NETHERLANDS OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION

INDUSTRY STANDARD
NO. 43

Surface Blowout Preventer (BOP)

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Index
Document Control Sheet ........................................................................................................................ 3
Terms and definitions ............................................................................................................................. 4
Abbreviations.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Legal Requirements ................................................................................................................................ 6
Related Documents ................................................................................................................................ 7
Important Nomenclature used in this Standard .................................................................................... 8
1. Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 9
2. Scope and application ................................................................................................................... 10
2.1 Scope ..................................................................................................................................... 10
2.2 Application............................................................................................................................. 10
3. Application of industry standards ................................................................................................. 11
4. Specific requirement and exceptions ............................................................................................ 11
5. Prevailing legislation...................................................................................................................... 11

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Document Control Sheet

Control Sheet

Responsible Committee OPCOM

Title Document (UK) Surface Blowout Preventer (BOP)

Type Document (UK) Industry Standard
Control Number 43
Control Status Controlled / Uncontrolled when printed
Issue Status This document has been published electronically on the NOGEPA
website. In order to maintain this document as a” Controlled copy” any
formal revisions will be published via this website and should replace
all previous issued revisions.

Document update timeframe C3

C1 - 12 Months C2 - 24 Months C3 – 36 Months

Endorsed by
Health Safety and Environment Name
Committee Date:
Name
Legal Committee
Date:
Name
Operations Committee
Date:
Approved by
Name
Executive Committee
Date:

Revision History
Rev Date Description Author Reviewed Approved
0 9 April 2021 First issue for review MM WG Wells
1 20/07/2022 Final version after review MM

This document will be controlled in accordance with the NOGEPA Industry Standard No. 80 on
Standards and Document Control.

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Terms and definitions

A-annulus means the annulus between the drill pipe, production or testing tubing
and the production casing.
Bottom Hole Pressure means the sum of all the pressures acting on the bottom hole; typically
(BHP) the surface pressure plus the force exerted by the column(s) of fluid in
the wellbore.
Competency Means ability of an individual to do a job properly through a combination
of training, demonstrated skills and accumulated experience.
Factory Acceptance means 1.5 x maximum working pressure, if not otherwise specified in
Test Pressure (FAT) applied codes and standards. The acceptance test pressure needs to be
done when put into first service and after a major repair.
Handover means act or process of transferring responsibility for operating a well
from one competent party to another, including both custody to operate
(certificate) and the requisite data and documents which describe the
well construction.
HPHT Well means a well with an expected pore pressure exceeding a hydrostatic
gradient of 0.8 psi/ft (1.85SG) or requiring pressure control equipment
>10.000 psi and with a static BHT >149°C (300°F)
MAASP means the greatest pressure that an annulus can contain, as measured
at the wellhead, without compromising the integrity of any element of
that annulus, including any exposed open-hole formations.
Management of a best practice that controls safety, health, and environmental risks and
Change hazards as they pertain to an organization's changes to its facilities,
operations, or personnel.
Off-set Wells means existing wells, either producing or de-commissioned in the area,
the data package of which serve to arrive at an optimum well design.
Pore Pressure means the pressure of a fluid in a permeable formation.
Reservoir means the porous and permeable formation which contains
hydrocarbons or water.
Risk Assessment means the systematic analysis of the risks from activities and a rational
evaluation of their significance by comparison against predetermined
standards, target risk levels or other risk criteria.
SECE: Safety and means part of the installation or plant that is essential to maintain the
environmental critical safety and integrity of the installation.
element
Surface Casing means the casing which allows first installation of the BOP stack.
Test Pressure means the pressure to which BOP’s are periodically tested. The test
pressure will be determined by the well program and not exceed the
maximum working pressure of the wellhead.

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 NETHERLANDS OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION
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Well Integrity means the application of technical, operational and organizational

solutions to reduce risk of uncontrolled release of formation fluids and
well fluids throughout the life cycle of a well.
Working Pressure means the pressure that a component could be safely subjected to
during the full range of normal operations.

