Oil Well Firefighting Companies: What They Do and Equipment Used
Oil well firefighting companies are specialist well control contractors that respond to blowouts, well fires and uncontrolled releases on land and offshore. Their work is not limited to firefighting. The objective is to regain control of a flowing well, with fire suppression forming one step in the response before the well is capped. Typical equipment includes high-volume water pumps, cooling monitors, shielded bulldozers, excavators, dry chemical systems and purpose-built capping stacks.
What a Blowout Actually Is
A blowout is an uncontrolled flow of oil, gas or water from a well after the primary well control barriers have failed. The flow may be gas, oil, produced water or a combination of fluids. A burning gas release can sometimes be safer than an unignited release because the hydrocarbons are consumed at the wellhead rather than forming a vapor cloud downwind. For this reason, extinguishing the fire is not always the first objective. The response must be coordinated with well control and capping operations.
Oil Well Firefighting Companies and Their Role
Specialist well control companies provide the engineering, personnel and equipment required to respond to uncontrolled wells. Companies commonly associated with this field include Boots & Coots, Wild Well Control, Cudd Well Control and Safety Boss. Their services extend beyond firefighting to well control engineering, contingency planning, relief well planning, training and emergency response.
A response normally involves a specialist team supported by equipment operators, water haulers, welders, rig crews and other contractors. The well control specialists assess the situation and direct the response while the supporting workforce establishes water supplies, clears debris and prepares the equipment needed to regain control of the well.
The Five Steps of an Oil Well Fire Response
1. Assess
The first priority is understanding the well and the surrounding hazard. Engineers determine what is flowing, the approximate flow conditions, the condition of the wellhead, what is burning and whether the well can be controlled from the surface. Gas detection, thermal imaging and site surveys help determine safe approach routes and whether a relief well or other intervention may be required.
2. Cool
A burning wellhead can generate temperatures that make direct access impossible. High-volume pumps and water monitors are therefore established to cool the wellhead, surrounding equipment and the approach route. Water is particularly important because dry chemical can suppress flames but does not provide the continuous cooling required to protect equipment and personnel during a prolonged response.
3. Clear Debris
Collapsed drilling structures, equipment and other debris may prevent access to the wellhead. Shielded bulldozers, excavators and specialized equipment can be used to clear the area while water is applied for heat protection. The objective is to create a safe and sufficiently clear approach around the wellhead so that capping equipment can be positioned.
4. Extinguish
Fire suppression is normally carried out when the wellhead has been prepared and the equipment required to control the well is ready. Depending on the circumstances, responders may use high-volume water, specialized firefighting equipment or controlled explosive techniques. Dry chemical systems can also be used to suppress gas jet fires and secondary fires around the wellhead.
Potassium bicarbonate dry chemical is particularly effective against Class B flammable liquid and gas fires because it rapidly interrupts the combustion reaction. However, dry chemical does not stop the flow of hydrocarbons from the well and does not provide cooling. A fire that has been extinguished can therefore reignite if the fuel source remains uncontrolled or hot surfaces remain present.
5. Cap
Once the wellhead is accessible and the appropriate equipment is staged, a capping stack can be positioned over the flowing well. The stack is secured to the wellhead and its valves are operated to shut in the well where the well structure can safely withstand the pressure. If surface control is not sufficient, additional well control measures, including pumping kill fluid or drilling a relief well, may be required.
Equipment Used During an Oil Well Fire Response
| Response Step | Primary Equipment | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Gas detectors, thermal cameras, engineering and site surveys | Determine the condition of the well and safe response strategy |
| Cooling | High-volume pumps, water monitors and water storage or supply | Cool the wellhead and protect equipment and personnel |
| Debris clearing | Shielded bulldozers, excavators and specialized carriers | Create access to the wellhead |
| Fire suppression | Water monitors, dry chemical systems and specialized equipment | Control or extinguish flames when conditions allow |
| Well control | Capping stack, cranes, kill pumps and drilling equipment | Shut in or regain control of the well |
Where Dry Chemical Skids Fit Into Well Firefighting
Dry chemical is not a replacement for specialist well control equipment. Its role is to suppress flames around the working area, including secondary fires, pump fires, fuel spills and other flammable liquid or gas hazards that can threaten the response crew.
A nitrogen-expelled dry chemical skid can provide a high-rate supply of potassium bicarbonate without depending on a permanent fire-water system. Units in the 1,000 lb and 2,000 lb range can be used where greater agent capacity and hose reach are required. Because the skid is self-contained, it can also be positioned to protect access routes and work areas while specialist well control equipment is being deployed.
The important distinction is that the skid suppresses the fire; it does not control the well. The hydrocarbon source must ultimately be isolated, killed or capped to prevent the fire from returning.
Why Operators Still Need Their Own Fire Protection Equipment
Specialist well firefighting companies are designed for major well control emergencies. Operators still need equipment for the much more common fires that occur during normal production, including treater fires, pump fires, fuel spills, flare-line fires and tank fires.
Portable extinguishers, wheeled dry chemical units and dry chemical skids can provide first-response protection while the site is being evacuated or while additional emergency resources are mobilized. A properly positioned skid can also provide secondary fire protection during a major well incident while specialist well control crews are being deployed.
Need dry chemical protection for an oilfield or wellsite? Talk to a Salus engineer about your hazard and equipment requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to put out an oil well fire?
The duration depends on the condition of the wellhead, the type and rate of flow, accessibility, location and the method required to regain well control. A relatively straightforward land incident can be resolved much faster than an incident involving a damaged wellhead, difficult access or the need for a relief well.
Why are explosives sometimes used to extinguish oil well fires?
Controlled explosive techniques can temporarily separate the flame from the flowing fuel and extinguish the flame front. The technique does not stop the well from flowing, so the well must still be controlled after extinguishment. Water and dry chemical may be used for other suppression and cooling requirements around the site.
Can dry chemical put out an oil well fire?
Dry chemical can suppress certain gas jet and flammable liquid fires, including secondary fires around a wellhead. It does not stop the well from flowing and does not provide cooling, so it is used as part of a broader well control and fire protection strategy rather than as the sole response to a blowout.
Dry Chemical Protection for Oilfield Operations
Salus Global supplies dry chemical skids for oilfield, process and industrial fire protection applications.
