BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS ISSN 1982-0593

TSUKADA, R. I.; MOROOKA, C. K.; YAMAMOTO, M. “A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS”.
Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. v. 1, n. 2, p. 88-94, 2007.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP

SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS
1
R. I. Tsukada*, 1C. K. Morooka, 1M. Yamamoto
1
Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Departamento de Engenharia de Petróleo

* To whom all correspondence should be addressed.

Address: R. Mendeleiv s/n – Campinas – São Paulo – Brazil – CEP 13083-970
Telephone number: +55 19 3521-3356
E-mail: tsukada@dep.fem.unicamp.br

Abstract. The high demand for petroleum, associated with its high price, has motivated
many major petroleum companies to operate in deep and ultra-deep waters. This trend
brings about many technical and economical challenges. One alternative to drilling
operations in ultra-deep water is Surface Blow-Out Preventer (SBOP), a technique that
has proven to be very promising from many technical and scientific works. The present
study introduces a comparative analysis between the surface and subsea BOP system
installation in offshore drilling operations. We have focused on results for riser
displacement behavior and stresses. Advantages and disadvantages for the each system
are discussed, particularly for offshore deepwater drilling operations.

Keywords: drilling riser; SBOP; BOP; drilling system

1. INTRODUCTION high-pressure formation is reached, generating

The pursuit of petroleum to satisfy the
growing demand, associated with petroleum
high prices, has motivated many major
petroleum companies to operate in deep and
ultra-deep waters. Many technical and
economical challenges are brought about by
such trend, and must be effectively accounted
for.
In ultra-deep water drilling operations, the
drilling platform is connected to the Blow-Out
Preventer (BOP), installed at the wellhead on
the seabed by the drilling riser. The drilling
riser is a steel tube containing the drill string
which enables the flow of drilling fluids. In
most drilling systems, the drilling fluid is
pumped into the well flowing through the drill
string and returns to the surface by flowing up
through the annular space between the drilling
riser’s internal wall and the outer
circumference of the drill string. The BOP is a
piece of safety equipment used to circulate
kicks and control the pressure of the well while
the kick is being circulated. The word ‘kick’ is
commonly used to describe a phenomenon that
occurs during the drilling operation when a
an unfavorable pressure gradient between the
petroleum formation and the well. This
pressure gradient ultimately causes an influx of
fluid from the formation to the well, which
increases the pressure at the bottom of the well.
If this phenomenon continues, an uncontrolled
fluid flow to the surface may form, which is
usually referred to as the Blow Out.
The traditional drilling operation approach is
to lower a subsea blow-out preventer (BOP)
within a large-diameter riser and connect it to
the well head. The heavy submersed BOP and
accompanying riser require appropriate riser
tensors with even higher capacity. Therefore,
deeper water further exacerbates this problem,
requesting high-capacity riser tensors, which
demands the use of expensive and scarce 5th-
generation semi-submersibles.
A new concept of drilling system, still in
development, is a possible BOP arrangement
called the Surface BOP (SBOP) which utilizes
a lighter surface BOP at or near deck level, a
higher-pressure riser and a Subsea
Disconnected System (SDS) for quick
disconnections. This arrangement greatly

