On all wells being drilled, completed or recompleted and on
any production work when tubing is to be pulled from the well, all proper and
necessary precautions shall be taken for keeping the well under control,
including the use of blowout preventers (BOPs) and auxiliary equipment. The
minimum BOP stack shall be one set of hydraulically-operated pipe rams to fit
the work string being used and one set of hydraulically-operated blind rams. An
annular preventer may be used in lieu of rams to run casing, etc. or when an
annular preventer would be more practical. In addition to the BOP stack, an
inside BOP or safety valve to fit the drill pipe or tubing shall be kept on the
rig floor at all times. This rule applies to all work described above whether
using a drilling rig, conventional workover rig, coil tubing unit or snubbing
unit. Once a well is completed, sufficient valves shall be installed on all
wellheads to insure control of the well. It is always the responsibility of the
Operator to maintain control of the well.
1. When to install BOPs
(a) On drilling operations, BOPs must be
installed before drilling out from under surface casing.
(b) On completion operations, BOPs must be
installed before entering the wellbore with any tubing. For wireline work prior
to running tubing, a manual valve may be used in lieu of the BOP
stack.
(c) On recompletions and
production work, BOPs must be installed as soon as the well conditions permit
and before pulling any tubulars from the well.
2. When to test the BOPs
(a) On drilling operations and completion
operations:
1. Upon installation
2. Not less than once every twenty-one (21)
days
3. Following any repairs which
require disconnecting a pressure seal
(b) On recompletion and production
operations:
1. A stump test may be made on
location prior to installing the BOPs where a test plug cannot be utilized
(Coil tubing and snubbing units must test BOPs before entering the
wellbore)
2. Not less than once
every twenty-one (21) days 3 Following any repairs which require disconnecting
a pressure seal
3. Reporting/Recording BOP Tests
(a) Operator will notify the MSO&GB Field
Inspector prior to testing BOPs in order that the test may be witnessed by
MSO&GB personnel
(b) BOP tests
will be recorded on a pen recorder and chart or a copy shall be furnished to
the MSO&GB Field Inspector.
4. Testing Requirements
(a) BOPs must be tested to the maximum
pressure rating of the BOPs or to 80% of the burst rating of the casing,
whichever is less.
5.
Waivers to Rule 13
(a) A waiver of the
requirements of Rule 13 may be obtained by requesting the waiver on the Form 2
which permits the work in question. If the Form 2 is approved with the waiver
requested, then the waiver is also granted.
(b) The Supervisor or Field Director may
grant a waiver to the requirements of Rule 13, or to any part of Rule 13, and
may convey the granting of the waiver verbally to the Operator or through other
MSO&GB personnel. Such waiver may only be granted by the Supervisor or
Field Director upon his or her determination that such waiver will not
materially or adversely affect the Operators ability to maintain well control
at all times.
(c) The granting to
an Operator of a waiver of any of the requirements of Rule 13 does not in any
way relieve the Operator of the duty to maintain well control at all
times.
6. Well Control
Certification
(a) Operators shall have
present and available on all drilling, completion and recompletion locations an
Operators representative who is certified in
Well
Control by an industry-accepted institution of training or who has
a minimum of not less than five (5) years experience in the supervision of well
work.
Effective Date: June 16,
2014
