Abstract: A ram-type blowout preventer and method of actuating thereof. The ram-type blowout preventer includes a seal carrier disposed about a vertical bore between the body and adjacent to the horizontal bore. The seal carrier is configured to be thrust into sealing engagement with at least one of a pair of ram blocks of the ram-type blowout preventer by fluid pressure above the ram blocks and a sealing device forms a seal between the body and the seal carrier.

Abstract: A seal assembly disposed within a radial seal groove to sealingly engage a bonnet within a bore. The seal assembly includes a radial seal surface, an axial seal surface, a vent surface, and an axial preload surface. The seal assembly is thrust towards a longitudinal wall and away from a radial wall of the radial seal groove when pressure in a high-pressure zone increases.

Abstract: Method and actuator system for a Kellyguard valve disposed in a drill string. The actuator system includes a sleeve that includes a cavity; an actuator disposed inside the cavity and configured to rotate the Kellyguard valve; first and second external regions of the sleeve having plural holes configured to receive a medium under pressure for actuating the actuator; a ring provided around the first and second external regions of the sleeve and configured to be fixed, the ring having first and second internal grooves facing the first and second external regions, respectively; and first and second seals provided inside the first and second grooves, respectively, at least one of the first and second seals being configured to not touch the first or second external regions of the sleeve when in a collapsed state and to touch the first or second external regions when in an inflated state.

Abstract: Systems are provided for using position data of a piston connected to a ram block in a blowout preventer to determine a backlash of the ram block, and/or to record a position of the ram block, and/or to calculate an instant when a supplemental closing pressure is desired to be applied, and/or to determine when maintenance of a ram locking mechanism is due, and/or to determine when sealing elements are worn.

Abstract: A shear ram assembly including upper and lower ram blocks having blades positioned on opposing sides of pipe and other, more ductile items, and arranged to close around and shear the pipe and the more ductile items. The shear ram assembly includes pipe guide arms attached to the upper ram block and configured to guide pipe and other items into the path of the blades, and to be received by recesses in the lower ram block. Also included are wear plates mounted on top of the pipe guide arms and positioned to force the lower ram block to rise as the arms enter the recesses, thereby causing the gap between the blades to decrease so that the blades can better shear the more ductile items.

Abstract: Systems can be configured to move a ram block in a blowout preventer. The system includes: a first bank of accumulators configured to provide a first pressure to move the ram block; a second bank of accumulators configured to provide a second pressure to move the ram block, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure; and a controller configured to sequentially control the first bank of accumulators to apply pressure to move the ram block and to then control the second bank of accumulators to move the ram block after the first bank of accumulators has moved the ram block a first distance.

Abstract: A shearing device that torsionally shears an oilfield tubular by gripping the tubular at vertically spaced apart locations and exerting a torsional force at the locations. Tong assemblies are provided for gripping the tubular, where the tong assemblies include a tong member pivotally mounted on a tong arm. The tong assemblies may be housed in a blowout preventer mounted on a wellhead assembly; projecting the tong assemblies radially inward engages the tong members with the tubular, and moving the arm further radially inward imparts the torsional force onto the tubular. In an alternate embodiment, the shearing device includes holding rams that project radially inward to engage the tubular and a torque rack that tangentially engages the tubular thereby torqueing the tubular.

Abstract: A pair of shear blades and a blowout preventer having the pair of shear blades. The shear blades are configured to cut a tubular inside the blowout preventer. The shear blades have different geometries of the front cutting surfaces. One geometry promotes a secure positioning of the tubular relative to the first blade while the second geometry promotes a puncturing of the tubular by the second blade.

Abstract: A packer unit for an annular blowout preventer including an annular elastomer body including an elastomer having a unidirectional grain and a quantity of fiber longitudinally aligned with the grain of the elastomer. A method of forming a packing unit for a blowout preventer including forming a fiber reinforced elastomer by aligning fibers with a grain of an elastomer; cutting a portion from the fiber reinforced elastomer in the direction of the grain; loading the cut portion in a packing unit mold such that the grain of the fiber reinforced elastomer of the cut portion is parallel to a packing unit axis; and heating the loaded packing unit mold.

Abstract: A diverter cover assembly includes a first arrangement of sliding plates positioned above a central bore of a diverter and movable in substantially opposite directions to open and close over the central bore.

