Simulator Simulation

Before commencing the actual experiment, the lab instructor first went over the basic rules on how a one should operate a simulator. The first exercise that we started off with was to suspend the drill bit slightly above the bottom of the hole, while allowing the drilling fluid to slowly circulate using the desired parameters. Each group member assumed one of three responsibilities, driller, choke operator, or BOP operator.
With the well first completely shut-in, the choke operator slightly opens the choke and then the driller slowly but steadily increases the mud pump level to the desired kill rate. The choke operator stabilizes the casing pressure by simply opening or closing the choke while the pump is brought up to speed.
Once the mud
pump reaches the kill rate level, the choke operator gradually adjusts the choke size to equilibrate the drill pipe pressure with the circulating pressure. While the choke operator reduces the drill pipe pressure from initial circulating pressure to the finial circulating pressure (according to the pressure reduction scheduled at the bottom of the well control worksheet), the driller continues to pump kill mud into the hole at the kill rate.
A final circulating pressure is maintained by the choke operator while the kill weight mud travels to the bit. The choke operator terminates the circulating pressure once the kill weight mud travels back to the surface, through the annulus.
The group immediately conducts a soft shut-in precoder after the kill mud reaches the surface.