Risk mitigation in drilling: Simulation of the blowout at well MGD-7, Monteagudo field

Control de pozo Monteagudo -7

Abstract

Oil well drilling is a high-risk activity that requires careful management to prevent serious incidents. The Bowtie methodology is an effective tool for risk management, as it allows for visualization of threats, preventive and mitigating barriers, and escalation factors for a specific hazard.

The incident that occurred at the MGD-7 well (Monteagudo Field, Bolivia; December 1, 1967) represents a critical event in the history of Bolivian petroleum engineering, as it revealed systemic failures in well control protocols. This study aims to reassess the event through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates numerical simulation and historical analysis. The Driller’s Method was applied as a simulation tool to estimate alternative response scenarios. The results indicate that timely application of this method could have reduced the control time from six months to 1 hour and 35 minutes, with an estimated operational cost saving of USD 1.9 million, mainly associated with the drilling of relief wells and intervention in the affected well. The identified critical operational parameters (fluid density: 10.7 lb/gal; ICP/FCP: 426/194 psi) provide a quantitative framework for the development of preventive protocols in geologically analogous formations. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating real-time monitoring technologies to reduce the occurrence of catastrophic events, supporting previously established theoretical models.