US3280908A - Apparatus for underwater drilling and well completion - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1966 L. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 FIG; 1

l3 Sheets$heet l INVENTOR WILLIAM L.TODD

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. L. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z TIEI EA so 65 29 I I I I l I I I II 1I I 5 t I I XI I 84\ l II "I I 84 I I 340 319 m g 338 86 I I 86 I I l I I I 7'2 40 I I .I it I II I as I II 88 I III I; I I i i I 28/ III 1 I W I, v

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INVENTOR WILLIAM L. TODD ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. L. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 F'IG EB INVENTOR WILLIAM L.TODD

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. L. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPL ETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 90 7O Hi! 148 as, v e2 INVENTOR 6O WILLIAM L. TODD sYM W' ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. 1.. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zs- E' 29 I F -ZOO IH: II l 9o [[1 H ll l| 5k 92 INVENTOR 35 I WILLIAM L. TODD N 1 7 60 BY /W/@ZJ ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. L. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 1-3 Sheets-Sheet 6 F'II3 2E 122 so 35 1 W INVENTOR WILLIAM L. TODD ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIE-2F INVENTOR WILLIAM L TODD BY W a W- ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 n so 148 ill! I lNVENTOR s WILLIAM L.TDD

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. L. r000 3,280,908

' APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets Sheet 9 36 INVENTOR 7O WILLIAM L.TODD

F I E l BY/ww W ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. L? TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet l0 Fl 5J3 7O 62 INVENTOR WILLIAM L.TODD

60 BY W14 ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. L. TODD 3,230,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 r jm CW as H NW I I ookofir N NNNN p k9 SS 3 m INVENTOR WILLIAM L T ODD ATTORNEY W. L. TODD Oct. 25, 1966 APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION l3 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed May 21, 1962 INVENTOR WILLIAM L.TODD

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. TODD 3,280,908

APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION Filed May 21, 1962 13 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR WILLIAM L. TODD BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,280,908 APPARATUS FOR UNDERWATER DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETION William L. Todd, Houston, Tex., assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 21, 1962, Ser. No. 196,222 8 Claims. (Cl. 166-.6)

The present invention pertains to wells and more particularly to apparatus for drilling and working on underwater wells.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used in connection with wells under any kind of water, whether marine or fresh, but to simplify the description of the invention, the apparatus is described herein as being used in an ocean.

Offshore drilling has heretofore been principally accomplished from stationary platform structures erected at, or towed to, an offshore location and there rigidly anchored to the underwater formation. Of necessity these structures are massively built and, as a consequence, are cumbersome and costly both in initial fabrication and in transport. Recently, techniques of drilling from a floating vessel have been developed to a point where in many circumstances platform drilling can be replaced.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus whereby an underwater well can be drilled from a floating or other type platform at or above the surface of the water, and a well head completion assembly installed adjacent the ocean floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well installation wherein the casing head for the well is located adjacent the ocean floor, and wherein means are provided whereby a rigid cluster, comprising a conductor tube for the drill pipe and all of the control lines necessary to the drilling operation, may be lowered from the surface and releasably attached to the casing head adjacent the ocean floor without requiring the services of a diver.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel spear type of conduit connection to enable the several fluid conducting conduits necessary to the drilling operation to be connected to the flow passages of a casing head located adjacent the ocean floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel fluid actuated clamp mechanism adapted for use in clamping the drilling pipe conductor tube to the upper end of the casing head which is located adjacent the ocean floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drill pipe conductor tube and the necessary conduits for controlling the blowout preventers and the other assemblies incidental to the drilling operation which tube and conduits are made up in a cluster formed of prefabricated sections which may be easily connected together to provide a drill pipe conductor and control line cluster of indeterminate length.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of an underwater well installation incorporating apparatus embodying the present invention, which apparatus includes a floating drilling barge and the necessary connections between said barge and a well head located adjacent the ocean floor for conducting drilling operations.

FIGS. 2A through 2F taken together form a composite enlarged elevation with certain parts being broken away, of the apparatus of FIG. 1 starting from the bottom end thereof, and working up, since this is the order in which the various assemblies would be installed during a drilling operation.

