An assembly of nipples and air-actuated valves welded to a well's surface or conductor casing for venting a gas kick (q.v.) encountered in relatively shallow offshore wells. In shallow wells there is often insufficient overburden pressure around the base of the conductor casing to prevent the gas from a substantial kick from blowing out around the casing. When a kick occurs, the blowout preventer is closed and the valves of the diverter system open to vent the gas harmlessly to the atmosphere.
