Patent Application
20240151131
This is a Continuation application of U.S. Pat. No. 10,871,055 (with a filing date of Jan. 30, 2018) which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Pat. No. 9,879,517 (Nov. 3, 2015) which in turn is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,549 (Jun. 6, 2011).
There are innumerable petroleum oil wells bored into the ocean floor by highly evolved modern devices to tap the petroleum (crude oil) reservoirs. Many oil wells are of significant distance from the coast line, such wells bored through the ocean floor as deep as ⅛ th of a mile from the surface waters, to find their way to the underground oil containments spread many miles in area. The recent advancements are making well digging in deeper waters an easier accomplishment than it was before. Oil is collected into surface tanks in moderate containers or into receptacles as large as ships.
Historically, the production of petroleum from the earth's mantle in the ocean floor is shrouded in risk and great hazard to the natural environment that includes both the marine life forms and the terrestrial ecosystem adjacent. The greatest hazard is the entrainment and ignition of highly inflammable gases like Methane, causing dangerous fires, coupled with the risk of oil spewing and polluting the ocean waters. Such two man made calamities at the same time can be uncontrollable with available resources, and devastating to the healthy existence of the earth's planetary life forms. For these reasons, error proof safety systems in under water bore well digging and highly trained personnel involved in their operations, are required by law in all countries engaged in significant oil production. Despite such stringent laws, system failures and catastrophic results did occur historically, and are still occurring. The derived remedial measures through the ‘adverse event experiences’ though each uniquely different from the other in some form or other, are still nascent, and less than perfect. The recent event in the Gulf Shores of Mexico, involving BP oil Company's oil well under construction (the Macondo Prospect oil well of the Deep Water Horizon), wherein the ignition of the entrained gas and its fire that continued unstopped for 36 hours, had culminated in collapse of the surface well structures resulting in an ever increasing gusher from the source. Several different attempts by the BP oil company's technological team to contain the spewing geyser from finding its way into the body of water and into the Gulf shores had failed, mostly due to inherently limited robotic attempts involved in a moderately deep aquatic habitat.
As any unforeseen adversity can happen at any time before the completion of the well to its last functional detail, safety measures to weather out any event at any step of the construction have to be in place before beginning such operation. This application enumerating a model of ‘Well Bore to Oceanic Diversion of a Gas Entrainment with Prevention and restoration of Well Blow Out’ includes means and method steps to be incorporated for dividing and diverting a pressured giant gas entrainment from the well bore into the body of oceanic waters to be dwarfed and subdued in its pressure upon the ocean grounds.
There are plurality of measures otherwise operative, described in the cross referenced Patent ‘Emergency Salvage of a Crumbled Oceanic Oil Well’ (U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,549) by the Inventor Applicant, and can be consulted, said measures working in synchrony to weather out unforeseen events about the course of a well construction. A recently filed US CIP application (Ser. No. 17/803,373; titled ‘The Off Shore Devices of Fire Escape including Sinking and Rising of a Detachable Island Rig’) comprises a subject matter of great significance for being preventive as also remedial in scope, of otherwise catastrophic and totally devastating consequences of a rig fire.
Many inadvertent and unforeseen consequences are inherent to such ventures as the deep sea explorations shrouded in dangers and counting on tides of nature, yet to be conquered by the technological sophistication. Accordingly, the Author Inventor is neither legally liable nor personally responsible for any adverse events (involving marine-terrestrial life forms as also the eco system) difficult to differentiate either as a mere association or as a consequence of the application of the structural and or procedural information herein enumerated. The structural and or procedural application of this disclosure that involves analyzing and adapting swiftly to unforeseen situations that are innumerable and uniquely different, is obviously a personal choice and responsibility discreetly and voluntarily undertaken by the involved company participating in the day to day practice of this invention, in part or as a whole, for which reason also the Inventor may not be held responsible or accountable for any adverse event consequences.
The present invention is drawn to a working model of ‘Well Bore to Oceanic Diversion of a Gas Entrainment’ whereby the most sought after goal of Prevention of a Well Blow out is more probably achieved rather than not. The Invention is designed to divert a pressured gas entrainment into the oceanic waters nearly to a total extent, additionally precluding it from finding its way into the rig, historically a known venue of danger, wherein an ignition spark is most likely encountered. The devised system endeavors to prevent well head blowout by a devised Well Bore Gas Entrainment Diversion Tubing (WGDT). Despite the provision of a WGDT with its superior benefits, it is not taken for granted that a well head blow out is always prevented, as nature's wrath can surpass all human endeavors. Hence, when a well head blow out does happens, it is imperative that the pressured gas entrainment is subdued on its way to the rig through the marine riser, by means of a ‘Riser Gas Entrainment Diversion Tubing’ (RGDT) that yet additionally diverts the pressured elements into ocean waters so as it is precluded to reach the rig level. Both WGDT and RGDT incorporate one way valves so as there are only let-outs, but not let-ins of ocean waters. The pressured effluent diverted into ocean waters is fractionated and subdued to be collected into specially devised ocean floor gas-oil receptacles, also with one way valves, wherein oil-gas-water separation occurs for the gas and oil to enter the land collection system.
A device of ‘Sea Level Gas Separator of Oil Well Effluent’ (SLGOE) unit is positioned in a rig vicinity, the unit required for separation and oceanic diversion of any pressured gaseous elements, thereby precluding them from reaching the rig level upon a well blow out, as also on a regular basis (the latter being optional), whereby on all occasions, only an effluent with minimally admixed gases reaches the rig level. The passage of a pressured effluent upon a well blow out is effectuated through a safe oxygen-free milieu of the SLGOE unit. Its functions can also be optionally elected to prevail on a regular basis for the oil-gas separation and gas collection in a safe controlled manner at the rig level, so as flaring can be confidently weaned off by the oil companies.
The invention further envisions immediate reparative/restorative measures about the breached well bore and marine riser that are easy to accomplish and more often successful rather than not.
As was earlier briefed, the present invention is drawn to a model for the ‘Well Bore to Oceanic Diversion of a Gas Entrainment’ aimed to prevent a well head blow out, the inventive concept being accomplished by a devised ‘Well Bore Gas Entrainment Diversion Tubing’ (WGDT) (
A device of ‘Sea Level Gas Separator of Oil Well Effluent’ (SLGOE) unit (
An effluent is generally defined as an admixed formation of an under ground oil containment, substantially in its natural form, containing gaseous hydrocarbons like methane and the liquid and semisolid crude of petroleum analogs, emanating with or without a conduit tubing. The scheme of oceanic diversion of a highly pressured gas entrainment is incorporated into the system during a predictable time, as about the time the down hole completion. The fractionated and subdued effluent can be collected into gas-oil receptacles that are kept readied in all instances, in anticipation of an event. The afore mentioned one way valves of the diversion tubing can allow outflows only as long as the effluent is pressured. Hence, when the effluent's pressure is optimized and the valves allow no out flows, the oceanic Gas Diversion Tubing (GDT) are capped, and the effluent is diverted into the Effluent diversion tubing (EDT) that enters the well's oil collection system that reaches the SLGOE unit for an oil-gas separation, initially by-passing the rig, either oil is collected via the SLGOE unit occasionally (as after a pressured entrainment) or as a routine. The future production tubing is structured to also join the well's oil collection system. All the tubing of the well-rig system are built with provisions of possible interconnections in strategic places. If an oil company refrains from routine oil-gas separation and gas collection, the SLGOE unit will not be a part of the rig's oil collection system after an uneventful down hole completion. The invention also envisions reparative measures for breached well bore and marine riser that are simpler and more often successful.
