US3324943A - Off-shore drilling - Google Patents

Off-shore drilling Download PDF

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Publication number
US3324943A
US3324943A US382218A US38221864A US3324943A US 3324943 A US3324943 A US 3324943A US 382218 A US382218 A US 382218A US 38221864 A US38221864 A US 38221864A US 3324943 A US3324943 A US 3324943A
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Prior art keywords
guide member
well
equipment
head
conduit
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US382218A
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English (en)
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Tom B Price
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Texaco Inc
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Texaco Inc
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Priority to US382218A priority Critical patent/US3324943A/en
Priority to NO158842A priority patent/NO122523B/no
Priority to GB28864/65A priority patent/GB1079158A/en
Priority to DK356565AA priority patent/DK109953C/da
Priority to NL656509023A priority patent/NL152632B/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3324943A publication Critical patent/US3324943A/en
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    • 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
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/06—Blow-out preventers, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers
    • E21B33/064—Blow-out preventers, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers specially adapted for underwater well heads
    • 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
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/08—Casing joints
    • E21B17/085—Riser connections
    • E21B17/0853—Connections between sections of riser provided with auxiliary lines, e.g. kill and choke lines
    • 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
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
    • 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
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
    • E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for conducting operations such as boring, drilling or working in a well or borehole in submarine formations, and is particularly concerned With effecting such operations in relatively deep water locations by the use of tubular guide means which enables the drilling and working equipment to be lowered into registry with the well head. It is particularly concerned with the use of such guide means to effect appropriate control of various operable elements which are necessarily located below the surface of the water.
  • Subterranean drilling ordinarily proceeds in steps by formation of holes of successively decreasing size with the installation and cementing of a tubular steel casing as each successive boring step is completed
  • the surface casing is necessarily provided with complex well head equipment.
  • blow-out preventers which are actually cut-off valves provided with flexibly jawed rams which prevent blow-out by sealing off the upper end of the casing about the drilling stem or other equipment which, at the time, may be in the hole.
  • these and other well head valves and controls are typically actuated hydraulically by pressure conduits from the surface.
  • a so-called choke or kill line ordinarily leads to the casing below the blowout preventer.
  • a wild well may be controlled by appropriately pressurizing it from above with a suitably wei hted mud. after the preventers have been closed.
  • elongated choke lines of substan-- tially self-supporting tubular material such as pipe may be anchored at their lower ends to the formation preferably by attachment to the well head assembly or to the blow-out preventer stack so that they extend upwardly to the surface of the water.
  • self-supporting refers to tubes or conduits which are ordinarilv considered to be rigid as distinguished from flexible tubin formed of rubber or other elastomers which can be coiled or reeled. While obviously characterized by some flexibility, they provide guide members which, with minor sup ort, can be used to positively index equipment for operative association with the well, in the subsequent multitude of operations necessary in producing operations, including placement of the bit, running of casing, cementing. testing. etc.
  • tubular guides or pines by virtue of inherent buoyancy tend to remain upright in the body of water but may be ass sted where necessary by attaching floats or buoyancy members at the upper extremity or at various points along their lengths in known manner.
  • the self-supporting tubular guide members obviously extend to the surface of the water to receive connected members and to receive means slideable thereon and constrained thereby to guide equipment into registry with the pre-determined parts of the well head as it is lowered down the guide member.
  • the present invention contemplates utilizing a tubular guide member or guide members to effect selective hydraulic communication with various parts of the well head in order to provide hydraulic control of various opera- 3,324,943 Patented June 13, 1967 tions. More specifically, a plurality of conduits leading from the lower portion of the tubular guide member to various operative parts of the well head are so arranged as to permit selective hydraulic communication between the interior of the tubular guide member and predetermined portions of the well head equipment. This, therefore, enables communication with and control of various operating instrumentalities from a remote location on the surface of the body of water and is particularly advantageous in situations where safety considerations require emergency access to such equipment. It also enables the limitation of other hydraulic control lines which, by their multiplicity, tend to confuse and complicate operations.
