Method and apparatus for use in drilling a well

Claim 2

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a wellhead member having a bore therethrough, a lower service line having an upper end mounted to one side of the wellhead member, a riser pipe, means for releasably connecting the lower end of the riser pipe and upper end of the wellhead member in axial alignment with one another, an upper service line carried by the riser pipe and having a lower end connected to the riser pipe for vertical movement and rotation with respect to the lower end of said riser pipe, means rotatable with the lower end of the upper service line for engaging means on said wellhead member to fix their relative rotational positions, when said riser pipe is connected to the wellhead member and said lower end is rotated into a position relative to said member in which it is axially aligned with the upper end of the lower service line, and means on the upper and lower ends of the service lines for connecting them with one another upon lowering of the lower end of said upper service line to the upper end of said lower service line.

Claim 3

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1, including a funnel supported by the riser pipe for guiding the lower end thereof into approximate axial alignment with said wellhead member as it is lowered into position for connection therewith.

Claim 4

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a wellhead member having a bore therethrough, a lower service line having an upper end connected to one side of the wellhead member, a riSer pipe having upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, means for releasably connecting the lower riser pipe section and wellhead member in axial alignment, an upper service line having a lower end connected to the upper riser pipe section to one side thereof, means carried by said riser pipe for engagement with means on said wellhead member to fix the rotational position of the upper section of said riser pipe relative to said member when the lower section is connected to the wellhead member and said upper section is rotated into a position relative to said member in which the lower end of said upper service line is axially aligned with the upper end of said lower service line, and means on said upper and lower ends of the service lines for connecting said lines with one another upon lowering of said upper riser pipe section relative to said lower riser pipe section and wellhead member.

Claim 5

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a wellhead member having a bore therethrough, a lower service line having an upper end connected to one side of the wellhead member, a riSer pipe having upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, means for releasably connecting the lower riser pipe section and wellhead member in axial alignment, an upper service line having a lower end connected to the upper riser pipe section to one side thereof, means carried by said riser pipe for engagement with means on said wellhead member to fix the rotational position of the upper section of said riser pipe relative to said member when the lower section is connected to the wellhead member and said upper section is rotated into a position relative to said member in which the lower end of said upper service line is axially aligned with the upper end of said lower service line, and means on said upper and lower ends of the service lines for connecting said lines with one another upon lowering of said upper riser pipe section relative to said lower riser pipe section and wellhead member.

Claim 6

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3, including a funnel supported by the riser pipe for guiding the lower riser pipe section into approximate axial alignment with said wellhead member as it is lowered into position for connection therewith.

Claim 7

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 4, wherein the funnel is connected to the upper riser pipe section for rotation therewith, and the engageable means carried by the riser pipe is mounted on the funnel.

Claim 8

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a wellhead member having a bore therethrough, a lower service line having an upper end connected to one side of the wellhead member, a riser pipe having upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, means for releasably connecting the lower riser pipe section and the wellhead member in axial alignment, an upper service line having a lower end connected to the upper riser pipe section to one side thereof, a first orienting part on the wellhead member, a second orienting part, means connecting the second orienting part to the lower riser pipe section for vertical movement therewith and to the upper riser pipe section for rotation therewith and vertical movement with respect thereto, so that when the lower section is connected to the wellhead member and said upper section is rotated into a position relative to said member in which the lower end of said upper service line is axially aligned with the upper end of said lower service line, said second part will engage said first part to fix said position of said upper section, and means on said upper and lower ends of the service lines for connecting said lines with one another upon lowering of said upper section relative to said lower section and wellhead member.

Claim 9

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a wellhead member having a bore therethrough, a lower service line having an upper end connected to one side of the wellhead member, a riser pipe having upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, means for releasably connecting the lower riser pipe section and the wellhead member in axial alignment, an upper service line having a lower end connected to the upper riser pipe section to one side thereof, a first orienting part on the wellhead member, a second orienting part, means connecting the second orienting part to the lower riser pipe section for vertical movement therewith and to the upper riser pipe section for rotation therewith and vertical movement with respect thereto, so that when the lower section is connected to the wellhead member and said upper section is rotated into a position relative to said member in which the lower end of said upper service line is axially aligned with the upper end of said lower service line, said second part will engage said first part to fix said position of said upper section, and means on said upper and lower ends of the service lines for connecting said lines with one another upon lowering of said upper section relative to said lower section and wellhead member.

