Electrically-actuated blow-out preventer

1 . A method, comprising:

actuating a blow-out preventer (BOP) by moving a ram using an electric motor, wherein the electric motor comprises a variable-frequency drive (VFD);

capturing sensor data with one or more sensors as the BOP is electrically-actuated, wherein the sensor data comprises position data; speed data; and torque data;

determining one or more parameters with a controller based upon the sensor data; and

controlling the electric motor based upon the one or more parameters,

wherein controlling the electric motor comprises controlling a frequency and/or a voltage of a power supplied to the VFD of the electric motor,

wherein controlling the frequency and/or the voltage causes the electric motor to operate in a first mode as the ram moves toward a pipe but has not yet contacted the pipe, and to operate in a second mode as the ram cuts through the pipe,

wherein a speed of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined speed threshold in the first mode and less than the predetermined speed threshold in the second mode, and

wherein a torque of the electric motor is less than a predetermined torque threshold in the first mode and greater than the predetermined torque threshold in the second mode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is based upon a number of rotations of a component inside the electric motor, and wherein one of the one or more parameters comprises a position of the ram based upon the number of rotations.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is based upon a rate of rotation of a component inside the electric motor, and wherein one of the one or more parameters comprises a speed of the ram based upon the rate of rotation.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is based upon an electrical current provided to the electric motor, and wherein one of the one or more parameters comprises a torque of the electric motor based upon the electrical current.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second modes are different.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a speed of the ram is faster during the first mode than during the second mode.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein controlling the electric motor comprises:

controlling the frequency of the power supplied to the electric motor when in the first mode; and

controlling the voltage of the power supplied to the electric motor when in the second mode.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is controlled based upon the one or more parameters and upon data stored in a database.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the data comprises a diameter of a pipe, and wherein the ram moves toward the pipe as the ram is actuated.

10 . A system, comprising:

an electric motor configured to actuate a blow-out preventer (BOP) by moving a ram;

a variable-frequency drive (VFD);

one or more sensors configured to capture sensor data as the BOP is actuated, wherein the sensor data comprises position data; speed data; and torque data; and

a controller configured to:

determine one or more parameters based upon the sensor data; and

control the electric motor based upon the one or more parameters,

wherein controlling the electric motor comprises controlling a frequency and/or a voltage of a power supplied to the VFD,

wherein controlling the electric motor causes the electric motor to operate in a first mode as the ram moves toward a pipe but has not yet contacted the pipe, and to operate in a second mode as the ram cuts through the pipe,

wherein a speed of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined speed threshold in the first mode and less than the predetermined speed threshold in the second mode, and

wherein a torque of the electric motor is less than a predetermined torque threshold in the first mode and greater than the predetermined torque threshold in the second mode.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise a distance between the ram and a pipe.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise a distance between the ram and a second ram that move toward or away from one another.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first and second modes are different.

14 . A system, comprising:

two electric motors configured to actuate a blow-out preventer (BOP) by moving two rams toward or away from one another, wherein the two electric motors each comprise a variable-frequency drive (VFD);

a plurality of sensors configured to capture sensor data as the BOP is actuated, wherein the sensor data comprises position data; speed data; and torque data; and

a controller configured to:

determine a plurality of parameters based upon the sensor data, wherein a first of the parameters comprises positions of the two rams based upon the position data, wherein a second of the parameters comprises speeds of the two rams based upon the speed data, and wherein a third of the parameters comprises torques of the two electric motors based upon the torque data; and

control the two electric motors based upon the parameters,

wherein controlling the two electric motors comprises controlling a frequency and/or a voltage of a power supplied to the VFDs of the two electric motors,

wherein the controlling the frequency and/or the voltage causes the two electric motors to operate in a first mode as the two rams move toward a pipe therebetween and in a second mode as the two rams cut through the pipe,

wherein the speeds of the two electric motors are greater than a predetermined speed threshold in the first mode and less than the predetermined speed threshold in the second mode, and

wherein the torques of the two electric motors are less than a predetermined torque threshold in the first mode and greater than the predetermined torque threshold in the second mode.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined speed threshold is between about 500 rotations per minute (RPM) and about 2500 RPM.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined torque threshold is between about 20 newton-meters (Nm) and about 112 Nm.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein an electrical current of the power is from about 5 amps (A) to about 25 A when in the first mode, and from about 25 A to about 65 A when in the second mode.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the voltage of the power is greater in the second mode than in the first mode.