A ram BOP is the workhorse of the well-control stack — the preventer that delivers a positive, high-pressure seal and, when it matters most, cuts the pipe to shut the well in. We covered the whole BOP system in our overview of INTEGRATED® Blowout Preventers. This post goes a level deeper into ram BOPs specifically: the models, the ram types that go inside them, and how emergency shear works.
INTEGRATED® IU™ (U Style) ram BOP body with molded bonnet seal.
Choosing the Right Ram BOP Model
A single ram BOP design rarely suits every job. Bore size, pressure rating, stack height, and application all point to a different model. INTEGRATED manufactures four, so the unit matches the operation rather than forcing the operation to fit the unit:
The Rams Inside: One Body, Many Jobs
What makes a ram BOP so versatile is that the same body accepts different rams. Change the rams, and you change what the preventer can do:
Pipe rams — seal around one specific pipe size.
Variable bore rams (VBR) — seal a range of pipe sizes, so fewer rams cover more of the string.
IFlex™ packers — extend sealing performance across a wider service window.
Blind rams — seal an open hole when no pipe is in the well.
Shear rams — cut through the drillpipe to close the well in an emergency.
Shear-blind rams (SBR) — shear the pipe and seal the open hole in a single action.
An INTEGRATED® IU™ pipe ram assembly — the ram block with its front packer and top seal.
The rams only seal because of the elastomers fitted to them — the front packers, top seals and door seals that do the actual sealing. Those are a subject in their own right, and we cover them fully in our guide to RAM BOP elastomers: front packers, top seals and door seals.
When Seconds Count: Emergency Shear
The one thing a ram BOP can do that an annular cannot is shear the pipe. If a well is flowing and the string cannot be moved, shear rams cut through the drillpipe and seal the bore in a single action — the last-resort barrier that protects the crew, the rig and the environment.
INTEGRATED’s IU™ offers shear capability across its bore range. And a non-shear IU™ does not have to stay that way: it can be upgraded to “shear-capable” by fitting a Large Bore Shear Assembly (LBSA) — shear bonnets, intermediates, pistons and bolting — so operators can add emergency shear without replacing the whole preventer. It is a practical way to raise a stack’s safety margin while protecting existing capital.
An INTEGRATED® IU™ shear-blind ram (SBR) assembly — shears the pipe and seals the open hole.
Where the Ram BOP Sits in the Stack
Ram BOPs rarely work alone. A typical stack pairs them with an annular preventer above: the rams give a hard, high-pressure seal and the shear barrier, while the annular closes around almost any shape and allows stripping under pressure. The two are complementary, not competing. If you want the annular side of the story, see our post on INTEGRATED® Annular Type BOPs.
Keeping Ram BOPs Field-Ready
A ram BOP earns its keep over years of service, and that depends on maintenance. INTEGRATED designs its ram BOPs to be serviced in the field, supplies interchangeable ram blocks, packers, and seal kits, and offers repair and remanufacturing (recertification) to bring older units back to standard — so the preventer stays ready year after year, not just on day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which INTEGRATED ram BOP model should I choose?
Use the IE™ or IWP™ for compact workover, snubbing, and small-bore drilling; the IWS™ for mainstream land drilling; and the IU™ when you need the widest bore range (7-1/16″ to 13-5/8″) and shear capability.
What are the different types of rams?
Pipe rams (one pipe size), variable bore rams or VBR (a range of sizes), IFlex™ packers, blind rams (open hole), shear rams (cut the pipe), and shear-blind rams or SBR (cut and seal in one action).
Can a non-shear ram BOP be made shear-capable?
Yes. An INTEGRATED IU™ can be upgraded with a Large Bore Shear Assembly (LBSA), adding emergency shear without replacing the preventer. (The upgrade includes testing, so it is carried out at a service facility rather than on-site.)
What pressure ratings do INTEGRATED ram BOPs cover?
From 3,000 psi up to 15,000 psi depending on model and bore, across 7-1/16″, 9″, 11″, and 13-5/8″ sizes.
Matching the right ram BOP and ram configuration to the job is where reliability starts. Explore the full INTEGRATED® ram BOP range, or talk to our team about the right setup for your operation.
→ See the Ram BOP range: integratedwww.com/ram-bops
→ Talk to our team: integratedwww.com/contact-us
→ Email: sales@integratedwww.com