Designer of Next Generation BOP Asks Government to Be Flexible on Blowout Rules

HOUSTON - Dec. 15, 2015 - PRLog -- BOP Technologies applauds the Federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) for working to prevent future offshore blowout incidents, but urges the agency to give industry the flexibility so that it can meet that goal with new technology.  The company’s comments come after the Director of BSEE, Brian Salerno released a December 14^th message on his Director’s Corner webpage announcing that BSEE intends to move forward with its new well control rules and that they are currently under review within the Department of the Interior.

    A key goal of the rule is to make sure that offshore drillers are able to shear and control blowouts no matter how thick the pipe and other drilling components in the wellbore are.   However, one way BSEE has proposed to accomplish that is to require drilling projects to have two sets of BOP shear rams, in case thick components like collars or tool joints happen to be in the path of the first shear rams.

    BOP technologies, a Houston-startup firm, was formed to create a revolutionary new approach to preventing blowouts by designing shear rams that can “shear, seal and control everything in the wellbore.”  The new design can deliver 5 million lbs. of shearing force to the rams, enough to cut the heaviest drill pipe and components the industry uses today or in the future.

    “While we strongly support the need to make sure BOP systems can do the job when the drilling crew needs them to work, for their own safety and the protection of our environment, we believe BSEE needs to give industry options,” said Khoa Pham, CEO of BOP Technologies.   “The requirement for two sets of BOP shear rams increases the weight, cost and maintenance concerns for drillers.  If they can show that their systems can cut anything in the wellbore, they should have the flexibility to not use a second redundant and unnecessary set of shear rams.”

    BOP Technologies was one of more than 170 companies and organizations that submitted comments on the new proposed rule.  In its letter to BSEE, the company urged the agency to allow industry to use alternative means of compliance that would allow them to not use two sets of shear rams if they can prove that one set will do the job.

BOP Technologies’ mission is to “Provide new generation super-shear BOP technology and subsea services that will shear, seal and control anything in a wellbore.” For additional information, contact info@boptechnologies.com or call Linda Le at (713) 417-8201.