OVERVIEW

This case study of the blowout at the E. N. Ross No. 2 in Rankin County, Mississippi, offers a unique opportunity to understand many of the concepts discussed in this text from the perspective of the future and ultimate consequences. These analyses, evaluations, and commentary are intended to be instructive. Several differences of opinion are not presented. Interpretations of events are presented solely for the purpose of consideration and instruction. Nothing presented in this text is intended as a criticism of any operation conducted at the well. Certainly, those involved did not have the luxury of hindsight. The sole purpose of this chapter is to illustrate how the concepts and tools presented in this text can be used to assist in analyzing events and alternatives.

The E. N. Ross No. 2 was spudded on February 17, 1985. It was intended as a 19,600-foot Smackover development well in the Johns Field in Rankin County, Mississippi. Thirteen and three-eighths-inch casing was set at 5465 feet, -inch casing at 14,319 feet and a -inch liner at 18,245 feet with the top of the liner at 13,927 feet. With the exception of 1644 feet of 47 #/ft S-95 from 7335 feet to 8979 feet, the -inch casing consisted of 53.5 #/ft S-95. The 47 #/ft S-95 was run as a "weak link" so that in the event of excessive pressure on the wellbore, a casing failure would more likely occur below 7335 feet instead of at the surface. It was...