FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to a flange shield composed of a polymeric fabric that separates flanges of heaving pipes, particularly blowout preventers of oil and gas wells, during transport and storage and methods of making and using the same.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Blowout preventers are widely used to monitor oil and gas wells. Blowout preventers are used on land wells, offshore rigs, and subsea wells. Land and subsea blowout preventers are secured to the top of the wellbore, known as the wellhead. The wells can be many miles under the ocean and require intense monitoring and precautionary techniques to prevent backflows.

The blowout preventers prevent backflows of oil or gas that could otherwise breach the wells by providing several methods to close the well or drill, such as blind shear rams and annular blowout preventers. In the event of an uncontrolled backflow or an ineffective blowout preventer, millions of gallons of oil and gas can spill into the ocean, land, and/or freshwater bodies and damage delicate ecosystems. The blowout preventers are complex, use many procedures to prevent backflows, and require very strong materials to handle the great pressures associated with oil and gas wells. The requirement for strong materials in combination with other complex components can cause the blowout preventers to weigh in excess of 15 to 60 tons.

[0003] Due to this complexity, the blowout preventers are assembled on land at plants located across the world and are transferred to individual sites, for example, in the middle of the ocean. When the blowout preventers are transported, they are placed on metal stands and secured with fasteners to the prevent shifting during transport. Because the blowout preventers are so heavy, this transport method can result in scratching on the flanges of the blowout preventers that are in contact with the metal stand. As the wells are often under pressures of up to 20,000 PSI, small scratches can cause failure of the blowout preventer at high pressures, so scratches must be repaired before complete assembly of the well. In other applications, such as in moving high pressure water and industrial chemical fluids, transporting pipes is also a concern. Scratches on pipes used to move oil and gas, high pressure water, or chemicals can cost millions of dollars to repair and can delay assembly of the pipes at a plant because repairs need to be made to the flanges before completing assembly of the pipes. If there are long delays after transporting the pipes to a well or an industrial plant, millions of dollars in operating revenues can be lost in the process. A method to mitigate these scratches is to repair the scratches after arrival of pipe at the use site. This method is inefficient because it can cost millions of dollars and delay operating times.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for methods and devices that can mitigate scratching during transport of heavy pipes and/or blowout preventers. There is a further need for a device that can withstand high weight and high pressures experienced by large industrial pipes and/or blowout preventers when the pipes are stored or installed in a vertical fashion. There is a further need for a device that can be easily applied to and easily removed from the heavy pipes and/or blowout preventers so that operation can quickly commence.

SUMMARY

[0005] Disclosed herein is a flange shield for attaching to and protecting a flange. The flange shield includes a polymeric fabric having a disk shape that can be protect the flange and apertures inwardly spaced a distance from a circumferential edge of the polymeric fabric. The apertures can receive fasteners to secure flanges and the polymeric fabric together. The polymeric fabric may include two or more layers that are secured together. The two or more layers of the polymeric fabric may be secured together at one or more connection members. The flanges may include a flange of a blowout preventer and a flange of a stand configured to form a flange joint when the flanges are secured together with the fasteners. The flange may include a flange of a blowout preventer or a flange of a stand for forming a flange joint when secured together with the fastener and another flange. The flange may include a flange of a blowout preventer and, the flange shield may sandwich between the flange of the blowout preventer and a flange of a stand so that a flange joint is formed when the flanges are secured together with the fasteners.

[0006] The polymeric fabric may include two or more layers that are secured together by one or more connection members positioned along the circumferential edge. The polymeric fabric may include two or more layers secured together by one or more connection members positioned between each aperture. The polymeric fabric may include two or more layers secured together along one or more connection members. The polymeric fabric may include one or more connection members that have the shape of a cross extending between four portions of the circumferential edge, and the one or more connection members may be positioned in a center of the polymeric fabric. The polymeric fabric may include two or more layers secured together by one or more connection members that have a round shape, and the one or more connection members that have the round shape may be spaced a distance away from the apertures and towards the center of the polymeric fabric. The one or more connection members include one or more of stitching, welding, adhesive, staples, or any combination thereof.

