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§ 85 Well barriers

During drilling and well activities, there shall be tested well barriers with sufficient independence.
If a barrier fails, activities shall not be carried out in the well other than those intended to restore the barrier.
There shall be pumping and fluid capacity available on the facility or on vessels in the event of heavy well intervention. The need for pumping and fluid capacity in the event of light well intervention shall be included in the activity-specific risk assessment.
When handing over wells, the barrier status shall be tested, verified and documented.
Section last changed: 01 January 2018

In order to fulfil the requirement relating to the barrier as mentioned in the first subsection, the NORSOK D-010 standard, Chapters 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 9 and Annex C should be used in the area of health, working environment and safety, cf. Section 5 of the Management Regulations. For information, see also Section 48 of the Facilities Regulations.
Where a homogeneous liquid column constitutes the primary barrier, the barrier requirement as mentioned in the first subsection, entails that there is sufficient drilling fluid material and drilling fluid available to maintain the barrier, cf. also Section 51 of the Facilities Regulations.
Where requirements are concerned for restoring barriers as mentioned in paragraph 2, cf. Section 5 of the Management Regulations.
Pumping and fluid capacity, as mentioned in the third subsection, means preparedness for handling a failure in one or more well barriers, cf. Section 86 on well control. By heavy well intervention, as mentioned in the third subsection, is meant coiled tubing and snubbing operations. By light well intervention, as mentioned in the third subsection, is meant cable and pumping operations. In order to fulfil the requirement in the third subsection, NORSOK D-010 standard, Chapters 5.2.8 and 11.4 should be used.
The handover as mentioned in the third subsection, includes handover between companies and handover between units on the facility. Examples of such units are “production”, “well service”, “operation” and “maintenance”.
In order to fulfil the requirement for handover of wells as mentioned in the fourth subsection, the NORSOK D-010 standard, Chapters 5.10, 9.2, 9.3, 9.5, 9.6 and 9.7 and Offshore Norge Guideline no. 117 should be used for drilling and well activities.