Granted Patent B2

US 12,560,044 · App. 18/559,996 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventors: Pascal Berthaud (Beziers, FR); Jean-Luc Pujol (Beziers, FR); Benoit Jauzion (Beziers, FR)

Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation

E21B33/062

Abstract

Claims (96)

1 . A lock sequencing system, comprising:

a first fluid line that couples a fluid source to a first portion of a piston cavity of a blowout preventer and to a hydraulic motor of a lock;

a first discharge valve positioned along the first fluid line, wherein the first discharge valve is positioned to delay delivery of fluid from the fluid source to the hydraulic motor of the lock to cause sequential closure of a ram coupled to a piston and locking of a locking member of the lock; and

a control block that supports the first discharge valve and comprises a main inlet that is configured to receive the fluid from the fluid source, a first outlet that is configured to provide the fluid to the first portion of the piston cavity of the blowout preventer, and a second outlet that is configured to provide the fluid to the hydraulic motor of the lock.

2 . The lock sequencing system of claim 1 , comprising:

a second fluid line that couples the fluid source to a second portion of the piston cavity of the blowout preventer and to the hydraulic motor of the lock; and

a second discharge valve positioned along the second fluid line, wherein the second discharge valve is positioned to delay delivery of fluid from the fluid source to the second portion of the piston cavity of the blowout preventer to cause sequential opening of the ram coupled to the piston and unlocking of the locking member of the lock.

3 . The lock sequencing system of claim 1 , wherein the control block is configured to be fastened to a lock housing of the lock.

4 . The lock sequencing system of claim 1 , wherein the lock sequencing system is configured to be retrofitted to a hydraulic lock system of the blowout preventer.

5 . A system, comprising:

a blowout preventer comprising:

a housing that houses opposing rams;

a central bore extending through the housing; and

an actuator assembly disposed in the housing, the actuator assembly configured to drive the opposing rams between an initial ram position and a final ram position; and

a lock sequencing system, comprising:

a first valve;

a fluid source configured to provide fluid through the first valve;

a lock comprising:

at least one lock member; and

a hydraulic motor that drives the at least one lock member; and

a control block coupled to the lock,

wherein the first valve, the fluid source, and the lock are connected via at least one fluid line,

wherein the lock sequencing system sequentially adjusts at least one ram of the opposing rams of the blowout preventer and the at least one lock member of the lock, and

wherein the control block comprises:

a main inlet in fluid communication with the first valve;

a first outlet that is configured to drive the at least one lock member to an unlock position;

a second outlet that is configured to drive the at least one ram of the opposing rams to the initial ram position;

a third outlet that is configured to drive the at least one ram of the opposing rams to the final ram position; and

a fourth outlet that is configured to drive the at least one lock member to a lock position.

6 . The system of claim 5 ,

wherein, in the initial ram position, the opposing rams are withdrawn from the central bore,

wherein, in the final ram position, the opposing rams are positioned within the central bore,

wherein the first valve is configured to move to a first position, resulting in the fluid driving the at least one lock member toward the unlock position, and then driving a corresponding ram of the opposing rams automatically and sequentially to the initial ram position, and

wherein the first valve is configured to move to a second position, resulting in the fluid driving the corresponding ram of the opposing rams toward the final ram position, and then driving the at least one lock member automatically and sequentially to the lock position.

7 . The system of claim 6 ,

wherein the lock sequencing system further comprises:

a ram-opening valve that is configured to open in response to a pressure of the fluid reaching a first threshold; and

a locking valve that is configured to open in response to the pressure of the fluid reaching a second threshold,

wherein the first valve, the fluid source, the lock, the ram-opening valve, and the locking valve are connected via the at least one fluid line.

8 . The system of claim 7 ,

wherein the first threshold is reached when the at least one lock member has reached the unlock position, and

wherein the second threshold is reached when the opposing rams are in the final ram position.

9 . The system of claim 7 ,

wherein the blowout preventer further comprises a piston cavity disposed in the housing,

wherein the actuator assembly comprises:

a piston disposed in the piston cavity; and

a connecting rod that connects the piston to the corresponding ram of the opposing rams.

10 . The system of claim 7 ,

wherein, when the ram-opening valve is open, the fluid reaches a portion of the piston cavity and drives the piston and the connecting rod connected thereto away from the central bore of the blowout preventer, and

wherein, when the locking valve is open, the fluid reaches the hydraulic motor of the lock, thereby causing the hydraulic motor to drive the at least one lock member to the lock position.

11 . The system of claim 5 ,

wherein the blowout preventer further comprises a piston cavity disposed in the housing,

wherein the actuator assembly comprises:

a piston disposed in the piston cavity; and

a connecting rod that connects the piston to the corresponding ram of the opposing rams.

12 . A method, comprising:

coupling a blowout preventer to a lock sequencing system, wherein the blowout preventer comprises:

a housing that houses opposing rams;

a central bore extending through the housing;

a piston cavity disposed in the housing; and

an actuator assembly comprising:

a piston disposed in the piston cavity; and

a connecting rod that connects the piston to a corresponding ram of the opposing rams,

wherein the actuator assembly is configured to drive the opposing rams between an initial ram position and a final ram position,

wherein the lock sequencing system comprises:

a first valve;

a fluid source configured to provide fluid through the first valve;

a lock comprising:

at least one lock member; and

a hydraulic motor that drives the at least one lock member; and

a control block coupled to the lock, wherein the control block comprises:

a main inlet in fluid communication with the first valve;

a first outlet that is configured to drive the at least one lock member to an unlock position;

a second outlet that is configured to drive at least one ram of the opposing rams to the initial ram position;

a third outlet that is configured to drive the at least one ram of the opposing rams to the final ram position; and

a fourth outlet that is configured to drive the at least one lock member to a lock position,

wherein the first valve, the fluid source, and the lock are connected via at least one fluid line;

pumping the fluid from the fluid source through the first valve of the lock sequencing system; and

using the lock sequencing system to sequentially adjust the at least one ram of the opposing rams of the blowout preventer and the at least one lock member of the lock.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

moving the first valve to a first position, resulting in the fluid driving the at least one lock member toward the unlock position; and

driving the corresponding ram of the opposing rams automatically and sequentially to the initial ram position, wherein, in the initial ram position, the opposing rams are withdrawn from the central bore.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

moving the first valve to a second position, resulting in the fluid driving the corresponding ram of the opposing rams toward the final ram position,

wherein, in the final ram position, the opposing rams are positioned within the central bore; and

driving the at least one lock member automatically and sequentially to the lock position.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lock sequencing system further comprises: a ram-opening valve; and a locking valve, the method further comprising:

opening the ram-opening valve in response to a pressure of the fluid reaching a first threshold; and

opening the locking valve in response to the pressure of the fluid reaching a second threshold.

16 . The method of claim 15 ,

wherein the first threshold is reached when the at least one lock member has reached the unlock position, and

wherein the second threshold is reached when the opposing rams are in the final ram position.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

moving the first valve to a second position, resulting in the fluid driving the corresponding ram of the opposing rams toward the final ram position,

wherein, in the final ram position, the opposing rams are positioned within the central bore; and

driving the at least one lock member automatically and sequentially to the lock position.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (36)