mud weight to be increased before circulation can begin?
A. The Bull heading technique
B. The Driller's Method
C. The Volumetric Method
D. The Wait and Weight Method

STRIPPING
15. What is the primary reason for stripping in the well?
A. To allow more time to mix mud before doing the Wait & Weight Method
B. To improve performance of the Annular packing element
C. To get below the influx to circulate it out
D. To reduce ECD when you start pumping

58
 16. You are stripping into the hole. How can you maintain a constant bottom hole pressure?
(Assume there is no influx migration)
A. Bleed off the drill pipe closed-end displacement while stripping each stand
B. Pump a volume of mud into the well equal to the drill pipe steel displacement while stripping
each stand
C. Bleed off a volume of mud equal to the open-end displacement of the pipe stripped into the
well
D. Bleed off a volume of mud equal to 100 psi of hydrostatic head

VOLUMETRIC

17. You are pulling out of the hole when a kick is swabbed in. The shut-in pressures indicate that
the gas is migrating. What well control method can be used to manage the gas migration?

A. Wait and Weight Method

B. Driller's Method
C. Reverse Circulation Method
D. The Volumetric Method

18. Which method of well control would you use with migrating gas, when circulation is not
possible or the bit is off bottom?
A. Wait and Weight Method
B. Driller’s Method
C. Volumetric Method

Problems & Practices

19. When bringing the pumps up to kill speed the casing pressure is allowed to increase above Shut
In Casing Pressure, what will happen to bottom hole pressure?
A. Bottom hole pressure would increase and may exceed formation fracture
B. No change to down hole pressure
C. Bottom hole pressure would decrease and possibly cause more influx to inter the wellbore

59
20. On a surface stack rig what pressure is maintained constant as the pump rate is increased to kill
rate?
A. Casing Pressure
B. Final Circulating Pressure
C. Drill Pipe Pressure
D. Fracture Pressure

21. What should you do if the choke line fails during a well kill operation?
A. Continue to kill the well only if the influx is past the shoe
B. Stop the pumps and shear the pipe
C. Stop the pumps and close the choke
D. Stop the pumps and close a hydraulic valve upstream of the failure

22. If the mud pump pop-off valve opened during a well kill, what action below is best to secure the
well?
A. Stop the pump and close the choke
B. Drop the drill string, close blind/shear rams, close the choke
C. Close the shear rams, close the choke
D. Stop the pump, close the IBOP or Kelly Cock and close the choke

23. If the Rotary hose split during a kill operation, what would be the first action to take?
A. Close the Shear Rams
B. Close the choke
C. Stop pump, close the full opening safety valve on the drill string and close the choke
D. Prepare to reverse circulate

24. How is Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) affected when soft shales break down in the mud and
increase viscosity?
A. The BHP will increase
B. The BHP will stay the same
C. The BHP will decrease

25. While conducting the first circulation of the Driller’s Method, the Derrick man states that the
barite supply is plugged. What action should be taken?
A. Instruct crew to add Bentonite to increase the mud weight
B. Inform supervisor to shut in well, as the problem will reduce bottom hole pressure during the
first circulation
C. Inform supervisor that crew is fixing the blockage but continue circulating
D. Inform supervisor of problem and recommended to shut in the well while blockage is fixed

60
26. While conducting the first circulation of the Wait and Weight Method, the Derrick man states
that the barite supply is plugged. What action should be taken?
A. Instruct crew to add Bentonite to increase the mud weight
B. Inform supervisor to shut in well, as the problem will reduce bottom hole pressure during the
first circulation
C. Inform supervisor that crew is fixing the blockage but continue circulating
D. Inform supervisor of problem and recommended to shut in the well while blockage is fixed

