ABSTRACT
The wheels begin to turn when a drilling contractor is chosen to drill a well. Checks must be made to see that the location is ready for the move in and arrangements must be made for trucks to begin the move. This seems simple, but there always seems to be a rush because of the operator's obligation to spud by a certain hour and day. With this rush, accident prevention becomes an afterthought with the move, rig up, nipple up, spud and drilling being of prime importance. Deeper drilling has brought forth problems that have not been experienced in the drilling of a majority of the shallow wells. The problems deal with heavier pipe strings, abnormal pressure, blowouts, fire, poison gas, loss circulation, fishing jobs, etc. Closer supervision of the operation and the training of people to prevent the development of problems is becoming more important in the petroleum industry.
A burden has been placed on the drilling contractor to provide training to cope with the loss of experienced employees through retirement and to other companies. Deeper drilling mistakes are more costly and the need for better management, planning and closer supervision of operations are most important in the prevention of errors that can result in costly losses.
