Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 12(4):109-113 (ISSN: 2141-7016) 109 Analysis on the Impact of Losses of Well Control During Offshore Drilling Mekunye Francis and Paul Osaze Ogbeide Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Benin, Nigeria Corresponding Author: Mekunye Francis _________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract Losses of well control during offshore drilling represent an eminent threat associated with the exploration of petroleum (crude oil) by the upstream sector of the petroleum industry. Major challenges faced by the upstream sector of the petroleum industry due to losses of well control during offshore drilling, leading to a blowout includes; claims of lives (personnels working on the rig), ruin equipment, loss of property, huge monetary loss by rig owners, irreparable damage to the environment (land, air, water) and the economy. To surmount the consequences of losses of well control during offshore drilling, well control issues like, formation kick, reservoir pressure, failing blowout prevention systems, drilling of relief wells, inexperience drilling engineering crew, equipment failure and irregularities of water current must be paramount in the plans of offshore drilling engineers. Competent, experience and sensitive drilling engineers who are determine to work with set down rules and regulations and monitoring of drilling equipment can minimize and avert losses of well control during offshore drilling leading to blowout since blowout cases are too enormous to bear by government agencies, oil and gas companies and avoid putting lives, property, the environment and the economy in jeopardy. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Offshore, Exploration, Upstream, Blowout, Formation, Reservoir, Environment, Economy, Rig, Jeopardy INTRODUCTION The impact of losses of well control during offshore drilling is of paramount importance to the upstream sector of the petroleum industry since an accidental spark (Ignition) during blowout can lead to a catastrophic oil or gas fire often leading to losses of lives, property, environment and economy [1,2] Losses of well control during offshore drilling are the failure of one or more well barriers. It is uncontrolled flow of subterranean formation fluid between two or more exposed formation resulting from failure of either surface or subsurface equipment and procedures [3-5] The oil well (Subsurface) control is the management of the dangerous impacts caused by the unexpected release of formation fluid [Gas, Oil, salt water, Magnesium chloride water, Hydrogen Sulfide (sour) gas, Carbon (iv) oxide] upon surface and subsurface equipment of oil and gas drilling rigs and escaping into the atmosphere [7-8] Technically, oil well control involves preventing losses of well control. [Preventing formation fluid from entering into the wellbore during offshore drilling]. Formation fluid can enter the wellbore if the pressure exerted by the column of drilling fluid is not great enough to overcome the pressure exerted by the fluid in the formation being drilled leading to a kick. Oil well control also involves monitoring a well for signs of impending influx of formation fluid into the wellbore during drilling and procedures to stop the well from flowing when it happens by taking proper remedial actions [9,10] The losses of well control during offshore drilling, often results to blowout, with very grave consequences, which is a result of uncontrolled and explosive expulsions of formation fluid from the well potentially resulting in a fire. [11,12] The eminent aspect of offshore drilling operation is oil well control which involves proper handling of kicks, offshore drilling rigs, equipments and application of the correct drilling crew. [13-15] The primary aim/objectives of this research work include:  To analysis the losses of well control during offshore drilling  To determine the causes of losses of well control during offshore drilling.  To evaluate and establish the impact of losses of well control during offshore drilling.  To outline the impact of losses of well control during offshore drilling, leading to blowout cases. Significance The remarkable increase in the demand of oil and natural gas across the globe as a source of energy to power industries, factories, automobiles and its domestic used has led oil and gas industries Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 12(4):109-113 © Scholarlink Research Institute, 2021 (ISSN: 2141-7016) scholarlinkinstitute/jeteas.org