Guidance & Regulations / Regulations / Well Control Rule (April 2016)
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Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Rule (published in the Federal Register April 29, 2016)

NOTE: The Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions rulemaking is underway. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register May 11, 2018. For more information on the proposed rule, visit the Revised Well Control Rule Page.

In April 2016, BSEE issued the final Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Rule (81 Fed. Reg. 25888) (the WCR), which updated requirements for equipment and operations for well control activities associated with drilling, completion, workover and decommissioning operations.

Finalization of the Well Control Rule in 2016 resulted in reforms that establish (phased in over time) the following items: (1) incorporation of the latest industry standards that establish minimum baseline requirements for the design, manufacture, repair, and maintenance of blowout preventers, (2) additional controls over the maintenance and repair of BOPs, (3) use of dual shear rams in deepwater BOPs (API Standard 53), (4) requirement that BOP systems include a technology that allows the drill pipe to be centered during shearing operations, (5) more rigorous third party certification of the shearing capability of BOPs, (6) expanded accumulator capacity and operational capabilities for increased functionality, (7) real-time monitoring capability for deepwater and high-temperature/high- pressure drilling activities, (8) establishment by regulation of criteria for the testing and inspection of subsea well containment equipment, (9) increased reporting of BOP failure data to BSEE and the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), (10) sets expectations of what constitutes a safe drilling margin and allows for alternative safe drilling margins when justified, Requires the use of accepted engineering principles and establishes general performance criteria for drilling and completion equipment, (11) requires the use of accepted engineering principles and establishes general performance criteria for drilling and completion equipment, (12) Establishes additional requirements for using remotely operated vehicles (ROV) to function certain components on the BOP stack, (13) requires adequate centralization of casing during cementing, and (14) Makes the testing frequency of BOPs used on workover and decommissioning operations the same as drilling operations.

Following is additional guidance on rule provisions, it can be viewed by date posted or subpart and section.

Date Posted

Guidance by Subpart and Section:
Preamble
Ongoing Operations
Existing Permits
Standards