Motor-Driven Annular Blowout Preventer With Radial Packer Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blowout preventer (BOP) systems rely on hydraulic control, which can fail in deep and challenging environments, leading to costly downtime and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An electrically operated annular BOP system with a packer assembly and pusher plates driven by electric motors, using connecting rods and cam rings or lever arms for actuation, enabling reliable sealing and control of wellbores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic control systems are used in BOP, then operational availability may be compromised in deep and challenging environments, but system complexity and reliability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic control system with an electric motor-driven mechanical system. Electric motors directly drive the packer assembly through mechanical linkages (connecting rods, pusher plates), eliminating hydraulic pumps, valves, and fluid pathways. This substitution improves reliability in deepwater environments where hydraulic systems are prone to failure, while reducing overall system complexity by removing hydraulic components.
2Reliability
If electric motors are used to operate BOP, then reliability and operational efficiency improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the BOP system into modular electric motor units distributed around the annular body. Each electric motor is independently mounted and drives its own packer segment through connecting rods and pusher plates. This segmentation allows for easier maintenance, reduced complexity in control systems, and improved reliability through redundancy, as individual motor failures do not compromise the entire system.
3Reliability
If radial compression of packer is implemented, then sealing effectiveness improves, but force requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a donut-shaped packer assembly with a curved, annular geometry that surrounds the central bore. This curved configuration distributes the compression force uniformly around the circumference, allowing effective sealing with reduced peak forces compared to linear compression systems. The radial arrangement of pusher plates against the curved packer surface optimizes force distribution and sealing effectiveness.
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 electrically operated BOP system enhances reliability, reduces downtime, and improves operational efficiency by providing a more robust and efficient means of sealing wellbores, reducing size and weight of pressure control equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of electric motors disposed circumferentially around the annular body
Implementation Method 2
rotation of the cam ring by the electric motor via the pushrod and the pivot pin is a first direction drives the connecting rod into the at least one pusher plate
Implementation Method 3
a packer assembly disposed within the annular body about the central bore, the packer assembly including a packer element
Data Source
AI summary
An annular blowout preventer includes an annular body including a central bore extending therethrough, a plurality of electric motors disposed circumferentially around the annular body; a packer assembly disposed within the annular body about the central bore; and a plurality of pusher plates disposed in the annular body; each pusher plate configured to radially engage the packer assembly. The packer assembly includes a packer element and a donut that circumferentially surrounds the packer element. The plurality of pusher plates is correspondingly connected to the plurality of electric motors via a connecting rod.