The present invention relates to a ram apparatus for a blowout preventer and a method for locking a ram block in a blowout preventer. Blowout preventers are generally used for preventing a sudden rise in pressure in a fluid in a wellbore from escaping the wellbore. A sudden surge in pressure could cause equipment above the well to fail and in a worst- case scenario cause a blowout. When a sudden rise in pressure is observed in the wellbore, a blowout preventer located at the top of the wellbore is activated to either: isolate the entire wellbore; or the annulus between a pipe or tool string running therethrough and the wall of the wellbore. In the formation of a wellbore, drilling mud is circulated from the surface through a string of drill pipe running through the wellbore to the drill bit and returns to the surface in an annular passage defined by the string of drill pipe and the wellbore or casing lining the wellbore. If a sudden rise in pressure in the drilling mud is observed, the blowout preventer is activated to prevent the high pressure drilling mud escaping or damaging equipment at the top of the well . Densifiers are added to the drilling mud and circulated in the closed off well until the pressure of the drilling mud in the wellbore comes under control . The blowout preventer is then opened and drilling continues in a normal manner.

Blowout preventers are typically located at the top of the wellbore. The wellbore is lined with casing and the annulus between the wellbore and the casing is usually filled with cement to fix the casing in place . A wellhead is fixed to the top of the casing and the

blowout preventers are typically arranged above the wellhead. The wellhead may be located on the seabed in a subsea installation or at any point therebetween or thereabove. The prior art discloses a wide variety of blowout preventers . Typical blowout preventers have selectively actuatable rams arranged in bonnets disposed on opposite sides of a body which has a vertical bore therethrough which forms a continuation of the wellbore for the passage of pipe strings, tools in pipe strings and wirelines into and out of the wellbore. Ram blocks are arranged in the body on the ends of the actuable rams, which comprise seals such that when activated seal at least a portion of the passage . In certain prior art blowout preventers, the bonnets are movably secured to the body on hinges and/or bolted to facilitate access to the ram blocks for inspection and maintenance. The ram blocks may be: pipe ram blocks, which contact, engage, and encompass a pipe or a tool in a pipe string running through the passage in the body of the blowout preventer to seal the annulus between the blowout preventer body and the pipe or tool; or shear ram blocks which shear a pipe or tool in a pipe string running through the body of the blowout preventer to seal the entire passage in the blowout preventer body, thus sealing the entire wellbore; or blind ram blocks which seals off the passage in the blowout preventer body which does not have a string running therethrough, thus sealing the entire wellbore; or wireline blocks, for sealing off the entire wellbore which has wireline running therethrough; or variable bore rams which contact, encompass , and engage tubulars or pipe of multiple sizes and/or tools or apparatuses to seal a wellbore. Generally, several blowout preventers

are arranged one on top of the other to form a tree. The tree of blowout preventers is generally located on top of the wellhead, casing or Christmas tree. The blowout preventers in the tree may comprise the above referred to types of rams and may comprise at least one back-up of each. In the case of pipe rams, there may be several in a tree for sealing around various diameter pipes , coiled tubing or wirelines which may be running through the tree . Blowout preventers are disclosed in many U. S . Patents, including, but not limited to, U. S. Patents 3, 946, 806; 4 ,043,389; 4 ,313,496; 4 , 132 ,267 , 4 ,558 , 842 ; 4 , 969,390 ; 4 ,492,359; 4 ,504 ,037; 2 ,752 ,119; 3,272 ,222; 3,744 ,749; 4 ,253, 638; 4 ,523, 639; 5 ,025 ,708; 5 , 056,418 ; 5,400 ,857; 5,575,452; 5, 655 ,745; and 5, 918 ,851 and in the prior art references cited in these patents .

