A Bonnet Lock Mechanism For A Blowout Preventer, A Blowout Preventer And A Method For Securing A Bonnet To A Body Of A Blowout Prevent


Updated about 2 years ago

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bonnet lock mechanism for a blowout preventer comprising: a radial lock; a radial lock displacement device; and at least one lock actuator operatively coupled to the radial lock displacement device, wherein the radial lock displacement device is adapted to radially displace the radial lock to form a locking engagement between a bonnet and a body of the blowout preventer. The present invention also relates to a method for securing a bonnet to a body of a blowout preventer

Information

Application ID 1735/CHENP/2003
Invention Field AGROCHEMICALS
Date of Application 2003-11-03
Publication Number 11/2006

Applicants

Name Address Country Nationality
M/S. HYDRIL COMPANY 3300 North Sam Houston Parkway East Houston, TX 77032 U.S.A. U.S.A.

Inventors

Name Address Country Nationality
BERCKENHOFF, Michael, Wayne 30910 Coral Park Drive Spring, TX 77386 U.S.A. U.S.A.
HEMPHILL, Edward, Ryan 10727 Oak Acres Drive Houston, TX 77065 U.S.A. U.S.A.

Specification

QUICK RELEASE BLOWOUT PREVENTER BONNET
Background of Invention
Field of the Invention
Ths invention relates generally to blowout preventers used in the oil and gas industry. Specifically, the invention relates to a blowout preventer with a nc»vel bonnet securing mechanism.
Background Art
Wd[\ control is an important aspect of oil and gas exploration. When drJIing; a well in, for example, oil and gas exploration applications, devices must b£: put in place lo prevent injury to personnel and equipment associated with the drilling activities. One such well control device is known as a blowout preventer (BOP).
Blowout preventers are generally used to seal a wellbore. For example, drilling wells in oil or gas exploration involves penetrating a variety of subsurface geologic structures, or "layers/^ Each layer generally comprises a spe;cific geologic composition such as , for example, shale, sagdstone,, limestone^ etc. Each layer may contain trapped fluids or gas at different fornation pressures, and the formation pressures increase with increasing depth. Tlie pressure in tl}e wellbore is generally adjusted to at least balance the fonnatioTii pressure by, for example, increasing a density of drilling mud in the wellbore or increasing pump pressure at the surface of the wdU
There are occasions during drilling operations when a wellbore may penstrate a layer having a formation pressure substantially higher that the pressure maintained in the wellbore. ^Vhen this occurs, the well is said to have *'taken a kick." The pressure increase associated with the kick is generally produced by an influx of formation fluids (which may be a liquid, a gas, or a

^.Dnibination thereof) into the wellbore. The relatively high pressure kick tends [0 propagate from a point of entry in the wellbore uphole (from a high pressure region to a low pressure region). If the kick is allowed to reach the surface, drilling fl uid, well tools, and other drilling structures may be blown out of the wellbore.. These ^'blowouts" often result in catastrophic destruction of the drilling equipment (including, for example, the drilling rig) and in substantial itijury or death of rig personneL
Eiecause of the risk of blowouts, blowout preventers are typically installed at tlie surface or on the sea floor in deep water drilling arrangements sc that lacks may be adequately controlled and ''circulated out" of the system. Blowout preventers may be activated to effectively seal in a wellbore until active rneasures can be taken to control the kick. There arc several types of blowouit preventers, the most common of which are annular blowout preventers and ram- type blowout preventers.
j .^nnulcir blowout preventers typically comprise annular elastomer
"packer:/' rJiat may be activated (e.g., inflated) to encapsulate drillpipe and well tools and completely seal the wellbore- A second type of the blowout preventer is the ram-type blowout preventer. Ram-type preventers typically comprise a body and lat least tvi^o oppositely disposed bonnets. The bonnets are generally secured to the body about their circumference with, for example, bolts. Allemaii'/ely, bonnets may be secured to the body with a hinge and bolts so that the bonnet may be rotated to the side for maintenance access. ^
I Interior of each bonnet is a piston actuated ram. The rams may be either
pips rams; (which, v/hen activated, move to engage and surround drillpipe and well tools to seal the wellbore) or shear rams (which, when activated, move to engage and physically shear any drillpipe or well tools in the wellbore). The rarns are typically located opposite of each other and, whether pipe rams or sheiir rams, the rams typically seal against one another proximate a center of the wellbore in order to completely seal the wellbore.

