U.S. patent number 3,868,832 [Application Number 05/339,037] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-04 for rotary drilling head assembly.
Invention is credited to Morris S. Biffle.
United States Patent |
3,868,832 |
Biffle |
March 4, 1975 |
ROTARY DRILLING HEAD ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A rotary drilling head assembly for wellbore forming operations
comprising a stationary housing which supports a rotatable sleeve.
A stripper rubber located within the rotatable sleeve slidably
receives a tubing string in sealed relationship therethrough. A
second stripper rubber is removably mounted in spaced superimposed
relationship above the first rubber, with the first rubber being
larger than the second so as to enable different size tubular goods
to be withdrawn from the borehole with one of the strippers always
sealingly engaging a marginal length of the tubular goods.
Accordingly, the apparatus provides a method of controlling the
well pressure during borehole forming operations. Each of the
strippers are removably affixed to the rotating sleeve by a quick
disconnect means in the form of a circumferentially extending
hinged clamp means.
Inventors: |
Biffle; Morris S. (Odessa,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
23327213 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/339,037 |
Filed: |
March 8, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
464/163; 175/84;
285/10; 403/338; 277/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
21/01 (20130101); E21B 33/085 (20130101); F16B
2200/509 (20180801) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
21/00 (20060101); E21B 33/08 (20060101); E21B
33/02 (20060101); E21B 21/01 (20060101); F16d
003/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;64/23.5 ;166/82,83,84
;175/84 ;403/338,336 ;285/10,11,96,97,106,351,110,111
;277/31,71 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scott; Samuel
Assistant Examiner: Heald; Randall
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bates; Marcus L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A rotary drilling head assembly for well bore forming operations
comprising a stationary housing, a seal assembly supported by the
stationary housing; said seal assembly comprising a rotatable
sleeve member, a stationary sleeve member at least partially
surrounding the rotatable sleeve member so that a chamber is
provided between said stationary sleeve member and said rotatable
sleeve member, bearing means interposed between said stationary
sleeve member and said rotatable sleeve member and disposed within
the chamber;
sealing means engaged with said rotatable sleeve member and said
stationary sleeve member for precluding leakage of fluid through
said chamber;
a stripper mount means, a first stripper means for receiving a
marginal length of a drillstring therethrough; said first stripper
means being affixed to said stripper mount means;
means by which said stripper mount means is removably affixed to
the uppermost end portion of said rotatable sleeve;
a second stripper means superimposed above and in axial alignment
with the first recited stripper means; said first stripper means
has a larger inside diameter relative to said second stripper
means; and means removable mounting said second stripper means to
said stripper mount means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said seal means includes a
chamber formed by spaced wall surfaces of said rotating sleeve
member and said stationary housing, spaced seal members in said
chamber, each sealingly engaging each of said spaced wall surfaces
and isolating a portion of said chamber which lies therebetween; an
inlet passageway connected to the isolated portion of said chamber;
and, means by which a supply of lubrication is flow connected to
said chamber.
3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said spaced wall surfaces
include a lower marginal interial inside peripheral wall surface of
said rotating sleeves and an upper marginal outer peripheral wall
surface of said stationary housing; a shoulder spaced from the
terminal end of said rotating sleeve member, a shoulder at the
terminal end of said stationary housing, the last two recited
shoulders being spaced from one another; one said spaced seal
member engaging each of the last two recited shoulders with the
shoulders being disposed in opposed relationship.
4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means by which said
stripper mount means is removably affixed to the uppermost end
portion of said rotatable sleeve includes a clamp;
a bowl clamp adapter ring affixed to an upper end portion of said
rotatable sleeve member, a split rubber hold down plate overlying
said stripper, a wedge formed on the outer marginal edge portion of
said plate; an annular groove formed within said clamp, said groove
having a complimentary wedge surface for engagement with the wedge
surface of the plate;
5. A rotary drilling head assembly as set forth in claim 1
wherein:
said first stripper means comprises a ring member and a stripper
rubber, said ring member being secured to the rotatable sleeve
member, with said stripper rubber being carried by the said ring
member; a hold down plate overlying said first stripper means;
and a clamp means having a wedge surface thereon which bears
against said hold down plate, and further including a shoulder
formed on said clamp means which engages said ring member to
compress and seal the first stripper means to the rotatable sleeve
member.
