The hardest well control situations are the ones where pressure cannot be contained by circulating. Losses while killing create a well taking fluid at one depth and feeding at another, which is an underground blowout. Pipe out of the hole removes the circulating path. A plugged bit leaves no way to pump. Each needs a method chosen for the situation rather than from the standard list.

Gas in oil-based mud is a particular hazard. Gas dissolves in the base oil rather than forming a discrete bubble, so the kick is detected late and the gas comes out of solution rapidly near the surface, producing a sudden and large expansion that can unload the annulus in minutes. Deepwater wells with long risers compound this.

Severe events are also organisational. Decisions are made under time pressure with incomplete information, by people who may disagree, with onshore support and regulators involved. Command structure, decision authority, communication and the willingness to stop and think before acting determine the outcome as much as the technical choices.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Analyse complex kick situations and identify when standard methods will not work.
• Manage kills with simultaneous losses and diagnose underground blowouts.
• Apply volumetric and lubricate and bleed methods.
• Handle well control with pipe off bottom, stuck or out of the hole.
• Manage deepwater and riser gas, including unloading and riser margin.
• Apply well control in high pressure and high temperature wells.
• Account for gas solubility in oil-based mud and its consequences.
• Manage hydrogen sulphide well control operations.
• Apply dynamic kill, bullheading and relief well concepts.
• Lead decision making, communication and command structure during severe events.

The course is instructor-led and scenario-based, assuming well control fundamentals. Participants work through complex scenarios in which conditions change and standard methods fail, deciding on the method, the sequence and the escalation. Major incidents are analysed for the decisions taken. The course is aligned with recognised well control practice and does not award accredited certification.

Organisations sending participants to this training will:

• Prepare supervisors and engineers for well control situations beyond the standard cases.
• Improve decision making during severe and escalating events.
• Reduce the risk of underground blowouts and lost wells.
• Strengthen deepwater and HPHT well control readiness.
• Improve emergency command structure and communication.

Participants will:

• Be able to handle kicks that standard methods cannot resolve.
• Understand riser gas, gas solubility and their consequences.
• Be able to select and execute complex kill methods.
• Understand relief well and dynamic kill concepts.
• Be able to lead and communicate during a severe well control event.

• Experienced drilling engineers
• Drilling supervisors and superintendents
• Well engineers and intervention engineers
• Operations managers with well control accountability
• Well control specialists
• Technical authorities for well operations

Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.

Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.