CFR > Title 30 - Mineral Resources > CHAPTER II—MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR > SUBCHAPTER B—OFFSHORE (parts 250 to 285) > PART 250—OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF > SUBPART D—Oil and Gas Drilling Operations (§250.400 to §250.490) > 250.442—What are the requirements for a subsea BOP system?

250.442—What are the requirements for a subsea BOP system?

When you drill with a subsea BOP system, you must install the BOP system before drilling below the surface casing. The District Manager may require you to install a subsea BOP system before drilling below the conductor casing if proposed casing setting depths or local geology indicate the need. The table in this paragraph outlines your requirements.
When drilling with a subsea BOP system, you must: Additional requirements
(a) Have at least four remote-controlled, hydraulically operated BOPs. You must have at least one annular BOP, two BOPs equipped with pipe rams, and one BOP equipped with blind-shear rams. The blind-shear rams must be capable of shearing any drill pipe in the hole under maximum anticipated surface pressures.
(b) Have an operable dual-pod control system to ensure proper and independent operation of the BOP system.
(c) Have an accumulator system to provide fast closure of the BOP components and to operate all critical functions in case of a loss of the power fluid connection to the surface. The accumulator system must meet or exceed the provisions of Section 13.3 , Accumulator Volumetric Capacity, in API RP 53, Recommended Practices for Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells (incorporated by reference as specified in § 250.198 ). The District Manager may approve a suitable alternate method.
(d) Have a subsea BOP stack equipped with remotely operated vehicle (ROV) intervention capability. At a minimum, the ROV must be capable of closing one set of pipe rams, closing one set of blind-shear rams and unlatching the LMRP.
(e) Maintain an ROV and have a trained ROV crew on each floating drilling rig on a continuous basis. The crew must examine all ROV related well control equipment (both surface and subsea) to ensure that it is properly maintained and capable of shutting in the well during emergency operations. The crew must be trained in the operation of the ROV. The training must include simulator training on stabbing into an ROV intervention panel on a subsea BOP stack.
(f) Provide autoshear and deadman systems for dynamically positioned rigs. (1) Autoshear system means a safety system that is designed to automatically shut in the wellbore in the event of a disconnect of the LMRP. When the autoshear is armed, a disconnect of the LMRP closes the shear rams. This is considered a “rapid discharge” system.
(2) Deadman System means a safety system that is designed to automatically close the wellbore in the event of a simultaneous absence of hydraulic supply and signal transmission capacity in both subsea control pods. This is considered a “rapid discharge” system.
(3) You may also have an acoustic system.
(g) Have operational or physical barrier(s) on BOP control panels to prevent accidental disconnect functions. Incorporate enable buttons on control panels to ensure two-handed operation for all critical functions.
(h) Clearly label all control panels for the subsea BOP system. Label other BOP control panels such as hydraulic control panel.
(i) Develop and use a management system for operating the BOP system, including the prevention of accidental or unplanned disconnects of the system. The management system must include written procedures for operating the BOP stack and LMRP (including proper techniques to prevent accidental disconnection of these components) and minimum knowledge requirements for personnel authorized to operate and maintain BOP components.
(j) Establish minimum requirements for personnel authorized to operate critical BOP equipment. Personnel must have:
(1) Training in deepwater well control theory and practice according to the requirements of 30 CFR 250, subpart O; and
(2) A comprehensive knowledge of BOP hardware and control systems.
(k) Before removing the marine riser, displace the fluid in the riser with seawater. You must maintain sufficient hydrostatic pressure or take other suitable precautions to compensate for the reduction in pressure and to maintain a safe and controlled well condition.
(l) Install the BOP stack in a glory hole when in ice-scour area. Your glory hole must be deep enough to ensure that the top of the stack is below the deepest probable ice-scour depth.
Code of Federal Regulations 144

Code of Federal Regulations

[75 FR 63373, Oct. 14, 2010]