6. A rotary drilling head assembly for well bore forming
operations, said head assembly having an axial chamber formed
therethrough for the reception of a rotating driving member used in
the drilling of wells, comprising:
a sleeve; a first housing adapted to concentrically receive said
sleeve, thereby forming an annular chamber between said sleeve and
said first housing;
bearing means disposed within said annular chamber such that said
sleeve is rotatable;
a second housing, an outlet passageway for conducting fluid flow
away from said second housing; said first housing and said sleeve
being received by said second housing in a manner such that an
annulus is formed between said sleeve and said second housing;
seal means positioned in said annulus; means for applying pressure
on said seal means in a first direction thereby forming a rotating
hydraulic seal between said sleeve and said second housing;
stripper means, clamp means by which said stripper means is
removably affixed to the upper extremity of said drilling head,
said stripper means being positioned to axially receive the driving
member therethrough, and further providing a seal preventing the
egress of any well fluids from within said second housing through
the recited upper extremity;
said clamp means by which said stripper means is removably affixed
to the upper extremity of said drilling head further includes means
by which a second relatively smaller stripper means may be affixed
in overlying relationship to said first stripper means so that a
drill string of different effective outside diameter can be
sealingly removed from the borehole.
7. A drilling head according to claim 6 wherein said sleeve and
said second housing are spaced from one another to form a clearance
therebetween such that said sleeve is rotatable independently of
said second housing, so that leakage from said seal means
positioned in said annulus will be vented away from the bearing
means.
8. A rotary drilling head assembly for wellbore forming operations
comprising a stationary housing, a seal assembly supported by the
stationary housing; said seal assembly comprising a rotatable
sleeve member, a stationary sleeve member at least partially
surrounding the rotatable sleeve so that a chamber is provided
between said stationary sleeve member and said rotatable sleeve
member, bearing means interposed between said stationary sleeve
member and said rotatable sleeve member and disposed within the
chamber;
sealing means located between said rotatable sleeve member and said
housing for precluding leakage of fluid therethrough; said sealing
means includes a chamber formed by spaced wall surfaces of said
rotating sleeve member and said stationary housing, spaced seal
members in the last said chamber, each sealingly engaging each of
said spaced wall surfaces and isolating a portion of the last said
chamber which lies therebetween; an inlet passageway connected to
the isolated portion of said chamber; and, means by which a supply
of lubrication is flow connected to the last said chamber;
a stripper mount means, a stripper means for receiving a marginal
length of a drillstring therethrough; said stripper means being
affixed to said stripper mount means;
said rotatable sleeve member having means by which said stripper
mount means is removably affixed to the uppermost end portion of
said rotatable sleeve member; and,
a second stripper means superimposed above and in axial alignment
with the first recited stripper means; said first stripper means
has a larger inside diameter relative to said second stripper means
means removably mounting said second stripper means to said
stripper mount means.
9. A rotary drilling head assembly for wellbore forming operations
comprising a stationary housing, a seal assembly supported by the
stationary housing; said seal assembly comprising a rotatable
sleeve member, a stationary sleeve member at least partially
surrounding the rotatable sleeve so that a chamber is provided
between said stationary and rotatable sleeve members, bearing means
interposed between said stationary and rotatable sleeve members and
disposed within the chamber;
sealing means located between said rotatable sleeve member and said
stationary housing for precluding leakage of fluid therefrom;
a stripper mount means, a first stripper means for receiving a
marginal length of a drillstring therethrough; said first stripper
means being affixed to said stripper mount means;
means by which said stripper mount means is removably affixed to
the uppermost end portion of said rotatable sleeve member
comprising a ring member secured to the rotatable sleeve member,
with said first stripper means being carried by said ring member; a
hold down plate overlying said first stripper means; a clamp means
having a wedge surface which bears against said hold down plate,
and a shoulder which engages said ring member to compress and seal
the first stripper means to the rotating sleeve member; and,
a second stripper means superimposed above and in axial alignment
with the first recited stripper means; means removably mounting
said second stripper means to said stripper mount means.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first stripper means has
a larger inside diameter relative to said second stripper
means.
