Method of forming a blowout preventer body

A method of manufacturing a blowout preventer body, comprising the steps of:

• providing more than one billet;
• forming a first billet to form a first portion of the blowout preventer body;
• forming a second billet to form a second portion of the blowout preventer body;
• and
• welding the billets to form the blowout preventer body;
• wherein
• forming the first billet comprises forming a first gate portion in a first surface of the first billet;
• forming the second billet comprises forming a second gate portion in a first surface of the second billet;
• and
• welding the billets comprises positioning the first surface of the first billet adjacent to the second surface of the second billet such that the first gate portion and the second gate portion forms a gate of the blowout preventer body;
• wherein
• the blowout preventer body has more than one gate, further comprising the step of:
• forming a first gate portion in a first surface of at least one intermediate billet, and
• forming a second gate portion in a second surface of the at least one intermediate billet,
• the second surface of the intermediate billet being parallel to the first surface of the intermediate billet;
• and
• wherein the step of welding the billets comprises positioning the at least one intermediate billet between the first and the second billet, such that the first surface of each intermediate billet is oriented toward the first surface of the second billet and the second surface of each intermediate billet is oriented toward the first surface of the first billet such that the first gate portions and the second gate portions form more than one gate of the blowout preventer body.