Abstract
Historically, ram type Blow-Out Preventers (BOP) use hydraulic actuated bonnets to either close the pipe ram or shear the drilling strings in the well. Current hydraulic control systems consist of a massive number of parts. Failure of any of these parts typically require drilling contractor to pull the marine riser and Subsea BOP, resulting in substantial revenue loss. In addition, hydraulic BOP control systems use Multiplexed Electro-Hydraulic (MUX) control systems which add another layer of complexity. However despite all these technologies there is very little direct measured data coming back to surface such as the ram position. Most of the status information is inferred or derived from a few data sources such as hydraulic fluid gallon counts.
Improved electrical battery technology now provides the possibility to store the needed electrical power on the subsea stack and function the eBOP™ subsea motors in the API required time range. For the shear ram, pressured nitrogen that is stored on the stack, provides a booster force to generate a total combined closing force in excess of 2 million pounds. This paper will describe the eBOP ram concept, manufacturing and prototype eBOP testing results including shear testing in excess of 2 million lbf. The eBOP ram is designed to be retrofitted on existing BOP bodies. The eBOP benefits such as improved safety, cost savings, precise control, monitoring and feedback will also be discussed.