US3677352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Blowout prevention apparatus for subaqueous drilling
Assignee: Santa Fe International Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-20
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-04-20
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus includes a vessel carrying a derrick and composite main electric and hydraulic draw works, each being dead ended to the other. In normal operations, the main draw works is employed to raise and lower the drill string with the anchor line dead ended to the hydraulic draw works. When a ''''kick'''' or other abnormality in the well occurs and the blowout preventors are actuated, the drill string is lowered such that a tool joint rests on the blowout preventer rams. The hydraulic draw works is then actuated and provides a constant tension on the drill string whereby the rams support the drill string below the rams and the hydraulic draw works supports the drill string above the rams. The constant tension hydraulic draw works precludes relative motion between the drill string and the ram heads which motion would otherwise occur due to vessel motion.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel H Lloyd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:56
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/06; E21B33/064; E21B19/00; E21B19/08; E21B19/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for preventing a blowout in subaqueous drilling oPerations from a floating vessel subject to heave motions wherein a drill string depends from the vessel through a blowout preventer disposed adjacent the land-water interface, the blowout preventer having seals for sealing about the drill string comprising the steps of engaging the blowout preventer seals in sealing relation about the drill string, supporting the portion of the drill string below the blowout preventer from adjacent the land-water interface and applying a substantially constant tension to the portion of the drill string between the blowout preventer and the vessel to support said latter drill string portion from the vessel and to substantially preclude movement of the drill string relative to the blowout preventer seals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for preventing a blowout in subaqueous drilling oPerations from a floating vessel subject to heave motions wherein a drill string depends from the vessel through a blowout preventer disposed adjacent the land-water interface, the blowout preventer having seals for sealing about the drill string comprising the steps of engaging the blowout preventer seals in sealing relation about the drill string, supporting the portion of the drill string below the blowout preventer from adjacent the land-water interface and applying a substantially constant tension to the portion of the drill string between the blowout preventer and the vessel to support said latter drill string portion from the vessel and to substantially preclude movement of the drill string relative to the blowout preventer seals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the drill string has an enlarged diameter portion and including the step of lowering the drill string such that its enlarged diameter portion rests on said blowout preventer to support the lower portion of the drill string from the blowout preventer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes drawworks carried by said vessel for supporting the entire length of drill string during normal drilling operations, and a constant tensioning device for supporting the portion of the drill string between the blowout preventer and the vessel and including the stop of actuating the constant tensioning device and deactivating the draw works when the lower portion of the drill string is supported adjacent the blowout preventer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A blowout preventing system for subaqueous drilling from a vessel subject to heave motions comprising: a drill string, means on said vessel for effecting drilling operations including a drawworks for supporting said drill string from the vessel, a blowout preventer adjacent the land-water interface and including preventer heads for sealing about said drill string, said blowout preventer being adapted to support the portion of the drill string below said blowout preventer when said preventer heads seal about said drill string, and means carried by the vessel for supporting the portion of said drill string between the vessel and said blowout preventer including means for applying a constant tension to said latter drill string whereby wear on the preventer heads when sealed about said drill string is substantially precluded, and wherein said drawworks is electrically actuated and said constant tensioning means is fluid actuated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
A blowout preventing system for subaqueous drilling from a vessel subject to heave motions comprising: a drill string, means on said vessel for effecting drilling operations including a drawworks for supporting said drill string from the vessel, a blowout preventer adjacent the land-water interface and including preventer heads for sealing about said drill string, said blowout preventer being adapted to support the portion of the drill string below said blowout preventer when said preventer heads seal about said drill string, and means carried by the vessel for supporting the portion of said drill string between the vessel and said blowout preventer including means for applying a constant tension to said latter drill string whereby wear on the preventer heads when sealed about said drill string is substantially precluded, and wherein said drawworks is electrically actuated and said constant tensioning means is fluid actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
203 words