[0007] The polymeric fabric may include a first and a second layer, and wherein apertures of the first layer and apertures of the second layer are substantially aligned so that the fasteners are interfaceable with the apertures of the first and the second layer. The polymeric fabric may include a portion along the circumferential edge that is wider than the flanges to form one or more of a handle, a tab, a grip, a hook, an extension, or any combination thereof.

[0008] The polymeric fabric may have a laminate structure including a first polymer layer contacting a first adhesive layer, a fiber or fabric contacting the first adhesive layer on a first side and contacting a second adhesive layer on an opposing second side, and a second polymeric layer contacting the second adhesive layer so that the first polymer layer, the first adhesive layer, the fiber or fabric, the second adhesive layer, and the second polymer layer are stacked in the laminate structure. The polymeric fabric may include one or more of a plasticizer, an ultraviolet light stabilizer, fibers, fillers, a flame retardant, or any combination thereof. The polymeric fabric may include fibers. The fibers may be one or more of woven scrim fibers, non-woven scrim fibers, long fibers, woven fibers, non-woven fibers, chopped fibers, short fibers, continuous fibers, or any combination thereof. The polymeric fabric may include one or more of polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyester polyamide, halogenated polyolefin, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene polybutadiene, styrene, ethylene polybutadiene copolymers, polyolefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, polycaprolactones, polyacrylates, or any combination thereof. The polymeric fabric may preferably include polyvinyl chloride.

[0009] Disclosed herein is a method of making a flange shield for protecting flanges. The method includes forming a first and a second polymeric fabric. The first and the second polymeric fabric have apertures positioned around respective circumferential edges. The method further includes layering the first and the second polymeric fabric so that the apertures of the first and second polymeric fabric are aligned. The method further includes securing the layered first and second polymeric fabrics together to form one or more connection members. The method may further include securing the layered first and second polymeric fabrics together to form one or more connection members by welding the first and the second polymeric fabric together by applying heat of about 400 to about 500 degrees Celsius at between 4 and 8 meters per minutes to the first or the second polymeric fabric.

[0010] Disclosed herein is a method of protecting a first flange and a second flange by separation. The method includes contacting a polymeric fabric with one of the first and the second flange and contacting the polymeric fabric that is contacted with the first or the second flange with the other of the first and the second flange. The method further includes securing the polymeric fabric between the first and the second flange by using fasteners that extend through apertures of the first and the second flange and apertures of the polymeric fabric with the first and the second flange to form a flange joint with a polymeric fabric sandwiched between the first and the second flange. The method may further include being used with the first flange, the second flange, or both being one or more of a stand, a blowout preventer, a pipe, or any combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top view of a flange shield.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of a flange shield.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of a pipe assembly.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of a stand connected with a blowout preventer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION.

[0015] A flange shield that protects the internal surface of flanges of heavy pipes and/or blowout preventers is described. The flange shield is configured to completely separate the flanges during transport. The flange shield can protect against scratching by having a soft, polymeric exterior that may include fibers to increase flexibility and/or compression abilities.

The flange shield is configured to hold up in harsh conditions, such as deserts and the ocean by having ultraviolet light resistance, salt resistance, and waterproof properties, so that long term exposure to the elements does not reduce the efficacy of the flange shield while deployed between flanges. The flange shield can be sized to provide a cost-effective and quick method of applying the flange shield so that time and money is saved by quickly applying, transporting, and removing the flange shield. The flange shield can be designed to be removed in seconds, and thus, sensitive equipment, like blowout preventers, can quickly be unloaded and assembled with an oil and gas well.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a top view of a flange shield 100. In this example, the flange shield 100 includes at least two layers (not shown) of polymeric fabric to provide sufficient compression strength when sandwiched between two flanges (not shown). In other examples, the flange shield 100 may be comprised of a polymeric fabric with one or multiple layers depending on how much cushion (i.e., compression strength) is desired between the flanges (not shown). Around a circumferential edge 102 of the flange shield 100, apertures 104 are positioned inwardly a space from the circumferential edge 102 so that the circumferential edge 102 surrounds all of the apertures 104. Between the apertures 104 and the circumferential edge 102, a connection member 106 secures multiple layers of the flange shield 100 and separate the apertures 104 and the circumferential edge 102. The connection member 106 may be a contiguous strip or may have breaks between multiple connection members 106 so that each of the connection members 106 is in a line between the circumferential edge 102 and the apertures 104.