M with any tool used in drilling oil and gas wells, blowout preventers must be regularly maintained- For example, blowout preventers comprise high piessure seals between the bonnets and the body of the BOP. The high pressure seals in many instances are elastomer seals. The elastomer seals must be regularly checked to ensure that the elastomer has not been cut, peraianently deformed, or deteriorated by, for example, chemical reaction with the drilling fluid ill the wellbore. Moreover, it is often desirable to replace pipe rams with shear rams, or vice versa^ to provide different well control options. Therefore, it is important that the blowout preventer includes bonnets that are easily reraovaible so that interior components, such as the rams, may be accessed and maintained
][)eveloping blowout preventers that are easy to maintain is a difficult task- For example, as previously mentioned, bonnets are typically connected to the BOP body by bolts or a combination of a hinge and bolts. The bolts must be highly torqued in order to maintain a seal between a bonnet door and the BCiP body. The seal between the bonnet and the BOP body is generally a face seal, and the seal must be able to withstand the very high pressures present in the wellbore.
I As a result, special tools and equipment are necessary to install and
remove ihe bonnet doors and bonnets so that the interior of the BOP body may be acce£;sed. The time required to install and remove, the bolts connecting the bornet doors to the BOP body results in rig downtime, which is both expensive and inefficknt. Moreover, substantially large bolts and a nearly complete **bolt circle" sround the circumference of the bonnet door are generally required to provide jiufficient force to hold the bonnet door against the body of the BOP, The size of the bolts and the bolt circle may increase a "stack height" of the BO?. It is common practice to operate a "stack" of BOPs (where several BOPs are inst:is of tlie internal bore 18 (which is generally parallel with respect to a wellbore axis), A ram (not shown) is generally coupled to the ram piston 22, and, if the rams (not shown) are shear rams, the? axial displacement of the ram piston 22 generally moves the ram (not sho^vn) into the internal bore J8 and into contact with a corresponding ram (not shown) coupled to a ram piston 22 in a bonnet assembly 14 disposed on an opposite side of the BOP 10.
Alternatively, if the rams (not shown) are pipe rams, axial displacement of the lam piston generally moves the ram (not shown) into the internal bore 18 and ini:o contact v/ith a coitesponding ram (not shown) and with drillpipe and/or wdl tools present in the wellbore. Therefore, activation of the ram actuator cylinder 24 displaces the ram piston 22 and moves the ram (not shown) into a position to. block a flow of drilling and/or formation fluid thi'ough the internal bore 18 of the BOP body 12 and, in doing so, to form a high pressure seal that prevents fluid flow from passing into or out of the we^llboie (not shown),
71ie ram actuator cylinder 24 further comprises an actuator 26 which
s tmy be, f:)r example, a hydraulic actuator, Hov/ever^ other types of actuators
are known in the art and may be used with the invention. Note that for purposes
of the description of the invention, a "fluid" may be defined as a gas, a liquid,
or i combination thereof
For example, if the ram {not shown) is a pipe ram, activation of the ram piston 22 moves the ram (not shown) into position to seal around drillpipe (not shcwTi) or well tools (not shown) passing through the internal bore 18 in the BOP body 12. Further, if the ram (not shown) is a shear ram, activation of the ram piston 22 moves the ram (not shown) into position to shear any drillpipe (not shoWTi) or well tools (not shown) passing through the internal bore-18 of the BOP body 12 and, therefore, seal the internal bore 18.

.Radial Lock Mechanism for Comlin^ Bonnets to BOPs
ATiimportant aspect of a BOP 10 is the mechanism by which the bonnet assemblies 14 are sealed to the body 12, Figure 1 shows a radial lock niech£;nism 28 that is designed to provide a high pressure radial seal between the bonnet assembly 14 and the BOP body 12. Moreover, the radial lock niechani::;m 28 is designed to simplify maintenance of the bonnet assembly 14 and the rams (not shown) positioned therein.
; In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the side passages 20 and other
components of the BOP 10 designed to be engaged therewith and therein are shown as being oval or substantially elliptical in shape. An oval or substantially elliptical shape {e.g., an oval cross-section) helps reduce the stack hdght of the BOP, thereby minimizing weighty material used, and cost. Other shapes such as circular shapes, however, are also suitable for use with the invention- Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited to the shapes of the embodiments shown in the Figures,
The radial lock mechanism 28 is positioned within the bonnet assembly i4 and within the side passage 20 of the BOP body 12. In this embodiment, the
radial lock mechanism 28 comprises a bonnet seal 29 disposed on a bonnet
s
body 30,, a radial lock 32, a radial lock displacement device 34, a bonnet door 36, and lock actuators 38. The bonnet seal 29 cooperatively seals the bonnet body 30' to the BOP body 12 proximate the side passage 20. The bonnet seal 29 compnses a high pressure sea] that prevents fluids from the internal bore 18 of the BOP body 12 fromi»escaping via the side passage 20. Various embodiments of the bonnet seal 29 will be discussed in detail below.
When the bonnet seal 29 is fomied between the bonnet body 30 and the BC»P body 12, the bonnet body 30 is in an installed position and is located proxim^ite the BOP body 12 and at least partially within the side passage 20, Bec^ause: the bonnet seal 29 is a high pressure seal, the radial lock mechanism

23 inii:r>t be robust and able to withstand Very high pressures present in the interna] bore 18.
Tlie embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises a novel mechanism for Icckingthe^bonnet assembly 14 (and, as a result, the bonnet seal 29) in place, ReferriBg to Figure 2, the radial lock 32 has an inner diameter adapted to fit over an exterior surface 40 of the bonnet body 30 and slide into a position adjacent a sealing end 45 of the bonnet body 30- The radial lock 32 shown in Figure 2 comprises two halves separated by a center cut 46. However, the radial iDck 32 niay comprise additional segments and the two segment embodiment shown in Figure 2 is not intended to ■ limit the scope of the invention.. Additional embodiments of the radial lock 32 will be described in greater detail below.
The radial lock displacement device 34 also has an inner diameter adapted to fit over the exterior surface 40 of the bonnet body 30, Moreover, tl-ie radiial lock'displacement device 34 fiirther comprises a wedge surface 48 on an external diameter that is adapted to fit inside an inner diameter 50 of the radial Ictck 32, The.radial lock displacement device 34 also comprises an inner fac:e 56 that is adapted to contact an outer surface 54 of the BOP body 12. In an insts.lled position, the bonr^et body 30, the radial lock 32, and the r^ial lock displacement device 34 are positioned between the BOP body 12 and the bonnet door 36. An inner surface 52 of tl-ie boimet door 36 is adapted to contact the outer surfade 54 of the BOP body 12. Note that the*'engagement between the bonnet door 36 and the BOP body 12 is not fixed (e.g., the bonnet door 36 is not bolted to the BOP body 12).
The boimet .assembly 14 is adapted to slidably engage at least one rod 70 through a swivel slide mouni; 74 (note that two rods 70 are shown slidably engaged,, through the swivel slide mounts 74, with each bonnet assembly 14 in Figure 1). As a result of the slidable engagement, the bonnet assembly 14 may slide along the rods 70. As will be discussed below, the slidable engagement

.penn:its the bonnet assembly 14 to be move^d into and out of locking and sealiiig engagement with the BOP body 12.
The lock actuators 38 are coupled to the bonnet door 36 with either a fixed or removable coupling comprising bolts, adhesive, welds, tlireaded connections, or similar means known in the art. The lock actuators 38 are also cooperatively coupled to the radial lock displacement device 34 in a similar fashion. Additionally, the coupling between the lock actuators 38 and the radial lock displacement device 34 may be a simple contact engagement. Note tliat tlie embodiments in Figure 1 shows two lock actuators 38 coupled to each bonnet door 36. However, a single lock actuator cylinder 38 or a plurality of lock actuators 38 may be used with the invention. The lock actuators 38 shown are generally hydraulic cylinders; however, other types of lock actuators (includmg, for example, pneumatic actuators, electrically powered motors^, and tlie like) Eire known in the an: and may be used with the invention.
Mloreover, the lock actuators 38 may also be manually operated. The lock aciluators 38 shown in the present embodiment are typically controlled by, for example, an external electrical signal, a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, etc. AiS an alternative, the radial lock 32 may be activated by manual means, such a;3, for example, a lever, a system of levers, a threaded actuation^device, lor oiher similar means known, in the art. Further, if, for example, the lock actuators 38 comprise hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic cylinders may be activated by a manual pump- Accordingly, manual activation of the radial lock 32 is \\'ithin the scope of the invention.
A jully assembled view 15 of the bonnet assembly 14 including the i*idial lock mechamsm 28 is shown in Figure 2. During operation of the radial lock nriechanism 28, the bonnet assembly 14 is first moved into position proximate the BOP body 12 by sliding the bonnet assembly 14 toward the BOP body 1:2; on the rods 70- The lock actuators 38 are then activated so that they ajcially displace (wherein an axis of displacement corresponds to an axis of the