88 Downloaded from World Wide Web http://www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg

BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS
TSUKADA, R. I.; MOROOKA, C. K.; YAMAMOTO, M. “A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS”.
Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. v. 1, n. 2, p. 88-94, 2007.
reduces the capacity requirement of the riser
tensors enabling the use of cheaper and more
plentiful 3rd-generation semi-submersibles.
The SBOP concept is used in fixed
platforms. However, the first use of the SBOP
technology applied in deepwater operations
was reported in 1967 at the Nigeria’s EA field
(Brunt et al, 2004). The SBOP was already
used in ultra-deep water drilling operations
with a dynamic positioned (DP) drilling
platform, as presented by Azancot et al. (2004),
Brander et al. (2004) and Taklo et al. (2004).
The SBOP system also offers more
advantages than just being economical. Firstly,
the SBOP system employs a casing riser, which
reduces environmental loads and top tensions
by more than 50%. Furthermore, the casing
riser joints can be used as a traditional casing,
which allows the more frequently renewal of
the riser, refreshing the fatigue life of the riser
joints. Therefore, the discharge of drilling fluid
caused by riser failure is reduced by more than
50% (Taklo et al., 2004).
Due to the SBOP placement, the reliability,
downtime and maintenance are also improved.
Usually, traditional offshore drilling systems
use a flex-joint above the BOP, which causes
riser wear induced by flexible movements and
motion. The SBOP system uses a stress joint in
z y
x
Figure 1. Traditional drilling system’s layout.
Downloaded from World Wide Web http://www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg
both extremities of the riser.
In the SBOP system, the SDS is installed
over the wellhead. In this situation, this
equipment can be considered redundant if used
to close the well, since the SBOP is attached to
the system at the surface. Also, the SDS can be
closed, even if a riser failure occurs.
The items listed above are some of the
advantages of the system as far as safety is
concerned, presented in scientific and technical
works.
One of the main disadvantages of the SBOP
system is the need for a high-pressure riser. If
safe high-pressure risers are available, the
SBOP system becomes an extremely attractive
option when drilling in deep waters.
In this context, comparative analyses
between an offshore drilling system using a
submersed BOP and a system using a SBOP
were carried out with a focus on the mechanical
behavior of the drilling riser for the operation
of BOP or SDS installation. The results were
obtained by numerical simulation in the time
domain.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFSHORE
DRILLING SYSTEMS
In this work, the offshore drilling system
Rotary Table
Diverter
Ball Joint
Tensioning Cable
Telescopic Joint
Kill / Choke lines
Drilling Riser
Drill String
Flex Joint
LMRP
BOP
89
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS
TSUKADA, R. I.; MOROOKA, C. K.; YAMAMOTO, M. “A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS”.
Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. v. 1, n. 2, p. 88-94, 2007.
using a submersed BOP will be called the
traditional offshore drilling system and will
follow the API norm (1993), which is used in
the design of drilling systems. Figure 1
illustrates the main equipment that composes
this type of drilling system.
The interface between the riser and the
drilling platform is made by the telescopic
joint, which is used to avoid the transmission of
heave motion (vertical motion) of the platform
to the riser, which could greatly reduce the
service life of the riser and its associated
components. To increase the riser’s rigidity a
tensioning system is used to apply tension to
the riser, thus increasing it’s bending stiffness.
This is done by cables that are installed at the
telescopic joint, which is part of the tensioning
system. A ball joint is installed above the
telescopic joint but below the diverter, and is a
component used to avoid bending moment
concentrations at the interface between the
telescopic joint and the diverter. The diverter
allows the flow of drilling fluid from the riser
to the drilling fluid treatment system, and if
necessary this equipment can transport fluids
generated by the kick away from the platform.
The rotary table is used to transmit rotation to
the drill string.
At the seabed, the riser is connected to a flex
Diverter
Flex Joint
SBOP
Tensioning
Ring
Strakes
Stress Joint
z y
SDS
x
Wellhead
Figure 2. Layout of ultra-deep water drilling system using a SBOP.
90
joint, which has the same finality as the ball
joint, but with controlled rotational stiffness.
Below the flex joint is the LMRP (Low Marine
Riser Package), to allow the disconnection of
the riser and the BOP in the case of
emergencies. The kill and choke lines assist the
circulation of a kick. In the traditional drilling
system these are connected on the outer surface
of the riser along with other auxiliary lines.
In the operation of the BOP installation at
the seabed, the interface between the drilling
platform and the riser is made by a component
called ‘spider’. This component is installed in
the drilling platform deck, where the riser will
be clamped, allowing the assembly of the riser
until complete installation of the BOP.
Until now, there is no drilling norm that
contemplates the use of a SBOP. In view of
this, the system will be herein described
according to Brander et al. (2004). They
described a drilling system with a SBOP used
in a real drilling operation with a DP drilling
platform. The layout of the drilling system and
the main components are presented in Figure 2.
To make the SBOP system as safe as the
traditional offshore drilling systems, proper
equipment must be installed to the subsea
wellhead in order to allow the disconnection of
the riser at the seabed in the case of emergency.
Telescopic Joint
Tensioner
Spool
extension
Stress Joint
Riser
Downloaded from World Wide Web http://www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS
TSUKADA, R. I.; MOROOKA, C. K.; YAMAMOTO, M. “A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS”.
Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. v. 1, n. 2, p. 88-94, 2007.

This equipment is called the Subsea Ai = Inner Area

Disconnected System (SDS), as mentioned AS = Sectional Area
above. The SDS is not so different from the P0 = External Pressure
submersed BOP: it is constituted of a set of Pi = Internal Pressure
rams that permit shearing of the drill string and γs = Specific weight of riser material
closes the well, with or without the drill string γi = Specific weight of inner fluid
accommodated inside the well. A stress joint is γ0 = Specific weight of outer fluid
installed on top of the SDS to minimize the x = Displacement
variation of stiffness at the interface between f = Force
the SDS and the riser, thereby avoiding stress
concentration points. The environmental loads consist of wave
At the top riser region another stress joint is and current forces. The waves and currents are
installed to avoid stress concentrations between considered to be originating from the same
the SBOP and the riser. This joint is connected direction, referred to as the in-line direction.
to the tensioning ring where riser tensors The VIV is considered to be acting in the
normally used to transmit tension to the riser transverse direction, which is perpendicular to
are connected. Between the SBOP and the in-line direction. In order to estimate in-line
tensioning ring, a spool extension is installed to hydrodynamic forces, a modified Morison
lift the SBOP in order to increase the gap Equation is used considering the relative
between the tensor and the SBOP, thus velocity (equation 2), as presented by Morooka
decreasing the chance of collisions. Vortex et al. (2005). Wave kinematics is obtained by
Induced Vibration (VIV) strakes are installed to applying the Stokes 5th-Order Theory.
avoid vortex shedding that induce these
vibrations, which reduce the riser’s life due to f x = AI u& + CD AD Vr (u + U c - x& ) + C A AI (u& - &x&)
fatigue. The diverter, telescopic joint and flex
rpD0 rD0
2
joint in the SBOP system have the same AI = AD = (2)
function as in the traditional offshore drilling 4 2
system. Vr = (u + U C - x& ) 2 + y& 2

where:
3. RISER MODEL EMPLOYED
The vertical riser can be structurally r = Outer fluid density
modeled as an extensive beam element under D0 = Outer diameter
axial tension, environmental loads and pressure C D = Drag coefficient
effects due to internal and external fluid C A = Added mass coefficient
pressure (Morooka et al., 2006). The riser’s
u = Water particle velocity
Axial-Flexural Equation for the in-line and
u& = Water particle acceleration
transversal directions was given by Chakrabarti
and Frampton (1982): U c = Current velocity
x& = In-line riser velocity
d2 æ d2x ö d2x y& = Transverse riser velocity
ç EI ÷ - (T + A P - A P )
dz 2 çè dz 2 ÷ø &x& = In-line riser acceleration
0 0 i i
dz 2
(1)
- [(g s A s + A i g i - A 0 g 0 )] = f
dx In extreme stress analyses, the von Mises
dz stress is employed in order to assess whether
the stress throughout the riser exceeds the
where: admissible stress levels recommended by the
EI = Bending Stiffness API (1993).
T = Axial Tension In this work, the von Mises stress (equation
A0 = Outer Area 3) is calculated based on the API (1993).

Downloaded from World Wide Web http://www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg 91

BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS
TSUKADA, R. I.; MOROOKA, C. K.; YAMAMOTO, M. “A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS”.
Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. v. 1, n. 2, p. 88-94, 2007.

Subsea Surface
BOP System BOP System

WAVE WAVE

U L U L

BOP SDS

Figure 3. A comparative scheme for BOP and SDS installation operation.

using the SBOP is presented by Brander et al.

s eq =
1
(s pr - s pq ) + (s pq - s pz ) + (s pz - s pr )
2 2
2 values were assumed based on drilling normal
where:
s pr = radial stress
s pq = hoop stress
s pz = axial stress
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Following the riser model presented above a
preliminary analysis of the structural behavior
of a riser during the operation of the SDS or
BOP installation was studied. The analysis was
made considering the boundary condition in the
top as clamped and the bottom as free. Figure 3
illustrates the BOP and SDS installation
operation, where L represents the riser length
and U is the current velocity.
Table 1 presents the riser geometry and
configuration used for the numerical
simulation. The riser of the drilling system
2
(3) (2004). For the traditional drilling system, the
practices.
The dynamic behavior was calculated by
taking a constant riser element length (9.5 m),
for both systems. The SDS and the SBOP were
considered as a very rigid and heavy element
(SDS mass = 35000 kg and BOP mass =
300000 kg). Table 2 presents the other
parameters used in the simulation, where CL,
CD and CM are the lift, drag and inertia
coefficient.
Figure 4 presents the results for the BOP and
SDS in-line displacement, which is the
positions of riser maximum displacement, and
the top von Mises stress, which is the most
critical region. These results were obtained by
varying the riser length (L) in many
simulations.
From Figure 4a, it can be observed that the
SDS permits larger displacement than the
SBOP. In this operation the riser is tensioned
only by the weight of the SBOP or SDS.

Table 1. Riser geometry and configuration. Table 2. Riser Parameters in the simulation.
SBOP Traditional Sea water density [kg/m3] 1025
Nominal Size [m] 0.34 0.533 Drilling fluid density [kg/m3] 1200
Material Grade P110 X80 Structural damping 0.003
Density [kg/m³] 8006 7860 Strouhal number 0.2
Inner Diameter [m] 0.313 0.486 CL 1.0
Yield Strength [MPa] 759 551 CD , CM 1.2, 2.0

92 Downloaded from World Wide Web http://www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg

BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS
TSUKADA, R. I.; MOROOKA, C. K.; YAMAMOTO, M. “A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS”.
Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. v. 1, n. 2, p. 88-94, 2007.

BOP or SDS In-line Displacement Top von Mises Stress

0.25 350

In-line Displacement [m]

300

Von Mises Stress [MPa]

0.2
250
0.15 200

150
0.1
100
0.05
SDS 50 SDS
BOP BOP
0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
BOP or SDS Vertical Position [m] BOP or SDS Vertical Position [m]
(a) (b)
Figure 4. BOP and SDS in-line displacement (a) and top von Mises stress
(b) as a function of BOP or SDS vertical position (riser length).

Therefore, since the SDS is lighter than the
BOP, the riser of the SBOP system will present
a greater displacement.
From Figure 4b, it is observed that both
systems have a very near von Mises stress and
both are in accordance with the API (1993),
which states that the von Mises stress must be
less than 67% of the yield strength.
conditions. Besides, the axial tension behavior
needs special care in the analysis.
In the present study, the results confirmed
that drilling risers can support the operation for
installation of both BOP and SDS systems.
However, higher riser displacement levels have
been observed in the SDS case than in the BOP
case.

5. CONCLUSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A comparative study between subsea and The authors would like to thank CNPq and
surface BOP systems was presented. Riser Finep (CTPetro), Petrobras and PRH/ANP – 15
maximum displacement and von Mises stresses (The Brazilian National Petroleum Agency),
along the system length were evaluated for supporting the present study.
considering BOP and SDS installation,
respectively, in deepwater offshore drilling
operations. REFERENCES
After considerations made throughout the AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE,
study, it was possible to confirm some Washington. API Recommended Practice
interesting results presented in the literature 16Q, Design, Selection, Operation and
showing how promising the operation with Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser
SBOP drilling system can be. Systems, Washington, 1993, 48p.
This study has also highlighted some AZANCOT, P., MAGNE, E., ZHANG, J.,
important concerns regarding the application of Surface BOP – Management System &
the SBOP system. In particular, special Design Guidelines. In: IADC/SPE Drilling
attention is required in a deepwater drilling Conference, 2002, Texas (U.S.A.), Houston:
scenario. In this case, numerical simulations International Association of Drilling
have been demonstrated as a powerful Contractors, Richardson: Society of
procedure to analyze the complex non-linear Petroleum Engineers, 2002, IADC/SPE
dynamic behavior of the riser under hanging 74531.

Downloaded from World Wide Web http://www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg 93

BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS
TSUKADA, R. I.; MOROOKA, C. K.; YAMAMOTO, M. “A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURFACE AND SUBSEA BOP SYSTEMS IN OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS”.
Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. v. 1, n. 2, p. 88-94, 2007.
BRANDER, G., MAGNE, E., NEWMAN, T.,
TAKLO, T., MITCHELL, C., Drilling in
Brazil in 2887m Water Depth Using a
Surface BOP System and a DP Vessel. In:
IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, 2004,
Texas (U.S.A.), Houston: International
Association of Drilling Contractors,
Richardson: Society of Petroleum
Engineers, 2004, IADC/SPE 87113.
CHAKRABARTI, S. K. & FRAMPTON, R. E.
Review of riser analysis techniques. Applied
Ocean Research, v. 4 (2), p. 73-90,1982.
BRUNT, G.; ELSON, S.; NEWMAN, T.;
TOUDOUZE, P., Surface BOP: Equipment
Development for Extending the Water
Depth Capability of a D.P. Semisubmersible
to 10,000ft and Beyond. In: IADC/SPE
Drilling Conference, 2004, Texas (U.S.A.),
Houston: International Association of
94
Drilling Contractors, Richardson: Society of
Petroleum Engineers, 2004, IADC/SPE
87109.
MOROOKA, C. K., COELHO, F. M., MATT,
C. G. C., FRANCISS, R., A Time Domain
Simulation Tool for Rigid Riser’s Design.
In: Rio Oil & Gas Expo and Conference,
2006, Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Brasileiro de
Petróleo e Gás, 2006, IBP 1420_06.
TAKLO, T., MAGNE, E., BRANDER, G.,
Risk Management Process for Ultra-
deepwater Surface BOP Operation from a
DP Drilling Rig In: IADC/SPE Drilling
Conference, 2004, Texas (U.S.A.), Houston:
International Association of Drilling
Contractors, Richardson: Society of
Petroleum Engineers, 2004, IADC/SPE
87113.
Downloaded from World Wide Web http://www.portalabpg.org.br/bjpg