From audit to action: a data-powered path to lower well control risk

By Andy Cuthbert, global engineering and technology manager, Halliburton Boots & Coots^®, and Paul Hogaboom, senior strategic business manager, Halliburton Boots & Coots^®

Aging infrastructure, hazardous gas environments, and limited resources can add complexity to the management of well integrity. The fastest way to help reduce risk does not add more paperwork but instead consists of a standardized, data-powered audit workflow supported by digital innovation. The audit pinpoints high-risk wells and converts findings into assigned, trackable fixes. With traffic light risk ranking, interactive map views, and automated reporting, teams move from insight to action; operators credited a 200% improvement in audit scores after the adoption of this approach.

Digital transformation meets well integrity

We created the Boots & Coots™ well control auditing platform (WCAP) for modern digital operations. It runs in the cloud so that it can scale quickly. We designed the platform to connect easily with existing systems and stay secure. The platform links live sensor data, past records, and outside apps, so audits, analysis, and actions all happen together in one smooth process.

The open design allows different tools and data sources to work together, which speeds up the process. Built‑in analytics show live dashboards, highlight risks, and predict maintenance needs, which helps teams make fast, insight-driven decisions. Flexible workflows let operators adjust processes to fit their business needs, which provides both adaptability and better alignment.

The performance gap: why manual audits fall short

Traditional, manual well control audits depend heavily on individual judgment, vary by site, and can stall between findings and follow-up. Subjectivity obscures risk, while inconsistent documentation slows remediation and heightens exposure. Digital solutions help remove ambiguity because every audit applies the same detailed criteria across equipment, operational specifications, safe work practices, and incident preparedness. This provides integrity managers with a consistent view of risk across assets. 

How the workflow works (and why it speeds decisions)

• Risk ranking with instant usability. A traffic light system consolidates maintenance history, audit outcomes, and operator‑defined parameters to deliver a real‑time condition snapshot for each well. High‑risk wells are highlighted, so teams prioritize the right work.
• Map-based oversight. An interactive map displays operational stage, coordinates, and site specifics; a single click opens the latest audit report and auditor-attached observations, details, schematics, layouts, and risk assessments. It can also include gas dispersion modeling and radiant heat analysis.
• Action engine that closes the loop. Integrity managers assign corrective tasks, set due dates, route feedback, and monitor compliance until closure. This turns audits from static reports into managed workflows that reduce nonproductive time.

Results that matter: fewer surprises, faster remediation

In field deployments, operators reported a 200% improvement in audit scores after they made the shift to standardized, repository-based audits. For operations teams, the impact shows up as earlier detection of at-risk wells, better resource scheduling, less reactive work, and an auditable trail from finding to fix to verification.

Implementation checklist for integrity leaders

Integrity managers can pilot this approach in four steps, without disruption to operations:

1. Define your criteria set. Use standardized evaluation points for equipment condition, procedures, safe work practices, and incident preparedness. Map them to severity (High/Medium/Low) and remediation timelines.  
2. Stand up the risk dashboard. Ingest recent audits, maintenance logs, and operator criteria. Activate traffic light ranking and map visualization so supervisors can triage at a glance.
3. Connect actions to owners. Route findings to responsible teams with due dates and service level agreements. Track closure status and automate report distribution so compliance managers see progress without chasing updates.
4. Review weekly; trend monthly. Use KPI views (audit status distribution, risk rankings, monthly trends) to spot recurring issues, launch root cause analysis, and prioritize preventive maintenance.

Proof of compliance across the well lifecycle

A centralized repository makes records retrieval immediate and standards-based reports available on demand. That improves regulatory confidence, helps reduce the frequency and severity of workovers and shutdowns, and supports continuous improvement via trend analysis and post-action verification from drilling to abandonment.

Built to scale: openness, interoperability, and lower total cost of ownership

We deliver the well control auditing platform through Landmark DecisionSpace^® 365 and Digital Field Solver^® (DFS) software in the iEnergy^® hybrid cloud, built on OSDU™ for openness and interoperability. DFS provides configurable workflows, version-controlled models, a scheduler, and microservices, plus multitenant capabilities that help you scale services and optimize operational costs. Start with audits; extend to predictive maintenance and broader integrity programs as your data foundation matures.

What operations integrity managers gain

• Time back: prioritize high-risk wells first and automate reporting
• Consistency: objective scoring across assets and crews
• Traceability: clear ownership and closure for corrective actions
• Scalability: an open, cloud-delivered architecture that integrates with existing systems

Ready to unlock the benefits of data-driven well control audits? Contact a Boots & Coots well control specialist to discuss your audit needs, pilot a workflow, or benchmark risk reduction.