  • a single self-supporting tube may similarly take the place of a large number of flexible tubes because the high pressure, as is known, limits the diameter of the flexible tube and thus the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid.
  • the present invention also contemplates effecting connection between the operating instrumentalities on the well head equipment and the lower extremity of the selfsupporting guide by indexing the hydraulic control conduits on the well head equipment which is being lowered into position with appropriate coupling members on the well head so as to couple said equipment with conduit means leading to the lower portion of the tubular guide member.
  • the conduit from the guide member to the operating instrumentality on the well head equipment is automatically coupled by causing the relative parts of the coupling to register vertically and to couple together in sealing relationship as the well head equipment is guided down the guide member into operat ing position on the well head.
  • the invention also contemplates selectively locking the slideable connecting means of the guide member in order to provide a unitary support for equipment aflixed to the well head.
  • a unitary structure is formed which may be supported from the working station at the surface of the water by one or more cables.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical elevation of drilling assembly for conducting underwater drilling operations.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are detailed sectional elevations of the lower extremity of one of the tubular guides showing the parts in alternate positions of actuation.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of a guide indexing arrangement.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation of a modified form of the well head arrangement.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 are detailed sectional elevations of the lower extremity of one of the tubular guides showing the parts in alternate positions of actuation as in FIGS. 2 and 3 and showing the ball element of the second embodiment in place.
  • the numeral 10 represents a well casing set in a subterranean hole bored in a submarine formation 12 below a body of water 14, the upper surface of which is indicated by dotted line 16.
  • a base or framework arrangement 18 is attached to the casing 10 and provided with suitable connections such as eye bolts 20 which receive the lower extremity of guide lines 22.
  • the guide lines may take the form of flexible cables, wirelines, ropes or rods which extend to the surface where they are suitably received at the working station.
  • the working station ordinarily comprises a floating vessel or platform carrying winches or counter weights to receive the lines 22.
  • the station carries the ordinary complement of producing and drilling equipment such as a typical drilling rig or derrick, draw works, crown and traveling blocks, swivel, kelly, pumping equipment, mud pit and the like. Since this is all well known, this is included herein only by reference.
  • a preventer stack comprising a hydraulic marine connector and a series of blowout preventers 26, 27, 28 and 29.
  • the automatic connector 24 at the lower extremity of the stack provides an automatic interlocking connection with the casing 10 and is arranged and constructed, as is well known, to interlock and seal positively therewith when it is lowered into position in registry therewith.
  • Such automatic connectors are selectively releasable by hydraulic pressure or otherwise through controls which are not shown in detail. Therefore, the stack may be freely lifted off of the upper extremity of the casing when this becomes necessary or advisable. For example, the application or release of hydraulic pressure, as the case may be, through an appropriate hose extending to the drilling vessel or platform.
  • blow-out preventers are similarly controlled from the surface preferably by hydraulic means not shown in detail and ordinarily a substantial number are provided in series in view of the vital importance in controlling blowout of the well and the possibility that one or more might fail to actuate.
  • a bracket 32 attached thereto extends laterally on either side of the stack to engage the guide lines 22 as at 34.
  • the apertures 34 preferably are constrained to be opened by any convenient means, engage the guide lines, for example, the outer portion of the bracket or flange at the aperture 34 may be hinged and provided with a latch for locking the hinged portion in place after the line 22 is inserted.
  • aperture 34 may communicate with the slot running to the margin of the bracket and selectively closed by inserting a pin there across.
  • the bracket 32 provides a connecting means which slideably engages the guide cables for guiding the stack into registry with the upper end of the casing.
  • the guide flange or bracket 32 also provides a base or support for a pair of substantially rigid upwardly extending kill or choke pipes 36.
  • pipes 38 communicate via ports in the casing of lowermost preventer 26 with the space below the rams of the preventer.
  • the pipes 38 communicate through elbows 39, choke valve or valves 40 and extensions 42 with upwardly extending supporting or control sleeves 44 which are mounted on and fixedly attached to the flange 32 as indicated.
