In case equipment does fail, do critical wells have backup equipment?
Yes. Backup equipment provides a second line of defence to ensure that well problems are controlled in the early stages, before developing into full-scale blowouts. Two examples illustrate these safeguards: first, there must normally be a second or backup degasser on site (a device that removes unwanted gas from drilling fluids), and second, there must be twice as much drilling mud in reserve at the site as will be needed. Mud is the liquid mixture circulated through the wellbore during drilling that is so important in holding back subsurface pressure.
