Blowout Preventer Biasing Element for Sealing Wear Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blowout preventers (BOPs) used in well sealing often malfunction due to wear of components like packers and ram blocks, leading to costly and time-consuming maintenance, especially in remote or underwater locations, as they fail to maintain sealing pressure effectively.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a biasing element within the BOP's cavity to apply a consistent force on the top seat, ram block, or wear plate, ensuring a tight seal despite wear, using springs, gas-charged cylinders, or hydraulic elements to maintain sealing performance and reduce maintenance needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the BOP sealing elements are used repeatedly to close and open the well, then the sealing function is maintained initially, but wear occurs on the packers and ram blocks leading to failure to maintain sealing pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing pressure maintenanceVSAvoidservice life of sealing components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a biasing element that dynamically adjusts the sealing force applied by the ram block to the wellbore. As wear occurs on the packers and ram blocks, the biasing element automatically increases the biasing force to compensate for the wear, maintaining consistent sealing pressure throughout the service life of the components rather than relying on static pre-tensioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of sealing force from a fixed value to a variable that increases over time. The biasing element is configured to progressively increase the biasing force as the sealing elements wear, transforming the sealing pressure parameter dynamically to compensate for degradation and extend the effective service life of the BOP components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the BOP components are regularly inspected and replaced to prevent malfunction, then reliability is maintained, but operational downtime and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveBOP functionalityVSAvoidmaintenance downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-adjusting mechanism where the biasing element automatically compensates for wear on sealing components without requiring external intervention. The system monitors and adjusts its own sealing force through the biasing element, eliminating the need for frequent manual inspections and replacements of packers and ram blocks, thereby reducing maintenance downtime significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing element is pre-configured to progressively increase sealing force in anticipation of wear, preventing sealing failures before they occur. This preliminary compensatory action eliminates the need for reactive maintenance and ensures continuous reliable operation of the BOP.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the ram block weight is increased to ensure sealing force, then sealing effectiveness improves, but friction and wear on the cavity surfaces increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidfriction and wear on cavity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical solution of increasing ram block weight with a biasing element that applies force through a different mechanical advantage system. The biasing element uses springs, gas pressure, or hydraulic pressure to generate the necessary sealing force without requiring additional weight, thereby reducing friction and wear on the cavity surfaces while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 biasing element maintains a consistent sealing force, reducing wear-related failures and extending the lifespan of BOP components, thereby lowering maintenance costs and downtime while ensuring reliable well sealing.

Implementation Method 1

springs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

hydraulic elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

gas-charged cylinders

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas pressure: Gas Compressor

Implementation Method 4

apply a consistent force on the top seat, ram block, or wear plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS7975761B2Method and device with biasing force for sealing a well

Publication Date: 2011.07.12 HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION LLC

AI summary

Methods and devices with biasing force for sealing a well. Such a device is a blowout preventer has a body including a cavity having first and second recesses, a ram block configured to move inside the cavity, a top seat provided in the first recess and configured to seal the well when the ram block is closed, a wear plate provided in the second recess and configured to contact the ram block when the ram block moves inside the cavity over the wear plate, and a biasing element provided inside the cavity and configured to apply a biasing force on at least one of the top seat, the ram block or the wear plate to increase the sealing of the well.