There has long been a need, recognized by the present inventor for a blowout preventer with an effective and adjustable shaft locking apparatus; and in certain aspects, such an apparatus which is automatic.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a ram apparatus for a blowout preventer, the ram apparatus comprising a piston for moving a ram block and a locking shaft extending from the piston into a housing, characterised in that the locking shaft comprises a tapered portion, the ram apparatus further comprising a locking member, such that, in use when the piston is extended the tapered portion of the locking shaft moves to the locking member, whereupon the locking member moves against the tapered portion to inhibit retraction of the piston. In use in a blowout preventer, when the ram apparatus is provided with ram blocks, the locking member lock the ram block in its closed position. Preferably,

thβ tapered portion has an angle of 7° from the outer surface of the locking shaft.

The locking member could fall against the tapered portion under gravity when the tapered portion passes under the locking member. However, preferably the ram apparatus further comprises means to urge the locking member against the locking shaft. Preferably, such that as the locking shaft moves with the piston, the tapered portion of the locking shaft will pass under the locking member, which will be urged on to the tapered portion by the means to urge and inhibit the locking shaft and thus the piston and the ram block from moving backwardly from the extended position and preventing the ram block from moving from its extended, closed position. Advantageously, the means comprises resilient means such as a spring. Preferably, the means comprises pressurised hydraulic or pneumatic fluid.

Preferably, the means comprises a locking piston, which upon actuation urges the locking member against the locking shaft. Advantageously, the locking piston is movable co-axially with the locking shaft. Preferably, the locking piston is biased against the locking member by a resilient member. Preferably, the resilient member is a spring, such as a coiled spring or Bellville washer. In one aspect a spring apparatus adjacent the locking piston continuously yieldably urges the locking piston against the locking member apparatus . Advantageously, the piston is arranged in a piston housing having a cylinder head arranged at one end thereof through which the locking shaft extends , wherein the resilient member is arranged between the locking piston and the piston head to bias the locking piston away from the piston head. Preferably, the locking piston is activated by a fluid.

Advantageously, the locking piston is held from urging the locking member on to the locking shaft by a hydraulic lock. Preferably, the piston is activated by the same fluid that activates the locking piston. Most preferably, simultaneously. Advantageously, the piston is arranged in a piston housing having a cylinder head arranged at one end thereof through which the locking shaft extends , wherein the cylinder head is fitted such that fluid is allowed to leak between the cylinder head and the piston housing to a chamber. Preferably, to remove a hydraulic lock and/or to urge the locking piston to move. Advantageously, the fluid is supplied through a port. Preferably, the piston comprises a tapered portion against which the locking member sits . Preferably, the piston is a hollow cylinder having an inner face and an outer face, the tapered portion situated on the inner face. Advantageously, the tapered portion is situated at one end of the piston. Advantageously, the locking piston is arranged in the housing, a chamber provided between the housing and the locking piston, such that when the chamber is filled with fluid under pressure, the locking piston is moved to release the urging force on the locking member on the shaft, preferably, to release the locking shaft. Advantageously, the locking member is tapered. Preferably, tapered along at least a portion thereof and advantageously, along its entire length. Preferably, the locking member is tapered on opposing faces . Preferably, the angle of each converging side is 7° . Advantageously, the combined angle of both sides is 7° . Advantageously, at least a portion of one side of the locking member is shaped to correspond to the profile of the locking shaft. Advantageously, the locking shaft has a curved outer

surface and the portion of the side of the locking member is correspondingly curved to facilitate the locking shaft' s movement therebetween when the shaft is extended and retracted. Advantageously, the taper is at a self- locking angle with the locking member. Advantageously, the locking member is a wedge. In certain aspects in such a blowout preventer the locking member apparatus (member, members, wedge, wedges, piece, pieces , etc. ) is made of hardened metal and the end taper is at a self-locking angle and the secondary taper is at a self-locking angle so that the locking system is self-locking; and in certain aspects the taper surface (s) of the locking member apparatus and of corresponding tapered surface (s) of a locking piston are also at such an angle that self- locking is effected.