[0017] The apertures 104 function to secure the flange shield 100 with fasteners (not shown) between a pair of flanges (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4). To receive the fasteners (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4), the apertures 104 may be any size or shape sufficient to secure the flange shield 100 between a pair of flanges so that abrasion or scratching between the flanges is prevented. In some examples, the apertures 104 and/or the flanges (not shown) may tightly fit with the fasteners so that any movement or sliding between the flanges and the flange shield 100 is limited or prevented. In other examples, an edge of the apertures 104 may include additional space separating the fastener and the edge of the apertures 104 so that the fastener and the apertures 104 have a loose fit that allows some sliding between the flange shield 100 and the flanges.

[0018] The apertures 104 may be any size or shape sufficient to receive fasteners (not shown) so that the flange shield 100 is held securely between flanges of a pipe, metal stand, or blowout preventer. The apertures 104 are shown as round and/or circular, though the apertures 104 could be square, triangular, oval, oblong, or some combination of sizes or shapes to receive multiple types or sizes of fasteners. For example, the flange shield 100 could include five circular apertures 104 and five square apertures (not shown). The flange shield 100 may include an odd or an even number of apertures 104. The flange shield 100 may include the same number or a different number of apertures 104 as the number of fasteners of a blowout preventer, pipe, stand, or the like. The flange shield 100 may additionally include a cutout positioned in the center of the flange shield for receiving any other fastener or other device or for facilitating the movement of fluids.

[0019] As another securement technique between layers (not shown) of the flange shield 100, a connection member 108 is inwardly positioned at a predetermined space or distance from the apertures 104 so that inner portions of the layers (not shown) do not buckled in the event of sliding between the flange shield 100 and the flanges (not shown). Between the apertures 104, additional connection members 110 can be included to prevent buckling at portions of the layers (not shown) proximate to the apertures 104. As another technique to provide structural integrity, another connection member 112 having a shape of a cross or intersection of a longitudinal line and a latitudinal line that is generally centered on the flange shield 100 can prevent buckling of various portions of the flange shield 100. Another connection member (not shown) may be positioned around edges of each of the apertures 104 to avoid sliding of the layers at the apertures 104, which would cause the apertures 104 of different layers (not shown) to be misaligned. The connections members 106, 108, 110, 112 can be implemented individually or together based on the modes of buckling to be avoided.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of a flange shield 200. Some or all of the features of the flange shield 200 and the flange shield 100 of FIG. 1 may be the same or similar, including the inclusion of apertures (not shown). Between the circumferential edges 202a, 202b of layers 204a, 204b of the flange shield 200, connection members 206, 208, 210, 212 secure the layers 204a, 204b so that the whole of the flange shield 200 remains in unison without buckling during a sliding event between the flange shield 200 and flanges of a pipe or blowout preventer (not shown).

[0021] The connection member 206 can be positioned slightly inward from the circumferential edges 202a, 202b of the layers 204a, 204b so that the circumferential edges 202a, 202b are not connected and the internal surfaces of the layers 204a, 204b are free of connection outside of the connection member 206. The connection members 206, 208, 210, 212 may work together individually or in combination to provide a uniformly sized flange shield 200 that has evenly distributed properties. The evenly distributed properties throughout the flange shield 200 encourage level placement and prevent leaning, buckling, or the like when a flange shield 200 is placed between a blowout preventer that is oriented in a vertical manner and a metal stand (not shown; see e.g., FIG. 4).

