Well Barrier Management and Verification Training Course

Well Barrier Management and Verification Training Course

Introduction

Well Barrier Management and Verification Training Course is designed to strengthen technical competence in well integrity, well control, barrier assurance, and risk-based well operations across the oil and gas industry. This course provides participants with practical knowledge of well barrier philosophy, primary and secondary barriers, barrier envelope design, well integrity standards, barrier element qualification, verification testing, and safety-critical equipment assurance. It explores industry-recognized approaches to barrier schematics, well barrier acceptance criteria, pressure testing, inflow testing, leak detection, and risk assessment, enabling participants to identify potential barrier failures and implement preventive measures. Emphasis is placed on applying established industry standards and operator procedures to maintain well integrity, reduce well control incidents, and improve operational reliability in complex onshore, offshore, and subsea environments.

Participants will learn how to evaluate barrier status, interpret test results, identify degradation mechanisms, document verification evidence, and manage simultaneous operations that may compromise well integrity. Through practical exercises, engineering simulations, incident investigations, and industry-based case studies, the programme develops the ability to make informed technical decisions and maintain effective barriers under changing operational conditions. The course also examines well integrity management systems, management of change (MoC), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), safety-critical element performance standards, and lifecycle barrier assurance. By the end of the programme, participants will be better equipped to implement robust well barrier management procedures, improve verification quality, support regulatory audits, and promote a proactive well integrity culture that protects personnel, the environment, production assets, and organizational reputation.

Course Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

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

1. Explain the principles of well barrier management, well integrity assurance, and well control risk reduction throughout the well lifecycle.
2. Identify primary and secondary well barriers and evaluate their roles in preventing uncontrolled fluid flow.
3. Develop and interpret well barrier schematics for drilling, completion, production, intervention, suspension, and abandonment operations.
4. Apply industry-recognized well integrity standards, operator requirements, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
5. Establish barrier acceptance criteria and assess the suitability of individual barrier elements.
6. Conduct effective well barrier verification, pressure testing, inflow testing, and leak detection activities.
7. Evaluate barrier failures, degradation mechanisms, and potential well integrity threats using structured risk assessment methods.
8. Apply risk-based inspection, FMEA, and barrier performance monitoring to identify and prioritize integrity risks.
9. Interpret pressure test results, verification records, and well integrity data to support evidence-based engineering decisions.
10. Implement management of change (MoC) procedures when operational changes affect barrier integrity.
11. Strengthen safety-critical element assurance through equipment qualification, inspection, maintenance, and performance monitoring.
12. Investigate well integrity incidents and develop corrective and preventive actions using root cause analysis.
13. Develop practical well barrier assurance plans that improve operational safety, regulatory readiness, and lifecycle asset integrity.

Target Audience

1. Drilling engineers and drilling supervisors.
2. Well integrity engineers and well integrity managers.
3. Completion engineers and completion supervisors.
4. Well intervention and workover engineers.
5. Production engineers and operations supervisors.
6. Subsea engineers and offshore installation personnel.
7. HSE professionals, well control specialists, and operational risk managers.
8. Asset integrity professionals, technical auditors, and regulatory compliance personnel.

Course Modules

Module 1: Fundamentals of Well Barrier Management

• Principles of well integrity and well barrier philosophy.
• Primary and secondary barrier functions and independence.
• Barrier envelopes, flow paths, and potential leakage pathways.
• Well lifecycle barrier requirements and operating envelopes.
• Roles, responsibilities, and accountability in barrier management.
• Case Study: Evaluate a producing well with a suspected tubing leak and determine how the primary and secondary barriers should be assessed to maintain well control.

Module 2: Well Barrier Design and Barrier Schematics

• Well barrier element identification and classification.
• Design principles for primary and secondary barriers.
• Development and interpretation of barrier schematics.
• Barrier element selection, qualification, and compatibility.
• Application of barrier requirements to drilling, completion, and intervention.
• Case Study: Develop a barrier schematic for a planned well intervention and identify the required independent barriers before operations commence.

Module 3: Well Barrier Verification and Testing Techniques

• Barrier verification philosophy and verification planning.
• Pressure testing methods and acceptance criteria.
• Inflow testing, leak testing, and functional verification.
• Test limitations, pressure stabilization, and test interpretation.
• Verification documentation, evidence quality, and approval requirements.
• Case Study: Investigate a pressure test that shows an unexpected pressure decline and determine whether the barrier can be accepted or requires further investigation.

Module 4: Barrier Element Integrity and Performance Assurance

• Integrity requirements for valves, packers, casing, tubing, and wellheads.
• Cement integrity, casing integrity, and annular pressure monitoring.
• Safety-critical elements and performance standards.
• Equipment inspection, maintenance, and reliability assessment.
• Identification of degradation, wear, corrosion, and seal failure.
• Case Study: Assess sustained casing pressure in a well and determine the appropriate diagnostic tests and escalation procedures.

Module 5: Risk Assessment and Well Integrity Threat Management

• Well integrity hazard identification and risk classification.
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Bow-tie analysis and barrier failure pathways.
• Risk-based inspection and preventive maintenance planning.
• Management of simultaneous operations and operational interfaces.
• Case Study: Conduct a risk assessment for a well experiencing repeated annular pressure build-up and recommend prioritized integrity interventions.

Module 6: Well Barrier Management During Operations

• Barrier requirements during drilling and completion.
• Barrier verification during workover and well intervention.
• Temporary suspension and abandonment barrier requirements.
• Barrier management during subsea and offshore operations.
• Operational handovers, contingency planning, and emergency response.
• Case Study: Develop a barrier management plan for a subsea well intervention where pressure conditions change during equipment deployment.

Module 7: Digital Well Integrity Monitoring and Incident Investigation

• Digital well integrity management systems and data integration.
• Real-time pressure monitoring and abnormal trend detection.
• Well integrity dashboards, barrier status tracking, and reporting.
• Root cause analysis and investigation of barrier-related incidents.
• Corrective action tracking and continuous improvement.
• Case Study: Analyze a well integrity dashboard showing recurring pressure anomalies and establish an investigation and corrective action plan.

Module 8: Regulatory Compliance, Auditing, and Barrier Assurance

• Well integrity management systems and assurance frameworks.
• Application of relevant API, ISO, and other industry standards.
• Well barrier verification records and audit trail requirements.
• Management of change, deviation control, and technical approvals.
• Development of lifecycle barrier assurance plans and performance indicators.
• Case Study: Conduct a simulated well integrity audit, identify gaps in verification records, and prepare a corrective action plan aligned with applicable regulations and operator standards.

Training Methodology

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Group discussions and brainstorming sessions.
• Hands-on exercises using real-world datasets.
• Role-playing and scenario-based simulations.
• Analysis of case studies to bridge theory and practice.
• Peer-to-peer learning and networking.
• Expert-led Q&A sessions.
• Continuous feedback and personalized guidance.

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you