3,280,908 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the conductor tube and control cluster.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 and illustrates the coupling between adjacent sections of a tube and conduit cluster.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on a plane at a position indicated by line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal diametric section through a slip joit incorporated in the tube and conduit cluster and is taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2D.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a clamp mechanism, also shown in FIG. 2A, for clamping the lower end of the conductor tube to the upper end of the casing head.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section primarily illustrating a hydraulic actuator for the clamp mechanism and is taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a section taken on a plane at a position indicated by line 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are similar longitudinal diametric sections through a spear-type coupling joint, also shown in FIG. 2A, for coupling various conduits to the casing head, FIG. 11 being shown with the coupling spear withdrawn, and FIG. 12 being shown with the coupling spear extended.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a floating barge 10 (FIG. 1) having a derrick 11 mounted thereon. The barge is provided with a vertical opening 14 extending therethrough. An equipment deck 16 bridges the opening 14 and a drilling platform 18, having the usual rotary table 20, is mounted on the derrick 11 above the deck 16.

In the initial phase of drilling a well, according to the present invention, the barge 10 is anchored over the desired spot and a drill pipe, not shown, having a collapsible bit, of the underreamer type, at its lower end, is lowered through the rotary table 20 and the opening 14 of the barge 10 until the bit rests on the ocean floor 21. The rotary table is then rotated to actuate the bit to drill a suitable bore for a surface or support casing 22. During this phase of the drilling, sea water is circulated through the drill pipe and the bit without return.

When the bore in the ocean floor 21 is deep enough to receive the support casing 22, the rotary table 20 is stopped and the drill pipe, not shown, is raised until the bit is just within the top of the bore. The support casing is then stripped over the drill pipe and lowered using the drill pipe as a guide. When the surface casing length equals the depth of the bore, a casing head 26, having three cable anchor assemblies 28 afiixed thereto at points spaced 120 from each other, is aflixed to the upper end of the casing. The support casing 22 is then lowered into the bore until the casing head 26 is adjacent the ocean floor. Cables 29, fixed to the cable anchor assemblies 28 extend upwardly to the barge 10, and each is secured thereto by a suitable constant tension device (not shown) which will maintain a constant tension on the cable while permitting movement of the drilling barge 10 relative thereto in response to either wave or tidal action. The lower end of each of the cables 29 is fixed to a centering cylinder 40 (FIG. 2A) which is part of the cable anchor assembly 28 and which has a tapered upper end portion.

The casing head 26 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending conduits 30 (FIGS. 2A, 11 and 12) which are turned upwardly at their outer ends and terminate in upwardly facing female coupling members or receptacles 32. The female coupling members 32 are clustered about the upper end of the casing head 26 in a predetermined pattern, and each is is adapted to receive therein a male coupling member 66 in a manner described hereinbelow. The coupling members provide fluid communication with the several flow passageways between casings and between the innermost casing and the well tubings not shown but ultimately installed in the well. Each of the conduits 30 is provided with a hydraulically or electrically actuated valve 34 to control flow therethrough.

As soon as the support casing 22 is completely lowered, the drill pipe, not shOWn, is removed, and the support casing 22 is cemented in place by any of the usual cementing techniques.

After the support casing 22 with the casing head 26 thereon and the guide assemblies 28 fixed thereto has been installed, a drilling assembly, comprising a lower hydraulic clamp mechanism 56, a blowout preventer group 50, 52, and 54, and a sectionalized tube and conduit cluster generally indicated at 35, is assembled at the barge and lowered along the guide cables 29 until the clamp mechanism 56 is in position to be clamped to the casing head 26. The drilling assembly also includes a ball joint 58 connected in a drill pipe conductor tube 60 and an upper hydraulic clamp mechanism 61 releasably interconnecting separable sections of the tube 60 between the ball joint and the uppermost blowout preventer 54.

The cluster 35 includes a plurality of satellite conduits 62 clustered about the conductor tube 60 and fixed thereto. Certain of the conduits 62 are connected by suitable flexible conductors 64 to the blowout preventers 50, 52 and 54, and other conduits are connected by suitable flexible conductors 64 to a series of the male coupling members 66 clustered about the lower clamp mechanism 56. The coupling members 66 unite with the previously mentioned female coupling members 32 of the casing head 26. The male coupling members 66 are fixed about the clamp mechanism 56 in accordance with a predetermined fixed pattern corresponding to the arrangement of the female coupling members 32 about the casing head 26, so that when the clamp mechanism 56 is properly oriented, each of the male coupling members 66 registers with its associated female coupling members 32. In actual practice, in order to minimize tolerance requirements, the subsequently described male member 240 (FIG. 11) is preferably received into the counterbore 242 before the male coupling members 66 enter the female members 32.

