Abstract: There is disclosed an annular blowout preventer having a packer which is surrounded by an annulus of resilient material, and an operating system which includes means for longitudinally compressing the outer annulus in order to constrict its inner circumference and thereby move the packer from an expanded position, in which it opens the bore through a housing in which the packer and outer annulus are received, to a constricted position in which it closes the bore by sealing about a pipe in the bore or upon itself.

Abstract: There is disclosed an annular blowout preventer having a packer comprising an annulus of resilient material which is movable from an open bore position to a constricted, closed bore position by means which include links arranged to exert a force on the packer having a radially inwardly directed component which increases with the force required to seal the packer about successively smaller pipes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a riser pipe string made up of riser pipe sections each comprising a pipe length and a fairing carried by the pipe for free rotation thereabout.

Abstract: Apparatus for disconnecting the lower threaded end of an upper section from the upper threaded end of a lower section of pipe string extending through the bore of an underwater wellhead.

Abstract: There is disclosed well apparatus which comprises a well conduit having a bore therethrough and a well tool having means thereon for releasably locking it within and sealing it with respect to the bore of the well conduit when lowered therein.

Abstract: Well apparatus is disclosed in which an inner member is adapted to be sealed with respect to an outer member by means of a seal ring of elastomeric material surrounding the inner member for movement from a first position about a first cylindrical surface in which its outer diameter is spaced from a cylindrical bore in the outer member, and a second position about a second, larger cylindrical surface in which its inner and outer diameters are sealably engaged with said second surface and bore in the outer member, respectively.

Abstract: There is disclosed an assembly including a pair of tubular members for suspending inner and outer casings with the bore of an offshore well.

Abstract: A pipe connector having tubular members whose telescopically interfitting end portions are latched against separation, wherein one of the tubular members is stretchable to preload the latch means and move a shoulder thereon in an axial direction away from the latch means, and a nut is threadedly mounted on the other tubular member to permit a shoulder thereon to be moved against the shoulder on the one member to hold the preload on the latch means.

Abstract: Well apparatus is disclosed in which an inner member is adapted to be sealed with respect to an outer member by means of a seal ring of elastomeric material surrounding the inner member for movement from a first position about a first cylindrical surface in which its outer diameter is spaced from a cylindrical bore in the outer member, and a second position about a second, larger cylindrical surface in which its inner and outer diameters are sealably engaged with said second surface and bore in the outer member, respectively.

Abstract: There is disclosed an annular blowout preventer wherein a packer, received within a recess about a bore through the preventer housing, is adapted to be contracted by means of a piston having an annulus of resilient material movable inwardly within a chamber surrounding the recess and divided therefrom by a wall of the housing, and a disc-shaped member of resilient material extending through and sealably slidable within a slot in the wall to transmit the inward movement of the piston to the packer.

Abstract: There is disclosed an annular blowout preventer wherein a plurality of flexible bands are arranged about the packer within the recess about the bore through the preventer housing, and means are provided for moving the bands toward and away from the bore so as to selectively contract the packer into sealing engagement about an object in the bore or upon itself when the bore is empty or permit said packer to expand into the recess.

Abstract: A lubricated valve in which both seal rings which seal between a seat body and a wall of a recess in the flowway through the valve body to form a lubricant chamber between them are preloaded into sealing engagement by means including at least one washer type spring arranged within the lubricant chamber.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of an apparatus for releasably connecting with one end of a member at an underwater location, wherein the member has a seating surface which faces toward its one end and a conical locking shoulder which faces away from its one end. The apparatus comprises a body having a seating surface engageable with the seating surface on the member, and a circumferentially discontinuous locking ring carried by the body and having a conical locking surface which is circumferentially expandible and contractible to permit it to be moved past a portion of the member into a position radially opposite the locking shoulder, as the seating surfaces are so engaged, and remotely operable means which is mounted on the body for movement in one direction to force the locking ring to locking position with respect to the locking shoulder and in the opposite direction to permit the locking ring to return to unlocking position with respect to the shoulder.

Abstract: A ball joint having tubular end members connected by a gimbal ring for pivoting without relative axial rotation, and pressure balanced sleeves extending between the end members within the gimbal ring to provide a fluid-tight flowway through the joint.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed which permits a broken guideline which normally extends upwardly from an underwater guidepost to be cut and replaced in one trip.

Abstract: Apparatus for disconnecting the lower threaded end of an upper section from the upper threaded end of a lower section of pipe string extending through the bore of an underwater wellhead.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ram-type blowout preventer for shearing a pipe which may be disposed within its bore and then sealing across the bore.