Abstract: Method and drill string valve assembly for closing a conduit through which a high pressure fluid flows. The drill string valve assembly includes first, second and third portions forming an elongated housing having an inside cavity; and a drill string valve provided inside the cavity, to extend from the first portion to the third portion. The second portion has an extension that fits inside a groove of the third portion and prevents the second portion to linearly move relative to the third portion and also allows the second portion to rotate relative to the third portion, and the second portion has a distal region provided with a thread configured to engage a corresponding thread of the first portion such that a rotation of the second portion relative to the third portion determines a tight connection between the first portion and the second portion.

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: Blowout preventer (BOP) and method for sealing a well. The BOP includes a body having first and second conduits, the first conduit being substantially perpendicular on the second conduit; a piston extending through the first conduit and being configured to reciprocate inside the first conduit, the piston having a body portion, a neck portion and a head portion in this order; a ram block disposed on the piston and configured to move with the piston inside the first conduit for closing the second conduit; and a shim configured to fill a gap between a back region of the ram block and the body portion of the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus to update data in a well control system includes a central control unit in communication with a communications network, the central control unit comprising a first display database, an end device in communication with the communications network, the end device comprising a local hardware database, and an operator's panel in communication with the communications network, the operator's panel comprising a second display database, wherein the local hardware database is configured to automatically update data to a primary display database designated from one of the first and the second display databases, wherein the primary display database is configured to automatically update the data to the other of the first and the second display databases.

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: An apparatus to remotely archive data from a blowout preventer includes a first system controller in communication with the blowout preventer and a communications network, and a second system controller in communication with the blowout preventer and the communications network. A first remote server and a second remote server are connected to the communications network. The first remote server is configured to archive the data from the blowout preventer through the first local controller and the communications network. The first remote server is also configured to archive the data from the blowout preventer through the second system controller upon a failure of the first system controller resulting from damage in an oilfield component.

Abstract: A mudline riser annulus flow meter includes a liner configured to be attached to a riser to cover a hole; a cover configured to be attached to the riser to cover the liner such that a cavity is formed by the liner and the cover; a sensor rod configured to be attached to the liner and to extend inside cavity, the sensor rod having a bore; a magnet assembly configured to be fixedly attached to the sensor rod; and a waveguide tube attached to the cover. The bore of the sensor rode is configured to receive the waveguide tube.

Abstract: A method for connecting a lower marine riser package to a lower blowout preventer stack. The method includes lowering a frame of the lower marine riser package toward a frame of the lower blowout preventer stack such that a first half of a feed-thru component contacts a second half of the feed-thru component; floating at least one of the first half of the feed-thru component or the second half of the feed-thru component while the frame of the lower marine package is further lowered toward the frame of the lower blowout preventer stack; and engaging the first half of the feed-thru component to the second half of the feed-thru component after further lowering the lower marine riser package toward the lower blowout preventer stack.

Abstract: A method to interchangeably connect a plurality of Lower Marine Riser Packages with a lower BOP stack includes engaging a Lower Marine Riser Package connector of the Lower Marine Riser Package, with a Lower Stack mandrel connector of a Lower Stack, thereby aligning the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack axially about a vertical axis, engaging at least one ring alignment pin of the Lower Marine Riser Package with at least one alignment plate of the Lower Stack, thereby rotationally aligning the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack within a specified angle about the vertical axis, and engaging feed-thru connections between the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack.

Abstract: A fluid union includes a rotatable member with an axis to rotate about, a non-rotatable member, and an actuating member disposed between the rotatable member and the non-rotatable member. The actuating member is moveable along the axis between an engaged position and a non-engaged position and the actuating member is biased towards the non-rotatable member.

Abstract: A packer unit to be used in an annular blowout preventer. The packer unit includes an elastomer body including a compound of a carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) base polymer having a polymer chain, and a quantity of fluorine atoms attached to the polymer chain. The compound includes between 50 and 60% XNBR, between 25 to 35% carbon black, and the rest includes other materials. 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: 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; 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 piston connected to the rod and configured to move along and within the first chamber; a bonnet configured to receive the piston, the bonnet being detachably attached to the body; and an indicator device partially mounted outside the bonnet and configured to indicate a physical position of the ram block within the body.

Abstract: A packer unit to be used in an annular blowout preventer. The packer unit includes an elastomer body including a compound of a carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) base polymer having a polymer chain, and a quantity of fluorine atoms attached to the polymer chain. The compound includes between 50 and 60% XNBR, between 25 to 35% carbon black, and the rest includes other materials. 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: A subsea device is configured to control a subsea well. The subsea device includes a frame; a blowout preventer connected to the frame; a pressure supply line configured to provide a fluid under pressure; and a control module configured to receive the fluid from the pressure supply line and to distribute the fluid to control various functions of the subsea device. The control module includes a fixed part and a removable section. The fixed part has a first base connected to a valve manifold that houses a hydraulic activated valve and the removable section is configured to detachably attach to the fixed part and includes a second base connected to an electrically activated valve. The hydraulic activated valve of the fixed part is configured to be actuated by the electrically activated valve of the removable section when the removable section is mated to the fixed part.

Abstract: A subsea device is configured to control a subsea well. The subsea device includes a frame, a blowout preventer connected to the frame and configured to close a bore that fluidly communicates with the subsea well, a pressure supply line connected to the frame and configured to provide a fluid under high pressure, and a control module connected to the frame and configured to receive the fluid from the pressure supply line. The control module includes a fixed part and a removable section. The fixed part has a valve manifold that houses a hydraulic activated valve. The removable section is configured to detachably attach to the fixed part and includes an electrically activated valve. The hydraulic activated valve of the fixed part are configured to be actuated by the electrically activated valve when the removable section is mated to the fixed part.

Abstract: A method for assembling a control module having a fixed part and a removable section. The method includes configuring the fixed part of the control module to be attached to a pressure supply line for receiving a fluid under pressure; providing in the fixed part a valve manifold that houses a hydraulic activated valve; detachably attaching the removable section of the control module to the fixed part; fluidly connecting an electrically activated valve of the removable section to the hydraulic activated valve such that the electrically activated valve controls the hydraulic activated valve; and configuring the electrically activated valve to electrically connect to a control section.

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: A method to determine movement of a wellhead component includes sensing a relative position of the wellhead component with a magnetostrictive sensor over a selected interval of time. The method includes sending a signal from the magnetostrictive sensor to a data acquisition device and recording the relative position of the wellhead component with the data acquisition device with respect to the selected interval of time. Further, the method includes comparing the recorded position of the wellhead component with operations data to determine if the relative position is desirable.

Abstract: Methods and devices with biasing force for sealing a well. Such a device is a blowout preventer has a body including a cavity having first and second recesses, a ram block configured to move inside the cavity, a top seat provided in the first recess and configured to seal the well when the ram block is closed, a wear plate provided in the second recess and configured to contact the ram block when the ram block moves inside the cavity over the wear plate, and a biasing element provided inside the cavity and configured to apply a biasing force on at least one of the top seat, the ram block or the wear plate to increase the sealing of the well.

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 treaded 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.