A replaceable seat seal is used to form a replaceable portion of the ram cavity in a BOP that allows the upper central portion of the ram cavity to be replaced when wear occurs. A method is provided to produce a BOP that with a replaceable portion of the ram cavity. The single piece insert, also referred to as a single insert, utilizes only the single insert to repair the BOP as compared to another design that comprised a top insert, bottom insert, and two side inserts. The top insert of the prior art is comparable in construction and mounting position to the single insert.

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 tool for severing a conduit includes a housing defining a void that encircles a conduit to be severed. There is at least one propellant source located within the housing. Upon ignition by an ignition mechanism, the propellant source deflagrates, creating at least one stream of combustion products. The combustion products flow out of the tool through at least one void access and into the void. The void access channels the combustion products towards the conduit. The stream of combustion products combines with a modifying material to sever or assist in severing the conduit. A method of severing a conduit using the tool is provided.

The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus, system and method for sealing a well bore. The invention relates to a well bore control apparatus comprising a housing having a guide element defining a path, the housing defining a throughbore for receiving a tubular, a first tapered gate and a tapered second gate located within the housing, the first and second gates being adapted to engage with the guide element. In use the first and second gates are moveable along the path defined by the guide element in a direction substantially transverse to the throughbore between an open position of the througbore and a closed position of the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus comprises a first seal seat for forming a first seal with the first gate in the closed position to seal the throughbore. The well bore control apparatus may include a second seal seat. The second seal seat may be adapted for forming a second seal with the second gate in the closed position to seal the throughbore.

A controls module for use with a subsea landing string, a blowout preventer (BOP) stack and a lower marine riser package (LMRP) is disclosed. The controls module can be integrated into the BOP stack or the LMRP or between the BOP stack and the LMRP. The controls module includes an input line that is coupled to control the subsea landing string through the BOP or the LMRP. The input line can be a hydraulic line, an electrical line, or a combination.

A method and apparatus for transporting a capping stack for use in a subsea structure includes a capping stack having a capping stack spool, a connector body connectable to the capping stack spool and at least one diverter leg connectable to the capping stack spool. A first skid receives the capping stack spool on a floor thereof. A second skid receives the connector body on a floor thereof. A third skid receives the diverter leg thereon. The first, second and third skids are adapted to be received within an interior of an aircraft. The skids and the connected components can then be flown by the aircraft to a desired location so as to be assembled at a location near a wellhead.

A downhole assembly is disclosed. The downhole assembly includes a tube disposed in a wellbore, and a shroud coupled to and disposed around the circumference of the tube to form an annulus between an inner surface of the shroud and an outer surface of the tube. The downhole assembly further includes a flow control device disposed in the annulus, and a degradable plug disposed in the annulus and positioned to prevent fluid flow between the annulus and the tube.

A Compact Bonnet Booster (CBB) housing is monolithically formed to include an operating piston chamber, a booster piston chamber and two BOP bonnet end caps. When the CBB is assembled, the two BOP bonnet end caps contain bonnet hydraulic assemblies utilized to open and close the CBB housing with respect to a central BOP housing interior to change out the shear members. The CBB housing also defines therein hydraulic lines to open and close the wellbore utilizing the shear members as well as to operate the bonnet hydraulic assemblies. The CBB housing also incorporates a lifting pad eye near a center of gravity of said BOP. The CBB assembly also comprises a monolithically formed operating piston and corresponding shaft as well as a monolithically formed booster piston and corresponding shaft.

A technique provides protection against unwanted conditions in wellhead structures and other structures. According to the technique, a system provides a feed through in a wellhead structure or other type of structure. The feed through may accommodate a communication line routed therethrough. A closing device is positioned in the structure at a location to enable closing of the feed through via the closing device. Additionally, a condition-sensitive device is operatively engaged with the closing device to initiate actuation of the closing device once the condition-sensitive device is exposed to a predetermined condition. Upon exposure to the predetermined condition, the condition-sensitive device initiates closing of the feed through via the closing device.

A seal for a blind shear ram is configured to extend between a first carrier and a second carrier of the blind shear ram. The seal includes an outer layer configured to contact at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier to seal a wellbore when the blind shear ram is in a closed position. The outer layer has a first stiffness. The seal also includes an inner layer spaced from the outer layer. The inner layer has a second stiffness. The seal further includes an anti-extrusion structure extending between the inner layer and the outer layer. The anti-extrusion structure has a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness and the second stiffness. The outer layer covers the anti-extrusion structure.