  • the control sleeves 44 in turn, are attached to the substantially rigid or self-supporting choke lines 36 atsafety joints 46.
  • Safety joints as is well known, embody means permitting a firm or rigid seal at the pipe joint subject to selective and rapid disconnection by special manipulation.
  • safety joints 46 may comprise a connection of the typical right hand break safety joint type.
  • the choke pipes 36 are run as the preventer stack is lowered and guided into place. That is to say, the sections of pipe are made up and added asthe stack is lowered so that they remain as vertically extending substantially rigid guides for guiding subsequent applied equipment into place, being meanwhile, supported suitably at rig level.
  • FIG. 1 An example of the means for guiding subsequent equipment into place can be seen in FIG. 1 wherein marine conductor or riser tube 48 is guided into place and applied to the male half 30 of a remote automatic connector, by the use of guide arms or brackets 50 and 52 which slidably engages the pipes 36.
  • the marine conductor comprises a tubular conduit or stand pipe for access to the interior of the well and for conducting and recovering the returns, namely the drilling mud or other fluids and cuttings from the drilling operation.
  • the standpipe 48 comprises at its lower extremity the barrel or top section 54 of the remote automatic connector adapted to interlock in sealing relationship with the male or mandrel section 30 of the remote automatic connector.
  • the remote automatic connector referred to in its entirety by the numeral 55 relates to the same generic type of device as the connector 24, it nevertheless preferably comprises a fail release connector provided, for example, with a bag type conductor latch.
  • the connector 24 automatically and posivetively attaches and can be released only by the positive actuation of hydraulic pressure
  • the connector 55 is held in an attached condition only by the application of pressure and automatically released when the pressure is reduced.
  • Such a connector which for purposes of the present description, may be called a pressure engaging connector, facilitates quick disconnect where necessary.
  • a conduit 56 which is attached to and runs upwardly along the marine conductor 48 is accessible to rig level for the application of hydraulic actuating pressure to the connector.
  • brackets or guide arms 50 are engaged with the extremities of the brackets or guide arms 50, as is shown, about the choke pipes 36 as it is assembled at the surface and running it downwardly as the conductor is made up, with one or more additional brackets 52 attached as required.
  • bracket 50 is integral with the barrel 54 of the connector 55
  • brackets 52 are preferably attached to the conductor pipe by releasable clamps or sleeves 58.
  • the brackets 50 and 52 are provided with guideways 51 which can be selectively opened to admit the pipes 36, any suitable means such as a hinged gate or closeable slot being useful for this purpose.
  • slips 60' or retaining clamps are applied about they choke pipe to support the weight thereof upon the uppermost bracket 52.
  • This is supported by suspending lines 62 attached to the upper portion of the conductor as at 64, and, in turn, connected to suitable attachment points, winches or counterweights on the floating rig.
  • the drilling operations can proceed in the conventional manner through the conductor pipe 48 and the preventer stack wherein the mud returns, passing upwardly through the marine conductor, and passing off through an overflow line to the shakers and mud pit (not shown).
  • the marine conductor other means, such as a flexible hose from the well head,.may be used for recovery of the drilling mud returns and that the choke line pipes may, in asimilar manner, be employed for guiding the drill bit or stem into the hole using brackets such. as 50 and 52.
  • any other equipment may be guided into the hole as necessitated by the operations being, conducted and in the absence of the marine conductor, the supporting lines 62 may be attached to appropriate fasteners (not shown) on the bracket 52, or to the pipes 36'themselves.
  • the choke or kill pipes may be replaced by simply running them on a bracket 66 as shown in FIG. 4, which embraces the cable 22 and is indexed with the safety joint sleeve 46 by means of a tubular extension 68 extending vertically upwardly over the guide flange 32 about the aperture 34 and provided with an upper inclined surface 70 leading to a slot 72.
  • the bracket 66 is guided by the incline surface 70 into the slot 72 at which time the end of the pipe 36 is aligned with the safety joint where it may be positively made up.
