GB2577629A

GB2577629A - Apparatus for use with a drill string assembly and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2577629A
Application number: GB1912514.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Stephen Garry; Johnston Richard; Symonds David
Original assignee: Oil States Industries UK Ltd
Current assignee: Oil States Industries UK Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-03
Filing date: 2019-08-30
Publication date: 2020-04-01
Also published as: GB201814299D0; GB201912514D0; WO2020049277A1

Abstract

An apparatus providing a carousel to select drill string tools has an outer casing having two fluid couplings 3, 4 for fluidly coupling into a drill string assembly. An inner body 6 supports a selection of components 12 which can be picked to integrate with the drill string assembly. The inner body 6 is movable relative to the fluid couplings to selectively align each component 12 with the fluid couplings and so a drill string. The inner body 6 is in the form of a carousel rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the apparatus where components 12 are parallel to the axis. The component 12 can be a BOP test plug; another component can be a section of through pipe. The apparatus can be connected between a seafloor BOP (5, fig 2) and a riser (9, fig 2). Sequentially, components 12 are selectively rotated to engage a drill string. Drill string components can be swapped out at the seabed for BOP testing.

Description

APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A DRILL STRING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in a drill string assembly and to a method of use thereof, and more particularly to apparatus and a related method for use at or adjacent a blow out preventer (BOP).

In this connection, as is well known, the use of BOPs enables the flow from a well to be controlled, preventing excessive downhole pressure from causing damage to a formation, or from reaching the top of the well where it can endanger personnel and equipment. BOPs do however require regular testing, for example being pressure tested every two weeks. This involves pulling lengths of the drill string back through the BOP to the surface so that test plugs can be run down to the BOP in order to perform the testing. Once testing is complete, the test plugs are removed and the drill string is re-run into the well. As will be appreciated, this is an onerous and time consuming process.

An object of the present invention is to try to alleviate some of the problems and inefficiencies associated with such known arrangements.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use with a drill string assembly, the apparatus comprising:-an outer casing having first and second fluid couplings for fluidly coupling the apparatus into said drill string assembly; an inner body supporting a plurality of components, the inner body being movable relative to said first and second fluid couplings such that each of said components can respectively be aligned with said first and second fluid couplings.

In this way, the apparatus provides a means for selecting alternative components for introduction in the drill string assembly without requiring complete withdrawal of the drill string to the surface. With the apparatus positioned at the junction of the riser with a BOP, it can be used to introduce a testing tool for the BOP with the drill string only being needed to raised up-hole above the apparatus.

Preferably, the inner body is movable within the outer casing, the apparatus further comprising means for moving the inner body with respect to the outer casing to allow alignment of each component with the first and second fluid couplings. In this connection, the inner body may be rotatable about a rotation axis. Accordingly, each component may be supported on a carousel-like arrangement.

Conveniently, the longitudinal axis of each of said components extends parallel to the rotation axis so that it is readily aligned with the first and second fluid couplings.

Preferably, one of said components comprises a section of through-pipe. As such, when aligned with the first and second fluid couplings, the apparatus behaves as a conventional section of riser. In this way, the drill string can readily pass through the apparatus as with a conventional section of riser.

Further, one or more of said components conveniently may comprise a tool, for example, a test tool for preventing blowout. In this way, once the drill string has been pulled up past the apparatus, the inner body can be moved to select the tool component for alignment with the first and second fluid couplings.

Preferably, the inner body comprises a rotatable member having said one or more components radially supported around its rotation axis. In this regard, the rotatable member may be supported on pivot assemblies provided at its end.

Alternatively, the inner body may comprise a slidable cartridge supporting said one or more components.

Preferably, the tool is slidably supported on the inner body allowing it to slide through the second fluid coupling towards the BOP.

Conveniently, the tools held by the inner body may comprise one or more of a testing tool, a maintenance tool, and/or or a delivery/retrieval tool.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of use of apparatus for use in a drill string assembly, the apparatus comprising an outer casing having first and second fluid couplings for fluidly coupling the apparatus into said drill string assembly; an inner body supporting a plurality of components, the inner body being movable relative to the first and second fluid couplings such that each of said components can respectively be aligned with said first and second fluid couplings, the method comprising: coupling the apparatus into a drill string assembly; selecting which component is required to be coupled between the first and second fluid couplings; and moving the inner body relative to the first and second fluid couplings to align the selected component with the first and second fluid couplings.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of coupling the first fluid coupling with a riser of the drill string assembly and coupling the second fluid coupling to a blow out preventer.

Conveniently, in a non-testing configuration, the method comprises aligning a component in the form of a through pipe with the first and second fluid couplings.

Preferably, in a testing configuration, the method component comprises aligning a component in the form of testing tool with the first and second fluid couplings.