[0022] Two layers 204a, 204b are shown in order to increase compression strength and/or slide or abrasion properties of the flange shield 200. In other examples, a single layer (not shown) may be used to avoid sliding or relative shifting between multiple layers of the material. In other examples, three or more layers (not shown), four or more layers (not shown), five or more layers (not shown), or a plurality of layers (not shown) may be used in the flange shield 200 to provide additional compression strength of the flange shield 200. In examples having three or more layers (not shown), connection members (not shown) are displaced from each other in a projected plane of the flange shield 200 to prevent overlapping of connection members that can cause regions of increased thickness or thinness in the flange shield. Compression strength may mitigate damage stemming from bouncing of heavy pipes, like blowout preventers, during transport, which in turn can reduce scratching on the flanges.

[0023] The flange shield 200 may be comprised of a polymeric fabric so that the flanges (not shown) can be separated by a soft, non-abrasive material that prevents scratching. The polymeric fabric may be composed of any material sufficient to prevent scratching on inner surfaces of the flanges. The polymeric fabric may have a laminate structure including at least a fiber and a polymer that are laminated together. Between the fiber and the polymer, the polymeric fabric may include one or more adhesives that assist with binding a multilevel polymer and fiber structure. For example, two polymeric layers may sandwich a fiber layer and the adhesive may be applied between each polymeric layer and the sandwiched fiber layer. In other examples, the polymeric fabric may include more than two polymeric layers and more than one fiber layer. In other examples, the polymeric fabric may be a fiber, adhesive, and/or a polymer that are formed by one or more processes of protrusion, vacuum infusion, thermoplastic extrusion, bladder molding, compression molding, filament winding, or any combination thereof. In other examples, the flange shield 200 or polymeric fabric may be rigid fiber-reinforced polymer composite made from a polymer matrix that is reinforced with fiber.

[0024] The polymeric fabric may have one or more outer surfaces that are textured. When the polymeric fabric has a textured surface and/or has a rubbery composition (e.g., includes impact modifiers or plasticizers), the polymeric fabric may have grip on metal of flanges (not shown) so that the flange shield 200 does not slide along the metal of the flanges.

[0025] The fibers of the polymeric fabric may be assembled before lamination using any known technique to provide for a foundational fabric that is flexible and durable. The fibers may be described as a yarn so that a sufficient fabric structure can be formed. In some examples, the fibers may be assembled within or separately from the polymer so that the fibers have the form of woven scrim fibers, non-woven scrim fibers, long fibers, woven fibers, non-woven fibers, chopped fibers, short fibers, continuous fibers, or any combination thereof. The fibers may be composed of a material that has sufficient durability and flexibility properties and that interacts well with one or more polymers and/or adhesives to form a polymeric fabric usable as a flange shield 200. The fibers may be composed of a natural or a synthetic material. The fibers may be a uniform material or may be a blend of two or more components to improve the properties of the fibers. The fibers may be composed of one or more of polyester, cotton, silk, wool, nylon, glass, fiberglass, asbestos cloth, acrylic, modacrylic, aromatic polyaramid, aramid, cellulose fiber, polyether polyurea copolymer, basalt fiber, polyimide, polyamide, polyethylene, or any combination thereof.

[0026] The polymer in the polymeric fabric functions to increase the properties of the fabric including anti-scratching, weather resistance, durability, and/or ultraviolet light resistance properties. In some examples, the flange shield 200 is formed only from a polymer, such as an elastomer, so that flanges of a heavy pipe and/or blowout preventer are separated and have adequate protection to prevent scratching. The polymer used in the polymeric fabric may be any material sufficient to provide durability, flexibility, flame resistance, or any other property sufficient to prevent scratching between a pair of flanges and to survive harsh conditions during transport of the flange shield 200 between heavy pipes and/or a stand and a blowout preventer. [0027] In lamination processes, the polymer may take the form of a polymeric layer that is stacked with an adhesive, a fiber layer, another polymeric layer, or any combination thereof so that the polymeric fabric has sufficient durability and flexibility properties. The polymer may be a blend of polymers or may be a single polymer. The polymer may include copolymers, additives, adhesives, or multiple types of fibers to improve the properties of the flange shield 200. The polymer may include one or more of polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyester polyamide, halogenated polyolefin, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene polybutadiene, styrene, ethylene polybutadiene copolymers, polyolefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, polycaprolactones, polyacrylates, or any combination thereof.

