# US 10,309,182 B2 · Annular blowout preventer apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,182 B2 - Document ID: US10309182B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/220,082 - Filed: 2016-07-26 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-26 - Assignees: Cameron International Corporation - Applicants: Cameron International Corporation - Inventors: Oscar B. Jones; Nicolas Arteaga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309182B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/064: specially adapted for underwater well heads - E21B 33/06: Blow-out preventers {, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers (rotating blow-out preventers E21B33/085)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The present disclosure generally relates to an annular blowout preventer (“BOP”) apparatus for sealing a wellbore. In particular, the annular BOP includes a body comprising a vertical bore extending therethrough, an upper packing element located in the body, a lower packing element located in the body and spaced axially from the upper packing element, and a piston configured to move the upper and lower packing elements radially with respect to the vertical bore. The annular BOP provides for bi-directional sealing across the annular BOP. In other embodiments, the annular BOP may include only a single packing element configured to provide for bi-directional sealing across the annular BOP. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An annular blowout preventer (“BOP”) apparatus, comprising: a housing comprising a bore extending therethrough; a first packing element located in the housing, the first packing element comprising a first elastomeric body and a first plurality of inserts embedded within the first elastomeric body; a second packing element located in the housing and spaced axially from the first packing element, the second packing element comprising a second elastomeric body and a second plurality of inserts embedded within the second elastomeric body, wherein the first plurality of inserts and the second plurality of inserts are physically separate from one another; and a piston configured to move the first and second packing elements radially with respect to the bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of inserts and the first elastomeric body comprise different materials. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of inserts and the second elastomeric body comprise different materials. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second packing elements are movable from an open position in which the first and second packing elements are radially withdrawn from the bore to a closed position in which the first and lower packing elements are radially moved into the bore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first and second packing elements are configured to seal the bore above and below the housing in the closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first and second packing elements are configured to seal about a device located within the bore in the closed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an annular plate located axially between the first and second packing elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston is locatable in a piston recess located in the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston and the second packing element have complimentary geometries. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the housing and the first packing element have complimentary geometries. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to move the first and second packing elements simultaneously. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to contact the second packing element and not the first packing element as the piston moves the first and second packing elements radially with respect to the bore. ### Claim 13 An annular blowout preventer (“BOP”) apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a bore extending therethrough; a packing element comprising an elastomeric body, located in the housing, and movable from an open position radially withdrawn from the bore to a closed position radially within the bore; a piston configured to move the packing element between the open and closed positions, wherein the elastomeric body of the packing element comprises two elastomeric bodies axially spaced from each other; wherein the two elastomeric bodies comprise a first elastomeric body configured to form a first seal and a second elastomeric body configured to form a second seal axially spaced from each other against an object, comprising a tubular member and locatable in the bore, when in the closed position and; a first plurality of inserts embedded within the first elastomeric body and a second plurality of inserts embedded within the second elastomeric body, and the first plurality of inserts are physically separate from the second plurality of inserts. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the elastomeric body comprises an annular elastomeric body and inserts embedded within the elastomeric body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the inserts and the elastomeric body comprise different materials. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the piston is locatable in a piston recess located in the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an inner surface of the housing and an upper surface of the packing element have complimentary geometries. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the piston and a lower surface of the packing element have complimentary geometries.