  • the bracket 66 can then be withdrawn by control line 74.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 Another important aspect of this invention is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. More specifically, the apparatus is shown by means of which dual access is obtained to various of the control instrumentalities such as the hydraulic actuating mechanisms of the preventers 28 and 29.
  • FIG. 2 there is shown a remotely operated dual hydraulic access system comprising a vertically movable sleeve 76 slidable axially within the control or supporting sleeve 44, and biased into its uppermost position by helical spring 78. In this position, radial port 80 in the sleeve 76 is spaced vertically from port 82 in the sleeve 44.
  • FIG. 3 The string of somewhat smaller size tubing is indicated by the reference numeral 84 in both FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the string terminates at its extremity in a wall 86 which is provided with a port 88 which aligns with port 80 when the lower margin 90 of the pipe string 84 engages the shoulder or seat 92 on the sleeve 76.
  • ports 88, 80 and 82 are in alignment effecting communication between the interior of the control string and the conduit 94.
  • This latter conduit may be connected to any instrumentality requiring fluid pressure actuation from the surface. However, in the present embodiment, it is shown for purposes of exemplification as connecting with the hydraulic actuating instrumentality of preventers 28 and 2? (FIG. 1).
  • blow-out preventers may be actuated thru flexible control lines (not shown) extending to the surface
  • emergency access of hydraulic actuating fluid through the control line 84 provides a vital function in deepwater drilling enabling the actuation of the valve or preventer in the event of failure of the other control lines. This may be done simply by running the smaller emergency closing string 84 and applying the required actuating pressure. Removal of the hydraulic string 84 permits the spring 78 to return sleeve 76 to normal position cutting off communication with the preventer and re-establishing communication between the choke line and the interior of the casing.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 depict the apparatus of a second embodiment by means of which dual access is obtained to various of the control instrumentalities.
  • the apparatus is similar to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Parts common to FIGS. 2 and 3 and FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively, are designated by the same reference numerals.
  • a remotely operated dual hydraulic access system comprising a vertically moveable sleeve 76 slidable axially within the control or supporting sleeve 44, and biased into its uppermost position by helical spring 78. In this position, radial port 80 in the sleeve 76 is spaced vertically from port 82 in the sleeve 44.
  • a heavy ball 121 is inserted into the guide 44 and sinks, because of its weight, thru the mud in the guide until it engages seat 92 or sleeve 76.
  • the tubular guides are not only used as indexing means for equipment which must be lowered into 6 place but also serves as choke or kill lines. In the latter case, suitably weighted mud is inserted into the well through these guides in order to balance pressures etc. and control the well.
  • the ball 121 when seated on the seat or flange 92 of the sleeve 7 6 will cut off communication of the mud with the conduit connected below the sleeve 76.
  • the sleeve 76 is moved downwardly against the force of spring 78 by pressure applied to the mud in the guide 44 by pressure pump or source 123.
  • the sleeve when fully descended as shown in FIG. 8, will provide alignment of ports and and 82 thereby effecting communication of the mud in the guide and the conduit 94.
  • blow-out preventers can be effected hydraulically by the mud which may exist in the guide members.
  • the operation of this control function using mud as the hydraulic fluid is also considered an emergency control and is usually limited to use in the event of impending well blow-out.
  • the choke or kill lines 36 may be mounted on the guide base preferably by ball unions 96 which permit limited pivotal movement.
  • An extension of the choke line conduit passes as at 98 through guide base 100 and terminates in the upwardly facing pressure fitting 102.
  • the blow-out preventer stack 103 is provided through the choke or kill line port 104 with a conduit or line 106 which extends downwardly as at 108 and terminates at 110 in a mandrel or fitting adapted to be received within the mating recess 102 and to form therewith a sealed connection.
  • recess 102 and fitting 110 provide a connection or coupling which is actionable by axial stabbing motion to form an effective fluid coupling.
  • the choke lines are preferably run with the original setting of the guide base at the time the casing 10 is lowered or introduced into the sub-surface formation. Therefore with casing 10 in place, the tubular lines 36 extend to the surface of the water where they are buoyed or otherwise supported. With this arrangement therefore, the entire blowout preventer stack and its associated elements may be guided into position along pipes 36 by means of guide brackets 112. With the stack thus guided and indexed, the
  • conduits and 116 connected to sleeves 44, respectively are permanently attached to and form a conduit through base 100 similar to the conduits 98.