[0028] On top of the polymer and fiber laminate, the polymeric fabric may include one or more coatings that improve flame retardancy, ultraviolet light resistance, smoothness, waterproofing, or any combination thereof. The polymeric fiber may include one or more additives that improve one or more properties of the flange shield 200. The additives may include one or more of a plasticizer, a ultraviolet light stabilizer, fibers, fillers, a flame retardant, a colorant, an antioxidant, a mold release agent, an anti-static agent, cross-linking agent, a cross-linking coagent, blowing agent, an anti-slip agent, a flow enhancer, a nucleating agent, a clarifying agent, or any combination thereof.

[0029] The polymeric fabric may have one or more properties that assist with preventing scratching between flanges and allow the flange shield 200 to avoid breaking down over long transport times. The polymeric fabric may have a breaking strength measured using an ASTM D5034 of about 1000 N/25 mm or more or about 1400 N/25 mm or more along a warp and/or a weft of the polymeric fabric. The polymeric fabric may have a tear strength measure using an ASTM D2261 of about 300 Newtons or more or about 600 Newtons or more along a warp and/or a weft of the polymeric fabric. The polymeric fabric may have a hydrostatic burst measured using an ASTM D751/A of about 3000 kPa or more or about 4000 kPa or more. The polymeric fabric may have a weight per square yard value measured using an ASTM D3776 test that deviates about 10 percent. The polymeric fabric may have a weight per yard measured using an ASTM D3776 test that is about 500 grams or more or about 600 grams or more. The polymeric fabric may have a free peel strength measured using an ASTM D751 test of about 45 N/50 mm or more or about 55 N/50 mm or more. The polymeric fabric may have a flame resistance measured against an ASTM D6413 that passes. The polymeric fabric may have a cold crack measured using federal standard 191 A on method 5874 of about -40 Fahrenheit. The polymeric fabric may be substantially mildewproof, mold proof, waterproof, or any combination thereof. [0030] To assemble the flange shield 200 and/or polymeric fabric, the flange shield 200 may be formed using any known methods including lamination, protrusion, vacuum infusion, thermoplastic extrusion, bladder molding, compression molding, filament winding, any other known method, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the polymeric fabric of the flange shield 200 may be formed by laminating a polymeric layer, an adhesive layer, a fiber layer, another adhesive layer, and another polymeric layer in the stated order to form a flexible and durable polymeric fabric layer. The polymeric layer may further be processed by cutting holes or apertures (e.g., apertures 104 of FIG. 1) near a circumferential edge of the polymeric fabric so that fasteners (no shown) are receivable within the holes and/or apertures.

[0031] After assembling the polymeric fabric, two polymeric fabrics (e.g., layers 204a, 204b, or polymeric layers) that have identical shapes (but not necessarily identical compositions) may be stacked or aligned over the holes or apertures of each polymeric layer. The apertures (e.g., apertures 104 of FIG. 1) may be cut into the polymeric fabrics before or after connecting two or more layers. Subsequently, the polymeric fabrics may be secured together at all cut points that include the apertures (e.g., apertures 104 of FIG. 1) and/or the circumferential edges 102, 202a, b using any known connection technique such as sewing, suturing, welding, gluing (i.e., adhesive), stapling, or any combination thereof. If a welding step is used, a chemical reaction may ensue that bonds the polymeric fabrics together. Where any of these connection techniques are used, a connection member may be formed or inserted that secures the polymeric fabrics together.

[0032] Where a welding technique is used, the polymeric fabrics may be welded together using any known technique so long as a weld is applied at all cut points on the polymeric fabrics, such as at the apertures 104 or FIG. 1 and/or the circumferential edges 102, 202a, b. The weld may be applied to one or both of the polymeric fabrics by applying heat of about 380 degrees or more, 430 degrees or more, or 450 degrees or more. The welding technique may apply heat at about 750 degrees Celsius or less, about 600 degrees Celsius or less, or about 500 degrees Celsius or less. As far as time for applying heat, the heat may be applied at any time sufficient to secure or connect the polymeric fabrics together, for example, about 5 meters per minute, about 7 meters per minute, or about 10 meters per minute. For example, the polymeric layers may be welded by hot air welding by applying heat of about 400 to about 500 degrees Celsius at about 6 meters per minute. In other examples, the polymeric layers may be welded by hot wedge welding by applying heat of about 380 to about 480 degrees Celsius at about 5 meters per minute.