The Well Bore GDT (Sumathi Paturu's WGDT) 2 in geometrical equidistance, are devised to be constructed nearing the well completion. The outlined plan is easily doable though the mind set of the industry and its affiliates is not conditioned to such an endeavor, though soon it will be. (the Bore Well GDT was originally described by the Inventor on Apr. 8, 2021 with an accompanying drawing, in a Certificate of Correction filed for the U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/871,055, with issue date of Dec. 22, 2020 and though the filed Certificate of Correction was not materialized as a correction or incorporation, it was yet compiled in the Application's Image File Wrapper, and the specified matter is herein further elaborated).
The outlines of WGDT structuring—the incorporation of the ‘Well bore gas entrainment diversion tubing’ (WGDT) into the off shore oil well system is illustrated in
The simplified schematic of
The timing for WGDT incorporation into the well is—soon after the top string of the inner most casing 284 is hung to the well head 510 and its cementing had completely dried.
The structuring of a WGDT closure and the devising of the horizontal tubing 17—the originating HTI tubing 17 emerges from within the well bore through an approximating opening created in the innermost casing 284, said opening situated 2-4 feet away from the well head 510. About the well's interior, the originating HTI 17 expands into a squared flush plate 8 that is contoured to be in flush with the well's contours. Onto one side of the flush plate 8 a GDT closure (GDTC) 475 is hinged, whereas the opposite side of the closure 475 comprises a locking device that is complimentary to a locking device on the opposite side of the flush plate 8. The GDTC 475 is made air tight by the washer-like effect of its rubber edging, the rubber made heat resistant, being similar to the rubber used in domestic ovens (the oil rushing from the under ground oil containment can have very high temperature range). The GDTC 475 has memory to stay open when it is unlocked, and the hinged side of the closure is positioned towards the side of the well head 510 as also it opens to the side of the well head, so that it will not be in the direct path, to be forced shut by the pressured gas entrainment that approaches from the opposite side. The lengthy HTI 17 designed as a flexible tubing facilitates its passage into the well bore, the opening of the innermost casing 284 to pass through all the cemented casings hung to the well head 510 to finally emerge from the outermost casing 281 to be a terminal inclined part of the tubing 17.
The locking device of the GDT closure—the locking device of the GDTC 475 can be a combination of the following conventional models, with also needed changes—(a) the automated door that opens wide and closes automatically after few seconds, whereas for the GDTC 475, another remote operation is necessary to close it, as it stays open by memory; (b) the locking device of a car door or a car trunk that unlocks by a remote signal, whereas the GDTC 475 not only unlocks, but also opens wide by memory (like the foregoing automated door).
As the WGDT deployment team (WDT) is working from outside the well, to drill a tunnel 23 through all the cemented casings of the well, the Well bore Working Team (WWT) gets ready for the GDTC 475 incorporated flush plate 8 of the HTI 17 to be bolted by the robotic arms, on to the well side tunnel opening created about the inner most casing 284 of the well bore. Through the cemented casings, the WDT first creates a burr hole to pass through all the casings. After confirming its proper positioning, the burr hole is expanded into the tunnel 23. Such task is done by the WDT by isolating ocean waters to start with, for an uncompromised well integrity, as follows—
The Modular Construction Chamber—so as to isolate ocean waters, a water tight enclosure of a Modular Construction Chamber (MCC) 27 is lowered to a leveled ocean ground excavation, wherein the well boring should be commenced. The ground excavation itself is better done even before the outermost casing 281 is deployed, if ground blasting technique is contemplated. The MCC 27 comprises: vertically adjustable legs on wheels; a closed unbreakable glass door 33; a closed window 7 with exterior projecting window borders 42 on all four sides; an interior suction device; the ILT 51 with a free interior terminal, while its tubing passes out of the MCC 27 through a MCC wall positioned about the opposite side of the window 7; and construction tools.
The MCC is bolted to a leveled bottom at strategic places for needed stability. The window 7 that opens to inside, is positioned adjacent to the well site wherein the burr hole will originate about the outermost well casing 281. The four projecting window borders 42 are devised with interconnected pigeon-hole compartments, to be cemented to the well site with cement slurry. QUIKRETE, a Hydraulic Water Stop Cement, number 1126, is preferred, being available in above or below grade strengths for a quick setting in 3-5 minutes. The window borders 42 are open only about the top and the well side, except for sideward ‘injector-openings’ of the bottom level pigeon holes, for inserting a slurry injector. Initially the bottom window border is worked on from out side, the injector approaching their opened tops through the sideward injector openings. After all the window borders 42 are properly filled with cement slurry, hand formed cement of thicker consistency is set forth as a surface layer for an added strength and reliable water proofing. After the cement consolidates thoroughly bonding the window borders to the well site, the WDT divers get into the MCC 27 minimally opening the glass door 33 that they quickly close after them. The water flooded in, is suctioned out to create a work area. All the tools including the sealed container of cement slurry can be kept in a closed shelf higher up, next to the window 7.
The tunneling of the well casings—the workers should further inspect the window borders 42 to seal any leaks from inside with hand formed cement. They drill a burr hole through the well casings approaching through the opened window 7, making certain that the direction is diametrically positioned towards the center of the well. If configuring the directional course by simple engineering techniques is an ordeal, geological/archeological tools that the industry is familiar with, like Electromagnetic tracing devices, acoustic devices, or ground penetrating radar devices should be used to point the directional course, as at least few degrees of deviation otherwise in any direction is an easier occurrence rather than not. A dense spherical object can be hung in the center of the well as the focal point to be aimed at. However, few degrees of imprecision is not detrimental as long as the well bore is reached without gross deviation. If the usable imaging device is big and not easily portable to deeper oceanic waters, the device should be securely packed upon a high set wheeled cart, and immovably restrained to a wall of the MCC about a level the flooded water is not expected to rise. The cart has adjustable legs for the device to be lifted to the window level, if needed. Mock practice of the burr-holing in a similarly configured set up is worthwhile to perfect the technique, as gross mistakes in the real setting should be 100% differed, as the consequences can be guessed. After the burr hole is found acceptable, it is expanded into a tunnel 23, making certain that its well side terminal is substantially smaller than the squared flush plate 8. The diametric dimension of the tunnel and the WGDT are elected based on the size of the well, choosing a maximum size being always the best choice, as long as it is not too large for a small well. Choosing another set of WGDT at a lower level MCC 27 in the same sitting, is a future option based on the safety profile and the perceived need for a higher outflow tubal caliber, relative to the volume and pressure of the giant gas entrainments in the past or future, by the available/to be acquired cumulative experience.
The HTI Deployment within the tunnel—after the completion of the tunneling, with the aid of robotic arms the WWT will maneuver the HTI 17 through the well bore into the tunnel 23, while the GDTC 475 abuts over the interior opening of the tunnel 23 about the inner most casing 284. The WDT picks up the outer terminal of the HTI 17 from the window 7 of the MCC 27, as it emerges from the exterior opening of the tunnel 23 about the outermost casing 281. The devising of the HTI 17 as a flexible metal tubing makes the maneuvering possible.
The deployment of the GDTC incorporated flush plate, and cementing—after the HTI 17 is stabilized in the tunnel 23, the GDTC 475 incorporated flush plate 8 abutting the inner terminal of the tunnel 23 is secured by any feasible means such as bolting, aided by the robotic arms. Soon after the bolting of the flush plate 8, the HTI 17 is cemented within the tunnel 23 by the WDT using QUIKRETE, a Hydraulic Water Stop Cement, number 1126. Hand formed thick consistency of the cement is preferred to create a secure positioning of the HTI 17 as also to create a strong uncompromised cementing of the well casements, as it is a possible traverse to a giant entrainment.