61
62
KILL SHEETS

63
64
65
Well Data:1
Hole Dimensions
Depth MD 12400 feet TVD 11,960 feet
9 5/8" Casing shoe 8,850 feet
Hole size 8½ inch
Current mud weight 10 ppg
Internal Capacities
6 1/2" Drill collars (length 900 feet) 0.0077 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe - capacity 0.01776 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe - metal displacement 0.0065 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe- closed end displacement 0.0246 bbl/foot
5” HWDP (length 650 feet) - Capacity 0.0086 bbl/foot
Annular Capacities
Open hole / Drill collar 0.0292 bbl/foot
Open hole / Drill pipe 0.0459 bbl/foot
Casing / Drill pipe 0.0489 bbl/foot
LOT
Mud weight 10 ppg
Leak off pressure 1175 psi
Pump Details
Pump Output 0.119 bbl/stk
SCR at 40 SPM 695 psi
Shut in data
SIDPP 580 psi
SICP 840 psi
Pit gain 20 bbls

66
Calculate:-

1. Maximum Allowable Mud Weight before kick

12.5
2. MAASP before kick

1150

3. Strokes from Surface to Bit

1725

4. Strokes from Bit to shoe

1243

5. Strokes from Bit to Surface

4880

6. Kill mud "Weight

11.0

67
 Well Data:2
Hole Dimensions
Depth MD 7,850 feet TVD 7,000 feet
13 3/8" Casing shoe 5,505 feet
Hole size 12 1/4 inch
Current mud weight 12 ppg
Internal Capacities
8”" Drill collars (length 900 feet) 0.00768 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe - capacity 0.01776 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe - metal displacement 0.00650 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe- closed end displacement 0.02426 bbl/foot
5” HWDP (length 580 feet) - capacity 0.0088
Annular Capacities
Open hole / Drill collar 0.0836 bbl/foot
Open hole / Drill pipe 0.1215 bbl/foot
Casing / Drill pipe 0.1279 bbl/foot
LOT
Fracture gradient at shoe 0.79 Psi/ft
Pump Details
Pump Output 0.119 bbl/stk
SCR at 30 SPM 350 psi
Shut in data
SIDPP 350 psi
SICP 475 psi
Pit gain 20 bbls

68
Calculate:-

1. Maximum Allowable Mud Weight before kick

15.1
2. MAASP before kick

887
3. Strokes from Surface to Bit

1052
4. Strokes from Bit to shoe

2108

5. Strokes from Bit to Surface

8025

6. Kill mud "Weight

13.0

69
 Well Data:3
Hole Dimensions
Depth TVD 9,800 feet

9 5/8" Casing shoe 7,95012 090 feet

Hole size 8 1/2 inch
Current mud weight 11.3 ppg
Internal Capacities
6 1/2””" Drill collars (length 600 feet) 0.00768 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe - capacity 0.01776 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe - metal displacement 0.00650 bbl/foot
5" Drill pipe- closed end displacement 0.02426 bbl/foot
5” HWDP (length 500 feet) - capacity 0.0088
Annular Capacities
Open hole / Drill collar 0.0292 bbl/foot
Open hole / Drill pipe 0.0459 bbl/foot
Casing / Drill pipe 0.0505 bbl/foot
LOT
Leak off pressure 1950 psi
Shoe test mud weight 10.5 ppg
Pump Details
Pump Output 0.119 bbl/stk
SCR at 40 SPM 450 psi
Shut in data
SIDPP 500 psi
SICP 700 psi
Pit gain 13 bbls

70
Calculate:-

1. Maximum Allowable Mud Weight before kick

15.2

2. MAASP before kick

1612

3. Strokes from Surface to Bit

1374

4. Strokes from Bit to shoe

629

5. Strokes from Bit to Surface

4003

6. Kill mud "Weight

12.3

71
Well Data: 4
Hole Dimensions
Depth(MDITVD) 12,090 feet
9 5/8" Casing shoe 8,800 feet
Hole size 8 1/2 Inch
ppg
Current mud weight 13.5

Internal Capacities
6 ½“ Drill collars (leagth900feet) 0.00468 bbl/foot
5” Drill pipe - Capacity 0.01776 bbl/foot
5” Drill pipe - metal displacement 0.00650 bbl/foot
5” Drill pipe - closed HHI displacement 0.02426 bbl/foot
Annular Capacities
Open hole/ Drill collar 0.0292 bbl/foot
Open hole /Drill pipe 0.0459 bbl/foot
Casing /Drill pipe 0.0505 bbl/foot
LOT
Shoe test mud weight 12 ppg
Leak off pressure 2725 psi
Pump Details
Pump Output 0.109 bbl/stk
SCRat40SPM 550 psi
Shut in data
SIDPP 200 psi
SICP 600 psi
Pit gain 15 bbls

