Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a choke valve that includes a choke body, a choke trim disposed in the choke body, where the choke trim is configured to adjust a cross-sectional area of a flow path in the choke body to adjust a fluid flow through the choke valve, a needle of the choke trim disposed in the flow path of the fluid flow, where the needle includes a first portion having a superhard material, a seat of the choke trim, where the needle is configured to move along an axis extending through an opening of the seat to adjust the fluid flow through the choke valve.

Abstract: Mud return flow measurements are made from multiple locations using radar-based surface level sensors. Using the inputs from two different sensors on the drilling mud return line provides the ability to calculate the actual flow based on pipe geometry, the speed of the surface of the fluid and parameters such as fluid viscosity and density.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle is configured to transfer a payload between a first location and a second location at a subsea structure. The underwater vehicle includes a payload support configured to support the payload and a buoyancy control system. The buoyancy control system includes at least one of an exchange weight system configured to receive one or more exchange weights when delivering the payload, a floatation system having one or more floatation devices coupled to the payload, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A ball valve positioned between a first line and a second line includes a housing and a ball disposed a ball disposed within the housing. The ball includes a bore and is configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The ball valve also includes an annular seat disposed between the housing and the ball. The annular seat includes a first annular sealing ring extending circumferentially about a radially-outer surface of the annular seat and an axially-extending passageway extending through the annular seat to enable fluid flow from a valve cavity to an annular space between the annular seat and the housing. The first annular sealing ring, the axially-extending passageway, and the annular space facilitate movement of the annular seat away from the ball as the ball rotates from the closed position toward the open position.

Abstract: A system including a wellhead hanger, such as a casing hanger, and a running tool with a stopping protrusion that reduces the likelihood over-torqueing of threads coupling the running tool to the wellhead hanger and that reduces the break-out torque for disengaging the running tool and wellhead hanger from each other upon the completion of casing string cementing. Limiting the thread-per-inch count of the hanger and running tools, respectively, to the range of two threads-per-inch to four threads-per-inch also lowers the break-out torque between the hanger and running tool.

Abstract: A fracturing fluid delivery system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes wellhead assemblies, a fracturing manifold trunk line, vertical branches extending upward from the fracturing manifold trunk line, and fluid conduits coupling the vertical branches in fluid communication with the wellhead assemblies. The fluid conduits may extend linearly from the vertical branches to the wellhead assemblies. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A string assembly system that includes a first conduit defining a first end and a second end. A second conduit defining a third end and a fourth end. A first connector assembly coupled to the second end of the first conduit. The first connector assembly includes a first connector shaft that rotates relative to the first conduit and the second conduit. A first alignment shaft that axially aligns the first conduit and the second conduit. A second connector assembly couples to the third end of the second conduit. The second connector assembly couples to the first connector shaft, and the first conduit rotates relative to the second conduit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for retaining bonnets on blowout preventers. In one embodiment, a blowout preventer includes a hollow body, a ram disposed in a ram cavity of the hollow body, and a bonnet coupled to the hollow body. The bonnet is fastened to the hollow body with threaded fasteners, which include a threaded shaft and a threaded nut. The shaft and the nut include mating interrupted threads with threaded portions and longitudinal unthreaded portions that can be rotationally aligned so that threaded portions of each of the shaft and the nut are aligned with unthreaded portions of the other of the shaft and the nut to allow the threaded shaft to be received within the threaded nut and the threaded nut to then be rotated with respect to the threaded shaft to cause the threaded portions of the threaded nut to engage the threaded portions of the threaded shaft.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a second pneumatic actuator configured to couple to a gate valve, wherein the second pneumatic actuator is configured to apply a supplemental force to a gate of the gate valve, wherein the supplemental force supplements an actuating force of a first actuator of the gate valve.

Abstract: There is provided a breech lock coupling for coupling riser sections together. The breech lock coupling may be used non-pre-loaded or pre-loaded according to the user's preferences. In addition, the breech lock coupling may be disassembled for inspection and maintenance and reassembled. A locking ring secures two coupling components together. The coupling components may be attached to opposite ends of the riser sections, such as via welding. The locking ring may be pre-attached to the first coupling component for easy storage and fast assembly. Assembly of the riser may be accomplished by inserting the second coupling component into the locking ring and the first coupling component, then rotating the locking ring with respect to the second component. Furthermore, the coupling may be pre-loaded by tightening fasteners on the locking ring to provide a more stable coupling. Unlike with traditional riser couplings, the pre-load fasteners may be tightened via hand-held tools.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system that includes a shearing ram configured to mount in a blowout preventer. The shearing ram includes a body portion that may move along an axis of movement. The shearing ram also includes a sealing member disposed in a first surface of the body portion. The sealing member is biased away from the first surface in a crosswise direction relative to the axis of movement, such that the sealing member may engage a second surface of a second shearing ram when the first shearing ram and the second shearing ram overlap with one another with respect to the axis of movement.

