Wyo. Code R. 053-0031-17
OSHA - Wyoming Oil and Gas Well Drilling, Servicing, Special Servicing, Completion and Plugging, and Abandoning of Wells
Chapter 17: Drill Stem Testing
Effective Date: 11/07/2025 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 053.0031.17.11072025
(a) All employers involved in drill stem testing shall establish clear responsibilities for the test and ensure all involved personnel understand their duties. In addition, all contractors shall be present to ensure that workers are trained to carry out their responsibilities and that the equipment supplied is in good repair and functioning as designed.
(b) Gas detection systems and safety equipment, including emergency shutdown, firefighting, alarms and communication systems, shall be verified as fully operational before drill stem testing operations.
(c) The wellbore shall be kept full of drilling fluids at all times.
(d) Drilling fluids shall be conditioned prior to running the test to minimize the possibility of blowout.
(e) Volumes of kill weight mud fluid necessary to kill the well shall be on location prior to flowing the well.
(f) A fill-up line shall be installed exclusively to keep the casing full of drilling fluid and shall be used only for this purpose. A kill line shall be installed exclusively to provide complete well control and shall be separate from the fill-up line.
(g) A mud box shall be provided and ready to convey fluids away from the derrick floor while pulling the drill stem or breaking wet joints.
(h) Fluid recovered from the mud box shall flow to circulating tanks or to a reserve pit.
(i) The rig floor shall not be left unattended during the drill stem test.
(j) Measures shall be taken to exclude unauthorized employees from the area before and during drill stem testing operations.
(k) Lights and electrical equipment shall be turned off, whenever possible, during a drill stem test and while coming out of the hole with strings containing flammable and/or combustible liquids or gas.
(l) Drill stem tests shall not be conducted during electrical storms.
(m) The kelly hose shall not be used as a part of the test line.
(n) Drill stem test flowing of the well shall be confined to daylight hours only.
(o) All spark producing equipment shall be disconnected until the test is concluded. (p) Motors and engines that are not required in the testing operation shall be shut off. (q) Test line and valves shall be checked, and the test line shall be securely anchored at each end and at each thirty-foot (30') interval. (r) Every test plug used above the derrick floor shall be attached to the elevator links by double safety cables or chains. (s) A reversing valve shall be included in the test tool assembly in order to be able to reverse. (t) When taking a drill stem test, and hydrocarbons appear at the surface, it shall be mandatory that such hydrocarbons are reversed out before coming out of the hole. (u) The pulling of drill stem test strings containing any flammable or combustible liquids or gas shall be performed in daylight hours only.
(a) Drill stem tests in known or expected zones containing H₂S shall be performed with pipe, equipment and materials suitable for the environment and conditions under which they are used. (b) Limit drill stem testing in sour environments to as brief a period as possible, using operating procedures that shall minimize exposure to sulfide stress cracking conditions. (c) All drill stem tests in known or expected zones containing H₂S shall be reversed out (in daylight hours only) before coming out of the hole.