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A top kill is a process used by oil and gas companies to shut down production in a well by pumping thick material to reduce pressure. It can be done for routine or emergency reasons, but requires careful coordination. If it doesn’t work, another plan must be made. In an emergency, a top kill can be dangerous and workers must take precautions. The process requires a large supply of drilling mud and pumping it out to force the well to stop producing. In some cases, debris may also be pumped down the well to clog the valve and prevent additional oil or gas from being released.
A top kill is a procedure in which an oil and gas company shuts down production in a well by pumping very thick material to reduce pressure, forcing the well contents to remain in place. This can be done for routine or emergency reasons and requires careful coordination to effectively kill the well and maintain safety for the workers involved in the process. If a top kill doesn’t have the desired effect, the company will have to work with engineers on another plan to halt production.
In a controlled top kill, a business plans to shut down a well for scheduled maintenance, repairs, and other activities. All well systems should function properly, allowing the company to pump heavy drilling mud through the top of the well. Normally this thick fluid acts as a lubricant. When dispensed into the well at a very high rate, it will neutralize the pressure. Without pressure buildup, oil and gas cannot move to the surface and the well stops producing. This allows staff to work there safely.
Emergencies can call for a top kill if a well experiences what’s known as a blowout, where it begins to release material uncontrollably. Pressure valves known as blowout preventers, as the name suggests, are supposed to prevent this from happening, but are sometimes not effective. To stop a spill, the company can try to reverse the movement of material in the well by adding drilling mud until the pressure drops and the well stops pumping oil and gas.
The best kills in emergency situations can be dangerous. The well can pose a significant health risk. The gas can ignite when it erupts from the well, endangering people on site, and the crude oil contains hydrocarbons known to be hazardous to human health. Workers exposed to the material should take precautions to clean up at the end of the work day and should be monitored for early warning signs of health complications such as skin irritation from crude oil exposure.
Performing a superior kill requires securing a supply of drilling mud large enough to meet the requirement and constantly pumping it out to force the well to stop producing. In cases where blowout preventers have failed, the company may also pump debris down the well, in the hopes that it will clog the valve and prevent additional oil or gas from being released. This type of overhead kill is irreversible and can be followed by cement to seal the well, unlike a routine well kill where the company can pump out drilling mud to restart production.
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