Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: May 6, 2024) |
Title 30 - Mineral Resources |
Chapter II - Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of the Interior |
SubChapter B - Offshore |
Part 250 - Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf |
Subpart E - Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations |
§ 250.514 - Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
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§ 250.514 Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations.
(a) Well-control fluids, equipment, and operations shall be designed, utilized, maintained, and/or tested as necessary to control the well in foreseeable conditions and circumstances, including subfreezing conditions. The well shall be continuously monitored during well-completion operations and shall not be left unattended at any time unless the well is shut in and secured.
(b) The following well-control-fluid equipment shall be installed, maintained, and utilized:
(1) A fill-up line above the uppermost BOP;
(2) A well-control, fluid-volume measuring device for determining fluid volumes when filling the hole on trips; and
(3) A recording mud-pit-level indicator to determine mud-pit-volume gains and losses. This indicator shall include both a visual and an audible warning device.
(c) When coming out of the hole with drill pipe, the annulus shall be filled with well-control fluid before the change in such fluid level decreases the hydrostatic pressure 75 pounds per square inch (psi) or every five stands of drill pipe, whichever gives a lower decrease in hydrostatic pressure. The number of stands of drill pipe and drill collars that may be pulled prior to filling the hole and the equivalent well-control fluid volume shall be calculated and posted near the operator's station. A mechanical, volumetric, or electronic device for measuring the amount of well-control fluid required to fill the hole shall be utilized.
[76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 77 FR 50894, Aug. 22, 2012; 81 FR 26021, Apr. 29, 2016]