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: 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: Transducer assembly for an offshore drilling riser, in an example, includes a spool for connecting into the riser and a protrusion extending around the side wall of the spool. A recess extends around the protrusion between upper and lower sloping surfaces. Upper transducer bores are spaced around the protrusion and extend from the upper sloping surface downward and inward into the spool bore and lower transducer bores extend from the lower sloping surface upward and inward into the spool bore. A base of a rigid non-metallic material is located in each of the transducer bores. A seal ring extends around a cylindrical exterior portion of each of the bases and one of the transducer bores. An acoustic transducer element is mounted to the outer end of each of the bases. The transducer assembly can detect drilling fluid and form sealing.

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: A blowout preventer (BOP) includes a pressure driven operator that is equipped with a balancing circuit to offset pressure inside the BOP. The operator, which is used to drive a ram, includes a piston, coupled to the ram by an operator arm, and a balance arm on a side of the piston opposite the operator arm. Pressure from inside the BOP communicates to an end of the balance arm opposite the piston and exerts a force to drive the ram radially inward.

Abstract: The present disclosure is to systems and methods for actuating pneumatic controls of reels electronically via a remote console, thus expanding remote control capabilities in a combination of hazardous and undesignated areas for oil and gas technologies. The method includes receiving, at a second control network from a first control network, electrical control signals for controlling pneumatic solenoids of a second control network. The second control network provides pneumatic signals to pneumatic valves, based at least in part on the control of the pneumatic solenoids. A controlling feature of the present disclosure is based at least in part on the pneumatic signals, to control, via the pneumatic valves, spooling movement of one or more reels comprising cables or feed lines, thereby spooling the cable or the feed lines.

Abstract: A laser piston position sensor for determining the position of a piston within an accumulator, the laser piston position sensor configured to attach to an end of the accumulator, and the accumulator having an aperture in the end thereof exposing the piston within the accumulator to the laser piston position sensor. The laser piston position sensor including a sensor housing enclosing a cavity containing a low pressure gas, and defining an opening from the cavity toward the accumulator, a laser sensor positioned within the cavity for emitting a laser toward the piston of the accumulator via the opening in the sensor housing and the aperture in the accumulator, and a transparent lens positioned between the laser sensor and the accumulator to allow passage of the laser from the laser sensor to the piston, and to separate gases in the accumulator from gases in the cavity of the sensor housing.

Abstract: A power and communications hub (PCH) for oil and gas operations is disclosed. The PCH includes a port operable to provide electrical power to a device for use in oil and gas operations; a port operable to provide electrical communications for use in oil and gas operations; a multiplexer (MUX) interface for connection to a MUX cable; a PCH connection interface for connection to at least one additional PCH; and a PCH body. The PCH body is operable to be disposed proximate a blowout preventer (BOP) stack, and the PCH body is physically disposed apart from but in electrical communication with at least one control pod on the BOP stack.

Abstract: A control system for a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) positioned in a lower stack, the lower stack releasably engaged with a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The control system includes a surface logic solver positioned at or adjacent the surface of the sea that generates commands for operating the subsea BOP, a first subsea logic solver attached to the LMRP and in communication with the surface logic solver so that the first subsea logic solver receives the commands from the surface logic solver, and a second subsea logic solver attached to a hydraulic control unit in the lower stack. The second subsea logic solver is in hydraulic communication with the subsea BOP, and the first subsea logic solver so that the second subsea logic solver receives the commands from the first subsea logic solver and implements the commands by activating the hydraulic control unit to operate the BOP.

Abstract: A subsea blowout preventer (BOP) hydraulic control system to reduce water hammer that includes a hydraulic fluid source. The system further includes a fluid supply conduit in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid source at an upstream end, and with a BOP function at a downstream end. The system further includes a supply valve in the fluid supply conduit that controls the amount of fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit to the BOP function, the supply valve having an open state and a closed state. The supply valve has a choke that controls movement of the supply valve between the open state and the closed state and vice versa so that such movement is retarded when the supply valve state approaches the fully open or the fully closed state to reduce pressure spikes in the fluid of the fluid supply conduit.

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: 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 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 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: Systems and methods to visualize component health and preventive maintenance needs for subsea control subsystem components are provided. Embodiments can include energizing one or more solenoids, detecting a solenoid firing event, detecting activity in blowout preventer components downchain from the solenoids, and incrementing a cycle count for the one or more solenoids and each downchain blowout preventer component activated. Embodiments can include projecting a replacement date for the solenoid or any of the downchain blowout preventer components based on the cycle count and user-defined thresholds. In embodiments, a user is provided with an interactive graphical representation of a blowout preventer including selectable blowout preventer components thereby to visualize component health and preventive maintenance needs.

Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) safety system for testing the integrity of safety valves at the sea floor is disclosed. The system includes a BOP stack including a BOP, the BOP comprising a BOP shear ram and a first hydraulic circuit, the first hydraulic circuit in fluid communication with the BOP shear ram and having an open side and a close side. The system further includes a manifold, wherein the manifold is disposed proximate to and in fluid communication with a dump valve, a first sensor, and a supply valve and a first safety valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the manifold and the BOP on the close side, wherein the dump valve is operable to allow flow from the BOP to the manifold through the safety valve, and wherein the first sensor is operable to detect the flow from the BOP to the manifold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for accurately measuring and monitoring accumulated volume of hydraulic fluid in a blowout preventer (BOP) system, specifically for a function of interest, are disclosed. One method includes initializing a state machine algorithm, the state machine algorithm responsive to a BOP function of interest being activated; measuring an initial hydraulic flow rate baseline and an initial pressure baseline to create a hydraulic impedance variable for use in the state machine algorithm; monitoring an aggregate hydraulic flow rate and pressure of the BOP system over time; applying the hydraulic impedance variable to negate BOP system hydraulic flows not related to the BOP function of interest; and applying the state machine algorithm to determine when the BOP function of interest has been completed responsive to a total accumulated volume of hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to elastomeric compositions containing filler particles that are predominantly two-dimensional in shape. The elastomeric compositions exhibit significantly improved thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties as compared with elastomers containing conventional fillers such as natural clay, carbon black, and carbon fiber. In addition, the elastomeric compositions of the invention exhibit improved resistance to solvent-induced swelling and to unwanted permeation of gases such as hydrogen sulfide. The invention also provides a method of forming such elastomeric compositions and methods of using such elastomeric compositions to prepare elastomeric articles with improved resistance to thermal, chemical, and mechanical stresses.

Abstract: A mechanism to reduce load of a hydraulic cylinder having a body, a stem movable within the body, and a piston rod connected to the stem. The mechanism includes a mechanism body attached to the body and defining a recess, and a retainer attached to the mechanism adjacent the opening of the recess so that the retainer substantially fills the opening of the recess, and having an aperture that receives an end of the piston rod. The mechanism further includes a cap attached to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder within the recess, the cap having a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the retainer, and a spring connected to the cap at a first end and to the retainer at a second end so that as the piston rod moves relative to the failsafe mechanism body, to reduce load transfer between the piston rod and the cylinder body.

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.