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
  • 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

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to a system and method for controlling wells and stopping blowouts once they have begun.
• One form of the invention is an arrester section that includes a first arrester that extends downwardly towards a wellhead, a second arrester that extends downwardly towards the wellhead and is positioned above and in-line with the first arrester; and a motor connected to the first arrester, the motor configured to open the first arrester when energized.
• the invention may further include an attachment point below the first arrester that is configured to be attached to a wellhead, shear section, existing BOP, or other common connector.
• the first arrester section may include blades configured to act together to close around a tubular member.
• the blades may be solid or include vents. For vented blades, at least some of the vents may be connected by veins.
• Another form of the invention is an advanced BOP that includes an arrester section; a shear section; and a gripping section; wherein the gripping section is poisoned closest to a well head, followed by the shear section, and then the arrester section.
• the arrester section may include a first arrester extending downwardly towards the wellhead.
• the first arrester may comprise a number of arrester blades shaped to close around a tubular member.
• at least one of the arrester blades is vented. Further, all or some of the vented blades include veins connected to a fluid source.
• the fluid source in one configuration is configured to hold coagulant, dispersant, or other material that might beneficially be supplied to vents.
• the arrester section of the advanced BOP may further include a second arrester positioned in line with said first arrester.
• the second arrester may include a number of vented arrester blades. It is also understood that the vents of the first arrester section define a first vented area; the vents of the second arrester section define a second vented area wherein the first vented area may be larger than the second vented area.
• the gripping section of the advanced BOP may include a pipe gripping cone extending upwardly from the wellhead.
• the advanced BOP may include a seal section positioned above the shear section that is designed to seal the well bore once tubular members extending into the well have been sheared.
• the advanced BOP may also include a retention section that is able to grip and suspend tubular members once they have been sheared.
• Another form of the invention is an advanced BOP with an arrester section that includes at least one downwardly extending arrester ring; a shear section positioned below said arrester section; and a gripping section positioned below the shear section, wherein the arrester section, shear section, and gripping section define a passage through the BOP large enough to receive a tubular member.
• the shear section may include inductive shearing blades.
• the advanced BOP may further include a sealing ring positioned between said arrester section and said shear section.
• the arrester ring may be configured with overlapping blades that can be actuated to constrict inwardly to reduce the passage through the BOP.
• the arrester section of the advanced BOP may also include a second arrester ring positioned above said first arrester ring.
• FIG. 1 is a view of an advanced BOP
• FIG. 2 is a view of an advanced BOP with the outer skin removed
• FIG. 3 is a view of a lower blowout arrester ring with vented blades
• FIG. 4 is a view of a vented arrester blade
• FIG. 5 is a semi-transparent view of coagulant veins in a vented arrester blade
• FIG 6 is a view of a pipe gripping ring
• FIG. 7 is a view of a blade of the pipe gripping ring
• FIG 8 is a cross- sectional view of nested inductive shear rings.
• FIG. 9 is a view of an inductive shear blade.
• FIG 1 shows the advanced Blowout preventer ("BOP") of applicant's invention.
• BOP advanced Blowout preventer
• the lower portion of advanced BOP 10 is attached to well head 20 in a known manner.
• the upper portion is connected to riser 30.
• FIG 2 shows a cutaway view of advanced BOP (10).
• the advanced BOP 10 includes a number of components designed to work cooperatively to provide well management, well containment, and blowout suppression.
• the upper portion is the blowout arrester section 40.
• the lower section is the shear section 50.
• the blowout arrester section 40 includes a number of separate arrester rings. Although three arrester rings are shown, it is understood that the arrester section 40 could include more or less than three.
• the arrester rings are shown arranged in sequence, but may also be nested.
• the arrester rings are shown as being generally the same size and shape. However, one skilled in the art appreciates that different combinations of size and shape are within the spirit of the invention.
• the arrester rings are designed to stop a blowout that is in progress.
• Each arrester ring is shown as being a series of overlapping blades that close around a tubular conduit such as a casing or drill pipe.
• the arrester rings extend downward towards the wellhead 20.
• discharge from the well moves rapidly up the BOP.
• the arrester rings close, the escaping fluid and gas apply pressure to assist in closing the blades around the tubular conduit. In this manner, the force exerted by the material escaping the well assists in closing the arrester rings.
• FIG. 3 The lowest arrester ring, arrester ring 60, is shown in Figure 3 in a closed position.
• Arrester ring 60 is made from a number of blades that cooperate to close the well.
• Figure 4 shows a single blade from the arrester ring 60. The blades are shown as being rounded. However, the blades may be straight or other shape.
• Blade 70 is shown with a number of vents 80.
• the vents 80 are designed to reduce the force on the bade as the arrester ring is closed.
• vents 80 are shown in a geometric pattern, one skilled in the art appreciates that the vents can vary in size, shape, and position on blade 70.
• vents 80 may be larger close to the open end of blade 70 to reduce the bending moment on blade 80.
• the arrester ring blades may be similar or different.
• the blades may alternate between sold blades and vented blades.
• the arrester ring blades may all be solid.
• vents 80 may be made large relative to the width of blade 70. In some configurations vents 80 can be made so large that blade 70 functions as a debris screen. Alternatively, vents 80 may be configured to act as a flow straightener to reduce flow turbulence. Alternatively, vents 80 may be configured to direct flow over instruments such as a parasitic power unit.
• Arrester ring 60 may be configured to close against a tubular conduit.
• arrester ring 60 may be configured to be fully closed without contacting the tubular conduit.
• blade 70 may include a shaped end that confirms to the tubular conduit.
• Blade 70 may also include veins 90.
• Figure 5 shows veins 90 within blade 70.
• Veins 90 can be used for pumping coagulant into vents 80. Coagulant can be used to fill vents 80 to substantially stop all flow through blade 70.
• Veins 90 can also be used to introduce other substances into the annulus between the drill pipe and the wall of the BOP. For example, veins 90 can be used to deliver dispersant to escaping oil.
• Arrester ring 100 is positioned above arrester ring 60.
• Arrester ring 100 may be the same as arrester ring 60 or different.
• the arrester rings are designed to work together cooperatively.
• arrester ring 60 may slow escaping gas and oil and screen debris while arrester ring 100 closes in the well.
• arrester ring 100 has fewer vents 80 than arrester ring 60.
• arrester ring 100 may not have any vents 80. With fewer vents 80, the blades of arrester ring 100 have more surface area.
• Arrester ring 110 is positioned above arrester ring 100 and is designed to work cooperatively with arresters rings 60 and 100. Each arrester ring may include arrester ring blades that are solid, vented, or combinations thereof.
• Motors 120 are electric.
• motors is a general term that applies to any mechanism that can be used to actuate the arresters.
• hydraulic pressure may be used. The hydraulic pressure may be supplied from a reservoir or the surface.
• Shear section 50 includes a pipe gripping ring 130, a shear ring 170, and seal ring 190. As with arrester section 40, shear section 50 is actuated using motors 120. Although each ring is in both the arrester section and shear section is shown with its own motor, one skilled in the art understands that a single motor could be used or one motor for the arrester section and one motor for the shear section.
• FIG. 6 shows pipe gripper ring 130.
• Pipe gripper ring 130 includes blades
• FIG. 7 shows a single blade of pipe gripper ring 130.
• Blade 140 includes a pipe gripping surface 150.
• the pipe gripping surface 150 is designed to engage a tubular member and support the string of tubular members that extend below pipe gripper ring 130. Gripping surface 150 work in a manner similar to pipe slips.
• Pipe gripper ring 130 extends upwardly from the well. In this configuration, the weight of the tubular members assist in closing and securing pipe gripper ring 130 around tubular members suspended in the well.
• Figure 8 shows one method for cutting tubular members.
• Figure 8 shows a nested arrangement of shear rings 160 configured with inductive coils.
• Figure 9 shows a detailed view of a blade from a shear ring 160. The blade is designed to position inductive coil 170 in close proximity to tubular member 180.
• the nested arrangement allows for multiple inductive coils to be positioned in close proximity to tubular member 180.
• an inductive coil arrangement is shown, one skilled in the art would appreciate that more typical shear rams can be used.
• the sections of the BOP are combined as shown in Figure 1.
• the arrester section may be used independent of shear ring and gripping ring. In this manner, arrester section can be positioned above a typical BOP to provide arresting capability.
• shear rings can be used independently of arrestors rings. In this manner, shear rings can be positioned above or below a typical BOP.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Pipe Accessories (AREA)
• Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Circuit Breakers (AREA)
• Actuator (AREA)
• Surgical Instruments (AREA)
• Branch Pipes, Bends, And The Like (AREA)
• Control Of Positive-Displacement Air Blowers (AREA)
• Aerodynamic Tests, Hydrodynamic Tests, Wind Tunnels, And Water Tanks (AREA)
• Housings And Mounting Of Transformers (AREA)