  • These conduits result in upwardly facing recesses 117 in the base 100 so located with respect to conduits 118 and 119 that the end of conduits 118 and 119 enter the respective recesses when the preventer stack is lowered into position to provide a sealed connection therebetween.
  • the present invention therefore, provides a positive means for guiding equipment into desired relationship with the well and the well equipment.
  • a preferred embodiment enables emergency disassembly and removal of the lines running to the surface of the water and their subsequent replacement when work is to be resumed.
  • a particular advantage, as indicated above, is the provision of multiple emergency control communication in the event of failure of normal means provided for this service.
  • an apparatus for controlling operations in a borehole located in a submarine formation which apparatus includes a well-head associated with the borehole and adapted to receive well-head equipment, a substantially self-supporting, elongated, and tubular guide member anchored at its lower end to the formation and extending to a surface location above the water overlying said formation, said elongated tubular guide member being adapted to receive a connecting means slidable thereon and constrainable thereby to guide equipment from the surface of the water into predetermined relationship with said well-head as it slides down the guide member, the improvement which comprises first conduit means connected between a lower portion of said tubular guide member and one part of said well-head equipment, a second conduit means connected between the lower portion of said tubular guide member and another part of said well-head equipment, control means associated with said lower portion of said tubular guide member for selectively completing the connection of said first and second conduit means to the interior of said tubular guide member and actuating means applicable thru the tubular guide member from the surface location for operating said control means thereby effect
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising a spaced plurality of said tubular guide members each provided with conduit means and control means.
  • first and second conduit means each comprises a conduit section extending from the lower portion of said guide member to respective upwardly facing coupling members anchored adjacent said well head and further conduit sections connected to said well-head equipment and terminating in respective downwardly facing coupling members located and arranged to engage and couple with said first named coupling members when said well'head equipment is lowered from the surface along the guide member into said predetermined relationship with said wellhead.
  • an apparatus for controlling operations in a borehole located in a submarine formation which apparatus includes a well-head associated with the borehole and adapted to receive well-head equipment, a substantially self-supporting, elongated, and tubular guide member anchored at its lower end to the formation and extending to a surface location above the water overlying said formation, said elongated guide member being adapted to receive a connecting means slidable thereon and constrainable thereby to guide equipment from the surface of the water into predetermined relationship with said wellhead as it slides down the guide member, the improvement which comprises first conduit means connected between the lower portion of said tubular guide member and one part of said well-head equipment, a second conduit means connected to the lower portion of said tubular guide member and another part of said well-head equipment, control means associated with the said lower portion of said tubular guide member, said control means normally sealing off communication between said second conduit means and the interior of said guide member, and actuating means applicable through the tubular guide member from the surface location for selectively sealing off communication between said first conduit and the interior
  • an apparatus for controlling operations in a borehole located in a submarine formation which apparatus includes a well-head associated with the bore hole and adapted to receive well-head equipment, a substantially self-supporting, elongated, and tubular guide member anchored at its lower end to the formation and extending to a surface location above the water overlying said formation, said elongated tubular guide member being adapted to receive a connecting means slidable thereon and constrainable thereby to guide equipment from the surface of the water into predetermined relationship with said well-head as it slides down the guide member, the improvement which comprises, first conduit means connected between a lower portion of said tubular guide member and one part of said well-head equipment, a second conduit means connected between the lower portion of said tubular guide member and another part of said well-head equipment, control means associated with the said lower portion of said tubular guide member for selectively completing the connection of said first and second conduit means to the interior of said tubular guide member and an elongated actuating member insertable through the tubular guide member from the surface location
  • Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said elongated actuating member comprises a hydraulic conduit and wherein said control means is actuable thereby to place the interior of said actuating member in communication with said second conduit.
