Production testing is potentially a hazardous operation which requires good planning, programming, and preparation. Active co-operation and co-ordination between all parties involved are essential to successful production testing operations.
Personnel Responsibilities
Offshore Installation Manager
The Offshore Installation Manager is responsible for the overall safety of the platform and personnel, and as such, should be kept informed at all stages of the testing operations.
Company Representatives
The Company Representatives directly involved during production testing are:
- Company Drilling Supervisor/ Drilling Supervisor
- Well Site Drilling Engineer
- Platform Production Supervisor
- Completion Supervisor
- Production Test Supervisor.
During production testing, each of the Company Representatives are to some extent concerned with the individual tasks that go to make up a production test. Thus a close liaison and an active co-ordination is necessary amongst the Company Representatives, with the Company Drilling Supervisor having the ultimate responsibility for all operations. The task and equipment responsibilities of the Company Representatives, uses the following definitions:
Prime (P): The designated individual is responsible for ensuring that the required activity is carried out in accordance with the programme, and with established practices and procedures.
Check (C): Assistance with, and inspection of ongoing and completed activities to ensure compliance with the programme, and established practices and procedures.
Some tasks may be delegated by the Company Drilling Supervisor to the Drilling Supervisor and/or the Well Site Drilling Engineer, in which case a further definition can be used.
Task And Equipment Responsibilities
|
Task/Equipment |
Company Drilling Supervisor |
ProductionTest Supervisor |
Completion Supervisor |
Platform Production Supervisor |
|
All electric wireline work |
P |
C |
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|
Rigging up electric wireline perforating equipment, lubricator and BOP. |
P |
C |
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|
Stimulating and acidising. |
P |
C |
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|
Stimulation fluids. |
P |
C |
||
|
Rigging up slick line lubricator. |
C |
P |
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|
All slick line work and equipment. |
C |
P |
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|
Sampling at surface. |
C |
P |
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|
Sampling downhole. |
C |
P |
||
|
Sample bottles and containers. |
C |
P |
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|
Downhole pressure gauges. |
C |
P |
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|
Platform Surface Equipment, Xmas tree etc. |
C |
P |
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|
Surface test equipment, separator, heater, etc. |
C |
P |
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|
Pressure testing surface test equipment. |
C |
P |
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|
Beaning up |
C |
P |
||
|
Flaring - preparation. |
C |
P |
C |
|
|
Flaring - co-ordination. |
P |
C |
C |
|
|
Reporting of detailed test results to Base |
P |
C |
In addition there are several important task responsibilities that need to be defined separately:
Company Drilling Supervisor
- Well killing,
- Initiation of radio silence,
- Implementation of radio silence,
- Safety precautions on surface production test
- Facilities from wellhead to flare/burners,
Production Test Supervisor
- Well testing supervision,
- Ensuring that all information specified in the test pogramme is recorded.
The Company Drilling Supervisor shall be advised before the well is ready to be opened up, by the Production Test Supervisor.
The Company Drilling Supervisor is responsible for the progress of the test programme and for ensuring that the test programme data collection/acquisition requirements are met.
Management And Direction
The Company Drilling Supervisor is responsible for giving all requests and instructions to the Drilling Contractor personnel, but this may on occasions be delegated to other Company personnel involved in the Production Test. The Company Drilling Supervisor shall be consulted on all instructions given to the Contractors.
The Production Test Supervisor is responsible for giving instructions to the production test contractor(s) and bottom hole pressure gauge contractor(s). The production test contractor shall be responsible for the operation of the test equipment.
The Completion Supervisor is responsible for giving instructions to the various completion services/equipment contractors after consultation with the Company Drilling Supervisor who will check these instructions with regards to well safety.
The Platform Production Supervisor is responsible for giving instructions to the platform production personnel and for the operation of fixed platform equipment i.e. Xmas tree valves etc. He should be consulted prior to the opening up, flowing and flaring of the well.
2.5 Reporting and Crew Organisation
The Company Drilling Supervisor is responsible for all reporting to the base, but the actual reporting may be delegated to the Production Test Supervisor and/or the Well Site Drilling Engineer.
During testing, the following crew shall be on duty, and shall report to the specified personnel:
The stimulation crew supervisor shall report to the Company Drilling Supervisor as well as the production (well) test contractor.
One well test operator shall be on duty in the choke manifold/separator area, and another shall be at the sub-sea tree console on the drill floor at all times when the well is flowing.
The driller and two floormen shall be on duty on the rig floor throughout the test.
The derrick man shall be in the pump room.
The Cement Contractor shall be on standby.
The Company Drilling Supervisor shall be in constant communication with the Offshore Installation Manager.
The Control Room shall be manned throughout the test.
The Radio Operator shall be in the Radio Room.
Communications
Physical lines of communication during the well test shall be by telephone between the following areas:
Test Site
Drill Floor
Production Control Room
Cement Pump
Logging Unit
Drilling Supervisor's Office
Drilling Section Leader's Office
Platform Production Supervisor's Office
The telephone at the test site shall have a visual and audible indication when ringing.
Certification
All well test equipment certification/ Data-books will be held on board by the Production Test Supervisor.