The cluster 35 further includes a plurality of hydraulic and electric conductors 70 (FIGS. 2C, 2D and 3) which are clustered in bundles interspersed between the conduits 62 clustered about the conductor tube 60. Some of the hydraulic conductors 70 are connected by flexible connectors (not shown) to hydraulic control conduits 72 on the several blowout preventers 50, 52, 54, respectively. Others of the hydraulic and electrical conductors 70 are grouped into a cable 74 (FIG. 2A) and are connected to one member 76 of a disconnect coupling unit 77. The member 76 is fixed with respect to the clamp mechanism 56 and is adapted to unite with another coupling member 78 of the coupling unit 77. The coupling member 78 is mounted in fixed position on the casing head 26. Coupling unit 77 hydraulically connects the valves 34 in the several conduits 30, and electrically connects pressure-responsive instruments (not shown) in these conduits 30, to the conduits 70 of the cluster 35.

Three spider frames 80, 82 and 84 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) are fixed one to the uppermost blowout preventer 54, one to the intermediate blowout preventer 52, and one to the clamp mechanism 56, respectively. These three spider frames 80, 82 and 84 support three vertically disposed guide sleeves 86 (only two of which are shown), each of which slidably embraces one of the guide cables 29. The lower end of each sleeve 86 is enlarged and terminally flared outwardly, as indicated at 88, to cooperate with the cylinders 40 to properly orientate the clamp mechanism 56 and the blowout preventers 50, 52 and 54 so that the male coupling members 66 and 76 will register with the female coupling members 32 and 78, respectively, when the assembly is lowered into contact with the casing head 26.

The cluster 35, comprising the conductor tube 60, with its satellite conduits 62 and the hydraulic and electrical conductors 70, is made up in a series of identical prefabricated sections 36 connected together by gang coupling units 90 (FIGS. 2C, 2D and 3) more fully described hereinbelow.

Near the surface of the water, a special cluster section 92 is installed in the cluster 35. This special section 92 has the same conduits 62 and hydraulic and electrical conductors 70 as do the other sections and, in addition, carries a floatation tank 94 which is fixed to the cluster section 92. The tank 94 carries three sleeves 96 (only two of which are shown), at three equally spaced points about its periphery, which sleeves slidably embrace the guide cables 29. Two conduits 98 connect the tank 94 to two of the conductors 70 at the next gang coupling 90 thereabove to permit the introduction of either liquid or compressed air to the tank to change the buoyancy of the tank. The buoyancy is so adjusted that the tank 94 supports the weight of the sections 36 of the cluster 35 therebeneath.

The upper end of the special cluster section 92 is connected by a gang coupling 90 FIG. 2D) to the lower end of a slip joint assembly 100 (FIGS. 2D and 6). The slip joint assembly 100 comprises a central slip joint assembly 102 connected to the tube 60 and a plurality of satellite slip joint assemblies 104. The hydraulic and electric conductors 70 of the cluster section 92 are connected by the gang coupling 90 to a plurality of flexible conductors 106 which bypass the slip joint asesmbly 100 and extend upwardly through the deck 16 of the barge 10. The conductors 106 are supported by constant tension assemblies 108 (FIG. 2F) supported from the derrick platform 18 so that a constant tension is maintained on the flexible conductors 106 while permitting movement of the barge relative thereto in response to either wave or tidal action.

The lower, relatively stationary portion of the slip joint assembly 100 (FIG. 2D) is provided with a spider 110 which carries sleeves 112 which slidably embrace the guide cables 29. Similarly, the upper movable portion of the slip joint assembly 100 is provided with a spider 114 which carries sleeves 116 which slidably embrace the guide cables 29. The upper portion of the slip joint assembly 100 is connected by a gang coupling unit 90a to a cluster section 118. The section 118 extends through and is supported on the equipment deck 16 of the barge 10 by a suitable slip assembly 120 (FIG. 2E). The coupling unit 90a is similar to the gang couplings 90 with the exception that no provision is made for the hydraulic and electrical conductors 70 or 106. Similarly, the cluster section 118 is similar to the other cluster sections 36 of the cluster 35 with the exception that there are no hydraulic or electrical conductors, as 70 or 106, incorporated therein.

It is to be understood that the slip join assembly 100 (FIG. 2D) can be omitted and that flexible connections can extend from the coupling 90 to the drilling barge 10.

Above the equipment deck 16 (FIG. 2E), the upper ends of the conduits 62 are connected by suitable conduits 122 which extend laterally from the cluster 35 to connect the several conduits 62 to their proper respective control devices (not shown). Similarly, the upper ends of the flexible conductors 106 are connected to their proper control devices (not shown). The upper end of the conductor tube 60 (FIG. 2F) is provided with a laterally extending conduit 124 which empties into a suitable mud tank 126 (FIG. 1).

