Vent line system

Claim 2

A diverting system for directing drilling fluid away from a drilling rig in the event of a kick while drilling a well, the system comprising, a drilling conduit through which the drilling fluid returns to the drilling rig, an uninterruptible vent line, a flow diverter means connected to said drilling conduit and to one end of said vent line for directing drilling fluid to said vent line in the event of a kick in the well, two uninterruptible deflect lines directed in different directions away from the drilling rig, and deflecting means connected to one end of each of said two deflect lines and to the other end of said vent line for directing fluid in said vent line to at least one of said two deflect lines while assuring against inadvertent simultaneous closure of said two deflect lines.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein the deflecting means comprises, first and second deflect lines, a housing having three external ports, one of the ports being connected to the vent line, a second one of the ports being connected to the first deflect line, and a third one of the ports being connected to the second deflect line, and a rotary sleeve in the housing having its bore coaxially aligned with the port connected to the vent line and adapted for rotation between a first position where a first sleeve outlet is aligned with the housing port connected to the first deflect line and a second position where a second sleeve outlet is aligned with the housing port connected to the second deflect line.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein the deflecting means further comprises, a removable target means disposed at the opposite end from the port connected to the vent line, the target means being constructed of an erosion resistant material.

Claim 5

The system of claim 2 further comprising actuating means for rotating the rotary sleeve between the first and second positions.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein the deflecting means comprises, a tubular "T" connecting element, where the outlets of the connecting element are connected respectively to said two deflect lines and the inlet of the connecting element is connected to the outlet of the vent line, and a deflecting element means disposed in the connecting element for directing flow from the inlet of the connecting element to at least one of the outlets of the connecting element.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein the deflecting element means comprises an element disposed between the outlets of the connecting element and adapted for angular rotation from a first position, where flow from the vent line via the inlet of the connecting element is directed by the element to a first connecting element outlet, to a second position, where flow from the vent line is directed by the element to a second connecting element outlet.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein the deflecting element means comprises an element disposed between the outlets of the connecting element and adapted for linear movement from a first position, where flow from the vent line via the inlet of the connecting element is directed by the element to a first connecting element outlet, to a second position, where flow from the vent line is directed by the element to a second connecting element outlet.

Claim 9

A diverting system for directing drilling fluid away from a drilling rig in the event of a kick while drilling a well, the system comprising, a drilling conduit through which the drilling fluid returns to the drilling rig, an uninterruptible vent line, a flow diverter means connected to said drilling conduit and to one end of said vent line for directing drilling fluid to said vent line in the event of a kick in the well, said flow diverter means having a means for controlling flow of fluid through said vent line, two uninterruptible deflect lines directed away from the drilling rig, and deflecting means connected to one end of each of said two deflect lines and to the other end of said vent line for directing fluid in said vent line to at least one of said two deflect lines while assuring against inadvertent simultaneous closure of said two deflect lines.

Claim 10

A diverting system for directing drilling fluid away from a drilling rig in the event of a kick while drilling a well, the system comprising, a drilling conduit through which the drilling fluid returns to the drilling rig, an uninterruptible vent line, a flow diverter means connected to said drilling conduit and to one end of said vent line for directing drilling fluid to said vent line in the event of a kick in the well, said flow diverter means having a means for controlling flow of fluid through said vent line, two uninterruptible deflect lines directed away from the drilling rig, and deflecting means connected to one end of each of said two deflect lines and to the other end of said vent line for directing fluid in said vent line to at least one of said two deflect lines while assuring against inadvertent simultaneous closure of said two deflect lines.