Page 352 - Practical Well Planning and Drilling Manual

Section 3 revised 11/00/bc 1/17/01 12:00 PM Page 328

[ ] Practical Wellsite Operations
3.1.8

ters and hydraulic valves should be equipped with regulator valves
similar to the Koomey TR-5, which will not “fail open” and cause com-
plete loss of operating pressure. With the recharging pumps disabled,
the unit must have capacity to close and open all preventers, plus once
more close one annular and one ram preventer. The unit should then
have at least 200 psi pressure over precharge remaining and at this
pressure should be capable of holding the BOP units closed against the
rated WP.
The accumulator shall be located in a safe area away from the drill-
floor. It must have a low-pressure alarm and hydraulic fluid level indi-
cator or low-fluid level alarm.
On a surface stack, the control equipment must be able to close a
ram preventer, or an annular preventer smaller than 20 in in under 30
seconds. Annulars of 20 in or larger must close within 45 seconds. For
subsea stacks, the rams must close within 45 seconds and annulars
within 60 seconds.
All BOP stack installations shall have two graphic remote control
panels, each showing open and closed positions for each preventer and
pressure operated choke valves. Each of these panels should have a
master shutoff valve and controls for regulator and bypass valves. One
panel must be located near the driller’s position and the other near the
location exit, or near the rig supervisor’s office.
All four-way valves should be either in the full-open or full-closed
position and be free to move to either position. For example, the Shear
ram operating handles should not be locked, and four-way valves
should not be left blocked or in the center position.
Control hoses should preferably be high pressure and fire resistant
with a 3000 psi working pressure. Steel swivels are acceptable. All
spare operating lines and connections that are not used in the system
should be properly blocked off with blind plugs at the hydraulic oper-
ating unit. Test hoses to 3000 psi on BOP tests (except annular, or ram
units with variable rams inside to prevent damage) by using the bypass
valve, allowing full accumulator pressure in manifold.

3.1.8. Surface BOP Stack and Accumulator Testing

Testing of any part of the BOP equipment must be done under the
direct supervision of the drilling supervisor. Pressure recording charts
are required of any pressure tests for later reference.

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