Completion of the exterior WGDT—the HTI 17 brought out of the burrowed tunnel 23 to emerge through the opened window 7, is articulated with the free end of the Intermediate L Tubing (ILT) 51, by an incorporated sliding screw device on either end, the sliding screw operable in accordance with the applicable matter discussed in the concluding section of this disclosure. The divers outside the MCC 27 connect the IJT 5 to the ocean side ILT terminal, by means of the conjoining tubing 37 even before the interior terminal is connected to the HTI 17 by the divers inside, as water enters while establishing connections and has to be let out through the free end of ILT 51 within the MCC 27. It is a mandate that the IJT 5 of sturdy metal should be positioned vertical on the oceanic grounds to facilitate the function of the one way valves 125 devised in its down turned terminal 509. To that effect, it can be steadied on three legs of a tripod with a firm footage on the oceanic grounds. It may be noted that the junction of SHS 540 with the J tubing is devised to be a smooth curve rather than a 90° angulation and additionally that the DTT 509 comprises an unbreakable glass window to ascertain the state of affairs with reference to the one way valves following a down hole blow out and a consequent gas entrainment. The area of IJT deployment should be a leveled ocean ground, and should be considered as a possible work area.
The borrowing and cementing are done in continuum for any WGDT. After completion of the work and ensuring that there are no leaks to the window borders 42 from inside (a better site for such scrutiny), the WDT exits through the MCC door 33. The second WGDT about the well bore is done after sufficient time is allowed for the drying of the first one. The positioning of the second WGDT is so pursued that the burr hole lies in a diametrical plane that passes through the hung in sphere in the center of the well as also the GDTC 475 deployed earlier, the process done with or without imaging devices. Incorporating gas/oil sensors in the well bore adjacently below the GDTC 475 is also pursued at this time. Such sensors are also incorporated about the midway of the well as also about the down hole, their signals directly opening the GDTC 475, as also the GDTC open by remote controls from a vigilance Squad (VS).
Being a temporary structure, to be cost effective, the MCC can be made in PVC. As the oil companies and the hydraulic engineers specialize in underwater projects, they can also come up with familiar plans they usually employ, wherein there is no need for a MCC 27 and the ocean water can yet be effectively isolated from the prospective construction site.
MCC as a relay station—electromagnetic waves in ELF and SLF frequency ranges 3-300 Hz can penetrate sea water to depths of hundreds of meters and such means of signal, transmissions are routinely used by submarines under water. If such provisions are not a routine to the oil industry, a communication channel is better transmitted via the MCC 27. The color coded out going-incoming signal transmitters can accompany the HTI 17 being held in place by eyelet closures and embedded in the cementing of the HTI 17. This is for the reason that the well bore, as was noted, incorporates gas sensors, and their mediating signal transmitters can pass along with the HTI 17 to ring a gas alarm all through the rig, to be heard by the stationed VS about the conduction platform. They can also send GDTC 475 opening signals as an additional protective measure. The MCC 27 is built with all needed provisions, its color coded transmitters and other structural connections established upon its stationing. The MCC being an intervening station where from relay signals are transmitted, the wiring passes through a secure metal tubing, so that they are not damaged in oceanic upheaval or by a well blow out. Said metal tubing rising to reach the air gap comprises few holdings to the marine riser. If there is a blow out, there is much needed work and monitoring to be done for gas and oil collection upon the oceanic grounds, and the MCC 27 can serve as a storage area and a rest place with high-set sitting areas for the divers.
The Effluent Diversion from the WGDT to a Sea Level Gas Separator of Oil Well Effluent (SLGOE) unit 34 through an Effluent Diversion Tubing of the Well (EDTW) 430, is depicted in
The
The
By virtue of a narrow upper end 230 the basket housing 228 conforms to an inverted nested configuration wherein the pneumatic sphere 208 is normally wedged into, by floating in the water column and occupying the open upper end 230 of the basket 228, the down turned vertical structuring of the DTT 509 facilitating such disposition. The sphere 208 is so sized that it shuts off the open upper end 230 of the basket 228 from the lower water column by two ways, when it is in a position of floatation—(1) its upper pole of the sphere 208 opposes as also it snugly closes the upper opening 230 of the basket 228; (2) by its circumferential dimension the sphere 208 also wedges into an appropriating dimension of the basket 228. Being air filled, such function of the sphere 208 is always facilitated by a continuous column of ocean water distally, thus closing the riser and the well bore from inflows. How ever, a pressured gas entrainment or an oil gusher can forcefully dislodge the wedged spheres 208 as shown in
The pneumatic one way valves 125 is a safe unfailing device that blocks the oceanic inflows even if the ocean waters are perturbed. In fact, forceful ocean waters will make the valve closure more secure. It can be a concern that the sphere 208 and its chain 238 can be blown out by an entrainment. For that reason, the upper pneumosphere 208 is made smaller, so as it can easily pass through the upper end 230 of a lower basket 228, whereas the openings of the trumpets and their tubing are made far larger than the larger lower spheres 208 with the anchoring chain 238 combined. However a blockage is a real possibility if the spheres 208 are dismantled and dislodged, and hence 4 tubing for each trumpet are the required armamentarium that can not be minimized. An election of a single housing of one way valve is not differed if so chosen. As a needed precautionary measure, as the well site gas alarms ring, designated crew divers should get to the sea floor to inspect the glass window of the DTT 509 to ascertain the state of affairs with reference to the one way valves, and if they are found to be expelled, the SHS 540 should be capped as soon as the effluent pressure seems to be slowing, as the ocean water can back flow through unprotected DDT.
The Gas Fractionation and Diversion into Gas Receptacles
The gas entrainment though led into the ocean, will not pollute the aquatic ecosystem to any extent, the encountered gases like methane being insoluble in water. In the same token, a concern is legitimate that the giant gas bubble can rise from the aquatic depths into the surface ‘air gap’, again like a gas entrainment causing an explosive fire, having encountered the atmospheric oxygen, as also it can encounter an ignition spark in the rig. Hence, the gas bubbles are prevented to rise and pervade the air gap and the rig confines by diversion to distant destinations. It is materialized by a structural addition about the time a kick from the down hole emerges as a threat, the means encompassing a ‘Gas Fractionation and Diversion’ device (GFDD) appended to the WGDT terminal. The GFDD consists of a large metal trumpet comprising a narrow proximal stem threaded to SHS 540, whereas a wide distal part comprises 4 large openings, wherein lengthy flexible metal tubing originate. The flexible tubing traverse the oceanic waters to different circumferential destinations of 40-70 meters, safely away from the rig. The tubing terminals is secured in place upon the oceanic grounds, or else let into gas-oil receptacles upon the ocean grounds.
Collection of entrained gas/oil gusher—due to the present concerns of climate change and the knowledge that the pollution of the ecosystem by methane is far worse than that of CO2, a plan can be implemented even for the collection of the entrained methane. In the present time energy crisis, interest in its use as fuel gas is spreading, and hence, it may not be wasted when ever possible. In view of countless number of oceanic rigs that will be dug due to Russian oil ban, gas entrainment is more than anticipated any where in the world. However, some rigs can be reluctant to deal with a giant gas entrainment after a down hole blow out. They can at least opt to collect an oil gusher that follows, when ever feasible without letting it pollute the ecosystem. Based on expected differing options that people are inclined to follow, two variables are herein outlined.
TACKLING ONLY AN OIL GUSHER—a devised water sampling tube—upon slowing of the gas entrainment, a predominantly oil admixed effluent starts to emerge, and it should be noted by the crew. At least one of the trumpet tubing terminating into the distant destination carries along with it a water sampling tube (normally closed by a sturdy closure about its rig terminal) where from the ocean waters are sampled periodically (with a strategic initial pause) to note when the oil starts to flow. The timing of water sampling is additionally guided by the emerging gas bubbles becoming scanty or none, as recorded by a night vision video device installed near by. It can also show the force of the oil gusher so that the crew can decide if the area is approachable to the divers. Diving emergently to the ocean floor to personally inspect the tubing terminals should always be considered. The divers must be in full gear to avoid any contact with the oil spreading in ocean waters. When the tubing are approachable, they are dislodged from the ocean floor and associated with the gas-oil receptacles as described below, wherein only oil collection is to be accomplished, the entrained gas being already let into the ocean waters. The effluent being fractionated into 8 divisions as also the entrained gas eliminated, the oil gusher is mostly attenuated, to be handled.