72
Calculate:-

1. Maximum Allowable Mud Weight before kick

17.9

2. MAASP before kick

2013

3. Strokes from Surface to Bit

1862
4. Strokes from Bit to shoe

1248

5. Strokes from Bit to Surface

5325

6. Kill mud "Weight

13.9

73
74
EQUIPMENT

75
76
1. What is the function of Blind Rams?
A. To cut the drill string and seal off the hole
B. As a back-up to the annular
C. To hang-off the drill string during a kill
D. To seal off the open hole

2. What is the function of Blind/Shear Rams?

A. To close in the well if the Diverter fails
B. As a back-up to the Annular
C. To hang-off the drill string during a kill
D. To cut the drill string and seal off the hole

3. When testing a Surface BOP stack with a test plug. Why must the side outlet valves below the
plug be kept in the open position?
A. Because the test will create extreme hook loads
B. To check for a leaking test plug
C. Otherwise reverse circulation will be needed to release test plug
D. To prevent a pressure lock

4. When testing a surface stack set of rams at a weekly BOP test, you are informed that the weep-
hole is leaking wellbore fluid. What action would you take?
A. Leave it until next maintenance schedule
B. Energize the emergency piston rod packing
C. Ram top seals are leaking and should be replaced
D. Piston rod mud seal is leaking and should be replaced and re-tested

5. Which of the following statements about fixed bore ram type BOPs is correct?
A. Fixed bore ram type BOP's are designed to contain and seal Rated Working Pressure from
above the closed ram as well as from below
B. Fixed bore ram type BOPs do not require a locking system
C. Fixed bore ram type BOPs can close and seal on various pipe sizes
D. Fixed bore ram type BOPs can be used to hang off the drill string

6. Why is it important to reduce the regulated hydraulic closing pressure for the annular BOP
before running large sized casing?
A. To avoid collapsing the casing during closure
B. To prepare for a soft shut-in
C. To reduce closing time

77
7. What has to be checked before the installation of any annular packing element?
A. Maximum pipe outside diameter
B. Desired hydraulic closing pressure
C. Type of 'hard-banding' used
D. Type of mud to be used

8. What should you do after connecting the control lines to the stack?
A. Place all functions in block position to charge up the hoses
B. Function test all items on the stack
C. Bleed down the accumulator bottles and check the pre-charge
D. Take slow circulating rates

9. What should be done when stripping drill pipe through the annular preventer?
A. Open choke to reduce well pressure as tool joint passes through the annular
B. Regulate annular closing pressure to the minimum hydraulic pressure that controls well bore
Pressure.
C. Increase annular closing pressure to reduce leakage
D. Close a pipe ram, open the annular and strip in hole until tool joint is below the annular and
repeat for each

10. Select the correct definition of the "closing ratio” of a ram preventer.
A. Operating pressure required to close the ram against maximum anticipated wellbore pressure
B. Operating pressure required to close the ram against the formation pressure
C. Operating pressure required to open the ram at BOP Rated Working Pressure
D. Ratio of the packer area against the piston rod area

11. What statement is true if a non-return valve is stabbed into the string?
A. Must not be run in the hole in the closed position
B. Has potential to leak through the open/dose key
C. Easier to stab if strong flow is encountered up the drill string
D. Will not allow wire line to be run inside the drill string

12. You run back to the shoe and carry out a slip-and-cut on the drilling line. The operation
normally takes 60 minutes. What is the best way to monitor the well?
A. Install a safety valve in the drill string, line up to the trip tank and set the alarm
B. Line up to trip tank and set trip tank a farm
C. Line up to mud pits and inform Mud Logger to monitor for gains
D. Shut in well and record pressure every 15 minutes

78
13. There is only one inside BOP with an NC50 pin connection on the rig. The drill string consists of:
5-inch Heavy Weight drill pipe (NC50)
8-inch (6-5/8 Reg.) drill collars.
Which of the following crossovers must be on the rig floor while tripping?
A. NC50 Box X 6-5/8 inch Reg. pin
B. NC50 Box X 6-5/8 inch Reg. box
C. NC50 Box X 7-5/8 inch Reg. pin
D. 6-5/8 inch Reg. Box x 7-5/8 inch Reg. Pin

