Well Control
Rig Components
OIL FIELD TRIVA
Safety
Name the associated WSP
100

What is the term for the pressure at which formation fluids enter the wellbore?

Formation pressure or pore pressure.

100

What is the substructure’s primary role?


Elevate and support the rig floor and BOP stack

100

What year was the first commercial oil well drilled in Alaska?

Katalla oil field, which was the first discovery of commercial quantities of oil in Alaska (1902).

100

What kind of fire extinguisher is best for electrical fires?

What is Class C— specifically designed for use on energized electrical equipment. 

100

Minimum number of personnel to complete the task safely is 4 floor hands. 1 derrickman, the driller and 1 pipe cat operator in the pipe shed. 2 floor hands will trip the pipe and two will break down the stands. 

What is Tripping out and breaking down stands

200

What component of the BOP stack is designed to seal around the drill pipe?

Ram preventers (specifically pipe rams).                                           

200

What component sits directly above the drill bit in directional drilling to help steer the well?

Mud Motor

200

What was sometimes added to drilling mud in the early 1900s to “make it thicker”

What is Horse manure, sawdust, or corncobs — early mud engineering was very… experimental.

200

What is the purpose of a SDS?

To provide information on the hazards and safe handling of chemicals used on site.

200

Inspect and maintain rig floor equipment including ST-80, Drawworks, PS-21 and Top Drive. 

What is General Motorman work. 

300

What is the danger of a “lost circulation” situation during drilling?

Drilling mud is lost into formation fractures, reducing hydrostatic pressure and risking a kick.

300

What part connects the traveling block to the drill string?

Swivel

300

What was the first oil well in the U.S. drilled for commercial production called

what is the Drake Well — drilled by Edwin Drake in 1859, Pennsylvania.  

300

What is the key hazard of using a grinder or cut-off wheel?

What is Flying debris or shattering disks — always use face shields and guards.

300

Operate automated valves

What is General pit operations

400

What is the “MAASP” and why is it critical during kill operations?

MAASP stands for Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure. It’s the highest surface pressure that can be applied without fracturing the formation at the casing shoe. Exceeding MAASP risks a loss of well integrity.

400

What rig equipment hoists or lowers the drill string and casing?

Drawworks

400

What’s the record for the deepest oil well ever drilled?

The Z-44 Chayvo well in Russia — over 40,000 feet (12+ km) deep and almost 7 miles horizontally!

400

Why is good housekeeping critical to rig safety?

what is It prevents slips, trips, and falls — and ensures access to emergency equipment.

400

Close lower valve at the loading station and the bleeder valve on the manifold. 

What is Transferring drilling fluid. 

500

What does SIDPP stand for and what is it?

Shut-in drill pipe pressure. The pressure measured on the drill pipe when the well is shut-in during a kick

500

What rig component contains the pulleys at the top of the derrick?

Crown Block

500

What unusual method was once used in the Soviet Union to stop runaway oil well fires?

Nuclear explosions — they used underground nukes to collapse the well and seal it off. It actually worked.

500

What is the goal of a Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) program


To encourage safe work habits and reduce incidents through peer observation and positive reinforcement.

500

Check sprockets on TSL motors outside for ice buildup. 

What is Loading and unloading the pipe shed. 

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