Forged Bodies for API 16A Blowout Preventers (BOPs)

The Foundation of Well Control Safety

In oil and gas drilling, the Blowout Preventer (BOP) is the single most critical piece of safety equipment. Its ability to contain extreme wellbore pressures is entirely dependent on the structural integrity of its core component: the BOP body. A forging defect or material failure is not an option.

Yile Machinery is a trusted supplier of custom open-die forgings for the bodies of Ram and Annular BOPs. We forge and heat-treat these critical components to meet the stringent demands of the API 16A standard, ensuring absolute reliability in the world's harshest environments.

The Manufacturing Process for a Flawless BOP Forging

We produce high-integrity BOP bodies from AISI 4130 and AISI 4140 alloy steel, materials renowned for their strength and toughness in high-pressure applications.

1. Open-Die Forging

We start with certified steel ingot. Using massive forge presses, we shape the BOP body, creating a continuous internal grain structure. This process eliminates the voids and porosity found in castings and produces a component with superior strength and resistance to fatigue and impact.

2. Quenching and Tempering (Q&T) Heat Treatment

This is the most critical step for achieving the required mechanical properties.

• Quenching: The forging is heated to a precise temperature and then rapidly cooled to create a hard, strong martensitic structure.

• Tempering: It is then re-heated to a lower temperature to reduce brittleness and develop the toughness required to absorb the dynamic loads and pressures of a well control event.

• The entire process is tightly controlled and charted to guarantee it meets the specific requirements of API 6A / 16A PSL 3/4.

3. Proof Machining

Following heat treatment and testing, we can perform the initial rough machining, providing a clean, dimensionally accurate component ready for your final precision machining.

Uncompromising Quality Control: The Foundation of Safety

Every BOP forging we produce is subjected to a rigorous testing and inspection regimen to ensure it is 100% free of defects. We provide a complete documentation package with every forging.

• Full Material Traceability: Complete Material Test Reports (MTRs) from the mill, cross-referenced to the unique serial number of your forging.

• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT):

• Ultrasonic Testing (UT): 100% of the forging volume is scanned to detect any internal defects.

• Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI): The entire surface is inspected to ensure it is free from any surface-breaking cracks.

• Destructive Testing: Test coupons are taken from the forging itself to verify mechanical properties after heat treatment, including:

• Tensile Strength

• Impact Toughness (Charpy V-Notch)

• Hardness (HBW)

• Third-Party Verification: We welcome inspections from client representatives or third-party agencies such as DNV, Lloyd's, or Bureau Veritas (BV) .

Technical Specifications

Partner with a Trusted Forging Supplier for Your Well Control Equipment. Contact Us.

Submit your drawings for a technical review and a comprehensive proposal for your next API 16A forging project.