3/31/2023

WELL CONTROL

Hussein Y. Ali
Basrah University for Oil and Gas

Blowout Preventers (BOP) Stack

LECTURE Diverter
FOUR+FIVE Accumulator Unit

Choke/kill Manifolds

Mud-gas separator (MGS)

Auxiliary BOP Equipment

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PART 1
BLOWOUT PREVENTERS (BOP) STACK

BLOWOUT PREVENTERS (BOP) STACK

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BLOWOUT PREVENTERS (BOP) STACK

• A blowout preventer (BOP) is a specially designed

valve used to monitor, control, and if necessary,
seal a well to prevent blowouts of crude oil and
natural gas wells.

• They are usually installed in stacks of other valves.

• Two categories of blowout preventer are most

prevalent: annular and ram.

• Typically, at least one annular BOP stacked above

several ram BOPs.

USES

• The primary functions are:

1. Confine well fluid to the wellbore;
2. Provide means to add/remove fluid to/from the
wellbore;

• Additionally,:
1. Monitor and regulate wellbore pressure;
2. Center and hang off the drill string
3. Seal the wellhead (close off the wellbore);
4. Shut in the well
5. Cutting the pipes when necessary.
6. Kill the well

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CLASSIFICATION OF BLOWOUT PREVENTERS

• API classification is based on working pressure ratings:

API
2M 3M 5M 10M 15M
Classes

• M = 1000 psi rated working pressure

API CODES FOR BOP STACK COMPONENTS -SURFACE INSTALLATION

• API codes are:

G= rotating head (optional) .
A= annular type blowout preventer.
R= single ram type preventer with one set of rams, either
blank or for pipe, as operator prefers.
Rd=double ram type preventer with two sets of rams,
positioned in accordance with operator’s choice.
Rt= triple ram type preventer with three sets of rams,
positioned in accordance with operator’s choice.
S= drilling spool with side outlet connections for choke
and kill lines.
M= 1000 psi rated working pressure.

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API CODES FOR BOP STACK COMPONENTS -SURFACE INSTALLATION

• A blowout preventer stack may be fully identified

by a very simple designation, such as:

5M -13 5/8- SRRA

This preventer stack would be rated 5000 psi

working pressure, would have an internal bore of 13
5 /8 inches, and would be arranged as in the below
Figure

Ref. WELL CONTROL for the Rig-Site Drilling Team

EXAMPLE BOP ARRANGEMENTS - SURFACE INSTALLATION

2M rated working pressure 3 and 5M rated working pressure

* Drilling spool and its location in the stack arrangement is optional

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EXAMPLE BOP ARRANGEMENTS - SURFACE INSTALLATION

* Drilling spool and its location in the stack

arrangement is optional
** Annular Preventer A, and rotating head
G, can be of a lower pressure rating.

10 and 15M rated working pressure

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BOP ARRANGEMENTS - SUBSEA INSTALLATION

• The arrangements are similar to the surface

installations with certain differences.
• The differences are:
1. Choke and kill lines normally are connected to ram
preventer body outlets.
2. Spools may be used to space preventers for shearing
tubulars, hanging off drill pipe, or stripping
operations.
3. Choke and kill lines are manifolded for dual purpose
usage.
4. Blind/shear rams are normally used in place of blind
rams.
5. Ram preventers are usually equipped with an integral Ref. (Januarilham, 2012)
or remotely operated locking system.
Ref. WELL CONTROL for the Rig-Site Drilling Team

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API CODES FOR BOP STACK COMPONENTS-SUBSEA INSTALLATION

• Use the same nomenclature as surface

installations with the addition of remotely operated
connectors:

CH =remotely operated connector used to attach

wellhead or preventers to each other.

CL =low pressure remotely operated connector used

to attach the marine riser to the blowout
preventer stack. Ref. (Januarilham, 2012)

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Ref. WELL CONTROL for the Rig-Site Drilling Team

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EXAMPLE BOP ARRANGEMENTS - SUBSEA INSTALLATION

2M and 3M rated working pressure 5, 10 and 15M rated working pressure

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ROTATING HEAD

• a sealing device used to close off the annular

space around drill pipe and as a diverter in air
or gas drilling.
• Usually installed above the main Blowout
Preventers.
• Some applications for rotating heads are:
1. Drilling with air or gas, to divert the returns
through a "Blooey line".
2. As a diverter for surface hole.
3. To keep gas away from the rotary table. This
is especially important where Hydrogen
Sulphide can be expected.