11. A rotary drilling head assembly for wellbore forming operations
comprising a stationary housing, a seal assembly supported by the
stationary housing; said seal assembly comprising a rotatable
sleeve member, a stationary sleeve member at least partially
surrounding the rotatable sleeve member so that a chamber is formed
between said stationary sleeve member and said rotatable sleeve
member, bearing means interposed between said stationary sleeve
member and said rotatable sleeve member and disposed within the
chamber;
sealing means located between said rotatable sleeve member and said
stationary housing for precluding leakage of fluid through said
chamber;
a stripper mount means, a stripper means for receiving a marginal
length of a drillstring therethrough; said stripper means being
affixed to said stripper mount means;
said rotatable sleeve member having means by which said stripper
mount means is removably affixed to the uppermost end portion of
said rotatable sleeve member;
a second stripper means superimposed above and in axial alignment
with the first recited stripper means; means removably mounting
said second stripper means to said stripper mount means;
said means by which said stripper mount means is removably affixed
to the uppermost end portion of said rotatable sleeve member
includes a clamp;
a bowl clamp adapter ring affixed to an upper end portion of said
rotatable sleeve member, a hold down plate overlying said stripper,
a wedge formed on the outer marginal edge portion of said plate; an
annular groove formed within said clamp, said groove having a
complimentary wedge surface for engagement with the wedge surface
of the plate;
said clamp being made into two hinged together members which can be
pivoted together to wedgedly engage said plate and which can be
pivoted apart to release said plate.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first stripper means has
a larger inside diameter relative to said second stripper means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During borehole forming and borehole repair operations, where
substantial bottomhole pressures are encountered, and sometimes in
various operations associated with the completion of hydrocarbon
producing wells, it is necessary to rotate the tool string, tubing
string, or drill pipe string while the string is being lowered into
or withdrawn from the well bore. This expedient is attained by the
provision of a rotating seal member, referred to herein and in the
prior art as a stripper rubber, with the stripper being rotatably
positioned near the well head in sealing relationship respective of
the piping going into or out of the borehole.
In order to prevent excessive wear of the stripper, it is necessary
that the stripper rotate with the piping so that the only
significant wear encountered is in the longitudinal movement of the
piping relative to the stripper.
In my prior patent No. 3,724,862 to which reference is made for
further background of the present invention as well as many
additional details of its operation, there is disclosed a blow-out
preventer of the rotating type, hereinafter throughout this
disclosure referred to as a "BOP of the rotating type," or in some
instances, merely a "RBOP" (rotating blow-out preventer).
Throughout this disclosure, the term "tubing string" or "piping"
refers to a drill string, including the various tools attached
thereto, such as a stablizer, a drill collar, as well as the kelly,
and further includes other tubular goods such as production tubing,
instrument packages, jars, fishing tools, and the like. The drill
or tool string is generally circular or round in configuration,
except for the kelly which usually is non-circular in
configuration. Hence, the stripper must deform sufficiently to
sealingly engage the outer peripheral surface of each of these
recited members.
In the various prior art rotary drilling head assemblies, or RBOP,
the stripper is usually affixed to a lower marginal portion of the
rotating sleeve, thereby rendering replacement or repair extremely
difficult when the head is operatively affixed to the upper
terminal end of the well bore.
In my previously referred to issued patent, the rotating stripper
is affixed to the upper terminal end of the rotating sleeve by
means of the mounting plate bolted onto structure associated with
the sleeve. Substitution of one stripper for another must sometime
be carried out several times each trip the tool string makes into
the borehole, and accordingly, it is desirable to be able to
rapidly renew the stripper, or to substitute one size stripper for
another. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a reliable seal means
at the interface formed between the fixed and rotating sleeves and
to protect the bearing surfaces which rotatably secure the rotating
sleeve from up or downhole thrust by the provision of improvements
in the seal and lubrication system therefor. It is also desirable
to have provisions by which two divergent sizes of tubing string
can be sealingly run uphole and downhole through the RBOP without
resorting to other means of sealing the upper annulus between the
tool string and the wall of the well bore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Method and apparatus for sealing the upper annulus formed between a
borehole wall and a tool string so as to control the pressure
within the upper borehole annulus. The apparatus is comprised of a
RBOP assembly having a seal assembly supported by a stationary
housing, with the seal assembly comprising a rotatable sleeve
member journaled to a stationary housing, with a stripper being
removably mounted to the rotatable sleeve member in a new and
improved manner. The interface between the rotatable sleeve and the
housing has a seal therebetween which is protected by a pressurized
lubrication system.
In one form of the apparatus, spaced axially aligned strippers of
different inside diameters (i.d.'s) are removably mounted to the
rotating sleeve so as to enable different sizes of series connected
components of the tool string to sealingly pass therethrough, with
one of the strippers always sealingly engaging an outermost
marginal length of the tool string.
