1 GeoScience Engineering Volume LXIV (2018), No. 3 http://gse.vsb.cz p. 1-7, ISSN 1802-5420 TESTING OF SEALING ELEMENTS FOR FIB-1 APPARATUS DESIGNED TO LIQUIDATE OPEN ERUPTION BY DRILLING TOOLS BUJOK Petr, KLEMPA Martin, RYBA Jakub, PORZER Michal, ŠANCER Jindřich Institute of Clean Technologies for Mining and Utilization of Raw Materials for Energy Use, Faculty of Mining and Geology, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15, 708 00 Ostrava Poruba, Czech Republic petr.bujok@vsb.cz; martin.klempa@vsb.cz; jakub.ryba@vsb.cz; michal.porzer@vsb.cz; jindrich.sancer@vsb.cz Abstract Petroleum and natural gas still have their place among the most important resources in many industrial areas. Their global consumption influences an increasing demand on the quality of drilling works and the efficiency of extraction. Nonetheless, even in this field of human activity, we can encounter exceptional events and accidents. One of the most serious kinds of accidents during exploration is the so called open eruption of extracted medium. The specific case of this accident is an open eruption caused by drilling tools when a working crew is not capable of securing drilling workplace. In order to solve this emergency situation, Main Mining Rescue Station Hodonin (HBZS Hodonin), in cooperation with researchers from Faculty of Mining and Geology at VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, designed and developed specialised apparatus DPRP (Drill Pipe Rescue Press), working designation FIB- 1. This apparatus enables the liquidation of eruption by pressing the drilling pipe. The residual crack, which remains following the pressing, must be eliminated by sealing materials. This paper reviews the testing of sealing elements (materials), designed by our team, in residual crack of circle shape with help of hydraulic press MTS 816 Rock Test System. Keywords: pressure signs; eruption; liquidation apparatus; sealing elements 1 INTRODUCTION By the term pressure signs, we understand a spontaneous outflow of formation fluids from the well. This effect generally takes place because of disturbing the existing pressure layers in a borehole. The changes of pressure ratios occur both during the process of drilling and during the extraction or hoisting operation, but even in the cases of e.g. measuring inside the well when the formation fluids do not circulate inside a well. Outflow must be understood as a chain reaction because the mud that has entered the well is generally lighter than the formation fluids and it lightens the column of formation fluids. This leads to further increase of inflow into the well and the overall volume of overflow is steadily rising and thus the difference between the reservoir and hydrostatic pressure increases. Overflow can eventually break out into an open eruption. [4,5,6] 2 FORMULATION OF A PROBLEM The liquidation of an outflow or even eruption can be achieved by various procedures, depending on the actual situation inside the well. The prerequisite of outflow (or eruption) liquidation is a complete closing of the well and consequent regulation of its opening during the pumping of heavy mud. The special case is the pressure sign in the course of extraction and hoisting operation when the drilling string is open. In order to close the inner diameter of mud pipes during this event, the so-called inside preventer (BOP) is used, especially abroad. If the drilling is done by kelly, it is possible to use the so called kelly cock. [5,7,8] However, in some cases, it is not possible to use some of these tools. This entails especially a deadlocking of the drilling string inside the well, the so-called anchoring, and therefore the inability to drag or lower it to the level of drill floor. If the situation on site is such that it is possible to operate at the drill floor, it is possible to liquidate the eruption by the means of the so-called killing spear. The eruption is consequently stopped by closing of top valve and the well can be snubbed after the connection of pressure piping and cementing truck or pumps. [7,8,9]