  • an apparatus for controlling operations in a borehole located in a submarine formation which apparatus includes a well-head associated with the borehole and adapted to receive well-head equipment, a substantially self-supporting, elongated, and tubular guide member anchored at its lower end to the formation and extending to a surface location above the water overlying said formation, said elongated tubular guide member being adapted to receive a connecting means slidable thereon and constrainable thereby to guide equipment from the surface of the water into predetermined relationship with said well-head as it slides down the guide member, the improvement which comprises first conduit means connected between a lower portion of said tubular guide member and one part of said well-head equipment, a second conduit means connected between the lower portion of said tubular guide member and another part of said Well-head equipment, control means associated with said lower portion of said tubular guide member for selectively completing the connection of said first and second conduit means to the interior of said tubular guide member, and actuating means applicable thru the tubular guide member from the surface locations for operating said control means, said
  • tubular guide means is filled with mud and said pressure means comp-rises said mud and a pressure source for pressurizing said mud.
  • an apparatus for controlling operations in a borehole located in a submarine formation which apparatus includes well-head equipment associated with the borehole, a substantially self-supporting, elongated, and tubular guide member anchored at its lower end to the formation and extending to a surface location above the water overlying said formation, said elongated guide member being adapted to receive a connecting means slidable thereon and constrainable thereby to guide equipment from the surface of the water into predetermined registry with said well equipment as it slides down the guide member, the improvement which comprises a riser tube indexed with and releasably attached to said Wellhead equipment at its lower extremity and extending to the vicinity of the surface of said water, connecting means slidable on the guide member and attached to said riser tube for guiding said riser tube into registry with said well-head equipment, means for releasably attaching the guide member to said connecting means to prevent upward movement of the connecting means relative thereto and means for supporting the riser tube from said surface location whereby the guide member is positively supported in fixed relationship
  • an apparatus for controlling operations in a borehole located in a submarine formation which apparatus includes a well-head associated with the borehole and adapted to receive well-head equipment, a substantially self-supporting, elongated, and tubular guide member anchored at its lower end to the formation and extending to a surface location above the water overlying said formation, said elongated tubular guide member being adapted to receive a connecting means slidable thereon and constrainable thereby to guide equipment from the surface of the water into predetermined relationship with said well-head as it slides down the guide member, the improvement which comprises first conduit means extending from the lower portion of said tubular guide member and adapted to connect with one part of said well-head equipment, a second conduit means extending from a port in the lower portion of said tubular guide member and adapted to connect with a second part of said well-head equipment, control means associated with the said lower portion of said guide member, said control means comprising a spring and a sleeve urged upward in said guide member by said spring, said s
  • an apparatus for controlling operations in a borehole located in a submarine formation which apparatus includes a wellhead associated with the borehole and adapted to receive well-head equipment, and elongated substantially self-supporting tubular guide member ordinarily filled with mud anchored at its lower end to the formation and extending to a surface location above the water overlying said formation, said elongated tubular guide member being adapted to receive a connecting means slidable thereon and constrainable thereby to guide equipment from the surface of the water into predetermined relationship with said well-head as it slides down the guide member, the improvement which comprises first conduit means extending from the lower portion of said tubular guide member and adapted to connect with one part of said Well-head equipment, a second conduit means extending from a port in the lower portion of said tubular guide member and adapted to connect with a second part of said well-head equipment, control means associated with the said lower portion of said guide members, said control means comprising a spring and a sleeve urged upward in said guide member by said spring, said

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
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US382218A 1964-07-13 1964-07-13 Off-shore drilling Expired - Lifetime US3324943A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US382218A US3324943A (en) 1964-07-13 1964-07-13 Off-shore drilling
NO158842A NO122523B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-07-13 1965-07-07
GB28864/65A GB1079158A (en) 1964-07-13 1965-07-07 Underwater well apparatus
DK356565AA DK109953C (da) 1964-07-13 1965-07-12 Styreapparat, navnlig nødstyreapparat, til styring af operationer ved borerørshoveder ved undersøiske boringer.
NL656509023A NL152632B (nl) 1964-07-13 1965-07-13 Onderwater-putmondinrichting.