Preferably, the ram apparatus comprises at least two locking members , preferably three, four, five, seven, eight, or more, but most preferably six locking members . For each locking member, the locking shaft preferably has a separate tapered surface for each locking member. Advantageously, the locking shaft is inhibited from rotation so that each locking member will be inline with each tapered surface. Preferably, the locking members are adjacent and/or encircling the locking shaft. The present invention also provides a blowout preventer comprising a main housing having a bore therethrough and at least one ram apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, such that the ram block is locked in place such that the ram block is inhibited from moving from its closed position.

Preferably, the blowout preventer as further comprises a ram block, the ram block having seals, wherein the tapered portion of the locking shaft is of

sufficient length that the ram block can be locked to accommodate worn or partially ram seal apparatus .

Advantageously, the tapered portion of the locking shaft is of sufficient length that the blowout preventer can accommodate tubulars in a range of different sizes in the bore. Preferably, the tubular is drill pipe and the blowout preventer can accommodate drill pipe between 2 inches and 7 inches in diameter.

Preferably, the ram apparatus is attached to the main housing. Advantageously, attached by bolts and/or hinges . Advantageously, the ram apparatus is integral with the main housing. Preferably, the blow out preventer comprises at least two ram apparatus arranged on opposite sides of the main housing. Advantageously, the blow out preventer further comprises a ram block arranged on the ram apparatus . Advantageously, the locking shaft has sufficient throw to permit access to the locking member apparatus for servicing, maintenance and repair.

The present invention also provides a method for locking a ram block in blowout preventer, the blowout preventer comprising a main housing having a bore therethrough and at least one ram apparatus for moving a ram block in the bore, the ram apparatus having a piston and a locking shaft for locking the ram block, the method comprising the steps of activating the piston to move the ram block into the bore (in a forward direction) , urging locking members between a housing and a locking shaft, the locking shaft moving with the piston whereupon the ram blocks are urged on to a tapered portion of the locking shaft to inhibit the ram block moving out of the bore (in a rearward direction) .

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure IA is a perspective view of a blowout preventer in accordance with the present invention;

Figure IB-I is a cross-sectional view of part of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA showing a first step in a method in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 1B-2 is a cross-sectional view of part of an alternative blowout preventer in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 1C is a view of part of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA, partly in cross-section showing a second step in a method in accordance with the present invention;

Figure ID is view of part of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA, partly in cross-section showing a third step in a method in accordance with the present invention; Figure IE is view of part of the blowout preventer of Figure IA, partly in cross-section showing a fourth step in a method in accordance with the present invention;

Figure IF is an enlarged perspective view of part of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA;

Figure 16 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA, partly in cross-section;

Figure IH is a cross-sectional view of part of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA;

Figure 2A is a side view of a locking wedge of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA;

Figure 2B is a top view of the locking wedge shown

in Figure 2A;

Figure 2C is a bottom view of the locking wedge shown in Figure 2A;

Figure 2D is a side view of the locking wedge shown Figure 2A opposite the side shown in Figure 2A;

Figure 2Ξ is a front view of the locking wedge shown in Figure 2A;

Figure 2F is a rear view of the locking wedge shown in Figure 2A; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a locking plate of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a ram shaft of the blowout preventer shown in Figure IA.

Figure IA shows a blowout preventer 10 in accordance with the present invention which has a main body 12 with a bore 14 therethrough; operators 15 - 18 for moving ram shafts and rams; and a lower flange 19. As discussed in detail below, the operators selectively move ram apparatuses from open to closed positions . The operator 20 shown in Figures IB - IH may be used for any of the operators 15-18 , and may be used for moving any of the types of ram blocks (not shown) discussed above.

