Analysing the deformation of the packer unit from a blowout preventer using finite element techniques

The inside diameter of the well-bore ranges from 0.18 m on low pressure wells to on 0.48 m for high pressure wells. Regardless of their size the packers

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Blowout preventers

Annular Blowout Preventers, ABOPs, are a form of safety valve used in the oil industry when drilling in case pressure control over the formation fluid is lost. The elastomer components of the ABOP seal off the well-bore bringing the fluid back under control. Vorenkamp and Mahler (2010) estimate that a blowout occurs roughly once for every thousand wells, however the costs associated with such a failure are catastrophic.