Accumulators

Store large volumes of hydraulic control fluid to be ready for

immediate use.

Store hydraulic energy – “Battery”

The energy is stored by compressing nitrogen as the hydraulic fluid is

forced into the accumulator.

Nitrogen is used because it is

Inert
Readily available

When hydraulic fluid is needed, the stored energy of the nitrogen is

used to expel the hydraulic fluid

Instantly supplies hydraulic fluid at flow rates much greater than a

system relying only on pumps
BOP Control Systems
 Select “Open” Select “Close”

Open Close

Open Close Open Close

Vented to Mix Tank
BOP Control System
Koomey Accumulator Parts
1. Air Supply – Normal air supply is 125 psi
2. Air Lubricators – Located on air inlet line to the air operated pumps
3. By-Pass Valve – To automatic hydro-pneumatic pressure switch
4. Automatic Hydro-pneumatic Pressure Switch – Pressure switch set at 2900 psi cut-off
when air and electric pumps are used – otherwise set at 3000 psi
5. Air Shut-Off Valves – Manually operated – to close or open the air supply to the operated
hydraulic pumps
6. Air Operated Hydraulic Pumps - Normal operating pressure is 125 psi
7. Suction Shut-Off Valve – Manually-operated –Normally kept open.
8. Suction Strainer – One for each air operated hydraulic pump
9. Check Valve – one for each air operated hydraulic pump delivery line
10. Electric Motor Driven Triplex Pump Assembly
11. Automatic Hydro-Electric Pressure Switch – Pressure switch is set at 3000 psi cut-out
and 250 psi cut-in differential.
12. Electric Motor Starter – Automatically starts or stops the electric motor driving the triplex
pump.
13. Suction Shut-Off Valve – Manually operated and normally open – located in the suction line
of the triplex pump.
14. Suction Strainer – Located in the suction line of the triplex pump.
15. Check Valve – Located in the delivery line of the triplex pump.
16. Accumulator Shut-Off Valve – Manually operated and normally open
17. Accumulators – Containing operating fluid under pressure – normally pre-charged to 1000 psi
with an operating pressure of 3000 psi.
18. Accumulator Relief Valve – Valve set to relive at 3500 psi.
19. Fluid Strainer – Located on the inlet side of the pressure reducing and regulating valve.
20. Pressure Reducing and Regulating Valve – Manually operated – Adjust to the continuous
operating pressure of ram preventers.
21. Check Valve – Located on the delivery side of the pressure reducing and regulating valve.
22. 4-Way Valves – With air cylinder operator for remote operation from the control panels – Keep
on open position when controls are not in use.
23. By-Pass Valve – With air cylinder operator for remote operation from the control panels –
Keep closed unless 3000 psi or more is required on ram preventers.
24. Manifold Relief Valve – Valve set to relieve at 5500 psi.
25. Hydraulic Bleeder Valve – Manually operated – normally closed.
26. Panel Unit Selection – Manual 3-way valves – Used to allow pilot air pressure to the air
operated Koomey pressure reducing and regulating valve, either from the air regulator on the
unit or from the air regulator on the control panel.
27. Koomey Pressure Reducing and Regulating Valve – Air Operated – Reduces the
accumulator pressure to the desired/required annular operating pressure.
28. Accumulator Pressure Gauge
29. Manifold Pressure Gauge
30. Annular Preventer Pressure Gauge
31. Pneumatic Pressure Transmitter For Accumulator Pressure
32. Pneumatic Pressure Transmitter For Manifold Pressure
33. Pneumatic Pressure Transmitter For Annular Preventer Pressure
34. Air Filter
35. Air Regulator For Koomey Pressure Reducing and Regulating Valve – Air Operated
36. Air Regulator For Pneumatic Transmitter For Bag Pressure, Accumulator Pressure and
Manifold Pressure Air
37. Junction Box – To connect the air lines on the unit to the air lines coming from the remote panels
through air cable.
38. Fluid Level Indicator
39. Hydraulic Fluid Fill Hole
40. Rig Skid and Test Line – 4-Way Valve – Manually operated – open center – Accumulator
position: valve handle to the right – Test position: valve handle to the center – Skid position: valve
handle to the left.
41. Check Valve – Located on the outlet line from the rig skid and test valve and inlet line to the
accumulators.
42. Rig Skid Relief Valve
43. Rig Skid Customer Connection
44. Test Line Customer Connection
45. Rig Skid Return Customer Connection
46. Inspection Plug
BOP Control Systems
BOP Control Systems

