May 27

BP video conference on Blowout Preventers
Source: http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9033657&contentId=7061989

A blowout preventer (BOP) is a large device with a series of valves (also referred to as “rams”) placed at the top of a well that can be closed for safety reasons during drilling. The rams are designed to close if pressure from an underground formation causes fluids such as oil or natural gas to enter the wellbore and threaten the rig.

By closing the rams, undesired fluid flow can be prevented, thus allowing the opportunity to regain control of the wellbore. Once the well is closed, the situation is then evaluated to determine the procedure required to return the well to safe operating status.

A BOP can be installed above ground or under water. BOPs for a deepwater well are powered and controlled remotely by means of hydraulic actuators. Today’s average deep-sea BOP can control 15,000 pounds per square inch (psi) in water up to 10,000 feet deep.

There are three basic types of valves used in deepwater BOPs: One valve is a “ram” that makes a seal on pipe of a specific diameter by making a sharp horizontal motion. Another type makes seals on pipes of various diameters. A third type of BOP valve seals the wellbore itself.

The Horizon Deepwater BOP contains elements of all three types of valve

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May 26

Subsea efforts continue to focus on interventions via the blow out preventer (BOP). 
Source: http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7062409

A series of diagnostic tests are currently underway on the Deepwater Horizon’s failed BOP to improve understanding of the status and configuration of the BOP and determine whether a ‘top kill’ procedure can be successfully executed. These tests involve pumping drilling fluids into the BOP to measure pressures and validate flow paths. When complete, a decision will be made on the execution of the top kill procedure itself.

This top kill procedure has not been carried out offshore at 5,000 feet water depth before, and its success cannot be assured. It is expected that the entire procedure could take up to two days, and it cannot be predicted how long it will take for the operation to prove successful or otherwise. Should it be necessary, plans and equipment are in place to combine the top kill process with the injection under pressure of bridging material into the BOP to prevent or limit upward flow through the BOP.

BP will continue to provide a live video feed from the seabed through the diagnostic testing and top kill, if undertaken. Throughout the diagnostic process and top kill procedure very significant changes in the appearance of the flows at the seabed will be expected. These will not provide a reliable indicator of the overall progress, or success or failure, of the top kill operation as a whole.

Should the top kill not succeed in fully stopping the flow of oil and gas from the well, BP would then intend to move forward to deployment of the LMRP cap containment system.

Deployment of this system will involve first removing the damaged riser from the top of the BOP to leave a cleanly-cut pipe at the top of the BOP’s lower marine riser package (LMRP). The LMRP cap, an engineered containment device with a sealing grommet, would then be connected to a riser from the Discoverer Enterprise drillship and then placed over the existing LMRP with the intention of capturing most of the oil and gas flowing from the well.

The LMRP cap is already on site and it is anticipated that this option will be available for deployment by the end of May.

Additional options also continue to be progressed, including the option of lowering a second blow-out preventer, or a valve, on top of the failed Deepwater Horizon BOP.

Work on the drilling of two relief wells, begun on May 2 and May 16, continues. Each of the wells is estimated to take some three months to complete from the commencement of drilling.

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May 25

BP installs Blow Out Preventer (BOP) equipment for “Top Kill” (“Mud Shoot”) operation next to leaking “riser”:

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