Low profile connection for pressure containment devices

Abstract

An annular blowout preventer (BOP). The annular BOP includes an annular housing having a base. The base includes a plurality of fasteners extending from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing via fastener holes formed through the connector base. The annular BOP further includes a seal plate positioned at least partially adjacent interior ends of the plurality of fastener. The annular BOP further includes an annular elastomeric element positioned within the interior of the housing and an annular piston positioned within the interior of the housing. The piston, when driven towards the elastomeric element, deforms the elastomeric element and forces the elastomeric element to constrict radially inward.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An annular blowout preventer (BOP), comprising:
 an annular housing having a connector base, the connector base comprising a plurality of fasteners extending from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing via fastener holes formed through the connector base;   a seal plate positioned at least partially adjacent interior ends of the plurality of fasteners to seal against the fastener holes;   an annular elastomeric element positioned within the interior of the housing; and   an annular piston positioned within the interior of the housing, wherein the piston, when driven towards the elastomeric element, deforms the elastomeric element and forces the elastomeric element to constrict radially inward.   
     
     
         2 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal positioned circumferentially around the seal plate between the seal plate and an interior surface of the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal positioned at an inner diameter of the seal plate.   
     
     
         4 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of stud nuts or bolts located within the interior of the housing and securing the plurality of studs or bolts, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a recessed chamber adjacent fastener holes, the recessed chamber sealed by the seal plate, and wherein a vent port formed in the housing communicatively couples the recessed chamber to outside of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fasteners are configured to couple to another component positioned adjacent the annular BOP. 
     
     
         7 . The annular BOP of  claim 6 , wherein the other equipment is a ram BOP, spool, or connector. 
     
     
         8 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a body forming a bottom portion of the housing and a cap forming a top portion of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . A subsea system, comprising:
 a riser coupled to a vessel;   a lower marine riser package coupled to the riser opposite the vessel;   an annular blowout preventer (BOP) coupled to the lower marine riser package, the BOP comprising:
 an annular housing having a base, the base comprising:
 a plurality of fasteners extending from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing via fastener holes formed through the base; 
 a seal plate positioned at least partially adjacent interior ends of the plurality of fasteners; and 
 
 an annular elastomeric element positioned within the interior of the housing; and 
 an annular piston positioned within the interior of the housing, wherein the piston, when driven towards the elastomeric element, deforms the elastomeric element and forces the elastomeric element to constrict radially inward; and 
   one or more ram BOPs coupled to the annular BOP.   
     
     
         10 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal positioned circumferentially around the seal plate between the seal plate and an interior surface of the housing.   
     
     
         11 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal positioned at an inner diameter of the seal plate.   
     
     
         12 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal positioned at an interior surface of the base.   
     
     
         13 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a recessed chamber adjacent the fastener holes, the recessed chamber sealed by the seal plate, and wherein a vent port formed in the housing communicatively couples the recessed chamber to outside of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The annular BOP of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fasteners include at least one of studs, bolts, or screws. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing an annular blowout preventer (BOP), comprising:
 placing a body of a housing of the annular BOP onto a piece of equipment, wherein the body has a base with a plurality of fastener holes formed therethrough;   securing the body to the equipment with a plurality of fasteners inserted through the plurality of fastener holes; and   placing a top portion of the annular BOP onto the body, wherein the top portion includes a cap, an elastomeric element, and a piston, wherein the cap couples with the body to form the housing and enclose the elastomeric element and piston inside of the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the equipment is a ram BOP, a connector, or a spacer spool. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 forming a seal between the fastener holes and a main cavity of the annular BOP via a seal plate, a first seal on an outer perimeter of the seal plate, and a second seal on an inner perimeter of the seal plate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 forming a seal between the fastener holes and a main cavity of the annular BOP via a piston sleeve with a first seal on an outer perimeter and a second seal on a bottom face of the piston sleeve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the housing further includes a recessed chamber adjacent fastener holes, the recessed chamber sealed by the seal plate or the piston sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a vent port for leakage detection.