Rotating and reciprocating swivel apparatus and method

Abstract

What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a rotating and reciprocating swivel of adjustable stroke length and shearable by ram blow out preventers can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the lower wellbore from the riser. In one embodiment the mandrel of the swivel extends through a sleeve/housing. The sleeve/housing has a wiping arrangement of improved configuration that wipes debris from the mandrel, preventing entry of the debris into the sleeve/housing. Ports enable discharge of the removed debris from the area of the sleeve/housing.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a rotating and reciprocating swivel tool while located on a drilling rig or platform, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a swivel tool, the swivel tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve having a generally cylindrical exterior sealing surface, along with a cavity and upper and lower end portions, an interior volume between the sleeve and mandrel, and upper and lower sealing units sealing the interior volume so that fluid above the swivel tool is separated from fluid below the swivel tool, the mandrel being rotatable and reciprocable relative to the sleeve, the mandrel extending into the cavity of the swivel tool and having a first stroke length relative to the sleeve, the exterior sealing surface being located outside of the cavity; (b) adding a mandrel joint to the top of the mandrel, such additional joint increasing the stroking length of the mandrel relative to the first stroking length; (c) lowering the swivel tool into a riser and towards a blowout preventer and wellbore, and supporting the swivel tool in an upright orientation; (d) repeating steps “b” and “c” until the final stroking length of the mandrel relative to the sleeve is at least 100 feet; and (e) at an end portion of the sleeve, wherein the seal of the blowout preventer can be selectively closed on the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve, and while the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve is detachably connected to the seal of the blowout preventer, the seal forms a seal against the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve separating upper and lower volumetric sections of fluid, the upper volumetric section being located in the riser above the blowout preventer and the lower volumetric section being located in the wellbore below the blowout preventer, wiping the mandrel with a wiper to prevent debris from coming into contact with at least one of the upper and lower sealing units.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in step “e” the wiper engages the mandrel at the upper end portion of the sleeve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in step “e” the wiper engages the mandrel at the lower end portion of the sleeve.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in step “e” the wiper engages the mandrel at both the upper and lower end portions of the sleeve.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mandrel has sections of differing diameters.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in step “e” there is a wiper housing that contains the wiper and further comprising discharging debris from the wiper housing that is wiped from the mandrel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein in step “e” the wiper housing has one or more ports and further comprising the step of discharging debris from the wiper housing via the port or ports.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the ports include multiple ports that are circumferentially spaced apart and further comprising simultaneously discharging the debris from multiple ports.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the wiper has thicker and thinner portions.

10. A method of preparing a rotating and reciprocating swivel tool while located on a drilling rig or platform, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a swivel tool, the swivel tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve surrounding the mandrel, the sleeve having a generally cylindrical exterior sealing surface, said sleeve having a cavity and upper and lower end portions, an interior volume between the mandrel and sleeve which is sealed by a pair of spaced apart sealing units, each end portion having a wiper cavity with a wiper, the mandrel being rotatable and reciprocable relative to the sleeve, the mandrel extending into the cavity and having a first stroke length relative to the sleeve; (b) lowering the swivel tool in a riser and towards a blowout preventer and wellbore, and supporting an upright orientation swivel tool; (c) repeating step “b” until the final stroking length of the mandrel relative to the sleeve is at least 150 feet; and (d) detachably connecting the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve to a seal of the blowout preventer, wherein the seal of the blowout preventer can be selectively closed on the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve, and while the seal is closed and forms a seal against the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve and separates upper and lower volumetric sections of fluid, the upper volumetric section being located in the riser above the blowout preventer and the lower volumetric section being located in the wellbore below the blowout preventer, wiping the mandrel with one or both of the wipers to prevent debris from damaging the upper and/or lower sealing units.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein in step “d” the wiper engages the mandrel at the upper end portion of the sleeve.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in step “d” the wiper engages the mandrel at the lower end portion of the sleeve.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein in step “d” the wiper engages the mandrel at both the upper and lower end portions of the sleeve.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the mandrel has sections of differing diameters.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein in step “d” there is a wiper housing that contains the wiper and further comprising discharging debris from the wiper housing that is wiped from the mandrel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in step “d” the wiper housing has one or more ports and further comprising the step of discharging debris from the wiper housing via the port or ports.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ports include multiple ports that are circumferentially spaced apart and further comprising simultaneously discharging the debris from multiple ports.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the wiper has thicker and thinner portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a deep water drilling rig with riser and annular blowout preventer;

