8/9/22, 10:08 AM Investigating the Cause of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.

com

HOME PAGE TODAY'S PAPER VIDEO MOST POPULAR TIMES TOPICS

Search All NYTimes.com

U.S.

WORLD U.S. N.Y. / REGION BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE HEALTH SPORTS OPINION ARTS STYLE TRAVEL JOBS REAL ESTATE AUTOS

POLITICS
EDUCATION
BAY AREA
CHICAGO
TEXAS
Published: June 21, 2010

Investigating the Cause of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout

WHERE OIL WHERE OIL HAS EFFORTS TO EFFECTS INVESTIGATING FINAL MOMENTS

IS IN THE GULF MADE LANDFALL

STOP THE LEAK

ON WILDLIFE THE BLOWOUT

ON THE RIG

Critical Components in a Complex System In order to view this feature, you must download the latest version of flash player here.

After the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig,

investigators focused on the failure of a component
on the well’s blowout preventer that is supposed to
close off a well spewing out of control.
The device,
called a blind shear ram, is the only part of the
blowout preventer that can completely seal the well.
Minutes after the explosion, at least one rig worker
hit an emergency button, which
is supposed to
trigger the blind shear ram within about 30 seconds,
and then disconnect the rig from the well. But that
night, the blind shear ram never fully deployed.
RELATED ARTICLE

Inside the Blowout Preventer

The blowout preventer is a five-story structure that
contains devices that allow well operators to
maintain control of the well. Once oil, gas or other
fluids are flowing, various components of the
blowout
preventer can be used to seal the space
between the drill pipe and the well bore. But one of
the structure’s most critical roles is to stave off a
disaster in a blowout — the sudden
release of
uncontrolled oil from the well.

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/21/us/20100621-bop.html?_r=0 1/3
8/9/22, 10:08 AM Investigating the Cause of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IN AN EMERGENCY

to canisters, called
a gushing out.
… separate emergency
In a blowout, a rig
worker presses an
emergency button. A
signal is sent from the rig
down an electrical line
preventers have
one of the control pods.
The control pod
directs hydraulic fluid
from the rig and from a
bank of pressurized
accumulators
… through a valve,
called a shuttle valve,
and into the blind shear
ram. Some blowout
system with its own
shuttle valve.
The blind shear ram
cuts through the drill pipe
and seals the well,
preventing oil from

Inside the Blind Shear Ram

Of all the components on the blowout preventer,
only the blind shear ram was designed to shut down
the well in a blowout like the one that took place on
the Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20. It
is the
only device that is supposed to cut through the thick
drill pipe and seal off the hole.

Unlike many other parts of the Deepwater Horizon’s

blowout preventer, the blind shear ram has no
backup. The breakdown of any part of the ram can
lead to disaster. One of the most critical
components
of the blind shear ram is the shuttle
valve, the only point for the hydraulic fluid to enter
the ram.

A risk analysis commissioned by the manufacturer

of the blowout preventer identified this valve as one
of the weakest links. As the fluid flows through the
system, it has two possible pathways until
it reaches
the valve. So if the valve fails, the well will not be
sealed.

HOW IT WORKS

Fluid enters the The fluid flows Wedge locks slide in Rubber seals on the
shuttle valve from one of behind pistons, which to prevent the pistons ram close off the well. Oil
two inlet ports and drive the ram to shear from moving back. pushing up from the well
pushes a metal “shuttle” the drill pipe. adds pressure below and
to one
side and flows behind the
ram, helping
down the stem of the T- to keep the ram closed.
shaped valve.

HOW THE RAM CUTS THE DRILL PIPE

Pistons push the ram toward Offset blades on the ram cut The pipe breaks and
the pipe. the pipe. collapses.

By MIKA GRÖNDAHL, HAEYOUN PARK, GRAHAM ROBERTS AND ARCHIE TSE

|
Send Feedback

Sources: BP; Benton Baugh, Radoil, a deepwater engineering firm; Cameron; “Marine Riser Systems and Subsea Blowout Preventers,” Petroleum Extension Service, The University of Texas at
Austin and
International Association of Drilling Contractors; West Engineering Services

LINKEDIN SHARE

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/21/us/20100621-bop.html?_r=0 2/3
8/9/22, 10:08 AM Investigating the Cause of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com

Home
World
U.S.
N.Y. / Region
Business
Technology
Science
Health
Sports
Opinion
Arts
Style
Travel
Jobs
Real Estate
Autos
Back to Top

Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

Privacy
Terms of Service
Search
Corrections
RSS
First Look
Help
Contact Us
Work for Us
Advertise
Site Map

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/21/us/20100621-bop.html?_r=0 3/3