Wire Cutting Blowout Preventer

Abstract

An apparatus includes a blowout preventer housing comprising a bore extending therethrough and a cavity intersecting the bore and a wire cutting apparatus with a cutting wire. The wire cutting apparatus is movably positionable within the cavity of the blowout preventer housing and is extendable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a blowout preventer housing comprising a bore extending therethrough and a cavity intersecting the bore; and   a wire cutting apparatus comprising a cutting wire with the wire cutting apparatus movably positionable within the cavity of the blowout preventer housing and extendable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus comprises:
 pulleys to support the cutting wire; and   a motor to drive the cutting wire using the pulleys;   wherein the cutting wire is configured to cut a tubular member positioned within the bore of the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus further comprises:
 a frame with the pulleys supported by the frame, the pulleys including a drive pulley and a support pulley, wherein the motor is configured to drive the drive pulley; and   a gearbox located between the drive pulley and the motor to control a speed of the cutting wire.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus further comprises a telescoping assembly to operatively couple the motor to the drive pulley. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus further comprises a tensioning mechanism to maintain a predetermined tension upon the cutting wire across the pulleys. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cutting wire comprises diamond impregnated wire. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the motor comprises an ROV drive coupling for an ROV to provide power to the motor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus is extendable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing at a predetermined constant force. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a flap to protect the wire cutting apparatus within the cavity of the blowout preventer housing from contents within the bore of the blowout preventer housing. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support block positioned opposite the wire cutting apparatus with respect to the bore of the blowout preventer housing; and   the support block movably positionable within the cavity of the blowout preventer housing and extendable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bonnet housing coupleable to the blowout prevent housing;   a piston movably positionable within the bonnet housing; and   a rod coupleable between the wire cutting apparatus and the piston such that movement of the piston moves the wire cutting apparatus within the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a blowout preventer housing comprising a bore extending through the blowout preventer housing;   a wire cutting apparatus comprising a cutting wire with the wire cutting apparatus movably positionable within the blowout preventer housing and extendable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing; and   a wire cutting apparatus drive assembly to move the wire cutting apparatus within the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus drive assembly comprises:
 a housing;   a piston movably positionable within the housing;   a rod coupleable between the wire cutting apparatus and the piston such that movement of the piston moves the wire cutting apparatus within the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a support block movably positionable within the blowout preventer housing and extendable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing; and   a support block drive assembly to move the support block within the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the support block positioned opposite the wire cutting apparatus with respect to the bore of the blowout preventer housing. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus comprises:
 pulleys to support the cutting wire; and   a motor to drive the cutting wire using the pulleys;   wherein the cutting wire is configured to cut a tubular member positioned within the bore of the blowout preventer housing.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus further comprises:
 a frame with the pulleys supported by the frame, the pulleys including a drive pulley and a support pulley, wherein the motor is configured to drive the drive pulley; and   a gearbox located between the drive pulley and the motor to control a speed of the cutting wire.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus further comprises a telescoping assembly to operatively couple the motor to the drive pulley. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the wire cutting apparatus further comprises a tensioning mechanism to maintain a predetermined tension upon the cutting wire across the pulleys, and wherein the wire cutting apparatus is extendable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing at a predetermined constant force. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the motor comprises an ROV drive coupling for an ROV to provide power to the motor.