Secondary activation of packer and method

1. A ram blowout preventer (BOP) for sealing a well having a wellbore, the ram blowout preventer comprising:

a body having a first chamber extending along a first direction and a second chamber extending along a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

a ram block configured to move inside the first chamber, the ram block having a packer region and at least one channel that extends all the way through the ram block;

a packer configured to be provided in the packer region to seal a tool provided inside the second chamber;

at least one double piston provided through the at least one channel, the piston having first and second piston sides connected by a rigid central part, the first piston side for contacting the packer, and the second piston side for contacting fluid in the wellbore; and

a metal plate provided on a frontal side of the ram block over the at least one channel, the metal plate having an opening for allowing a part of the double piston to move through the metal plate.

2. The ram BOP of claim 1 , wherein the double piston comprises:

the central part is configured to enter inside the at least one channel;

the first piston side is attached to a first end of the central part and configured to apply a force to the packer; and

the second piston side is attached to a second end of the central part and configured to contact fluid in from the well.

3. The ram BOP of claim 2 , wherein the first piston side has an elliptical shape.

4. The ram BOP of claim 2 , wherein a surface of the first piston side that contacts the packer is smaller than a surface of the second piston side so that the well pressure is amplified when applied to the packer.

5. The ram BOP of claim 1 , wherein the well pressure is present in the first chamber when the ram blocks are closed.

6. The ram BOP of claim 1 , wherein the packer is a single piece of elastomer with no metal inserts.

7. The ram BOP of claim 1 , wherein the packer includes plural inserts inserted through a piece of elastomer so that a face of the packer that faces the tool has a variable radius.

8. The ram BOP of claim 1 , further comprising:

a closing chamber;

an opening chamber;

a piston provided between the closing chamber and the opening chamber and configured to activate the ram block through a rod, wherein the closing chamber, opening chamber, and piston constitute a primary activation mechanism for the packer and the double piston constitutes a second activation mechanism for the packer.

9. A ram block configured to move inside a first chamber of a ram blowout preventer (BOP), the ram block comprising:

a packer region and at least one channel that extends all the way through the ram block;

a packer configured to be provided in the packer region to seal a tool provided inside a second chamber of the BOP;

at least one double piston provided through the at least one channel, the piston having first and second piston sides connected by a rigid central part, the first piston side for contacting the packer, and the second piston side for contacting fluid in a wellbore; and

a metal plate provided on a frontal side of the ram block over the at least one channel, the metal plate having an opening for allowing a part of the double piston to move through the metal plate.

10. The ram block of claim 9 , wherein the double piston comprises:

the central part is configured to enter inside the at least one channel;

the first piston side is attached to a first end of the central part and configured to apply a force to the packer; and

the second piston side is attached to a second end of the central part and configured to contact fluid in the wellbore.

11. The ram block of claim 10 , wherein the first piston side has an elliptical shape.

12. The ram block of claim 10 , wherein a surface of the first piston side that contacts the packer is smaller than a surface of the second piston side.

13. The ram block of claim 9 , wherein pressure in the wellbore is present in the first chamber when the ram block is closed.

14. The ram block of claim 9 , wherein the packer is a single piece of elastomer with no metallic inserts.

15. The ram block of claim 9 , wherein the packer includes plural inserts inserted through a piece of elastomer so that a frontal face of the packer that faces a tool has a variable radius.

16. The ram block of claim 9 , wherein the packer contacts a tool extending through a BOP when the ram block is closed.