In said testing configuration, the method may further comprise deploying and retracting the testing tool through said second fluid coupling.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in place in a drill string assembly; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention in a non-testing configuration; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention in a testing configuration; and Figure 5 shows an end view of the apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises a generally cylindrical outer casing 2 having fluid couplings 3, 4 at top and bottom ends thereof.

Referring to Figure 2, the apparatus 1 can be positioned within a drill string assembly 10 and in this embodiment is positioned at the junction of riser 9 and subsea BOP 5, which in turn is coupled to the sea bed 7 via well-head 8. The apparatus in this regard serves as a riser joint between the bottom end of the riser 9 and the BOP 5.

The apparatus could none the less be provided at alternative positions along the overall length of the drill string, depending on the requirements.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the apparatus of this embodiment comprises a carousel-like arrangement with an inner body 6 pivotally supported by pivot assemblies 7 at either end. A plurality of components may be supported on the inner body, and in this embodiment a through-pipe 11 and a testing tool 12 are shown. As shown, they are preferably radially supported on supporting limbs 13 and 14, with their longitudinal axes being at least substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the inner body.

The rotational axis of the inner body is preferably offset from the longitudinal axis between the first and second fluid couplings 3, 4, meaning that rotation of the inner body brings each of the components sequentially into alignment with the first and second fluid couplings 3, 4.

As such, once a specific component has been selected, the inner body can be rotated with respect to the couplings to bring it into alignment.

As shown, Auxiliary lines 15 such as Choke, Kill, Booster and Hydraulic lines, bypass the apparatus so that the apparatus as a whole can be readily integrated onto a standard riser configuration.

Drive means for actuating the movement/rotation of the inner body 6 can take any suitable form, and may, for example, involve electronically or hydraulically driven motor components. Similarly, means for controlling and driving movement of a test tool into and out of the BOP may be electronically or hydraulically actuated. The drive means may be remotely controllable from the topside.

In use of the apparatus, the inner body is ordinarily set in a non-testing orientation where through-pipe 11 is aligned with the fluid couplings 3,4. As such, the apparatus acts as a conventional section of riser, with the drill string being able to pass through to the sea bed in a normal operating condition.

When a test is required, the drill string is raised above the level of the apparatus into the riser so that the inner body 6 can be rotated to align the testing tool 12 with the fluid couplings and specifically the bottom coupling 4. In this testing orientation, the test tool is deployed and can side down through the bottom coupling towards and into the BOP, so that the necessary testing can be carried out. Once completed, the testing tool is retracted back into the apparatus and the inner body 6 is rotated to align another component, such as a further tool or the through-pipe 11.

Different components can be stored with the apparatus, allowing it to perform different operations such a running/retrieving wear bushes from the wellhead. As such the lower end of the BOP test tool would need to allow for interchangeable heads.

The apparatus allows Auxiliary lines such as Choke, Kill, Booster and Hydraulic lines, to bypass the body of the joint so that it can be readily integrated onto a standard riser configuration.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the components could be provided on a cassette that is slidably movable in relation the fluid couplings, in order that components can be selectively interchanged between the fluid couplings.

Claims

Claims: 1. Apparatus for use with a drill string assembly, the apparatus comprising:-an outer casing having first and second fluid couplings for fluidly coupling the apparatus into said drill string assembly; an inner body supporting a plurality of components, the inner body being movable relative to the first and second fluid couplings such that each of said components can respectively be aligned with said first and second fluid couplings.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner body is movable within the outer casing.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for moving the inner body with respect to the outer casing to allow alignment of each component with the first and second fluid couplings.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner body is rotatable about a rotation axis.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the longitudinal axis of each of said components extends parallel to the rotation axis.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of said components comprises a section of through-pipe.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more of said components comprises a tool.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein one or more of said components comprises a test tool for blowout prevention.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the tool is slidably supported on the inner body for movement through the second fluid coupling towards the BOP.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the tools retained by the inner body may comprise one or more of a testing tool, a maintenance tool, and/or or a delivery/retrieval tool
11. A method of use of apparatus for use in a drill string assembly, the apparatus comprising an outer casing having first and second fluid couplings for fluidly coupling the apparatus into said drill string assembly; and an inner body supporting a plurality of components, the inner body being movable relative to said first and second fluid couplings such that each of said components can respectively be aligned with said first and second fluid couplings, the method comprising the steps of:-coupling the apparatus into a drill string assembly; selecting which component is required to be coupled between the first and second fluid couplings; and moving the inner body relative to the first and second fluid couplings to align the selected component with the first and second fluid couplings.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of coupling the first fluid coupling with a riser of the drill string assembly and coupling the second fluid coupling to a blow out preventer.
13. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein in a non-testing configuration, the method comprises aligning a component in the form of a through pipe with the first and second fluid couplings.
14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein in a testing configuration, the method comprises aligning a component in the form of testing tool with the first and second fluid couplings.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein in said testing configuration, the method comprises further comprises deploying and retracting the testing tool through said second fluid coupling.