Abstract: A blowout preventer which, in certain aspects, has a main body with a main top, a main bottom, and a main bore therethrough from the main top to the main bottom, at least one breech assembly secured to the main body, ram apparatus movable within the breech assembly and the main body, the breech assembly having a chamber for enclosing part of the ram apparatus, the chamber having a side opening, a sleeve around the breech, and the sleeve movable with respect to the breech assembly to uncover the side opening to permit access to ram apparatus within the chamber of the breech.

Abstract: A top drive drilling system, in at least some aspects, having a top drive unit, and a pipe gripping system beneath the top drive unit which has an open throat for receiving a tubular to be gripped by the pipe gripping system; and, in at least certain aspects, the gripping system having a body with first and second jaws movably connected thereto and piston/cylinder devices movably interconnected with each jaw for moving the jaws to clamp and then to rotate the pipe.

Abstract: A blowout preventer which, in certain aspects, has a main body with a main top, a main bottom, and a main bore therethrough from the main top to the main bottom, at least one bonnet releasably secured to the main body, the at least one bonnet containing movable ram apparatus, and side mount apparatus including at least one side mount secured exteriorly to the main body, the side mount for selectively supporting the at least one bonnet; and, in certain aspects, one or more rollers rotatably connected to the bonnet for facilitating movement of the bonnet on the side mount.

Abstract: A blowout preventer which, in certain aspects, has a main body and ram block holding apparatus releasably secured to and movable with respect to the main body and/or to a door or bonnet, movable ram apparatus within the body including a ram block, the ram block holding apparatus positioned for selective engagement of and support of the ram block and for moving the ram block away from the body.

Abstract: Lock bars for blowout preventers and blowout preventers having, in certain aspects, a body with a top, a bottom, and a bore therethrough, at least one bonnet releasably secured to the body, a first lock bar recess defined by a first portion in the body and a second portion in the bonnet, at least one lock bar removably disposed in the lock bar recess for releasably connecting the at least one bonnet to the body, the at least one lock bar having a body with a first end and a second tapered end and/or with an end opening in an end of the at least one lock bar.