30 C.F.R. § 250.732

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 250.732 - [Effective until 10/29/2024] What are the independent third party requirements for BOP systems and system components?

(a) Prior to beginning any operation requiring the use of any BOP, you must submit verification by an independent third party and supporting documentation as required by this paragraph to the appropriate District Manager and Regional Supervisor.

You must submit verification and documentation related to:	That:
(1) Shear testing,	(i) Demonstrates that the BOP will shear the tubular body of any drill pipe (excluding tool joints, bottom-hole tools, and bottom hole assemblies such as heavy-weight pipe or collars), workstring, tubing and associated exterior control lines and any electric-, wire-, and slick-line to be used in the well;
	(ii) Demonstrates the use of test protocols and analysis that represent recognized engineering practices for ensuring the repeatability and reproducibility of the tests, and that the testing was performed by a facility that meets generally accepted quality assurance standards;
	(iii) Provides a reasonable representation of field applications, taking into consideration the physical and mechanical properties of the tubular body of any drill pipe (excluding tool joints, bottom-hole tools, and bottom hole assemblies such as heavy-weight pipe or collars), workstring, tubing and associated exterior control lines and any electric-, wire-, and slick-line to be used in the well;
	(iv) Ensures testing was performed on the outermost edges of the shearing blades of the shear ram;
	(v) Demonstrates the shearing capacity of the BOP equipment to the physical and mechanical properties of the tubular body of any drill pipe (excluding tool joints, bottom-hole tools, and bottom hole assemblies such as heavy-weight pipe or collars), workstring, tubing and associated exterior control lines and any electric-, wire-, and slick-line to be used in the well; and
	(vi) Includes relevant testing results.
(2) Pressure integrity testing for sealing components, and	(i) Shows that testing is conducted after the shearing is completed and prior to opening the component;
	(ii) Demonstrates that the equipment will seal at the rated working pressures (RWP) of the BOP for 5 minutes; and
	(iii) Includes all relevant test results.
(3) Calculations	Include shearing and sealing pressures for all pipe to be used in the well including corrections for MASP.

(b) The independent third party must be a technical classification society, a licensed professional engineering firm, or a registered professional engineer capable of providing the required certifications and verifications. You must submit the independent third party qualifications to BSEE with the associated permit application (e.g., APD and APM). BSEE will evaluate the submitted qualifications to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements for permit approval.

(c) For wells in an HPHT environment, as defined by § 250.804(b) , you must submit verification by an independent third party that it conducted a comprehensive review of the BOP system and related equipment you propose to use. You must provide the independent third party access to any facility associated with the BOP system or related equipment during the review process. You must submit the verifications required by this paragraph (c) to the appropriate District Manager and Regional Supervisor before you begin any operations in an HPHT environment with the proposed equipment.

You must submit:	Including:
(1) Verification that the independent third party conducted a detailed review of the design package to ensure that all critical components and systems meet recognized engineering practices,
(2) Verification that the designs of individual components and the overall system have been proven in a testing process that demonstrates the performance and reliability of the equipment in a manner that is repeatable and reproducible,	(i) Identification of all reasonable potential modes of failure; and (ii) Evaluation of the design verification tests. The design verification tests must assess the equipment for the identified potential modes of failure.
(3) Verification that the BOP equipment will perform as designed in the temperature, pressure, and environment that will be encountered, and
(4) Verification that the fabrication, manufacture, and assembly of individual components and the overall system uses recognized engineering practices and quality control and assurance mechanisms.	For the quality control and assurance mechanisms, complete material and quality controls over all contractors, subcontractors, distributors, and suppliers at every stage in the fabrication, manufacture, and assembly process.

(d) You must make all documentation that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this section available to BSEE upon request.

30 C.F.R. §250.732

84 FR 21978, May 15, 2019, as amended at 88 FR 57347, Aug. 23, 2023

81 FR 26022, 7/28/2016; 84 FR 21978, 7/15/2019; 88 FR 57347, 10/23/2023