Ram block inner seal assembly and seal therefore
In one aspect there is provided a ram block inner seal assembly comprising a core member having a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, and two side faces. A connector portion connects the top and bottom faces. A peripheral member surrounds the front, rear and side faces. The core member further comprises a peripheral groove on at least the front and side faces, the peripheral groove having a cross-sectional profile. The peripheral member further comprises an energizing section that has a cross-sectional profile which substantially matches the cross-sectional profile of the peripheral groove.
1. A ram block inner seal assembly, for use with a blowout preventer (BOP) having a single pair of opposing ram blocks to facilitate sealing of a wellbore, the ram block inner seal assembly comprising:
a core member ( 20 ) having a top face ( 20 t ), a bottom face ( 20 b ), a front face ( 20 f ), a rear face ( 20 r ), two side faces ( 20 s ), and a single, solid connector portion ( 24 ) connecting said top face ( 20 t ) and bottom face ( 20 b ); and
a peripheral member ( 30 ) that surrounds substantially all of the front face ( 20 f ), the rear face ( 20 r ) and the two side faces ( 20 s );
wherein the peripheral member ( 30 ) is comprised of a suitable material to provide the ram block inner seal assembly ( 10 ) with sufficient wellbore sealing characteristics to enable sealing of the BOP against typical wellbore pressures when said ram block inner seal assembly ( 10 ) is used with said BOP;
wherein a single pair of core members ( 20 ) can be placed within said single pair of opposing ram blocks; and
wherein, when said BOP is actuated, said single pair of core members ( 20 ) cooperate to enable said sealing of the BOP.
2. The ram block inner seal assembly of claim 1 wherein the peripheral member ( 30 ) is elastomeric.
3. The ram block inner seal assembly of claim 1 wherein the core member ( 20 ) further comprises a peripheral groove ( 22 ) on said front face ( 20 f ) and said side faces ( 20 s ); and
wherein said peripheral groove ( 22 ) has a semi-circular cross-sectional profile ( 22 p ), a maximum depth (D); and
wherein the maximum depth (D) of said groove ( 22 ) is the radius of the semicircle.
4. The ram block inner seal assembly of claim 3 wherein the peripheral member ( 30 ) further comprises an energizing section ( 32 ) that:
(i) extends radially inward from said front face ( 30 f ) and side faces ( 30 s ) at least partially towards a centre point of peripheral member ( 30 ), and
(ii) has a cross-sectional profile ( 32 p ) that substantially matches the semi-circular cross-sectional profile ( 22 p ) of the peripheral groove ( 22 ).
5. The ram block inner seal assembly of claim 4 wherein the energizing section ( 32 ) further comprises an energizing axis (A) which runs between front face ( 30 f ) and rear face ( 30 r ).
6. A ram block inner seal assembly comprising:
a core member ( 20 ) having a top face ( 20 t ), a bottom face ( 20 b ), a front face ( 20 f ), a rear face ( 20 r ), two side faces ( 20 s ), and a single, solid connector portion ( 24 ) connecting said top face ( 20 t ) and bottom face ( 20 b ); and
an elastomeric peripheral member ( 30 ) that surrounds substantially all of the front face ( 20 f ), the rear face ( 20 r ) and the two side faces ( 20 s );
wherein the core member ( 20 ) further comprises a peripheral groove ( 22 ) on said front face ( 20 f ) and said side faces ( 20 s ), said peripheral groove ( 22 ) having a semi-circular cross-sectional profile ( 22 p ) and a maximum depth (D);
wherein the maximum depth (D) of said groove ( 22 ) is the radius of the semicircle and
wherein the peripheral member ( 30 ) further comprises an energizing section ( 32 ) having a cross-sectional profile ( 32 p ) that substantially matches the semi-circular cross-sectional profile ( 22 p ) of the peripheral groove ( 22 ).