After the cluster 35 has been installed, a drill pipe 130, including well-known bumper subs, not shown, to compensate for vertical movement of the ship, can be lowered through the rotary table 20, the conductor tube 60, the casing head 26 and the support casing 22 to continue drilling of the well in the normal manner. Similarly, the installation of additional casing, such as 131, and of the production tubing (not shown) may be accomplished through the conductor tube 60. If for any reason, such as an approaching storm, it is desired to vacate the site, the drill pipe 130 can be withdrawn through the conductor tube 60, the upper hydraulic clamp mechanism 61 can be actuated to release the cluster 35 from the blowout preventers 50, 52 and 54 and the casing head 26, and the entire drilling assembly can then be raised, each section 36 being disconnected as it is raised by means of the gang couplings 90. The guide cables 29 are then attached to a floating buoy, not shown, and the site can be vacated. At a later time when it is desired to resume operations, the buoy is recovered, the guide cables 29 are properly connected to the drilling barge 10, and the cluster 35 is again installed in the manner described above.

Returning now to a more detailed discussion of the cluster 35 and its sections 36, each of the gang couplings 90 comprises a pair of companion radial flanges 140 and 142 (FIG. 4) formed one on each of the adjacent ends of each section 36 of the conductor tube 60. The peripheral edge of the flange 140 is threaded as indicated at 144. The flange 142 is stepped at 146 and a nut 148 is rotatably mounted thereon, and is adapted to engage the threads 144 on the flange 140. A sealing ring 150 is mounted in an annular groove 152 in the end face of the flange 140 and abuts the end face of the flange 142.

A plurality of bores 154 are formed in the flange 140 at circumferentially spaced points about the axis of the conductor tube 60, and similar matching bores 156 are formed in the flange 142. The ends of the sections of the conduits 62 are fixed to these bores. Similarly, smaller diameter bores (not shown) are provided in the flanges 140 and 142, between the bores 154 and 156, to which the hydraulic conductors 70 are connected. Each of the bores in each of the flanges 140 and 142 is counter-bored to receive coupling nipples 160, 162, and 164- of appropriate size. The nipples have suitable sealing rings, as 161 and 163 on their outer surfaces. The coupling nipple 160 is shown for the tube 60, the couplings 162 are for the conduits 62, and the couplings 164 (FIG. 5) are for the conductors 70. While only two hydraulic conductors 70 are illustrated between each pair of adjacent conduits 62, it should be understood that many more may be provided if needed to perform the necessary control functions.

One of the matching pairs of bores 154 and 156, and the coupling 162a (FIG. 5) therein, is spaced outwardly from the center of the conductor tube 60 further than the remainder of the bores, thus providing that the coupling 90 can only be assembled in one position.

Each of the mating faces of the flanges 140 and 142 is recessed as indicated at 170 and 172, respectively. These recesses completely surround all of the coupling nipples 160, 162 and 164. A drilled passageway 174 in the flange 142 provides communication to the recesses 170 and 172. After the coupling 90 has been made up, pressure fluid is applied to the recesses 170 and 172 through the passageway 174. If any of the several coupling nipples 160, 162 and 164 are leaking, there will be a pressure drop. If there is no pressure drop, then all of the several pipes and conduits are correctly joined without leaks.

The slip joint assembly 100 (FIGS. 2D and 6), as mentioned above, comprises a central slip joint 102 surrounded by a plurality of satellite slip joints 104. The central slip joint assembly 102 comprises an outer tube 180 within which an inner tube 182 is slidably mounted. A packing gland 184 is mounted in the upper end of the tube 180 in sliding sealing engagement with the outer surface of the tube 182. The tube 180 is connected by a coupling 186 to the section of the conductor tube 60 fixed to the gang coupling 90 immediately beneath the slip joint 100. Similarly, the upper end of the tube 182 is connected by 6 a coupling 188 (FIG. 2D) to the section of the conductor tube 60 connected to the gang coupling assembly a immediately above the slip joint assembly 100.

Each satellite slip joint assembly 104 comprises an outer tube 190 having an inner tube 192 slidably received therein. A packing gland 194 mounted in the upper end of the tube 190 provides sliding sealing engagement between the tubes 190 and 192. The lower end of each of the tubes 190 is connected by a flexible conduit 196 to the appropriate opening in the flange 142 of the gang coupling 90 immediately beneath the slip joint assembly 100. Similarly, the upper end of each of the tubes 192 is connected by a flexible conduit 198 (FIG. 2D) to the flange of the coupling 90a immediately above the slip joint assembly 100.