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ANNULAR PREVENTER

• The annular preventers can seal around several size of:

1. Drill pipe
2. Drill collar
3. Wireline
4. Tubing
5. Open hole
6. etc..

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ANNULAR PREVENTER

• Close – When the hydraulic oil is pumped into the extend port, the element inside will be
lifted and squeezed the pipe/tubular.
• Open – On the other hand, if the hydraulic fluid is pumped into the retract port, the
element will be pushed down resulting in releasing the tubular.

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PIPE RAMS

• They are designed for sealing around a

specific diameter of the pipe.

• Also used for "hang-off.

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VARIABLE BORE RAMS (VBR)

• It is like the pipe rams

• But it can work with various pipe size in the

wellbore.

• The packer can be varied depending the force

push against the rams.

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BLIND RAMS

• Also known as sealing rams

• Have no openings for tubing

• Used to close off the well when the well does

not contain a drill string.

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SHEAR (BLIND/SHEAR) RAM

• Emergency equipment

• Designed to cut any pipe

• in addition, it can seal on an open hole so acts

as a blind ram

• The joint of drillpipe or tubing is destroyed in

the process, but the rest of the string is
unharmed by the operation of shear rams.

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SHEAR (BLIND/SHEAR) RAMS

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DRILLING SPOOLS

• Designed to connect the BOP and wellhead

• While choke and kill lines may be connected to side
outlets of the BOP blowout preventers stack,
• Many operators prefer that these lines be connected to a
drilling spool installed below at least one preventer
capable of closing on pipe.
• Which reduces the number of stack connections by
eliminating the drilling spool and shortens the overall
height.
• Also, to localize possible erosion in the less expensive
spool and to allow additional space between rams.

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BOP RAMS

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BOP RAMS

Ref: Schlumberger.

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PART 2
DIVERTER

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DIVERTER SELECTION CRITERIA

• An annular preventer with a large piping system

underneath.
• The decision to install a BOP or Diverter on the
conductor string depends on:
1. the expected formation strength at the conductor
shoe
2. the rig's capability to detect and handle an influx
successfully.
3. If a shallow gas kick is taken while drilling top hole
then the kick should be diverted.
• It may be impossible to close the BOP on a shallow
gas kick without breaking down the formation at the
shoe.
• the flow cannot be stopped or shut-in with a diverter;
the only goal is to direct the flow to a safe location
away from the rig.

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DIVERTER SYSTEM

• Flow restrictions in diverter systems must be

avoided.

• Diverter lines should be straight, sloping

down to avoid blockage of the lines with
cuttings, etc.

• In principle two outlets are required on the

diverter spool. They should face opposite
directions to be able to vent flow downwind of
the rig.

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DIVERTER OR BOP ?

• It might be hard to figure out whether to nipple up a diverter or a BOP stack after
cementing conductor casing as the choice to divert or shut-in is dependent on the
formation integrity at the conductor shoe, and this cannot be determined for sure until
the shoe has been drilled out.

• How can we avoid this issue?

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PART 3
ACCUMULATOR UNIT

Ref: Drilling Well Control Guide-Chevron Energy Tech. book

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ACCUMULATOR OR KOOMEY

• An accumulator or Koomey BOP Control System is a

unit used to hydraulically operate Rams BOP, Annular
BOP, HCR and some hydraulic equipment.

• There are several of high-pressure cylinders that

store gas (in bladders) and hydraulic fluid or water
under pressure for hydraulic activated systems.

• consists of five basic components:

1. Pumping System
2. Accumulator Bottles
3. the Manifold System
4. the Reservoir
5. Accumulator Remote Panels

Ref: Schlumberger.

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PUMPING SYSTEM

• Supplies hydraulic fluid to the accumulator bottles.

• It usually consists of two different types of pumps: a

set of air driven pumps and a set of electric triplex
pumps.

• Each set of pumps operates independently of the

other and is intended to be a backup for the other if
electric or air power is lost to the unit.

• Both sets of pumps are manifolded into a common

piping system that supplies the accumulator bottles.

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ACCUMULATOR BOTTLES

• A cylindrical bottle with a flexible bladder is the most common accumulator bottle in the
industry.
• Each bottle, which has a rubber bladder inside, has a storage volume of 10 gallons.

