The Usage in Well Control of Oil Extraction
During the processes of oil drilling and well completion, the core objective of well control is to ensure that the pressure within the wellbore is under control, preventing blowouts, lost circulation, or environmental pollution accidents caused by the loss of control of formation pressure. The pressure testing pump plays the following crucial roles in this process:
1. Testing the Sealing Performance of Wellhead Equipment
- Wellhead equipment such as blowout preventer (BOP) groups, casing heads, and tubing heads need to withstand high-pressure formation fluids (such as natural gas and crude oil). The pressure testing pump applies a pressure higher than that in actual working conditions (usually 1.5 to 2 times the design value) to these components to verify whether their sealing performance meets the standards.
- Example: Before well completion operations, use a pressure testing pump to conduct high-pressure tests on the rams and annular preventers of the blowout preventer to ensure that it can quickly close the wellhead in case of an emergency.
2. Inspecting the Pressure-bearing Capacity of Tubular Strings and Tools
- Tubular strings such as casings, tubings, and drill pipes that are lowered into the well need to be pressure tested to confirm whether their internal pressure resistance and external collapse strength meet the design requirements.
- The drilling fluid circulation system (such as choke manifolds and kill lines) also needs to be pressure tested regularly to prevent well control risks caused by leakage.
3. Verifying the Functions of Downhole Tools
- Downhole tools such as perforating guns, packers, and safety valves need to be pressure tested before leaving the factory or after on-site installation to ensure their reliability in a high-pressure environment.
4. Simulating Extreme Working Conditions
- The pressure testing pump can simulate extreme conditions such as formation fracture pressure and formation collapse pressure, helping engineers optimize kill well plans and wellbore structure designs.
5. Compliance Testing
- The petroleum industry strictly adheres to standards such as API (American Petroleum Institute) and ISO. The pressure testing data is an important basis for the acceptance of well control equipment and the issuance of operation permits.
Typical Application Scenarios
- Before the commissioning of a new well: Conduct a comprehensive pressure test on the wellhead equipment and Christmas tree.
- During workover operations: Retest the sealing performance after replacing the casing head or blowout preventer.
- In deep-sea drilling: Meeting the special pressure testing requirements for ultra-deep wells and high-temperature and high-pressure formations (such as shale gas wells).
Conclusion
The pressure testing pump is an indispensable safety guarantee tool in well control of oil extraction. By applying pressure scientifically, it verifies the integrity of equipment and the stability of the system, which is directly related to the safety of operating personnel, environmental protection, and the economic benefits of enterprises. With the development of intelligent technologies, digital pressure testing systems (such as automatic recording and remote monitoring) are gradually replacing traditional manual operations, further improving testing efficiency and accuracy.