Flow Head Swivel System and Method of Use
A flow head system, comprising a one or more load diversion devices releaseably attached to a first set of components. Said one or more load diversion devices comprising a lower load diversion device releaseably attached to said first set of components. Said one or more load diversion devices attached to an offshore facility. Said one or more load diversion devices holding a load created by said first set of components. Said first set of components releaseably attached to a string of pipe. Said first set of components capable of rotating about a center axis relative to said one or more load diversion devices. Said one or more load diversion devices comprising a one or more lower load bypass devices attached to said lower load diversion device. Said well control equipment releaseably attached to said first set of components.
This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/891,893, filed on Oct. 16, 2013 (2013-10-16).
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT (IF APPLICABLE)Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX (IF APPLICABLE)Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis disclosure relates generally to a flow head system and method of use. None of the known inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant disclosure as claimed. Accordingly, an improved flow head system would be advantageous.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA flow head system, comprising a one or more load diversion devices releaseably attached to a first set of components. Said one or more load diversion devices comprising a lower load diversion device releaseably attached to said first set of components. Said one or more load diversion devices attached to an offshore facility. Said one or more load diversion devices holding a load created by said first set of components. Said first set of components releaseably attached to a string of pipe. Said first set of components capable of rotating about a center axis relative to said one or more load diversion devices. Said one or more load diversion devices comprising a one or more lower load bypass devices attached to said lower load diversion device. Said well control equipment releaseably attached to said first set of components. Said one or more load diversion devices holding a portion of said load created by said first set of components.
Described herein is a flow head system and method of use. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers' specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
In one embodiment, said flow head system 100 can comprise said first set of components 201a, said second set of components 201b, a one or more bearings or other anti-friction rotational devices, and said well control equipment 201c; wherein, said first set of components 201a and said second set of components 201b can rotate independently of one another about a center axis 203. In one embodiment, said first set of components 201a can rotate in a first direction 205a and said second set of components 201b can rotate in a second direction 205b about said center axis 203, as illustrated. Likewise, said first set of components 201a and said second set of components 201b can rotate in the same direction at different rotary speeds.
In one embodiment, said flow head system 100 can comprise a one or more load diversion devices 280 comprising a lower load diversion device 202, a one or more lower load bypass devices 204, and an upper load diversion device 208. In one embodiment, said first set of components 201a can releaseably attach to said lower load diversion device 202. In one embodiment, said one or more lower load bypass devices 204 can comprise a first bail 204a and a second bail 204b. In one embodiment, said one or more lower load bypass devices 204 can releaseably attach to said lower load diversion device 202 and to said upper load diversion device 208, as discussed below. Thus, said flow head system 100 is capable of a load on said well control equipment 201c by attaching between said lower load diversion device 202 and said upper load diversion device 208 with said one or more lower load bypass devices 204.
Further, in one embodiment, said flow head system 100 can provide vertical movement by heave compensation and rotational movement by allowing said second set of components 201b to move independently of said first set of components 201a (and therefore of said string of pipe 110). In one embodiment, said second set of components 201b can comprise any load diversion device including but not limited to elevators, pieces of a load diversion device, wire rope slings, lift frames, tension frames.
In one embodiment, said second set of components 201b can comprise said lower load diversion device 202, said one or more lower load bypass devices 204, said upper load diversion device 208, a one or more upper load bypass devices 214 (comprising a first bail 214a and a second bail 214b), and a first pressure swivel components 212 (not illustrated here, see
In one embodiment, said first set of components 201a can comprise a first pipe 206, a pressure swivel sealing element 216, a pressure swivel lower body 218, a load swivel inner body 224, and an outer lock ring 228. In one embodiment, said first set of components 201a and said second set of components 201b can rotate relative to one another on said one or more bearings (which can comprise a first bearing 220a and a second bearing 220b). In one embodiment, said first pipe 206 can go through said rig floor 112 and can attach to said string of pipe 110.
In one embodiment,
In one embodiment, said well control equipment 201c may include a surface flow head valve block, a surface tree, a valve block or other combination of valves, a BOP, a “stuffing box” or any type of equipment that could be suspended within said flow head system 100.
In one embodiment, said one or more lower load bypass devices 204 and said one or more upper load bypass devices 214 can each comprise a first eye and a second eye. For example, in one embodiment, said first bail 204a can comprise a first eye 240a and a second eye 242a; said second bail 204b can comprise a first eye 240b and a second eye 242b; said first bail 214a can comprise a first eye 244a and a second eye (not illustrated); and said second bail 214b can comprise a first eye 244b and a second eye (not illustrated). As is known in the art, said first eyes and said second eyes of said one or more lower load bypass devices 204 and said one or more upper load bypass devices 214 can releaseably attach to said lower load diversion device 202 and said one or more lower load bypass devices 204, as illustrated. For example, in one embodiment, said first bail 204a can attach to said upper load diversion device 208 with said second eye 242a and to said lower load diversion device 202 with said first eye 240a; said second bail 204b can attach to said upper load diversion device 208 with said second eye 242b and to said lower load diversion device 202 with said first eye 240b; said first bail 214a can attach to said upper load diversion device 208 with said first eye 244a; and said second bail 214b can attach to said upper load diversion device 208 with said first eye 244b.
