- BLOWOUT PREVENTERS AND WELL CONTROL

- BLOWOUT PREVENTERS AND WELL CONTROL On all wells being drilled, completed or recompleted and on any production work when tubing is to be pulled from the well, all proper and necessary precautions shall be taken for keeping the well under control, including the use of blowout preventers (BOPs) and auxiliary equipment. The minimum BOP stack shall be one set of hydraulically-operated pipe rams to fit the work string being used and one set of hydraulically-operated blind rams. An annular preventer may be used in lieu of rams to run casing, etc. or when an annular preventer would be more practical. In addition to the BOP stack, an inside BOP or safety valve to fit the drill pipe or tubing shall be kept on the rig floor at all times. This rule applies to all work described above whether using a drilling rig, conventional workover rig, coil tubing unit or snubbing unit. Once a well is completed, sufficient valves shall be installed on all wellheads to insure control of the well. It is always the responsibility of the Operator to maintain control of the well. 1. When to install BOPs (a) On drilling operations, BOPs must be installed before drilling out from under surface casing. (b) On completion operations, BOPs must be installed before entering the wellbore with any tubing. For wireline work prior to running tubing, a manual valve may be used in lieu of the BOP stack. (c) On recompletions and production work, BOPs must be installed as soon as the well conditions permit and before pulling any tubulars from the well. 2. When to test the BOPs (a) On drilling operations and completion operations: 1. Upon installation 2. Not less than once every twenty-one (21) days 3. Following any repairs which require disconnecting a pressure seal (b) On recompletion and production operations: 1. A stump test may be made on location prior to installing the BOPs where a test plug cannot be utilized (Coil tubing and snubbing units must test BOPs before entering the wellbore) 2. Not less than once every twenty-one (21) days 3. Following any repairs which require disconnecting a pressure seal -1- 3. Reporting/Recording BOP Tests (a) Operator will notify the MSO&GB Field Inspector prior to testing BOPs in order that the test may be witnessed by MSO&GB personnel (b) BOP tests will be recorded on a pen recorder and chart or a copy shall be furnished to the MSO&GB Field Inspector. 4. Testing Requirements (a) BOPs must be tested to the maximum pressure rating of the BOPs or to 80% of the burst rating of the casing, whichever is less. 5. Waivers to Rule 13 (a) A waiver of the requirements of Rule 13 may be obtained by requesting the waiver on the Form 2 which permits the work in question. If the Form 2 is approved with the waiver requested, then the waiver is also granted. (b) The Supervisor or Field Director may grant a waiver to the requirements of Rule 13, or to any part of Rule 13, and may convey the granting of the waiver verbally to the Operator or through other MSO&GB personnel. Such waiver may only be granted by the Supervisor or Field Director upon his or her determination that such waiver will not materially or adversely affect the Operator’s ability to maintain well control at all times. (c) The granting to an Operator of a waiver of any of the requirements of Rule 13 does not in any way relieve the Operator of the duty to maintain well control at all times. 6. Well Control Certification (a) Operators shall have present and available on all drilling, completion and recompletion locations an Operator’s representative who is certified in “Well Control” by an industry-accepted institution of training or who has a minimum of not less than five (5) years experience in the supervision of well work.