US3310108A - Guiding apparatus for installing well equipment - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1967 J. R. YANCEY 3,310,108

GUIDING APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN R. YANOEY ATTORNEY March 21, 1967 J. R. YANCEY 3,310,108

GUIDING APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IF'IE E INVENTOR.

JOHN R. YANCEY ATTORNEY March 21, 1967 J. R. YANCEY 3,310,108

GUIDING APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1963 3 Sheets-$heet 3 JOHN R. YANCEY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,316,108 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,310,108 GUIDING APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING WELL EQUIPMENT John R. Yancey, Houston, Tex., assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 328,817 6 Claims. (Cl. 16.5)

The present invention pertains to a guiding apparatus for installing well equipment and more particularly to an apparatus for positioning well equipment for an underwater well in predetermined attitude with respect to the well hole and for maintaining the equipment in this attitude.

In the installation of an underwater well, it is known to use apparatus for guiding equipment into place in the Well. This guiding apparatus, or guide system as it is sometimes known, usually includes a base secured to the first string of casing; guide posts upstanding from the base; and cables, which have lower ends attached to the guide posts and upper ends supported from a drilling vessel. As the first string of casing is lowered into the hole, the base is lowered onto the ocean floor. Thereafter, the well-head, the blowout preventers, the christmas tree and other equipment, are guided into position on the cables and posts.

When the ocean floor in which the well is located is substantially level and the base is allowed to rest thereon, the posts and cables project up from the base in generally parallel relation to the hole and the casing and maintain subsequently installed equipment in alignment with the well hole as the equipment is lowered into position.

When the ocean floor is inclined or otherwise of irregular contour, however, a problem arises with prior guiding apparatus. If the base is allowed to rest on the ocean floor where it has such a contour, the base may bend out of a perpendicular relation with the casing, causing the additionally relied on to support the first string of easing in the well hole until this casing is cemented. Thus, the base must rest firmly on the ocean floor in a desired attitude if it is to support the casing in a dependable manner.

It is .an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for maintaining well equipment for an underwater well in a predetermined attitude with respect to the well hole.

Another object is to provide well equipment-supporting apparatus which compensates for irregularities in the floor of a body of water in which the well is located thereby to support equipment in a predetermined attitude.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for supporting the base of a guide system of a well installation on the ocean floor in a predetermined attitude.

Another object is to provide a well equipment-supporting apparatus which can be installed on the floor of the ocean without bending the base with respect to a string of casing which is secured to the base and projects into the well hole.

Another object is to provide a Well equipment-supporting apparatus including a base which can be firmly bottomed on the floor of the ocean in order to support, at least temporarily, the first string of casing in the well hole.

Another object is to provide liquid-controlled leveling units for supporting the base of a well equipment guiding apparatus in normal relation to the axis of the casing notwithstanding irregularities in the ocean floor.

These objects, together with the other objects, will become apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevation of a drilling vessel and an underwater well installation including guiding apparatus embodying the present invention, it being noted that the vessel is only partially shown and that the apparatus is broken away between the vessel and the ocean floor.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the guiding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as it is located on the ocean floor.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation of the subject guiding apparatus, with portions being broken away and in section.

FIGURE 4 is a diagram of a hydraulic circuit used in the subject apparatus.

A drilling vessel is schematically indicated at 10 (FIG. 1) and is shown floating in the ocean 11 above a well installation 12. The vessel has an opening 15 located centrally of the vessel, and a derrick 16 is provided on the vessel for supporting, as well as raising and lowering, well equipment through the opening.

A first string of casing or pipe is shown projecting down through a hole 22 in the ocean floor 23. Equipment guiding apparatus 25 is connected to the first string of casing and is located above the ocean floor. A surface rised or pipe 2 6 including a slip joint 27 is attached to the guiding apparatus and extends upward through the water. The surface riser projects into the opening 15 in the vessel 16 and is retained below the derrick floor 28 in a well-known manner.

