Abstract: A pressure driven pumping system includes a piston disposed within a first bore of a housing to separate a process chamber from a working chamber. A rod member coupled to the separating member extends into a reduced pressure chamber. The piston has a first face exposed to the process chamber and a second face exposed to the working chamber. The second face has an effective area less than an effective area of the first face. The housing may be placed in seawater at a selected depth. The process chamber can be in fluid communication with a well to pass well fluid into the process chamber at well pressure to move the piston, to discharge seawater from the seawater chamber. The working fluid, typically seawater in a subsea application, is pumped into the working chamber to move the piston, which discharges well fluid from the process chamber.

Abstract: Method and subsea sensors display system configured to display data about a blowout preventer (BOP) stack. The subsea sensors display system includes a display panel having plural universal subsea displays, each universal subsea display being configured to display a value measured by a sensor attached to the BOP stack; and a J-box electrically connected to the display panel and configured to provide electrical power to the display panel and to receive data from the display panel. The electrical power is provided from a pod provided on the BOP stack or from a battery when the pod is not available or from a remote operated vehicle (ROV) when connected to the display panel.

Abstract: Apparatuses useable in drilling installations for adjusting a mud return flow in a mud loop, at a location far from a mud tank are provided. An apparatus includes (1) a sensor located close to a seabed and configured to acquire values of at least one parameter related to a return mud flow, (2) a valve located near the sensor and configured to regulate the return mud flow, and (3) a controller connected to the valve and the sensor. The controller is configured to automatically control the valve to regulate the return mud flow towards achieving a value of a control parameter close to a predetermined value, based on the values acquired by the sensor. Methods of incorporating an apparatus in a drilling installation and retrofitting existing installations are also provided.

Abstract: A flow regulator includes a flow regulating part configured to receive at an inlet a working fluid at a first pressure and to release the working fluid at an outlet at a second pressure; a slide provided inside the flow regulating part and configured to move along an axis to reduce the pressure of the working fluid; a control part attached to the flow regulating part, the control part including a chamber; a spring housing provided in the chamber and connected to the slide though a shaft, the spring housing configured to move the slide along the axis; a cap provided in the chamber and facing the spring housing, the cap being configured to have plural blind holes; and plural pins extending along the axis and attached to the spring housing, the plural pins being configured to enter the plural blind holes.

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 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 mount for a bonnet of a blowout preventer includes at least one support member coupled to a body of the blowout preventer, and a bonnet mounting member moveably coupled to the at least one support member and adapted to move substantially normal to a face of the body of the blowout preventer, wherein the bonnet is coupled to the bonnet mounting member.

Abstract: A lifting device configured to lift a bonnet of a blowout preventer. The lifting device includes two or more lifting pins, each lifting pin including, a body having an elongated shape and configured to enter through a hole in the bonnet; a shoulder connected to the body and having an external diameter larger than an external diameter of the body; and two or more threaded regions at different locations on the body and configured to receive threaded screws, each threaded region being formed in the body such that a coordinate of the threaded region in a given inertial system is substantially identical to a coordinate of a center of gravity of a corresponding bonnet in the same given inertial system when the lifting pin is inserted into a hole of the corresponding bonnet.

Abstract: Method and blowout preventer for sealing a well. The blowout preventer includes a body having first and second chambers, the first chamber extending substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the second chamber; first and second ram blocks configured to move within the first chamber to seal a first region of the second chamber from a second region of the second chamber; first and second rods connected to the first and second ram blocks, respectively, and configured to extend along the first chamber; first and second bonnets partially covering first and second rods, respectively, the bonnets being detachably attached to the body; and first and second stroke limiting devices configured to pierce through end parts of the first and second bonnets and limit a stroke of the first and second rods by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A blowout preventer for sealing a well includes a body having first and second chambers, the body including a channel on a face of the body; a ram block configured to move within the first chamber to seal a first region of the second chamber from a second region of the second chamber; a rod connected to the ram block and configured to extend along the first chamber; a cylinder configured to be attached to the body to border the first chamber, and a ring rotatably attached to the cylinder for attaching the cylinder to the body.

