Blowout preventer protector and setting tool

An apparatus for protecting a blowout preventer from exposure to fluid pressures, abrasive and corrosive fluids during a well treatment to stimulate production, comprising:

• a mandrel adapted to be inserted down through the blowout preventer, the mandrel having a mandrel top end adapted to protrude above the blowout preventer and a mandrel bottom end that includes an annular sealing body for sealing engagement with a bit guide at a top of a casing of the well when the mandrel is in an operative position;
• a hydraulic cylinder for inserting the mandrel into and removing the mandrel from the blowout preventer;
• at least two elongated hydraulic cylinder support rods fixed relative to the blowout preventer for supporting the hydraulic cylinder in vertical and axial alignment with the blowout preventer, the support rods and the cylinder being removable when the mandrel is operatively inserted through the blowout preventer and the annular sealing body of the mandrel bottom end is seated against the bit guide;
• and
• a mechanical lockdown mechanism for detachably securing the mandrel to the blowout preventer when the mandrel is in the operative position.

A method for protecting a blowout preventer from exposure to fluid pressure as well as to abrasive and corrosive fluids during a well treatment to stimulate production, comprising the steps of:

• a) mounting above the blowout preventer an apparatus for protecting the blowout preventer from exposure to fluid pressures, abrasive and corrosive fluids during a well treatment to stimulate production, comprising a mandrel having a mandrel top end and a mandrel bottom end that includes an annular sealing body, and a mechanical lockdown mechanism for detachably securing the mandrel to the blowout preventer;
• b) mounting at least one high pressure valve to the apparatus in operative fluid communication with the mandrel;
• c) closing the at least one high pressure valve;
• d) fully opening the blowout preventer;
• e) applying a force on the mandrel top end to move the mandrel bottom end down through the blowout preventer until the mandrel is in an operative position in which the annular sealing body is in fluid sealing engagement with a top of a casing of the well while the mandrel top end extends above the blowout preventer;
• f) engaging the mechanical lockdown mechanism to lock the mandrel in the operative position;
• and
• g) disengaging the mechanical lockdown mechanism, pulling up the mandrel, closing the blowout preventer, and removing the apparatus from the blowout preventer in a reverse sequence of steps a) to f) after the well treatment to stimulate production.