The operator 20 has a cylinder head 22 releasably connected to (e.g. with bolts 20a) a cylinder housing 24. The cylinder housing 24 is connected to a door 26 of the blowout preventer 10. An open end 32 of a channel 34 is selectively closed off by an end cover 36 removably held in position by nuts 38 on threaded lugs 42. A locking shaft 40 has a portion 48 extending through and movable within the channel 34. An end 44 of the locking shaft 40 has a channel 46 which receives and holds an end 52 of a ram shaft 50. A portion of the ram

shaft 50 extends through an opening 28 in the door 26. A ram apparatus 54 (shown schematically, e .g. including a ram block having seals) is secured to an end 56 of the ram shaft 50. Packing 58 surrounds the ram shaft 50. The cylinder head 22 has a locking member ring 62 around the locking shaft 40 and abutted against which are ends 72 of a plurality of locking wedges 70 (six wedges used in the embodiment of Figure IB-I) . A portion 70a of sides 71 of the wedges 70 (see Figures 2A - 26) abut a portion of the locking shaft 40 and sides 73 of the wedges 70 abut a surface 82 of a locking piston 80. The locking piston takes the form of a hollow cylindrical section through which the locking shaft 40 passes . The portion 70a is preferably recessed and curved as viewed in Figure 2F with a curve to match and corresponding to the circular cross-section of the locking shaft 40 initially adjacent to the circular part of the locking shaft 40 and for contacting and moving along this part of the locking shaft 40. An optional spring 90 abuts a surface 84 of the locking piston 80. Part of the spring 90 is held in a recess 102 of a spring housing 100 which is bolted with bolts 100a to the cylinder head 22. The locking shaft 40 is movable through an opening 104 of the spring housing 100. The spring 90 is biased to urge the locking piston 80 toward and against the wedges 70. In one aspect the spring 90 has sufficient force to overcome the weight of the wedges 70 and the weight of the locking piston 80.

A locking plate 110 , secured to the locking shaft 40 with bolts 112 passing through holes 114 , secures a main piston 120 in position around the locking shaft 40. Fluid under pressure enters annular chamber 129 through port 125 to extend the main piston 50 (and the locking

shaft, ram shaft, and locking plate) to move the rams into the bore 14. Fluid under pressure enters the chamber in front of the piston 50 through port 127 to move the piston 50 in the opposite direction to retract the ram is selectively introduced through an inlet 127.

As shown in Figure IB ₇ fluid flowing into annular chamber 129 on one side of the main piston 120 can flow around the outer edge of the spring housing 100 (since this flow path is not sealed) to push against a surface 87 of the locking piston 80 (as indicated by the arrows in Figure IB-I) . Thus fluid under pressure introduced into the space 129 simultaneously urges the main piston 120 in one direction and urges the locking piston in the opposite direction, so that, upon co-action of tapered surfaces of the wedges with tapered surfaces 41 on the locking piston, automatic locking of the locking shaft is effected.

As shown in Figure IB-I , the surfaces 73 of each wedge 70 have a self-locking taper angle and the surface 82 of the locking piston 80 also has a self-locking taper angle. Additionally, the surfaces of the sides 71 of the wedges 70 have a self-locking taper angle . The wedges 70 may be made of any suitable hard material; e.g. , but not limited to, hardened steel [e.g. SPINODAL (Trademark) Copper material - a steel/copper alloy] with a coefficient of friction between .1 to .2 (and thus with taper angles between 0 and 11 ) ; for the embodiment shown in Figure IB-I , the taper angle for the surfaces of the sides 71 and 73 is 7° and the taper angle for the surface 82 is 7° . By urging the locking piston 80 against the wedges 70 , the wedges 70 are prevented from moving away from the locking shaft 40.

Figure lB-1 shows the blowout preventer 10 in a

rams-open position, i .e. with the piston 50 in the retracted position. Figure 1C shows the locking shaft 40 after it has started to move (following initiation of closing of the rams of the blowout preventer) by introducing fluid, preferably hydraulic fluid, into the chamber 129. Part of the surface 71 of the wedges 70 have moved to contact part of a corresponding tapered surface 41 of the locking shaft 40. The spring 90 and pressure against the surface 87 of the locking piston 80 move the locking piston 80 toward the end cover 36, forcing the wedges 70 against the tapered surfaces 41 of the locking shaft 40.

