Patent Application
20240287865
This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. 3,191,093, titled “Powered Clamp Assembly,” filed on Feb. 24, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a powered clamp for use in the oil and gas industry, more specifically a powered clamp assembly for use on an rotating control device (RCD).
When drilling for oil and gas, one encounters geological formations that have a narrower tolerance for changes in bottom hole pressure. A widely adopted solution to this problem is the so called ‘Managed Pressure Drilling’ (MPD). In this method of drilling, the annular space is closed to the atmosphere by means of a Rotating Control Device (RCD). An RCD is a pressure-control device (e.g., as part of a pressure drilling rig) used during drilling for the purpose of making a seal around the drillstring during its rotation and/or tripping in and out of a well. The RCD is designed to contain or divert hydrocarbons or other wellbore fluids and pressure and prevent their release to the atmosphere. The RCD diverts the fluid into a manifold equipped with a specialized choke that allows manipulation of the well's bottom hole pressure. Right before breaking a connection to add a new stand, the pumps are ramped down. At the same time, the dynamic component of the bottom hole pressure drops and needs to be compensated for, in order to maintain a near-constant bottom hole pressure.
In the oil and gas industry, it is paramount to ensure the safety of employees. A problem that may jeopardize employees' safety on a drilling rig is known as a “blowout”. When a zone of high geopressure is encountered during a drilling operation and the pressure exceeds the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the drilling mud, and the formation has sufficient permeability to allow fluid flow, then the formation fluid will move into the wellbore and displace the drilling mud. This is referred to as a “kick”; and if unchecked it will result in a “blowout” which is an uncontrolled release of crude oil and/or natural gas from an oil well. Through the use of an MPD system which includes an RCD, a kick can be safely controlled.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,163,47, titled “Remote Operation of a Rotating Control Device Bearing Clamp and Safety Latch,” granted on Oct. 20, 205, which is hereby incorporated by reference, has disclosed an RCD which includes a housing assembly which contains a sealing assembly and an annular seal which rotates and seals off an annulus between a tubular string and an RCD body, a remotely operable clamp device which selectively permits and prevents relative displacement between the sealing assembly and the body, and a remotely operable safety latch which selectively permits and prevents unclamping of the clamp device. A method of remotely operating an RCD clamp device can include remotely operating a safety latch which selectively permits and prevents unclamping of the clamp device, and remotely operating the clamp device while the safety latch is in an unlatched position, thereby unclamping a scaling assembly housing assembly from the RCD body. Another RCD can include a remotely operable clamp device which selectively permits access to an RCD body interior, and a remotely operable safety latch which selectively prevents unclamping of the clamp device.
Despite the existing prior art, there still exists a need for a robust, reliable powered clamp assembly to seal the wellbore from the atmosphere during managed pressure drilling. Preferably, such a clamp should also be operable remotely to increase the personnel's safety around the wellbore.
Most of the existing art that exists around RCD clamps still result in having a person atop the annular BOP to install a safety pin or means of ensuring the clamp remains closed in the event of loss of hydraulic pressure. Manual clamp technology causes an operator to place a person atop the annular so as to open/close the manual clamp which in turn introduces a significant safety concern especially when dealing with hydrocarbons and pressure. Preferably such a clamp should also include a safety mechanism or method that ensures the clamp remains closed in the event of the loss or malfunction of its power source.
Previously, International Patent WO2021/163784 A1, titled “Powered Clamp Closure Mechanism,” published on Aug. 26, 2021, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, describes a remotely controlled clamping mechanism that meets many of the requirements to safely clamp and unclamp an RCD remotely. However, said device did not meet the robust requirements necessary for field application thus necessitating the design of a device that improves operational reliability during managed pressure drilling operations.
Accordingly, there is provided a powered clamp assembly for use on an RCD which allows the RCD and accessories to be installed or retrieved without having any personnel atop the annular BOP during critical operations.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a powered clamp assembly for use on an RCD comprising:
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is no need for a pin or any other manual safety device. Due to the self-locking nature of the powered system, pressures can be trapped against the hydraulic cartridge valve and therefore ensure the continuous and uninterrupted activation of the closure mechanism regardless of the state of the power source.
According to a preferred embodiment, the closure means maintains contact with the locking extremity of each one of said first and second jaw when such are in said distal position in relation to each other.
According to a preferred embodiment, the load holding and locking means includes or consists of a powered linear actuator that has reversible and continuously variable position between full extension and full retraction.
According to a preferred embodiment, the closure means are actuated remotely. Preferably, the powered clamp assembly further comprises an inner circumferential shape created by the first and second jaw when in a closed position such that it frictionally engages the tubing around which it is disposed.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powered clamp assembly for use in managed pressure drilling which is expandable through a combination of a pivot and articulations between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position. One of the advantages of the present invention is the capacity to maintain the alignment of a first jaw and a second jaw, upon opening so that upon closure said first and second jaw are in alignment. Said first jaw and second jaw each having a first extremity and a second extremity, wherein said first extremity of said first jaw and said second jaw are positioned proximate one another, and wherein the second extremity of said first jaw and said second jaw are in abutment with one another when said powered clamp is in a closed position and second extremity of said first jaw and said second jaw are spread apart when said powered clamp is in an open position.
