Intro

Accumulator Sizing
40 Gallons Usable Fluid
V1

Fluid level
@ 300 psi

V2
V3

Usable
Fluid
40 gallons

Fluid level
@1200 psi
12.8 gallons
Fluid level
@1000 psi

3000 psi system

Instructions
In the following spreadsheets cells with BLUE numbers require input, cells with YELLOW background
and RED numbers are calculated values.
Discussion
The purpose of the accumulator system is to provide closing energy to all members of the blowout
preventer stack. This is usually done with a hydraulic system designed and built to provide closing
power to the equipment in 5 seconds or less to maintain the required pressures as desired.
Usable fluid volume is defined as the volume of fluid recoverable from an accumulator between the
accumulator operating pressure and 200 psi above the precharge pressure. The accumulator
operating pressure is the pressure to which accumulators are charged with hydraulic fluid, usually 3000 psi.
In order to calculate usable fluid volumes within accumulators, the ideal gas law formula P 1V1 = P2V2 is applied.
For example: Assume the total gas volume of the accumulator bottle is 10 gallons. If the bottle is precharged
to 1000 psi what is the usable fluid volume the accumulator bottle will deliver betwen the operating pressures
of 3000 psi and 1200 psi.
Solution: Since the gas law formula requires absolute pressures, we must add atmospheric pressure
P3 = 1000 psig + 15 psi (atmospheric)
V3 = 10 gal. (gas volume of Koomey 11 gallon nominal accumulator)
P1 = 3000 psig (system working pressure) + 15 psi (atmospheric)
At a pressure of 3000 psig the gas volume = V 2
V1 = P3 * V3 / P1 = 1015 (10) / 3015 = 3.366 gallons (gas)
At a pressure of 1200 psig the gas volume = V 2
V2 = P1 * V1 / P2 = 3015 (3.366) / 1215 = 8.352 gallons (gas)

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Intro

Therefore, the usable fluid volume (per bottle) is = (8.352 - 3.366) = 4.986 or 5 gallons
if operating between 3000 psig and 1200 psig.
Subsea Stacks
For sizing subsea mounted accumulator bottles, the addtional precharge pressure required to offset
the hydrostatic head of the seawater column and the effect of subsea temperature should be considered.
The precharge pressure must be increased to compensate for cold water. The temperature compensated
precharge pressure is calculated from the follwing equation:
Temperature compensated Pprech = Original Pprech * (460 + surface Temp oF) / (460 + seabed Temp oF)

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Intro

Fluid level
@ 300 psi

Fluid level
@1200 psi
Fluid level
@1000 psi

background

, usually 3000 psi.

P 1V1 = P2V2 is applied.

bottle is precharged
operating pressures

eric pressure

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Intro

be considered.

re compensated

ed Temp oF)

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S c h lu m b e r g e r
S e d c o F o re x

Surface BOP Control System Calculation Sheet

for Control Fluid and Minimum Accumulator Volume Requirements
Control Fluid Requirements
Type Size

Close (gal)

Annular Preventer #1
Ram Preventer #1
Ram Preventer #2
Ram Preventer #3
Ram Preventer #4
Ram Preventer #5
Choke Line HCR Valve
Other
Total

Closing Ratio

Available control fluid volume to close against zero wellbore pressure

Nominal system Working Pressure (Pwork)

3015 psia (usually 3015 psi)

Nominal precharge Pressure (Pprech)

1015 psia (usually 1015 psi)

Nominal accumulator bottle volume (Volacc)

11 gallons each
1

Number of accumulator bottles

Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pprech) =
Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pprech) =

(Volacc - 1) ( 1 - Pprech /
(

11

Pwork)

-1) ( 1 - 1015

Available accumulator fluid = Number of bottles * Fluid/bottle =

1.0

3015 ) =

6.63 gallons

6.63

6.633 gallons

Available control fluid volume to close against full wellbore pressure

Pmin =

Stack Working Pressure (psia)

Minimum Ram Preventer closing Ratio

5000
4.11

1217 psia

Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pmin) =

(Volacc - 1) {( Pprech / Pmin) - ( Pprech / Pwork)}

Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pmin) =

11

-1) { (

Available accumulator fluid = Number of bottles * Fluid/bottle =

1015 ) - (
1217
1

1015 ) = 4.977 gallons

3015
4.98

4.977 gallons

S c h lu m b e rg e r
S e d c o F o re x

Subsea BOP Control System Calculation Sheet

for Control Fluid and Minimum Accumulator Volume Requirements
Control Fluid Requirements
Type Size
Close (gal)
Open (gal)
Closing Ratio
Annular Preventer #1
(Note the opening and closing volumes of one annular only are required for this calculation.)
Ram Preventer #1
Ram Preventer #2
Ram Preventer #3
Ram Preventer #4
Ram Preventer #5
Other
Total
0
0
Available control fluid volume from subsea accumulators
Water depth at which control system will operate (D w)

10000 feet
70 degrees
32 degrees

Surface Temperature ( F)
Temperature at Seabed ( F)
Nominal system Working Pressure (Pwork)

5000 psia (usually 3015 psi)

Nominal precharge Pressure (Pprech)

1015 psia (usually 1015 psi)

Nominal surface accumulator bottle volume (Volacc)

36 gallons each

Number of subsea accumulator bottles (No subsea)

10
Actual surface precharge pressure required to compensate
1093 psia
for temperature (Pprech)
Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pprech) =
(Volacc - 1) { 1 - (Pprech + .445 * Dw / Pwork + .445 * Dw )}
Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pprech) =

5465

9450 ) =

###

10

14.76 =

148

Stack Working Pressure (psia)

Minimum Ram Preventer closing Ratio

5700
4.75

1200 psi

Available accumulator fluid (Pwork to Pprech) =

Pmin is the greater of:

or:

Pmin =

36 -1) ( 1 -

Nosubsea * Fluid/bottle

Pmin = Pressure to hold c/k valve open at stack working pressure

Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pmin) = (Volacc - 1) {

Pprech + .445 * Dw

Pmin + .445 * Dw
Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pmin) = (

36

Fluid/bottle (Pwork to Pmin) =

Available accumulator fluid (Pwork to Pmin) =

-1) {

5465
5650

1200

Pprech + .445 * Dw }
Pwork + .445 * Dw
-

5465
9450

13.61 gallons
Nosubsea * Fluid/bottle

10

13.61 =

136

Control System Calculation Sheet

d Minimum Accumulator Volume Requirements

gallons
gallons

psia

gallons