Abstract: An improved annular blowout preventer having a body with a central bore, an annular packer chamber facing the bore, an improved annular packer in said chamber and means for axially loading said annular packer to actuate it to closed position, said improved annular packer including a resilient annulus including an upper set of insert plates embedded in said annulus, a reaction ring embedded in the outer periphery of said annulus and means for moving said reaction ring toward said upper set of insert plates responsive to actuation of said packer loading means to ensure inward movement of said insert plates to their desired supporting position for said annulus when closed. The improved packer may have both upper and lower insert plates and upper and lower rings and a sleeve within the rings to ensure proper movement of both sets of insert plates.

Abstract: A shearing apparatus for installation on a wellhead and having capability of shearing drill collars.

Abstract: A blowout preventer with an aligning apparatus having a housing with a vertical bore therethrough and a blowout preventer in one portion of the housing with guideways extending outward from the bore, aligning guideways in the housing spaced from and parallel to the blowout preventer guideways, an aligning ram in each of the aligning guideways with a piston for extending and retracting the aligning ram, each aligning ram having a carrier slidable in the aligning guideway with a cam surface and a jaw having a mating cam surface and mounted on the carrier with the respective cam surfaces being in engagement, the outer surface of the jaw being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the aligning guideways and adapted to engage tubing within the housing bore, the cam surfaces of opposing aligning rams being angled to cause the opposing jaws to move transversely in the aligning guideways when they come into engagement with tubing to cause the tubing to be moved with the jaws into the preferred position for closi