The method of the present invention is carried out by attaching the
spaced axially aligned strippers at the upper extremity of the
borehole with the upper stripper being smaller in diameter than the
lower stripper so that the upper stripper normally sealingly
engages the outer peripheral wall surface of the tubing string
until the tubing string enlarges in outside diameter (o.d.) to a
value which precludes its being received within the small i.d.
stripper, whereupon the enlargement is pulled into sealing
engagement with the lower and larger stripper, the upper and
smaller stripper then is removed from the BOP, thereby enabling the
drilling operation to continue with the string being disposed in
sealing engagement with the larger and lowermost stripper
assembly.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the
provision of improvements in RBOP's which are more efficient in
operation, and which have longer life due to improved
characteristics of wear and sealing.
Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in
rotary drilling heads by the provision of a removable stripper
which is held in operative relationship by a clamp means.
A further object of this invention is to provide improvements in a
pressure lubrication system for maintaining the seal components of
a BOP isolated from foreign debris including drilling mud.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a rotating
BOP having dual strippers therein which sealingly accommodate
different size components associated with a drill string.
Another and still further object is to provide an improved method
of controlling the pressure in the borehole annulus where high
bottomhole pressures are encountered.
An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved
method of carrying out a drilling operation wherein tubular goods
of varying diameters must be run into and out of the borehole.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of going
into and coming out of a borehole with a tool string of varying
o.d., wherein the annulus between the tool string and the borehole
wall must be sealed against fluid flow.
These and various other objects and advantages of the invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon
reading the following detailed description and claims and by
referring to the accompanying drawings.
The above objects are attained in accordance with the present
invention by the provision of a combination of elements which are
fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above
abstract and summary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a rotating BOP made in accordance with
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional, side view of the
rotating BOP disclosed in FIG. 1, with some additional parts being
included to add clarity to the drawings;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of part of
the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, with some parts not being
shown in sections, and other additional parts being
diagrammatically illustrated;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view of part of
the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged, detailed side elevational view
of part of a clamp apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIGS. 6-10 are part schematical, part diagrammatical, part
cross-sectional, broken side views of apparatus used in carrying
out the method of the present invention; and
FIGS. 11-13 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of apparatus
made in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in conjunction with FIGS. 3--5,
there is disclosed a rotating BOP generally indicated by the arrow
at numeral 10. The RBOP is comprised of a stationary housing 13
which is bottom supported from a flange 11, and which rotatably
supports a rotatable sleeve member 12 spaced from a fixed sleeve
member 12'. Outlet flange 14 can be connected to a mud pit flow
line (not shown). Inlet 15 is axially aligned with a large stripper
16. The stripper is removably affixed to the rotatable sleeve
member and moves therewith so that flow from inlet 15 is diverted
by the stripper through the outlet 18 and into the mud pit flow
line.
Load bearing spaced tapered roller bearings 19 and 20 prevent
thrust of the stripper assembly uphole or downhole and for this
reason the bearings must be able to withstand a load proportional
to the anticipated pressures which may be encountered within the
borehole annulus.
A marginal length of the stationary skirt is polished at 22 so as
to present low friction with respect to the illustrated spaced
hydraulic seal means. The annular rotating seal backing plate 23
captures the seal therein as will be described in greater detail
later on.
As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the first or larger stripper means
is provided with a circumferentially extending outwardly directed
dovetailed projection 24 which is compressed into sealing
engagement with a complementary shaped annular circumferentially
extending groove formed between the illustrated component
parts.
A series of radially spaced countersunk fastener means 27 are
arranged along a bolt circle and provide means by which the
stripper can be removably affixed to the rotating skirt. A small
removable stripper assembly 29 is affixed to the larger underlying
split plate assembly 39 by means of radially spaced bolts 30 set in
a bolt circle, with bolts 30 being radially misaligned with respect
to bolts 27. The small stripper 34 has a maximum i.d. 35
substantially smaller than the maximum i.d. of the large
stripper.
The stripper plate assembly 37 compresses the illustrated outwardly
directed flange of the stripper against the split rubber hold down
plate 39.
A bowl clamp adapter ring assembly 40 is bolted onto the rotating
sleeve in underlying aligned relationship respective to the
outwardly directed shoulder 41 and in spaced relation respective of
the outwardly directed shoulder 42 so that the two spaced
circumferentially extending outwardly directed shoulders may be
forced towards one another by means of the removable clamp member,
generally illustrated by the arrow at numeral 43.