14. Which of the following statements about ring gaskets is correct?

A. Type BX ring gaskets provide a pressure-energized seal
B. The same metal hardness is used for ring gaskets and ring grooves
C. Ring gaskets are designed to be used more than once
D. Only RX ring gaskets can be used with BX type flanges

15. What would be the effect of fitting a 7-1/16 inch x 5,000 psi flange to a working 10,000 psi
rated BOP stack?
A. The rating would become 7,500 psi
B. The rating would remain at 10,000 psi
C. The rating would become 5,000 psi
D. The rating would become 2,500 psi

16. In which of the following situations is it an advantage to use a Float-valve in the drill string?
A. To allow reverse circulation
B. To reduce surge pressure
C. To read the drill pipe pressure value following a well kick
D. To avoid flow back while tripping or during a connection

17. Which type of valve would be made up to the drill pipe if the well kicks while tripping?
A. Choke valve.
B. Non-return valve
C. Full opening safety valve
D. Float valve

18. When do Drill string safety valves have to be tested?

A. 50% of the Ram test pressure
B. Only after setting casing
C. To the same rated working pressure as the Kelly/top drive
D. Each time the BOP is tested

79
19. To what pressure must the Drill string safety valves be tested?
A. 50 % of the Ram test pressure
B. To the same pressure as the BOP
C. To the current bottom hole pre sure
D. To the same rated working pressure as the Kelly/top drive

20. The well kicks when tripping. What statement is true if a non-return valve is stabbed in to the
string?
A. Has potential to leak through the open/close key
B. Has to be pumped open to read Shut in Drill Pipe Pressure
C. Easier to stab if strong how is encountered up the drill string
D. Must not be run in the hole In the closed position

21. What is the only function of a diverter?

A. To direct formation fluids away from the rig floor
B. To act as a backup system if the annular preventer fails
C. To create a back pressure sufficient to stop formation fluids entering the wellbore
D. To shut in a shallow kick
22. The drawing shows a basic Diverter system. The wind direction is from left to right. What is
the correct position for items A, B, C and D while drilling?

Wind Direction

A. A Open: B Open: C Open: D Closed

B. A Closed: B Opened: C Closed: D Closed
C. A Closed: B Closed: C Open: D Open
D. A Open: B Closed: C Closed: D Open

23. What is the function of the choke in the choke manifold?

A. To create a back-pressure when killing the well
B. To close the well softly
C. To bleed high volume of formation fluid

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 24. Why can a pressure build-up in the Mud Gas Separator be dangerous?
A. Will affect Drill Pipe pressure
B. May force gas to enter shale shaker area
C. Will allow gas to be blown along the Vent line
D. Will increase risk of lost circulation

25. In the figure below, which dimension determines the maximum pressure inside the separator
before the potential for formation gas to 'blow through' into the shaker area?

D2

H4 GAS TO VENT

FROM CHOKE
MANIFOLD
D3

MUD/GAS
SEPERATOR H1

D1
TO SHALE
SHAKERS

LIQUID SEAL
H2

A. The length and the inside diameter {D3) of the inlet pipe from the buffer tank to the choke
manifold
B. The dip tube height (H2)
C. The vent line length {H4) and inside diameter {D2)
D. The body height (H1) and the body inside diameter {D1)

26. What is the most common use of a Vacuum Degasser?

A. It is used as a standby in the event of the "Mud/Gas Separator (Poor Boy)" failing
B. It is only used while circulating out a kick
C. It is mainly used to separate gas from liquids while testing
D. It is used to remove gas after the mud has been circulated across the shakers

27. When killing a well why is a Vacuum Degasser not used in place of a Mud/Gas Separator?
A. Because it can only remove gas in solution
B. Because cuttings must be removed first
C. Because it is not located in an explosion proof area
D. Because it has volume limitations

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Accumulator Unit
28. What is a reason for having stored fluid under pressure in the accumulator bottles on the
hydraulic BOP control unit?
A. To operate the kill line valve
B. To replace the drilling fluid when performing the weekly BOP tests
C. To operate the remote choke
D. To close the BOP in the event of a power failure

