1.

0 Requirements for Pressure Testing

1.1 Hydrostatic Proof Testing

1.1.1 General
All drill-through equipment shall be subjected to a hydrostatic proof test prior to shipment from the
service or repair facility. Water or water with additives shall be used as the testing fluid. Any additives
shall be documented in the test records.

1.1.2 Hydrostatic Proof/Shell Test

Drill-through equipment shall be tested with its sealing mechanisms in the open position, if applicable.

When a BOP requires PWHT, regardless if the BOP has traceability to a previous shell proof test, the
hydrostatic test pressure shall be tested at a minimum test pressure equal to 1.5 times the rated
working pressure.

When a BOP requires NO PWHT, and has traceability to a previous proof test, the hydrostatic test
pressure shall be tested at a minimum test pressure equal to the rated working pressure.

For equipment with end or outlet connections having different working pressures, the lowest rated
working pressure shall be used to determine the shell pressure test.

1.1.3 Operating Chamber Pressure Test

The hydraulic operating system test shall be tested on each assembled blowout preventer and
hydraulic connector.

The hydraulic operating chamber shall be tested at a minimum test pressure equal to 1.5 times the
operating chambers rated working pressure.

When a BOP requires PWHT, regardless if the BOP has traceability to a previous operating chamber
pressure test, the operating chamber test pressure shall be tested at a minimum test pressure equal to
1.5 times the rated working pressure.

When a BOP requires NO PWHT, and has traceability to a previous operating chamber pressure test,
the operating chamber test pressure shall be tested at a minimum test pressure equal to the rated
working pressure.

1.1.4 Hydrostatic proof and operating chamber pressure tests

The hydrostatic proof test and the operating chamber pressure tests shall consist of three steps:

a) an initial pressure-holding period of not less than 3 min;

b) reduction of the pressure to zero;
c) a second pressure-holding period of not less than 15 min.

The timing of the test shall not start until the test pressure has been stabilized within the manufacturers
specified range and the external surfaces have been thoroughly dried.

The acceptance criteria shall be zero leakage.

1.2 Closed-preventer test

Each ram and annular blowout preventer shall be subjected to a closed-preventer test after the
hydrostatic proof test. The hydraulic operating system pressure used shall be equal to or less than the
specified operating pressure. The test fluids used for all closed preventer tests shall meet the
requirements of 1.1.1.

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 The timing of all closed-preventer tests shall not start until the test pressure has stabilized.

Closed-preventer tests shall be performed at low and high pressures, with the low pressure test always
preceding the high pressure test.

1.2.1 Low Pressure Test

A pressure of 1.4 MPa to 2.1 MPa (200 psi to 300 psi) shall be applied and held below the closed ram
or annular packing unit for not less than 10 min after stabilization.

1.2.2 High Pressure Test

A pressure at least equal to the rated working pressure of the preventer shall be applied and held below
the closed ram or annular packing unit for not less than 10 min after stabilization (see exception for
annular packing units in 1.2.4).

1.2.3 Acceptance Criteria

There shall be no visible leakage.

1.2.4 Annular packing unit tests

Annular packing units shall be tested in two stages.

The stage one test shall require pressure-testing on the appropriate size drill pipe in accordance with
Table 1.2.4.1.

The stage two test shall require pressure-testing without drill pipe in the preventer, i.e. on the open
hole. The high pressure test for this stage shall be as specified in 1.2.2, except as a minimum it shall
be performed at 50% of the rated working pressure of the preventer.

Table 1.2.4.1 Pipe Size Requirements

Bore Size Pipe Diameter
mm (in) mm (in)
1
179 and 228 7 /16 and 9 88.9 3
279 and larger 11 and larger 127.0 5

1.3 Rams lock test

The closed-preventer test for each blowout preventer equipped with a hydraulic ram-locking system
shall be pressure-tested with the locking system engaged. This test shall apply to each included ram
that is designed to operate with the ram-locking system. The preventer shall be tested in accordance
with 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 after the rams are closed, the locks engage and then all operating pressure(s)
released.

1.4 Blind-shear rams

Each preventer equipped with blind-shear rams shall be subjected to a shearing test. The minimum
size shear pipe used shall conform to Table 1.4.1. These tests shall be performed without tension in
the pipe and with zero wellbore pressure. Shearing and sealing shall be achieved in a single operation.
The piston-closing pressure shall not exceed the manufacturers rated working pressure for the
operating system. Documentation shall include the manufacturers shear ram and blowout preventer
configurations, the actual pressure and force to shear the pipe. Documentation shall also include pipe
description (size, mass and grade), actual pipe tensile properties, and impact properties as specified in
ISO 11961.

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 Table 1.4.1 Shear Pipe Requirements
BOP Size Shear pipe (minimum)
179 mm (7 1/16 in) 3 in 13.3 lb/ft Grade E-75
279 mm (11 in) 5 in 19.5 lb/ft Grade E-75
346 mm (13 5/8 in) and larger 5 in 19.5 lb/ft Grade G-105

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