The circumferentially extending inwardly directed groove 44 of the
clamp has an innermost wall portion spaced from members 41 and 42
so that the illustrated complementary wedge surfaces 53 and 54 of
the stripper rubber and bowl adapter ring are forced into
engagement as the split ring and clamp cooperate to force the
members 41 and 42 towards one another with a tremendous force.
Retainer pin 45 pivotally secures the clamp assembly to the bowl
clamp ring adapter, while hinge pin 46 is spaced outwardly
therefrom and hingedly engages link 47 which connects together the
two semi-circular halves of the clamp 48 and 49. Tension bolt 50
engages one of the swingable free ends of the two clamp halves so
that the nut thereon can be torqued thereby bringing the free ends
towards one another which in turn forces member 41 towards member
42 due to the wedge surface formed on the split ring and the
clamp.
It will be noted that pin 45 connects the two clamp halves to the
bowl clamp adapter ring so that the clamp halves can be swung away
from one another in a pivotal manner about pin 45 when it is
desired to remove the split ring and the stripper from the bowl.
Lifting eye 52 facilitates lifting the entire BOP assembly for
installation or transportation purposes.
Looking now to the lubrication supply system disclosed in FIG. 3,
in conjunction with the details of FIG. 2, there is seen a positive
displacement pump connected to a source of lubrication (not shown)
thereby providing a pressurized lub supply at 55'. Conduit 55' is
connected to passageway 56 which in turn communicates with the
isolated chamber within which there is disposed the before
mentioned seal of the hydraulic seal assembly.
Inwardly directed polished wall 57 terminates in a
circumferentially extending upper groove 58, while polish wall 59
is a continuation of the before mentioned wash pipe of polished
wall 22.
Seal 60 has a lower planer face which sealingly engages the upper
shoulder 61 of the stationary sleeve member, with the last named
shoulder being spaced from shoulder 62 of the rotating sleeve
member. Seal 63 is a deformed chevron resilient member which
sealingly engages opposed polished wall surfaces 57 and 59. The
before mentioned retainer ring can be secured to the wash pipe if
desired, however, such an expedient presents an additional wearing
surface to the assembly.
Looking now to the details of FIGS. 6 - 10, there is seen
illustrated therein the before mentioned rotatable sleeve member 12
having spaced axially aligned strippers 16 and 34 removably mounted
therein in a manner similar to that disclosed in FIGS. 1 - 5. The
upper stripper mount assembly 29 includes a bolt circle 30 formed
thereon for attachment to the large stripper mounting means 39,
which in turn is affixed to the rotating sleeve. A tool string 64
is made up of joints of drill pipe, for example, with the drill
pipe having upset tool joints in the form of boxes and pins
providing for the illustrated enlargement 65. The small stripper is
sufficiently resilient to conform to the enlargement 65 as well as
to the nominal drill pipe o.d.
In FIGS. 11-13, the RBOP of the present invention is mounted to the
upper extremity of a non-rotating BOP 68. A third and still lower
stripper 69 is mounted to the upper terminal end portion of the
non-rotating BOP in axial alignment with the stripper 16. Outlet 70
is flow connected to ambient, preferably the mud pit, with a valve
(not shown) being interposed therein in the usual manner. Numeral
71 indicates the upper end of the borehole casing or the upper end
of a blind ram. The stripper 69 is equal in i.d. to the stripper
16. The smaller stripper 34 is not shown since it has already been
removed from the rotating sleeve.
In operation, the RBOP of the present invention is bolted to the
top of a well bore. Generally, it will be required that a blind ram
be positioned in underlying relationship respective to the RBOP.
Further, a non-rotating BOP 68 may be interposed between the RBOP
and the blind ram. Sometime still other well control devices may be
series connected between the RBOP and the casing annulus.
The bowl clamp adapter ring 40 of the RBOP is affixed to the top of
the rotating sleeve by the illustrated bolts which are located in
radially spaced counterbores so that the bolts are fairly spaced
from the coacting wedge surfaces 53, 54. The split rubber hold down
plate usually will have previously been secured to the underlying
metal flange of the stripper by the countersunk fasteners 27.
The clamp 43 is next operatively positioned on the apparatus to
force the hold down plate towards member 54 by bringing the free
ends 48, 49 of the clamp towards one another as they pivot about
support pin 45. The nut on bolt 50 is torqued to a proper value,
thereby closing wedge interface 53 and 54 and compressing the
dovetail annular gasket 24 within its annulus. The small stripper
mount means is next positioned upon the large stripper mount means
by making up fasteners 30. Where deemed desirable, a clamp similar
to the arrangement disclosed at 43 can be used in lieu of or in
conjunction with the flange 37 so as to enable the small stripper
assembly to be rapidly removed from the large assembly in the same
before described manner.
