Abstract: A method for analyzing material wear in a hydrocarbon production environment is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing a sample of material to be disposed proximate the hydrocarbon production environment; selecting a placement location for the sample of material, wherein the placement location is in fluid communication with a fluid flow for which the impact of the fluid flow on the sample of material is to be tested; disposing the sample of material in the placement location for a pre-determined amount of time; allowing the sample of material to be exposed to the fluid flow; retrieving the sample of material from the placement location after the pre-determined amount of time has passed; and analyzing the sample of material for wear caused by the hydrocarbon production environment.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed as including a first material volume with at least a hardened portion and a second material volume that includes at least two layers. The first material volume is composed of at least a hardenable alloy of steel. The at least two layers is located adjacent to a first surface comprising the hardened portion of the first material volume. The at least two layers includes a first layer composed of at least a ductile low-carbon alloy of steel and a second layer composed of at least a cobalt-based hardfacing over the first layer. The apparatus is applicable in preparing shear ram blocks and shear ram blades to provide a hardened blade edge with an adjacent hardfacing surface.

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: The disclosure is related to a system and method for monitoring the integrity of fluid filled connector systems. The system includes a connector with a first space and a first measurement probe. A module or a receptacle is connected to the connector and includes first wiring that is coupled with second wiring in the connector. The module or the receptacle includes a second space in fluid connection with the first space. The first space and the second space include a fluid sealed within. The second space includes a second measurement probe. A measurement device is connected to the first measurement probe and the second measurement probe to determine an impedance value across the first space and the second space. The impedance value corresponds to an integrity measure for the system based at least in part on the fluid sealed within.

Abstract: A system for coupling a first pipe segment to a second pipe segment includes a pin coupled to the first pipe segment, the pin having a first outer diameter and a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter forming a recess along at least a portion of the pin. The system also includes a box coupled to the second pipe segment, the box having an opening, the opening receiving at least a portion of the pin, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the opening includes threads. The system further includes a rotating threaded collar arranged within the recess, at least a portion of the rotating threaded collar including mating threads configured to engage the threads of the box, wherein the rotating threaded collar is rotatable about the pin.

Abstract: A subsea electronics module (SEM) is disclosed. The SEM includes a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being longer than the second axis. Electronic modules are mounted on at least one movable platform which is aligned to move in a direction of the first axis of the SEM. External electrical outlets are mounted on a body and along the first axis of the SEM. The external electrical outlets provide electronic coupling between the electronic modules and components of a lower marine riser package (LMRP).

Abstract: Provided is a life cycle tracking system including a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. For example, the operations can include effecting a change in a first database including data related to a set of components installed on a blowout preventer stack, in response to a drag and drop operation having been performed on a human machine interface. The change can include associating information from a second database to the first database. The second database includes data related to a set of spare components.

Abstract: A pump with a position indicator is disclosed. The pump includes a pump housing, wherein the pump housing includes a flexible bladder disposed therein; a first fluid zone, wherein the first fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a first fluid into and out of the first fluid zone; and a second fluid zone, wherein the second fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a second fluid into and out of the second fluid zone. The pump further includes a flexible position indicator disposed in the first fluid zone and in communication with the flexible bladder, wherein the flexible position indicator is operable to detect a linear position of the flexible bladder, and wherein the flexible bladder fluidly isolates the first fluid zone from the second fluid zone.

Abstract: A plurality of PODs for a lower marine riser package (LMRP) is disclosed. At least a first subsea electronics module (SEM) and a second SEM are provided in a first POD of the plurality of PODs. At least a third SEM and a fourth SEM are provided in a second pod. The third SEM is redundant with the first SEM and the fourth SEM is redundant with the second SEM. At least one selector circuit is provided to transmit an SEM select signal that electrically activates or electrically deactivates the first SEM separately from the third SEM. As a result, each of the SEMs in the plurality of PODs may be separately activated or deactivated without a need to turn off fluid provided to hydraulic valves in the first and the second PODs that are controlled by corresponding SEMs.

Abstract: A subsea electronics module (SEM) is disclosed. The SEM includes a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being longer than the second axis. Electronic modules are mounted on at least one movable platform which is aligned to move in a direction of the first axis of the SEM. External electrical outlets are mounted on a body and along the first axis of the SEM. The external electrical outlets provide electronic coupling between the electronic modules and components of a lower marine riser package (LMRP).

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for a configurable blowout preventer (BOP) system for use in oil and gas operations. According to an embodiment, a BOP system can include two or more modular BOP ram cavity sets, each of the BOP ram cavity sets having at least one BOP ram cavity; one or more frame levels, each of the frame levels separating each of the BOP ram cavity sets and coupling each of the BOP ram cavity sets together; and a plurality of hydraulic piping fluidly connected to each of the BOP ram cavity sets, the plurality of hydraulic piping configured to drive operation of the BOP ram cavity sets.