Priority Applications (15)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (6)

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• 2013
  • 2013-10-23 IN IN4189DEN2015 patent/IN2015DN04189A/en unknown
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  • 2013-10-23 AP AP2015008453A patent/AP2015008453A0/xx unknown
  • 2013-10-23 BR BR112015009251A patent/BR112015009251A8/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2013-10-23 KR KR1020157013512A patent/KR102243099B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-10-23 US US14/061,435 patent/US10196873B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-10-23 CA CA2889158A patent/CA2889158C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-10-23 SG SG11201503153UA patent/SG11201503153UA/en unknown
  • 2013-10-23 WO PCT/US2013/066413 patent/WO2014066522A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-10-23 NZ NZ708077A patent/NZ708077A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2013-10-23 EA EA201590792A patent/EA201590792A1/ru unknown
  • 2013-10-23 EP EP13848591.7A patent/EP2912257B1/en active Active
  • 2013-10-23 AU AU2013334605A patent/AU2013334605A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-10-23 JP JP2015539757A patent/JP6401706B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-10-23 CN CN201380055677.9A patent/CN105051318B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2018
  • 2018-02-16 AU AU2018201143A patent/AU2018201143B2/en not_active Ceased
• 2020
  • 2020-04-17 AU AU2020202613A patent/AU2020202613A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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