(3) FIG. 2 is another schematic diagram of a deep water drilling rig showing a rotating and reciprocating swivel detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer, along with a ram blow out preventer mounted in the christmas tree below the annular blowout preventer;

(4) FIG. 3A is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention schematically showing annular seal unit in a closed state;

(5) FIG. 3B is an enlarged partial view of the annular blowout preventer schematically showing annular seal unit in an open state; and

(6) FIGS. 4-5 are fragmentary views of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Detailed descriptions of one or more preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in any appropriate system, structure or manner.

(8) During drilling, displacement, and/or completion operations it may be desirable to perform down hole operations when the annular seal of an annular blow out preventer is closed on the drill string and rotation and/or reciprocation of the drill string is desired. One such operation can be a frac (or fracturing) operation where pressure below the annular seal 71 is increased in an attempt to fracture the down hole formation.

(9) FIG. 1 shows generally the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral 10. Drilling apparatus 10 employs a drilling platform S that can be a floating platform, spar, semi-submersible, or other platform suitable for oil and gas well drilling in a deep water environment. For example, the well drilling apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and related method can be employed in deep water of for example deeper than 5,000 feet (1,500 meters), 6,000 feet (1,800 meters), 7,000 feet (2,100 meters), 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) deep, or deeper.

(10) In FIGS. 1 and 2, an ocean floor or seabed 87 is shown. Wellhead 88 is shown on seabed 87. One or more blowout preventers can be provided including stack 75 and annular blowout preventer 70. The oil and gas well drilling platform S thus can provide a floating structure S having a rig floor F that carries a derrick and other known equipment that is used for drilling oil and gas wells. Floating structure S provides a source of drilling fluid or drilling mud contained in mud pit MP. Equipment that can be used to recirculate and treat the drilling mud can include for example a mud pit MP, shale shaker SS, mud buster or separator MB, and choke manifold CM.

(11) An example of a drilling rig and various drilling components is shown in FIG. 1 of United States of America U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,982 (which patent is incorporated herein by reference). In FIGS. 1 and 2 conventional slip or telescopic joint SJ, comprising an outer barrel OB and an inner barrel IB with a pressure seal therebetween can be used to compensate for the relative vertical movement or heave between the floating rig S and the fixed subsea riser R. A Diverter D can be connected between the top inner barrel IB of the slip joint SJ and the floating structure or rig S to control gas accumulations in the riser R or low pressure formation gas from venting to the rig floor F. A ball joint BJ between the diverter D and the riser R can compensate for other relative movement (horizontal and rotational) or pitch and roll of the floating structure S and the riser R (which is typically fixed).

(12) The diverter D can use a diverter line DL to communicate drilling fluid or mud from the riser R to a choke manifold CM, shale shaker SS or other drilling fluid or drilling mud receiving device. Above the diverter D can be the flowline RF which can be configured to communicate with a mud pit MP. A conventional flexible choke line CL can be configured to communicate with choke manifold CM. The drilling fluid or mud can flow from the choke manifold CM to a mud-gas buster or separator MB and a flare line (not shown). The drilling fluid or mud can then be discharged to a shale shaker SS, and mud pits MP. In addition to a choke line CL and kill line KL, a booster line BL can be used.

(13) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the drill string or work string 85 that extends between rig 10 and seabed 87 having wellhead 88. Drill or work string 85 is supported at the floating structure S with a top drive and derrick 14. In FIG. 2, the drill string or work string 85 is divided into an upper drill 76 or work string and a lower drill 77 or work string. Upper string 76 is contained in riser 80 and extends between well drilling rig S and swivel 100. Lower drill string 77 connects to the lower end of mandrel 110. An upper volumetric section 90 is provided within riser 80 and in between drilling rig 10 and swivel or assembly 100. Swivel or swivel assembly 100 includes mandrel 110 and sleeve 300. A lower volumetric section 92 is provided in between wellhead 88 and swivel 100. The upper and lower volumetric sections 90, 92 are more specifically separated by annular seal unit 71 that forms a seal against sleeve 300 of swivel 100 via annular seal unit sealing against external sealing surface 302 of sleeve 300. Annular blowout preventer 70 is positioned at the bottom of riser 80 positioned above stack 75 and wellhead 88.

