GL 18-3/4 5,000 psi

Annular Blowout Preventer

1

Definitions
Blowout Preventer (BOP)
The equipment (or valve) installed at the wellhead to
contain wellbore pressure either in the annular space
between the casing and the tubulars or in an open
hole during drilling, completion, testing,or workover
operations.

Annular BOP
A BOP that uses a shaped elastomeric sealing
element to seal the space between the tubular and
the wellbore or an open hole.
2

Hydril GL ABOP

Latched head design for easy

access
Only two moving parts for
simplicity
Piston design to prevent piston
binding
Field replaceable wear plate
Opening and closing chamber
tested to BOP operating pressure secondary chamber to twice BOP
operating pressure
API 16A monogram

Hydril GL ABOP
lip-type seals for
Large
improved reliability
packing units are factory
All
acceptance tested
acoustic emission
BOP
monitored during shell test
are resistant to
Materials
sulfide stress cracking - meet
the requirements of NACE

3 models
4

Piston Operation
raised by applying closing
Piston
pressure

unit squeezed inward to sealing

Packing
engagement with pipe in the hole or with
itself on open hole

Packing Unit - Fully Open

bore opening to pass
Full
large diameter tools and
allow maximum annulus
flow
to full bore
Returns
because of normal
packing unit resiliency
of opening
Retention
pressure reduces piston
wear caused by vibration

Packing Unit - Closed on Pipe

Closed on drill pipe

on tool joints,
Seals
pipe, casing, tubing or
wire line to rated
working pressure

Packing Unit - Closed on Kelly

and seals on
Closes
square or hex Kellys
to rated working
pressure

Packing Unit
Closed on Open Hole

shutoff
Complete
sealing up to rated
working pressure

Operation
Standard Surface Hookup
the secondary chamber to
Connects
the opening chamber
requires least amount of
Hookup
control fluid for fastest closing time
pressure to closing chamber
Control
raises piston closing the packing
unit to create seal-off
flow from opening chamber
Return
splits to fill secondary chamber and
balance flows to control system
reservoir

10

Operating Curves
Standard Surface Hookup
GL 18-3/4 - 5000 MD Packing Unit Closing Pressure Standard Hookup

11

Operation
Optional Surface Hookup
the secondary
Connects
chamber to the closing chamber
requires least amount
Hookup
of closing pressure for optimum
closing force.

pressure to closing
Control
chamber and secondary
chamber raises piston, closing
the packing unit to create seal
off.

flow from opening

Return
chamber flows to control
system reservoir.

12

Operating Curves
Optional Surface Hookup

13

Stripping Operation
Standard Surface Hookup
seal-off while rotating or
Full
stripping of drill pipe and tool
joints

leakage prolongs
Slight
packing unit life by providing
lubrication

tool joint stripping

Slow
speeds reduce surge
pressures

of surge absorber
Installation
accumulator for faster
closing pressure response

14

Stripping Operation
Optional Surface Hookup
seal-off while rotating or
Full
stripping of drill pipe and tool
joints

leakage prolongs
Slight
packing unit life by providing
lubrication

tool joint stripping

Slow
speeds reduce surge
pressures

of surge absorber
Installation
accumulator for faster
closing pressure response

15

Subsea Operation
Standard Hookup

Pressure of Drilling fluid column

Hydrostatic
exerts opening force on BOP piston because of
unbalanced areas

pressure of control fluid column has

Hydrostatic
no effect on opening and closing chambers
because they are of equal area

Optional Hookup

hookup techniques provide means of

Two
compensating for the effects of the drilling fluid
on the BOP piston

Hookup
Standard
Secondary chamber connected to the opening
chamber

Hookup
Optional
Secondary chamber connected to the closing
chamber

16

Subsea Closing Pressure

Comparison Chart
MD Packing Unit

GL 18-3/4" 5,000 psi: 5" drill pipe; 5,000 psi well pressure; 16 lb/gal drilling fluid

Water
Depth Ft.
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000

*Closing Pressure psi

Standard Hook-up
640
730
815
905
990
1075
1165
1250
1340
1425
1515

*Closing Pressure psi

Optional Hook-up
440
530
615
700
790
875
965
1050
1140
1225
1310

* All pressures have been rounded up to the nearest 5 psi.

