Annular BOP Connector Housing Height Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore blowout preventer equipment, specifically the lower marine riser package (LMRP), faces height restrictions due to its tall design, limiting its use on rigs with lower deck heights and preventing the installation of additional ram BOP preventers without increasing overall height.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece annular blowout preventer assembly with a reduced height design, featuring a connector housing that secures directly to the annular element housing, eliminating the need for an external bolted flange, and incorporating a locking element and cam ring mechanism to engage the BOP stack mandrel, reducing the overall height of the assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external bolted flange is used to connect the LMRP to the BOP stack, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the overall height of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flange connection function directly into the connector housing by making the housing itself the flange structure. This eliminates the need for a separate external bolted flange assembly, thereby reducing the overall height while maintaining secure connection through the integrated housing design that directly abuts and secures to the BOP stack.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate external bolted flange component from the assembly. Instead of having a distinct flange attached to the connector, the connector housing is designed to perform both the connection and flange functions, removing unnecessary components that add height.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the LMRP is made taller to accommodate additional ram BOP preventers, then more preventers can be installed, but the overall height of the BOP assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension for accommodating additional preventers rather than increasing the axial height. By designing the connector housing with features that allow preventers to be arranged radially or in compact configurations, the system can accommodate multiple preventers without increasing the overall height of the BOP assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the LMRP height is reduced for smaller rig designs, then the equipment can be used on rigs with lower deck heights, but the connection mechanism becomes more compact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the connector housing: it serves as both the connection element and the flange structure. This integration allows for a compact design that reduces height while maintaining all necessary connection and sealing functions, making the LMRP adaptable to smaller rig designs without excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces the overall height of the annular BOP and LMRP connector unit, allowing for smaller rig designs, enabling the use on rigs with lower deck heights and accommodating additional ram BOP preventers without increasing the assembly's height, while also facilitating the replacement of shorter annular BOPs for taller ones.
Implementation Method 1
an annular element piston that strokes axially, relative to an axis of the annular element housing, to deform the annular element radially
Implementation Method 2
a locking element piston that axially strokes a cam ring to move the locking element radially inward into engagement with a mandrel of a blowout preventer stack
Data Source
AI summary
An annular blowout preventer assembly has an annular element housing and a central cavity with an elastomeric annular element in the central cavity. An annular element piston is located within the central cavity in engagement with the annular element. A connector housing has an upper end that abuts a lower end of the annular element housing. Bolts extend upward from the connector housing into threaded blind holes in the annular element housing for securing the connector housing to the annular element housing. A locking element is carried within the connector housing for radial inward movement into engagement with a profile on a mandrel of a blowout preventer stack.