W. C. “Dub” Goins
“Dub” Goins is recognized for his pioneering achievements in offshore
well control. After graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in Chemical
Engineering, Goins joined the US Army Chemical Corps, where he served
for the duration of WW II. In 1946, he joined Gulf Oil Corp., where he
worked until 1979.
Goins was the first to apply science and analysis to the art of well
control. Unsatisfied with the “trial and error” approach used at that
time for handling kicks, he wrote a series of equations that described
kick phenomena, and developed the fundamental principle of constant
bottomhole pressure. He further developed his observations and equations
into three well-control methods: the Concurrent Method, the Drillers’
Method and the Weight-and-Wait (Engineers’) Method. Goins added basic
techniques such as measuring slow pump rates and choke line pressure
losses, as well as using casing pressure to start the pumps during a
kill operation.
Goins’ techniques form the foundation for modern well control methods,
and are described in several landmark publications. His methods are the
basis of current training courses and virtually all well control
training simulators. Being able to simulate realistic well control
situations enables drillers to be trained to conduct safe offshore
operations, where there is no second chance to correct a bad decision.
Goins’ proven methods reduced offshore drilling risks to acceptable
levels. For his pioneering work in well control Goins was awarded the
SPE’s prestigious Lester C. Uren Award. He was also elected to the
National Academy of Engineering in 1990.
|