Noble Drilling Services Inc.

Noble Rig Holdings Limited

Orlan Lyle

A rotating control device has a rotating section rotatably supported in a housing. The rotating section has a mandrel and a rotating seal element of a rotary seal sealingly affixed to an exterior of the mandrel. The housing has sealingly disposed therein a non-rotating seal element of the rotary seal. The non-rotating seal element is in at least partial axial and radial alignment with the rotating seal element and is movable longitudinally with respect to the housing. The non-rotating seal element has a protrusion extending from a face disposed toward the rotating seal element. Fluid pressure acting on the non-rotating seal element acts on a larger surface area on a face opposed to the rotating seal element than on the face disposed toward the rotating seal element.

Rotating control device having improved seal

A method for capping a subsea wellbore having a failed blowout preventer proximate the bottom of a body of water includes lowering a replacement blowout preventer system into the water from a vessel on the water surface. The replacement blowout preventer system includes an hydraulic pressure source disposed proximate well closure elements on the replacement blowout preventer system. The replacement blowout preventer system is coupled to the failed blowout preventer. The well closure elements on the replacement blowout preventer system are actuated using the hydraulic pressure source.

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Seabrook, TX, United States of America

Orlan Lyle