DE102004042956A1 - Method and filling device for filling drills with drilling fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

An oil or gas drilling rig has a filling assembly to feed a drilling lubricant/coolant to a drill tip and comprising a cylinder (1) with a valve-controlled fluid inlet (3) and a piston chamber (5). The cylinder has an end-piece (2) with a link fitting to a drill rod drive. The cylinder further has a hollow cylindrical filling piston (9) delivering fluid to the drill string inside the chamber (5). The filling piston moves back and forth axially and has an outlet that is opened and closed by a piston valve (4) and regulates discharge of the drill fluid.

Description

The The invention relates to a filling device for Fill up of drilling fluid in drill pipe or in drill trains a drill string, as used in oil or gas wells find and a method for their operation.

At the Operation of drilling equipment for deep drilling, in particular for the development of Oil- or natural gas deposits Drilling methods are used in which drilling fluid filled in the drill string of a drill string in certain compositions and directed to the drill head. For this purpose, the individual drill pipes are hollow cylindrical formed and at the ends with openings for the passage of drilling fluid provided to the drill head.

through Pumping device in the area of the platform becomes the drilling fluid while of the drilling process passed through the drill string in the wellbore and high pressure nozzles through nozzles located at the bit Drilled hole. The resulting in drilling operation cutting residues are thus continuous from the teeth removed the cutting tool and its necessary cooling secured.

there should be the fluid level the cavity of the borehole as possible Completely fill out and close to the surface the drilling platform. Because in addition to the very important reduction the friction losses of the drill string protects the drilling fluid also against uncontrollable gas leakage, so-called blow-outs and serves to transport the cuttings from the bottom of the borehole in drilling mud traps of the drilling platform.

Of the Drill strand itself consists of a variety of each other coupled drills, which in turn has several drill pipes include.

In dependence from the drilling progress achieved and the final depth to be achieved of the borehole, the drill string must be constantly extended by new drill string. The drill pipe become drills summarized and by the elevator on the platform to the borehole transported and coupled to the drill string. To maintain the necessary drilling fluid level in the borehole, which also for an effective circulation of the drilling fluid is important must with the extension be supplied to the drill string and drilling fluid.

To After completion of the drilling, the drill string will be off in most cases removed from the borehole and casings for stabilization and lining used the borehole.

Especially also for cost reasons it is desirable the individual steps in the extension of the drill string and maintaining an optimal well level in the wellbore with minimal time and a user-friendly and reliable technology perform.

this The aim was to undergo numerous development work in the drilling technique. A special emphasis is also placed on those in the patent literature in detail described tools and technical support facilities, which are used for Fill up and for circulating drilling fluid be used.

there find the constructive optimization, the trouble-free operating time, as well as the procedural minimization of changeover times Of the tools developed special attention.

So For example, many devices have been proposed which a simultaneous replenishment of the drill string and the circulation of drilling fluid between the drill string and allow the casing. Such known filling devices are mostly cylindrical housings, with a pressure-actuated and axially displaceable valve for opening and closing the Conduction path of the drilling fluid in the drill pipe accommodated.

to filling of casings of a drill string are usually called filling valves coupled to the drill string and partly in the with drilling fluid be refilled Lowered casing, where then the supplied by pumping drilling fluid on different designed closable openings and nozzles is discharged into the annulus between drill string and casing. The filling valve also prevents the unwanted reflux contaminated drilling fluid, Also called drilling mud in the drill string after switching off the Pump.

Some technical solutions Use tools that are beneficial with the topdrive of the rig connected, in particular screwed and also a pressure-operated inlet valve have that through the flowing drilling fluid open becomes.

So will in the EP 929731 B1 discloses a very complex filling and circulating device for drilling rigs, the filling of sections of Fut terrohren disclosed in a well with drilling fluid. In this case, the drilling fluid is added by means of a hooked into the drill tool filling each feed pipe to be used. The liquid inlet via inlet nozzles, which are protected by a Bohrschlamm valve device against the temporarily out of the wellbore drilling mud. This known auxiliary tool should also allow the circulation of the drilling fluid and the cementing of the casing in the borehole. The multi-functional capability to be achieved, however, requires a complicated structure and a high susceptibility to failure of the device.

From the EP 774564 A2 Also, a drilling fluid refilling apparatus is known which discharges the drilling fluid into the freed annulus between the drill string and the walls of the wellbore.