17

Standard Subsea Hookup

standard hookup for
Considered
water depths to 800-1000
requires least amount of
Hookup
control fluid thus gives the
fastest closing time.
hookup requires an
This
adjustment pressure P to be
added to the surface closing
pressure
pressure = P
Closing
Where:
PSC
P

SC

+ P

= surface closing pressure

= adjustment pressure

18

Standard Subsea Hookup

(continued)
Adjustment Pressure Calculation
Adjustment Pressure P = (0.052 x Wm x Dw) - (0.45 x Dw)

Where:
Wm = drilling fluid density in lb/gal
Dw = water depth in ft
0.052 - conversion factor
= 2.19
= the ratio of closing chamber area
to the secondary chamber area
0.45 psi/ft
= pressure gradient of sea water,
using a specific gravity of sea water = 1.04
0.433 psi/ft = pressure gradient of fresh water

2 methods to arrive at closing pressure

1.
Calculation
Add surface closing pressure from chart to calculated adjustment pressure
2.
Using charts
Add surface closing pressure from chart to adjustment pressure from chart

19

Standard Subsea Hookup

(continued)
Example Method 1
Drill pipe
Well pressure
Drilling fluid
Water depth

=
=
=
=

5
3500 psi
16 lb/gal
500 ft.

Closing pressure = Psc + P

Where:
Psc = Surface closing pressure
Psc = 560 psi from surface closing pressure
chart for standard hookup
Adjustment pressure P =
(0.052 x 16 lb/gal x 500 ft) - (0.45 psi/ft x 500 ft)
2.19
P = 87 psi
Psc + P = Pc
560 + 87 = 647 say 650 psi

20

Standard Subsea Hookup

(continued)

GL 18-3/4 5000 MD Packing Unit Closing Pressure

Standard Hookup

Method 2

From surface closing pressure

560 psi

From adjustment pressure P chart =

87 psi

Closing Pressure PC

647 psi

Adjustment Pressure P Standard Hookup

21

Optional Subsea Hookup

hookup for
Recommended
water depths below 3000
requires from
Hookup
14% to 28% less closing
pressure
hookup also requires an
This
adjustment pressure (P) to be
added to surface closing
pressure to compensate for
hydrostatic pressure of drilling
fluid column
pressure = surface
Closing
closing pressure + adjustment
pressure

22

Optional Subsea Hookup

(continued)
Adjustment Pressure Calculation
Adjustment Pressure (P) = [(0.052 X Wm X Dw) - (0.45 X Dw)]

Where:
Wm
= drilling fluid density in lb/gal
Dw
= water depth in ft
0.052
= conversion factor
= 2.19
= the ratio of closing chamber area
to the secondary chamber area
0.45 psi/ft = pressure gradient of sea water,
using a specific gravity of sea water = 1.04
0.433 psi/ft = pressure gradient of fresh water = 1.0
= __AC _
(AC + AS)

Closing chamber area

_
Closing chamber area + Secondary chamber area

Two methods to arrive at closing pressure

1. Calculation - Add surface closing pressure from chart to calculated adjustment
pressure
2. Using charts - Add surface closing pressure from chart to adjustment pressure
from chart

23

Optional Subsea Hook

(continued)
Example Method I
Drill Pipe
Well pressure
Drilling fluid
Water depth

=
=
=
=

5
3500 psi
16 lb/gal
2000 ft

Closing pressure = Psc + P

Where:
Psc = Surface closing pressure
Psc = 384 psi from surface closing pressure
chart for optional hookup
Adjustment pressure P =
0.69[(0.052 x 16 lb/gal x 2000 ft) - (0.45 psi/ft x 2000 ft)]
2.19
P = 240 psi
Psc + P = PC
384 + 240 = 624 say 625 psi

24

Optional Subsea Hookup

(continued)
Example Method 2

From surface closing pressure chart =

385 psi

From adjustment pressure P chart =

240 psi

Closing pressure PC

625 psi

Adjustment Pressure P Optional Hookup

25

Stripping Operation Subsea

Standard Hookup
seal-off while rotating or
Full
stripping of drill pipe and tool
joints
leakage prolongs
Slight
packing unit life by providing
lubrication
tool joint stripping
Slow
speeds reduce surge
pressures
of surge absorber
Installation
accumulator for faster closing
pressure response

26

Standard Subsea Hookup

Closing Chamber Surge Absorber Precharge
Calculation:
Pipe =
Water Depth
Precharge PPC
Where:
Dw =
0.41 psi ft
PSC = 400 psi =
hookup

