What must be done after closing the choke during both hard and soft shut-ins?

After closing the choke during both hard and soft shut-ins, it is essential to record pressures. This step is critical because it provides necessary data about the well's state immediately after the choke is closed. Monitoring the pressures allows for the assessment of well control, helping to determine if the well is stable or if there has been a change in conditions, such as a kick or influx of formation fluids. These recorded pressures serve as a baseline for further analysis and decision-making regarding the well's management and safety.

In addition to pressure recording, notifying the control room, checking mud levels, or increasing the drilling rate may be part of the overall response to a shut-in, but these actions are secondary to initially establishing and documenting the current well conditions through pressure readings.