This disclosure includes methods for testing hydraulically-actuated devices and related systems. Some hydraulically-actuated devices have a housing defining an interior volume and a piston disposed within the interior volume and dividing the interior volume into a first chamber and a second chamber, where the piston is movable relative to the housing between a maximum first position and a maximum second position in response to pressure differentials between the first and second chambers. Some methods include: (1) moving the piston to the first position by varying pressure within at least one of the first and second chambers such that pressure within the second chamber is higher than pressure within the first chamber; and (2) while the piston remains in the first position: (a) reducing pressure within the second chamber and/or increasing pressure within the first chamber; and (b) increasing pressure within the second chamber and/or decreasing pressure within the first chamber.

A blowout preventer (BOP) and a seal anti-extrusion apparatus is provided for well control about a tubular such as a polish rod. Each of opposing ram blocks support a semi-circular primary seal and at least one downstream backup ring. An extrusion gap is formed between the ram block and the rod. The backup ring has profile that is axially compressible by the primary seal when activated, causing an inner diameter diminish, and closing the extrusion gap for improved sealing integrity of the primary seal.

This disclosure provides a hybrid well capping stack system that uses a lower ram blow-out preventer (BOP) coupled to a gate valve-based capping stack that has first and second flowlines where the first flowline has a gate valve and the second flowline has a gate valve. At least one of the first and second flowlines is located on the frame to divert a flow of fluid laterally from a central flow axis of a wellbore.

A fracturing system having rams for controlling flow through a fracturing tree is provided. In one embodiment, a fracturing system includes a frac stack mounted on a wellhead. The frac stack includes opposing rams to control flow of fracturing fluid through a bore of the frac stack during a fracturing operation. Additional systems, devices, and methods for fracturing are also disclosed.

A fracturing system having rams for controlling flow through a fracturing tree is provided. In one embodiment, a well intervention method includes injecting fracturing fluid into a well through a bore of a frac stack coupled to a wellhead. The frac stack includes rams that can be moved between open and closed positions to control flow through the bore. The well intervention method also includes coupling a lubricator to the frac stack without a blowout preventer between the lubricator and the frac stack and lowering an intervention tool from the lubricator through the bore of the frac stack and into the well. Additional systems, devices, and methods for fracturing and intervention are also disclosed.

Fracturing systems having rams for controlling flow through fracturing trees are provided. In one embodiment, a fracturing system includes a frac stack mounted on a wellhead. The frac stack can include a flow control device having a housing and a single ram for opening and closing a bore of the housing. The single ram can form a seal with the housing around the bore without seats. Additional systems, devices, and methods for fracturing are also disclosed.

A blowout preventer (BOP) for controlling pressure within a wellbore includes a body having a front side and a back side, the front side being opposite the back side. The BOP also includes a door opening extending through the front side. The BOP further includes an operator opening extending through the body, perpendicular to the door opening. The BOP includes an outlet extending from an inner cavity of the body through the back side, the inner cavity being fluidly coupled to both the outlet and the door opening. The BOP also includes a ram passage forming at least a portion of the inner cavity, wherein the ram passage is arranged substantially perpendicular to the door opening.

An improved emergency power system is disclosed for providing electrical power to a load such as a blowout preventer of a petroleum drilling apparatus. The improved emergency power system comprises a thermal battery having an anode and a cathode with a separator containing an electrolyte disposed therebetween. An internal heat layer is located in proximity to the separator containing the electrolyte. A squib is provided for activating the internal heat layer. The thermal battery remains dormant until the squib is energized to ignite the squib enabling the heat layer to render the electrolyte molten thereby activating battery to provide electrical power to the load. The squib may be energized remotely, mechanically or electrically.

A riser system is provided to eliminate the consequences associated with damage to the annular system while also maintaining the availability of critical safety systems. The riser system may comprise a customizable control housing and external seal control subs that facilitate reciprocation and rotation of a drillpipe or workstring while eliminating damage to the upper annular blow out preventer and allowing the upper annular blow out preventer to function as intended.

In summary, the present invention provides a variable bore ram assembly comprising a first ram and a second ram defining a central circular recess along the same axis as a wellbore. A plurality of packing members and support inserts form first and second packer assemblies define an interlocking connection to surround a tubular good, thereby sealing the wellbore. The rams have been designed to remove common contacts points with the inner wall of the ram cavity to withstand deformation. The first and second ram assemblies have inner sealing faces with cutout portions of elastomeric material to provide additional space for material during a close operation.