§ 250.1706 - Coiled tubing and snubbing operations.

§ 250.1706 Coiled tubing and snubbing operations.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 84 FR 21985, May 15, 2019.

If you use a BOP for any well abandonment operations, your BOP must meet the following requirements:

(a) For coiled tubing operations with the production tree in place, you must meet the following minimum requirements for the BOP system:

(1) BOP system components must be in the following order from the top down:

BOP system when expected surface pressures are less than or equal to 3,500 psi	BOP system when expected surface pressures are greater than 3,500 psi	BOP system for wells with returns taken through an outlet on the BOP stack
(i) Stripper or annular-type well-control component,	Stripper or annular-type well-control component,	Stripper or annular-type well-control component.
(ii) Hydraulically-operated blind rams,	Hydraulically-operated blind rams,	Hydraulically-operated blind rams.
(iii) Hydraulically-operated shear rams,	Hydraulically-operated shear rams,	Hydraulically-operated shear rams.
(iv) Kill line inlet,	Kill line inlet,	Kill line inlet.
(v) Hydraulically-operated two-way slip rams,	Hydraulically-operated two-way slip rams,	Hydraulically-operated two-way slip rams. Hydraulically-operated pipe rams.
(vi) Hydraulically-operated pipe rams,	Hydraulically-operated pipe rams. Hydraulically-operated blind-shear rams. These rams should be located as close to the tree as practical,	A flow tee or cross. Hydraulically-operated pipe rams. Hydraulically-operated blind-shear rams on wells with surface pressures >3,500 psi. As an option, the pipe rams can be placed below the blind-shear rams. The blind-shear rams should be located as close to the tree as practical.

(2) You may use a set of hydraulically-operated combination rams for the blind rams and shear rams.

(3) You may use a set of hydraulically-operated combination rams for the hydraulic two-way slip rams and the hydraulically-operated pipe rams.

(4) You must attach a dual check valve assembly to the coiled tubing connector at the downhole end of the coiled tubing string for all coiled tubing well abandonment operations. If you plan to conduct operations without downhole check valves, you must describe alternate procedures and equipment in Form BSEE-0124, Application for Permit to Modify, and have it approved by the BSEE District Manager.

(5) You must have a kill line and a separate choke line. You must equip each line with two full-opening valves and at least one of the valves must be remotely controlled. You may use a manual valve instead of the remotely controlled valve on the kill line if you install a check valve between the two full-opening manual valves and the pump or manifold. The valves must have a working pressure rating equal to or greater than the working pressure rating of the connection to which they are attached, and you must install them between the well-control stack and the choke or kill line. For operations with expected surface pressures greater than 3,500 psi, the kill line must be connected to a pump or manifold. You must not use the kill line inlet on the BOP stack for taking fluid returns from the wellbore.

(6) You must have a hydraulic-actuating system that provides sufficient accumulator capacity to close-open-close each component in the BOP stack. This cycle must be completed with at least 200 psi above the pre-charge pressure, without assistance from a charging system.

(7) All connections used in the surface BOP system from the tree to the uppermost required ram must be flanged, including the connections between the well-control stack and the first full-opening valve on the choke line and the kill line.

(b) The minimum BOP system components for well abandonment operations with the tree in place and performed by moving tubing or drill pipe in or out of a well under pressure utilizing equipment specifically designed for that purpose, i.e., snubbing operations, must include the following:

(1) One set of pipe rams hydraulically operated, and

(2) Two sets of stripper-type pipe rams hydraulically operated with spacer spool.

(c) An inside BOP or a spring-loaded, back-pressure safety valve, and an essentially full-opening, work-string safety valve in the open position must be maintained on the rig floor at all times during well abandonment operations when the tree is removed or during well abandonment operations with the tree installed and using small tubing as the work string. A wrench to fit the work-string safety valve must be readily available. Proper connections must be readily available for inserting valves in the work string. The full-opening safety valve is not required for coiled tubing or snubbing operations.

[77 FR 50897, Aug. 22, 2012, as amended at 81 FR 26037, Apr. 29, 2016]