[0033] After connecting the two polymeric fabrics, the flange shield 200 is formed and is ready for use with any type of flange, such as the flanges of a blowout preventer and a stand (see e.g., FIG. 4). This assembly method is also usable with any number of additional polymeric fabric layers, for example, three or more layers. As stated above, the flange shield 200 may include the same or different types of polymeric fabrics in each layer. This may mean that the polymeric fabrics have different compositions or layers of fibers, adhesives, polymers, or any combination thereof to meet any desired properties by conjoining two polymeric fibers with different properties. For example, it may be desirable to have a first layer with adhesion properties to stick to a flange and a second layer with texture properties to avoid sliding on metal material.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a side view of a pipe assembly 300. On either side of the pipe assembly 300, pipes 302, 304 sandwich a flange shield 306 having multiple layers so that flanges 308, 310 of the pipes 302, 304 are free of contact with each other. The flange shield 306 may be similar to the flange shields 100, 200 of FIGS. 1-2. To secure the flanges 308, 310 and the flange shield 306, fasteners 312 are inserted into channels (not shown) of the flanges 308, 310 and through apertures (see e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2) of the flange shield 306 and tightened to make a form fit. The fasteners 312 may be any device sufficient to form a connection between the flanges 308, 310 and the flange shield 306, such as bolts with or without nuts, hooks, screws, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, the flange shield 306 and flanges 308, 310 may be connected through an adhesive technique that can be disconnected through ultraviolet light, heat, solvent, or any combination thereof.

[0035] In this example, two pipes 302, 304 are genetically shown to simply illustrate the interaction among the components. In other examples, the pipes 302, 304 may be connected with a wide variation of larger machinery or pipe structures, and the flange shield 306 may protect the flanges 308, 310 at any time while not in use. For example, the flange shield 306 may be used to connect pipes that ultimately will not be used together and are simply being transported together to a destination. In that case, the flange shield 306 would still protect against undesirable scratching of flanges of unrelated pipes (not shown).

[0036] FIG. 4 is a side view of a stand 400 connected with a blowout preventer 402. Between the stand 400 and the blowout preventer 402, a flange shield 404, such as similar to the flange shields 100, 200, 306 of FIGS. 1-3, is shown as separating a flange 406 of the stand 400 and a flange 408 of the blowout preventer 402 so that neither flange 406, 408 is in contact when the stand 400 and the blowout preventer 402 are assembled. To mitigate slipping and/or bouncing of the flange shield 404 and/or the flanges 406, 408, fasteners 410 are inserted into channels (not shown) of the flanges 406, 408 and apertures (e.g. apertures 104, see FIG. 1) of the flange shield 404. [0037] The stand 400 functions to provide a secure base for the blowout preventer 402 during transport from an assembly plant to an oil and gas well. The stand 400 has a hollow box shape for housing the blowout preventer 402 and mitigating damage of sensitive components of the blowout preventer 402 in the event a large object falls on the stand 400 and/or blowout preventer 402. The stand 400 may include the fasteners 410 on top of the flange 406 (i.e., the fasteners 410 stand perpendicularly to the flange 406 and the flange 408 of the blowout preventer 402), and the flange shield 404 may be overlayed with the fasteners 410 to form the sandwich structure shown. [0038] The blowout preventer 402 functions to prevent backflows of oil and gas during drilling. The blowout preventer 402 may include one or more complex or sensitive components, such as blind shear rams and annular blowout preventers, which are protected by the box-like structure of the stand 400. Where the flange 408 is positioned, the blowout preventer 402 is configured to connect with an oil and gas well, which is why scratches on this flange 408 can be so detrimental, as the flange 408 is the interface of the blowout preventer 402 to the oil and gas well. Any scratch at this flange 408 can compromise the entire structure of the blowout preventer 402, so any scratches must be repaired before using the blowout preventer 402. Using the flange shield 404, the flange 408 and the flange 406 no longer contact metal on metal, so during transport and disassembly of the stand 400 and the blowout preventer 402, the flange shield 404 mitigates metal on metal contact. Without the metal on metal contact, the flanges 406, 408 will not become scratched or scratch other surfaces because the durability of the flange shield 404 provides an adequate anti-scratch barrier through one or more properties discussed herein.