29. A ram preventer was operated from the remote panel. Both accumulator and manifold
pressures dropped and later returned to normal pressure. The open light went out but the close
light did not illuminate. What is the probable cause of the problem?
A. Leak in the system
B. Air pressure too low
C. Fault in the close light electrical circuit
D. Close line is blocked

30. After functioning the annular preventer control to the closed position, the open light goes out
but the close light does not illuminate. The annular pressure gauge drops then returns back to
the correct pressure. What has happened?
A. The 4-way valve on hydraulic closing unit failed to shift
B. There is a leak in the hydraulic line to the BOP
C. The hydraulic closing line to the BOP is plugged
D. The close light circuit or bulb has failed

31. Which gas do you use to pre-charge the accumulator bottles on a BOP hydraulic control unit?
A. Carbon Dioxide (C02)
B. Air
C. Nitrogen
D. Oxygen

32. You close a ram preventer using the remote BOP panel. The ram open light goes out and the
close light illuminates, but you notice that the accumulator and manifold pressures have
remained static. What has happened?
A. Possible blockage in the line between the accumulator unit and BOP stack
B. No air on the panel
C. The 3-position 4-way Ram valve on the accumulator has not moved
D. Master valve not held down for 5 seconds

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33. On the Driller's air operated panel for a surface BOP, the ram is closed and the following was
seen:
1. Open light went out
2. Close light came on
3. Annular pressure did not change
4. Manifold pressure decreased and later returned to the original position
5. Accumulator pressure decreased to 2500 psi and remained steady

What is the most probable cause of the problem?

A. Electric position switches are malfunctioning
B. The selector valve {3 position/4 way valve) is stuck in the open position
C. There is a blockage in the hydraulic line connecting the BOP to the BOP control unit
D. The pressure switch or the pumps on the BOP control unit did not work

34. If the air pressure gauge was reading zero. Which one of these statements is correct for an air
operated remote control panel?
A. The annular preventer can still be operated from the remote panel
B. No BOP functions can be operated from the remote panel
C. Choke and kill lines can still be operated from the remote panel
D. All functions on the remote panel will operate normally

35. You close a pipe ram. What has happened if the open light stays on, the close light does not
illuminate and the manifold pressures remains static?
A. There is a leak in the hydraulic line to the BOP
B. The hydraulic closing line to the BOP is plugged
C. The light bulb has blown
D. The 3-position/4-way valve on the hydraulic BOP control unit failed to operate

36. When a ram type BOP on a surface stack is closed, what happens to the operating fluid
displaced from the opening chamber?
A. The fluid drains into the well bore
B. The fluid is returned to the unit reservoir
C. The fluid is used to boost closing pressure

37. On the surface stack remote panel the High Pressure Bypass button or handle allows you to put
full accumulator pressure to which of the following?
A. Rams and H.C.R. valves only
B. Annular only
C. Rams only
D. All functions

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38. While doing your daily rounds during drilling operations you notice the gauges on the BOP
accumulator system show the following readings. What do you think?

A. Everything is O.K.
B. A malfunction in the manifold regulator
C. A leak in the annular preventer hydraulic system
D. Possible leak in the system and the pressure switch controlling the pump has not operated

39. Which gauges on a remote BOP control panel will show a reduction in pressure when you close
the pipe rams?
A. The accumulator pressure gauge and manifold pressure gauge
B. The manifold pressure gauge and annular pressure gage
C. The annular pressure and manifold pressure
D. Air pressure and manifold pressure

40. On which two gauges on the remote BOP panel would you expect to see a pressure drop while
the annular preventer is closing?
A. Manifold pressure and Accumulator pressure
B. Accumulator pressure and Annular pressure
C. Air pressure and Manifold pressure
D. Annular pressure and Manifold pressure

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 41. Figure below shows an API Type 6BX Flange

The four figures below illustrate cross sectional profiles of four different API ring gaskets commonly used on
well head equipment

Which one of these gaskets matches the 6BX type flange shown at top of page?

A. Type R Octagonal.
B. Type BX.
C. Type RX.
D. Type R Oval

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