5
= 500 ft
= 0.80 [surface closing pressure + (0.41 X Dw)]
water depth in ft
= Control fluid pressure gradient
From closing pressure chart - surface

standard

PPC = .80[400 + (0.41 X 500)]

PPC = .80(400 + 205)
PPC = .80 X 605 psi
PPC = 485 psi

27

Stripping Operation Subsea

Optional Hookup
seal-off while rotating or
Full
stripping of drill pipe and tool
joints
leakage prolongs
Slight
packing unit life by providing
lubrication
tool joint stripping
Slow
speeds reduce surge
pressures
of surge absorber
Installation
accumulator for faster closing
pressure response

28

Optional Subsea Hookup

Closing Chamber Surge Absorber Precharge
Calculation:
Pipe =
5
Water Depth
= 2000 ft
Precharge PPC
= 0.80 [surface closing pressure + (0.41 X Dw)]
Where: Dw
= Water depth in ft
0.41 psi ft
= Control fluid pressure gradient
PSC = 260 psi
= From closing pressure chart surface optional hookup

PPC = .80[260 + (0.41 X 2000)]

PPC = .80(260 + 820)
PPC = .80 X 1080
PPC = 865 psi

29

Physical Data
Engineering Data

30

Physical Data (continued)

Bolt & Wrench Data

31

Packing Units

Manufactured by Hydril
quality rubber compounds bonded to flanged
High
steel segments
steel segments anchor the packing unit and
Flanged
control rubber extrusion and flow during sealing

Original Packing Unit

LL Long Life Packing Unit

32

Packing Units (continued)

packing unit design for use in GL-18-3/4
Newest
5000 annular BOPs

Better fatigue life

Better stripping life
Compounds:
2Natural
rubber
Nitrile rubber

MD Packing Unit
33

Packing Unit Replacement

Pull Down Bolt Assembly

Jaw Operating Screw
Pipe Plug
Sleeve Screw
Jaw
Head

34

Packing Unit Replacement (continued)

Retract Jaw Operating Screws

(4 turns counter clockwise)
35

Packing Unit Replacement (continued)

Retract jaw operating screws

4 turns. This releases the
jaws from the head.

Remove 4 pull-down bolt

assemblies from the top of the
head.Lift off preventer head.

36

Packing Unit Replacement

(continued)

Lift out Packing Unit and Lubricate Piston Bowl

37

Packing Unit Replacement

(continued)

Install new Packing

Unit
Replace head
Install pull-down bolt
assemblies and pull
head fully into place
38

Packing Unit Replacement

(continued)

Tighten jaw operating screws 4 turns and

torque to 300-400 ft-lbs

39

Seals
Dynamic Seals - Hydril molded lip-type pressure energized design
Static seals - O-ring or square design
Seals molded from special synthetic rubber

Dynamic Seals

Static Seals

40

Maintenance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Inspect upper and lower connections

Check body
Inspect vertical bore
Check inner and outer body sleeve for wear
Check piston for wear or damage
Check wear plate
Inspect packing unit
Inspect seals

41

Seal Testing
Hydril recommends all seals be replaced if a seal leak is suspected.
1. Test seals 18, 16, 23, & 14
a. Pressure closing chamber to 1000 psi
(Packing unit closed on test pipe)
b. Open opening chamber to atmosphere
c. Open secondary chamber to atmosphere
d. Pressurize well bore to 1000 psi
IF: Well bore fluid (clean water or dyed water
is seen at secondary chamber
1)Seal 18 is leaking, OR
2) Seal 23 is leaking, OR
3) Seal 18 and 23 are leaking
IF: Closing fluid (milky colored water and
soluble oil) is seen at secondary
chamber--Seal 16 is leaking.
IF: Closing fluid is seen at opening
chamber--seal 14 is leaking.
NOTE: Seals 14, 16 and 18 are 2-way seals and get tested in both directions.

42

Seal Testing (continued)

2. Test seals 18, 16, 23
a. Open closing chamber to atmosphere
b. Open opening chamber to atmosphere
c. Pressurize secondary chamber to
1500 psi (packing unit closed on test pipe)
d. Well bore full of water at 0 pressure
IF: Secondary chamber pressure gauge is
dropping and well bore pressure gauge
(below packing unit) is rising.
1) Seal 18 is leaking, OR
2) Seal 23 is leaking, OR
3) Seal 18 and 23 are leaking
IF: Secondary chamber fluid is seen
in closing chamber, seal 16 is leaking.

