Abstract: An apparatus and a method of substantially sealing a throughbore of a tubular with a line running therethrough. The method comprises the steps of: (a) substantially enclosing the line and sealing a portion of the throughbore around the line using an enclosing means; (b) injecting a fluid that contains solid particles in the region of the line; and (c) substantially sealing a remaining portion of the throughbore using the solid particles such that the sealed throughbore is capable of withstanding a pressure differential. The method can include settling out the solid particles from the fluid in response to a drop in pressure of the fluid during step (b). The method can include injecting a first fluid in the region of the line prior to step (b). The first fluid can be a heavy hydrocarbon such as a grease and the fluid containing solid particles can be a drilling fluid.

Abstract: A wireline valve/blowout preventor is capable of resisting the flow of fluids through a bore. At least one actuator assembly has a first and second end moveable between a first configuration in which fluids can flow through the bore, and a second configuration in which fluids flow through the bore is prevented. The first and second ends are each exposed to the pressure in the bore. A biasing arrangement may bias the actuator assembly toward one of the first and second configurations. A locking member may also be provided to abut with the actuator assembly when it is in the second configuration in order to prevent movement of the actuator assembly from the second configuration to the first configuration. Also, the actuator assembly may have at least one rod assembly which extends from the actuator assembly to a position where it is visible from an outside of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 50) for moving an elongate member (102) (such as a wireline (102)) which passes through a throughbore (70, 97) of a valve device such as a wireline valve used in the hydrocarbon production industry is provided. The apparatus includes an upper movement mechanism (18, 58; 91A, 91B; 116) and a lower movement mechanism (20, 60; 91A, 91B; 112) spaced apart about a portion of the valve device (70, 97). The upper (18, 58; 91A, 91B; 116) and lower (20, 60; 91A, 91B; 112) movement mechanisms are actuable such that they are capable of moving the elongate member (102) into a pre-determined position (70, 97), which is typically co-incident with the longitudinal axis of the valve device.

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 50) for moving an elongate member (102) (such as a wireline (102)) which passes through a throughbore (70, 97) of a valve device such as a wireline valve used in the hydrocarbon production industry is provided. The apparatus includes an upper movement mechanism (18, 58; 91A, 91B; 116) and a lower movement mechanism (20, 60; 91A, 91B; 112) spaced apart about a portion of the valve device (70, 97). The upper (18, 58; 91A, 91B; 116) and lower (20, 60; 91A, 91B; 112) movement mechanisms are actuable such that they are capable of moving the elongate member (102) into a pre-determined position (70, 97), which is typically co-incident with the longitudinal axis of the valve device.