EP2872732A1 - Dispositif tournant de commande doté d'un joint d'étanchéité sensible à des changements de diamètre extérieur - Google Patents

Dispositif tournant de commande doté d'un joint d'étanchéité sensible à des changements de diamètre extérieur

Info

Publication number
EP2872732A1
EP2872732A1 EP12884551.8A EP12884551A EP2872732A1 EP 2872732 A1 EP2872732 A1 EP 2872732A1 EP 12884551 A EP12884551 A EP 12884551A EP 2872732 A1 EP2872732 A1 EP 2872732A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
seal
chambers
outer diameter
diameter change
fluid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12884551.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2872732A4 (fr
Inventor
Mohamed A. AHMED
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Original Assignee
Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Halliburton Energy Services Inc filed Critical Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Publication of EP2872732A1 publication Critical patent/EP2872732A1/fr
Publication of EP2872732A4 publication Critical patent/EP2872732A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/128—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
    • F16J15/00—Sealings
    • F16J15/46—Sealings with packing ring expanded or pressed into place by fluid pressure, e.g. inflatable packings
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
    • E21B33/08—Wipers; Oil savers
    • E21B33/085—Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in one example described below, more particularly provides a rotating control device with a seal which is responsive to outer diameter changes of a drill string.
  • Rotating control devices generally include one or more seals for sealing about drill pipe while the drill pipe rotates therein. These seals can be damaged by repeated displacement of drill pipe connections (e.g., collars or tool joints) or other outer diameter changes through the seals. One reason is that the seals deform to allow the drill pipe diameter changes to pass through them.
  • seals are already compressed against the drill pipe (in order to seal), so further compression of the seals when diameter changes pass through them further strains the seals.
  • drill pipe connections are typically not perfectly smooth, so the seals can also be scraped, cut, abraded, etc., when the connections pass through the
  • FIG. 1 is a representative partially cross-sectional view of a well drilling system and associated method which can embody principles of this disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a representative enlarged scale partially cross-sectional view of a rotating control device which may be used in the system and method of FIG. 1, and which can embody the principles of this disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 is a representative further enlarged scale cross-sectional view of a seal which may be used in the rotating control device of FIG. 2, and which can embody the principles of this disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 is a representative cross-sectional view of the seal, with an outer diameter change of a drill string being inserted into the seal.
  • FIG. 5 is a representative cross-sectional view of the seal, with the outer diameter change being displaced in the seal.
  • FIG. 6 is a representative cross-sectional view of the seal, with the outer diameter change being displaced out of the seal.
  • FIG. 1 Representatively illustrated in FIG. 1 is a system 10 for use with a subterranean well, and an associated method, which system and method can embody principles of this disclosure.
  • system 10 and method are merely one example of an application of the principles of this disclosure in
  • a wellbore 12 is drilled by rotating a drill pipe 14, such as, by utilizing a drilling rig (not shown) at or near the earth's surface.
  • the drill pipe 14 can be rotated by any means, e.g., a rotary table, a top drive, a positive displacement or turbine drilling motor, etc.
  • any means e.g., a rotary table, a top drive, a positive displacement or turbine drilling motor, etc.
  • the drill pipe 14 is part of an overall drill string
  • a drill bit 18 is connected at a distal end of the drill string 16, so that the drill bit cuts into the earth when the drill string rotates and weight is applied to the drill bit.
  • An annulus 20 is formed radially between the drill string 16 and the wellbore 12.
  • a drilling fluid 22 (commonly known as "mud,” although other fluids, such as brine water, may be used) is circulated downward through the drill string 16, exits the drill bit 18, and flows back to the surface via the annulus 20.
  • the drilling fluid 22 serves several purposes,
  • annulus 20 at or near the earth's surface (for example, at a land or sea- based drilling rig, a subsea facility, a jack-up rig, etc.), so that communication between the annulus 20 and the earth's atmosphere or sea is prevented.
  • a rotating control device 24 can be used to seal about the drill string 16 during a drilling operation.
  • the rotating control device 24 is connected to a blowout preventer stack 26 on a wellhead 28, but in other examples the rotating control device could be positioned in or on a riser string, in a subsea wellhead, in a wellbore, etc.
  • the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular location of the rotating control device 24.
  • FIG. 2 an enlarged scale partially cross-sectional view of one example of the
  • rotating control device 24 is representatively illustrated. In this view, it may be clearly seen that the rotating control device 24 includes two annular seals 30, 32 which seal against an exterior surface of the drill pipe 14 as the drill pipe rotates within an outer housing assembly 34 of the rotating control device.
  • the FIG. 2 rotating control device 24 may be used with the system 10 and method of FIG. 1 , or it may be used with other systems and methods.
  • the outer housing assembly 34 is provided with a flange 36 at a lower end thereof for connection to the blowout preventer stack 26 .
  • the outer housing assembly 34 could be provided with suitable connectors for installing the
  • rotating control device 24 in or on a riser string, to a subsea wellhead, or at any other location.
