Well Control Certification Practice Exam

IADC WellSharp Well Servicing – Snubbing Well Control Certification Practice Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

• What is the primary function of snubbing operations?

a) Drill a new wellbore

b) Run or pull tubulars under pressure

c) Cement casing

d) Conduct wireline operations

Rationale: Snubbing allows for pipe movement (running or pulling) in

and out of the wellbore while maintaining pressure control at surface.

• During snubbing, what is the primary purpose of the stripping rams?

a) Provide blowout protection

b) Maintain well control while allowing pipe movement 1 / 4

c) Act as a secondary seal

d) Hold the pipe string weight

Rationale: Stripping rams enable pipe movement through the BOP

stack under pressure without losing control.

• What determines whether the pipe is in a “pipe light” or “pipe heavy”

condition?

a) The balance between pipe weight and well pressure forces

b) The hydraulic pressure applied to the rams

c) The density of the kill fluid

d) The choke pressure

Rationale: Pipe light/heavy conditions depend on whether well

pressure exceeds the downward pipe weight or vice versa.

• In snubbing operations, when is the well considered “pipe light”?

a) When pipe weight is greater than upward force

b) When upward pressure force exceeds pipe weight

c) When snubbers are inactive

d) When there is no annular pressure

Rationale: The well is pipe light when the pressure trying to lift the

pipe exceeds the weight of the pipe string.

• / 4

• Which component provides the primary barrier during snubbing

operations?

a) Snubbing basket

b) Blowout Preventer (BOP) stack

c) Slip bowl

d) Snubbing jack

Rationale: The BOP stack is the main pressure control device that

ensures containment of wellbore fluids.

• What is the main function of the snubbing jack?

a) Circulate drilling fluid

b) Close the well

c) Apply controlled mechanical force to move pipe under pressure

d) Monitor annular pressure

Rationale: The snubbing jack applies mechanical force to overcome

well pressure forces when running or pulling pipe.

• What does “pipe heavy” mean?

a) Pipe weight exceeds well pressure upward force

b) Well pressure exceeds pipe weight

c) Snubbing unit is inactive

d) Annular pressure equals hydrostatic pressure 3 / 4

Rationale: Pipe heavy occurs when the pipe weight is sufficient to

overcome the upward well pressure force.

• Which valve allows circulation into the annulus while snubbing under

pressure?

a) Choke manifold valve

b) Kill line valve

c) Standpipe valve

d) Mud pump valve

Rationale: The choke manifold regulates annular flow and

backpressure control during snubbing operations.

• What is the purpose of an equalizing valve in a BOP stack?

a) To balance pressure across closed rams

b) To bleed off annular pressure

c) To release gas from the separator

d) To control pump rate

Rationale: Equalizing valves prevent sudden pressure imbalances

across rams when opening them.

• What does “well under pressure” indicate?

a) The well is dead

• / 4