TACKLING THE OIL GUSHER AS ALSO THE ENTRAINED GAS—the plan is, to collect the fractionated oil and also gas into herein specially devised gas-oil receptacles. For it to be effectuated, unlike the earlier plan, it is required that the WGDT terminal is associated with the devised gas-oil receptacle about the time of down hole completion when trumpet tubing are incorporated. It is cost effective that the receptacles are rented rather than owned. It is anticipated that the enormous pressure is mostly attenuated by dividing it into at least 8 fractions, as afore mentioned. As per the mechanics of the WGDT one way valves 125 noted earlier, it is clear that the terminals of the trumpet tubing should be in communication with the ocean waters, to effectuate the function of the valves. Hence, each open tubing terminal communicating with the ocean waters dips deep into a larger inlet tubing of the gas-oil receptacle, wherein said inlet tubing is guarded by one way valve such as the basket-sphere model as in
THE GAS-OIL RECEPTACLES AND A BASKET-PNEUMOSPHERE MODEL OF THE VALVE—the schematic of a gas-oil receptacle with basket-pnuemosphere one way valve is illustrated in
The positioning of the trumpet terminal 548 within the inlet tubing 564 is stabilized by two snapping joints 542 between the trumpet terminal 548 and inlet tubing 564 that allow no redundancy. If there are any water splashes within the tank 520 due to the pressured gas entry, they fall back into the tank, the tank outlet(s) 560 being positioned at the opposite end. Hence, the water is unlikely to get out of the tank 520 and all of it mostly saved, an essential requisite for the intended function of the valve 125. About the opposite side of the gas-oil receptacle 570, the risen gases emerge from a gas outlet 544 about the top, to enter the land gas collection system. More than one outlet can be elected. As the gas emerges into the water column 519 of the tank 520, its pressure is deemed to be further subdued, because—it spreads into a wider area of open body of water; it spreads into a larger area of the gas-oil receptacle 570; it is let out continuously. The crew must be aware that the valve 125 closes when the effluent pressure optimizes. Just as some gas can escape into the ocean 252, some oil can also escape into the ocean at the insertion of the trumpet tubing terminal 548 into the inlet tubing 564 of the gas-oil receptacle.
The receptacle has a glass window 400 and an ‘on-off’ solar powered high voltage light that beams towards the inlet tubing 564, so that the gas flow can be visualized from the window 400, as also from a video device placed inside or outside near the window. The receptacle (s) 570 are brought down with the inlet and outlets capped. It is a reasonable plan that the trumpet tubing are positioned more towards the shore, to facilitate an easy traverse of the land lines to a coastal area.
The oil gusher—the WGDT can also divert an enormously pressured oil gusher from the well bore, and as per the fore going plan, the pressured oil gusher also enters the subsea gas-oil receptacle 570 to collect in the tank 520. A devised oil outlet 524 about the bottom of the gas-oil receptacle 570 will lead into the oil land line system. During oil collection, the water tank 520 of the gas-oil receptacle 520 may be submerged but it will not adversely affect the function of the valve 125. The receptacle's oil outlet tubing 524 is normally capped, and electively opened by the divers when the gas flow ceases and oil flow commences. The oil is admixed with some water though water stays in the tank mostly while less dense oil overflows. In that manner, the gas-oil receptacle 570 separates gas, oil, and water to a reasonable extent, an unique function easily achieved. The multiple land receptacles in the coast are kept empty and their outlets clamped, so that the system as a whole is a secure closed system. An emergency signal must reach the land for a close watch by a land crew.
The temperature of deep sea being an average of 4° C. (at 200 meters and deeper), and the gas-oil receptacles maintained at that temperature, can aid in lowering the temperature as also the pressure of the gases, making their land line diversion safer than it can be otherwise (the pressure in a gas containment is directly proportional to the temperature—the Gay Lussac's law). Heat (the ignition source) is one of the requirements in the fire triangle (others being oxygen and fuel), the common heat/ignition source being any of the following—sun, hot surface, sparks, friction, or electrical energy; water stops fire because it takes away heat; gasoline and oxygen are present in an automobile tank, but combustion does not occur as there is no source of heat. To make a note, the temperature of a subsea petroleum oil reservoir can be as high as 300° C. (the temperature of the emerging gases being the same, and the pressure proportional). Despite such high temperature, collection of a pressured gas entrainment is made fire-safe in a colder deep sea at 4° C. The further traverse of the gases through land lines of the sea floor at 4° C. also helps to lower the temperature.
Prompting the crew—the event of gas entrainment is prompted to the crew by gas sensors set forth about the down hole, the well's midway, as also near the GDTC 475, triggering gas alarms in the rig, the devising subject to a mandate nearing the time of threatened kick about the down hole.
The crew can view the gas receptacles through high set lighted glass windows, as also through a video monitoring device about the window, and when the gas bubbles emerging from the water tank of the receptacle cease, the oil outflow commences and an oil gusher can be viewed and identified.
The effluent diversion into a primed milieu of the SLGOE—when the pressure optimizes and the one way valves 125 allow no out flows, the trumpet(s) are disarticulated and the WGDT terminal(s) capped, while the EDTW 430 is unclamped for the effluent to flow into the SLGOE unit 34. The up-flows through the EDTW 430 is effectuated in a similar manner it is done when the production tubing functions as the well's oil conduit.
As the unclamping of EDTW 430 is an elective event, it can be properly yet swiftly planned so as the tanks of the SLGOE unit 34 are filled with oxygen-free atmospheric air. An explosive fire can be possibly averted, when inflammable gases under pressure enter the oxygen-free milieu of the SLGOE unit 34, its devised structuring for the purpose being encountered in a latter section. Understandably, the tanks of the SLGOE unit 34 are not in a temperature milieu of 4° C. as the gas receptacles of the ocean floor are, and hence best precautionary measures are instituted.
No more minimalizing the armamentarium—4 tubing from each trumpet is the minimum needed even for a small well. In case the two basket-sphere valves 125 that are incorporated into the GDTs are blown out by a pressured effluent thereby blocking two of the tubing (however, the valves are designed to prevent a blockage even if they are blown out), at least there must be two that are functional to let out the gas entrainment and possibly an oil gusher that follows.
It was earlier noted in the section of ‘Brief Description’ that despite all the measures to prevent a well blow out, nature's wrath can be uncontainable, and a well blow out may still happen. In this rare instance, a part of the pressured entrainment that finds its way into the marine riser, should also be diverted into the ocean waters, to circumvent a situation culminating into an explosive rig fire.
The bottom strings of the riser, as close to the well head as feasible, are devised to incorporate the above specified RGDT, two in number, in circumferential equidistance. If two of the WGDT are positioned about north and south, the RGDT are positioned east and west, so that the dissipated gas entrainment is evenly spread out in case there is a blow out of the emerging RGDT tubing near the well head, however the RGDT tubing gradually and eventually course towards the coast line. The RGDT can be of smaller diametric dimension than the WGDT, because it has to be accommodated in the riser's outer space, as also for the reason that the traversing gas entrainment is of substantially diminished volume relative to what is let out through the WGDT.