side passage 20) the radial lock displacement device 34 in a direction toward the BOP body 12. As the radial lock displacement device 34 moves axially toward the BOP body 12, the wedge surface 48 contacts the inner diameter 50 oJ'the radial lock 32, thereby moving the radial lock 32 in a radially outward directiody (12 in Figure 1).
I The radial locks described in the referenced embodiments are designed
so thsLt the cross-sectional area of engagement between the radial lock engagement surfaces with tlie BOP engagement surfaces (59 in Figure 2) is maximized- Maximizing the cross-sectional areas of engagement ensures that tihe radial locks positively lock the bonnet assembly (14 in Figure l)Aand, as>a result, the bonnet seal (29 in Figure 1) in place against the high pressures present in the internal bore (18 in Figure 1) of the BOP (10 in Figure I). Moreover, as discussed previously, angles of the engagement surfaces may be designed to produce an axial force that finnly pulls the bonnet door (36 in Fi]^re 1) against the BOP bo^dy (12 in Figure I) and that in some embodiments may assist in the activation of the bonnet seal (29 in Figure 1).
lilt:) radial locks and the engagement surfaces described in the foregoing embodiments may be coated with, for example, hardfacing materials and/or friction reducing materials. The coatings may help prevent, for example, galling, and may prevent the radial locks from sticking or "hanging-up" in the

engagement surfaces during the activation and/or deactivation of the radial lock n*iechanism (28 in Figure 1), The coatings may also increase- the life of the radial locks and the engagement surfaces by reducing friction and wean
Another embodiment of the lock ring 127 is shown at 127 in Figure 12. The radial lock 127 comprises a plurality of saw cuts 128, a plurality of holes 129, ox a combination thereof. The saw cuts 128 and/or holes 129 decrease the weight and area moment of inertia of the radial lock 127, thereby reducing the actuation force required to radially displace the radial lock 127. In-order to pr.rmit some elastic deformation of.the radia] lock 127, the radial lock 127 may bci fonned from a materia.1 having a relatively low modulus of elasticity (when cc»mpared to, for example, steel).. Such materials comprise titanium, beryllium copper, eic. Moreover, modifications to the radial lock 127 geometry, in addition to those referenced above,, may be made to, for example, further reduce the area.moment of inertia of the radial lock 127 and reduce bending stresses.
The: radial locks described above are designed to operate below an elastic limit of tlie materials, from which they are fonned. Operation below the elastic limit ensures that the radial locls will not permanently deform and, as a rcimlt of the permanent deformation, lose effectiveness. Accordingly^ material selecticm. and cross-sectional area of engagement of the engagement surfaces is very important to the design of the radial lock mechanism (28 in Figure 1).
Referring to Figure 1, the bonnet seal 29 is designed to withstand the high pressures present in the. internal bore IS of the BOP body 12 and to thereby prevent fluids and/or gases from passing from the internal bore 18 to the; exterior of the BOP 10. The bonnet seal 29 may comprise several different configurations as shown in the following discussion of Figures 13-17. Moreover, the seals disclosed in the discussion below may be formed from a vaiiety of materials. For example, the seals may be elastomer seals or non-elastomer seals (such as, for e;icample,.metal seals, PEEK seals, etc.). Metal