The here described cylindrical filling is bolted to the topdrive of the elevator and the tubular drill string. The one or more laterally arranged outlet opening for the dispensed drilling fluid provided cylindrical walls can be closed by a valve slidable between two positions.

The padding also applies to the cementing of casings application and must both for filling the borehole with drilling fluid, as well as being lowered into the well for cementing.

Other generic filling devices are also described in US 2002/0189814 A1 and the EP 939193 A2 described.

All these prior art devices, whether only for refilling or also for combined filling and circulating drilling fluid have numerous disadvantages.

So is often a time-consuming procedure for coupling and decoupling the in front of known filling tools and auxiliary equipment to the drill pipe or the Bohrzug necessary as well as a complicated and trouble-prone lowering in the borehole. Also, with these facilities no filling the Cables to be coupled while their installation in the drill string possible.

The with backwashed drilling mud contaminated and slidably arranged valve parts, as well as their outlet openings clog up and have to be time consuming getting cleaned.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, a device and to provide a method of their operation, with which these disadvantages be eliminated and a fast, time-saving and reliable replenishment of Bohrzügen ensured with drilling fluid becomes.

These The object is achieved by the inventive filling device according to the characterizing features of claim 1.

In the dependent claims are further advantageous embodiments and refinements of Invention specified.

The inventive solution relates to a filling device to fill up a drill string, from drill pipes or drills with drilling fluid.

basics Components of the inventive solution are a cylindrical Body, a piston chamber with at least one closable filling opening for drilling fluid includes and a tail for coupling the filling device to the Topdrive (rotary drive head) of the Tiefbohrstranges has. The inventive filling device is further characterized in that a hollow cylindrical filling piston for dispensing drilling fluid in the drill string in the piston chamber of the cylindrical body axially movably sliding.

In the cavity of the filling piston also attacks an axially movable piston valve and thus acts with the Piston chamber together, that one through the drilling fluid pressure caused opening position and one by an external media pressure, in particular compressed air effected closing positions is ingestible and effective.

The inventive device is preferably for refilling of drills or drill pipes with drilling fluid while their installation used to reposition the drill string.

To becomes the filling device mounted on the drilling platform in the coupling device of the elevator and with the pump system for the feeder of drilling fluid, and an external print media source for actuating the fill valve.

at this device according to the invention is it is not necessary the "filling hole" of the tool in the Lower drill hole or casing or dock to the drill string, which leads to significant time savings in the replacement of the drill pipe

details The invention will now be described with reference to drawings and an embodiment be explained in more detail.

It demonstrate:

1 The filling device according to the invention in the open position

2 The filling device with closed filling piston 9 The embodiment relates to the filling device according to the invention and a method for their operation for filling of drilling fluid in a Bohrzug which serves to extend the drill string during installation. Depending on the drill hole depth to be achieved, this process must be repeated very frequently. The frequency of the drill string to be used and replenished for the extension of the drill string, as well as the changeover time required therefor, are optimization variables that can be influenced by the technique used. The individual drill pipe or drill string combined into a drill string are then hooked into the elevator, coupled to the downhole drill string, and lowered into the wellbore.

For coupling to the top drive of the elevator, the filling device according to the invention is screwed to an intermediate piece of light. This is the cylindrical body 1 the filling device with a tail 2 provided with a corresponding formed as a screw thread coupling means ( 1 ).

The filling device also has a connection 10 for feeding and discharging print media 16 , As a pressure medium compressed air is usually used because of the easy availability on drilling platforms.

The external controllable compressed air source, which is designed in particular as a pneumatic control unit, is then connected to the connection by means of a compressed air hose 10 the filling device connected and secured against rotation.

The connection valve 10 for the compressed air is via a pressure channel with the gas-tight closed cylindrical space between the outer surface of the filling piston 9 and the inner surface of the piston chamber 5 m connected.

Other essential components of the filling device are also in the main body 1 arranged piston valve 4 and the cooperating with the piston valve hollow cylindrical filling piston 9 ,

The piston valve 4 includes an inlet-side valve disk 6 that is in common with an outlet side valve plug 7 at a certain distance from each other on a valve guide rod 8th are arranged. The valve guide rod 8th extends on the inlet side through the filling opening 3 at the stop / valve seat 14 and is connected to a disc via the one through the between the disc and the valve seat 14 arranged valve return spring 11 a restoring force for closing the valve disk 6 of the piston valve 4 exercises.