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US382218A US3324943A (en) 1964-07-13 1964-07-13 Off-shore drilling

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US3324943A true US3324943A (en) 1967-06-13

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US382218A Expired - Lifetime US3324943A (en) 1964-07-13 1964-07-13 Off-shore drilling

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US (1) US3324943A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DK (1) DK109953C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1079158A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL152632B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NO (1) NO122523B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3422889A (en) * 1967-01-03 1969-01-21 Oscar A Yost Fast pipe coupling for offshore drilling
US3459270A (en) * 1967-03-08 1969-08-05 Atlantic Richfield Co Wear bushing for underwater drilling apparatus
US3486556A (en) * 1967-05-01 1969-12-30 Stewart & Stevenson Inc Jim Underwater connecting apparatus
US4046191A (en) * 1975-07-07 1977-09-06 Exxon Production Research Company Subsea hydraulic choke
US4080025A (en) * 1976-05-03 1978-03-21 Matra Automatic connector for underwater connection
FR2398176A1 (fr) * 1977-07-20 1979-02-16 Petroles Cie Francaise Dispositif de terminaison d'un ensemble de tubes risers d'une plate-forme flottante
FR2422813A1 (fr) * 1977-08-01 1979-11-09 Regan Offshore Int Dispositif de securite destine a fermer automatiquement les conduites hydrauliques a l'interieur d'un tubage de puits sous-marin
US4189003A (en) * 1972-07-12 1980-02-19 Otis Engineering Corporation Method of completing wells in which the lower tubing is suspended from a tubing hanger below the wellhead and upper removable tubing extends between the wellhead and tubing hanger
US4193455A (en) * 1978-04-14 1980-03-18 Chevron Research Company Split stack blowout prevention system
US4194568A (en) * 1977-07-01 1980-03-25 Compagnie Francaise Des Petroles, S.A. Disconnectable riser columns for under water oil wells
US4262380A (en) * 1978-06-09 1981-04-21 Single Buoy Moorings, Inc. Buoy including a mooring device
US4273470A (en) * 1978-01-20 1981-06-16 Shell Oil Company Offshore production riser with flexible connector
US4363567A (en) * 1979-09-12 1982-12-14 Shell Oil Company Multiple bore marine riser with flexible reinforcement
US4388022A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-06-14 Mobil Oil Corporation Flexible flowline bundle for compliant riser
US4391332A (en) * 1980-05-20 1983-07-05 Astilleros Y Talleres Del Noroeste, S.A. Offshore facility for recovery hydrocarbon deposits from deep sea beds
US4397357A (en) * 1981-04-20 1983-08-09 Vetco Offshore, Inc. Disconnectable production riser assembly
US4401164A (en) * 1981-04-24 1983-08-30 Baugh Benton F In situ method and apparatus for inspecting and repairing subsea wellheads
WO2013050826A1 (en) * 2011-10-05 2013-04-11 Redden David B Backup wellhead blowout prevention system and method
US20130105171A1 (en) * 2010-06-22 2013-05-02 Neodrill As Device and Method for Stabilization of a Wellhead and Also Use of a Suction Substructure for Support of a Wellhead
US20180306012A1 (en) * 2017-04-20 2018-10-25 Bryce Elliott Randle Lube and bleed casing adaptor

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US3189098A (en) * 1961-12-29 1965-06-15 Shell Oil Co Marine conductor pipe assembly
US3219117A (en) * 1961-07-10 1965-11-23 Richfield Oil Corp Well drilling and production apparatus and method
US3221817A (en) * 1962-09-13 1965-12-07 Shell Oil Co Marine conductor pipe assembly
US3236301A (en) * 1961-07-10 1966-02-22 Richfield Oil Corp Drilling and production apparatus and method
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US2923531A (en) * 1956-04-26 1960-02-02 Shell Oil Co Drilling