All of the outer tubes 190 and the tube are con nected together for conjoint movement by a clamp 200. Similarly, all of the inner tubes 192 and the tube 182 are connected together for conjoint movement by a clamp 202, whereby all of the slip joints 102 and 104 act together as a unitary slip joint assembly 100.

The hydraulically actuated clamp mechanism 56 for clamping the tube and conduit cluster 35 to the casing head 26 is best illustrated in FIGS. 7-10 and comprises a tubular member 240 having a lower end adapted to be slidably received within a counterbore 242 (FIG. 8) at the upper end of the casing head 26. A plurality of packing rings 244 are mounted on the lower end of the tubular member and engage the wall of the counterbore 242 in sealing engagement therewith to prevent leakage between the tubular member 240 and the casing head 26. The upper end of the casing head 26 and the tubular member 240 are provided with outwardly projecting mating radial flanges 246 and 248, respectively (FIG. 8). A vertical hinge pin 250 (FIG. 7) is mounted on a bracket 252 fixed to the tubular member 240, and two opposed semicircular clamp elements 254 and 256 are pivotally mounted on the hinge pin 250. The clamp elements 254 and 256 are C-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 8) and are adapted to embrace the mating radial flanges 246 and 248. Two upstanding posts 258 and 260 (FIG. 9) are mounted on the ends of the clamp elements 254 and 256, respectively, opposite the hinged ends thereof. Each of the posts 258 and 260 is provided adjacent its upper end with spaced radial flanges 262 and 264 (FIG. 7) which slidably embrace spaced horizontal fianges 266 and 268 on a support and guide bracket assembly 270. The clamp elements 254 and 256 are provided with depending skirts 272 and 274 which flare outwardly at their lower ends to guide the clamp elements over the flange 246 of the casing head 26 as the clamp mechanism is lowered into engagement therewith.

The end of the clamp element 254 away from the hinge pin 250 is bifurcated and provided with vertically spaced journal bosses 282 and 284 (FIG. 9). The pivot pins 286 and 288, respectively, are mounted in the bosses 282 and 284 and pivotally support a horizontally disposed double acting power cylinder 290 at one of its ends. A piston 292 is slidably received within the power cylinder 290. A piston rod 294, connected to the piston 292, projects through said one end of the power cylinder 290. The outer end of the rod 294 is formed into an eye 296 received between opposed bosses 298 and 300 on the other clamp element 256. A stepped vertically disposed pin 302 projects through correspondingly stepped bores in the bosses 298 and 300 and the eye 296 of the piston rod 294. The pin 302 is retained in place by a frangible cap screw 304 which projects through a suitable opening in the upper Egss 300 and is threaded into the upper end of the pin Normal opening and closing of the clamp elements 254 and 256 is effected by movement of the piston 292 within the power cylinder 290 by the suitable application of fluid pressure to one end or the other thereof through conduits 310 and 312. The conduits 310 and 312 are connected to certain of the hydraulic conductors 70 of the cluster 35 described above.

In the event that the power cylinder 290 cannot be actuated to effect release of the clamp mechanism 56, the pin 302 has a lower piston end 314 slidably received within a vertical cylinder 316 fixed to the lower bOSs 298 on the clamp element 256. By applying pressure to the cylinder 316 through a conduit 318, connected to one of the hydraulic conductors 70 of the cluster 35, the pin 302 may be forced downward breaking the frangible cap screw 304 and releasing the piston rod 294 from the clamp element 256. A snap ring 317 is installed in a groove 318 in the lower end of the cylinder 316 to prevent the pin 362 from coming out of the lower end of the cylinder.

A lock assembly indicated generally at 319 is provided to retain the piston 292 in its adjusted position adjacent the outward end of the cylinder 290 when the clamp mechanism 56 is closed. The lock assembly comprises a cylindrical extension 320 formed integral with the piston 292 and projecting through a cylinder head 322 at the outward end of the cylinder 290. The outer end of the extension 320 has a counterbore 324, and a lock rod 326 is slidably received in the counterbore. The end of the lock rod 326 within the counterbore 324 has a flange 328, and a cap 330 screwed onto the end of the extension 320 retains the flange of the rod 326 within the counterbore 324. A key 332 fixed to the cap 330 slides in a keyway 334 in the rod 326 and prevents rotation of the rod relative to the extension 320. The rod 326 is threaded on its outer surface and is received within an internally threaded, rotating tubular armature 336 of a reversible fluid motor 338 which is mounted on a bracket 340 fixed to the cylinder head 322.

In order to open the clamp mechanism 56, fluid is supplied to the motor 338 through conduit 342, which is connected to one of the above mentioned hydraulic conductors 70, to rotate the armature 336 and cause the lock rod 326 to move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, to the bottom of the counterbore 324. The cylinder 290 is then actuated to move the piston 292 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, to open the clamp mechanism 56.