(14) A well bore 40 extends downwardly from wellhead 88 and into seabed 87. Although shown in FIG. 2, in many of the figures the lower completion or drill string 85 has been omitted for purposes of clarity.

(15) FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing oil and gas well drilling rig 10 connected to riser 80 and having annular blowout preventer 70 (commercially available). FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing rig 10 with swivel 100 separating. Swivel 100 is shown detachably connected to annular blowout preventer 70 through annular packing unit seal 71. In FIG. 2, mandrel 110 is shown.

(16) Mandrel 110 is contained within a bore of sleeve 300. Swivel 100 includes an outer sleeve or housing 300 having a generally vertically oriented open-ended bore that is occupied by mandrel 110. Sleeve 300 is rotatably and reciprocably connected to mandrel 110. Between the exterior face 114 of mandrel and interior of sleeve 300 is an interior volume 118 which volume can be sealed by spaced apart sealing units 370 and 380. Spaced apart sealing units 370 and 380 can be conventionally available sealing units.

(17) Sleeve 300 provides upper catch, shoulder or flange 326 and lower catch, shoulder or flange 328. On upper catch 326 can be located upper wiper housing 12, and on lower catch 328 can be located lower wiper housing 15. Each wiper housing can include a wiper clamp 30 and wiper 17. Wiper clamp 30 can include upper 31 and lower 32 clamping rings. Wiper apparatus 11 can comprise upper and lower wiper units having upper and lower spaced apart wipers 17.

(18) FIGS. 3-5 are fragmentary sectional views of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 3, there can be seen in more detail certain structures of FIGS. 1 and 2, namely the riser 80, mandrel 110, sleeve/housing 300, annular BOP (blow out preventer) 70, and seal 71 shown in a closed state. FIG. 3B is an enlarged partial view of the annular blowout preventer 70 schematically showing annular seal unit 71 in an open state. Wiper apparatus 11 provides spaced apart wiper housings 12, 15. Housing 12 is an upper wiper housing at the upper end of sleeve/housing 14. Housing 15 is a lower wiper housing at the lower end of sleeve housing 14.

(19) Each wiper housing 12, 15 contains a wiper 17 as seen in FIG. 3A. Each wiper housing 12, 15 has openings 18 that enable mandrel 110 to pass vertically through the wiper housings and the sleeve/housing 14 as seen in FIG. 3. Wiper housing 12 has openings 13. Wiper housing 15 has openings 16.

(20) As mandrel 110 moves longitudinally relative to sleeve 300 (such as in the direction of arrow 400 or in the opposite direction of arrow 400), mandrel 110 also moves longitudinally relative to upper and lower wiper housings 12 and 15. Spaced apart sealing units 370 and 380 maintain a seal for interior volume 118 by sealing against exterior surface 114 of mandrel 110. However, if dirt, grit, debris, and/or other items are located on exterior surface 114 such items can damage spaced apart sealing units 370 and 380 causing one or both to fail to seal interior volume 118. Upper and lower wipers 17 can be used to wipe, clean, and sweep the exterior surface 114 of mandrel to reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate dirt, grit, debris, and/or other possible damaging items from exterior surface 114 and prevent such items from damaging upper 370 and/or lower 380 sealing units.

(21) FIG. 3A schematically shows mandrel 110 moving longitudinally relative to sleeve 300 in the direction of arrow 400. Upper and lower wipers 17 in upper 12 and lower 15 wiper housings also move in the direction of arrow 400 relative to mandrel 110. Such relative movement causes the lower wiper 17 in lower wiper housing 15 to wipe or sweep the exterior surface 114 of sleeve 110 thereby cleaning said exterior surface before lower sealing unit 380 sees said exterior surface 114 of mandrel 110. On the other hand relative movement in the direction opposite of arrow 400, causes upper wiper 17 in upper wiper housing 12 to wipe or sweep the exterior surface 114 of sleeve 110 thereby cleaning said exterior surface before upper sealing unit 370 sees said exterior surface 114 of mandrel 110. This wiping, sweeping, and/or cleaning of exterior surface 114 prevents, reduces, minimizes, and/or eliminates dirt, grit, debris, and/or other possible damaging items from damaging upper 370 and lower 380 sealing units thereby insuring the sealing of interior volume 118 and extending the sealing life of upper and lower sealing units 370,380.

