Potential energy conversion systems include a movable mass suspended by a line in a non-producing well, the line being coupled to a motor operable to lift the movable mass, and a generator operable to produce electricity when lowering the movable mass. Energy conversion methods include providing the potential energy conversion system; and storing potential energy by raising the movable mass, or releasing potential energy and converting the potential energy to electricity by lowering the movable mass.

A BOP booster assembly is provided for use with BOPs that utilize hydraulic actuators mounted in BOP end caps to open the BOP for replacement of the shearing members. The booster assembly has three main components comprising a booster housing, piston, and end plate. An extension in the booster housing is sufficiently long to position the booster hydraulic cylinder axially outside of the ends of the bonnet end caps of the BOP with respect to the wellbore. The booster piston is equal in diameter or larger than the operating piston of the BOP. The operating pistons and booster pistons move simultaneously, in sync, and the same distance for closing and cutting. In one embodiment, an internal hydraulic line is provided in the booster cylinder wall.

Provided is a hydrocarbon well choke system that includes a choke valve and a choke control system adapted to obtain production data from production sensors of the well (e.g., including flowrate, wellhead pressure, wellhead temperature, water cut and gas-oil-ratio (GOR) data obtained by way of respective sensors of the well), generate (based on the data) a well profile that is indicative of the flow of production from the well for different settings of the valve, receive (from a well control system) a target production rate, determine (based on the well profile) whether the rate is obtainable, in response to determining that the rate is obtainable, determine (based on the well profile) a choke setting that corresponds to the rate, and control the choke valve to operate at the setting, and, in response to determining that the rate is not obtainable, communicate (to the well control system) a corresponding alert.

Potential energy conversion systems include a movable mass suspended by a line in a non-producing well, the line being coupled to a motor operable to lift the movable mass, and a generator operable to produce electricity when lowering the movable mass. Energy conversion methods include providing the potential energy conversion system; and storing potential energy by raising the movable mass, or releasing potential energy and converting the potential energy to electricity by lowering the movable mass.

A choke valve comprising: a body having an axial through hole and a radial entry port; a valve seat coaxially housed in the body axial through hole on a first side of the radial entry port; a pressure balanced valving member axially reciprocable within the body axial through hole between a first sealing position bearing against the valve seat and a second position spaced away from the seat; an actuator housing operably connected to the valving member; and a detachably connected reinforcement member detachably connected to the actuator housing and increasing the axial load that the actuator housing can take before failure of the actuator housing.

Provided is a hydrocarbon well choke system that includes a choke valve and a choke control system adapted to obtain production data from production sensors of the well (e.g., including flowrate, wellhead pressure, wellhead temperature, water cut and gas-oil-ratio (GOR) data obtained by way of respective sensors of the well), generate (based on the data) a well profile that is indicative of the flow of production from the well for different settings of the valve, receive (from a well control system) a target production rate, determine (based on the well profile) whether the rate is obtainable, in response to determining that the rate is obtainable, determine (based on the well profile) a choke setting that corresponds to the rate, and control the choke valve to operate at the setting, and, in response to determining that the rate is not obtainable, communicate (to the well control system) a corresponding alert.

Potential energy conversion systems include a movable mass suspended by a line in a non-producing well, the line being coupled to a motor operable to lift the movable mass, and a generator operable to produce electricity when lowering the movable mass. Energy conversion methods include providing the potential energy conversion system; and storing potential energy by raising the movable mass, or releasing potential energy and converting the potential energy to electricity by lowering the movable mass.

A system includes an actuator housing having a plurality of adapter lugs extending radially inward toward an axis, each adapter lug of the plurality of adapter lugs secured to the housing via a respective connector. The system also includes a bonnet having a plurality of bonnet lugs extending radially outward away from the axis, each bonnet lug of the plurality of bonnet lugs being separated by a respective space, the space being sized to permit axial movement of an adapter lug of the plurality of adapter lugs toward a lower flange arranged axially lower than the plurality of bonnet lugs.

A choke valve comprising: a body having an axial through hole and a radial entry port; a valve seat coaxially housed in the body axial through hole on a first side of the radial entry port; a pressure balanced valving member axially reciprocable within the body axial through hole between a first sealing position bearing against the valve seat and a second position spaced away from the seat; an actuator housing operably connected to the valving member; and a detachably connected reinforcement member detachably connected to the actuator housing and increasing the axial load that the actuator housing can take before failure of the actuator housing.

Potential energy conversion systems include a movable mass suspended by a line in a non-producing well, the line being coupled to a motor operable to lift the movable mass, and a generator operable to produce electricity when lowering the movable mass. Energy conversion methods include providing the potential energy conversion system; and storing potential energy by raising the movable mass, or releasing potential energy and converting the potential energy to electricity by lowering the movable mass.