Hydraulic Control Fluid and Reservoir

BOP Control Systems

Charging System
BOP Control Systems

Hydraulic Control Manifold

Accumulator
Bottles
BOP Control Systems
BOP Control Systems
Remote Control Panel
Remote Control Panel
Annular Function Handle
Air Pressure Gauge
Pipe Ram Function Handle

Master Air Valve

Lower Pipe Ram

Function Handle

Blind Ram Function Handle

Kill Line HCR Choke Line HCR

Valve Handle Valve Handle
Remote Control Panel

Gauges Gauges

Actuating Valves

Air Lubricator

Actuating Valves Actuating

Valves
The accumulator provides a rapid, reliable and practical way to close blowout
preventers when a kick occurs.
• Because of the importance of reliability, closing systems have extra pumps
and excess fluid volume in addition to alternate or backup systems.
• Air/electric powered pumps are rigged to recharge the unit automatically as
the pressure in the accumulator bottle drops.
The primary function of the BOP control system is to provide
a reliable and rapid means of operating the BOPs when
1) a kick occurs
2) a kick is being displaced
3) pipe is being stripped into the well

To provide reliability and redundancy, the control system stores energy

in the form of compressed nitrogen.
The following needs to be checked during operational maintenance of the
master accumulator package:

1. Clean and wash the air strainer.

2. Check air pump packing. Packing should be loose enough that the pump
rod is lubricated, but does not loose enough to drip.
3. Check the electric pump packing.
4. Remove and clean the suction strainers. They are located on the suctions
of both air and electric pumps.
The following needs to be checked during operational maintenance of the
master accumulator package:
5. Check oil bath for the chain drive on electric pump (if it is chain driven). It
should be kept full of chain oil. Check bottom of oil reservoir for water.
6. Fluid volume in hydraulic reservoir should be at operating level (generally
two thirds to three quarters full)
7. Remove and clean the high-pressure hydraulic strainers.
8. Lubricate the four way valves ( the operating valves). There are grease
fittings on the mounting bracket and generally a grease cup for the piston
rod.
9. Clean the air filter on the regulator line.
10. Check precharge of individual accumulator bottles (should read 900 to 1100
psi).
• The standard rig system uses a control fluid of hydraulic oil or a mix of
chemicals and water stored in 3000 psi accumulator bottles.
• Enough usable fluid is stored under pressure so all stack components can
function with pressure along with a reserve for safety.
In extremely cold environments, care should be taken not to let the core
temperature of the accumulator system drop below freezing. The rubber goods
inside, such as the bladders, will become brittle and can burst.
• A mixture of fresh water and soluble oil ( with ethylene glycol for cold
weather and anti boil compounds for higher temperatures) is also
satisfactory.
• Soluble oil and water is cheaper and considered a non pollutant, so it is
favored over hydraulic oil.
• In warm climates bacteria, algae and fungus may accumulate in the system.
Additional chemicals should be added according to manufacturer’s
recommendation to prevent this growth (bactericides, fungicides, etc.).
• Improper oils/corrosive waters will harm accumulator and closing elements
of BOP stack.
Fluid used in the accumulator should be
• Non corrosive
• Non foaming
• Not make rubber sealing elements brittle.
• Fire and weather resistant.
• Hydraulic oil fits these requirements.
• An important accumulator element is the 1000 psi nitrogen precharge in the
bottle.
• If bottles lose their charge completely, no additional fluid under pressure can
be stored.
• Keep bottles near their 1000 psi precharge operating pressure.
• Nitrogen tends to leak away or be lost over time.
• Loss varies with each bottle, but each bottle in the bank should be checked
and the precharge recorded every 30 days, or every well, whichever comes
first, using the following procedure.
1. Shut off air to the air pumps and power to the electric pump and power to
the electric pump.
2. Close the accumulator shut-off valve.
3. Open the bleeder valve and bleed the fluid back into the main reservoir.
4. The bleeder valve should remain open until the precharge is checked.
5. Remove guard from accumulator bottle precharge valve.
6. Screw on gauge assembly. Open accumulator precharge valve by screwing
down on the T handle.
7. Check precharge pressure. Gauge should read 1000 psi or in the range
from 900 to 1100 psi. If high, bleed excess pressure off, if low, recharge to
proper pressure with nitrogen.
8. Close precharge valve by unscrewing T bar, remove gauge assembly. Re-
attach guard.
9. Open accumulator shut off valve.
10. Turn on air and power. The unit should recharge automatically.
• The accumulator system should have enough capacity to supply the
volume necessary to meet or exceed minimum requirements for closing
systems.
• There are various standards and safety factors for calculating required
volumes. For instance, the API in RP 16 E details the mathematics
involved to calculate the API minimum volume.
• MMS requires 1.5 times the volume (50% safety factor) necessary to
close and hold closed all BOP units with minimum of 200 psi above
precharge pressure.
• Other government agencies, organizations or company policies have
different requirements.
• Since it is better to have more than a minimum volume, most operators
and contractors prefer to use three times the volume required to close
everything on the stack.
• The idea is to have reserve power for the accumulator system to
operate the stack and still have more than the nitrogen precharge
remaining.
A quick estimation on a typical 3000 psi system with 1000 psi precharge is
to use half the volume of the accumulator bottle. Approximately one-half of
the total bottle size may be used before pressure drops to 200 psi above
precharge. (A 20 gallon bottle has a usable volume of about 10 gallons.
Larger spheres normally have a volume of 80 gallons and useable volume
of 40 gallons).
 Accumulators

