Stripping and blow-out preventer device

Claim 2

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in drilling, stripping and production well operations, the combination of: stationary housing means comprising an enlarged axially extending chamber having a top opening provided with a top inclined landing surface and a reduced coaxially aligned bottom opening provided with a bottom inclined landing surface; a blow out preventer unit releasably mounted in said enlarged chamber in coaxial relation therewith and including stationary top and bottom means having faces cooperable with said top and bottom landing surfaces for positioning said unit in said enlarged chamber; a rotatable assembly antifrictionally mounted between said top and bottom stationary positioning means and including a rotatable housing; a resilient seal member cooperable with said rotatable housing and having an axial passageway adapted to radially contract to close said passageway; and means movable axially of said chamber for selectively applying pressure to said resilient seal member to close flow of resilient material of said seal member to selectively close said passageway including gripping a well tool in the passageway for rotation of the seal member therewith.

Claim 3

A blow out preventer construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said means for applying pressure to said resilient seal member includes a rotatable follower means for said resilient seal member; and a nonrotatable piston means for actuating the follower means.

Claim 4

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in drilling, stripping and production well operations, the combination of: stationary housing means comprising an enlarged axially extending chamber having a top opening and a reduced coaxially aligned bottom opening; a blow out preventer unit releasably mounted in said enlarged chamber in coaxial relation therewith and including stationary top and bottom means for landing and positioning said unit in said enlarged chamber; a rotatable assembly antifrictionally mounted between said top and bottom stationary landing means and including a rotatable housing; a resilient seal member cooperable with said housing and having an axial passageway adapted to radially contract to close said passageway; means movable axially of said chamber for selectively applying pressure to said resilient seal member to cause flow of resilient material of said seal member to selectively close said passageway including gripping a well tool in the passageway for rotation of the seal member therewith; releasable top and bottom lock pin means carried by said stationary housing cooperable with said top and bottom stationary means of said blow out preventer unit; and means for releasing said top lock pin means from a remote location whereby said blow out preventer unit is releasable from said stationary housing.

Claim 5

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in drilling, stripping and production well operations, the combination of: stationary housing means comprising an enlarged axially extending chamber having a top opening and a reduced coaxially aligned bottom opening; a blow out preventer unit releasably mounted in said enlarged chamber in coaxial relation therewith and including stationary top and bottom means for landing and positioning said unit in said enlarged chamber; a rotatable assembly antifrictionally mounted between said top and bottom stationary landing means and including a rotatable housing; a resilient seal member cooperable with said housing and having an axial passageway adapted to radially contract to close said passageway; means movable axially of said chamber for selectively applying pressure to said resilient seal member to cause flow of resilient material of said seal member to selectively close said passageway including gripping a well tool in the passageway for rotation of the seal member therewith; releasable top and bottom lock pin means carried by said stationary housing cooperable with said top and bottom stationary means of said blow out preventer unit; and means for releasing said top lock pin means from a remote location whereby said blow out preventer unit is releasable from said stationary housing.

Claim 6

A construction as stated in claim 4 wherein said means for selectively applying pressure includes: piston means in an annular space defined by said sleeve member and said stationary housing and axially slidably movable along said sleeve member and said housing.

Claim 7

A construction as stated in claim 5 wherein said means for selectively applying pressure includes: follower means providing a seat for said resilient seal member and slidably sealingly engaging said sleeve member and said rotatable housing.

Claim 8

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in drilling, stripping and production well operations, the combination of: stationary housing means comprising an enlarged axially extending chamber having a top opening and a reduced coaxially aligned bottom opening; a blow out preventer unit releasably mounted in said enlarged chamber in coaxial relation therewith and including stationary top and bottom means for landing and positioning said unit in said enlarged chamber, a rotatable assembly antifrictionally mounted between said top and bottom stationary landing means and including a rotatable housing, a resilient seal member cooperable with said housing and having an axial passageway adapted to radially contract to close said passageway; means movable axially of said chamber for selectively applying pressure to said resilient seal member to cause flow of resilient material of said seal member to selectively close said passageway including gripping a well tool in the passageway for rotation of the seal member therewith; said bottom stationary landing means including an axial sleeve member within said stationary housing cooperable with said means for applying pressure for guiding said pressure applying means during axial movement thereof; and retainer means on said sleeve member seated on said stationary housing adjacent its bottom opening.

Claim 9

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in drilling, stripping and production well operations, the combination of: stationary housing means comprising an enlarged axially extending chamber having a top opening and a reduced coaxially aligned bottom opening; a blow out preventer unit releasably mounted in said enlarged chamber in coaxial relation therewith and including stationary top and bottom means for landing and positioning said unit in said enlarged chamber, a rotatable assembly antifrictionally mounted between said top and bottom stationary landing means and including a rotatable housing, a resilient seal member cooperable with said housing and having an axial passageway adapted to radially contract to close said passageway; means movable axially of said chamber for selectively applying pressure to said resilient seal member to cause flow of resilient material of said seal member to selectively close said passageway including gripping a well tool in the passageway for rotation of the seal member therewith; said bottom stationary landing means including an axial sleeve member within said stationary housing cooperable with said means for applying pressure for guiding said pressure applying means during axial movement thereof; and retainer means on said sleeve member seated on said stationary housing adjacent its bottom opening.

