Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.

Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.

Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.

Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.

Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter system includes a conduit defining a channel, at least one pair of first transducers, at least one second transducer, and a processor. The pair of first transducers is mounted on the conduit and includes a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer for generating a first responsive signal. The transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer are arranged on a chordal path. The second transducer is mounted on the conduit for generating a second responsive signal. The processor is configured to receive the first responsive signal and the second responsive signal, select one responsive signal according to a relationship of the first responsive signal and noise thereof and a relationship of the second responsive signal and noise thereof, and determine a flow rate of a flow medium according to the selected responsive signal. A method for measuring the flow rate of the fluid medium is also provided.

Abstract: A seal for a blind shear ram is configured to extend between a first carrier and a second carrier of the blind shear ram. The seal includes an outer layer configured to contact at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier to seal a wellbore when the blind shear ram is in a closed position. The outer layer has a first stiffness. The seal also includes an inner layer spaced from the outer layer. The inner layer has a second stiffness. The seal further includes an anti-extrusion structure extending between the inner layer and the outer layer. The anti-extrusion structure has a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness and the second stiffness. The outer layer covers the anti-extrusion structure.

Abstract: A riser joint system, comprising: a riser joint assembly defining a channel and comprising a first ultrasound module for transmitting a first ultrasound signal to obtain first ultrasound data and a second ultrasound module for transmitting a second ultrasound signal to obtain second ultrasound data, wherein a beam direction of the first ultrasound signal is perpendicular to an axial line of the channel and a beam direction of the second ultrasound signal is oblique to the axial line of the channel; and a processing module for receiving the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data and obtaining first information and second information. A well drilling system and a method for the well drilling system are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for monitoring an annular packer are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for monitoring a sealing element of a blowout preventer may include providing a fluid to a chamber disposed within a blowout preventer to actuate a piston disposed within the chamber, wherein the actuation of the piston causes a reduction of an inner diameter of a sealing element; measuring one or more parameters of the fluid via a sensor; receiving data relating to the one or more parameters from the sensor; determining a stiffness of the sealing element utilizing the data relating to the one or more parameters; and determining an amount of degradation of the sealing element by comparing the determined stiffness of the sealing element to a known data profile.

Abstract: A kick detection system for drilling a well including an ultrasonic module for transmitting signals to a returning drilling fluid from the well, and receiving corresponding backscatter signals; and a process apparatus for obtaining a flow characteristic of the returning drilling fluid based on the backscatter signals, and detecting a kick based on the flow characteristic of the returning drilling fluid and drilling related data. A well drilling system including a drilling string for guiding a drilling bit and a drilling fluid to a well; a conduit defining a channel for accommodating the drilling string and a returning drilling fluid from the well; and the kick detection system. A kick detection method is also described.

Abstract: A seal for a blind shear ram is configured to extend between a first carrier and a second carrier of the blind shear ram. The seal includes an outer layer configured to contact at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier to seal a wellbore when the blind shear ram is in a closed position. The outer layer has a first stiffness. The seal also includes an inner layer spaced from the outer layer. The inner layer has a second stiffness. The seal further includes an anti-extrusion structure extending between the inner layer and the outer layer. The anti-extrusion structure has a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness and the second stiffness. The outer layer covers the anti-extrusion structure.

Abstract: A seal for a blind shear ram is configured to extend between a first carrier and a second carrier of the blind shear ram. The seal includes an elastic layer having a first elasticity. The elastic layer is configured to contact at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier to seal a wellbore when the first carrier and the second carrier are in a closed position. The seal also includes an anti-extrusion structure coupled to the elastic layer. The anti-extrusion structure has a second elasticity less than the first elasticity. The anti-extrusion structure includes a plurality of ribs spaced along a longitudinal axis of the anti-extrusion structure. The plurality of ribs define a plurality of spaces configured to receive portions of the elastic layer.

Abstract: A BOP system for use in a high pressure subsea environment, including a BOP stack including a lower marine riser package and a lower stack portion, the lower stack portion having a plurality of BOP rams attached to a subsea wellhead. The system also includes a riser subsystem extending from a drilling vessel to the BOP stack and providing fluid communication therebetween, a ship board subsystem electronically, mechanically, and hydraulically connected to the BOP stack and the riser subsystem to control the functions of the BOP stack and the riser subsystem, and a safety instrumented system having a surface logic solver and at least one subsea logic solver, the safety instrumented system in communication with at least a portion of the BOP rams to act as a redundant control system in case of failure of the ship board subsystem.

Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter system includes a conduit defining a channel, at least one pair of first transducers, at least one second transducer, and a processor. The pair of first transducers is mounted on the conduit and includes a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer for generating a first responsive signal. The transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer are arranged on a chordal path. The second transducer is mounted on the conduit for generating a second responsive signal. The processor is configured to receive the first responsive signal and the second responsive signal, select one responsive signal according to a relationship of the first responsive signal and noise thereof and a relationship of the second responsive signal and noise thereof, and determine a flow rate of a flow medium according to the selected responsive signal. A method for measuring the flow rate of the fluid medium is also provided.

Abstract: A BOP system for use in a high pressure subsea environment, including a BOP stack including a lower marine riser package and a lower stack portion, the lower stack portion having a plurality of BOP rams attached to a subsea wellhead. The system also includes a riser subsystem extending from a drilling vessel to the BOP stack and providing fluid communication therebetween, a ship board subsystem electronically, mechanically, and hydraulically connected to the BOP stack and the riser subsystem to control the functions of the BOP stack and the riser subsystem, and a safety instrumented system having a surface logic solver and at least one subsea logic solver, the safety instrumented system in communication with at least a portion of the BOP rams to act as a redundant control system in case of failure of the ship board subsystem.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for monitoring an annular packer are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for monitoring a sealing element of a blowout preventer may include providing a fluid to a chamber disposed within a blowout preventer to actuate a piston disposed within the chamber, wherein the actuation of the piston causes a reduction of an inner diameter of a sealing element; measuring one or more parameters of the fluid via a sensor; receiving data relating to the one or more parameters from the sensor; determining a stiffness of the sealing element utilizing the data relating to the one or more parameters; and determining an amount of degradation of the sealing element by comparing the determined stiffness of the sealing element to a known data profile.

Abstract: Embodiments of a seal having a variable elastic modulus are provided herein. In one embodiment, a seal having a variable elastic modulus includes: a body fabricated from an elastomeric material; a channel formed within the body; a tube disposed within the channel, the tube comprising a plurality of interwoven fibers; and an inlet formed in an outer surface of the body, the inlet fluidly coupled to an inner volume of the tube.

Abstract: A sheet material includes a polycarbonate substrate and a protective coating containing the reaction products of an aminoplast resin, a polyol compound, and a UV-absorbing amount of a triazine compound. The sheet material exhibits an improved balance of abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, weatherability, and formability.

Abstract: An electro-optical device having at least one base and a multilayer coating surface disposed on at least one surface of the base. The at least one base may comprise either an optically or electronically active portion or a flexible polymeric material. The multilayer coating set comprises at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer. The base and multilayer coating set are transparent. The multilayer coating set provides a barrier to moisture and oxygen and provides chemical resistance. The multilayer coating set is also mechanically flexible and thermally stable up to a glass transition temperature of the base.