Regulatory Citation(s):

 

78.72. Use of safety devices – blow-out prevention equipment.

 

(f) When the equipment is in service, the operator shall visually inspect blow-out prevention equipment during each tour of drilling operation and during actual drilling operations test the pipe rams for closure daily and the blind rams for closure on each round trip.  When more than one round trip is made in a day, one daily closure for blind rams is sufficient.  Testing shall be conducted in accordance with American Petroleum Institute publication API RP53…

 

 

Question:

 

API RP53 only requires function testing of rams once per week.  Some operators have expressed concern that more frequent function testing will cause excessive equipment wear.

 

 

Response:

 

The Department’s testing program for rams is more rigorous than API’s in terms of testing frequency.  By stating that testing should be conducted in accordance with API RP53, the regulations indicate that the procedural aspects of the recommended practice document that are relevant to function testing of rams should be followed, NOT the testing frequency recommendation.

 

The concern that daily testing may cause premature wear on ram-type BOP equipment will be considered in future regulation changes.