scope:

General

This document provides information for planning, installation, testing, and operation of wells drilled with surface back-pressure (SBP) managed pressure drilling (MPD). This document applies only to drilling rigs with subsea blowout preventers (BOPs).

This document addresses situations where the total drilling operation is performed balanced or overbalanced, including both hydrostatically overbalanced (no supplemental surface pressure needed to control inflow) and hydrostatically underbalanced (supplemental surface pressure needed to control inflow) systems. See Annex A for guidance on planning and executing influx management using MPD techniques. For underbalanced operations, refer to API 92U.

Installation and Use of Blowout Preventers

Installation, testing, and use of BOPs and associated secondary well control equipment are similar to conventional drilling operations and are not included in this publication. This equipment should only be used during routine MPD operations (e.g., seal element changeout) if an adequate risk assessment has been performed. Refer to API 53 for information regarding installation and testing of BOPs in a conventional drilling operation.