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Complacency about shear rams

Complacency about shear rams

Complacency about shear rams

(OP)
It seems that the likely failure of shear rams has been well known in the industry, and nobody cared to even order a bigger ram, which would solve the problem.  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_oil_spill_prevention#Blowout_preventer for the scoop.

My question is, why did the people whose lives were at risk tolerate this?  It seems like there must have been a reason for the complacency, perhaps a belief that with all the other shutoffs available, it would never be necessary to use the shears, and they were there just to satisfy bureaucratic requirements.  I would be very interested to hear from those who have worked on rigs with these flaky rams.

RE: Complacency about shear rams

(OP)
What kind of testing should be done before mounting a BOP on a wellhead?  Would it be sufficient to demonstrate that it can shear a piece of the drill pipe while still on deck?  If it can do this with 25% reduced hydraulic pressure, is that sufficient safety margin to allow for real pressures in a blowout situation?

RE: Complacency about shear rams

On the Oil Drum, there is some discussion of attitudes on the rigs towards BOPS and actual vs. required testing.  Sorry I don't have any links.  The quantity of posts over there since Macondo is huge.  I have read only part of them.  I suppose you could find something using the search engine.

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