Cover graphic should fill and not exceed the defined grey box.

Wedgelock Operation

Wedgelocks
Locks the bonnets Operating Piston into place (in close)
Utilized with the following rams
Pipe Rams
Variable Bore Ram (VBR)
Blind Shear Rams

Why do we need locks?

There are times that once we CLOSE the BOPs Rams, we
want to ensure they stay closed.

Wedgelock in the
OPEN position

Locking the Rams ensures they

do NOT accidently drift open.

Locking Overview
Operating Piston moves to the CLOSE position when
operating fluid is applied

Operating Piston

Locking Overview
Wedge is moved into the Locked position when lock
operating fluid is applied

Wedge

Locking Overview
Taper in Operating Piston aligns with taper in
Wedge to lock the piston into place and keeps the
Operating Piston from backing out

Wedgelock Sequence Valves

Two different sequence valves are utilized depending on configuration
A. Located in the Wedgelock End Cap
B. Located in the Bonnet Body

Sequence Valves

Function of the Sequence Valves

Sequence Valves control the flow of fluid based on specific actions or events.
Ie. Step 1) Once the locking wedge is fully unlocked, then Step 2) allow fluid to
pass through. If #1 does not occur, then #2 will not. This is the sequence of
events related to the fluid flow.

Most directional
valves Open or Close
based on pilots or
other operators, this
is different within the
sequence valves.

Sequence Valve in Bonnet

The Sequence Valve located in the Bonnet allows Lock Fluid to pass to the
Wedgelock once the Operating Piston clears the Locking Wedge

Bonnet

End Cap Sequence Valve

The End Cap Sequence Valve allows Open Fluid to pass to the Operating
Piston, once the lock is unlocked and thereby opens the rams
End Cap

Sequence Valve P/N:

Actuator

2164010-01

Liner

Valve Seat

Poppet
Body
Balance Piston

Cap
Located in the Bonnet

Sequence Valve Actuator

The Sequence Valves Actuator is
positioned in the Operating Pistons groove

Fluid through the Sequence Valve

Lock fluid for the

Wedgelock enters
the Sequence Valve

Fluid through the Sequence Valve

Fluid held around

Poppet at Valve Seat

The fluid is
stopped / unable to
flow to the
Wedgelock until the
Actuator shifts

Fluid through the Sequence Valve

Groove, force Actuator Down

Actuator, Valve Seat,

and Balance Piston shift
Valve now OPEN.
Fluid is sent to the
Wedgelock

Fluid is able to flow

to the Wedgelock
once the Actuator
shifts

Sequence Valve Operation

Q: Auto Lock on Close?

Do the Wedgelocks always Lock when the BOP Ram Closes?

Shown: Ram OPEN

Shown: Ram CLOSE

Answer: NO.
Its NOT solely the function of the sequence valves to Lock (or not)
the Rams. You must function the Wedgelock function for that
specific BOP Ram for it to Lock.

Wedgelock Components
Structural Components
Wedgelock Housing
Open Side Head
Close Side Head
Functional Components
Wedge
Wedgelock Locking Piston
Pressure Balance Chamber

Wedgelock Components

Structural Components
Open Side Head

Locking Side Head

Housing

Structural Components
Locking Side Head

Housing

Open Side Head

Functional Components
Wedge

Locking Piston

Functional Component
Locking Piston

Wedge

Functional Components

Pressure Balance Chamber

NOTE: This will be discussed
later in this module

Wedgelock Operation
Wedgelock in the Locked Position
(Rams Closed)

Operating
Piston

Ram Closed

Wedgelock in the Unlocked Position

(Rams Open)

Operating
Piston

The Rams Operating Piston will not be shown

in the following slides

Ram Open

Wedgelock Operation
Locking
Close pressure moves the Operating Piston out of the
Wedge when closing the Rams
Lock pressure moves the Wedge across Housing to
Lock the Operating Piston in place

Wedgelock Fluid Flow for Locking

Wedgelock in the unlocked position

KED
UNLOC

Wedgelock Fluid Flow for Locking

Lock fluid enters the Wedgelock
and pushes the Locking Wedge
and Stem to the Locked position

LOCKED

Operating Piston closed

Wedgelock Operation
Unlocking Steps
1. Open pressure moves the Locking Wedge / Stem assembly across
the Locking Cylinder unlocking the Operating Piston
2. Open pressure passes through the Wedgelock End Cap and is
ported to the Open side of the Operating Piston to open the Rams

Unlocking the Wedgelock

(unlock port)

Open fluid enters

the Wedgelock

Unlocking, Locking Wedge

Fluid sent to back side of the

locking wedge and pushing it
into the unlock position

Unlocking the Wedgelock

Open fluid pushes on the
Locking Wedge assembly

Open fluid waiting at end

cap sequence valve will
be sent to open side of
operating piston

Unlocking the Wedgelock

The Stem pushes the
Valve poppet opening
it for fluid to pass

NOTE: Fluid is sent to the Open side of the

Operating Piston. More on this in coming slides

Wedgelock Fluid Flow for Unlocking

Wedgelock in the locked position

KED
LOC

Wedgelock Fluid Flow for Unlocking

KED
C
O
L
N
U

Open fluid enters the Wedgelock

and pushes the Locking Wedge
and Stem to the Unlocked
position

Operating Piston can open

End Cap Sequence Valve

Finally, once the Wedgelock has been unlocked, the End
Cap Sequence Valve allows fluid to pass to the Open Side of
the Operating Piston
Porting which brings
fluid into End Cap

Porting which allows fluid to

go to Operating Piston after
Sequence Valve shifts

End Cap Sequence Valve Operation

Spring pushes against the
Poppet keeping Valve closed

Open fluid waiting at

the Sequence Valve

Locking Wedge

End Cap Sequence Valve Operation

Wedge pushes Poppet
back allowing fluid to flow

Locking Wedge
engages
poppet

Fluid leaves Wedgelock and

travels to open the Rams

What about the Pressure Chamber

Pressure chamber prevents the possibility that the operating
fluid might unlock the wedgelocks

Pressure
chamber

Wedgelock Unlocked
Pressure chamber and
Locking Piston full of fluid
Locking Piston

Pressure
chamber

Wedgelock Locked
Pressure chamber fluid pulled
into Wedgelock Piston

Fluid keeps wedge from unlocking

Locking Pressure Port-Fluid from the

operating system enters here

Fluid through sequence valve

(once ram is closed) is sent to
the locking wedge

Fluid enters the locking piston

through the bottom lock
pressure connection

Lock Function
Fluid enters rear lock
port in the wedgelock
housing

To pressure balance
chambers (if equipped)

Unlock Function
Will push the wedge back
over to allow the piston
back through the wedge

Unlock fluid comes from

intermediate flange

Fluid enters endcap

sequence valve

Unlock Function

Wedge engages poppet which

will allow fluid to travel back into
the operating cylinder