  • the lower seal 30 is positioned in the outer housing assembly 34
  • the upper seal 32 is positioned in an upper "pot" or enclosure 38 .
  • either or both of the seals 30 , 32 could be positioned inside or outside of the outer housing assembly 34 , and other numbers of seals (including one) may be used. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to any
  • the seals 30 , 32 are in one sense “passive,” in that they sealingly engage the drill pipe 14 whenever the drill pipe is positioned in the rotating control device 24 , without any need of actuating the seals to effect such sealing.
  • the seals 30 , 32 can also be considered “active” seals, because they are responsive to change their sealing characteristics when acted upon by a stimulus, as described more fully below.
  • the seals 30 , 32 are mounted to a bearing assembly 40 , which is secured to the outer housing assembly 34 by a clamp 42 .
  • the bearing assembly 40 includes bearings 44 , which permit an inner generally tubular mandrel 46 to rotate relative to the outer housing assembly 34 .
  • a latch mechanism or other device could be used in place of the clamp 42 .
  • the bearing assembly 40 and both seals 30 , 32 could be positioned entirely within the outer housing assembly 34 .
  • the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular arrangement or configuration of the various components of the rotating control device 24 .
  • the seals 30 , 32 rotate with the enclosure 38 and mandrel 46 relative to the outer housing assembly 34 when the drill pipe 14 rotates in the rotating control device 24 .
  • the drill pipe 14 is both sealingly and grippingly engaged by the seals 30 , 32 .
  • the seal 30 is representatively illustrated apart from the remainder of the rotating control device 24 .
  • the seal 30 may be used in the FIG. 2 rotating control device 24 , or it may be used in other types of rotating control devices, in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.
  • the drill string 16 includes an outer diameter change 48 .
  • the outer diameter change 48 may be in the form of a tool joint, a collar, another type of drill pipe connection, a drilling tool, etc. Any type of outer diameter change can be included in the drill string 16 , within the scope of this disclosure.
  • the outer diameter change 48 comprises an increased outer diameter of the drill pipe 14 . It is desired for the seal 30 to continue sealing against the outer diameter change 48 and the adjacent drill pipe 14 as the outer diameter change passes through the seal, without incurring any damage to the seal, shortening its useful life, etc.
  • the seal 30 includes fluid-filled chambers 50 , 52 in a resilient material 54 of the seal.
  • the material 54 may comprise, for example, an elastomer (such as, a nitrile, fluoro-elastomer , EPDM, etc.).
  • the chambers 50 , 52 are preferably formed by molding them into the seal 30 when the seal is fabricated.
  • the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any
  • An annular-shaped passage 56 connects the chambers 50 ,
  • the passage 56 may also be formed in resilient material 54 , or it may be formed in a rigid or other non-resilient material if desired.
  • fluid 58 can flow between the chambers 50 , 52 via the passage 56 .
  • the fluid 58 can flow to the other chamber via the passage, thereby enlarging a volume of the other chamber.
  • the fluid 58 is preferably a compressible fluid (e.g., a liquid or gas, such as, silicone fluid, nitrogen gas, etc.). In this manner, compression of the fluid 58 will function to resiliently bias the seal 30 into sealing contact with the drill pipe 14 and any outer diameter change 48 .
  • a compressible fluid e.g., a liquid or gas, such as, silicone fluid, nitrogen gas, etc.
  • the seal 30 is representatively illustrated after the diameter change 48 has entered an upper portion of the seal.
  • the increased outer diameter of the drill pipe 14 has caused a volume of the upper chamber 50 to decrease, thereby forcing some or all of the fluid 58 in the chamber 50 to flow via the passage 56 to the other chamber 52 .
  • the increased volume of fluid 58 in the lower chamber 52 is beneficial, in that it causes the lower portion of the seal 30 to be increasingly biased into sealing contact with the drill pipe 14 below the diameter change 48 . This is due in part to the volume of the lower chamber 52 increasing as a result of the additional fluid 58 therein.
  • the seal 30 is representatively illustrated after the diameter change 48 has been displaced further downward in the seal 30 .
  • the diameter change 48 in this view is now positioned opposite the lower chamber 52 .
  • the lower chamber 52 is radially compressed by the presence of the diameter change 48 in the seal 30 , thereby forcing the fluid 58 from the lower chamber to the upper chamber 50 via the passage 56 .
  • the volume of the lower chamber 52 decreases, while the volume of the upper chamber 50 increases.
  • the increased volume of fluid 58 in the upper chamber 50 is beneficial, in that it causes the upper portion of the seal 30 to be increasingly biased into sealing contact with the drill pipe 14 above the diameter change 48 . This is due in part to the volume of the upper chamber 50 increasing as a result of the additional fluid 58 therein.
  • the seal 30 is representatively illustrated after the diameter change 48 has been displaced downwardly out of the seal.
  • the upper and lower chambers 50 , 52 have now returned to their respective FIG. 3 volumes, with some of the fluid 58 having flowed from the upper chamber 50 back to the lower chamber 52 .
  • the transfer of the fluid 58 between the chambers 50 , 52 during the passage of the diameter change 48 through the seal 30 allows the seal to enlarge as needed, and where needed, to prevent over-straining the seal, as well as abrasions and cuts, due to the diameter change.
  • the transfer of the fluid 58 to a particular chamber 50 or 52 allows a respective portion of the seal to be increasingly biased into sealing contact with the drill pipe 14, thereby enhancing the sealing capability of the seal.
  • an external pressure source could be connected to the seal 30.
  • the diameter change 48 could comprise a combination of diameter increases and decreases.
