Abstract: A drilling head has a body which lands in an external housing. The body is removably secured to the housing with an annular split ring which is moveable in response to a cam member. The body has an outer body and a rotatable inner body with an axial bore. An annulus extends between the inner and outer bodies. Inlet and outlet ports communicate hydraulic fluid to the annulus which is sealed. The inner body has a gripping member with inner and outer portions. The inner portion has a solid annular elastomer which is free to slide radially relative to the inner body. The outer diameter of the inner portion abuts the outer portion. The outer portion has an energizable elastomer with an annular cavity. The cavity communicates with the annulus through a passage. A primary seal extends from a lower end of the inner body. The seal has a conical elastomer and reinforcement webs to give the elastomer greater rigidity in the upward direction.

Abstract: An improved blowout preventer having a body with a central bore and aligned opposed passages extending out from the central bore, a ram assembly in each of the passsages and including a ram body with a face seal, a rear slot, a first passage through the body from above the face seal into the slot, a second passage through said body from below the face seal into the slot, a pressure responsive actuator, a connector extending from the actuator to the ram body and having a disc end positioned in and movable axially in said slot to close and open flow through said ram body passages, a third passage through said ram body from above said face seal to the rear of the ram body, a fourth passage through said ram body from below said face seal to the rear of the ram body and means coacting with said third and fourth passages to allow fluid flow to the rear of said ram body and to prevent fluid flow to the front of said ram body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blowout preventer used in the drilling and completion of oil and gas wells and having rams which are moved within chambers in a housing which intersect a bore therethrough between positions opening and closing the bore. The zones of the bore above and below the closed rams are respectively connected by first and second passageway means with the outer side of the rams, with one of the passageway means extending through each ram. Each ram is moved by operating means which includes a rod having a lost motion therewith and a packing assembly on its inner end which sealably engages an end surface of the ram which surrounds the opening of the one passageway means to the chamber, as the rod moves inwardly to close the rams, and disengages therefrom, as the rod moves outwardly to open the rams.

Abstract: A casing hanger for supporting a casing from a casing head within a well bore having a split ring with sealing means attached thereto, a plurality of gripping assemblies supported from the split ring and each of said assemblies including a body with an inwardly facing recess and an exterior surface which tapers downward and inward, to seat in the casing head bowl a plurality of gripping dogs having a generally horizontal gripping edge extending radially inward from the body, and a deformable backing positioned within the space between the outer edge of said dogs and the body recess, the backing partially filling the space behind the dogs and having space into which the backing may move on deformation, the backing providing varying areas in support of each gripping dog and being relatively yieldable.

Abstract: Apparatus for disconnecting the lower threaded end of an upper section from the upper threaded end of a lower section of pipe string extending through the bore of an underwater wellhead.

Abstract: Apparatus for disconnecting the lower threaded end of an upper section from the upper threaded end of a lower section of pipe string extending through the bore of an underwater wellhead.