Abstract: Method and device to be used for resetting a pressure in a low pressure recipient connected to a subsea pressure control device. The device includes the low pressure recipient configured to have first and second chambers separated by a first piston; a reset recipient configured to have third and fourth chambers separated by a piston assembly, and the piston assembly includes a second piston having first and second extension elements that extend along a direction of movement of the piston assembly. The third chamber has an inlet configured to allow the hydraulic liquid to enter the third chamber and an outlet configured to allow the hydraulic liquid to exit the third chamber, and the fourth chamber has an inlet configured to allow the hydraulic liquid to enter the fourth chamber and an outlet configured to allow the hydraulic liquid to exit the fourth chamber.

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: Devices and methods useable for repairing seal surfaces in an oil and gas installation used at offshore locations are provided. A removable device useable for locally repair a seal surface of a receiver plate, includes a rigid portion and a seal. The rigid portion is made of a material substantially similar to a material of the receiver plate, and is configured to be removably inserted in a fluid port of the receiver plate, having a seal surface flushed with the seal surface of the receiver plate when the device is inserted in the fluid port, and a channel configured to allow a fluid communication. The seal is made of a rubber-like material and is placed outside the rigid portion, the seal being configured to prevent a fluid leak.

Abstract: Method and deadman test circuit for testing a functionality of a shearing blowout preventer. The circuit includes a solenoid valve configured to be electrically controlled and to receive a fluid under a first pressure; a sub plate mounted valve configured to be hydraulically controlled by the solenoid valve and to receive the fluid under a second pressure; and a selector valve fluidly connecting an output of the sub plate mounted valve to a shearing blowout preventer and to a device. The selector valve is configured to be operated by an operator.

Abstract: Method and recharging mechanism for resetting a pressure in a low pressure recipient. The recharging mechanism includes a low pressure recipient configured to have first and second chambers, the first chamber being configured to receive a hydraulic liquid at a high pressure and the second chamber being configured to include a gas at a low pressure. The recharging mechanism further includes a valve fluidly connected to a first port of the first chamber; a pumping device fluidly connected to a second port of the first chamber; and a blowout preventer (BOP) section fluidly connected to the valve and configured to close or open a ram block. The pumping device is configured to evacuate the hydraulic fluid from the first chamber of the low pressure recipient when the valve closes a fluid communication between the first port of the first chamber and the BOP section.

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: System and method for controlling a blowout preventer (BOP) stack and a tree attached to a wellhead of a well. The system includes at least a MUX pod configured to receive electrical signals and a fluid under pressure, and to provide a first set of functions to the LMRP part, and a second set of functions to a lower BOP part; a pod extension module configured to receive the fluid under pressure from the MUX pod, and to provide a third set of functions to the tree based on the received fluid under pressure; and a control part configured to be attached to the tree and to communicate with the pod extension module. The third set of functions for the tree is different from the second set of functions provided to the lower BOP part.

Abstract: A rig control interface, system, and method. The rig control interface includes an emergency disconnect sequence button configured to initiate an emergency disconnect sequence signal to be sent to multiplex pods resulting in an emergency disconnect sequence including a plurality of functions being performed by devices in one or both of a lower marine riser package and a blowout preventer stack; and an emergency disconnect sequence timer display triggered by initiation of the emergency disconnect sequence signal, the emergency disconnect sequence timer display configured to indicate one or both of time elapsed after initiation of the emergency disconnect sequence signal and a status of the plurality of functions being performed by the devices in the one or both of the lower marine riser package and the blowout preventer stack.

Abstract: Emergency disconnect sequence (EDS) video capture systems and method. The EDS video capture system includes a stack screen on a drilling platform, the stack screen including an EDS button to initiate an EDS signal to be sent to multiplex pods resulting in an EDS including a plurality of functions being performed by devices in one or both of a lower marine riser package and a blowout preventer stack, and an EDS function status indicator. The indicator is either a video capture device aimed at the stack screen to automatically capture one or more of the initiation of EDS signal by the EDS button and a progress of the EDS indicated by the EDS function status indicator as EDS evidence or a video card to capture one or more of the initiation of the EDS signal by the EDS button and a progress of the EDS indicated by the EDS function status indicator as EDS evidence, and a storage to store the EDS evidence.

Abstract: A packing unit for a blowout preventer includes an elastomeric, annular body configured to be disposed about a longitudinal axis of the blowout preventer and configured to be displaced radially inward towards the longitudinal axis upon actuation of the blowout preventer. The elastomeric, annular body includes a first section having a first set of material properties and a second section having a second set of material properties. The packing unit includes a plurality of rigid inserts distributed at equal radial distances from each other within the elastomeric annular body and about the longitudinal axis of the blowout preventer.