Liner Seals and Liner Cementing: During drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico region, a gas kick occurred in which the casing, cement and liner top seal assembly failed resulting in a loss of well control. The elastomeric-based liner top seal assembly may not have been qualified for exposure to high operating temperatures and gas exposure. The SRS (formerly call the QC-FIT) evaluated the QA/QC “fit for service” concerns for liner seal assembly and cementing failures. Current industry practices and BSEE regulations for pressure testing may not be sufficient to evaluate the integrity of the seal assembly and/or the cement column. Currently both barriers are not independently pressure tested, therefore the dual barrier system is tested as a whole. The performance rating of down-hole equipment may not be clearly communicated or understood between operators and manufacturers globally.
- Correspondence
- Followup on MC-295 Loss of Well Control Report August 25, 2016
- Letter to API from BSEE Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs August 26, 2016
- API Letter on QC-FIT Evaluation November 3, 2016
- Safety & Engineering Alerts
- BSEE Research
- Seal Assembly & Cement Failures December 2014
- Seal Assembly / Cement Failure Technical Evaluation June 23, 2015
- Industry Standards & Research
- Recent News
- Recent Blogs
QC-FIT evaluated the QA/QC “fit for service” concerns for liner seal assembly and cementing failures. During drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico, a gas kick occurred which resulted in a loss of well control. Identified concerns include: the seal assembly qualification rating for the proposed well, the use of shallow liner and sub mudline casing hangers for the proposed well design and current industry practices, and BSEE regulations for pressure testing may not be sufficient to evaluate the integrity of the seal assembly and/or the cement column.