Abbreviations
API American Petroleum Institute
BHA Bottom Hole Assembly
BHP Bottom Hole Pressure
BHT Bottom Hole Temperature
BOP Blow Out Preventer
BR Blind Ram
BSR Blind Shear Ram
CL Choke Line
CSIP Casing Shut In Pressure
CV Check Valve
DICV or DIBPV Drop In Check Valve or Drop In Back Pressure Valve
HCR-valve Hydraulically Controlled Remote Operated Valve
HPHT High Pressure High Temperature
H2S Hydrogen Sulfide
IADC International Association of Drilling Contractors
IBOP Internal BOP
ID Internal Diameter
KL Kill Line
MAASP Maximum Allowable Annulus Surface Pressure
MD Measured Depth Along Hole
MOC Management of Change
MPD Managed Pressure Drilling
MW Mud weight
OBM Oil Based Mud
OD Outside Diameter

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PMS Preventive Maintenance System

SICP Shut In Casing Pressure
SodM Staatstoezicht op de Mijnen (State Supervision of Mines)
TD Total Depth
TVD True Vertical Depth
VBR Variable Bore Rams
WCE Well Control Equipment
WH Wellhead
WHP Well Head Pressure
WP Working Pressure
XO Cross Over Sub
XMT Christmas Tree
MASP Maximum Anticipated Surface Pressure

MEWHP Maximum Expected Well Head Pressure

DMR Dutch Mining Regulations
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer
SECE Safety & Environmental Critical Element

Legal Requirements
Offshore Safety EU Directive 2013/30/EU
Directive
Mining Decree The current decree section 5.3 incorporates articles relating to
Article 67, 68 & 69 “Boorgaten”.
Of critical importance are 3 goal setting articles (67, 68 and 69)
providing instructions to prevent damage and the obligation to control
subsurface fluids:
1. When constructing, using, maintaining, repairing and
decommissioning a borehole, measures shall be taken to
prevent damage to the integrity of the well
2. The construction, maintenance, repair and decommissioning of
a borehole shall take place under the responsibility and in the
presence of the operator. The use of the borehole shall take
place under responsibility of the operator.
The activities as meant in Article 67.1 shall only be performed if the
substances in question from subsoil formations can be maintained
under control. For this purpose:

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1. A borehole shall be fitted with suitable casing/tubing.

2. Each series of casing/tubing, as referred to in Article 69.1, shall
be cemented over a sufficient distance and then tested for
reliability.
3. The first series of casing shall be properly sealed immediately
after it has been properly cemented.
Mining Regulation Chapters: 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3.

Related Documents
API Standard 53 Well Control Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells
API Recommended Practice 64 Diverter systems
API Specification 16D Control Systems for Drilling Well Control Equipment and
Control Systems for Diverter Equipment
API Specification 6A Wellhead and Tree Equipment
API Specification 16A Drill-through Equipment
API Standard 16AR Repair and Remanufacture of Drill-through equipment
API Specification 16C Choke and Kill Equipment
API Recommended Practice 16E Design of Control Systems for Drilling Well Control Equipment
NACE MR 0175 / ISO 15156-2 / Materials for use in H2S containing environments in oil and gas
ISO 15156-3 production
ISO 16530-1 Well Integrity Life Cycle Governance
ISO 16530-2 Well Integrity for the Operational Phase
NOGEPA Industry Standard 1 Training
NOGEPA Industry Standard 4 Competency
NOGEPA Industry Standard 41 Well Engineering and Construction Process
NOGEPA Industry Standard 42 Well Examination
NOGEPA Industry Standard 45 Well Decommissioning / Het buiten gebruikstellen van putten
NOGEPA Industry Standard 46 Well Integrity Management
NOGEPA Industry Standard 48 Independent Verification Management
NOGEPA Industry Standard 50 Kick Tolerance
NOGEPA Industry Standard 80 Standards and document control

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Important Nomenclature used in this Standard

In the context of this Standard and when so used to describe a method or practice:
‘shall’ means that such method or practice reflects a mandatory provision of
law (in Dutch: dwingend recht). Such method or practice is mandatory
for those who are the addressees of such provision (mostly the
operators). A Standard can describe or quote, but not amend, mandatory
provisions. When an operator in exceptional cases for technical,
operational or HSE reasons cannot comply, exceptions shall be
documented and reported, and risks mitigated. Please note that this
does not release the operator from the obligation to comply with the
law. *
‘should’ means that such method or practice reflects a Good Operating Practice.
An operator is generally expected to apply such method or practice, but
a specific situation may require a specific alternative. In other words: the
operator complies or explains, and documents the explanation. *
‘could’ means that such method or practice is of an advisory nature or
mentioned by way of example. An operator is not obliged to comply and
is not obliged to explain if he does not comply.
* Please refer to paragraph 2.3 of Standard 80 (Standards and Document Control), for further
explanation on an exception of a ‘shall’ provision, or on a comply-or-explain of a ‘should’ provision.

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1. Executive Summary
Oil & gas producing operating companies and drilling rig contractors around the world have established
International Standard API Standard 53, API Recommended Practice 64 and API 16D, which provide
guidance to the well operator and rig contractor on blowout preventers, diverters and their control
systems for drilling and completion of wells. They address the minimum compliance requirements for
the well operator and rig contractor in order to ensure conformity with those documents.