(22) Each wiper housing 12, 15 can have one or more ports or openings 18. Such ports or openings 18 enable discharge of debris that has been wiped from mandrel 110 by wipers 17 as indicated by arrows 19 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

(23) It should be understood that mandrel 110 can have multiple sections of differing diameters for the exterior sealing surface 114. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, mandrel 110 can have larger diameter sections 20, 21 and smaller diameter section 22. Larger diameter sections 20,21 have the larger exterior sealing surface 114. However, smaller diameter section 22 can have a smaller surface 25 which diameter is smaller than the diameter of the exterior sealing surface 114 of larger diameter sections 20,21. Additionally, tapered sections 26 can be used to transition between the larger exterior sealing surface 114 and the smaller diameter sections 22.

(24) Although upper 370 and lower 380 sealing units do not seal interior volume 118 when passing over smaller diameter sections 22 of mandrel 110, it is preferably to clean said smaller diameter sections 22 to prevent accumulations of dirt, grit, debris, and/or other possible damaging items in these smaller diameter sections 22 from accumulating. In various embodiments upper and lower wipers 17 can clean or sweep both larger exterior surface 114 and the exterior surface of the smaller diameter sections 22 as wipers pass by said areas in longitudinal movement relative to mandrel 110 (e.g., either in the direction of arrow 400 or in the opposite direction of arrow 400).

(25) FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically illustrate the cleaning/sweeping process when passing by smaller diameter sections 22 of mandrel 110 for upper wiper housing 12. Arrows 420 schematically represent wipers 17 being bent downwardly by exterior inclined surface 26 and larger diameter section 20 of mandrel 110 as mandrel 110 moves in the direction of arrow 400 between FIGS. 4 and 5. The process for lower wiper housing 15 is substantially the same but would see relative movement in the opposite direction of arrow 400 (to visualize lower wiper housing 15 FIGS. 4 and 5 can each be rotated 180 degrees with the reference numerals for the lower wiper housing 15 inserted for their sister components found in the upper wiper housing 12).

(26) Wipers 17 can have thicker section and a thinner section as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Wiper 17 can have thinner section 23 that engages mandrel 110 and thicker section 24 that is attached to wiper housing 12 or 15.

(27) The smallest internal diameter of upper and lower wiper units 17 are preferably smaller than the diameter of the smaller diameter portion 22 of mandrel 110 to allow these upper and lower wiper units 17 to wipe, sweep, and/or clean when passing the smaller diameter portions 22.

(28) The following is a parts list of reference numerals or part numbers and corresponding descriptions as used herein:

(29) TABLE-US-00001 LIST FOR REFERENCE NUMERALS Reference Numeral Description 10 drilling rig/well drilling apparatus 11 swivel with wiper apparatus 12 upper wiper housing 13 opening 14 top drive derrick 15 lower wiper housing 16 opening 17 wiper 18 port hole/opening 19 arrow 20 larger diameter section 21 larger diameter section 22 smaller diameter section 23 thinner section 24 thicker section 25 exterior surface 26 exterior inclined surface 30 wiper clamp 31 wiper clamp top ring 32 wiper clamp bottom ring 40 well bore 70 annular blowout preventer 71 annular seal unit 75 stack 76 upper drill string 77 lower drill string 80 riser 85 drill or work string 87 seabed 88 well head 90 upper volumetric section 92 lower volumetric section 100 swivel/swivel assembly 110 mandrel 114 exterior surface of mandrel 118 interior volume between sleeve and mandrel 300 swivel sleeve or housing 326 upper catch, shoulder, flange 328 lower catch, shoulder, flange 370 sealing unit 380 sealing unit 400 arrow 410 arrow 420 arrow 900 ram blow out preventer BJ ball joint BL booster line CM choke manifold CL choke line CM choke manifold D diverter DL diverter line F rig floor IB inner barrel KL kill line MP mud pit MB mud gas buster or separator OB outer barrel R riser RF flow line S floating structure or rig/drilling platform SJ slip or telescoping joint SS shale shaker

(30) All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

(31) It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.