The equipment guiding apparatus 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) includes a base 30 having a central collar 32 provided with a lower portion 33 into which the first string of casing 20 is threaded and an upper portion 34 into which the surface riser 26 is threaded. Arms 38 have inner ends 39 rigidly connected to the collar and outer ends 40. These arms project radially outward from the collar in substantially equally circumferentially spaced relation about the casing 20. A rectangular frame 42 is secured at its corners 43 to the outer ends of the arms so that the frame is rigid with the collar and so that the entire base, including the collar, the arms, and the frame, is located in a common plane which is substantially normal to the axis of the casing.

The guiding apparatus 25 also includes guide posts 46 rigidly secured to the corners 43 of the frame 42 and projecting upward therefrom in parallel relation with the surface riser 26. Cables 48 have lower ends 49 connected to the guide posts and upper ends 5t) (FIG. 1) trained over sheaves 51 mounted on the vessel 10; the upperends of the cables thence extend to Winches, not shown; as is well known, such winches maintain constant tension on the cables while permitting movement of the drilling vessel 10 incident to wave or tidal action.

In accordance with the present invention, the guiding apparatus 25 includes hydraulic leveling units 55 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which are connected to the corners 43 of the frame 42 and project downward therefrom. Each of these units includes a cylinder 56 having an upper end portion 58 rigidly connected to the underside of the frame at its respective corner and a lower end portion 59. Each cylinder has upper and lower ports 60 and 61 located respectively in its upper and lower end portions.

Furthermore, each leveling unit 55 includes a piston 64 reciprocable in its associated cylinder 56. An O-ring 65 encircles the piston and provides a slidable liquid-tight seal between the piston and the cylinder. Thus, the piston divides the cylinder into an upper chamber 66 and a lower chamber 67, these chambers varying in axial dimensions depending on the locationof the piston within the cylinder. In each unit, a shank 76 is secured to the piston and 3 projects downward through the cylinder. An O-ring 72 is provided in the lower end portion 59 of the cylinder in slidable liquid-sealing engagement with the shank.

Still further, each leveling unit 55 has a disc-shaped foot 76 secured to the lower end 77 of the shank 7th by a balland-socket joint 78. Thus, the foot is universally movable with respect to the shank into and out of a substantially normal position with respect to the shank. A downwardly tapered spike 88 (FIG. 3) is connected to the underside of each foot, concentrically thereof, and projects downward from the foot.

Upper conduits 85 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are connected to the upper ports 60 of the cylinders 56 so as to place all of the upper chambers 66 in liquid communicating relation. Likewise, lower conduits 86 are connected to the lower ports 61 and place the lower chambers 67 in liquid communicating relation. The upper conduits and upper chambers constitute a closed upper hydraulic circuit 92, and the lower conduits and lower chambers constitute a closed lower hydraulic circuit 93. Each of the upper and lower circuits are filled with liquid, indicated at 90', such as oil.

In operation, and by reference to FIG. 1, it is first to be assumed that the base 30 is located above the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and that both the first string of casing and the base are being lowered by the surface riser 26. During this downward movement, the cables 48 are payed out over the sheaves 51 so that they move down with the base. It is further assumed that the ocean floor 23 is inclined as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Therefore, as the base 30 approaches the ocean floor 23, the feet 76 on the right, as illustrated in FIG. 1, are the first to bottom on the ocean floor. Continued downward movement of the base pressurizes the liquid 90 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in the upper chambers 66 of the righthand cylinders 56, causing liquid in the upper circuit 90 to be transferred from the right upper chambers 66 into the upper chambers of the left cylinders. This forces the pistons 64 on the left downward, moving the left feet 76 (FIG. 1) down relative to the base. The combined downward movement of the base with the surface riser and of the left feet relative to the base is arrested when the left feet engage the ocean floor. Of course, downward movement of the left pistons forces liquid in the lower left chambers 67 (FIGS. 3 and 4) into the lower right chambers which have enlarged due to the relative upwardmovement of the right pistons. It is to be noted that the ball and socket joints 78 (FIG. 1) allow the feet to move out of normal relation with the shanks 70 so that the feet rest firmly against the ocean floor.