The primary purpose of a blowout preventer (BOP) and associated well control equipment is to be able
to close in a well on a kick or kick indicator and to subsequently control bottom hole pressure
throughout the well killing process. The BOP stack shall be designed to contain the surface pressure of
a well where the entire mud volume has been evacuated. It also needs to be designed so that it has a
large enough passage for all tool sizes, anticipated to be used on the well.

Key element is to ensure that all well operations, both onshore in the Netherlands and offshore on
the Dutch Continental Shelf, use pressure control equipment that is suitable for the program to be
executed, taking into consideration specific well conditions that may be encountered. Efficient and
effective well control depends largely on the soundness of the well design, the well construction
quality and the competence of personnel.

NOGEPA Industry Standards are requirements and operating practices, agreed upon by the member
companies of NOGEPA, and NOGEPA Standard 43 has been adjusted to comply with API standard 53
and address specific Mining Regulation requirements. Following approval by the NOGEPA EXCOM, well
operators are bound by the NOGEPA Industry Standards with the exception of a conflict between the
national legislative regime and the NOGEPA Industry Standards, in which case the national legislative
regime prevails.

Furthermore comments and considerations of an advisory nature are provided as context of the
requirements to assist in interpretation.

Subject to the requirements in Standard 43, there will be a 3-year review cycle of this Standard, or
sooner as required, to reflect changes in regulations, interpretation, industry practices and experience,
international standards, technologies, documentation requirements, etc.

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2. Scope and application

2.1 Scope

The scope of this standard is restricted to:

• The Netherlands and the Dutch Continental Shelf, and

• Well operations as defined in the Offshore Safety Directive, in essence those well
operations that inherently carry significant risks. This standard is limited to drilling well
services and decommissioning operations using a BOP, where the XMT has been removed.

Notes:

• API S53 does not address workover, well services or interventions.

• Non-standard wells (such as HPHT and MPD wells) will require additional considerations
and prior consultation with SodM

2.2 Application

This Standard should be applied on both on- and offshore operations with surface BOP stacks.
It applies to drilling of a new well, workover operations and well decommissioning operations
with a drilling rig and/or a workover unit when the Xmas Tree (XMT) is not installed on the
well.

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3. Application of industry standards

In 2012, the API revised its Recommended Practice, API RP53 Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems
for Drilling Wells and issued it as a Standard, API S53 Well Control Equipment Systems for Drilling
Wells.

For this reason, the previous version of this Standard 43 has been amended to primarily replicate API
S53 and associated industry standards. For detailed guidance on installation, use and maintenance
of well control equipment, well operators should refer to the applicable industry standards.

It is the responsibility of the well operator to ensure the latest edition of applicable industry
standards are used.

It is recognized that in some cases national legislative requirements (i.e. Dutch Mining Regulations)
may be in conflict with the applicable industry standard. Where national legislative requirements are
more stringent than the applicable industry standards, they shall prevail.

Examples of such cases are given and discussed in section 4.

4. Prevailing legislation
The following issues have been identified where the Mining Regulation are more stringent than the
Industry Guidelines. In all cases, the Mining Regulations shall therefore prevail.

Industry Standard Mining Regulations

API S53, 5.2.1.6 Art. 8.3.1.11 sub 3

Wells with a MASP greater than 3,000 psi shall, at a A non-return valve (NRV) shall be installed in the kill
minimum, consist of a kill line configuration with two line .
full-bore manual valves plus a check valve, or two
full-bore valves, one of which is remotely operated.

API S53, 5.3.14.4 a-g Art 8.3.1.5 sub 1b

Must close largest-volume annular preventer, a The control system shall contain sufficient fluid to
maximum of four rams and open the hydraulic- close and open the annular preventer, a pipe ram
operated valve(s). and the blind/shear ram and subsequently close the
annular preventer and a pipe ram or the blind/shear
ram.

API S53, 5.4.2.2 Art. 8.3.2.6 sub 2

The five-year inspection period shall begin using one All parts shall be inspected at least every 5 years in
of the following criteria: accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

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Industry Standard Mining Regulations

• The date that the equipment owner accepts

delivery of a new build drilling rig with a BOP
system
• The date that the inspected equipment is
placed into service, when preservation and
storage records (in accordance with art. 4.5.8)
are available.
• The date of the last inspection for the
component, if preservation and storage
records (in accordance with art. 4.5.8) are not
available.

API S64 5.7 Art. 8.3.1.2 sub 3

The minimum internal cross sectional area of the All diverter lines and the diverter outlet have a
diverter side outlets shall be designed to minimum ID of 250 mm (10 inch).
accommodate the flow rate specified by the
purchaser of the equipment and shall not be less The MBR art 8.3.1.2 Sub 3 does not apply if the
than an equivalent 8 inch diameter on a surface operator has demonstrated in the document referred
diverter and 12 inch diameter on a subsea diverter. to in Article 37, 2nd paragraph, of the Decree that
during the drilling activities referred to in the 1st
paragraph, there is no danger of harmful outflow of
shallow gas or liquids.

