Blowout preventer monitoring systems and methods

A blowout preventer (BOP) system, comprising:

• a body that houses a movable component of the BOP, the body comprising a channel comprising an open end that is open to an exterior surface of the body;
• an ultrasonic transceiver coupled to the exterior surface of the body or positioned within the channel proximate to the open end of the channel;
• and
• a reflector positioned within the channel formed in the body, wherein the ultrasonic transceiver is configured to emit an acoustic wave in a first direction into the channel toward the reflector, the reflector is configured to reflect the acoustic wave in a second direction through the channel toward the movable component of the BOP and to reflect a reflected acoustic wave from the movable component back to the ultrasonic transceiver to enable the ultrasonic transceiver to generate a first signal indicative of a position of the movable component;
• wherein the ultrasonic transceiver emits the acoustic wave at a predetermined time interval that is determined based on the position of the movable component.

A method for monitoring a blowout preventer (BOP), the method comprising:

• emitting, using a transceiver, an acoustic wave into a first portion of a channel and toward a reflector positioned within the channel, wherein the channel is formed in a body configured to house a movable component of the BOP, the channel comprises an open end that is open to an exterior surface of the body, and the transceiver is coupled to the exterior surface of the body or positioned within the channel proximate to the open end of the channel;
• reflecting, using the reflector, the acoustic wave through a second portion of the channel toward the movable component of the BOP;
• reflecting, using the reflector, a returned acoustic wave from the movable component of the BOP back toward the transceiver;
• determining, using a processor, a position of the movable component based on a time between emission of the acoustic wave by the transceiver and receipt of the returned acoustic wave at the transceiver;
• and
• providing a drive signal to cause the transceiver to emit the acoustic wave using the processor periodically at a first predetermined interval when the movable component is disposed in a first position and providing the drive signal periodically at a second predetermined interval when the movable component is disposed in a second position.