US3114420A (en) * 1958-05-08 1963-12-17 Shaffer Tool Works Apparatus and method for sub-sea drilling
US3219117A (en) * 1961-07-10 1965-11-23 Richfield Oil Corp Well drilling and production apparatus and method
US3236301A (en) * 1961-07-10 1966-02-22 Richfield Oil Corp Drilling and production apparatus and method
US3189098A (en) * 1961-12-29 1965-06-15 Shell Oil Co Marine conductor pipe assembly
US3221817A (en) * 1962-09-13 1965-12-07 Shell Oil Co Marine conductor pipe assembly
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Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3422889A (en) * 1967-01-03 1969-01-21 Oscar A Yost Fast pipe coupling for offshore drilling
US3459270A (en) * 1967-03-08 1969-08-05 Atlantic Richfield Co Wear bushing for underwater drilling apparatus
US3486556A (en) * 1967-05-01 1969-12-30 Stewart & Stevenson Inc Jim Underwater connecting apparatus
US4189003A (en) * 1972-07-12 1980-02-19 Otis Engineering Corporation Method of completing wells in which the lower tubing is suspended from a tubing hanger below the wellhead and upper removable tubing extends between the wellhead and tubing hanger
US4046191A (en) * 1975-07-07 1977-09-06 Exxon Production Research Company Subsea hydraulic choke
US4080025A (en) * 1976-05-03 1978-03-21 Matra Automatic connector for underwater connection
US4194568A (en) * 1977-07-01 1980-03-25 Compagnie Francaise Des Petroles, S.A. Disconnectable riser columns for under water oil wells
FR2398176A1 (fr) * 1977-07-20 1979-02-16 Petroles Cie Francaise Dispositif de terminaison d'un ensemble de tubes risers d'une plate-forme flottante
US4142584A (en) * 1977-07-20 1979-03-06 Compagnie Francaise Des Petroles Termination means for a plurality of riser pipes at a floating platform
FR2422813A1 (fr) * 1977-08-01 1979-11-09 Regan Offshore Int Dispositif de securite destine a fermer automatiquement les conduites hydrauliques a l'interieur d'un tubage de puits sous-marin
US4273470A (en) * 1978-01-20 1981-06-16 Shell Oil Company Offshore production riser with flexible connector
US4193455A (en) * 1978-04-14 1980-03-18 Chevron Research Company Split stack blowout prevention system
US4262380A (en) * 1978-06-09 1981-04-21 Single Buoy Moorings, Inc. Buoy including a mooring device
US4363567A (en) * 1979-09-12 1982-12-14 Shell Oil Company Multiple bore marine riser with flexible reinforcement
US4391332A (en) * 1980-05-20 1983-07-05 Astilleros Y Talleres Del Noroeste, S.A. Offshore facility for recovery hydrocarbon deposits from deep sea beds
US4388022A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-06-14 Mobil Oil Corporation Flexible flowline bundle for compliant riser
US4397357A (en) * 1981-04-20 1983-08-09 Vetco Offshore, Inc. Disconnectable production riser assembly
US4401164A (en) * 1981-04-24 1983-08-30 Baugh Benton F In situ method and apparatus for inspecting and repairing subsea wellheads
US20130105171A1 (en) * 2010-06-22 2013-05-02 Neodrill As Device and Method for Stabilization of a Wellhead and Also Use of a Suction Substructure for Support of a Wellhead
US9140089B2 (en) * 2010-06-22 2015-09-22 Neodrill As Device and method for stabilization of a wellhead
US8881829B2 (en) 2010-10-07 2014-11-11 David B. Redden Backup wellhead blowout prevention system and method
WO2013050826A1 (en) * 2011-10-05 2013-04-11 Redden David B Backup wellhead blowout prevention system and method
US20180306012A1 (en) * 2017-04-20 2018-10-25 Bryce Elliott Randle Lube and bleed casing adaptor
US10619465B2 (en) * 2017-04-20 2020-04-14 Spoked Solutions LLC Lube and bleed casing adaptor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1079158A (en) 1967-08-16
NL6509023A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1966-01-14
NL152632B (nl) 1977-03-15
DK109953C (da) 1968-08-12
NO122523B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-12

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