API S53 5.1.3.4 through 5.1.3.7 Art. 8.3.1.4 sub 1a, 1b & 1c, 2a & 2b
A minimum Class 2 BOP stack arrangement with one After installing and cementing the first pressure
ram shall be installed for wells with a MASP of 3,000 containing casing (surface casing), the BOP shall
psi or less. consist of :
A minimum Class 3 BOP stack arrangement with one • An annular preventer
blind ram or blind/shear ram and one pipe ram shall • A pipe ram
be installed for wells with a MASP of 3,000 to 5,000 • A blind ram1
psi. The third device may be a ram or annular After installing and cementing the second pressure
preventer, whichever is desired. containing casing, the BOP shall include:
A minimum Class 4 BOP stack arrangement with one
• A second pipe ram
annular preventer, one blind ram or blind/shear ram
• In this configuration, the blind ram shall also
and one pipe ram shall be installed for wells with a
have a shearing capability.
MASP of 5,000 to 10,000 psi. The fourth device may
be a ram or annular preventer, whichever is desired. Notes:
A minimum Class 5 BOP stack arrangement with one This effectively means that on all wells, independent
annular preventer, one blind ram or blind/shear ram of MASP, a minimum Class 3 BOP stack is required
after the first pressure containing casing is installed

1
For the first installation (surface casing only), shearing capability is not required.

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Industry Standard Mining Regulations

and two pipe ram shall be installed for wells with a and cemented. After installing and cementing the
MASP greater than 10,000 psi. The additional second pressure containing casing, a minimum Class
device(s) may be a ram or annular preventer, 4 BOP stack is required, independent of MASP.
whichever is desired. A requirement for a Class 5 BOP stack is not
provided.
Dispensation can be requested for using a reduced
BOP stack for non self flowing wells

API S53 5.2.1.4 and 5.2.1.5 Art 8.3.1.11 sub 4

Wells with a MASP of 5,000 psi or less shall have a The choke line shall have a minimum (nominal) ID of
2 inch (50 mm) choke line. 75 mm (3 inch).
Wells with a MASP greater than 5,000 psi shall have Notes:
a 3 inch (75 mm) choke line. This is independent of MASP, so in all cases.

Not stated in API 53, 64 or 16D Art. 8.3.3.1 sub 1 & 2 and 8.3.3.2
After installation of the BOP system on a producible
well, all personnel directly involved with well
operations shall participate in a well control drill at
least once per week. Participating personnel shall be
registered in the daily drilling reports.
Drills shall be held during operations by alternately
simulating a situation for the purpose of recognizing
a flowing well in a timely manner and correctly close
in the well with pipe in the hole:
These drills will as a minimum consist of:
• Recognizing pressure changes and gain or loss
of fluids in the well.
• Correctly positioning the drill string in the BOP.
• Correctly installing a safety valve on the string.
• Observing fluid level in the well (flow check.)
• Closing in the well and recording the required
time.

API S53 Table C.5 Art. 8.3.2.2 1a & 1b

Pressure testing frequency of BOP components shall The installed rams and annular preventers, choke
not exceed 21 days. manifolds and lines shall be tested for adequate
sealing

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API S53 4.2.3.6 through 4.2.3.9 Article 8.3.1.7

For land wells with a MASP of 3000 to 10,000 psi, at 1. The choke manifold shall be well accessible.
a minimum, one choke shall be remotely operable. 2. The choke manifold shall be equipped with at least
For land wells with a MASP greater than 10,000 psi, two adjustable chokes:
at a minimum, two chokes shall be remotely a. that, when the manifold is in operation, can be
operable. exchanged individually without any danger, and
For offshore wells with a MASP of 3000 to 5,000 psi, b. of which at least one can be remotely adjusted.
at a minimum, one choke shall be remotely
operable.
For offshore wells with a MASP greater than 5,000
psi, at a minimum, two chokes shall be remotely
operable.

5. Specific requirement and exceptions

The well operator should perform a risk assessment against the BOP configuration requirements of
API S53 to confirm whether this guideline is suitable for the planned well operations.

Where it is planned to re-enter an existing well, previously drilled with a lighter BOP stack, the well
operator should asses its suitability or mitigating measures (e.g. tensioning above the wellhead) if a
heavier (API S53 compliant) BOP is intended to be used. This to ensure that the wellhead and
conductor can maintain the additional load associated with a heavier BOP.

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