To close the clamp mechanism 56, the cylinder 290 is actuated to move the piston 292 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 9, to bring the two clamp elements 254 and 256 toward each other to embrace the mating flanges 246 and 248 on the casing head 26 and the tubular member 240, respectively. Fluid pressure is then applied to the fluid motor 338 through conduit 344, which is connected to another of the conductors 70, to rot-ate the armature 336 in the opposite direction and move the lock rod 326 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 9, until the flange 323 contacts the inside of the cap330. The piston 292 is now firmly locked in its clamp closed position even if pressure is relieved from the cylinder 290. In the event that the lock rod 326 cannot be released, or if the cylinder 290 cannot be actuated to release the clamp mechanism 56, emergency release can be effected by releasing the pin 302 in the manner described above.

One of the spear-type male coupling members 66 for effecting connection of the conduits 65 to the female coupling members 32 of the lateral conduits '30 in the casing head 26 is best illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The female coupling member 32 is screwed into the end of the upwardly facing portion of the conduit 30 and carries at its lower end a flapper valve 350 adapted to close the passageway through conduit 30. The upper end of the female coupling member 32 is beveled downwardly and inwardly, as indicated at 352, to facilitate the entry of the male coupling member or spear 66 thereinto.

The male coupling member or spear 66 has a plurality of sealing elements 354 mounted on its peripheral surface adjacent its lower end adapted to seal against the inner wall of the female coupling member 32 when inserted therein. The male coupling member 66 is mounted on the lower end of a tubular mandrel 356 which is provided adjacent its mid-portion with a peripheral flange 358 which in effect is a piston slidably received within a power cylinder 360. The power cylinder 360 is carried by a tubular housing 362 which in turn is mounted on a bracket 364 fixed to the tubular member 240 of the hydraulically actuated clamp mechanism 56. There is flexibility in the connection of the housing 362 to the bracket 364 so as to facilitate fitting of each male coupling member 66 into its associated female member 32 when such members are not initially aligned. The upper end of the mandrel 356 projects through the upper end of the power cylinder 360 into the housing 362. The upper end of the housing 362 is connected by one of the previously mentioned flexible conductors 65 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) to one of the conduits 62 of the cluster 35. A conduit 366 connects the power cylinder 360 with one of the conductors 70 of the cluster 35.

A spring finger 370 fixed to the power cylinder 360 releasa-bly engages a small depression 372 on the male coupling member 66 when the member is in its uppermost position to releasably retain said member in that position. A spring pressed detent 374 is mounted in the lower end of the power cylinder 360 and is adapted to be received within an annular groove 376 formed in the outer surface of the mandrel 356, when said mandrel is in its lowermost position.

During the installation of the drilling assembly, including the clamp mechanism 56, blowout preventer group 5054, and cluster 35, the clamp mechanism 56 is clamped to the upperend of the casing head 26 before the coupling members 66 are projected through the flapper valves 350. Before such clamping, however, substantial alignment of the male coupling member 66 with the proper female coupling member 32 is effected by the centering action of the cylinders 40 of the cable anchor assemblies 28 on the flared ends '88 on the guide sleeves 86 and by fitting the tubular member 240 into the casing head 26. After the mechanism is clamped, pressure fluid is applied to the power cylinder 360 through the conduit 366 to move the mandrel 356 and the male coupling member 66 downwardly into sealed relation in the female coupling member 32 until the detent 374 engages the groove 376. The downward movement of the male coupling member 66 pushes the flapper valve 350 to its open position, as illustrated in FIG. 12. It is to be noted that although the length and location of the male member 66 in FIGS. 11 and 12 are such that the male members enter the female members "32 before the mechanism 56 is clamped, an alternative construction dimensions these parts so that the male members do not enter the female members until after the mechanism 56 is clamped and then, by applying pressure, the male members align themselves with the female members, enter thereinto, and open the flapper valves.

