US3738424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for controlling offshore petroleum wells during blowout conditions
Assignee: Big Three Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-14
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-06-14
Abstract
Abstract Method for controlling petroleum wells, particularly those offshore, during blowout conditions, wherein special drillthrough valves are externally mounted on a well casing at longitudinally spaced locations, and wherein openings are drilled or are otherwise formed through the wall of the casing at such valves to the area around or internally of the production tubing string so that various control operations may be performed, including for example, introducing liquid nitrogen and causing it to flow inwardly through one of said valves and out of the other of said valves for freezing a section of the petroleum, water and other material internally of the production string to form a temporary frozen plug which closes off fluid flow upwardly in the production string.
Inventors
- 👤 D Osmun
- 👤 C Johnson
- 👤 R Plummer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:52
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B36/00; E21B36/001; E21B29/00; E21B29/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of controlling petroleum wells during blowout conditions wherein the well has one or more well casings and a production tubing string disposed internally of the casings, comprising the steps of: mounting an upper valve and a lower valve in longitudinally spaced relationship on the external surface of the outermost well casing; making a hole for each valve through the wall of the well casing for communicating the tubing annulus around a production string with each of the valves; and thereafter manipulating said valves for controlling fluid flow between said tubing annulus and said valves.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of controlling petroleum wells during blowout conditions wherein the well has one or more well casings and a production tubing string disposed internally of the casings, comprising the steps of: mounting an upper valve and a lower valve in longitudinally spaced relationship on the external surface of the outermost well casing; making a hole for each valve through the wall of the well casing for communicating the tubing annulus around a production string with each of the valves; and thereafter manipulating said valves for controlling fluid flow between said tubing annulus and said valves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 1, including: circulating liquid nitrogen in said tubing annulus and through said valves for freezing the materials in a section of said production string exposed thereto to thereby form a frozen plug closing off upward fluid flow in said production string.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method set forth in claim 1, including: making the hole for each valve extend through the wall of said production tubing; and thereafter introducing fluid into the production string for controlling the flow of fluid therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method set forth in claim 1, including: making the hole for each valve extend through the wall of said production tubing; and thereafter opening at least one of said valves for discharging fluid from the production string to the area externally of the outermost casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein: said valves are mounted on the outermost well casing below the waterline in an offshore well; and said hole for each valve is drilled through the well casing after each valve is mounted on the outermost well casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the well has at least one outer casing and an inner production casing with a casing annulus therebetween, including: initially making said hole for each valve through the wall of the outer casing and into communication with said casing annulus; forcing a flowable hardenable material through at least one of said valves for sealing off said casing annulus to a point above the upper valve, and allowing such material to harden; and thereafter making the holes for each valve through the hardened material and said production casing into said tubing annulus for thereby communicating said tubing annulus with each of said valves, whereby subsequent well control operations may be performed by said manipulating of said valves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 6, including: circulating liquid nitrogen in said tubing annulus and through said valves for freezing the materials in a section of said production string exposed thereto to thereby form a frozen plug closing off upward fluid flow in said production string.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method set forth in claim 1, including the step of: including a Tubing section in said production tubing string having a plurality of radially mounted disks thereon which are longitudinally spaced throughout the length thereof; and positioning said valves and said holes in the casing in proximity to said tubing section for facilitating the freezing of the materials within said tubing section upon the circulation of liquid nitrogen in proximity thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method set forth in claim 7, including the step of: circulating liquid nitrogen in said tubing annulus in the area of said disks of the tubing section and through said valves for freezing the materials in said tubing section to thereby form a frozen plug closing off upward fluid flow in said production string.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of controlling petroleum wells during blowout conditions wherein the well has one or more well casings and a production tubing string disposed internally of the casings, comprising the steps of: mounting a valve on the external surface of the outermost well casing; making a hole for the valve through the wall of the well casing for communicating the tubing annulus around a production string with the valve; and thereafter introducing liquid nitrogen through the valve for freezing the materials in a section of said production string exposed thereto to form a frozen plug closing off upward fluid flow in said production string.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of controlling petroleum wells during blowout conditions wherein the well has one or more well casings and a production tubing string disposed internally of the casings, comprising the steps of: mounting a valve on the external surface of the outermost well casing; making a hole for the valve through the wall of the well casing for communicating the tubing annulus around a production string with the valve; and thereafter introducing liquid nitrogen through the valve for freezing the materials in a section of said production string exposed thereto to form a frozen plug closing off upward fluid flow in said production string.
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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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |