As someone who operates within the oil and gas industry, you know how important your BOP units are. To keep this equipment online as much as possible, it’s crucial to keep up with routine maintenance and to choose the right maintenance methods as well. 

Understanding The BOP Maintenance Challenge 

BOP maintenance can present some logistical and safety challenges to operators and owners. However, to chase reliability and to avoid downtime, frequent testing and maintenance of individual components is important. This calls for operators to maintain the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s (OEM) recommendations and stay in line with federal regulations. 

Federal BOP Maintenance Requirements 

Federal regulations dictate certain BOP maintenance and inspection requirements. Generally, such inspection or maintenance must meet or exceed any recommendations set by the OEM and recognized engineering practices. Operators must document how they gather the data, meet, or exceed the provisions of the regulation, and keep complete records. 

Major inspections have to take place every five years and an independent third party must review the inspection results and draft reports. Operators are also required to visually inspect the BOP system every day and if part of the system is below water, once every three days. Inspectors have to be trained in accordance with the regulations and industry standards. 

Initial Maintenance Plans 

Operators should assess the maintenance requirements of each BOP system, understanding that no two systems may be the same. They should consider factors like drilling activities, the nature of the environment, and previous maintenance history to come up with the best maintenance strategy. 

Risk-Based BOP Maintenance 

Risk-based maintenance is becoming more common and gathers information during condition monitoring and everyday operations. This ought to increase system dependability while bringing down overall maintenance costs. A by-product could be improved safety levels, as the overall maintenance effort is more efficient, optimized, and well-planned. 

Digital Maintenance Help 

Other BOP maintenance strategies rely on digital solutions. The systems have real-time monitoring sensors that can provide instantaneous data on overall performance while providing an early warning about potential faults. This approach should allow the operator to perform maintenance as part of a timely intervention. 

The Importance of Expert Support 

From a bigger-picture perspective, there is no substitute for direct experience. So, if operators introduce digital solutions, they should always have experts on hand and seasoned field engineers to consult. For this, owners and operators could turn to MEYER, an established company that designs equipment for the industry, such as its acclaimed BOP accumulator units.  

MEYER supplies oilfield equipment services and other solutions at its BOP maintenance center. It also rents equipment and carries out BOP repairs for various testing and closing units in the oil and gas industries.  

Trust MEYER with your BOP Maintenance Requirements  

MEYER is a family-owned company that has the largest rental fleet in the industry. There are always staff members on duty around the clock and someone is standing by, ready to answer your questions about BOP maintenance today. 

Contact a friendly representative at MEYER to schedule your BOP service appointment.