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THE MANIFOLD SYSTEM AND RESERVOIR

Manifold System
• Directs the flow of fluid to the various BOP components and also regulates the
pressure of the fluid delivered to the BOPs.
• two regulators: one for the ram type BOPs and valves, and the second for the annular
preventer.
• The manifold system also takes the hydraulic fluid returning from the BOP and sends
it to the reservoir tank.
Reservoir
• The reservoir is the storage vessel for hydraulic fluid that is not under pressure. The
reservoir feeds the pumps and, for surface stack systems, takes the return fluid from
the BOP stack.

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ACCUMULATOR REMOTE PANELS

• Used to function the BOP from strategic positions at

the wellsite.
• Usually located near the Driller's position or in the
Toolpusher's office.
• Three types of remote operating systems utilized in the
industry today:
1. Air: Not recommended for distances in excess of 150
ft. or in freezing temperatures.
2. Electro-Pneumatic: Not recommended for freezing
temperatures
https://www.mcmoiltools.com/bop-control-units-bop-accumulator-units/
3. Electro-Hydraulic: Acceptable for freezing
temperatures

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OPERATIONAL DIAGRAM

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PART 4
CHOKE/KILL MANIFOLDS

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CHOKE MANIFOLD

• An arrangement of valves, lines and chokes

which provide several flow routes to control
the flow of mud, gas and oil from the annulus
during a kick.

• The primary function of a choke is to create a

back pressure on the well.

• The choke is operated manually or

hydraulically from a remote-control console.

• A choke panel is usually on the rig floor.

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CHOKE MANIFOLD

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KILL MANIFOLD

• consists of check valves, gate valves,

pressure gauges and pipelines.

• The one end of the kill manifold is connected

to the drilling spool and the other end is
connected to the pump.

• They are specifically made for injecting heavy

mud, water and extinguishant during.

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HCR

• High Closing Ratio valve is a hydraulically

operated gate valve.

• This valve is used on diverter systems and

choke/kill lines leading from the blow out
preventers.

• can be operated remotely.

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PART 5
MUD-GAS SEPARATOR (MGS)

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MUD-GAS SEPARATOR (MGS)

• Installed downstream of the choke manifold

• Used to separate gas from the drilling fluid.

• Provides a means of safely venting the gas

away from the rig and returning usable liquid
mud to the active system.

• Atmospheric type MGS called ‘gas buster’ or

‘poorboy’

Dan Eby, Cudd Well Control

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MUD-GAS SEPARATOR (MGS)

or build up pressure or internal pressure

Working pr. or blow through pr. or maximum

allowable pr.

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PART 6
AUXILIARY BOP EQUIPMENTS

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FULL OPENING SAFETY VALVE (FOSV)

• A ball type safety valve used to stop flow

through the drill string

• Installed in the drill string if the well begins

to flow while tripping pipe.

• This valve should be located on the rig floor

in an open position.

• After the valve has been stabbed and made

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up, it can then be closed by right wrench to
shut the well in.

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INSIDE BOP VALVE (GRAY VALVE)

• A non-return valve (check valve) allowing

pumping through the valve into the drillstring but
it prevents upward flow.

• Has several industrial names as drill pipe float

valves, Gray valves, Omsco valves and drop-in
dart valves.

• it allows you to strip in hole without mud flowing

through the drillsting.

• The IBOP valve should not be used for shut the

well in while tripping.

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UPPER KELLY VALVE / KELLYCOCK

• Installed between the kelly and the swivel.

• Always available.

• Prevents the equipment above the Kelly from

high pressure flow during kick.

• serves as a backup to the lower Kelly cock

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LOWER KELLY VALVE / KELLYCOCK

• Installed on the lower end of the Kelly

• Always available.

• Usually closed if a kick puts risk on the equipment

above the Kelly and to prevent a mud from
falling out of the Kelly when break off the
Kelly to make a connection.

• Used when the upper kelly valve is damaged or

not easily accessible.

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BIT FLOAT VALVE

• Prevent backflow during connections.

• However, it is subjected to severe wear by the

drilling mud and may not function when
needed.

• Most operators discontinue the use of bit

floats after setting surface casing.

• Bit floats are most useful in top hole drilling

where backflow during connections is more
likely due to imbalanced annular fluid density.

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DROP IN VALVE (DIV)

• Suitable for most drilling situations in which

return flow through the drill string is a risk.

• Check valves prevents upward flow through

the drill pipe, but allow fluid to be pumped
downward to circulate the well.

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THANK YOU

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