Few strings of the riser are manufactured to incorporate the RGDT, the latter originating from the riser pipe. Though the RGDT traverses the riser's outer space, it establishes no luminal communication, and is exteriorized in entirety from the riser's outer auxiliary ‘power’ and ‘control’ lines so that their functions are not interfered with. The RGDT originating from the riser pipe is structured as a flexible metal tubing, whereby its course is maneuvered easily through the riser's outer auxiliary ‘power’ and ‘control’ lines. The origination of the RGDT accommodates GDT closures that mirror the well's GDT closures in their locking devices and are opened about the same time, wherein the signal transmitter can pass from the rig into the riser pipe, being operated by the VS. Past the riser's outer boundary, the RGDT comprises a J tubing, the J tubing not devised to be flexible. After coursing horizontally the J tubing makes a down turn, said down turned terminal (DTT) incorporating a short horizontal segment (SHS) normally capped until about the time of down hole completion, when the trumpets and their tubing are deployed about the RGDT. The junction of the SHS with the J tubing is devised to be a smooth curve rather than a 90° angulation.
The downturn of the J curve incorporates one way valves that allow outflows of the pressured entrainment but the inflows of the ocean water are wholly blocked. The mechanics of the one way valves are similar to those about the DTT of the WGDT.
It is an option and not a mandate that the RGDT is structured also about the midway of the riser and additionally about their top strings. The RGDT at different levels are configured because these tubing are made of narrow caliber to traverse the limited riser space, and yet to be effective in situations when the outflows from the riser are also voluminous and should be precluded from reaching the rig confines. For the reason that the entrainment is being let out instantly through the RGDT, the riser and its vital structures are protected from an otherwise more damaging breaches. If a well is small, having single tubing at any level is not differed. As also, positioning all RGDT in the lower half of the riser is an option that can be elected by the industry.
A Gas Fractionation and Diversion device—a Gas Fractionation and Diversion device with trumpets and incorporated tubing, is appended to the RGDT about the same time they are deployed about the WGDT terminal, its structure and function identically devised. As was specified in the descriptive section of the WGDT, minimizing the armamentarium is differed in this instance also.
THE OIL COLLECTION FROM THE RGDT—the issue of oil collection through RGDT arises only in the event of a well head blow out, when the effluent can enter the riser pipe, despite the fact that most of it will be let out by the WGDT. Accordingly, RGDT is equipped for oil collection in a similar manner the WGDT is equipped with following a giant gas entrainment, as was already discussed in the context of the WGDT. That is, the effluent from the RGDT is ultimately let into the gas-oil receptacles and the land collection system. The Effluent Diversion Tubing of the Riser (EDTR) will also enter the tubing of the oil collection system to reach the ultimate destination of the SLGOE unit 34 for oil-gas separation. If the effluent out flow from the EDTR is not as voluminous as the effluent out flow from the EDTW, using one or two outlets can be sufficient.
A LAST ANXIETY DISSIPATING SOLUTION—the whole project of oceanic diversion of the entrainment from the well bore and the riser pipe being a daring proposition, one has to think in terms that metal and cement make up world's strongest structures including major bridges on which innumerable cars pass every hour without incurring damage. Accordingly, implementation of the plan is strongly encouraged, though it can not be denied that it would be immensely anxiety provoking. Hence, an anxiety dissipating proposition is—as the major events are predictably about the time of down hole completion, soon after an uneventful down hole completion, the WGDT and RGDT are wholly undone by dismantling and cement sealing, the other alternative being capping the SHS 540 securely with a capping device as described below and also permanently cement sealing it.
As the EDTW and the EDTR are connected to the GDTs, following an entrainment, letting the effluent flow into the SLGOE unit is allowed only if it is deemed safe, or else the EDTW and the EDTR are also clamped or dismantled, wherein in the latter election, emergent deployment of a pneumatic sealer devised by the Inventor Applicant (U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,549) is invariable until a production tubing is deployed, as the pneumatic sealer also incorporates an oil conduit, and the effluent let out, even if not pressured, is essential. If it is deemed safe, the effluent flow into the SLGOE unit is allowed until the time a production tubing is deployed.
The capping of the GDT tubing—the threaded terminal of SHS 540 (which is the articulating junction of the trumpet) comprises an affixed cap hung by lengthy chain to seal the terminal when elected. If the ‘cap head’ with an affixed chain to the head top closes clockwise, to start with, the chain is twisted on itself to make 5-6 turns anti-clockwise, and then the cap can be easily screwed on to the threaded SHS terminal.
Concluding Comments about the Foregoing Sections—
Despite the foregoing schematics, the nature's wrath and the enormity of a gas entrainment may far exceed all human limitations, and at least a part of the pressured entrainment may reach the rig site. Hence, it is a proactive choice to have all gas/fire safety measures in a rig as if the above plans were not instituted. The devised schematic is not without benefit, that is—the enormity of the entrainment and the number of adverse events are substantially minimized. In other words, they are controllable and amenable to human interventions, to prevent/stop a rig fire that may otherwise be unstoppable and catastrophic. The fire countering measures within the rig are mostly enumerated in a recent contemporary CIP application ‘The Off Shore Devices of Fire Escape including Sinking and Rising of a Detachable Island Rig’ (domestic U.S. application Ser. No. 17/803,373), and there are plurality of measures otherwise operative, as in the cross referenced patent U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,549 by the Inventor Applicant, and need be consulted, said measures working in synchrony.
The SLGOE unit 34 about the rig site can be functional before and after the deployment of the production tubing. It is schemed that the oil collection system reaching the rig level routinely by passes the rig to enter the in-vicinity SLGOE unit 34, and the oil returned to the gas and oil receptacles/rig after the gaseous elements are separated. As the diversion of the pressured oil-gas effluent into the SLGOE unit is always a planned event after a well blow out (it can be recalled that a clamp should be unclamped for the effluent diversion into the SLGOE unit), the tanks of the unit are emergently filled with oxygen-free atmospheric air at this time, precluding explosive fire within the unit, as the freshly emerged oil-gas can be at 300° C. temperature.
The following describes the SLGOE unit 34, located about the surface waters of the rig's vicinity.
The Gas Separator Tank—the illustrating
The oil passage tank—the oil passage tank 424 specified above, is also fitted with widely configured cluster of gas outlet tubes 74 in the top (to also join the common gas pipe 40 and the gas collection system), whereby any remaining gaseous elements are further separated from the oil passage tank 424. Through a tube 428 emerging from the oil passage tank 424 oil reaches the oil receptacles (or a land diversion system) via an outlet tubing 26, by mechanical means of ‘siphoning’. The tube 428 originates from the bottom liquid column of the oil passage tank 424 to ascend to a higher level. The incorporated model of oil passage tank 424 completely alienates the drawing force (as an effect of siphoning), whereby the gaseous components will not be otherwise drawn into the down stream oil collection system. Such drawing force by means of siphoning is exclusively directed to the lower level effluent column within the oil passage tank 424, a safe guard when a pressured gas admixed effluent enters the SLGOE unit 34. The inlet and outlet tubing of the SLGOE unit 34 enter/exit the modular unit 32 above the surface water (
The devised model has four great advantages for an instant oil-gas separation, as below—
The safe configuration of the devised model—the (pressured) gaseous elements enter the SLGOE unit through a moderate caliber of its inlet tubing 24, whereas they spread out into the tanks 404 and 424 as also into the fully clustered gas outlet tubing 74 and 78 about the top of the tanks, whereby the pressure is greatly attenuated (the volume and pressure within a gas containment being inversely proportional). The illustration of single common gas pipe 40 is only a schematic and it can be larger than depicted as also multiple in number.
The SLGOE Unit Furthermore has the Following Fire-Safe Devising to—Receptive to Pressured Oil-Gas Effluent without Causing an Explosive Fire—
The following structuring is also shown in
The under water gas receptacles—the outlet tubing 57 of the SLGOE unit 32 unlike the GDT tubing, enters the sea floor gas receptacle by itself as its inlet tubing that needs no one way valve. Yet the inlet tubing enters into a bottom water column of the receptacle, to discern the inflow of the gases, as viewed through a glass window of the receptacle; the top outlet gas tubing of the receptacle preferably joins the land gas collection system.