As shown in Figure ID the locking piston 80 has moved the wedges 70 inwardly so that the surfaces 71 of the sides of the wedges 70 are in contact with the tapered surfaces 41 of the locking shaft 40 and the locking shaft 40 (and the ram shaft 50 and the ram apparatus 54) are releasably locked in place (e.g. in a rams-closed configuration) . Due to the self-locking tapers on the surfaces of the wedges 70 and on the locking piston 80 , if the spring 90 is removed or fails and/or if pressure is no longer applied to the locking piston 80 , the locking shaft 40 will remain locked. For unlocking the lock shaft 40 , fluid under pressure is selectively introduced through port 128 into an annular space 128a (as indicated in Figure IB-I) to move the locking piston 40 back towards its initial position permitting unlocking of the locking shaft 40.

Figure IE illustrates that the locking shaft 40 (and hence the ram shaft 50 and items connected to it) can travel an additional distance while the locking piston 80 travels farther and continues to urge the wedges 70 against a tapered part of the locking shaft 40 (e.g. to

accommodate different: size tubulars and/or to accommodate ram seal wear) . For example, with two inches additional travel distance of the locking shaft, as shown in Figure IE as compared to Figure ID, the blowout preventer can accommodate drill pipe between 2" (5cm) and 7" (18cm) in diameter. In both the positions shown in Figures ID and IE the locking shaft is locked in place. The wedges 70 , locking piston 80 , and tapers on the locking shaft 40 are sized, positioned, and configured to permit the additional length for locking of the locking shaft 40.

As shown in Figures IF and 16, the locking piston 80 has a recess 81 corresponding to each of the wedges 70 and the surfaces 82 are part of these recesses 81.

Figure IH illustrates the positions of the wedges 70 , locking piston 80 and locking shaft 40 in a rams- closed, shaft-locked position. As shown,, e .g. , in Figures 16 and H, the locking shaft 40 has an end with wrench flats 40a, 40b usable to assist in disconnection of the locking shaft 40 from the ram shaft 50 (which are releasably connected by threads 40t, 50t) .

As shown in Figure 1B-2 an independent non-automatic locking function in accordance with the present invention can be provided with the blowout preventer 20a (like the blowout preventer 20; like numerals indicate like parts) (or with any blowout preventer) by sealing off the interface between the cylinder head 22 and the spring housing 100 (e.g. with a seal 124b) and sealing off the interface between the locking shaft 40 and the spring housing 100 (e.g. with a seal 124a) thus blocking off the fluid flow path indicated by the arrows in Figure lB-1 which permitted fluid to be applied against the locking piston 80. Fluid under pressure to move the locking piston 80 is selectively applicable through a port 126

through -the cylinder head 22 which flows as indicated by the arrow near the port 126 in Figure 1B-2. Thus , in accordance with the present invention, a locking mechanism in accordance with the present invention may be used with automatically locking blowout preventers and with blowout preventers that do not automatically lock. In the blowout preventer 20a locking of the locking shaft 40 does not occur until fluid is introduced through the port 126 (e.g. in one aspect when a driller pushes a "LOCK" button on a control console which activates a control system to cause such fluid flow) .