Claim 10

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 6, wherein said means connecting the second orienting part to the lower riser pipe section includes means fixedly connecting it to the lower riser pipe section for rotation therewith, and said means connecting said lower riser pipe section and wellhead member includes a connector rotatably connected to said lower section.

Claim 11

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 6, wherein one of said orienting parts is a ring having a notch therein and the other is a spring-pressed lug for closely fitting within said notch.

Claim 12

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 6, wherein said connecting means includes a funnel fixedly connected to the lower riser pipe section for guiding the lower riser pipe section into axial alignment with said wellhead member as it is lowered into position for connection therewith.

Claim 13

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a blowout preventer stack, lower service lines connected to the stack and having their upper ends each connected to the stack to one side thereof, a riser pipe including upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, means for releasably connecting the lower riser pipe section and stack in axial alignment with one another, upper service lines carried by the riser with their lower ends each connected to the upper riser pipe section to one side thereof, means carried by said riser pipe for engagement with means on said stack to fix the rotational position of said upper section relative to said member, when the lower section is connected to the wellhead member and said upper section is rotated into a position relative to said member in which the lower ends of said upper service lines are axially aligned with the upper ends of said lower service lines, and means on said upper and lower ends of the service lines for connecting them with one another upon lowering said upper section relative to said lower section and stack.

Claim 14

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a blowout preventer stack, lower service lines connected to the stack and having their upper ends each connected to the stack to one side thereof, a riser pipe including upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, means for releasably connecting the lower riser pipe section and stack in axial alignment with one another, upper service lines carried by the riser with their lower ends each connected to the upper riser pipe section to one side thereof, means carried by said riser pipe for engagement with means on said stack to fix the rotational position of said upper section relative to said member, when the lower section is connected to the wellhead member and said upper section is rotated into a position relative to said member in which the lower ends of said upper service lines are axially aligned with the upper ends of said lower service lines, and means on said upper and lower ends of the service lines for connecting them with one another upon lowering said upper section relative to said lower section and stack.

Claim 15

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a riser pipe having upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, a connector on the lower section, an upper service line carried by the riser pipe with its lower end connected to the upper section to one side thereof, an orienting part, means carrying the orienting part from the riser pipe for vertical movement with said lower riser pipe section and for rotation with and vertical movement relative to the upper riser pipe section, and connector means on the lower end of the upper service line.

Claim 16

Wellhead apparatus, comprising a riser pipe having upper and lower sections arranged for telescoping relative to one another, a connector on the lower section, an upper service line carried by the riser pipe with its lower end connected to the upper section to one side thereof, an orienting part, means carrying the orienting part from the riser pipe for vertical movement with said lower riser pipe section and for rotation with and vertical movement relative to the upper riser pipe section, and connector means on the lower end of the upper service line.

Claim 17

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 11, wherein said carrying means is fixedly connected to the lower riser pipe section, and said connector is rotatably mounted on said lower section.

Claim 18

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 12, wherein said carrying means includes a downwardly facing, conically shaped guide funnel about the lower end of the connector.

Claim 19

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 13, wherein said orienting part is on the inner side of the guide funnel.

Claim 20

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 14, wherein said orienting part comprises an inwardly spring-pressed lug.

Claim 21

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 12, including a frame on the riser pipe including a vertical post, and means connecting the lower end of said upper service line to the post, said carrying means including a sleeve vertically slidable over said post.

Claim 22

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 11, wherein the upper riser pipe section includes a ball joint, said upper service line is flexible and clamped to said upper section above the ball joint.

Claim 23

Wellhead apparatus of the character set forth in claim 11, including means providing a chamber between the upper and lower riser pipe sections to which pressure fluid may be introduced for moving said upper section vertically with respect to the lower section.

Claim 26

A method of the character set forth in claim 19, wherein said wellhead member is a blowout preventer stack, and said lower service line connects to the stack.

Claim 27

A method of the character set forth in claim 19, wherein a funnel is supported from the riser pipe in a position to engage the wellhead member when so moved so as to guide the lower end of the riser pipe into approximate alignment with the upper end of the wellhead member.

Claim 30

A method of the character set forth in claim 22, wherein an orienting part is supported on the riser pipe and in position to move into engagement with a complementary orienting part on the wellhead member, and thereby fix the lower end of said upper service line in said position, upon rotation of said upper riser pipe section.

Claim 31

A method of the character set forth in claim 22, wherein said wellhead member is a blowout preventer stack, and said lower service line connects to the stack.