A blowout preventing system for subaqueous drilling from a vessel subject to heave motions comprising: a drill string, means on said vessel for effecting drilling operations including a drawworks for supporting said drill string from the vessel, a blowout preventer adjacent the land-water interface and including preventer heads for sealing about said drill string, said blowout preventer being adapted to support the portion of the drill string below said blowout preventer when said preventer heads seal about said drill string, and means carried by the vessel for supporting the portion of said drill string between the vessel and said blowout preventer including means for applying a constant tension to said latter drill string whereby wear on the preventer heads when sealed about said drill string is substantially precluded, said constant tensioning means including a reel and a line coupled to said reel and said drill string for raising and lowering said drill string relative to the vessel, said constant tension means being responsive to vessel heave motion induced variations in the load of the drill string portion between the vessel and said preventer heads from a predetermined load on said reel to operate said reel in a direction to obtain said predetermined load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
203 words
A blowout preventing system for subaqueous drilling from a vessel subject to heave motions comprising: a drill string, means on said vessel for effecting drilling operations including a drawworks for supporting said drill string from the vessel, a blowout preventer adjacent the land-water interface and including preventer heads for sealing about said drill string, said blowout preventer being adapted to support the portion of the drill string below said blowout preventer when said preventer heads seal about said drill string, and means carried by the vessel for supporting the portion of said drill string between the vessel and said blowout preventer including means for applying a constant tension to said latter drill string whereby wear on the preventer heads when sealed about said drill string is substantially precluded, said constant tensioning means including a reel and a line coupled to said reel and said drill string for raising and lowering said drill string relative to the vessel, said constant tension means being responsive to vessel heave motion induced variations in the load of the drill string portion between the vessel and said preventer heads from a predetermined load on said reel to operate said reel in a direction to obtain said predetermined load.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
A blowout preventing system for subaqueous drilling from a vessel subject to heave motions comprising: a drill string, means on said vessel for effecting drilling operations including a drawworks for supporting said drill string from the vessel, a blowout preventer adjacEnt the land-water interface and including preventer heads for sealing about said drill string, said blowout preventer being adapted to support the portion of the drill string below said blowout preventer when said preventer heads seal about said drill string, and means carried by the vessel for supporting the portion of said drill string between the vessel and said blowout preventer including means for applying a constant tension to said latter drill string whereby wear on the preventer heads when sealed about said drill string is substantially precluded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A blowout preventing system for subaqueous drilling from a vessel subject to heave motions comprising: a drill string, means on said vessel for effecting drilling operations including a drawworks for supporting said drill string from the vessel, a blowout preventer adjacEnt the land-water interface and including preventer heads for sealing about said drill string, said blowout preventer being adapted to support the portion of the drill string below said blowout preventer when said preventer heads seal about said drill string, and means carried by the vessel for supporting the portion of said drill string between the vessel and said blowout preventer including means for applying a constant tension to said latter drill string whereby wear on the preventer heads when sealed about said drill string is substantially precluded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drill string includes an enlarged diameter portion, said enlarged portion resting on said blowout preventer heads when the latter are sealed about said drill string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said drawworks includes a reel and a line coupled to said reel and said drill string for raising and lowering said drill string relative to the vessel, said constant tension means including a constant tensioning fluid actuated cylinder coupled to said line, a releasable brake interposed in said line between said constant tensioning fluid cylinder and said drill string for deadending said line when said drawworks is operable to raise and lower said drill string, and means coupling said cylinder to the vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said drawworks includes a reel and a line coupled to said reel and said drill string for raising and lowering said drill string relative to the vessel, said constant tension means including a second reel coupled to said line and being responsive to vessel heave motion induced variations in the load of the drill string portion between the vessel and said preventer heads from a predetermined load on said second reel to operate said second reel in a direction to obtain said predetermined load.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 including a brake for said second reel for deadending said line when said first mentioned reel is operable to raise and lower said drill string.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 including a brake for said first mentioned reel for deadening said line when said second reel is operable.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |