Patent ID: 8720575
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An offshore drilling rig having a laser assisted subsea blowout drilling system, for performing activities at or near a seafloor of a body of water, the system comprising: a. a riser capable of being lowered from and operably connected to an offshore drilling rig to a depth at or near the seafloor; b. a blowout preventer capable of being operably connected to the riser and lowered by the riser from the offshore drilling rig to the seafloor; c. the blowout preventer comprising a shear laser module and a ram preventer; d. the shear laser module comprising a high power laser cutter, capable of delivering a laser beam having a power of at least about 1 kW; e. a high power laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 1 kW, in optical communication with the laser cutter; and, f. the laser cutter operably associated with the blowout preventer and riser, whereby the laser cutter is capable of being lowered to at or near the seafloor and upon activation delivering the high power laser beam to a tubular that is within the blowout preventer, wherein the tubular is cut by the high power laser beam.