Following closure of the one way valves of the GDT(s) (that is, the WGDT and the RGDT) to the effluent out flows, the EDT(s) (that is, the EDTW and the EDTR) are unclamped to divert the effluent to the SLGOE unit 34 if such measure is elected by the oil company. When it is elected, the sequence of the requisite operations are as set forth below—
Oceanic oil let out and collection—additionally, there can be a provision for the oil outlet tubing 26 of the SLGOE unit to have a pressure let out one way valves to let out oil under tremendous pressure temporarily into the ocean waters so that an oil gusher will not flood the rig or the oil receptacles. It would be a wise option that it comprises an alarm provision so that the crew makes a note and collect the oil in massive floating oil receptacle(s) that is/are always kept at hand.
Economical merits—the oil company can safely collect the highly utilitarian fuel gas, almost completely through the SLGOE unit, as a cautiously configured extraction about the rig site. The aim is not to pursue 100% refining measures of oil-gas separation that is otherwise mandated for the Oil Refineries engaged in exclusive crude oil separation by highly involved Fractional Distillation.
The choice of a SLGOE unit—the SLGOE unit functions as an efficient oil-gas separator, following a gas entrainment and an oil gusher, until the production tubing is installed. The oil company may opt to have it incorporated into the well-rig system even for a routine oil-gas separation, and oil collection, as a better way to slowly wean flaring at the rig site.
The Facilitating Additional Measures Incorporated about the Well/Rig Site to Weather Out a Calamity
To counter the event of a gas entrainment, a scheme of protective measures have to be in place in the confines of a rig, even before the well digging is initiated, as in the following —.
The rig site gas chasers—about the conduction platform, clustered around the marine riser there are high powered fans, activated by the well site gas alarms, to drive away the approaching gases sideward, so as they will not breeze into the rig nor rise up towards the derrick. About the bottom framework of the derrick fans are appended and are configured like ceiling fans, however with a 45° tilt, wherein the wind blown by the fans are in the same direction as winds from other fans. The guiding principle in utilizing the breezes of the fans to blow out the inflammable gases is—the direction of the breezes from all the fans must be synchronized towards one direction, and preferably in any rig, it has to be chosen as per the dominantly prevailing direction of the wind in that part of the world. About the conduction platform that direction is kept open when feasible.
Cylinders of Compressed Oxygen-free Atmospheric Air (OAA) or compressed CO2 (CCO2)—as the well signaled alarms point to a major catastrophe, the vigilance squad (VS) wearing closed circuit SCBA mask instantly opens the enormous cylinders of Compressed Oxygen-free Atmospheric Air (OAA) or compressed CO2 (CCO2) kept in reserve (about the time of down hole completion), for the OAA/CO2 to admix with the approaching inflammable gases, to avert an explosive fire. Compressed OAA/CCO2 cylinders should also be appended to the frame work of the derrick at the lowest level (that is, lower than the installed area of the fans), and the OAA/CO2 released upon a gas alarm. Both OAA and CO2 being heavier than the inflammable gases, they encounter the gases as soon as they approach the rig level. The VS, specially consigned about the time of down hole completion, are vigilant round the clock for the signals from the well site gas sensors. The VS must be aware that the soda lime within the canisters of the SCBA masks are exhausted in proportion to the amount of CO2 exposure. Other crew members must leave the area even before the cylinders are opened, to get to the spray walks leading to the fire escape entry (U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/807,681) and they are allowed into the area only after the atmospheric oxygen/CO2 levels are optimized. The COAA/CO2 cylinders are closed as soon as feasible, and they are also vacated from the rig soon after the passing of the event. After the critical time had passed, regular oxygen containing atmospheric air is released into the rig confines, to make the area safer in an emergent manner. The atmospheric air is stored in compressed atmospheric air (CAA) cylinders. The VS should also use specially designed large fire-extinguishers capable of pressured distant ejection, in case gas-fueled fire starts. It is an occasion to note that every risk prone situation must be scrutinized in terms of the requirements of the ‘fire triangle’, the other parameters being mostly immaterial though seemingly suspicious. However, the ignition sources are very variable and can be those least suspected, and it is the single factor that should be explored and eliminated. Most familiar sources are—sun, hot surface, sparks, damaged over heated electrical wiring, impact, cutting and welding flames, heating equipment, friction, electrical energy, internal combustion engines such as compressors, generators and pumps, kitchen equipment like ovens and microwaves. A check list must be made, and about the time of down hole completion the sources are eliminated.
The Canisters of soda lime in strategic places of a rig—even minimal fire can cause dense smoke with dangers of smoke inhalation (which is also carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide inhalation) very early on. Huge canisters of soda lime (a mixture of sodium hydroxide and slaked lime, slaked lime being calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) boxed and sealed, can be placed in strategic places of a rig, as about the entry ways to the work areas and normally crowded places, to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), the latter being absorbed by the sodium hydroxide component of the soda lime. The canisters are specially devised so that a sealed canister (the CO2 scrubber) is unsealed by remote control upon a fire alarm, as also it may not be exposed to direct sprays of the sprinklers when unsealed. A contemporary CIP application by the Inventor titled as ‘The Off Shore Devices of Fire Escape including Sinking and Rising of a Detachable Island Rig’ details large size sealed canisters of soda lime as CO2 scrubbers.
The well site gas sensors and the GDT closures—these devising need a recall from an earlier detailing, as they are paramount in orchestrating immediate responsive measures in the rig. These are the simplest yet greatest additions that alert, prevent, and protect the crew from an explosive rig fire. Despite the well site gas sensors, local gas sensing alarms in the rig site should not be over looked in case the other alarms fail, and the rig should be prepared for all unforeseen situations.
Sprinklers—self bathing sprinklers capable of pressured jetting should be installed where ever possible. Their installation within the base frame work of the derrick and about the conduction platform should be strived for, and the water is better derived from the colder source of the deep sea so as they can dampen any heated areas of the rig as also the heat of the incoming gases. The sprinklers are activated as soon as the well site signals ring an alarm. To be effective, the sprinklers are so positioned that the intended direction of their sprays are facilitated by the breezes of the fans.
Inferentially, the installation of all the above devices should not be in a random fashion, and it has to be carefully synchronized to best facilitate their intended functions.
It is a wise plan that a derrick man has an established scheme to land in a less hazardous distant destination within the rig, with no need to come down to the bottom of the derrick, an area to be emergently evacuated, except for the VS to stay.
The Plans and Measures that the Oil Companies, the Governments, the Concerned Agencies and the World's Citizens should Consider
Every plan in the fore going is a collective responsibility to be shouldered by all the citizens of the world. Wide spread advertising by celebrities people love and trust, is a key for success. These measures will lower the prevailing oil-gas-energy expending that may not be otherwise lowered.
This disclosure comes across as means of encouraging the use of fossil fuels. No denying that, as there is no choice for the next few decades, and it tells how it can be best pursued as long as it needs to be pursued. In the same token the Inventor feels it as the deemed responsibility to suggest other positive measures as soon as such notions are conceived, to halt the climate change, as also to face the near or remote future without fossil fuels, and possibly with no equal substitutes.