When all of the feet 76 are bottomed on the ocean floor 23, downward movement of the casing 20 and guiding apparatus 25 ceases. Since the right leveling units 55 have shortened and the left leveling units have lengthened to accommodate the inclination of the ocean floor, the base is supported on the ocean floor in a level attitude. That is, the base remains in normal relation to the axis of the casing 20 which projects down into the well hole 22. As a result, the guide posts 46 project up from the base in parallel relation to the casing and are disposed to properly guide subsequently installed equipment into alignment with the casing.

Although the guiding apparatus 25 has been described for'use where the ocean floor 23 is inclined, it will be evident that the leveling units 55 will aocommodate themselves to other types of irregularities in the ocean floor. That is, the four feet 76 may all bottom at different elevations, or there may be only one high spot so that only one of the feet is higher than the other three. The point is that, irrespective of the contour of the ocean floor, the leveling units 55 automatically adjust to the contour and support the base in the desired attitude.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that an apparatus for maintaining well equipment in a predetermined attitude with respect to the well hole has been provided. The leveling units enable the guiding apparatus to be installed without bending of the base relative to the casing while allowing the base to be firmly supported on the ocean floor. Therefore, the base is effective for temporarily supporting the first string of casing until it can be cemented, and it is also effective, in cooperation with the guide posts, for guiding subsequent equipment into position.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed to be new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for guiding well equipment into an underwater well, a base having a predetermined plane and adapted for connection to a casing :projectable into the well hole, flexible means for lowering said base toward the bottom of the body of water in which the well is located, said flexible means defining a guide path extending upwards through the water from said base and earth engaging means for maintaining the plane of the base in substantially right-angular relation to said path, irrespective of the contour of said bottom, when the base is supported adjacent to said bottom.

2. An underwater well apparatus comprising a base having a predetermined plane, means supporting said base in submerged closely adjacent spanning relation to a well hole, flexible guide lines extending upward from the base, and a casing connected to said base and projecting into said hole, said supporting means being elevationally adjustable at more than two points about said casing for maintaining the plane of the base generally perpendicular to said lines.

3. In an underwater well including pipe projecting into a hole in the ocean floor, a base secured to said pipe above the ocean floor, means connected to said base for lowering it and the pipe through the water so as to move the base toward the ocean floor, and guide cables projecting up through the water from the base for guiding equipment down to the well in alignment With the pipe after the base is supported on the ocean floor, apparatus for supporting the base in a level attitude on the ocean fioor comprising leveling units, said units including cylinders having upper portions secured to the base in circumferentially spaced relation about the pipe and lower portions projecting downward from the base, pistons reciprocably movable in said cylinders, shanks secured to and extending down from said pistons out of their respective cylinders, feet individually connected to said shanks, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders above their respective pistons in an upper closed fluid circuit, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders below their respective pistons in a lower closed fluid circuit, and liquid filling said upper and lower circuits so that movement of any one of the pistons in its respectivecylinder causes movement of the other pistons although in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said one piston.

4. In an underwater well including pipe projecting into a hole in the ocean floor, a collar fastened to said pipe, said collar being located above the ocean floor, arms rigidly attached to and projecting radially out from said collar, a rigid rectangular frame secured to said arms in a plane substantially normally to the axis of the pipe, said frame having four corners substantially equally spaced about and from said axis of the pipe, means connected to said frame for lowering it and the pipe through the water so as to move the frame toward the ocean floor, guide posts rigidly connected to and projecting up from the corners of the frame, and means including guide cables connected to the posts and projecting up through the water for guiding equipment down to the well in alignment with the pipe after the frame is supported on the ocean floor; an apparatus for supporting the frame in a level attitude on the ocean floor comprising leveling units secured to said corners of the frame and projecting downward therefrom, each leveling unit including a cylinder having an upper portion secured to its respective corner and a lower portion, a piston reciprocably mounted in its cylinder, a shank secured to and extending down from said piston, a disc-shaped foot swivelly connected to the shank tor movement into and out of normal relation with the shank, and a spike projecting down from said foot, each cylinder having upper and lower ports respectively in the upper and lower end portions thereof, upper conduits interconnecting all of said upper ports and lower conduits interconnecting all of said lower ports whereby the portions of the cylinders above the pistons and the upper conduits constitute a closed upper fluid circuit and whereby the portions of the cylinders below the pistons and said lower conduits constitute a lower closed fluid circuit, liquid in said upper and lower fluid circuit so that downward movement is imparted to a certain one or more of said pistons in response to relative upward movement of a certain other of said piston or pistons whereby if the ocean floor around the well is irregular, the first foot or feet to bottom on the ocean floor, while said means continues to lower said frame, causes an exchange of liquid between the bottomed cylinders and the other cylinder or cylinders thereby projecting the foot or feet of the latter into engagement with the ocean floor so that said leveling units compensate for the irregularities in the ocean floor and support the frame in a plane which is generally normal to the axis of the pipe.

5. In an underwater well including pipe projecting into a hole in the bottom of a body of water, a base secured to the pipe above said bottom, means connected to the base for lowering it and the pipe through the water so as to move the base toward said bottom, and guide members projecting up through the water from the base for guiding equipment down to the well in alignment with the pipe after the base is supported on the bottom, apparatus for supporting the base in a level attitude on the bottom comprising leveling units which include cylinders secured to 4 the base in circumferentially spaced relation about the pipe and projecting downward from the base, piston-shank members reciprocably movable in said cylinders and extending down out of their respective cylinders, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders above their respective piston-shank members in a closed upper fluid circuit, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders below their respective piston-shank members in a closed lower fluid circuit, and liquid filling said upper and lower circuits so that movement of any one of the pistonshank members in its respective cylinder causes movement of the other piston-shank members although in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said one pistonshank member.

6. A well apparatus comprising a base having a central portion adapted for connection to a well pipe, leveling units including cylinders secured to the base in circumferentially spaced relation about said central portion and projecting downward from the base, piston-shank members reciprocably movable in said cylinders and extending downward out of their respective cylinders, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders above their respective cylinders, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders above their respective piston-shank members in a closed upper fluid circuit, fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders below their respective pistonshank members in a closed lower fluid circuit, and liquid filling said upper and lower circuits so that movement of any one of the piston-shank members in its respective cylinder causes movement of the other piston-shank members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,494 5/1918 Packard l10 2,210,408 8/1940 Henry 6146.5 2,352,370 6/1944 Carruthers 6146.5 2,482,788 9/1949 Moon 6146.5 2,600,761 6/1952 Halliburton 6146 R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,310,108 March 21, 1967 John R. Yancey It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, lines 19 to 21, strike out "fluid conducting means interconnecting the cylinders above their respective cy1inders,".

Signed and sealed this 11th day of March 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

Claims (1)

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR GUIDING WELL EQUIPMENT INTO AN UNDERWATER WELL, A BASE HAVING A PREDETERMINED PLANE AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A CASING PROJECTABLE INTO THE WELL HOLE, FLEXIBLE MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID BASE TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY OF WATER IN WHICH THE WELL IS LOCATED, SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS DEFINING A GUIDE PATH EXTENDING UPWARDS THROUGH THE WATER FROM SAID BASE AND EARTH ENGAGING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE PLANE OF THE BASE IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT-ANGULAR RELATION TO SAID PATH, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CONTOUR OF SAID BOTTOM, WHEN THE BASE IS SUPPORTED ADJACENT TO SAID BOTTOM.

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