Ram seal units for attachment to the rams of blowout preventers incorporate an integral ram seal block having a central web, with a parallel rectangular
elastomer support plates extending from opposite sides of the integral ram seal block. The central web is perforate to permit its interlocked relation with
elastomer sealing material that is molded to ram seal block. The generally rectangular
elastomer support plates define outer face surfaces that remain exposed after the molding operation has been completed. These outer face surfaces of the elastomer support plates are adapted to be disposed in intimate face-to-face relation with internal wall surfaces of ram seal receptacles that are provided within BOP ram elements. Each of the rectangular elastomer support plates defines a pair of spaced
retainer receptacles which receive a respective
retainer element of a BOP ram to secure the ram seal units in retained relation within one of the ram seal receptacles of a BOP ram element. When so supported, the elastomer sealing material located between the generally rectangular elastomer support plates and encapsulating the central
web structure of each integral ram seal block, will be presented for sealing contact with its opposed counterpart of the opposed BOP ram element and with the
wireline that is present within the body of the BOP unit.