1000 psi

1200 psi

3000 psi
Useable Fluid
6.67 – 1.67 = 5 gal
Example 1 – Estimated Accumulator Volume Required, 1.5 Closing Factor

1 _Hydril GK 13 5/8 Annular Preventer

Volume to close = 17.98 gallons
3 _Cameron Type U Rams 13 5/8
Volume to close 5.80 gallons x 3 = 17.40 gallons
Total Volume for 1 closure = 17.98 + 17.40 = 35.38 gallons
Accumulator Safety Factor 1.5.
Requirement is: 35.38 x 1.5 = 53.07 gallons.

Result: In this example, it would be necessary to have six 20 gallon bottles or

spheres that would give a total of 53.07 gallons (60 gallons rounded to the
next 10 gallons)
 If a system other than the 3000 psi system is used the exact
requirement can be calculated using the calculation below.

V3 = VR ÷([P3 ÷ P2] – [P3 ÷ P1])

Where:
P1 = Maximum pressure when fully charged
P2 = Minimum operation pressure
P3 = Nitrogen precharge pressure
V1 = Volume of nitrogen at maximum pressure
V2 = Volume of nitrogen at minimum operating pressure
V3 = Total accumulator volume
VR = Total useable fluid (including safety factor)
 Example 2
Using required volume from Example 1 of 53.07 gallons
(includes 1.5 safety factor), what is the total accumulator volume
required for a 2000 psi system with a 1000 psi precharge and
1200 psi minimum operating pressure?

V3 = VR ÷([P3 ÷ P2] – [P3 ÷ P1])

V3 = 53.07 ÷([1000 ÷ 1200] – [1000 ÷ 2000])

V3 = 53.07 ÷(0.833 – 0.5)

V3 = 53.07 ÷ 0.3333

V3 = 159.22 rounded to 160 gallons

 3) According to API RP 53, what is the recommended reservoir capacity for a BOP
closing unit ?

a. 2 times usable accumulator volume.

b. 2 times accumulator volume.
c. 5 times total accumlulator volume.
2) According to API RP 53, what is the maximum allowable closing time for a 20"
annular?
a. 30 seconds
b. 60 seconds
c. 2 minutes
d. 45 seconds

14) According to API RP 53, what is the minimum pressure at which the charge pumps
start up?
a. When accumulator pressure has decreased to less than 50% of the
operating pressure.
b. When accumulator pressure has decreased to less than 75% of the
operating pressure.
c. When accumulator pressure has decreased to less than 90% of the
operating pressure.
In each of the following problems ( 15 through 18 ) below write the letter from the list
below that best describes the reason for the pressure gauge readings.

a. Everything is O.K. Normal Readings:

b. Malfunctioning pressure regulating valve Annular 900 psi
c. Malfunctioning hydro-electric pressure switch Manifold 1500 psi
d. Leakage in hydraulic circuit Accum. 3000 psi
e. Precharge pressure is too low

15.

NOTE: A function has just been performed.