43

Seal Testing (continued)

3. Test Seals 14, 27 (lower) and 29
a. Open closing chamber to atmosphere
b. Pressurize opening chamber to 1000 psi
c. Secondary chamber is at 0 pressure and
plugged (after application of opening
chamber pressure)
d. Well bore is empty
IF: Opening fluid is seen at closing
chamber,
seal 14 is leaking.
IF: Opening fluid is seen in well bore or
coming from the relief valve.
1. Seal 27 (lower) is leaking, OR
2. Seal 29 is leaking, OR
3. Seal 27 (lower) and 29 are leaking.

44

Seal Testing (continued)

4. Test seal 27 (upper)
a. Plug closing chamber
b. Open opening chamber to
atmosphere
c. Plug secondary chamber
d. Pressurize well bore to 1000 psi
(requires blind flange on top, as
packing unit is open)
IF: Well bore fluid is seen at opening
chamber, seal 27 (upper) is
leaking.
5. Seals 2 and 3 are used primarily to
exclude external matter and are not
feasibly testable.

45

Packing Unit Testing

Reliable packing unit testing achieved by

measuring piston stroke.
Maintain closing pressure during all seal-off
operations
Begin test with recommended closing pressure
Measure piston stroke through opening in the
head - Use 5/16 rod
Maximum & minimum distance from top of head
to top of piston stamped in the head
Record piston stroke

46

Disassembly
Vent all pressures
head (1)
Remove

Release jaws (10) by rotating jaw

operating screw (4) counter clockwise
4 turns
Remove pull-down bolt assemblies (32)
Install three (2- 4-1/2 NC) eyebolts
Lift off head (1)
Remove wear plate by removing 12 cap
screws (35 & 36)
Remove packing unit (11)
Install two (5/8 11 NC) eyebolts
Lift out packing unit (11)
Remove opening chamber head (24)
Install three (7/8 9 UNC) eyebolts
Install triple-line sling
Lift out head (24)

47

Disassembly (continued)
Remove piston (12)

Install two piston

lifting devices
Install two-line sling
Lift piston (12)
Do not use air or gas
Low pressure
hydraulic pressure
(50 psi) may be used

48

Disassembly (continued)

Remove slotted body sleeve (20)

Remove 14 cap screws (19)

Lift out slotted body sleeve (20)

Remove outer body sleeve (21)

Install two (3/4-10 NC) eye bolts

Lift out sleeve (21)

49

Disassembly (continued)

Disassemble jaw operating screw assembly

Remove pipe plug (7)
Remove sleeve screw and spacer sleeve (5 & 6)
Remove jaw operating screw (4)
Remove jaw from inside the body (10)
Assembly is the reverse

Pull Down Bolt Assembly

Jaw Operating Screw
Pipe Plug
Sleeve Screw
Jaw
Head

50

Assembly

Clean & inspect all parts

slotted body sleeve and outer
Install
body sleeve (20 & 21)
Install O-ring in seal groove (18) at
bottom of outer body sleeve
Lubricate O-ring thoroughly
Install inner double U-seal (23) and
inner non-extrusion rings (22)
Install outer body sleeve (21)
Install slotted body sleeve (2)
Install 14 cap screws (19)
Remove eyebolts from outer body
sleeve

51

Assembly (continued)
piston (12)
Install

Install lower double

U-seal (16) and lower nonextrusion rings (15)
Lubricate seals before
installation
Install middle double
U-seal (14) and middle nonextrusion rings (13)
Lubricate seals before
installation
Lubricate internal mating body
surfaces
Carefully lower piston into body
Remove piston eyebolt
assemblies

52

Assembly (continued)

Install opening chamber head (24)

Install square head gasket (29)

Install U-seal (27)
Install three (7/8 - 9 NC) eye bolts
Install three-line sling
Install opening chamber head

53

Assembly (continued)
Install packing unit (11)

Lubricate piston bowl

Install two (5/8 - 11 NC) eyebolts
Lift in packing unit

Install BOP head (1)

Install wear plate (35) with 12 cap screws

(36) torque 20 ft-lbs
Install O-ring (2)
Install U-seal (27)
Install three (2 - 4-1/2 NC) eyebolts
Lift head in place
Install pull-down bolt assemblies
Ensure head & body clearance 0.5 (32)
Rotate jaw operating screws (4) 4 turns
clockwise 300-400 ft-lbs torque

54

Position of Parts

55

Position of Parts

56

Parts Identification

57