Replacement of sub sea blow out preventer packing units

Claim 2

For use with well blow-out preventer apparatus associated with a sub-sea stack and including an annular packer received downwardly within an annular body to be radially constricted in response to movement of a packer actuator in said body, the apparatus including packer hold-down means having a lower position of attachment to said body, and an elevated position in which the packer is exposed, apparatus for retrieving the exposed packer comprising a. a carrier that is vertically movable relative to said body while laterally offset therefrom, and b. a part operatively connected to the carrier and bodily movable generally laterally and downwardly into said body for lifting said packer therefrom while the hold-down means is in said elevated position, said part comprising a plug downwardly insertible into a central opening defined by the packer, and including a lifting element carried by the plug for movement into packer lifting position.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said part comprises an electromagnet.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 including means to locate said carrier in predetermined laterally offset relation to said annular body and with predetermined lateral alignment of said part relative to said body, all in response to lowering of the carrier into position proximate the subsea stack.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 including fluid responsive means within the plug for urging said element relatively outwardly of the plug and within the packer interior.

Claim 6

The retrieval apparatus of claim 1 including an arm operatively connected to the carrier and supporting said part for bodily movement between lowered position in which the part projects within the annular body for operative connection to the packer, and raised position in which the packer is retained proximate the carrier.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the arm has pivotal connection to the carrier, and including locating means for locating the carrier in predetermined relation to the stack in response to lowering of the carrier laterally of the stack.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said part is pivotally suspended from said arm.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 including an actuator on the carrier and operable to displace the arm between positions corresponding to said raised and lowered positions of said part.

Claim 10

For use with well blow-out preventer apparatus associated with a sub-sea stack and including an annular packer received downwardly within an annular body to be radially constricted in response to movement of a packer actuator in said body, the apparatus including packer hold-down means having a lower position of attachment to said body, and an elevated position in which the packer is exposed, apparatus for retrieving the exposed packer comprising a. a carrier that is vertically movable relative to said body while laterally offset therefrom, b. a part bodily movable generally laterally and downwardly into said body for lifting said packer therefrom while the hold-down means is in said elevated position, c. an arm having pivotal connection to the carrier and supporting said part for bodily movement between lowered position in which the part projects within the annular body for operative connection to the packer, and raised position in which the packer is retained proximate the carrier, d. locating means for locating the carrier in predetermined relation to the stack in response to lowering of the carrier laterally of the stack, and e. retention means on the carrier to interfit the packer in raised position thereof and in response to elevation of the carrier, for retaining the packer on the carrier during elevation to the surface.

Claim 11

For use with well blow-out preventer apparatus associated with a sub-sea stack and including an annular packer received downwardly within an annular body to be radially constricted in response to movement of a packer actuator in said body, the apparatus including packer hold-down means having a lower position of attachment to said body, and an elevated position in which the packer is exposed, apparatus for retrieving the exposed packer comprising a. a carrier that is vertically movable relative to said body while laterally offset therefrom, b. a part bodily movable generally laterally and downwardly into said body for lifting said packer therefrom while the hold-down means is in said elevated position, c. an arm having pivotal connection to the carrier and supporting said part for bodily movement between lowered position in which the part projects within the annular body for operative connection to the packer, and raised position in which the packer is retained proximate the carrier, d. locating means for locating the carrier in predetermined relation to the stack in response to lowering of the carrier laterally of the stack, and e. retention means on the carrier to interfit the packer in raised position thereof and in response to elevation of the carrier, for retaining the packer on the carrier during elevation to the surface.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the retention means comprises a plug sized for upwardly penetrating the central passage formed by the packer in said raised position.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the carrier comprises a first section connected to said retention means And a second section to which the arm has said pivotal connection, the first section being movable vertically relative to the second section to effect said interfit of the retention means with the packer in response to initial elevation of the carrier relative to a portion of the locating means attached to the stack.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 including means operable in response to lowering of the carrier into position proximate the sub-sea stack to locate the carrier in predetermined laterally offset relation to said annular body, and to effect relative vertical movement between said sections to elevate said part and a packer carried thereby relative to said retention means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said last named means comprises a rod projecting downwardly from and carried by the second section, a rod guide carried by the first section, and a receptacle engageable by sid rod and said guide in that order, the receptacle carried by the sub-sea stack.

Claim 16

For use with well blow-out prevent apparatus associated with a sub-sea stack and including an annular packer received downwardly within an annular body to be radially constricted in response to movement of a packer actuator in said body, the apparatus includng packer hold-down means having a lower position of attachment to said body, and an elevated position in which the packer is exposed, apparatus for retrieving the exposed packer comprising a. a carrier that is vertically movable relative to said body while laterally offset therefrom, b. a part operatively connected to the carrier and bodily movable generally laterally and downwardly into said body for lifting said packer therefrom while the hold-down means is in said elevated position, c. means to locate said carrier in predetermined laterally offset relation to said annular body and with predetermined lateral alignment of said part relative to said body, all in response to lowering of the carrier into psoition proximate the sub-sea stack, said means including an element on the carrier for centering engagement with stack structure, and d. vertical guide lines connected with the stack and operatively connected with the carrier.

Claim 17

For use with well blow-out prevent apparatus associated with a sub-sea stack and including an annular packer received downwardly within an annular body to be radially constricted in response to movement of a packer actuator in said body, the apparatus includng packer hold-down means having a lower position of attachment to said body, and an elevated position in which the packer is exposed, apparatus for retrieving the exposed packer comprising a. a carrier that is vertically movable relative to said body while laterally offset therefrom, b. a part operatively connected to the carrier and bodily movable generally laterally and downwardly into said body for lifting said packer therefrom while the hold-down means is in said elevated position, c. means to locate said carrier in predetermined laterally offset relation to said annular body and with predetermined lateral alignment of said part relative to said body, all in response to lowering of the carrier into psoition proximate the sub-sea stack, said means including an element on the carrier for centering engagement with stack structure, and d. vertical guide lines connected with the stack and operatively connected with the carrier.