Operating the TORUS BOP

Operating the Closing Unit:                  Closing unit & Torus BOP

During normal drilling and work over operations the 4-way shear seal valve should be placed in the “Open” position. As stated above, the Torus is a pressure-close/vent-open blowout preventer. Placing the 4-way/3-position shear seal valve in the “Open” position eliminates the possibility of pressure being trapped in the annular cavity of the BOP which may result in partial closure of the packing element while running tools in and out of the well bore, resulting in unnecessary wear and possible damage of the inner packing element.

The closure pressure applied to the inlet of the Torus Blowout Preventer can be adjusted to minimize packing element stress, and pressure on through bore items, however you can apply closure pressure up to the full rated working pressure of the BOP.

CAUTION!!  Closing pressure MUST NOT exceed the rated working pressure of the BOP unit.  Injury or damage could result.

 

Routine Operation of the Torus BOP:

  1. Move the 4-way/3-position shear seal valve to the “Close” position. Closure is obtained when the audible sound of hydraulic fluid passing through the manifold of the closing unit ceases.
  2. Move the 4-way/3-position shear seal valve to “Block” (or “Neutral”) position.
  3. Verify closure by visual inspection of the packing element

Moving the 4-way valve to the “Block” position traps hydraulic fluid in the annular cavity of the Torus.  This allows the Torus to hold well bore pressures far above the blocked pressure, because hydraulic fluid is non-compressible.

CAUTION!!  Leaving the 4-way shear seal valve in the “Close” position only contains well bore pressures below the regulated hydraulic pressure.  If well bore pressure exceeds the regulated hydraulic pressure, hydraulic fluid could be vented to the hydraulic fluid reservoir, resulting in communication of wellbore fluids and wellbore pressure to atmosphere, causing possible injury or death.

To open the Torus:  

Relieve all annular pressure (below the BOP).  Move the 4-way/3-position shear seal valve to the “Open” position.  The closure fluid will will then return to the reservoir of the closing unit relieving closure pressure and allowing the packing elements to retract into the BOP body.

Fluid required for full closure of the Torus BOP:  

Nominal Size                    Closure fluid

7-1/16″ Unit        =        4.5 Gallons

9″ Unit               =        8.5 Gallons 

11″ Unit             =        11 Gallons