Blowout preventer ram seals and ram blocks

A blowout preventer (“BOP”), comprising:

• a body surrounding a bore configured to enable fluid flow between a wellhead and a drilling riser;
• a lower ram block disposed adjacent a first end of the body, wherein the lower ram is block coupled to a first actuator;
• and
• an upper ram block disposed adjacent to a second end opposite the first end of the body, wherein the upper ram block is coupled to a second actuator,
• wherein the lower ram block, the upper ram block, or both, comprise:
• a ram block body comprising:
• a top cavity formed on a top of the ram block body;
• a first side cavity formed on a first side of the ram block body;
• a second side cavity formed on a second side of the ram block body;
• a top seal disposed in the top cavity;
• a first side packer assembly disposed in the first side cavity;
• a second side packer assembly disposed in the second side cavity,
• wherein each of the first side packer assembly and the second side packer assembly comprises:
• an upper insert;
• a lower insert;
• and
• an elastomeric body positioned between the upper insert and the lower insert comprising elastomeric material,
• wherein the top seal is disposed behind and extends to a bottom of the elastomeric body of the first and second side packer assemblies, and
• wherein the upper ram block comprises a blade seal that sealingly engages the elastomeric body of the first and second side packer assemblies.

A method, comprising:

• monitoring a well condition of a wellbore;
• actuating a blowout preventer (“BOP”) in response to the well condition being indicative of blowout conditions,
• wherein the BOP comprises:
• a bore formed therethrough that enables fluid flow between a wellhead and a drilling riser;
• an upper ram block;
• and a lower ram block,
• wherein each of the upper ram block and the lower ram block comprises:
• a ram block body comprising:
• a top cavity formed on a top of the ram block body;
• a first side cavity formed on a first side of the ram block body;
• a second side cavity formed on a second side of the ram block body;
• a top seal disposed in the top cavity;
• a first side packer assembly disposed in the first side cavity;
• a second side packer assembly disposed in the second side cavity,
• wherein each of the first side packer assembly and the second side packer assembly comprises:
• an upper insert;
• a lower insert;
• and
• an elastomeric body positioned between the upper insert and the lower insert comprising elastomeric material,
• wherein the top seal is disposed behind and extends to a bottom of the elastomeric body of the first and second side packer assemblies,
• wherein the upper ram block comprises:
• an upper blade;
• and a blade seal that rests below the upper blade, the blade seal sealingly engaging the elastomeric body of the first and second side packer assemblies, and
• wherein the lower ram block comprises a lower blade;
• and
• directing the upper ram block and the lower ram block toward one another such that the top seal, the elastomeric body of the first and second side packer assemblies, and the blade seal work together to fully seal the bore and further block the fluid flow from the wellhead to the drilling riser;
• and a shearing edge of the lower blade passes below a shearing edge of the upper blade to shear a tubular string extending through the bore.