The at the outlet end of the valve guide rod 8th arranged valve plug 7 is dimensioned and provided on its circumference with inner sealing lips that it into the opening of the hollow cylindrical filling piston 9 penetrate and can close this.

The tubular filling piston 9 itself is axially slidable in the piston chamber 5 arranged and inlet side as a ring stop 12 formed with a groove, which gas and media density with the inner wall of the piston chamber 5 concludes.

in the The following is the operation of the filling device according to the invention be explained in more detail.

After the filling device has been coupled to the topdrive of the drill string using a dummy piece (4 1/2 IF), the connection of the drilling fluid supply line and the compressed air via the connection valve 10 the compressed air space between the outer filling piston 9 and inner wall of the piston chamber 5 Relieves, so that the filling piston 9 in the outlet direction to the pipe opening of the Bohrzuges from the body 1 moved out and the valve plug 7 the outlet opening of the filling piston releases. On the pneumatic control unit (not shown) the corresponding lever must be set to the "Piston down" position.

Now, the annular pump for supplying the drilling fluid to start in the state and the flowing through a pressure hose, the Topdrive and the Schonstück drilling fluid opens against the spring force of the valve return spring 11 the valve plate 6 and gives the filling opening 3 the piston chamber 5 free.

So the drilling fluid passes through the piston chamber 5 into the tube opening of the filling piston 9 which forwards them into the boring cable to be filled.

For example, the filling piston is pushed downwards by approx. 9 bar by a flushing pressure of the drilling fluid until the internal piston valve 4 the flow path into the hollow filling piston rod 9 free.

Of the Stroke of the filling piston should be about 60 cm here. But there are also other stroke parameters according to the design requirements of other drilling rigs detected by this invention.

The Filling speed filled with the now the Bohrzug preferably should not exceed 250 l / min.

After completing the filling process and switching off the ring pump, the valve closes and leads to the emptying of the piston chamber 10 and the filling piston.

To becomes the shift lever arranged on the pneumatic control unit in the position "Piston up ".

Thereby the filling piston pulls into the piston housing back.

Around the ejection of the drilling fluid too Avoid, preferably, a train should remain dry and that too pumping volumes previously calculated and at the drilling fluid pumping device be set.

After completion of the filling process, the ring pump is switched off on the drilling platform, and there is the automatic emptying of the piston chamber 5 ,

By actuating the "Piston up" lever of the pneumatic control unit, compressed air is supplied via the connection valve 10 into the piston chamber 5 pumped and the filling piston 9 upwards in the direction of the filling opening 3 moved (starting position).

By the closing movement of the filling piston 9 closes the valve plug 7 the hollow filling piston rod 9 and the valve plate 6 of the piston valve 4 is against the valve seat 14 pressed. The closure of the filling opening 3 through the valve plate 6 is also due to the return spring 11 supported.

To the effective and trouble-free Operation of the filling device is in this preferred embodiment a mud pressure the drilling fluid of minimum 9 bar and a compressed air supply on the ringfloor provided by at least 7 bar.

In addition to the ease of use and the fast assembly or disassembly of the filling device and their permanently reliable operation is of particular advantage. The risk of clogging and soiling, as well as the occurrence of malfunction are minimized by the present constructive inventive solution. Also very advantageous is the time savings to be achieved in the inventive application of the tool. Thus, for example, a time saving of one minute and 50 seconds can be achieved per three train to be installed compared to conventional known filling and / or circulating devices. Particularly advantageous is the use of an external compressed air source for reliable operation of the filling piston 9 ,

Here, not only is the back pressure of the drilling fluid closing the drill string through the piston valve 4 used, but in addition a strong pneumatic pressure force in the cylindrical cavity of the piston chamber 5 is produced.

According to the invention so and the filling new drill trains with drilling fluid already during their coupling to the drill string and during their installation time.