The present invention, therefore, it at least certain embodiments, provides a blowout preventer with: a main body; a ram system with ram apparatus movably disposed within the main body; a movement system with movable shaft apparatus connected to the ram apparatus for moving the ram apparatus from a first position in which the ram apparatus is open to a second position in which the ram apparatus is closed; the movable shaft apparatus including a locking shaft portion, the locking shaft portion having a locking shaft tapered portion; a locking system for selectively locking the ram apparatus in the closed position; the locking system having locking member apparatus having a primary tapered surface; the primary tapered surface in contact with the locking shaft portion of the movable shaft apparatus; and the locking shaft portion movable with the movable shaft apparatus so that the primary tapered surface of the locking member apparatus contacts the locking shaft tapered portion to releasably lock the movable shaft apparatus . Such a blowout preventer may have one or some - in any possible combination - of the following: the locking shaft tapered portion of sufficient length that the blowout preventer

can accommodate tubulars in a range of different sizes; wherein the tubular is drill pipe and the blowout preventer can accommodate drill pipe of different outer diameters , e .g. , in one particular aspect, between 2 inches and 7 inches in diameter; wherein the ram system includes ram seal apparatus and in the blowout preventer the locking shaft tapered portion is of sufficient length that the blowout preventer can accommodate worn ram seal apparatus; wherein the locking member apparatus is a plurality of spaced-apart members around the locking shaft portion when the ram apparatus is in the first position; wherein the blowout preventer has ram apparatus is from the group of shear rams , variable bore rams, and pipe rams; a locking piston movably disposed around the locking shaft portion, the locking piston having a locking piston end with a locking piston end surface, the locking member apparatus having a secondary surface, and the locking piston movable by fluid under pressure so that the locking piston end surface contacts the secondary surface of the locking member apparatus to maintain the locking member apparatus in a desired position and/or in a locked position; wherein the secondary surface of the locking member apparatus has a secondary tapered surface with a secondary taper, the locking piston end surface has an end tapered surface with an end taper corresponding to the secondary taper, and the locking piston end movable so that the end tapered surface abuts the secondary tapered surface with the ram apparatus in the second position; wherein the end taper is at a self-locking angle and the secondary taper is at a self-locking angle so that the locking system is self-locking; wherein the locking shaft portion has a part with a circular cross-section and the locking member

apparatus has a curved portion corresponding to, initially adjacent, and in contact with said part of the locking shaft portion; spring apparatus adjacent the locking piston for continuously yieldably urging the locking piston against the locking member apparatus; the locking piston having a pressure surface disposed within the main housing for action thereagainst by pressurized fluid for moving the locking piston with respect to the locking member apparatus; the movement apparatus including a main closing piston connected to the movable shaft apparatus , the main closing piston disposed within the main housing for action thereagainst by primary pressurized fluid to selectively move the movable shaft apparatus between the first position and the second position; the movement apparatus including a main closing piston connected to the movable shaft apparatus, the main closing piston disposed within the main housing for action thereagainst by primary pressurized fluid applied in a first space to selectively move the movable shaft apparatus between the first position and the second position, and the locking piston pressure surface disposed for action thereagainst by primary pressurized fluid flowing from the first space to contact the locking piston pressure surface so that the ram apparatus is automatically locked in the closed position when the movement system moves the ram apparatus to the closed position; the main housing having a first end with a first channel therethrough, the locking shaft portion movable in the first channel, the first end having a first end opening through the main housing, an end cover releasably secured over the first end opening, and the end cover removable to permit access to the locking shaft portion; the first channel is of sufficient length and

the locking shaft portion is of sufficient length that the locking shaft is movable out of the first channel to permit access within the blowout preventer; wherein the movement system includes a movement member on the movable shaft apparatus , the movable member movable in response to fluid under pressure introduced within the main body on a first side of the movable member to move the movable shaft to the first position and the fluid under pressure introduced on a second side of the movable member to move the movable shaft to the second position; the movement apparatus including a main closing piston connected to the movable shaft apparatus, the main closing piston disposed within the main housing for action thereagainst by primary pressurized fluid applied in a first space to selectively move the movable shaft apparatus from the first position to the second position, and the locking piston pressure surface disposed for action thereagainst by secondary pressurized fluid, the secondary pressurized fluid separate and apart from the primary pressurized fluid; and/or unlocking apparatus for selectively unlocking the ram apparatus from the closed position.