Claim 10

A construction as stated in claim 4 including bearing means positioned between said piston means and said follower means.

Claim 11

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in well operations, the combination of: stationary housing means comprising an enlarged axially extending chamber having a top opening provided with a top inclined landing surface and a coaxially aligned bottom opening provided with a bottom inclined landing surface; a blow out preventer unit mounted in said enlarged chamber in coaxial relation therewith and having landing faces cooperable with said top and bottom landing surfaces; said blow out preventer unit including a rotatable assembly mounted for rotation in said chamber; said rotatable assembly including a rotatable housing; a resilient seal member rotatable with said housing and having an axial passageway adapted to radially contract to close said passageway; and means movable axially of said chamber for radially contracting said resilient seal member to cause flow of said resilient material against a well tool in said passageway for frictionally gripping said tool, whereby gripping of said tool prior to and during rotation thereof and imparting rotation to the resilient seal member upon rotation of the well tool avoids slippage therebetween and reduces wear of the resilient member.

Claim 12

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in well operations, the combination of: stationary housing means comprising an enlarged axially extending chamber having a top opening provided with a top inclined landing surface and a coaxially aligned bottom opening provided with a bottom inclined landing surface; a blow out preventer unit mounted in said enlarged chamber in coaxial relation therewith and having landing faces cooperable with said top and bottom landing surfaces; said blow out preventer unit including a rotatable assembly mounted for rotation in said chamber; said rotatable assembly including a rotatable housing; a resilient seal member rotatable with said housing and having an axial passageway adapted to radially contract to close said passageway; and means movable axially of said chamber for radially contracting said resilient seal member to cause flow of said resilient material against a well tool in said passageway for frictionally gripping said tool, whereby gripping of said tool prior to and during rotation thereof and imparting rotation to the resilient seal member upon rotation of the well tool avoids slippage therebetween and reduces wear of the resilient member.

Claim 13

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in well operations, the combination of: a stationary housing means provided with a top landing surface and a bottom landing surface and having an axially extending chamber between said surfaces; a rotatable blow out preventer unit within said chamber; retaining means landed on said top landing surface; a stationary bearing means between one end of said rotatable unit and said retaining means; axially movable means at the other end of said rotatable unit; a bearing means carried by said axially movable means and rotatably supporting the other end of said rotatable unit; guide means carried on said bottom landing surface and cooperable with said axially movable means; said blow out preventer unit including a resilient seal member flowable radially inwardly upon axial movement of said movable means in one direction.

Claim 14

In a rotary blow out preventer construction for use in well operations, the combination of: a stationary housing means provided with a top landing surface and a bottom landing surface and having an axially extending chamber between said surfaces; a rotatable blow out preventer unit within said chamber; retaining means landed on said top landing surface; a stationary bearing means between one end of said rotatable unit and said retaining means; axially movable means at the other end of said rotatable unit; a bearing means carried by said axially movable means and rotatably supporting the other end of said rotatable unit; guide means carried on said bottom landing surface and cooperable with said axially movable means; said blow out preventer unit including a resilient seal member flowable radially inwardly upon axial movement of said movable means in one direction.

Claim 15

In a blow out preventer construction as stated in claim 9 wherein said axially movable means includes a nonrotatable piston means supporting said last mentioned bearing means; and a rotatable follower means for said resilient seal member supportEd on said last mentioned bearing means.

Claim 16

In a blow out preventer construction for use in drilling, stripping and production well operations and retaining control of well fluids under repair conditions comprising the combination of: a external stationary housing means including an enlarged upper blowout preventer chamber and a lower blow out preventer chamber; means between said chambers for passage of well fluid from said housing means; a rotatable blow out preventer unit landed on and carried by said stationary housing means in said upper chamber; a nonrotatable blow out preventer unit carried by said stationary housing means in said lower chamber; said blow out preventer units and said housing being provided with an axial through passageway for a pipe string.

Claim 17

In a blow out preventer construction for use in drilling, stripping and production well operations and retaining control of well fluids under repair conditions comprising the combination of: a external stationary housing means including an enlarged upper blowout preventer chamber and a lower blow out preventer chamber; means between said chambers for passage of well fluid from said housing means; a rotatable blow out preventer unit landed on and carried by said stationary housing means in said upper chamber; a nonrotatable blow out preventer unit carried by said stationary housing means in said lower chamber; said blow out preventer units and said housing being provided with an axial through passageway for a pipe string.