Abstract: The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus, system and method for sealing a well bore. The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus comprising a housing having a guide element defining a path, the housing defining a throughbore for receiving a tubular, a first tapered gate and a tapered second gate located within the housing, the first and second gates being adapted to engage with the guide element. In use the first and second gates are moveable along the path defined by the guide element in a direction substantially transverse to the throughbore between an open position of the throughbore and a closed position of the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus comprises a first seal seat for forming a first seal with the first gate in the closed position to seal the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus may include a second seal seat. The second seal seat may be adapted for forming a second seal with the second gate in the closed position to seal the throughbore.

Abstract: The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus, system and method for sealing a well bore. The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus comprising a housing having a guide element defining a path, the housing defining a throughbore for receiving a tubular, a first tapered gate and a tapered second gate located within the housing, the first and second gates being adapted to engage with the guide element. In use the first and second gates are moveable along the path defined by the guide element in a direction substantially transverse to the throughbore between an open position of the throughbore and a closed position of the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus comprises a first seal seat for forming a first seal with the first gate in the closed position to seal the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus may include a second seal seat. The second seal seat may be adapted for forming a second seal with the second gate in the closed position to seal the throughbore.

Abstract: An annular packer (10) for use with an annular blow out preventer (20) formed of a plurality of blades or elements (21,30,72) where each of the blades (21,30,72) is curved and arranged in the annular bore such that the curve of the blade is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the assembly. This creates an “iris” type of geometry which, as the iris closes, the annular bore (24) transforms from a parallel cylindrical shape to a smaller bore with a shape having at least one waist or pinch point (32,34,73,75) of smaller cross-section.

Abstract: A shear blade 10 for a downhole apparatus 50 comprises a body portion 12 and a first cutting edge 21 provided at a cutting end of the shear blade 10, the first cutting edge 21 comprising a sharp edge 22 located at or near a central region of the first cutting edge 21 and at least one blunt edge 23 located at or near at least one outer portion of the first cutting edge 21. In an embodiment, the shear blade 10 has a recess or slot 40 which is provided at or near a central region of a shear face 30 and which extends partially between a first side 27 and a second side 28 and which is generally aligned with the sharp edge 22 of the first cutting edge 21 in a plane substantially parallel to an axis of the throughbore and perpendicular to the first cutting edge 21.

Abstract: The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus, system and method for sealing a well bore. The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus (20) comprising a housing (27) having a guide element (36) defining a path, the housing defining a throughbore (23) for receiving a tubular, a first tapered gate (64a) and a tapered second gate (64b) located within the housing, the first and second gates being adapted to engage with the guide element. In use the first and second gates are moveable along the path defined by the guide element in a direction substantially transverse to the throughbore between an open position of the throughbore and a closed position of the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus comprises a first seal seat (42) for forming a first seal with the first gate in the closed position to seal the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus may include a second seal seat (44).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for installing a wellbore (12) on a seabed (14). The apparatus includes a suction member (16) including a housing (17) defining a chamber (18). The housing (17) has an open end (20). The open end (20) defines a leading edge (22) for engagement with the seabed (14). The apparatus (10) includes a wellhead located (24) at an end opposite the open end (20) for engagement with a conduit (28). The conduit (28) is coupled to the housing (17). The conduit (28) extends from the wellhead means (24) through the chamber (18). When the wellbore (12) is installed on the seabed, the apparatus (10) provides a barrier or well barrier, which is capable of isolating and/or maintaining a wellbore pressure. The apparatus (10) allows for the installation of a wellhead (24) and/or a conduit (28) without the need of prior drilling and/or jetting operations at a wellbore site.

Abstract: A well barrier for sealing a downhole conduit is described. The well barrier comprises a housing defining a throughbore having a longitudinal axis, a valve actuator and a flapper valve. The flapper valve includes a flapper attached to the valve actuator. The flapper valve and the valve actuator are axially movable with respect to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The flapper is adapted to move from one of a throughbore open and throughbore closed positions to the other of said open and closed positions when the actuator and flapper valve move a predetermined axial distance.

Abstract: A bore selection device for use with a dual bore subsea system is disclosed. The bore selector (18) can be remotely actuated to provide selection between a production bore (12) and an annulus bore (16) without a rotating mechanism or flapper valve. Embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment a pair of rams (20) having a ram head (20a, 20b) defining parts of a guide funnel (30a, 30b) are hydraulically actuatable so that when the rams are actuated and closed the guide funnel (30) is formed which couples a part of the production bore (126) to the annulus bore (16a).

Abstract: A well barrier for sealing a downhole conduit is described. The well barrier includes a housing defining a throughbore having a longitudinal axis, a valve actuator and a flapper valve. The flapper valve includes a flapper attached to the valve actuator. The flapper valve and the valve actuator are axially movable with respect to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The flapper is adapted to move from one of a throughbore open and throughbore closed positions to the other of said open and closed positions when the actuator and flapper valve move a predetermined axial distance.

