A ram type blowout preventer is designed to provide substantial hang off capability. Improved hang off capacity is provided by the ram bodies having shaped upper centralizing lobes and/or semi-circular or U-shaped central openings. In particular, the interface between the upper centralizer lobe and central opening is tapered such that the hang off load is spread over a larger area of each ram body.

The service life of a packer element, an annular BOP, is estimated using one pressure sensor below the elastomer seal or two pressure sensors positioned above and below the elastomer seal. The pressure variations below the elastomer are monitored versus piston position and used to detect elastomer wear with time/pressure cycles. The pressure variations above the elastomer can be used to detect potential leakage, as well as leak characteristics such as leaking rate or leak geometry.

A rotating control device (RCD) having an anti-rotation locking system for restricting rotation of a bearing assembly housing of the RCD comprises an RCD housing operable with a blowout preventer, and a bearing assembly operable to be received within the RCD housing and comprising a stationary bearing housing. The bearing assembly can be configured to receive and engage with and seal a pipe of a drill string of a drill rig. The stationary bearing housing can have secured thereto a locking ring. The anti-rotation locking system of the RCD can further comprise one or more anti-rotation devices moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The anti-rotation device(s) are operable to engage the locking ring, when in the locked position, to lock the stationary bearing housing to the RCD housing independent of the rotational position of the stationary bearing housing relative to the RCD housing.

Systems and techniques for locating a tool component in a channel of a blowout preventer. The system and technique may include the use of glide rams that are configured to sealably engage a deployment bar of a toolstring supporting the tool component in the channel. The glide rams may allow for movement of the deployment bar and toolstring while maintaining the seal. Due to greater diameter of the tool component, contact with the rams may be detected in the form of a spike in load detected at an oilfield surface by equipment supporting the conveyance means for the toolstring. Thus, tool component location may be ascertained. This same diameter difference of the tool component may also be utilized to deflect a member in the channel for sake of tool location.

An integrated snubbing platform is provided that includes a snubbing section including a snubbing jack assembly and a secondary blowout preventer (BOP) connected to the snubbing jack assembly; and a primary BOP section connected directly to the secondary BOP. The integrated snubbing platform is transportable as a single unit and mountable onto a wellhead as a single unit. A method of mounting a snubbing assembly, a secondary BOP unit and a primary BOP stack onto a wellhead is also provided. The method involves first providing an integrated snubbing platform having a snubbing section that includes a snubbing jack assembly and a secondary blowout preventer (BOP) connected to the snubbing jack assembly; and a primary BOP section connected directly to the secondary BOP. The method then involves mounting the integrated snubbing platform onto a wellhead as a single unit.

A pipe tally vision system may be positioned on a drilling rig. A drill string may be positioned within a wellbore using the drilling rig. The drill string may be observed with the pipe tally system during a wellbore operation. A pipe tally database may be generated by the pipe tally system based on the observations of the drill string made by the pipe tally system and observations may be made as the drill string is moved into or out of the wellbore.

A flow responsiveness enhancer apparatus may include a stack of manifolds with at least one manifold dedicated to each of the rams of the blowout preventer. The flow responsiveness enhancer includes a shared pressure line coupled to each of the manifolds, and a shared tank line coupled to each of the manifolds. Each manifold can include a 4-way directional valve that is piloted by the pressure levels in a pair of input ports. Each 4-way directional valve can couple the shared pressure line and the shared tank line to a pair of output ports.

This disclosure includes systems and methods for actuating hydraulically-actuated devices.

A rotating control device (RCD) for a drilling operation comprises a housing operable with a blowout preventer, and a bearing assembly operable to be received in the housing, and operable to receive a pipe of a drill string. The RCD comprises a plurality of locking pin assemblies supported by the housing. Each locking pin assembly can comprise a movable pin operable between a locked position that locks the bearing assembly to the housing, and an unlocked position that unlocks the bearing assembly from the housing. An RCD comprises an RCD housing coupled to a blowout preventer, and a bearing assembly received within the RCD housing and comprising a lower sealing element sleeve having a perimeter channel. The system comprises a plurality of locking pin assemblies supported by the RCD housing and operable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The movable pins can be automatically biased to the locked position by elastic elements upon removing fluid pressure from the housing. Associated systems and methods are provided.

A method and apparatus for testing a blowout preventer which includes a plurality of safety devices and an assembly of fluid control valves that are remotely actuatable to an open and closed position for controlling flow of drilling fluids into a well includes a hydraulic power unit control station for remotely and selectively actuating one or more safety devices and fluid control valves to a test orientation. A hydrostatic test system supplies fluid under first and second test pressure and documents any pressure loss due to fluid leaks within a closed system.