Abstract: A fluid-driven adapter for a mineral extraction system is provided. The adapter includes a sleeve (e.g., annular piston) that engages a mandrel disposed in a wellhead component and moves in an axial direction in response to fluid pressure. The adapter moves the mandrel between a first position and a second position to open or close passages in the wellhead component. The adapter includes a lock ring that moves in response to fluid pressure and that locks the adapter to a wellhead assembly to prevent axial movement of the adapter. Methods of operation are also provided.

Abstract: An operating system cartridge for an annular blowout preventer includes one or more annular walls that define an annular chamber. The operating system cartridge also includes a piston assembly that has an annular piston positioned within the annular chamber and a pusher plate configured to contact an annular packer assembly of the annular blowout preventer when the operating system cartridge is installed within a housing of the annular blowout preventer. The operating system cartridge further includes one or more fluid conduits extending through the one or more annular walls, wherein the one or more fluid conduits are configured to provide a test fluid to the annular chamber to facilitate testing of the operating system cartridge prior to installation within the housing of the annular blowout preventer.

Abstract: A system includes an annular packer assembly configured to be positioned within an outer annular barrel. The annular packer assembly includes a packer having a radially-inner surface configured to contact an inner annular barrel and a radially-outer surface, and the packer extends axially from a first end to a second end. The annular packer assembly also includes a piston assembly configured to move axially relative to the outer annular barrel to deflect the second end of the packer radially-inwardly into an annular space between the inner annular barrel and the outer annular barrel to seal about the inner annular barrel.

Abstract: A fracturing tree having fracturing fluid connections horizontally offset from a wellhead is provided. In one embodiment a system includes a fracturing tree mounted over a wellhead. The fracturing tree includes a valve to control flow of a fracturing fluid from the fracturing tree to the wellhead. The fracturing tree also includes a set of multiple goathead connections that are horizontally offset from the wellhead such that, when the fracturing fluid is received in the fracturing tree via the set of multiple goathead connections during a fracturing operation, the fracturing fluid entering the fracturing tree through the multiple goathead connections is combined at a location horizontally offset from the wellhead and is subsequently routed laterally through a shared bore toward the wellhead. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catwalk and crane system for transporting equipment of a well system includes a substructure, a directing frame pivotally coupled to the substructure, a pipe transporter configured to transport a tubular along the directing frame, a first actuator coupled to the directing frame and configured to rotate the directing frame relative to the substructure, and a crane coupled to the directing frame, wherein the crane is extendable from a first end of the directing frame.

Abstract: A fracturing system is provided. In one embodiment, the fracturing system includes a fracturing manifold for routing fracturing fluid to multiple wells. The fracturing manifold can be coupled via fluid conduits to fracturing trees installed at the wells. In some cases, each fracturing tree that is coupled to the fracturing manifold is coupled by at least one rigid fluid conduit. The fracturing manifold can include a trunk line that provides fracturing fluid to multiple outlet branches, which can include valves for controlling flow of fracturing fluid to wells downstream of the valves. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fracturing system can include a fracturing manifold coupled to a plurality of fracturing trees. The fracturing manifold may include adjustment joints that enable adjustment of the length of the fracturing manifold. The fracturing manifold can also include pivot joints that allow angular displacement of portions of the fracturing manifold with respect to other portions. The adjustment and pivot joints can accommodate spacing and elevation differences between the fracturing trees.

Abstract: A fracturing tree having fracturing fluid connections horizontally offset from a wellhead is provided. In one embodiment a system includes a fracturing tree mounted over a wellhead. The fracturing tree includes a valve to control flow of a fracturing fluid from the fracturing tree to the wellhead. The fracturing tree also includes a set of multiple goathead connections that are horizontally offset from the wellhead such that, when the fracturing fluid is received in the fracturing tree via the set of multiple goathead connections during a fracturing operation, the fracturing fluid entering the fracturing tree through the multiple goathead connections is combined at a location horizontally offset from the wellhead and is subsequently routed laterally through a shared bore toward the wellhead. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure-energized ring joint gasket such as a CX gasket for a clamp or other connector includes a cylindrical inner surface oriented toward adjacent sections of a subsea stack that are to be joined by the connector, wings that taper away from the cylindrical inner surface and end in a rectangular shoulder, wherein a portion of the rectangular shoulder is removed to create a boss, an upper groove, and a lower groove, and D-rings in the upper and lower grooves. The gasket can be used to connect adjacent sections of the stack and to maintain a seal between the sections whether the external sea water pressure is greater or less than the internal well pressure. A method for using the gasket for connecting adjacent sections of a subsea stack in offshore drilling environments is also provided.