Abstract: An apparatus for circulating well fluids in an intervention system is described. The apparatus comprises at least one subsea storage vessel adapted to be located adjacent a subsea intervention system, a first conduit adapted to provide fluid communication between the at least one storage vessel and the intervention system, a second conduit adapted to provide fluid communication between the at least one storage vessel and the intervention system and at least one pump adapted to pump fluid from the at least one storage vessel to the intervention system or from the intervention system to the at least one storage vessel through said first and/or second conduits.

Abstract: A wellbore control device for use in a blow out preventer is described. The control device comprising a housing defining a throughbore, a gate, the gate being movable between a throughbore open position and a throughbore closed position, a first stem attached to the gate and a second stem releasably engageable with the gate, the first and second stems being arranged such that a portion of each stem is exposed to an internal housing pressure and a portion of each stem is exposed to an external housing pressure. When the internal pressure is greater than the external pressure, the pressure differential results in a force being applied to the gate to move the gate to, or retain the gate in, the throughbore closed position.

Abstract: A well containment system is described, the system comprises a blow out preventer, the blow out preventer defining a throughbore and including at least one well containment barrier adapted to seal the throughbore, at least one first seal adapted to seal against the lower end of a riser, and at least one second seal adapted to seal against the upper end of a downhole tubular wherein the at least one first seal is located above the at least one well containment barrier and the at least one second seal is located below the at least one well.

Abstract: A subsea winch is described. The subsea winch comprises a housing adapted to be attached to a well intervention system, the housing having an inlet and an outlet and at least one powered sheave arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the or each powered sheave having a surface adapted to form a frictional engagement with a cable passing between the inlet and the outlet via the at least one sheave. In use, a pull force pulling the cable in a downhole direction applied to the cable by a tool string being lowered into the well intervention system is increased by the winch such that the downhole pull force on the cable at the housing inlet is greater than the downhole pull force at the housing outlet.

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for applying a substantially constant tension to a workover riser (12) includes a first portion (40) adapted to be coupled to a workover riser, a second portion (44) adapted to be coupled to a marine riser (14) and tensioning means (46) for providing relative movement between the first portion and the second portion to, in use, tension the workover riser.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for remotely running a subsea production tree (12) and desuspending a well is described. The apparatus comprises a tree running tool (16) adapted to be connected to a production tree, at least one downhole tool, at least one of the tools being a plug retrieval tool (22) and a tool deployment device (18) in hydraulic communication with at least the plug retrieval tool to hydraulically operate the plug retrieval tool.

Abstract: A well intervention system is described which has a riser access drive adapted to be located below a vessel, or a rig, work floor. The riser is tensioned and extends from a subsea wellhead to the access device which, in use, is attached to the riser at the location below the work floor. Embodiments of the invention are described.

Abstract: A blow out preventer (10) includes a housing (40) defining a longitudinal throughbore (16) and a ram cavity (34) and at least one pair of opposed rams (12, 14) located in the ram cavity. Each ram includes a seal (18, 24) disposed on an upper surface (20, 26) and the rams are movable transversely across the bore. The blow out preventer further includes at least one seal seat (30) having a seal surface (36) for engaging with the ram seals. There is a seal seat associated with each at least one pair of rams, the seal seat being moveably mounted in the ram cavity. In one embodiment the seal seat continuously engages the rams as the rams move from a cavity open position to a cavity closed position.

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for applying a substantially constant tension to a workover riser (12) includes a first portion (40) adapted to be coupled to a workover riser, a second portion (44) adapted to be coupled to a marine riser (14) and tensioning means (46) for providing relative movement between the first portion and the second portion to, in use, tension, the workover riser.

Abstract: A wellbore control device for use in a blow out preventer is described. The control device comprising a housing defining a throughbore, a gate, the gate being movable between a throughbore open position and a throughbore closed position, a first stem attached to the gate and a second stem releasably engageable with the gate, the first and second stems being arranged such that a portion of each stem is exposed to an internal housing pressure and a portion of each stem is exposed to an external housing pressure. When the internal pressure is greater than the external pressure, the pressure differential results in a force being applied to the gate to move the gate to, or retain the gate in, the throughbore closed position.

Abstract: A ball valve (10) for sealing a conduit (12) is described. The ball valve includes a housing having a throughbore and a valve seat. An apertured ball element (18) is mounted within the housing and is rotatable about an axis of rotation (38) between a throughbore open and a throughbore closed position. The apertured ball element (18) has a first portion (20) and a second portion (22) coupled together which are rotatable and moveable relative to each other. The first portion has a sealing surface for engaging with the valve seat. In use, in the throughbore closed position, the second portion is moveable relative to the first portion to axially displace the first portion from the axis of rotation towards the valve seat such that the sealing surface on the first portion of the apertured ball forms a seal with valve seat.