Valve apparatus and improved ram

Abstract

A valve comprises a valve body defining a throughbore having a throughbore axis, a first ram ( 100 a ; 200 a ) comprising a first seal face ( 144 a ,145 a ; 280 a ) and a second ram ( 100 b ;200 b ) comprising a second seal face ( 144 b ,145 b ; 280 b ), wherein the first and second rams are disposed on opposing sides of the throughbore on a ram axis and are actuable to be moved along the ram axis to bring the seal faces together, a channel ( 142; 242 ) defined by the first and/or second seal faces configured to accommodate a tubular member ( 40 ) in a sealing position when the first and second seal faces are brought together, wherein the first and second seal faces are oriented in a plane which is parallel to the throughbore axis and which is inclined with respect to the ram axis.

1 . A valve comprising:
 a valve body defining a throughbore having a throughbore axis;   a first ram comprising a first seal face and a second ram comprising a second seal face, wherein the first and second rams are disposed on opposing sides of the throughbore on a ram axis and are actuable to be moved along the ram axis to bring the first and second seal faces together;   a channel defined by at least one of the first and second seal faces, the channel being configured to accommodate a tubular member in a sealing position when the first and second seal faces are brought together;   wherein the first and second seal faces are oriented in a plane which plane is parallel to the throughbore axis and which plane is inclined with respect to the ram axis.   
     
     
         2 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first seal face is a part of a first seal assembly carried by the first ram, and the second seal face is part of a second seal assembly carried by the second ram. 
     
     
         3 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal face extends across a whole diameter of the throughbore. 
     
     
         4 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an angle of inclination of the first and second seal faces is between approximately 90 and approximately 150 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second rams further comprise corresponding guide surfaces for guiding a wireline towards a sealing position. 
     
     
         6 . The valve as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein on at least one of the first and second rams, a portion of the guide surface is relieved or profiled away from the sealing position in a direction of the ram axis. 
     
     
         7 . The valve as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first ram provides a first guide surface and the second ram comprises a first guide surface a portion of which is relieved or profiled away from the sealing position in an area corresponding to the first guide surface of the first ram. 
     
     
         8 . The valve as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second ram comprises a second guide surface and the first ram comprises a second guide surface a portion of which is relieved or profiled away from the sealing position in an area corresponding to the second guide surface of the second ram. 
     
     
         9 . The valve as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the guide surface on one side of at least one ram is relieved or profiled away from the plane in an area adjacent to the sealing position, up to an outer edge of the ram. 
     
     
         10 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in use, a portion of the first or second seal faces forms a guide surface for guiding a wireline towards the sealing position. 
     
     
         11 . The valve as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each ram has a guide surface, a first side of which guide surface lies on one side of the sealing position and a second side lies on an opposing side of the sealing position, and on the first side, the guide surface on the first ram extends forward of the sealing position along the ram axis. 
     
     
         12 . The valve as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each ram has a first side on one side of the sealing position and a second side on an opposing side of the sealing position, and on one of the first and second sides, the guide surface of a ram is inclined in an opposing sense to the seal face. 
     
     
         13 . The valve as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the seal face of a ram is inclined in an opposing sense to the guide surface by substantially the same amount. 
     
     
         14 . The valve as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the relieved portion of the guide surface is oriented in a plane which plane is parallel to the throughbore axis and which plane is inclined with respect to the ram axis. 
     
     
         15 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein all inward surfaces of the rams are inclined with respect to the ram axis. 
     
     
         16 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein all inward surfaces of the rams are oriented in a plane which plane is parallel to the throughbore axis. 
     
     
         17 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rams are substantially identical. 
     
     
         18 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a blowout preventer for a hydrocarbon well. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for a valve, the apparatus comprising:
 a ram configured to be disposed adjacent to a throughbore in the valve, the throughbore having a throughbore axis, wherein the ram comprises a ram axis and is actuable to be moved along the ram axis into the throughbore;   wherein the ram comprises a seal face oriented in a plane which plane is parallel to the throughbore axis and which plane is inclined with respect to the ram axis.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the ram comprises a guide surface for guiding a tubular member towards a sealing position. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a portion of the guide surface is relieved or profiled away from the sealing position in a direction of the ram axis. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a recess in the seal face which at least partially defines a channel for accommodating a tubular member. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the seal face is a part of a seal assembly of the ram, and the seal face extends across the ram assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the ram a first side on one side of the sealing position and a second side on an opposing side of the sealing position, and on one of the first and second sides, the guide surface of a ram is inclined in an opposing sense to the seal face. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus comprises a pair of rams. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the pair of rams is substantially identical. 
     
     
         27 . A method of operating a valve comprising a valve body defining a throughbore having a throughbore axis, the method comprising:
 providing a first ram comprising a first seal face and a second ram comprising a second seal face, wherein the first and second rams are disposed on opposing sides of the throughbore on a ram axis and wherein the first and second seal faces are oriented in a plane which plane is parallel to the throughbore axis and which plane is inclined with respect to the ram axis.   actuating the first and second rams to move along the ram axis into the throughbore;   bringing the seal faces together while guiding a tubular member into a channel defined by the first and/or second seal faces to accommodate a tubular member in a sealing position.