[0039] The flange shield 404 may have any shape sufficient to completely separate the flanges 406, 408 and prevent scratching between the flanges 406, 408. The flange shield 404 may have a shape being flat and of a uniform height that eclipses the flanges 406, 408 and provides an even base for the flanges 406, 408 when vertically aligned. As described herein, the flange shield 404 may have a relatively uniform weight per yard, such as about a 10 percent variation. The flange shield 404 may be wider than the flanges 406, 408 so that a user can hold the flange shield 404 outside of outer edges of the flanges 406, 408 while assembling the flange shield 404 between two flanges 406, 408. The flange shield 404 may have a shape that is oval, round, square, rectangular, triangular, oblong, or any other shape. The flange shield 404 may have a disk shape so that the flange shield 404 has a surface to grab outside of the outer edges of the flanges 406, 408 and around the entire circumference of the flanges 406, 408. The flange shield 404 may include tabs, hooks, handles, exterior handle-like attachments, or any combination thereof so that a user can grip the flange shield 404 outside of circumference of the flanges 406, 408.

[0040] The method of applying the flange shield 404 is not particularly limited so long as the flanges 406, 408 are physically separated from each other after applying the flange shield 404. In one example, the flange shield 404 (or polymeric fabric) is contacted with a first or a second flange (not shown). Generally when contacting the flange shield 404 with the first or second flange, the second flange is level (i.e., parallel with the ground) so that the flange shield 404 and the first or second flange that are in contact may be positioned to contact another flange being lowered from above. After contacting the flange shield 404 with the first or second flange, the flange shield may be contacted with the first or the second flange that is not contacted to form a sandwich with the flange shield 404 in between of the first flange and the second flange. So that the sandwiched assembly can be safely transported long distances, the first flange, the second flange, and/or the flange shield 404 may be secured by one or more fasteners (e.g., fasteners 312, 410) that are received through channels (not shown) of the first flange and the second flange and apertures (not shown) of the flange shield. After securing the fasteners, the device(s) associated with the first and the second flange shield may be safely transported, as the flange shield 404 is not in a position to prevent scratching between the flanges.

[0041] Removing the flange shield 404 from the blowout preventer 402 and the stand requires removing the fasteners 410, which could be nuts and/or bolts, from the flanges 406, 408. After removing the fasteners 410, the blowout preventer 402 is lifted from the stand 400 and placed aside or is moved right to the assembly area for an oil and gas drill. At this stage, the flange shield 404 may be simply laying on the flange 406 of the stand 400, or the flange shield 404 may be stuck to either of the flanges 406, 408 through an adhesive or otherwise. Either way, the flange shield is removed from one of the flanges 406, 408 by either disengaging the adhesive (i.e., peeling the flange shield off of one of the flanges 406, 408) or simply by lifting the flange shield 404 off of the flange 406 of the stand 400.

[0042] Any use of “one or more” herein means that at least one, or more than one, of the recited components may be used as disclosed. Any use of “residue” with respect to an ingredient or reactant used to prepare the polymers or structures disclosed herein means that portion of the ingredient that remains in the polymers or structures after inclusion as a result of the methods disclosed herein. Any use of “substantially all” herein means that greater than 90 percent of the referenced parameter, composition, structure or compound meet the defined criteria, greater than 95 percent, greater than 99 percent of the referenced parameter, composition or compound meet the defined criteria, or greater than 99.5 percent of the referenced parameter, composition or compound meet the defined criteria. Any use of “portion” herein means less than the full amount or quantity of the component in the composition, stream, or both. Any use of “parts per weight” or the like means parts of a component relative to the total weight of the overall composition.