250.615—Blowout prevention equipment.
(a)
The BOP system, system components and related well-control equipment shall be designed, used, maintained, and tested in a manner necessary to assure well control in foreseeable conditions and circumstances, including subfreezing conditions. The working pressure rating of the BOP system and system components shall exceed the expected surface pressure to which they may be subjected. If the expected surface pressure exceeds the rated working pressure of the annular preventer, the lessee shall submit with Form MMS-124, requesting approval of the well-workover operation, a well-control procedure that indicates how the annular preventer will be utilized, and the pressure limitations that will be applied during each mode of pressure control.
(b)
The minimum BOP system for well-workover operations with the tree removed must meet the appropriate standards from the following table:
| When | The minimum BOP stack must include |
|---|---|
| (1) The expected pressure is less than 5,000 psi, | Three BOPs consisting of an annular, one set of pipe rams, and one set of blind-shear rams. |
| (2) The expected pressure is 5,000 psi or greater or you use multiple tubing strings, | Four BOPs consisting of an annular, two sets of pipe rams, and one set of blind-shear rams. |
| (3) You handle multiple tubing strings simultaneously, | Four BOPs consisting of an annular, one set of pipe rams, one set of dual pipe rams, and one set of blind-shear rams. |
| (4) You use a tapered drill string, | At least one set of pipe rams that are capable of sealing around each size of drill string. If the expected pressure is greater than 5,000 psi, then you must have at least two sets of pipe rams that are capable of sealing around the larger size drill string. You may substitute one set of variable bore rams for two sets of pipe rams. |
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Code of Federal Regulations
173
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| (5) You use a subsea BOP stack | The requirements in § 250.442(a) of this part. |
(c)
The BOP systems for well-workover operations with the tree removed must be equipped with the following:
(1)
A hydraulic-actuating system that provides sufficient accumulator capacity to supply 1.5 times the volume necessary to close all BOP equipment units with a minimum pressure of 200 psi above the precharge pressure without assistance from a charging system. Accumulator regulators supplied by rig air and without a secondary source of pneumatic supply, must be equipped with manual overrides, or alternately, other devices provided to ensure capability of hydraulic operations if rig air is lost;
(2)
A secondary power source, independent from the primary power source, with sufficient capacity to close all BOP system components and hold them closed;
(5)
A choke line and a kill line each equipped with two full opening valves and a choke manifold. At least one of the valves on the choke-line shall be remotely controlled. At least one of the valves on the kill line shall be remotely controlled, except that a check valve on the kill line in lieu of the remotely controlled valve may be installed provided two readily accessible manual valves are in place and the check valve is placed between the manual valves and the pump. This equipment shall have a pressure rating at least equivalent to the ram preventers.
(d)
The minimum BOP-system components for well-workover operations with the tree in place and performed through the wellhead inside of conventional tubing using small-diameter jointed pipe (usually 3/4 inch to 1 1/4 inch) as a work string, i.e., small-tubing operations, shall include the following:
(e)
The subsea BOP system for well-workover operations must meet the requirements in § 250.442 of this part.
(f)
For coiled tubing operations with the production tree in place, you must meet the following minimum requirements for the BOP system:
| BOP system when expected surface pressures are less than or equal to 3,500 psi | BOP system when expected surface pressures are greater than 3,500 psi | BOP system for wells with returns taken through an outlet on the BOP stack |
|---|---|---|
| Stripper or annular-type well control component | Stripper or annular-type well control component | Stripper or annular-type well control component. |
| Hydraulically-operated blind rams | Hydraulically-operated blind rams | Hydraulically-operated blind rams. |
| Hydraulically-operated shear rams | Hydraulically-operated shear rams | Hydraulically-operated shear rams. |
| Kill line inlet | Kill line inlet | Kill line inlet. |
| Hydraulically-operated two-way slip rams | Hydraulically-operated two-way slip rams | Hydraulically-operated two-way slip rams.Hydraulically-operated pipe rams. |
| Hydraulically-operated pipe rams | Hydraulically-operated pipe rams.Hydraulically-operated blind-shear rams. These rams should be located as close to the tree as practical | A flow tee or cross.Hydraulically-operated pipe rams. Hydraulically-operated blind-shear rams on wells with surface pressures >3,500 psi. As an option, the pipe rams can be placed below the blind-shear rams. The blind-shear rams should be located as close to the tree as practical. |
(3)
You may use a set of hydraulically-operated combination rams for the hydraulic two-way slip rams and the hydraulically-operated pipe rams.
(4)
You must attach a dual check valve assembly to the coiled tubing connector at the downhole end of the coiled tubing string for all coiled tubing well-workover operations. If you plan to conduct operations without downhole check valves, you must describe alternate procedures and equipment in Form MMS-124, Application for Permit to Modify and have it approved by the District Manager.
(5)
You must have a kill line and a separate choke line. You must equip each line with two full-opening valves and at least one of the valves must be remotely controlled. You may use a manual valve instead of the remotely controlled valve on the kill line if you install a check valve between the two full-opening manual valves and the pump or manifold. The valves must have a working pressure rating equal to or greater than the working pressure rating of the connection to which they are attached, and you must install them between the well control stack and the choke or kill line. For operations with expected surface pressures greater than 3,500 psi, the kill line must be connected to a pump or manifold. You must not use the kill line inlet on the BOP stack for taking fluid returns from the wellbore.
(6)
You must have a hydraulic-actuating system that provides sufficient accumulator capacity to close-open-close each component in the BOP stack. This cycle must be completed with at least 200 psi above the pre-charge pressure, without assistance from a charging system.
(7)
All connections used in the surface BOP system from the tree to the uppermost required ram must be flanged, including the connections between the well control stack and the first full-opening valve on the choke line and the kill line.
(g)
The minimum BOP-system components for well-workover operations with the tree in place and performed by moving tubing or drill pipe in or out of a well under pressure utilizing equipment specifically designed for that purpose, i.e., snubbing operations, shall include the following:
(h)
An inside BOP or a spring-loaded, back-pressure safety valve and an essentially full-opening, work-string safety valve in the open position shall be maintained on the rig floor at all times during well-workover operations when the tree is removed or during well-workover operations with the tree installed and using small tubing as the work string. A wrench to fit the work-string safety valve shall be readily available. Proper connections shall be readily available for inserting valves in the work string. The full-opening safety valve is not required for coiled tubing or snubbing operations.