According to a preferred embodiment, each one of said first and second jaw are pivotally mounted to a pivot point. Preferably, each one of said first and second jaw are pivotally mounted to a first and a second pivot point respectively. Preferably, the first and second pivot points are positioned proximate each other. Preferably, each jaw covers half of the circumference of a tube on which it is applied. More preferably, each jaw has an inner circumferential shape in order to adapt to the contour of the tube upon which it will be applied and be tightened. Preferably, each jaw's shape is adapted to form a tight lock on the tube upon which it is meant to be tightened and be complementing of each other's geometry to surround the entirety of the tube's circumference.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second extremity of said first jaw and second jaw are secured together using a locking extremity. Preferably, the second extremity of said first jaw and second jaw are maintained in permanent connection with one another through a bridging means that comprise a single pivot point onto the two jaws.
According to a preferred embodiment, there is no need for a safety pin or any other manual safety device. This is achieved through the self-locking nature of the powered system to trap pressure against a hydraulic cartridge valve which secures the closure mechanism.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means of load holding and locking are homologized. The linear actuating mechanism provides both functions through the multiple cylinder arrangements. The means of load holding and locking of the powered clamp ensures the closure of the jaws by trapping pressure against a hydraulic cartridge valve.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamp sections are moved to either the open or closed position by a multiple opposed cylinder arrangement. The cylinder arrangement is used to open/close and perform load holding/locking of the two clamp halves.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the powered clamp assembly comprises the position sensors that can be used for indicating the positional status of the assembly remotely. The removal of the need for direct visual confirmation of apparatus position contributes to increase the personnel's safety around the wellbore.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said first and second jaw each having an inner surface adapted to contour an outer surface of said RCD where said powered clamp assembly will come into contact.
Features and advantages of embodiments of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended figures, in which:
As seen in
As shown in the preferred embodiment, the locking extremities (24, 34) of the jaws (20, 30) are in permanent connection with one another through a closure device, such as a linear actuating mechanism (50) which comprises of multiple opposed cylinder arrangements and an anchoring/alignment mechanism (which acts much like a support bracket and centering block)(60) to allow the opening and closing of the jaws while maintaining them in a centralized alignment. Correct alignment of the two jaws upon closure of the clamp is highly desirable as the internal surfaces of each jaw must contour the tubing with as much surface as possible to ensure effectiveness of the clamp. Thus, the inner circumferential shape created by the first and second jaw when in a closed position should be such that it geometrically, fittingly, complimentarily, and/or frictionally engages the neck of the tube (or protruding portion of the tube) around which it is disposed. Preferably, the profile of the clamps matches (complimentarily) the profile formed by the body neck and RCD or accessory. Alternative closure means and variations are possible within the scope of the illustrated examples and description herein.
According to a preferred embodiment and as shown in
According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each pivot point is connected to the linear actuating mechanism (50) via the multiple cylinder arrangements (51, 51′, 51″) which also provides load holding and locking functions. The fittings (53, 53′) in conjunction with a limit valve provide a means to detect and confirm closure of the closing mechanism while trapped hydraulic pressure against a hydraulic cartridge valve ensures a secure locking of the jaws together during the performance of the powered clamp assembly (10). Preferably, the means to detect closure can be performed pneumatically, electrically, mechanically, or hydraulically with various switch mechanisms. The hydraulic cartridge valve may include a counterbalance valve, a pilot-operated check valve, and/or a load control valve.
The preferred embodiment of the powered clamp comprises actuators to move the two jaws between a first closed position (see
Preferably, the actuator can be mechanically driven, electrically driven, pneumatically driven, or hydraulically driven. A power source, directed through a switching element, operates the opposed cylinders to tighten or release the jaws and cause their displacement.
As seen in
According to a preferred embodiment, there is no need for a safety pin or any manual safety device. This is achieved through the self-locking nature of the powered system to trap pressure against a hydraulic cartridge valve which directs the closure mechanism. In the closed position, the operating surfaces are shielded from environmental factors which improves system reliability.
According to a preferred embodiment, one of the means of motion to achieve clamp opening and closing is using opposing multiple acting cylinders as compared to a screw drive or multiple linkages, as the prior art document discussed earlier. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the open/close cylinders move the clamp through a linear mechanism which allows the powered clamp assembly to be much more reliable in operation while when in the closed position the design shields any moving parts from any possible damage which could be potentially caused by impacts from other objects being lifted or moved.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when in use the clamp can be tightened around a tube remotely either wirelessly or through a cable connected to the powered clamp. The operator, who is located at a safe distance from the wellbore and hence the powered clamp, enters instructions or operates controls which are meant to release the lock mechanism. Once the controls have been operated, the closure is opened in one continuous step and the clamp's grip is loosened to allow the RCD or accessories to be removed or installed into the RCD body.
As is understood by the person skilled in the art to which this disclosure is addressed, the pivot extremity, the locking extremity, and the locking mechanism can take different forms but still be considered to be part of the inventive concept as described and illustrated herein. The embodiments described herein are to be understood to be exemplary and numerous modification and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the claims appended hereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3191093 | Feb 2023 | CA | national |