seals may further comprise metal-to-metaj C-ring seals and/or metal-to-metal lip seals- Further, the sealing arrangements shown below may include a combination of seal types and materials. Accordingly, the type of seal, number of seals, and the material used to form radial and face seals are not intended to limit the bonnet seal 29.
The embodiment in Figure 13 comprises a bonnet seal 130 formed on a radial perimeter 132 of a bonnet body 133, The radial seal 130 further c;omprises two o-rings 134 disposed in grooves 136 formed on the radial perimeter 132 of the bonnet body 133. The o-rings 134 sealingly engage an inner sealing perimeter 138 of the side passage (20 in Figure 1) in the BOP body 12. The embodiment shown in Figure 13 comprises two grooves 136, but a single j^roove or a plurality of grooves may be suitable for use with the o-rings 134, Moreover, while the embodiment shows two o-rings 134, a single o-ring or more than two o-rings may be used in the invention.
In another embodiment shown in Figure 14, a bonnet seal 140 comprises at lea£;i: tv/o packing seals 146 (which may be, for example^ t-seals, lip seals, or ssals Isold under the trademark PolyPak, which is a mark of Parker HannijQn, Ji]K.) cial thiicliiness of a seal carrier (such as the seal carrier 180 shown in Figure 16) are selected so that high pressure from the interna,] bore first moves the seal

oatrier toward the exterior surface of the BOP body. Once the face seal sealingVy engages the exterior surface, the high pressure from the intemal bore
causes the seal carrier to radially expand until the radial seal sealingly engages
■#-■
the groove in the seal carrier. A similar design is disclosed in U-S. Patent No. !5,255,890 issued to Morrill and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The *890 patent clearly describes the geometry required for such a s;eal can'ier.
hi the embodiment shown in Figure 16, the face seal 176 and the radial seal 174 may be, for example^ o-rings, packing seals, or,any other high pressure seal known in the art. Moreover, Figure 16 only shows single seals disposed in single grooves. However, more than one seal, more than one groove, or a combination thereof may be used with the invention.
In another embodiment shown in Figure 17, the seal carrier 192 as shown in the previous embodiment is used in combination with a backup seal 194 disposed in a groove 196 on an external surface 198 of a bonnet body 200. Ihe backup seal 194 may be an o-ring, a pricking seal, a metal seal, or any other high pressure seal biown in the art. The backup seal 194 further iriaintainj; a liigh pressure seal if, for example, there is leakage from the seals disposeid on the seal carrier 192. Note that the embodiment shown in^igure 17 does not include an energizing mechanism.
Advaritageously, some of the seal embodiments reduce an axial force nnnet assembly 14 and also reduces the bending stress experienced by tie svwel nlate 78.

The swivel plate 78 may further include a bearing 85. For example, the bearing 85 may be cooperatively attached to the swivel slide mounting bar 76 and adapted to witlistand both radial and thrust loads generated by the rotation of the bonnet assembly 14. The bearing 85 may comprise, for example, a combination radial bearing and thrust bearing (such as, for example, a tapered roller bearing). Alternatively, the bearing 85 may comprise, for example, a roller bearing to support radial loads and a thrust washer to support axial loads. tlowever, other types of bearing arrangements are known in the art and may be used with the swivel plate 78.
)) When the ram (not shown) is completely out of the side passage 20, the
bonnet assembly 14 can rotate about a rotational axis of the swivel plate 78 so that the ram (not shown) and the side passage 20 may be accessed for maintcjnance, inspection, and the like. In the embodiment shown in Figures 23 itnd 24, the lower bonnet assembly 14 is shown to be rotated approximately 90 degrees wth respect to the BOP body 12 while the upper bonnet assembly 14 remains: m locking engagement with the BOP body 12. A ram block attachj-nent point 80 is clearly visible.
I] Figoire 25 shows a top view of the BOP 10 when one of the bonnet
aEsembhes 14 has been disengaged from the BOP body 12 and rotated approximately 90 degrees. As shown, the ram block attachment point 80 is clearly visible and may be vertically accessed. Vertical access is a significant advantage because prio^ art bonnets that include hinges generally pivot about an edge of the bormet door. Therefore, if, for example, a lower BOP bonnet was unbolted and pivoted open, the ram could not be vertically accessed because the body of the upper BOP bonnet was in the way. Vertical access to the ram is important because it makes it much easier to maintain or replace rams, tlios reducing the time required to maintain the BOP and increasing the level of safety of tlie personnel performing the ifhaintenance. Further, vertical

