How to release the pressure of the blowout preventer accumulator

How does a blowout preventer work?

The packer acts as a diaphragm, using the hydraulic pressure to close the BOP. It's ‘pressure to close’ and ‘vent to open’ operation make it one of the simplest designs in blowout preventer technology.

How to maintain a blowout preventer?

During the operation process, regular maintenance and upkeep of the blowout preventer should be carried out. Timely clean up impurities and sediments inside the blowout preventer, check whether the valve opening and closing is flexible, and whether the control system is operating normally.

What should be included in a blowout preventer control unit?

As a minimum requirement, all blowout preventer control units should be equipped with accumulator bottles with sufficient volumetric capacity to provide the usable fluid volume (with pumps inoperative) to close one pipe BOP ram and the annular preventer in the stack plus the volume to open the hydraulic choke line valve.

What happens when a hydraulic pump activates a bop accumulator?

When the BOP’s are activated the pressured oil is released, either opening or closing the BOP’s. Hydraulic pumps replenish the accumulator with the same amount of fluid that was used to operate the BOP. The accumulator must also be equipped to allow varying pressures.

How do I use a type K blowout preventer?

Unlike other annular blowout preventers on the market, the Type K can be operated with any pressured media including nitrogen, water, or hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic fluid is preferred. One high pressure flexible hose (1" hose is recommended) is necessary to connect the pressure source to the 1" NPT port on the Type K BOP.

What is the minimum working pressure of a accumulator?

Accumulators commonly have minimum working pressures of 1200 psi and maximum working pressures of between 1500 and 3000 psi. Accumulators are ASME-coded pressure vessels for the storage of high-pressure fluid. These accumulators as a part of the BOP control unit are available in a variety of sizes, types, capacities, and pressure ratings.