Blowout Preventer with Pipe Ram Packer Assemblies with Support Tab

Abstract

A pipe ram blowout preventer may be used for sealing about an object positioned in a vertical bore extending through the blowout preventer. The blowout preventer includes a pipe ram assembly movable towards the tubular, the pipe ram assembly including a packer assembly comprising an elastomeric body for sealing against the object. The packer assembly includes an upper plate position above the elastomeric body which includes a tab extending from the upper plate. The tab resists extrusion of the elastomeric body in high temperature environments by containing the elastomeric material and forming a metal-to-metal seal about the object positioned in the blowout preventer vertical bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blowout preventer (“BOP”) assembly for sealing against an object, comprising:
 a body comprising a vertical bore extending through the body; 
 pipe ram assemblies configured to seal about the object when located in the vertical bore, each pipe ram assembly comprising a packer assembly comprising:
 an upper plate; 
 a lower plate; 
 a body positioned between the upper and lower plates, the body comprising an elastomeric material and a surface configured to engage the object; and 
 a tab extending from one of the upper and lower plates, wherein the tab is configured to diminish extrusion of the elastomeric material. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , where the tab is configured to diminish extrusion of the elastomeric material during sealing operations at temperatures at or above about 350° F. 
     
     
         3 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body is semi-elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body is elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the upper plate further comprising a height H P ; and   the tab comprising a height H T , wherein H T  is greater than H P .   
     
     
         6 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper plate and tab comprise different materials of construction. 
     
     
         7 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is further configured to form a metal-to-metal seal with the object. 
     
     
         8 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises at least one of synthetic and natural rubber 
     
     
         9 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object is one of a drill pipe joint, casing joint, or tool joint. 
     
     
         10 . The BOP assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the packer assemblies are each coupled to the ram assemblies via one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . A packer assembly for a pipe ram blowout preventer configured to seal about an object located in a vertical bore of the blowout preventer, the packer assembly comprising:
 an upper plate;   a lower plate;   a body positioned between the upper and lower plates, the body comprising an elastomeric material and a surface configured to engage the object; and   a tab extending from one of the upper and lower plates, wherein the tab is configured to diminish extrusion of the elastomeric material.   
     
     
         12 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tab extends from the upper plate. 
     
     
         13 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tab is configured to diminish extrusion of the elastomeric material during sealing operations at temperatures at or above about 350° F. 
     
     
         14 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body is semi-elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body is elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         16 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the upper plate further comprising a height H P ; and   the tab comprising a height H T , wherein H T  is greater than H P .   
     
     
         17 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the upper plate and tab comprise different materials of construction. 
     
     
         18 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tab is further configured to form a metal-to-metal seal with the object. 
     
     
         19 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises at least one of synthetic and natural rubber 
     
     
         20 . The packer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the object is one of a drill pipe joint, casing joint, or tool joint.