access; enables, for example, maintenance of a lower BOP bonnet while an i3pper boimet is locked in position (see, for example.. Figures 23-25).
The bonnet assembly 14 may also be rotated approximately 90 degrees bi the other direction with respect to an axis of the side passage (20 in Figure 1), thereby permitting approximately 180 degrees of rotation. However, other embodiment may be designed that permit rotation of greater than or less than 180 dci^i^rees. The range of rotation of the swivel slide mount 74 is not intended to Hm:t the scope of the invention.
The swivel slide mount 74 advantageous because-of the simplicity of the design and attachment to the bonnet assembly 14. For example, prior art h: nges are generally complex, difficult to manufacture, and relatively expensive. Further, prior art hinges have to be robust because they carry the full w«!:ight of the BOP bonnet about a vertical axis positioned some distance aAvay from the center of ma;£:s of the bonnet. The bending moment exerted on the hinge is, as a result, veiy high and dcfonriation of the hinge can lead to "s aggi]i g" of the bonnet.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
Jcl] • A boiinef lock mechanism for a blowout preventer cornprising:
a ladial lock;
a radial lock displacement device; and
at least one lock actuator operatively coupled to the radial lock displacement
device, v^hereiii the radial lock disp>lacement device is adapted to radially displace the
radial lock to fonn a locking engagement between a bonnet and a body
of the blowout preventer.
[cl] I'he t'onnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein an external surface of the radial look is adapted to fonn a locking engagement with an intemal surface of a side opening of the body of the blowout preventer.
[c:51 The bcamet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the radial lock comprises two radially mirrored halves.
[C'll The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the radial lock comprises a p'uralily of radial lock segments,
}c5] The boi]inet lock mechanism of claim 4, wherein the plurality of r^ial lock sc:gmeniLS are cooperatively attached to a flexible band.
'-:tij T.ie bonnet lock mechanism of claim 5, wherenn the flexible band is formed from £1 material having a lower modulus of elasticity than a material from v/hich tlie plurality of radial lock segments are formed.
tl] The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 2, wherein the external surface of the rajial Hock comprises at least one radial lock engagement surface adapted to form a locking engagement v/ith at least one radial engagement surface formed on the internal surfi^ce of the side opening.

The bonnet lock mechanisiB of claim 7, wherem the at least one radial lock engagement surface and the at least one radial engagement surface comprise fiagagement angles of approximately 45 degrees.
The bomet lock mechanism of claim 7, wherein a cross sectional area of the locking engagement is maximized-
The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, fiirther comprising a bonnet seal.
The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 10, wherein the bonnet seal further comprises at least one radial seal adapted to sealingly engage an inner radial sealinji surface of the side opening.
The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 10, wherein the bonnet seal comprises at least one face seal adapted to sealingly engage'an inner face sealing sxirface of the side opening.
Ttie bonnet lock mechanism of claim 10, wherein the bonnet seal fiirther
comprises:
a seal carrier ring disposed within a groove foraied on an interior end of the
bonnet body; at least one radial seal disposed in a groove foimed on a radi£il surfdfce of the
issal carrier ring and adapted to sealingly engage a radial sealing surface
of the groove on the bonnet body; and at leasi: one face seal disposed in a groove fonncd on an interior surface of the
si^:il.carrier ring and adapted to seahngly engage a face sealing surface
of the side opening.
The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, v^herein formation of tlie locking engagement moves a bonnet door into a contact engagement with the body.
The bc-nnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the radial lock comprises a
hardfac:ing material

lt:16] rbe bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the radial lock comprises a friction reducing material,
(cl71 The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 2, wherein the internal surface of the side opening comprises a hardfacing material
[t:l8) The Ixmnet lock mechanism of claim 2, wherein the internal surface of the side openiiiig comprises a friction reducing material.,
[cl9] The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a bonnet door coupled to the bonnet, wherein the at least one lock actuator is cooperatively attached to the bonnet door.
[tlO] The bonnet lock mechanismi of claim 2, wherein the at least one lock actuator is £idaptE;d to axially displace the radial lock displacement device.
Iupled to the bonnet.
c::(7) The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one lock actuator is coupled to a bonnet door that is coupled to the bonnet,
t:S] T^ie bc>nnet lock mechanism of claim 37, wherein the at least one lock actuator is; coufiled to an exterior surface of the bonnet door,
c39| Tlie bcmncrt lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least^one lock actuator ccmpriseii: a hydraulic actuator.
!:40]| The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one lock actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator.
c4:[] The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one lock actuator comprises an electrically powered motor.
t4:;!] The bonnet lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one lock acmator comprisies a manually operated actuator.

