Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
  • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
  • E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
  • E21B17/05—Swivel joints
• • 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
  • E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
  • E21B17/046—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
  • E21B17/0465—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches characterised by radially inserted locking elements
• • 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
  • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
  • E21B19/16—Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
  • F16L37/10—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members using a rotary external sleeve or ring on one part
  • F16L37/107—Bayonet-type couplings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/24—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet-action
  • F16L37/244—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet-action the coupling being co-axial with the pipe
  • F16L37/252—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet-action the coupling being co-axial with the pipe the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part

Definitions

• the invention relates generally to cementing equipment used with oilfield wellhead equipment and, in particular aspects, to couplings that are useful for such equipment.
• a casing is typically cemented in along the length of the drilled bore.
• Cementing equipment is used to do this and typically includes a top drive cement head that permits bails or rubber darts to be dropped into the wellbore during the cementing operation.
• the cement head also must be capable of flowing cement from a cement supply downwardly into the wellbore.
• Suitable cementing equipment for these purposes includes a top drive cement head which is available commercially from Baker Hughes Incorporated of Houston, Texas.
• the invention provides methods and devices for quickly connecting and disconnecting a conduit to a port.
• a quick connect coupling is described for quickly connecting and disconnecting a cement supply conduit to the port of a top drive cement swivel.
• An exemplary quick connect coupling includes a stinger assembly that is reversibly coupled to a breech lock box connector on the cement swive!. Raised keys on the breech Sock barrel will interfit with complimentary ridges with a bore of the breech lock connector.
• a locking arrangement that secures the stinger assembly against rotation within the breech lock connector
• a locking pin is used to Sock the stinger assembly into place and against rotation with respect to the cement swivel.
• An exemplary locking pin is described that is retained by the cement swivei and is axial!y moveable between unlocked and locked positions. In the locked position, the Socking pin will reside within a complimentary indentation within the stinger assembly thereby preventing rotation.
• a user can quickly and easily couple the stinger assembly with the cement swivel easily and without the need for hammers and other tools to be used.
• a crane may be used to lift and move the stinger assembly and affixed cement conduit to a position that is proximate the breech lock box connector of the cement swivel.
• An operator can then orient the stinger assembly so that the keys of the stinger assembly are angularly offset from the ridges within the bore.
• the stinger and breech iock barrel are then inserted into the bore. Thereafter, the user rotates the stinger assembly to align the keys of the stinger assembly with the ridges of the bore.
• each of the keys When aligned, each of the keys are preferably located in line with and behind a ridge, preventing the stinger assembly from being withdrawn from the breech lock connector. The locking arrangement is then engaged to Sock the stinger assembly in place so that it cannot be rotated with the breech lock connector.
• Figure 1 is a side view of portions of an exemplary welibore cementing operation
• Figure 2 is an isometric view of an exemplary stinger assembly in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a side view of the stinger assembly shown in Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in Figure 3.
• Figure 5 is a front view of an exemplary cement swivel with stinger assembly attached in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 in Figure 5.
• Figure 7 is a front view of the cement swivel and stinger assembly depicting the stinger assembly being coupled to the swivel
• Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portions of an exemplary coupling in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 9 is a side view of the exemplary cement swivel and stinger assembly shown in an unlocked condition.
• Figure 10 is a side view of the cement swivel and stinge assembly of Figure 9, now in a locked condition.
• Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view, partially in phantom, showing portions of the stinger assembly and cement swivel in an unsecured condition
• Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view, partially in phantom, showing portions of the stinger assembly and cement swivel now in a secured condition.
• Figure 13 is an isometric view of an exemplary breech lock barrel shown apart from other components of the coupling.
• Figure 1 illustrates portions an exemplary cementing operation for a we!tbore.
• a tubular working string 10 extends downwardly into a wellhead 12,
• a cementing tooi 14 is incorporated into the working string 10 which typically contains balls and/or plugs which are launched into the working string 10 during a cementing operation.
• a top drive cement swivel 18 is affixed to the upper end of the cementing
• FIG 1 also depicts a cement hose 18 with an affixed stinger assembly 20. Cement can be flowed to the cement swivel 16 when the stinger assembly 20 is coupled to the cement swivei 16.
• the structure and operation of an exemplary stinger assembly 20 are better appreciated with further reference to Figures 2-4.
• the stinger assembly 20 includes a curved rigid pipe portion 24 that is affixed to the hose 18.
• a flange 26 with lifting eye 28 extends upwardly from the pipe portion 24.
• a stinger 30 extends outwardly
• a cement flow path 32 is defined within the pipe portion 24 and stinger 30.
• a breech iock barrel 34 radiaily surrounds the stinger 30 and, as can be seen best in Figures 4 and 8, secured to the stinger 30 by a sleeve 36 that preferably permits the breech lock barrel 34 to rotate about th stinger 30.
• Figure 13 shows the breech iock barrel 34 apart from the other components of the stinger
• a flange 38 projects radiaily outwardly from the breech lock barrel 34 and presents at least one indentation 40. in the depicted embodiment, there are six indentations 40.