2900 psi 1500 psi 900 psi a

increasing steady steady Problem ______________

Accumulator Manifold Annular

Pressure Pressure Pressure
In each of the following problems ( 15 through 18 ) below write the letter from the list
below that best describes the reason for the pressure gauge readings.

a. Everything is O.K. Normal Readings:

b. Malfunctioning pressure regulating valve Annular 900 psi
c. Malfunctioning hydro-electric pressure switch Manifold 1500 psi
d. Leakage in hydraulic circuit Accum. 3000 psi
e. Precharge pressure is too low

16.
NOTE: The manifold pressure is too high, what controls the manifold pressure?

2700 psi 1800 psi 900 psi b

decreasing increasing steady Problem ______________

Accumulator Manifold Annular

Pressure Pressure Pressure
Write the letter from the list below that best describes the reason for the pressure
gauge readings.

a. Everything is O.K. Normal Readings:

b. Malfunctioning pressure regulating valve Annular 900 psi
c. Malfunctioning hydro-electric pressure switch Manifold 1500 psi
d. Leakage in hydraulic circuit Accum. 3000 psi
e. Precharge pressure is too low

17. NOTE: No function has been performed

2400 psi 1300 psi 900 psi d

decreasing decreasing steady Problem ______________

Accumulator Manifold Annular

Pressure Pressure Pressure
Write the letter from the list below that best describes the reason for the pressure
gauge readings.

a. Everything is O.K. Normal Readings:

b. Malfunctioning pressure regulating valve Annular 900 psi
c. Malfunctioning hydro-electric pressure switch Manifold 1500 psi
d. Leakage in hydraulic circuit Accum. 3000 psi
e. Precharge pressure is too low

NOTE: The accumulator pressure is too high, what controls the accumulator pressure?

3200 psi 1500 psi 900 psi c

increasing steady steady Problem ______________

Accumulator Manifold Annular

Pressure Pressure Pressure
 Using the diagrams to the right, answer
the following questions:
1 2 3 4

On a 3000 psi accumulator system

AIR ACCUM MANIFOLD ANNULAR
what are the normal operating
OPEN CLOSE
OFF ON OFF ON

pressures seen on the following gauges?

NOTE: Use the list below to fill in the MASTER AIR BY PASS
blanks: SHUT-OFF VALVE PRESSURE VALVE
120 PIPE RAM ADJUSTMENT
Gauge #1 ____________ psi OPEN CLOSE

3000
Gauge #2 ____________ psi
1500
Gauge #3 ____________ psi OPEN CLOSE

900
Gauge #4 ____________ psi OPEN CLOSE OPEN CLOSE

120 psi
KILL CHOK
900 psi E
OPEN CLOSE

1500 psi PIPE RAM

3000 psi
 1 2 3 4

AIR ACCUM MANIFOLD ANNULAR

On which 2 gauges on the remote panel
would you expect to see reduction in OFF ON
OPEN CLOSE
OFF ON

pressure when the annular preventer

is being closed ?
MASTER AIR BY PASS
SHUT-OFF VALVE PRESSURE VALVE
PIPE RAM ADJUSTMENT
a. Gauge #1 OPEN CLOSE

b. Gauge #2
CLOSE
c. Gauge #3 OPEN

d. Gauge #4 OPEN CLOSE OPEN CLOSE

KILL CHOK
E
OPEN CLOSE

PIPE RAM
 1 2 3 4

If gauge #1 reads 0, which of the

following statements is true ?
AIR ACCUM MANIFOLD ANNULAR

OPEN CLOSE
a. No stack function can be operated OFF ON OFF ON

from the remote panel.

b. All stack functions can be operated MASTER AIR BY PASS
from the remote panel. SHUT-OFF VALVE PRESSURE VALVE
PIPE RAM ADJUSTMENT
c. Choke and kill lines can still be OPEN CLOSE

operated from the remote

panel. CLOSE
OPEN

d. The annular preventer can still be

operated from the remote OPEN CLOSE OPEN CLOSE

panel. KILL CHOKE

OPEN CLOSE

PIPE RAM
Mark an "X" in the box where the problem relates to the cause:

Causes 4-Way Valve Closing Leak in Hydraulic Air Pressure Bulb

on Accumulator Line to Lines to BOP or the Lost to has
Failed to Shift BOP BOP itself Panel Blown
Blocked
Problems

1. Close light
does not
illuminate
but
pressure X
drops and
later rises
back up.
2. Light does
not
illuminate
but X
pressure
gauge does
not drop.

3. Pressure
gauge
drops but
does not X
rise back.
4. Light
illuminates
but
pressure X
gauge does
not drop.

Which one of the above (1, 2, 3, or 4) has not stopped the BOP from closing ?
#1