A proposed 'standard' framework for conducting negative pressure test. (2016) - Tabibzadeh, Maryam
According to the 2011 Chief Counsel's report of the Presidential National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout, negative pressure test (NPT) is the primary way of evaluating the integrity of cementing and other flow barriers at the bottom of a well. Yet, despite the criticality of this test, no detailed, standard framework for conducting NPT exists or is practiced in the oil and gas drilling industry. This paper presents a new set of standards for conducting negative pressure tests in order to improve the safety of drilling operations. The developed framework in this paper sets guidelines on proper implementation and monitoring of NPT. This framework is an attempt to systematically address and analyse results of such test. In addition, a case study is presented to examine the deficiencies associated with conducting a negative pressure test in a real drilling case in the Gulf of Mexico. [Received: June 6, 2014; Accepted: April 7, 2015]