Abstract: A system includes a blowout preventer (BOP) including a shear ram assembly. The shear ram assembly includes a first shear ram block having a first forward end, a first blade having a first forward face and extending from the first shear ram block, a face bolt passage extending into the forward end of the shear ram block, a face bolt positioned within the face bolt passage configured to couple the first blade to the first shear ram block, and a first seal containment encapsulated by the first shear ram block.

Abstract: Provided is a life cycle tracking system including a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. For example, the operations can include effecting a change in a first database including data related to a set of components installed on a blowout preventer stack, in response to a drag and drop operation having been performed on a human machine interface. The change can include associating information from a second database to the first database. The second database includes data related to a set of spare components.

Abstract: A method of controlling bottom hole pressure in a wellbore, including pumping drilling mud into the wellbore, estimating the annular friction pressure in the wellbore, and measuring the pressure of the drilling mud exiting the wellbore. The method includes measuring the flow rate of the drilling mud exiting the wellbore, and, based on the pressure of the drilling mud exiting the wellbore, the flow rate of the drilling mud exiting the wellbore, expected annular friction pressure in the wellbore, and rotational speed of drill string in the wellbore, controlling the flow rate of drilling mud exiting the wellbore to achieve a specified bottom hole pressure.

Abstract: A method for use in well drilling, development, completion, and production, including supplying hydraulic pressure to a tubing spider having at least one actuating component, generating position data from a position sensor based on the position of the actuating component, generating pressure data from a pressure sensor based on the pressure supplied to the spider, and automatically handling tubing with the spider by actuating the actuating component by adjusting pressure supplied to the spider based on the position data, the pressure data, and a prescribed control algorithm. The method may be implemented as part of a system including a tubing spider having at least one actuating component, sensors detecting hydraulic pressure supplied to the spider and the position of the actuating component, and a programmable logic controller capable of generating spider control data to control the spider based on data from the sensors and a prescribed control algorithm.

Abstract: A packer unit to be used in an annular blowout preventer. The packer unit includes an elastomer body including a compound of a nitrile rubber base polymer having a polymer chain, and a quantity of fluorine atoms attached to the polymer chain. The compound includes between 50 and 60% of the nitrile elastomer, between 25 to 35% carbon black, and the rest includes other materials. The quantity of fluorine atoms comprises short-chain fluorocarbon chain molecules The quantity of fluorine atoms displaces at least an equal quantity of hydrogen atoms from the polymer chain when the elastomer body is fluorinated.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed as including a first material volume with at least a hardened portion and a second material volume that includes at least two layers. The first material volume is composed of at least a hardenable alloy of steel. The at least two layers is located adjacent to a first surface comprising the hardened portion of the first material volume. The at least two layers includes a first layer composed of at least a ductile low-carbon alloy of steel and a second layer composed of at least a cobalt-based hardfacing over the first layer. The apparatus is applicable in preparing shear ram blocks and shear ram blades to provide a hardened blade edge with an adjacent hardfacing surface.

Abstract: A shear ram system includes an upper block positioned to transition from a first location outside a bore to a second location within the bore, the upper block including a blade control arm having a first contact surface. The shear ram system includes a lower block positioned to transition from the first location outside the bore to the second location within the bore, the lower block including a second contact surface proximate the first contact surface. The shear ram system includes a progressive gap between the first contact surface and the second contact surface larger at a first end than at a second end such that a first gap distance at the first end is greater than a second gap distance the second end.

Abstract: A method of pumping material from a sea floor to a vessel on a sea surface, including the steps of collecting material from the sea floor using a production tool, connecting the production tool to the vessel with a riser including a riser transfer pipe, and pumping the material from the production tool to the vessel using a subsea slurry lift pump positioned between the production tool and the vessel and attached to the production tool by the riser transfer pipe. The method further includes backflushing the riser transfer pipe by running seawater through the slurry lift pump into the riser transfer pipe toward the production tool.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for handling overcurrent and undercurrent conditions in subsea control subsystem components include determining, by a current sensor operatively coupled to a solenoid valve, that an input current to the solenoid is greater or lower than a predetermined threshold value, de-energizing, by a processor operatively coupled to the current sensor, the solenoid for a first period of time, re-energizing the solenoid at least three times after the first period of time, determining, by the current sensor, that during each of the at least three times the input current to the solenoid is greater or lower than the predetermined threshold value, and de-energizing the solenoid and transmitting a control signal to a control unit.