From the fore-going description it may be seen that the apparatus provides a sectionalizied drill pipe conductor tube and conduit cluster, a hydraulic lamp mechanism and a conduit coupling which facilitates quick disconnection from the well casing head in the event of storm or other hazard, and permits reconnection for continued drilling after the danger is past.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described therein, it should be noted that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described that which is believed to be new, and for which protection by Letters Patent is desired is:

1. In a well installation including a platform and a casing head positioned at a relatively inaccessible location below said platform, apparatus extending between said platform and said casing head for guiding and controlling well operations from a station on said platform comprising a rigid tube cluster including a plurality of sections interconnected in end-to-end relation, each section including a central pipe receiving conduct-or and a plurality of satellite flow tubes fixed closely about said central conductor in parallel relation thereto, each section also having upper and lower ends, there being an uppermost section having its upper end extending through said platform, means releasably interconnecting adjacent upper and lower ends of adjacent sections with their respective conduct'ors and tubes in communication, said interconnecting means joining one pair of sections for axially adjustable movement relative to each other, there also being a lowermost section, means releasably interconnecting said lowermost section and said casing head including a fluid actuated clamp having clamping segments mounted for movement between a clamping position engaging said ca'sing head and an unclamped position released from said casing head and a fluid powered device connected to said clamp, and means establishing fluid connection between said device and selected tubes in said sections whereby said clamp can be actuated from said platform.

2. In an underwater well installation, a casing head located adjacent the ocean floor, flexible guide means connected to said' casing head and extending upwardly to the water surface, a blowout preventer assembly, means for releasably connecting said blowout preventer assembly to the upper end of said casing head, means on said blowout preventer assembly embracing said guide means, a drilling pipe conductor tube and control conduit cluster comprising a plurality of sections connected in end-to-end relation, the lowermost section of said cluster being connected to the upper end of said blowout preventer assembly, said cluster having a central tube and a plurality of satellite conduits rigidly aflixed thereto about the outer surface thereof and a plurality of conductors clustered between said satellite conduits and fixed to said conductor tube, a floatation tank fixed to one of the sections of said cluster to buoyantly support the weight of the sections therebeneath, a slip joint assembly in said conductor tube and control line cluster above said floatation tank, a floating platform, and means for supporting the portion of said cluster above said slip joint from said floating platform.

3. In an underwater well installation, a casing head located adjacent the ocean floor, flexible guide means connected to said casing head and extending upwardly to the water surface, a blowout preventer assembly, means for releasably connecting said blowout preventer assembly to the upper end of said casing head, means on said blowout preventer assembly embracing said guide means, a drilling pipe conductor tube and control conduit cluster comprising a plurality of sections connected in end-toend relation, the lowermost section of said cluster being connected to the upper end of said blowout preventer as sembly, said cluster having a central tube and a plurality of satellite conduits rigidly aflixed thereto about the outer surface thereof and a plurality of conductors clustered between said satellite conduits and fixed to said conductor tube, a floatation tank fixed to one of the sections of said cluster to buoyantly support the weight of the sections therebeneath, a slip joint assembly in said conductor tube and control line cluster above said floatation tank, said slip joint assembly comprising a central slip joint for said conductor tube and a plurality of satellite slip joints one for each of said conduits, a floating platform, and means for supporting the portion of said cluster above said slip joint from said floating platform.

4. In an underwater well installation, a casing head located adjacent the ocean floor, flexible guide means connected to said casing head and extending upwardly to the water surface, a blowout preventer assembly, means for releasably connecting said blowout preventer assembly to the upper end of said casing head, means on said blowout preventer assembly embracing said guide means, a drilling pipe conductor tube and control conduit cluster comprising a plurality of sections connected in end-to-end relation, the lowermost section of said cluster being connected to the upper end of said blowout preventer assembly, said cluster having a central tube and a plurality of satellite conduits rigidly aflixed thereto about the outer surface thereof, a plurality of female coupling members fixed to said casing head in a predetermined pattern thereabout and in fluid communication therewith, a plurality of male coupling members fixed to said means for connecting the blow-out preventer assembly to said casing head in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of said female coupling members, said casing head, connecting means, guide means, and embracing means cooperating to effect alignment of corresponding male and female coupling members whereby coupling of the several male coupling members with the associated female coupling members will automatically be effected when said blowout preventer assembly is connected to said casing head, and conduit means for connecting each of said male coupling members with one of said satellite conduits in said cluster.

5. In an underwater well installation, a casing head located adjacent the ocean floor, flexible guide means connected to said casing head and extending upwardly to the water surface, a blowout preventer assembly, means for releasably connecting said blowout preventer assembly to the upper end of said casing head, means on said blowout preventer assembly embracing said guide means, a drilling pipe conductor tube and control conduit cluster comprising a plurality of sections connected in end-toend relation, the lowermost section of said cluster being connected to the upper end of said blowout preventer assembly, said cluster having a central tube and a plurality of satellite conduits rigidly affixed thereto about the outer surface thereof, a plurality of female coupling members fixed to said casing head in a predetermined pattern thereabout and in fluid communication therewith, a plurality of male coupling members fixed to said means for con necting the blowout preventer assembly to said casing head in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of said female coupling members, said casing head, connecting means, guide means, and embracing means cooperating to effect alignment of corresponding male and female coupling members whereby coupling of the several male coupling members with the several female coupling members will automatically be effected when said blowout preventer assembly is connected to said casing head, and conduit means for connecting each of said male coupling members with one of said satellite conduits in said cluster, a floation tank fixed to one of the sections of said cluster to buoyantly support the weight of the sections therebeneath, a slip joint assembly in said cluster above said floatation tank, said slip joint assembly comprising a central slip joint for said conductor tube and a plurality of satellite slip joints one for each of said satellite conduits, a floating platform, and means for supporting the portion of said cluster above said slip joint from said floating platform.

