Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter

An apparatus for use while drilling a well to seal the annulus between a rotating or stationary drill pipe and a casing surrounding the drill pipe in order to divert the flow of returned drilling and produced fluids into an outer annulus, comprising:

• an Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter created by modifying a ram operated blowout preventer to be used while the drill pipe is present and rotating, incorporating flexible seal elements which close around the drill pipe while the drill pipe is rotating to block the annulus, and
• a pipe ram installed below the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter.

An apparatus for use while drilling a well to seal the annulus between a rotating or stationary drill pipe and a casing surrounding the drill pipe in order to divert the flow of returned drilling and produced fluids into an outer annulus, comprising:

• a first Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter created by modifying a ram blowout preventer operated by hydraulic pistons to be used while the drill pipe is present and rotating or stationary, incorporating flexible seal elements which close around the drill pipe while the drill pipe is rotating or stationary to block the annulus, and
• a second Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter installed below the first Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter.

A method for sealing the annulus between a drill pipe while the drill pipe is rotating or stationary and a casing surrounding the drill pipe in order to divert the flow of returned drilling and produced fluids into an outer annulus, comprising:

• modifying a passive device such as a pipe ram that is normally used to shut-in a well when drill pipe is not rotating to enable using the device as a diverter, an active device, to block and seal the annulus and divert drilling fluid while the drill pipe is rotating.