In this Drilling Contractor article, IPT Global and Seadrill examine why subsea blowout preventer (BOP) soak testing remains inconsistently executed across rigs and regions, despite its role in pre-deployment assurance. Differences in test duration, pressure levels, and acceptance criteria often stem from legacy practices and varying OEM guidance rather than a lack of focus on safety.
The authors propose a framework aligned with API Standard 53 to establish a shared testing baseline, paired with digital pressure data to catch subtle issues, like gradual decay or irregular regulator response, before deployment, when troubleshooting is far more difficult. IPT Global’s SureTec® Equipment Health Monitoring solution and Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) support this kind of objective, data-driven evaluation during pre-deployment testing.
Read the full article: Standardizing subsea BOP soak testing: overview of value and recommended best practices by Patrick Hillard and Leonard Childers, IPT Global; and Ahmed Omar, Seadrill
