Shear Ram Blowout Preventer with Engagement Feature

Abstract

A blowout preventer (“BOP”) includes a housing comprising a vertical bore extending through the housing, and a pair of opposing shear rams configured to move into the vertical bore. The shear rams comprise an engagement feature configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature and urge the shear rams into axially towards each other with respect to an axis of the vertical bore when the shear rams are located in the vertical bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blowout preventer (“BOP”), comprising:
 a housing comprising a vertical bore extending through the housing; and 
 a pair of opposing shear rams configured to move into the vertical bore, the shear rams comprising an engagement feature configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature and urge the shear rams into axially towards each other with respect to an axis of the vertical bore when the shear rams are located in the vertical bore. 
 
     
     
         2 . The BOP of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal positioned between the opposing rams and configured to prevent fluid flow therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The BOP of  claim 2 , wherein the axial movement of the shear rams towards each other increases the sealing capability of the seal. 
     
     
         4 . The BOP of  claim 2 , wherein the seal comprises a lateral seal positioned between blades of the shear rams. 
     
     
         5 . The BOP of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pair of opposing shear rams are movable between an open position and a closed position; and   the engagement features are configured to urge the shear rams axially towards each other when the shear rams are in the closed position.   
     
     
         6 . The BOP of  claim 1 , wherein:
 one of the shear rams comprises a male engagement feature; and   the other of the shear rams comprises a female engagement feature.   
     
     
         7 . The BOP of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the male engagement feature comprises a conical shaped male engagement feature protruding from a surface of the shear ram; and   the female engagement feature comprises a corresponding conical shaped female engagement feature protruding into a surface of the shear ram.   
     
     
         8 . The BOP of  claim 7 , wherein an apex of the conical shaped male engagement feature is offset from an apex of the conical shaped female engagement feature. 
     
     
         9 . The BOP of  claim 8 , wherein the engagement features each comprise a tapered engagement feature. 
     
     
         10 . The BOP of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features are formed on opposing inner faces of the shear rams. 
     
     
         11 . The BOP of  claim 1 , wherein each shear ram comprises a plurality of engagement features. 
     
     
         12 . The BOP of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the shear rams comprise opposing upper faces and opposing lower faces;   one of the upper faces comprises an upper engagement feature and the other of the upper faces comprises a corresponding upper engagement feature; and   one of the lower faces comprises a lower engagement feature and the other of the lower faces comprises a corresponding lower engagement feature.   
     
     
         13 . The BOP of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features each comprise a hardened material compared to the shear rams. 
     
     
         14 . A shear ram positionable in a blowout preventer (“BOP”) body to move into a vertical bore of the BOP body, the shear ram comprising:
 a ram body including a shear blade configured to shear an object; and 
 an engagement feature configured to urge the ram body axially with respect to an axis of the vertical bore when positioned within the vertical bore of the BOP body. 
 
     
     
         15 . The shear ram of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement feature is further configured to urge the shear ram axially towards an opposing shear ram. 
     
     
         16 . The shear ram of  claim 15 , further comprising a seal positioned between the opposing rams to prevent fluid flow therebetween such that the axial movements of the shear rams towards each other increases the sealing capability of the seal. 
     
     
         17 . The shear ram of  claim 15 , wherein the opposing shear ram comprises a corresponding engagement feature such that the engagement features are configured to engage with each other and urge the shear rams axially towards each other. 
     
     
         18 . The shear ram of  claim 17 , wherein:
 one of the shear rams comprises a male engagement feature; and   the other of the shear rams comprises a female engagement feature.   
     
     
         19 . The shear ram of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement features of the shear rams are offset from each other. 
     
     
         20 . The shear ram of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement features are formed on opposing inner faces of the shear rams.