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The BOP valve affixed to the wellhead could be closed in the event of drilling into a high pressure zone, and the well fluids contained. Well control techniques could be used to regain control of the well. As the technology developed, blowout preventers became standard equipment, and gushers became a thing of the past.
A blowout preventer (BOP) (pronounced B-O-P) [1] is a specialized valve or similar mechanical device, used to seal, control and monitor oil and gas wells to prevent blowouts, the uncontrolled release of crude oil or natural gas from a well. They are usually installed in stacks of other valves.
The wellhead and the tree are typically suitably engineered to be able to withstand the normal operating pressures. The major integrity issues for these components surround the operation of the valves, which are prone to leaking. For this reason, valves must be routinely maintained.
BP closing stock price 57.91 [40] Coast Guard log reports "attempts to actuate the blow preventer (BOP) middle rams and blind shears were ineffective due to a hydraulic leak on the valve. Repairs are being worked overnight. The well head continues to discharge approximately 1,000 barrels/day. [28]
The valve will operate if the umbilical HP line is cut or the wellhead/tree is destroyed. This valve allows fluids to pass up or be pumped down the production tubing. When closed the DHSV forms a barrier in the direction of hydrocarbon flow, but fluids can still be pumped down for well kill operations.
Mishandling mud at the surface accounts for many instances of insufficient fluid weight. Such as opening the wrong valve on the pump suction manifold and allowing a tank of lightweight fluid to be pumped; bumping the water valve so more is added than intended; washing off shale shakers; or clean-up operations. All of these can affect mud weight.
The right hand valve is often called the flow wing valve or the production wing valve, because it is in the flowpath the hydrocarbons take to production facilities (or the path water or gas will take from production to the well in the case of injection wells). The left hand valve is often called the kill wing valve (KWV).
As technology has advanced, more modern drillers have better control of the overall well. Oil well control is the management of the dangerous effects caused by the unexpected release of formation fluid, such as natural gas and/or crude oil, upon surface equipment of oil or gas drilling rigs and escaping into the atmosphere.