The bonnet lock rnechanisin of claim l;fiirtlier comprising a manual locking nrtechanism.
A blowout preventer compriising:
a body;
a bonnet cooperatively attached to the body proximate each of at least two
oppositely disposed side openings formed in the body; and a radi£il locking mechanism cooperatively attached to each bonnet and adapted
to secure each bonnet to the body proximate an inner perimeter of the at
least two side openings.
Tlie blowout preventer of claim 44, wherein the radial locking mechanism
further comprises:
a radial lock; and
at least one lock actuator operatively coupled to the radial lock,
wherein the at least one lock actuator is adapted to radially displace the radial lock so as to form a locking engagement between an external surface of the radial lock and an internal surface of the at least two side openings,
Tlie blowout preventer of claim 44, wherein the radial locking mechanism
fiirther comprises:
a radial lock;
a ]-adial lock displacement device; and
at leasi: one lock actuator operatively coupled to the radial lock displacement device,
wherein the at least one lock actuator is adapted to axially displace the radial lock displacement device so as to radially displace the radial lock and form a locking engagement between an external surface of the radial lock and an internal surface of the at least two side openings,
A blowout preventer comprising; a body;

a bonnet cooperatively atoched to the body proximate each of at least two oppositely disposed side openings formed in the body;
u bonnet door coupled to the bonnet;
a radial lock;
a radial lock displacement device;
at least one lock actuator operatively coupled to the radial lock displacement device and to a bonnet door, and
£: bonnet seal adapted to form a sealing engagement between the bonnet and the at least two side openings,
vvhercoiB the at least one lock actuator is adapted to axi'ally displace the radial lock displacement device, the radial lock displacement device adapted to radially disiplace the radial lock so as to form a locking engagement between the bonnet and the at least two side openings.
[c481 A blov/oiuit preventer comprising; a body; a bon:iet cooperatively attached to the body proximate each of at least two
oj^positely disposed side openings formed in the body; a radiEil lock disposed in the body;
ar least one lock actuator operatively coupled to radial lock, and A a bonnet seal adapted to fomi a sealing engagement between the bonnet and the
at least two side openings, v/herein i:he at least one lock actuator is adapted to radially displace the radial
lock so as to form a locking engagement between the bonnet and the
body proximate the at least two side openings.
[c49] A method for securing a bonnet to a body of a blowout preventer, the method
comprising:
pcsitioning the bonnet proximate a side opening of a body of the blowout
preventer,

activating at least one lock actuator operatively coupled to a radial lock
displacement device; Eccially displacing the radial lock displacement device; and radiall}^ displacing the radial lock with the radial lock displacement device so
as to form a locking engagement bet^^veen the bonnet and the body of the
blowout preventer.
The method of claim 49, wherein the activating further comprises powering a hydraiLlfc cylinder coupled to the radial lock displacement device.
Tie method of claim 49, wherein the activating further comprises activating a manual actuator coupled to the radial lock displacement device,
Tlie method of claim 49, further comprising engaging a manual locking mechanism after forming the locking engagement.
The miithod of claim 49, fortlier comprising:
fomiing a sealing engagement between the bonnet and the body of the blowout preventer.
A method for securing a bonnet to a body of a blowout preventer^ the method
conipnsing:
pcsitiomng the bonnet proximate a side openi]ig of a body of the blowout
■preventer; activating at least one lock actuator operatively coupled to a radial lock, the
radial lock disposed in the body of the blowout preventer; and radiall)' disq^lacing the radial lock so as to form a locking engagement between
the bonnet and the body of the blowout preventer.
The method of claim 54, further comprising:
foiTning a sealing engagement, between the bonnet and the body of the blowout preventer.

The method of claim 54, wherein the activatijig further compnses powenng a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the radial lock.

A bonnet lock mechanism for a blowout preventer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents

Name Date
1735-chenp-2003-pct.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-form 5.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-other documents.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-form 3.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-form 26.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-form 1.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-drawings.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-correspondnece-po.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-correspondnece-others.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-description(complete) original.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-claims original.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-claims duplicate.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-abstract.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-chenp-2003-description(complete) duplicate.pdf 2011-09-03
Form 27 [20-03-2017(online)].pdf 2017-03-20
1735-chenp-2003-assignement.pdf 2011-09-03
1735-CHENP-2003-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [23-03-2018(online)].pdf 2018-03-23
1735-CHENP-2003-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [20-03-2019(online)].pdf 2019-03-20

Orders

Applicant Section Controller Decision Date URL