In view of the utmost functional importance of the SLGOE unit 34, it is deemed prudent that the whole unit is designed to be secured in an enclosed protective structure, herein actuated by structuring the unit in a shell of modular capsule 32, the latter provided in pre-configured sizes. With all the inlets and outlets capped, the modular 32 is deployed in its destined reception site atop the metal board 36 (
The modular 32 is structured with shopping-cart like wheels to its bottom, for its precise stationing. As earlier described, a video monitoring device is incorporated into the modular 32 also, in addition to its incorporation about the gas separator tank 404. The modular unit 32 is equipped with conventional ‘hooked’ and ‘ringed’ structures, strategically placed about its outer shell, and detachable fixtures for bottom cementing needed of its secure stationing upon its base structure. Such detachable yet steady stationing allows a replacement of the unit, when needed. The modular resists perturbations of the oceanic weathers, by virtue of its barge like base structuring resisting any upheavals, to stay in an upright positioning. Due also to resilience of its disposition by the anchoring units of linearly set metal strings comprising of metal rods 38, breaking from or colliding with a leg of the rig, is precluded. Additionally, the carrying, appending, and anchoring structures of the modular being air-capsuled, the overall strain of the imposed weight upon a leg, even during oceanic upheavals, is minimized. A future cumulative experience will shed light upon the merits of the foregoing dispositions of the modular, if they are nearly comparable to its disposition upon a single leg, the latter being undoubtedly secure. Other details are specified in the section detailing the SLGOE unit. The tanks of the unit can be set forth fairly close to each other, so that the modular unit 32 as a whole would be less space occupying. Threading in entirety of the unit's tubing system, is as described in the concluding section of this disclosure.
The SLGOE unit's modular capsule 32 (
The
The SLGOE unit 34 can also be installed upon a ‘single leg’ structuring, which can be a better option though economically and structurally imposing. As a common encompassing theme, the legs 54 of the rig rising above water are enveloped in many layers of burlaps, and studded with sprinklers that are especially forceful about the level of the surface waters 528 (where oil can stagnate), the legs being the back bones of the structures they support, and need to be protected from collapsing, in the event the fire lingers upon oil-laden water. A sprinkler tube of high caliber jet also accompanies any tubing not under water in the rig vicinity, said tubing also burlap-covered. The exemplified fan 420 in
The corridor space 402 can also serve as an instant destination for fire fighters jumping into the water (while a water sealed basement of a Detachable Island Rig, as in a contemporary application/patent, serving as a highly safe-guarded fire escape within the rig, for the rest of the crew), or can also be a vigilance/security station, if erected on a single leg. The surface gas receptacles can be set forth near the SLGOE unit when a single leg is chosen, as the gaseous elements collected are designed to be safely attenuated.
The Disposition of a Prototype SLOGE Modular with an Anchor Base
In a simpler modification of the foregoing, as shown in conformity thereof in the schematic of
THE VIDEO MONITORING OF THE SLGOE UNIT—in the SLGOE unit 34, the gas separator tank 404 is provided with a video device 568 (
Optimally, the gas separator tank 404 of the SLGOE unit has an ‘oil dispersion’ unit, its ‘spiked-circle’ dispersion device illustrated in
The device 583 moves up and down while ‘put on’ to be operational, as when a block to the down-streaming flow from the tank 404 is suspected. It can also be operational in continuum at pre-set intervals, that is, at about 3-5 minute intervals, in effect conforming to 4-5 axial motions each time, each axial motion comprising a complete downward and upward movement.
The dispersion device 583 has a lamp shade like configuration with a minimal incline. The concentric circles 587 of the device 583 have downward extensions with knife like cutting edges about the bottom (not shown in the drawing), wherein said cutting edges also have spiked projections 590 in strategic places that correspond to the positional configurations of the bottom perforations 76 of the tank 404 (
In this model, the spaces 591 between the concentric circles 587 are wide, and there are only two radially positioned members 592 connecting the circles 587, whereby the semisolid crude of the effluent will not settle about the top of the dispersion device 583. It further facilitates an easy ascent of gases separated in the bottom of the tank. The bottom perforations 76 of the tank 404 are devised to be oblong, such structuring facilitating better passage of the semisolid effluent. With the unit as devised, a continuous oil flow down-stream is always ensured. The dispersion device is normally positioned in the bottom level of the tank 404 just above its oil column, so that the movement of the device 583 as well as the time needed of such movement to reach the sieved bottom of the tank 404, are brief. A control device for the up-and-down movement of the central supporting rod 589 of the device 583 is positioned outside about the top of the tank 404.
The effluent received by the SLGOE unit after an acute event being a water-oil admixture rather than oil-gas admixture is not an objectionable matter, as the crude oil collected is being ultimately diverted to an oil refinery for a fractional distillation. If the standard practices of the refinery reject the heavily water contaminated crude oil, for financial reasons or other, it is an alternative that the let out effluent from the SLGOE unit 34 be diverted into the tank of an oil Separator of the Water Admixed Effluent (OSWE) to separate a major portion of water.
The prototype of an OSWE—the Oil Separator Tank 571 (
The OSWE can be used by land crew to separate water before delivering the crude to refineries.
The extent of breaches about the well head structures depends upon the severity of the well head blow out. In severe cases the riser can sustains damage with the blown out effluent escaping into the ocean waters. The consequential events and remedial measures are set forth as below—
However, the oil spill into the ocean can be incessant, progressively turning into a spewing geyser. It is due to different densities of the two liquid bodies concerned, the lighter petroleum oil rising to the surface, as the heavier oceanic water finds its way into the oil-containment, progressively rising its pressure. Hence aiming for a swift response to seal the leaks is paramount.
The Riser Restoration after a Well Head Blow Out
Emergently sealing the breaches of a marine riser being a simple remedial measure, should be immediately pursued, as also it could be successful in most instances, however it is done only when the riser is found to be functional despite the structural breaches. It is done as follows—
Large visible breaches can be easily identified, however the highest level of imperceptible breaches being hard to discern, the following reparative measures are pursued—
A NEW INNERMOST REPARATIVE CASING as devised by the Inventor, is a classic tried and true permanent structuring familiar to the industry that prevents water in-flows into the bore well from ocean craters, as also it restores the well's integrity, especially when there is no gross structural distortion about the well head. However, when there are marked distortions of a blown out well, being a rigid tubular, it is not a suitable model. In such instance, as an instant reparative measure, cementing an encircled sturdy rubber-metal sheath about the innermost casing, is an option, to block inflows into the well bore. If the sheath has to be very pliable to negotiate through the distorted structuring, 2-3 layers of sheathing, each having rubber underlay, can be deployed, wherein they are glued while being laid on. The glue can be readymade like that of a wall paper, however thicker layering is preferred in this setting, and there are many brands of quick setting water-proof glues are available. The sheath(s) is/are also bolted to the innermost casing, such bolting positioned in equidistance (preferably as in a diamond shaped configuration of a tufted sofa rest), wherein the underlay of rubber preventing the bolted areas as potential sites of breaches for water seepage. If nailing or bolting is precluded in oil-gas pervaded area, as it involves using a driller like instrumentation that causes friction, gluing itself is pursued in a thorough manner.
The following is a simple and easy method wherein the cementing of the sheath can also be done without too much soiling of the innermost casing. Whether the sheath is single or multiple, it is the upper and lower edges as also the two approximating lengthwise edges that are to be cemented for any individual sheath.
The vertical cement holder (VCH)—the VCH 12 is a lengthy tubular with a vertical disposition about the well bore, wherein it is bolted/nailed to the innermost casing (IMC) 284, robotic maneuvers being essential for the deployment. It is devised in a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, wherein one lengthwise dimension about the side of the IMC is missing, thereby creating a contacting interior of the tubular with the IMC 284. Cement of suitable consistency is poured into the VCH 12 after it is deployed. The VCH 12 has closed bottom and an open top, and it is made of light weight PVC with volume capacity only as much as needed. It can be observed that the VCH 12 in its compartmental area covers the two lengthwise edges of the metal-rubber sheath 43 exposing them to the cement along with the innermost casing surface 284 in between. As the VCH 12 is filled with cement from the top, it should be deployed first if the configuration as shown in the drawing is chosen. As an alternative thereof, it can be intercepted between the two ends of the circular cement holders (CCH) 25. The VCH 12 has cuffed edging 29 on either side and their intermittent perforations 2 allow the VCH 12 to be deployed about the IMC 284 by nailing, or else by quick-set gluing. The cement in the form of slurry is so chosen that it is an appropriate match in its setting time, to the time taken by the crew to maneuver through the proceedings. Cement slurry is poured in with a slender syringe after the VCH 12 is secured in position. It is beneficial if little part of the bottom of the VCH 12 is filled in to start with, so as after it is dried, it gives some foot hold to the VCH 12. After that, cement filling is done in increments from bottom to the top after each of the earlier filling is dried up, so as more weight is being added (the weight being the cement) as more sections of the VCH 12 is getting its part of foot hold. Even if the sheath 43 is not a single stretch, the VCH 12 can be a single stretch.