The lub pump is started, and a finite continuous flow of lubricant
flows into chamber 57 with excess lubricant exiting under the
resilient seal 60. Should a sudden increase in pressure be effected
within the head, there can be no flow of debris into the seal
assembly because of the force provided by the low volumn positive
displacement pump, the incompressibility characteristics of the
lubricant, and the design of the seal 60. The seal acts as a
one-eay check valve with flow occurring into the rotating head but
not vice versa.
In making hole, the head rotates with the drilling string being
lowered into the well bore as may be required. During this time,
the drill string is in the configuration of FIG. 6 with wear
occurring only on small stripper 34. The only time wear is effected
upon rubber 16 is when a stabilizer or drill collar is passed
therethrough.
When it is necessary to make a trip out of the hole, in accordance
with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10, the drill pipe is withdrawn in
the usual manner until the larger o.d. portion 66 of the string
sealingly engages the large stripper. With the collar being
positioned in the illustrated manner of FIG. 7, the small stripper
assembly is removed from the large stripper mounting plate or hold
down plate as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8. The joint of
drill pipe connected to the upper terminal end of the drill collar
is removed, the small stripper assembly is removed from the drill
pipe, leaving the drill collar held securely in the bowl of the
turntable by conventional slips or the like, with the lower
stripper controlling the well.
As seen in FIG. 9, the large stripper will deform sufficiently to
conform to the contour of the stabilizer so as to enable it to be
withdrawn from the borehole. In order to prevent channeling of well
fluids through the rollers of the stabilizer, the blind ram or the
hydrill located below the RBOP is closed about the drill collar,
thereby sealing off the annulus as the stabilizer is pulled through
the stripper.
As seen in FIG. 10, the blind ram is opened and the drill collar is
next moved up the borehole by raising the drill collar a maximum
amount which will leave the stripper 16 engaged therewith, with the
drill bit being located between the blind ram and the BOP. The
blind ram is again closed, the drill collar and bit is moved in an
upward direction until it clears the turntable, whereupon the
entire drill string is now out of the hole and can be prepared for
the next trip into the borehole. The blind ram is in control of the
well during this part of the operation.
In the embodiment set forth in FIGS. 11-13, the drill pipe and
uppermost stripper have already been removed from the assembly. The
RBOP of the present invention is positioned above a fixed BOP 68 so
that both the strippers 16 and 69 are in control of the well while
an enlargement 67 is withdrawn from the borehole. This expedient
enables circulation to be effected through either of outflow lines
14 and 70 as may be required for proper control of the well.
In FIG. 11, well fluid flows predominently through outlet 70, with
a smaller flow occurring through the stabilizer and through the
outlet 14, while stripper 16 controls the well. As seen in FIG. 12,
after the stabilizer clears lowermost stripper 69 and is in the act
of passing through the stripper 16, the well is controlled by the
lowermost stripper 69. During this time, well fluid flows through
outlet 70.
FIG. 13 shows the stabilizer clear of the RBOP with the lower
outlet being in control of the well. The drill collar can be lifted
into underlying relationship respective to either of the strippers,
the blind ram closed, and the bit pulled through the rubbers.
Going back into the hole calls for a reversal of the various above
procedures.
An important operative aspect of the invention lies in the split
rubber hold down ring and its cooperative relationship with the
clamp and stripper. This feature of the invention makes insitu
replacement of the stripper possible by releasing the clamp and
removing the split ring in an outward direction away from the
string, and thereafter sliding the stripper up the string and
through the rotory table, it being noted that the hold down plate
is too large to be brought through the table. Hence, it is
unnecessary to come out of the hole or to remove the RBOP in order
to replace the stripper. Further, the presence of bolts 27 is a
convenience rather than a necessity.
Still another important operative feature of the invention lies in
the external venting arrangement of the hydraulic seal. Should the
hydraulic seal commence to leak, debris will be vented externally
and cannot possibly contaminate the tapered roller bearings.
Further, advantage can be taken of the relative rotory motion
effected between the fixed and rotating sleeves for driving a lub
pump for each of the seal members. In particular, a pump affixed to
the fixed sleeve structure can have its piston rod engaged with a
lobe or cam located on the rotating sleeve so that a finite
quantity of lubricant is supplied to the passageway 56 each
revolution of the RBOP.
* * * * *