In one embodiment, said lower load diversion device 202 can comprise a one or more ears (which can comprise a first ear 260a and a second ear 260b). In one embodiment, said one or more lower load bypass devices 204 can attach to said lower load diversion device 202 by placing a first ear 260a through said first eye 240a and said second ear 260b through said first eye 240b. Likewise, in one embodiment, said upper load diversion device 208 can comprise a one or more ears (which can comprise a first ear 262a and a second ear 262b). In one embodiment, said one or more lower load bypass devices 204 can attach to said upper load diversion device 208 by placing said first ear 262a through said second eye 242a and said second ear 262b through said second eye 242b.
Alternatively, said lower load diversion device 202 and/or said upper load diversion device 208 can implemented without said one or more ears. For example, in one embodiment, said one or more lower load bypass devices 204 can attach to said lower load diversion device 202 and/or said upper load diversion device 208 with a bolt, a weld, a pin or other devices, as is known in the art.
In one embodiment, said first set of components 201a can comprise a load 290 pulling down on said flow head system 100; wherein, said one or more load diversion devices 280 can support a majority of said load 290 and thereby protect and facilitate maintenance on said well control equipment 201c.
Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”
Claims
1. A flow head system, comprising:
- a one or more load diversion devices releaseably attached to a first set of components;
- said one or more load diversion devices comprising a lower load diversion device releaseably attached to said first set of components;
- said one or more load diversion devices attached to an offshore facility;
- said one or more load diversion devices holding a load created by said first set of components;
- said first set of components releaseably attached to a string of pipe;
- said first set of components capable of rotating about a center axis relative to said one or more load diversion devices;
- said one or more load diversion devices comprising a one or more lower load bypass devices attached to said lower load diversion device;
- said well control equipment releaseably attached to said first set of components; and
- said one or more load diversion devices holding a portion of said load created by said first set of components.
2. The flow head system of claim 1, further comprising:
- said lower load diversion device comprises a center aperture;
- a portion of said first set of components fits through said center aperture of said lower load diversion device; and
- said first set of components rotates in and relative to said lower load diversion device.
3. The flow head system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first bearing between said lower load diversion device and said first set of components; and
- said first set of components sit upon a first bearing and rotate about said center axis on said first bearing.
4. The flow head system of claim 1, further comprising:
- said one or more load diversion devices comprises said lower load diversion device, an upper load diversion device, and said one or more lower load bypass devices; and
- said one or more lower load bypass devices comprise a first bail and a second bail.
5. The flow head system of claim 4, further comprising:
- each of said one or more lower load bypass devices comprise a first eye and a second eye;
- said lower load diversion device comprises a one or more ears;
- said upper load diversion device comprises a one or more ears;
- each of said first eyes fit over a portion of said one or more ears of said lower load diversion device; and
- each of said second eyes fit over a portion of said one or more ears of said upper load diversion device.
6. The flow head system of claim 4, further comprising:
- said one or more lower load bypass devices are welded to said lower load diversion device and said upper load diversion device.
7. The flow head system of claim 4, further comprising:
- said one or more lower load bypass devices are arranged so as to allow said well control equipment to freely rotate within said one or more load diversion devices.
8. The flow head system of claim 4, further comprising:
- a one or more upper load bypass devices;
- said lower load diversion device is attached to said upper load diversion device with said one or more lower load bypass devices; and
- said upper load diversion device is attached to said offshore facility with said one or more upper load bypass devices.
9. A method of using a flow head system, comprising:
- bypassing a load from a first set of components with a one or more load diversion devices; wherein,
- said one or more load diversion devices releaseably attached to said first set of components;
- said one or more load diversion devices comprising a lower load diversion device releaseably attached to said first set of components;
- said one or more load diversion devices attached to an offshore facility;
- said one or more load diversion devices holding said load created by said first set of components;
- said first set of components releaseably attached to a string of pipe;
- said first set of components capable of rotating about a center axis relative to said one or more load diversion devices;
- said one or more load diversion devices comprising a one or more lower load bypass devices attached to said lower load diversion device;
- said well control equipment releaseably attached to said first set of components; and
- said one or more load diversion devices holding a portion of said load created by said first set of components.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 16, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 16, 2015
Inventor: Robert Cole Bridges (Mandeville, LA)
Application Number: 14/516,578
International Classification: E21B 33/035 (20060101); E21B 19/00 (20060101);