Abstract: Method and water submerged device for generating a force under water. The device includes a low pressure recipient configured to contain a volume of a first fluid at a low pressure volume, an inlet connected to the low pressure recipient and configured to exchange a second fluid with an external enclosure, and a valve connected to the external enclosure and the inlet and configured to separate a pressure source in the external enclosure from the low pressure recipient. When the valve is open, such that there is a flow communication between the external enclosure and the low pressure recipient, a pressure imbalance occurs in the external enclosure which generates the force and the second fluid from the external enclosure enters the low pressure recipient and compresses the first fluid.

Abstract: A ram blowout preventer for sealing a well, the ram blowout preventer including a body having a cavity with a recess; a ram block configured to move inside the cavity; a top seat disposed in the recess and configured to seal the well when in contact with the ram block; a movable lock ring extending inside a groove of the body and a corresponding groove of the top seat and configured to move inside the groove of the body, along a direction substantially parallel to the well; a first seal extending inside a groove of the top seat and configured to contact the body and the top seat; and a second seal extending inside a groove of the ram block and configured to contact the ram block and the top seat. A width of the groove of the body is larger than a width of the lock ring by a predetermined value, which is larger than normal tolerances, and a distance from a centerline of the well to the first seal is larger than a distance from the centerline of the well to the second seal.

Abstract: Method and drill string valve for closing a conduit through which a high pressure fluid flows.

Abstract: Systems are provided for using position data of a piston connected to a ram block in a blowout preventer to determine a backlash of the ram block, and/or to record a position of the ram block, and/or to calculate an instant when a supplemental closing pressure is desired to be applied, and/or to determine when maintenance of a ram locking mechanism is due, and/or to determine when sealing elements are worn.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a backup emergency disconnect signal (EDS) transmission in an offshore oil and gas installation are provided. A backup EDS transmission system includes a pressure pulse generator located close to a water surface and configured to generate a predetermined pressure variation pattern including at least one of positive and negative pressure pulses and corresponding to an emergency disconnect signal, the signal being propagated downwards in a mud column. The pressure pulse generator is located at a surface end of the mud column. The backup EDS transmission system also includes a pressure pulse receptor connected to a controller of blowout preventers and configured to measure a pressure in the mud column, at a subsea location.

Abstract: In a dual-gradient drilling apparatus, a subsea solids processing unit includes a housing, a solids processing mechanism disposed in the housing between a drilling mud inlet and a drilling mud outlet, and a flushing mechanism configured to flush the solids processing mechanism with a flushing fluid. A subsea solids processing unit may be controlled by rotating the solids processing mechanism in a forward direction and increasing a drive torque when a measured speed of the solids processing mechanism is below a desired rotation speed. The desired rotation speed may be decreased when a measured torque exceeds a selected maximum and a rotation direction of the solids processing mechanism may be reversed when the measured speed falls below a selected minimum.

Abstract: Method, riser assembly and gas handler for diverting gas from a riser, The riser assembly includes a riser having a first end and a second end and a conduit extending from the first end to the second end; a gas handler connected to the riser and provided between the first end and the second end, the gas handler having an external casing; plural pipes attached to an outside of the riser such that at least one pipe of the plural pipes enters through the external casing; and a gas vent pipe configured to start at the gas handler and extend towards the second end of the riser and the gas vent pipe is further configured to divert a gas from the gas handler through the outside of the riser.

Abstract: A pair of shear blades and a blowout preventer having the pair of shear blades. The shear blades are configured to cut a tubular inside the blowout preventer. The shear blades have different geometries of the front cutting surfaces. One geometry promotes a secure positioning of the tubular relative to the first blade while the second geometry promotes a puncturing of the tubular by the second blade.

Abstract: Method, crane system and crane for moving a component of a device. The crane includes a supporting mechanism configured to be fixedly attached to the device, an arm mechanism connected to the supporting mechanism and configured to move in a horizontal plane, a sliding mechanism connected to the arm mechanism and configured to move substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and a grabbing mechanism configured to be removably attached to the sliding mechanism and configured to grab the component of the device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods useable in drilling installations having a mud loop for detecting ongoing or imminent kick events are provided. An apparatus includes a first sensor configured to measure a input mud flow pumped into the well, and a second sensor configured to measure a variation of a return mud flow emerging from the well. The apparatus further includes a controller connected to the first sensor, and to the second sensor. The controller is configured to identify an ongoing or imminent kick event based on monitoring and comparing an evolution of the input mud flow as measured by the first sensor and an evolution of the return mud flow as inferred based on measurements received from the second sensor. Additionally, a third sensor can be included in the apparatus to confirm the conclusion made by the controller before alerting the user that a kick has likely occurred.