Varco Shaffer, Inc.

Bryce A Levett

James Dennis Brugman

Mike C Nicholson

A blowout preventer (10) is provided for use in a hydrocarbon recovery operation to prevent a well blowout. The BOP body (20) has a central passageway (22),therein for receiving an oilfield tubular T. First and second radially opposing doors (16) and (18) are provided for sealing engagement with the corresponding side face (15) on the BOP body. First and second ram assemblies (12, 14) are each supported on a respective door and may be pressure energized for driving first aid second ram blocks (24) into engagement with the oilfield tubular. A door connector (60, 90, 110, 140, 160 and 180) is provided for securing each door to the BOP body. Each door connector includes an upper connector bar and a lower connector bar (62, 64, 92, 94, 112, 114, 142, 144, 146, 148, 160 and 180) each having a bar axis generally perpendicular to the BOP body central axis. Each upper and lower connector bar is movable with respect to the BOP body from a locked position for locking the door into sealing engagement with the BOP body to an unlocked position for structurally releasing the door from the BOP body, such that the door may be disengaged from the BOP body for servicing the ram blocks. A significant feature of the present invention is the reduced time required to service the BOP ram blocks. The axial height of the BOP is desirably reduced by providing the upper and lower connector bars.

Door connectors

A blowout preventer 10 is provided for use in a hydrocarbon recovery operation to prevent a well blowout. The BOP body 20 has a central passageway 22 therein for receiving an oilfield tubular T. First and second radially opposing doors 16 and 18 are provided for sealing engagement with the corresponding side face 15 on the BOP body. First and second ram assemblies 12, 14 are each supported on a respective door and may be pressure energized for driving first and second ram blocks 24 into engagement with the oilfield tubular. A door connector 60, 90, 110, 140, 160 and 180 is provided for securing each door to the BOP body. Each door connector includes an upper connector bar and a lower connector bar 62, 64, 92, 94, 112, 114, 142, 144, 146, 148, 160 and 180 each having a bar axis generally perpendicular to the BOP body central axis. Each upper and lower connector bar is movable with respect to the BOP body from a locked position for locking the door into sealing engagement with the BOP body to an unlocked position for structurally releasing the door from the BOP body, such that the door may be disengaged from the BOP body for servicing the ram blocks. A significant feature of the present invention is the reduced time required to service the BOP ram blocks. The axial height of the BOP is desirably reduced by providing the upper and lower connector bars.

BOP with improved door connectors

A hydraulically controlled ram assembly 12 for an oilwell blowout preventer 10 effects the opening and closing of a ram block 30 interconnected with a piston 34. The piston 34 is movable within the ram housing 22 in response to a hydraulic pressure to seal the ram block 30 with an oilfield tubular. The hollow ram shaft 36 having a central bore is sealed with a door 20 pivotally mounted to the BOP body 16 by one or more ram shaft seals 52. The cylindrical bore 60 in the ram shaft 36 is in fluid communication with the central passageway 18 in the BOP body. A ram shaft rod 70 secured to a ram housing end plate 40 extends radially inward into the bore 60 in the ram shaft 36, and is sealed to the ram shaft by one or more rod seals 72. Wellbore pressure within the BOP that opposes ram closing is thus reduced by the sealing area of the rod seal relative to the sealing area of the ram shaft seal.

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Katy, TX, United States of America

Bryce A Levett