Blowout Preventer (BOP) Testing Requirements for Drilling and Completion Operations
oil-gas-leasing · Bureau of Land Management · Published 1998-06-01 · Effective 1998-06-30 · 63 FR 29604
Document
Document number
98-14294
Federal Register citation
63 FR 29604
CFR reference
30 CFR 250
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
oil-gas-leasing
Sub-agency
Bureau of Land Management
Publication date
1998-06-01
Effective date
1998-06-30
Abstract
This rule amends the regulations governing the testing requirements for BOP systems used in drilling and completion operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The rule allows a lessee up to 14 days between BOP pressure tests. MMS based this rule on a study of BOP performance which concluded that no statistical difference exists in failure rates for BOP's tested between 0- and 7-day intervals and between 8- and 14-day intervals. MMS estimates that the 14-day testing requirement could save industry $35 to $46 million a year without compromising safety.