The circular cement holders (CCH)—the circular cement holder (CCH) 25 has a circular disposition about the well bore, wherein it is bolted/nailed to the innermost casing (IMC) 284 about the upper and lower ends of the deployed metal-rubber sheath 43. Any of its segmental section has a bench like configuration, a open area facing the innermost casing creating a shelf like spacing, wherein contacting area with the IMC 284 comprises a cuff like structuring 24 about the bottom, its intermittent perforations 2 allowing the CCH 25 to be deployed about the IMC 284 by nailing/bolting or quick-set gluing. Either end of the CCH 25 has full brackets to hold the cement in place, however, to make the structuring clear, it is not depicted in the drawing. The CCH 25 should be so positioned in the well bore that when the cement is poured in, the edges of the sheath 43 should be readily surpassed without expending too much cement, as it is going to add up to the weight also. Either end of the CCH 25 is cemented first to give the CCH 25 some foot hold initially, and further cementing is done from either end towards the center after the earlier cementing is dried up. Being made of flexible PVC, the CCH 25 can be lowered into the well in its axial length and later made to encircle the well bore. Robotic maneuvers are essential for the deployment of the cement holders.
If nailing or bolting the holders is precluded, alternate means of stabilizing the holders must be sought, like gluing the cuffs with strongest water-proof glue, the glue already applied to the cuffs in multiple layers. If the crew is uncertain of safety, experimentation can be done by using a driller in a similar milieu (including the temperature) as the breached well bore
The above structuring is relatively permanent. As the well is dysfunctional and contaminating the ecosystem, remedial measures are worth while. The foregoing are immediate measures upon a well blow out, even if the WGDT and RGDT are differed altogether, being considered as invasive.
Reference was made earlier to a domestic patent U.S. Ser. No. 10/807,681 by the Inventor, wherein a Detachable Island Rig (DIR) is the high lighted theme, as also in a contemporary CIP titled ‘THE OFF SHORE FIRE ESCAPE DEVICES INCLUDING SINKING AND RISING OF A DETACHABLE ISLAND RIG’ (domestic U.S. application Ser. No. 17/803,373). In the case of a DIR, the
THE VULCANIZED RUBBER AS THE STRUCTURAL CONSTITUENT—it can be noted that all the rubber washers or any assembly devices of rubber, incorporated in the WGDT, RGDT, EDTW, EDTR, SLGOE unit with its modular capsule, the riser, the conductor, and others, are made of vulcanized rubber, the only type that can resist the degrading attack of the petroleum analogs.
THE ULTIMATE MERITS OF THE INVENTION—the proposed models by any standard encompass simpler methods to prevent a well blow out by diverting a pressured giant gas entrainment into a room of oceanic containment. In the same token, the giant gas entrainment is precluded from reaching the rig level culminating into an explosive rig fire. What needs to be implemented is only a small step forwards, however, with a giant leap in the remedial measures achievable that are the ‘ultimate’—for being safe, perfect, unfailing and most importantly being the simplest, yet eluded for a century. More complex a measure is, more prone it is for a failure that may not be countered, especially amidst the desolate oceanic waters. After a century, as was noted, an enormous simplicity is destined to become an accurate problem solving formula, as was also destined to be enormously time taking in its circuitous derivation by its inventor, as if ‘it is no easy venture to believe in a simple possibility of a deemed impossibility’.
The invention further envisions a model of tubing, and the methods of instant system joining or closing, for all future units, or as a replacement tubing for the existing units. Said tubing is structured to have a deep threaded configuration on the inside traversing the entire lengths. Inner threading is better (though manufacturing is more involved), as an outer threading can collect sediment and lose its precision. The threading of the tubing, small or lengthy, can involve the well and its vicinity, the rig, and finally the appended tubing structures of costly equipment, facilitating instant joining or closing of a compromised or broken structure, aided by means of—
How to find the source of gas/oil leak and mending it—about the oil tubing of the rig confines and outside, oil/gas sensing equipment are placed at equidistance, each numbered, to be defining its territory. When a leak occurs following a tubular damage, its territorial equipment rings its alarm first, though other alarms ring later, as the leak spreads. The devised computer software notes the timing, however, the one that first rang, is the source (unless the leaks are multiple). The leak is confirmed by the adjacent alarms that ring immediately following. The computer sets forth the chronology for an instant information. The security crew familiar with all the numbered territories, should deploy emergently the instant joint structures. As the joint structures are fixed in their allowable maximum dimensions, the length of the tubing to be severed should be properly configured. On the other hand, as the minimal length of a damaged tubing to be severed can be minimized only to a particular dimension, the number of the joint structures to be incorporated (with two or more conjoining I tubes) should be properly configured before severing the tube, as the tubing can be severed ‘more’ and not ‘less’. The I configurations are structured as both ‘joint structures’ and ‘conjoining tubes’, the former with similar threading and the latter with complimentary threading. The leak is insulated first, and the tubing including the I tubes to be inserted are articulated outside. After precise measurements the damaged tubing is cut, for the articulated set to be inserted. One cut end is temporarily closed by a simple closing cap, while the other side is worked on. The final manipulations and fine adjustments of the conjoining I tubing are done in-situ to establish a conduit line, with vulcanized rubber washers also, for a fluid tight closures. A distorted tubing may need an intervening U/C joint, and a bent L shaped curve needs a L joint, whereas a complex interconnection needs a T joint. The crew can have a mock practice of possible conjoining maneuvers. The joint configurations can conform to two designs—‘subtle’ or ‘striking’ (‘Sub’ or ‘Stri’). In the subtle configurations the devised curves are less obvious. Each is important based on how a broken distorted tubing is dis-positioned in its setting.
Unceasing oil/gas emissions from a source that cannot be detected/mended can be a cause of an unceasing fire, or else, for an uncontainable pollution of the eco-system. Hence, the foregoing structural mandates are as important as all the other security measures put together. Moreover, what needs to be herein implemented is only a step forwards in means familiar, how ever, with remedial functions not otherwise achievable in the most precarious of times.
At this concluding part of the multifaceted targeting of a ‘gas entrainment’ as was discussed in the foregoing many sections, it can be noted that no stone was left unturned, and no adverse event left out to be addressed, yet with the simplest of measures conceivable. This said, with an awareness as was afore noted, that the enormity of the nature's wrath can yet surpass all human limitations, as nothing can tackle a giant gas entrainment or an immense oil gusher that erupts with a sound like hundred trains rushing through the country side, while blowing solid elements into the ocean like lettuce floating in water, as was narrated by an eye witness of a massive well blow out. However, the outlook at this conclusion is greatly and undoubtedly improved.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,549; FILING DATE: Jun. 6, 2011 TITLE: EMERGENCY SALVAGE OF A CRUMBLED OCEANIC OIL WELLU.S. Pat. No. 9,879,517; FILING DATE: Nov. 3, 2015 TITLE: SUBSEA LEVEL GAS SEPARATOR OF CRUDE PETROLEUM OILU.S. Pat. No. 10,871,055; FILING DATE: Jan. 30, 2018 TITLE: SUBSEA LEVEL DIVERSION OF A GAS ENTRAINMENT WITH INCORPORATED EMERGENCY MEASURES UPON A WELL BLOW OUT