1

cylindrical body

2

End piece of the main body with coupling means

3

fill opening

4

piston valve

5

piston chamber

6

inlet-side Valve disc of the piston valve

7

outlet side Valve plug of the piston valve

8th

Valve guide rod

9

hollow cylindrical filling piston

10

connection valve for printing medium

11

Valve return spring

12

annular stop with groove of the filling piston

13

sealant the filling piston guide

14

Stop / valve seat

15

Füllkolbenführung

16

Media Connection

Claims (11)

Filling device for filling a deep drill string or one or more drill trains with drilling fluid, consisting of a cylindrical base body ( 1 ), which has a piston chamber ( 5 ) with at least one closable filling opening ( 3 ) for drilling fluid and an end piece ( 2 ), which has connecting means and serves for coupling to the top drive of the deep drill string, characterized in that a hollow cylindrical filling piston ( 9 ) for dispensing drilling fluid into the drill string in the piston chamber ( 5 ) of the cylindrical base body ( 1 ) is axially slidably mounted and with a in the cavity of the filling piston ( 9 ) engaging piston valve ( 4 ), which is also axially movable in the piston chamber ( 5 ) is arranged, cooperates such that Öff tion and closing positions for dispensing drilling fluid are ingestible. Filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the basic body ( 1 ) a connection valve ( 10 ) for the supply or relaxation of liquid or gaseous media, in particular compressed air, into the cylindrical interior space between the base body ( 1 ) and filling piston ( 9 ) of the piston chamber ( 5 ), whereby a pressurized movement of the filling piston ( 9 ) is to effect between an open and closed position. Filling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that both the basic body ( 1 ), as well as the filling piston ( 9 ) Slings ( 14 . 15 ), in particular an inlet-side valve seat ( 14 ) and an outlet-side filling piston guide ( 15 ), with whose arrangement the Füllkolbenhub between the open position and the closed position of the filling piston ( 9 ) in the main body ( 1 ) is fixable, wherein the filling piston guide ( 15 ) Sealant ( 13 ), which complete the arrangement liquid and gas-tight. Filling device according to claim 3, characterized in that the piston valve ( 4 ) a valve guide rod ( 8th ) with a valve disc ( 6 ) and at a defined distance at least one valve plug ( 7 ), which) which is designed such that it in the hollow cylindrical interior of the filling piston ( 9 ) is liquid-tight, whereby its closure is made possible, and an inlet side valve return spring ( 11 ) above the stop / valve seat ( 14 ) is arranged such that by the spring force of the inlet-side valve disc ( 6 ) against the valve seat ( 14 ) is closable. Filling device according to claim 4, characterized in that the filling piston ( 9 ) on the inlet side with a ring stop ( 12 ), which has at least one circumferential groove for receiving sealing means, in particular an O-ring, which measures the volume of the pressure medium from the piston chamber ( 5 ) separating drilling fluid, wherein in the filling piston ( 9 ) insertable valve plugs ( 7 ) is also provided in its circumference with at least one sealant, whereby the closure of the filling piston is made possible with respect to the drill string or Bohrzug. Method for operating a filling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece ( 2 ) of the main body ( 1 ) of the filling device to the top drive of the drill string liquid-tight screwed and the pressure medium supply ( 16 ) with the connection valve ( 10 ) and the filling of the drill cords with drilling fluid during their installation in the drill string takes place. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that for filling a Bohrzuges in the Bohrzug under pressure to be filled drilling fluid the piston valve ( 4 ) and through the filling opening ( 3 ) into the piston chamber ( 5 ) penetrates, whereby the hollow cylindrical filling piston ( 9 ) in the body ( 1 ) is pushed down until the outlet side valve plug ( 7 ) of the piston valve ( 4 ) the flow path in the filling piston ( 9 ) and fills the predetermined amount of drilling fluid through the outlet opening in the Bohrzug. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the pressure of the drilling fluid to be filled is 8 to 10 bar and the opening stroke of the filling piston ( 9 ) Is 60 cm, with the filling speed of the drill string or the drill string does not exceed 250 l / min. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that at the conclusion of the filling process no further supply of drilling fluid through the filling opening ( 3 ) and the piston valve ( 4 ) is closed, in which the inlet-side valve disc ( 6 ) by means of valve return spring ( 11 ) against the liquid-tight valve seat ( 14 ) is pressed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, by means of an external compressed gas source, in particular a compressed air-generating compressor, compressed gas via the connecting valve ( 10 ) in the cylindrical interior space between the base body ( 1 ) and filling piston ( 9 ), whereby the filling piston ( 9 ) is moved to its closed position, wherein the valve piston ( 7 ) into the interior of the filling piston ( 9 ) is inserted and closes this and the valve disc ( 6 ) through the ring stop ( 12 ) of the filling piston ( 9 ) against the valve seat ( 14 ) is held. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that to avoid the overflow of drilling fluid at least one drill string of the drill string is not filled and the pumped Filling volume before the filling is calculated and controlled by adjusting the drilling fluid filling pump (ring pump) becomes.