Introduction to Blow

Out Preventors (BOPs)

- Casing and Hole Sizes

- BOPs in Drilling Operations

- Annular BOPs

- Ram Type BOPs

- Flange Sizes

- Rental BOPs
Earth Strata
30” Casing
26-1/2” Hole
20” Casing
17-1/2” Hole
13-3/8” Casing
12-1/4” Hole
9-5/8” Casing
8-1/2” Hole
7” Casing
3-1/2” Tubing
Completion
3-1/2” Tubing
Completion
30” Diverter
26-1/2” Hole
Influx at 1500 Ft
If Bottom Hole Pressure is 1,100 psi

and Drlg Mud Hydrostatic is 900 psi

Fluid will flow from well at 200 psi.

Corrective action:

Close 30” Diverter and open wing valve

Increase drilling mud weight and

Circulate heavier mud.

Run 20” Casing
20” Casing
20” Casing
20” Single BOP w/Blinds
20” Single BOP w/5” Rams

20” Single BOP w/Blinds

 20” Hydril
20” Single BOP w/5” Rams

20” Single BOP w/Blinds

Kill Choke
Line Line
Drill 17-1/2”

Hole
Change Rams for Csg Size
Run 13-3/8”
Casing &
Cement
Nipple Down
20” BOP
Stack
Nipple Up 13-5/8” Stack

13-3/8” Csg
 13-5/8” Hydril
13-5/8” BOP w/5” Rams

13-5/8” BOP w/Blind Ram

 13-5/8” Hydril
13-5/8” BOP w/5” Rams

13-5/8” BOP w/Blind Ram

Drill 12-1/4”
Hole
Install Casing Rams
Run 9-5/8”
Casing &
Cement
Install Pipe Rams
Drill 8-1/2”
Hole
D
R
I
L
L

P
I
P
E
To Choke
Manifold
X
X
Xmas Tree Valve Size is determined
by the production tubing size. The ID
of the tubing is close to the size of the
valve - flange.

2” Flg on 2-3/8” Tbg 2” ID

3” Flg on 3-1/2” Tbg 3” ID
4” Flg on 4-1/2” Tbg 4” ID
7” Flg on 7” Tbg 6” ID
Annular Blow Out Preventors
Riser Bore of the BOP is open
Cutaway view of the Packing
element in black and the operating
piston in blue. BOP is in the Open
position. The packing element is
relaxed.
Cutaway view through BOP
and packing element, in full
open condition.
BOP Packing element is
fully closed. Notice the
piston wedge shape moved
up and forced the rubber
to move inward.
In this view a Square Kelly is
in the riser bore. The Annular
if in the full open position. Fluid
goes down the drill stem and
returns to surface through the
annulas.
If the well takes a Kick, the
annular can be closed on the
kelly or the drill pipe or the
drill collars. The annular packing
element will seal on almost
anything.
 Annular BOPs
Hydril Manufactured Models
Type GK
Type GL
Type GX
Type MSP
Diverters
Rotating Heads

Shaffer Models
Spherical
Rotating Head

Cameron Iron Works (CIW)

Type D

Grant & Williams

Rotating Heads

R BOP (Rotating BOP)

Ram Type BOP, Side View

Single, Hydraulic Operated

Flanged Top & Bottom

Side outlets - Not shown

Ram Bore Area Cut Away

No Rams Installed
Rams Installed

Rams in Open Position

Riser Bore is Full Open

Rams Closed Across
Riser Bore Area
Wellbore Pressure Below
Closed Rams. Pressure can
not pass the closed rams.
Manual External Locking
Screws engaged
Wellbore Pressure below and
behind rams. The rams are
wellbore pressure assisted.
The Rams only hold pressure
from below.
 Ram Type BOP Mfgr & Models
Cameron Iron Works (CIW)
Type “U”
Type “U II”
Type “T”
Type “F” “SS” “QRC”
Type “SQRC”

Shaffer (Rucker Shaffer & NL Shaffer)

Type “LWS”
Type “LWP”
Type “XHP”
Type “B” & “E”

Hydril Corporation
Type “V”
Type “X”

Stewart & Stevenson - Quality Oilfield Products

Manufacture & Remanufacture
 Describing a BOP
STP

Size: Riser Bore

(How Big is the hole)

Type: Single - Double

Flanged - Studded
What Type (Letter)

Pressure: Working Pressure

Hint: Substituting Higher
Pressure equipment is
usually acceptable.
 Describing a BOP
STP

Does the BOP have side Outlets?

