Blowout preventer annular

Abstract

A packer assembly for an annular blowout preventer includes an annular packer, a plurality of inserts, and a support. The plurality of inserts is arranged circumferentially about the annular packer and configured to move radially inward to enable the packer assembly to move from an open position in which the packer assembly enables fluid flow through a central bore to a closed position in which the packer assembly blocks fluid flow through the central bore. The support is positioned below the plurality of inserts with respect to a height of the packer assembly and is configured to block at least a portion of the annular packer from moving into an opening extending through the annular packer in the closed position.

1 . A packer assembly for an annular blowout preventer, comprising:
 an annular packer;   a plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about the annular packer, wherein the plurality of inserts is configured to move radially inward to enable the packer assembly to move from an open position in which the packer assembly enables fluid flow through a central bore to a closed position in which the packer assembly blocks fluid flow through the central bore; and   a support positioned below the plurality of inserts with respect to a height of the packer assembly, wherein the support is configured to block at least a portion of the annular packer from moving into an opening extending through the packer assembly in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The packer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular packer comprises a flexible material and the plurality of inserts comprise a rigid material. 
     
     
         3 . The packer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a second plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about the annular packer, wherein the second plurality of inserts is configured to rotate radially inward to enable the packer assembly to move from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The packer assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of inserts is configured to rotate radially inward along a spiral path to enable the packer assembly to move from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The packer assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each insert of the second plurality of inserts comprises a support portion and an iris portion, and wherein the support portion and the iris portion are substantially planar. 
     
     
         6 . The packer assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the iris portion comprises grooves configured to increase friction between the second plurality of inserts and the annular packer. 
     
     
         7 . The packer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises an annular ring. 
     
     
         8 . The packer assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the annular ring comprises a solid, metallic material or a solid, non-metallic material. 
     
     
         9 . The packer assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the annular ring is configured to maintain a geometry as the packer assembly moves from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The packer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts and the support are configured to be molded into the annular packer. 
     
     
         11 . The packer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts and the support are configured to move independently of one another. 
     
     
         12 . An annular blowout preventer, comprising:
 a housing;   an annular piston positioned within the housing; and   a packer assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the packer assembly comprises:
 an annular packer; 
 a plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about the annular packer; and 
 a support positioned axially below the plurality of inserts with respect to a height of the packer assembly; 
   wherein the annular piston is configured to contact a surface of the annular packer to drive the packer assembly in an axial direction within the housing, thereby compressing the annular packer, causing the plurality of inserts to move radially inward, and moving the annular blowout preventer to a closed position, and wherein the support is configured to block at least a portion of the annular packer from moving into an opening extending through the packer assembly in the closed position.   
     
     
         13 . The annular blowout preventer of  claim 12 , wherein each insert of the plurality of inserts is configured to contact a wall of the housing to direct movement of each insert of the plurality of inserts radially inward. 
     
     
         14 . The annular blowout preventer of  claim 13 , wherein each insert of the plurality of inserts comprises a curved radially-outer surface that includes a first radius of curvature that is substantially the same as a second radius of curvature of the wall of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The annular blowout preventer of  claim 12 , wherein the annular packer is positioned between the support and the piston along an axial axis of the annular blowout preventer, thereby blocking contact between the support and the piston while the annular blowout preventer is in the open position, the closed position, and any position therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . The annular blowout preventer of  claim 12 , wherein the support comprises a second plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about the annular packer, wherein the second plurality of inserts is configured to rotate radially inward to enable the packer assembly to move from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The annular blowout preventer of  claim 12 , wherein the support comprises an annular ring. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 a packer assembly, comprising:
 an annular packer; 
 a first plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about a first axial end portion of the annular packer; and 
 a second plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about the annular packer proximate to a second axial end portion of the annular packer; 
   wherein the first plurality of inserts and the second plurality of inserts are configured to move radially inwardly as the packer assembly moves from an open position in which the packer assembly enables fluid flow through a central bore to a closed position in which the packer assembly blocks fluid flow through the central bore, and the second plurality of inserts is configured to block at least a portion of the annular packer from moving into an opening extending through the packer assembly in the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second plurality of inserts is configured to form a first radial surface area in the open position and configured to form a second radial surface area in the closed position, wherein the second radial surface area is greater than the first radial surface area. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second plurality of inserts is configured to rotate radially inward along a spiral path to enable the packer assembly to move from the open position to the closed position.