Patent ID: 8826990

Claim:
A method for installing a pipe closing apparatus in an oil well rig system positioned at least partially in a body of water, comprising the steps of: shutting off a flow of oil through a well head; removing a first section of riser pipe from a riser pipe assembly comprising at least the first and a second sections of riser pipe; and connecting the pipe closing apparatus to the second riser pipe section wherein the pipe closing apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber, the chamber being sealed from an exterior of the housing, a member at least partially positioned within the chamber and moveable relative to the housing, an engagement member secured to the housing wherein the engagement member defines a bore which extends within the engagement member within which the member moves, defines at least one vent opening and defines another opening positioned at a distal end of the engagement member, such that with the member in a first position unblocks the at least one vent opening and in a second position blocks the at least one vent opening.