Annulars - Never
Rotating Heads - Always
Ram Type - Sometimes

If so, What Size & Pressure are the

outlets?
Flanged
Threaded

On a Single Ram BOP the outlet is

below the rams

On a Double the outlets are between

and below the rams.
 Describing BOP Rams
Blind Rams close and seal against
their mate. If anything is in the hole
the blind rams will partially close and
probably damage the obstruction.
Blind rams are sometimes called
CSO
for Complete Seal Off.

Rams Open
Top View

Rams Closed
 Describing BOP Rams
Shear Blind Rams cut the pipe in two
as they close and then seal against
their mate. Special attention to pipe
size and hydraulic system pressure
is required when using SBRs.

Rams Open
Top View

Rams Closed
Shear Blind Rams partially flatten the
pipe as they start to close. The blades
cut a notch in each side of the pipe.
Usually the weight of the suspended
drill string will cause the pipe to pull
apart.
 Describing BOP Rams
Pipe rams are another type of BOP
ram. Pipe rams close and seal around
a specific size tubular. Pipe rams
come in drill pipe sizes, casing sizes
and tubing sizes.

Rams Closed
 Describing BOP Rams
Offset Rams can be used when a dual
completion is run one string at a time.

Offset Rams can be reversed by

installing the rams in opposite sides
of the BOP.

Dual rams are also available. Pipe

sizes may be equal or different.
 Describing BOP Rams
Variable Bore Rams (VBRs) can be
used when two different OD drill
pipe sizes are used. If 3-1/2” drill
pipe was run below 5” drill pipe,
VBRs can close and seal on either.

VBRs closing on 5” DP

VBRs closing on 3-1/2” DP. The

steel fingers & rubber contract.
When to use VBRs
Good News & Other News

If height limitations will not allow

space for an additional BOP or
it is difficult to change rams,
consider VBRs.

The cost of the ram face packer for

a 11” 10M CIW Type U VBR for
5” x 3-1/2”is $2.727 while the cost
of a standard ram face packer for 11”
10M CIW Type U x 3-1/2” is $307

$2.420 difference per piece

Size: Flange Size.
How big is the hole in the flange?
What is the Riser Bore of the flange?

Flange Groups:
Open Face (Bolt Holes Thru)
Studded (Tap End Threads)
Camlock & Graylock are
special flange types
 SIZE PRESSURE Ring
API Old Name API Series Gasket
2-1/16" 2" 2,000 600 R-23
2-1/16" 2" 5,000 1,500 R-24
2-1/16" 2" 10,000 * BX-152
2-1/16" 2" 15,000 * BX-152
4-1/16" 4" 2,000 600 R-37
4-1/16" 4" 3,000 900 R-37
4-1/16" 4" 5,000 1500 R-39
4-1/16" 4" 10,000 * BX-155
4-1/16" 4" 15,000 * BX-155
7-1/16" 6" 3,000 900 R-45
7-1/16" 6" 5,000 1500 R-46
7-1/16" 6" 10,000 * BX-156
7-1/16" 6" 15,000 * BX-156
 Blow Out Preventors
Size Pressure Used For Rental
4-1/16" 10M Snubbing-Coil Tubing No
4-1/16" 15M Snubbing-Coil Tubing Yes
7-1/16" 3M Well Service No
7-1/16" 5M Well Service Yes
7-1/16" 10M Special ?
7-1/16" 15M All Yes
11" 5M Drilling & Well Service Yes
11" 10M Drilling & Snubbing Yes
11" 15M Contractor Equipment No
13-5/8" 5M Drilling Yes
13-5/8" 10M Drilling & Snubbing Yes
13-5/8" 15M Contractor Equipment No
16-3/4" 5M Drilling Some
16-3/4" 10M Subsea Contractor No
18-3/4" 5M Drilling No
18-3/4" 10M Subsea Contractor No
21-1/4" 2M Drilling Yes
20-3/4" 3M Drilling Yes
21-1/4" 5M Subsea Contractor No
21-1/4" 10M Subsea Contractor No
26-3/4" 3M Drilling No
26-3/4" 10M Subsea Contractor No
29-1/2" 500 Diverter Some
30" 1,000 Diverter Some
Rental BOPs can Cash Flow

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