6. For use in an underwater well installation, a drill pipe conductor tube and hydraulic control cluster, comprising a plurality of sections, each section having a central relatively large diameter tube having radial flanges adjacent each of its ends, each of said flanges having a plurality of axially extending bores formed therein at points spaced circumferentially about the axis of said large diameter tube, a plurality of pipes rigidly secured to said large diameter tube, each of the opposite ends of each of said pipes being received within one of said bores in one of said flanges and being fixed to said flange, each of said bores and the bore of said central tube being counterbored, a plurality of coupling nipples each received half in a counterbore in one section and half in the associated counterbore of the next adjacent section, and means for connecting one flange of one section to one flange of the next adjacent section.

7. For use in an underwater well installation, a drill pipe conductor tube and hydraulic control cluster, comprising a plurality of sections, each section having a central relatively large diameter tube having radial flanges adjacent each of its ends, each of said flanges having a plurality of axially extending bores formed therein at points spaced circumferentially about the axis of said large diameter tube, a plurality of pipes rigidly secured to said large diameter tube, each of the opposite ends of each of said pipes being received within one of said bores in one of said flanges and being fixed to said flange, each of said bores and the bore of said central tube being counterbored, a plurality of coupling nipples each received half in a counterbore in one section and half in the associated coun-terbore of the adjacent section, the mating faces of said flanges being relieved in the area surrounding said nipples, one of said flanges being provided with a passageway connecting said relieved area with the exterior of said flange, and means for connecting one flange of one section to one flange of the next adjacent section.

8. For use in an underwater well installation, a conduit cluster comprising a plurality of sections, each section including a central tube having a radial flanges adjacent an end thereof, each of said flanges having a bore therethrough, a pipe extending alongside each of said central tubes and secured thereto, each pipe having an end received within the bore in its associated flange, a pipe coupling nipple extending between said flanges and fitted in each of said bores and establishing communication between said pipes, a tube coupling nipple extending between and fitted in each of said tubes and establishing communication between said tubes, and means for connecting said flanges together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Chapman 2185-137 Davis 285-137 Gackenbach 285-137 Biermann et al. 284-137 X Parker 285-137 Meakin 174-47 Wilde 285-415 Con-rad 251-349 Mackal 251-349 Williams et al 166-60 Marzolf 285-415 Bauer et a1. -7 Bauer et al 166-665 Stratton 166-665 X Rhodes et al 166-665 X Hiser et al 166-665 X ONeill et a1 166-665 X Bauer et a1. 166-665 Costa 285-137 X Spade et al 174-47 Poorman 166-665 Haeber 166-665 FOREIGN PATENTS JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 6. FOR USE IN AN UNDERWATER WELL INSTALLATION, A DRILL PIPE CONDUCTOR TUBE AND HYDRAULIC CONTROL CLUSTER, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS, EACH SECTION HAVING A CENTRAL RELATIVELY LARGE DIAMETER TUBE HAVING RADIAL FLANGES ADJACENT EACH OF ITS ENDS, EACH OF SAID FLANGES HAVING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY EXTENDING BORES FORMED THEREIN AT POINTS SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID LARGE DIAMETER TUBE, A PLURALITY OF PIPES RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID LARGE DIAMETER TUBE, EACH OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID PIPES BEING RECEIVED WITHIN ONE OF SAID BORES IN ONE OF SAID FLANGES AND BEING FIXED TO SAID FLANGE, EACH OF SAID BORES AND THE BORE OF SAID CENTRAL TUBE BEING COUNTERBORED, A PLURALITY OF COUPLING NIPPLES EACH RECEIVED HALF IN A COUNTERBORE IN ONE SECTION AND HALF IN THE ASSOCIATED COUNTERBORE OF THE NEXT ADJACENT SECTION, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING ONE FLANGE OF ONE SECTION TO ONE FLANGE OF THE NEXT ADJACENT SECTION.

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