• an enlarged grippable handle 42 also radially surrounds the stinger 30 and is secured by bolts 44 ⁇ Figure 2 ⁇ to the breech iock barrel 34 so that the stinger 30 will be rotated when the handle 42 is rotated.
• the outer radia! surface of the breech lock barrel 34 preferabl presents a plurality of raised keys 46.
• the keys 46 are organized into rows (A, B and C) and perpendicular columns. The keys 46 are spaced apart from each other along each of the rows A, B and C and each of the columns. In some embodiments, there are six keys 46 per row A, B and C spaced angularly from each other at about 30 degrees apart.
• the breech lock barrel 34 also inciudes a row of raised anti-rotation locking dogs 47. in the depicted embodiment, there are six locking dogs 47 that are positioned in a spaced relation from one another of about 30 degrees apart.
• the cement swive! 16 has a generally box-shaped main housing 50.
• a central axial flowbore 52 passes vertically through the main housing 50.
• Lateral fluid flow openings 54, 56 extend through the main housing 50 and permit fluid communication between the central flowbore 52 and the exterior of the cement swivel 16,
• a tubular breech lock box connector 58 extends outwardly from the main housing 50.
• the breech lock box connector 58 defines an interior bore 60 having a plurality of inwardly projecting ridges 62.
• the ridges 62 are spaced apart from each other both radially and axially within the bore 60.
• the interior bore 60 aiso includes an annular fluid sea! 63 ( Figure 8 ⁇ that creates a fluid seal against the stinger 30 when it is inserted into the bore 60.
• the interior bore 60 also presents a row of inwardly projecting anti-rotation locking dogs 48.
• the dogs 48 are meant to be complimentary to the anti-rotation dogs 47 of the breech lock barrel 34.
• Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a locking pin 64 which is preferably used with the cement swivel 16 and is used to lock the stinger assembiy 20 into a coupled position with respect to the cement swivel 16.
• the locking pin 84 is preferably retained by a sleeve 68 and is axialiy shiftab!e between two positions, in the unlocked position shown in Figure 9, the locking pin 64 does not prevent rotation of the stinger assembly 20 with respect to the cement swive! 16.
• the locking pin 64 In the locked position shown in Figure 10, the locking pin 64 is disposed within an indentation 40 of the flange 38 and will prevent rotation of the stinger assembly 20 with respect to the cement swivel 16.
• the locking pin 64 has a handle portion 68 that can be used to rotate and shift the locking pin 64 between the unlocked and locked positions.
• a user can rapidly couple or uncouple the cement conduit 18 to the cement swivel 6.
• the block and tackle 22 is used to lift and move the stinger assembly 20 by lifting eye 28 until the stinger assembly 20 is proximate the breech lock connector 58 of the cement swivel 16.
• a user can then grasp the handle 42 of the stinger assembly 20 and rotate the stinger assembly 20 to the approximate position shown in Figure 7. in Figure 7, the stinger assembly 20 is rotated approximately 30 degrees from the vertical, as illustrated in Figure 7.
• the Socking dogs 47 will radially abut the dogs 48 of the bore 60 ⁇ as depicted in Figure 12), preventing further rotation beyond 30 degrees. In this position, the stinger assembly 20 cannot be axial!y withdrawn from the bore 80.
• the stinger assembly 20 is now coupled to the cement swivel 16.
• the user can now move the Socking pin 64 from the unlocked position (Fig. 9) to the locked position (Fig. 10) as described previously. Seating of the locking pin 64 within the indentation 40 will prevent the stinger assembly 20 from being inadvertently rotated and uncoupled from the cement swivel 16. Cement can now be flowed along the cement flow path 32 from the cement conduit 18 into the lateral flow opening 54 of the cement swivel and into the centra! flowbore 52 of the cement swivel 16,
• a user in order to uncouple the stinger assembly 20 from the cement swivel 16, a user will reverse the operations.
• the locking pin 64 is moved from the locked position (Fig. 10) to the unlocked position (Fig. 9).
• a user can then rotate the stinger assembly 20 approximately 30 degrees to the position illustrated in Figure 7.
• the stinger assembly 20 can then be axially withdrawn from the bore 60 of the breech lock connector 58.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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• 2012
  • 2012-06-13 US US13/495,048 patent/US9051787B2/en active Active
• 2013
  • 2013-04-22 EP EP13784587.1A patent/EP2844826B1/en active Active
  • 2013-04-22 MX MX2014013138A patent/MX347876B/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2013-04-22 CN CN201380022574.2A patent/CN104395551B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-04-22 MY MYPI2014703190A patent/MY171367A/en unknown
  • 2013-04-22 JP JP2015509063A patent/JP2015520813A/ja active Pending
  • 2013-04-22 WO PCT/US2013/037599 patent/WO2013165729A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-04-22 AU AU2013256754A patent/AU2013256754B2/en active Active
  • 2013-04-22 BR BR112014026618-2A patent/BR112014026618B1/pt active IP Right Grant
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