  • the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any of the specific details of the diameter change 48, the seal 30 (or any other elements of the rotating control device 24) or the method described above and/or depicted in the drawings. It may now be fully appreciated that an improved rotating control device 24 is provided to the art by the above disclosure.
  • the rotating control device 24 seals about a drill string 16 having a change in outer diameter 48.
  • the rotating control device 24 can comprise a seal 30 which rotates with the drill string 16.
  • the seal 30 can include at least first and second chambers 50, 52 connected by at least one passage 56, and a fluid 58 which flows between the first and second chambers 50, 52 via the passage 56 in response to
  • One of the first and second chambers 50, 52 can be any of the first and second chambers 50, 52.
  • Each of the first and second chambers 50, 52 may increase in volume and decrease in volume in response to displacement of the diameter change 48 through the seal 30 in any direction.
  • the first and second chambers 50, 52 are preferably free of any connection to an external pressure source.
  • the fluid 58 may comprise a compressible fluid.
  • Each of the first and second chambers 50, 52 may be formed in a resilient material 54 of the seal 30, although non-resilient materials may be used, if desired.
  • the passage 56 may comprise an annular space formed in a resilient material 54 of the seal 30.
  • the passage 56 in other examples could be formed in a rigid or other non-resilient material, and is not necessarily annular in shape (for example, holes of various shapes could be used) .
  • a method of sealing about a drill string 16 having an outer diameter change 48 is also described above.
  • the method comprises: forming at least first and second chambers 50, 52 in a resilient material 54 of a seal 30; displacing the outer diameter change 48 into the seal 30, thereby transferring fluid 58 from the first chamber 50 to the second chamber 52; and displacing the outer diameter change 48 out of the seal 30, thereby transferring the fluid 58 from the first chamber 50 to the second chamber 52.
  • Displacing the outer diameter change 48 into the seal 30 can include flowing the fluid 58 through at least one passage 56 which connects the first and second chambers 50, 52, and/or increasing a volume of the second chamber 52.
  • Displacing the outer diameter change 48 into the seal 30 may be performed without either of the first and second chambers 50, 52 being connected to an external pressure source.
  • the method can include forming the passage 56 in the resilient material 54.
  • Displacing the outer diameter change 48 out of the seal 30 can include flowing the fluid 58 from the second chamber 52 to the first chamber 50 via the passage 56, and/or increasing a volume of the first chamber 50.
  • the passage 56 can comprise an annular space.
  • the method can include displacing the outer diameter change 48 within the seal 30, thereby displacing the fluid 58 from the second chamber 52 to the first chamber 50.
  • seal 30 for sealing about a drill string 16 in a rotating control device 24, the drill string 16 having an outer diameter change 48.
  • the seal 30 can include at least first and second chambers 50, 52.
  • One of the first and second chambers 50, 52 increases in volume while the other of the first and second chambers 50, 52 decreases in volume.
  • the first one of the first and second chambers 50, 52 decreases in volume in response to an increase in volume of the other of the first and second chambers 50, 52.
  • Each of the first and second chambers 50, 52 increases in volume and decreases in volume in response to
  • the diameter change 48 may be an increase and/or a decrease in diameter .
  • the first and second chambers 50, 52 may be free of any connection to an external pressure source. Each of the first and second chambers 50, 52 may be formed in a resilient material 54 of the seal 30.
  • the first and second chambers 50, 52 are preferably connected by at least one passage 56.
  • the passage 56 may comprise an annular space formed in a resilient material 54 of the seal 30.
  • the seal 30 can include a fluid 58 which flows between the first and second chambers 50, 52 via the passage 56 in response to displacement of the diameter change 48 through the seal 30.
  • the fluid 58 may comprise a compressible fluid, although compressible fluid(s) may be used in addition to, or in place of, compressible fluid.
  • structures disclosed as being separately formed can, in other examples, be integrally formed and vice versa.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
  • Drilling And Boring (AREA)
  • Drilling Tools (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif tournant de commande destiné à étanchéifier autour d'un train de tiges de forage présentant un changement de diamètre extérieur qui peut comprendre un joint d'étanchéité qui tourne avec le train de tiges de forage, le joint d'étanchéité comprenant au moins deux chambres reliées par un passage, et un fluide qui s'écoule entre les chambres à travers le passage en réponse au déplacement du changement de diamètre extérieur par l'intermédiaire du joint d'étanchéité. Un procédé d'étanchéité peut consister à former au moins deux chambres dans un matériau élastique d'un joint d'étanchéité, à déplacer le changement de diamètre extérieur dans le joint d'étanchéité, ce qui permet de transférer le fluide à partir d'une première chambre vers une seconde chambre, et à déplacer le changement de diamètre extérieur hors du joint d'étanchéité, ce qui permet de transférer le fluide à partir de la première chambre vers la seconde chambre. L'une des chambres peut augmenter de volume tandis que l'autre parmi les chambres diminue de volume.
EP12884551.8A 2012-09-12 2012-09-12 Dispositif tournant de commande doté d'un joint d'étanchéité sensible à des changements de diamètre extérieur Withdrawn EP2872732A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2012/054899 WO2014042631A1 (fr) 2012-09-12 2012-09-12 Dispositif tournant de commande doté d'un joint d'étanchéité sensible à des changements de diamètre extérieur

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2872732A1 true EP2872732A1 (fr) 2015-05-20
EP2872732A4 EP2872732A4 (fr) 2015-12-23

Family

ID=50278558

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12884551.8A Withdrawn EP2872732A4 (fr) 2012-09-12 2012-09-12 Dispositif tournant de commande doté d'un joint d'étanchéité sensible à des changements de diamètre extérieur

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US20140339772A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2872732A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU2012389806B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR112015005487A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2884701A1 (fr)
MX (1) MX2015001107A (fr)
RU (1) RU2015107981A (fr)
WO (1) WO2014042631A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10612336B2 (en) 2014-08-21 2020-04-07 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Rotating control device
GB2545332B (en) 2014-09-30 2020-09-30 Halliburton Energy Services Inc Mechanically coupling a bearing assembly to a rotating control device
WO2017044101A1 (fr) 2015-09-10 2017-03-16 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Dispositif de commande de rotation intégré et système de manipulation de gaz pour un système de forage marin

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1197910B (de) * 1962-02-01 1965-08-05 Demag Ag Vorrichtung zum Abdichten von Hauben oder aehnlichen, beweglichen, heisse Gase ableitenden Teilen fuer metallurgische OEfen
US3689082A (en) * 1970-02-03 1972-09-05 Satterthwaite James G Inflatable seal
FR2295323A1 (fr) * 1974-12-19 1976-07-16 Joint Francais Joint d'etancheite
DE3401955A1 (de) * 1984-01-20 1985-07-25 INTERATOM GmbH, 5060 Bergisch Gladbach Aufblasbare schlauchdichtung mit auswechselbarem dichtkoerper
US5580068A (en) * 1990-07-27 1996-12-03 Npc, Inc. Liquid filled seal
US7779903B2 (en) * 2002-10-31 2010-08-24 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Solid rubber packer for a rotating control device
US6994170B2 (en) * 2003-05-29 2006-02-07 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Expandable sand control screen assembly having fluid flow control capabilities and method for use of same
US7946556B1 (en) * 2010-08-16 2011-05-24 Sistag Ag Absperrtechnik Resilient seat seal for a valve
US8596345B2 (en) * 2010-11-16 2013-12-03 Smith International, Inc. RCD sealing elements with multiple elastomer materials

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2012389806B2 (en) 2016-07-21
WO2014042631A1 (fr) 2014-03-20
MX2015001107A (es) 2015-06-05
US20140339772A1 (en) 2014-11-20
EP2872732A4 (fr) 2015-12-23
AU2012389806A1 (en) 2015-03-19
CA2884701A1 (fr) 2014-03-20
RU2015107981A (ru) 2016-11-10
BR112015005487A2 (pt) 2017-07-04

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