APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTAINING FLUID OR GAS RELEASED FROM A PIPE
An apparatus and method is provided for containing fluid or gas that is released when two adjoining sections of pipe are disconnected. The apparatus can comprise two or more arcuate sections hinged together to form a generally cylindrical or tubular containment chute that can be releasably enclosed around a pipe joint. Latching mechanisms can hold the apparatus around the pipe joint. The apparatus can have one or more sealing members at each end of the containment chute that engage the pipe above and below the pipe joint so that the pipe joint is completely enclosed and sealed off. A spout located on the sidewall of the apparatus allows fluid or gas that is released when the pipe joint is broken to flow from the apparatus through the spout into a hose connected to the spout, whereby the hose can divert the fluid or gas to a receptacle or container.
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The present disclosure is related to the field of mud cans, also known as “Kelly cans”, in particular, tubular enclosures for directing fluid or gas released when a threaded joint is disconnected between adjoining drilling pipe sections or between a Kelly and a pipe section.
BACKGROUNDDuring the drilling of a well, drilling fluid is pumped down a hollow drill string and through the drill bit attached thereon. The drill string consists of a plurality of joined sections of pipe. The drilling fluid is pumped down the drill string using a device known as a “Kelly”. The Kelly is attached to the top of the drill string and is a connected to a source of pressurized drilling fluid via a hose. The Kelly is configured to allow the drill string to rotate when drilling the well while the hose remains generally stationary. Pressurized drilling fluid is, thus, pumped through Kelly into the drill string during drilling operations.
The drilling fluid serves to carry cuttings produced by the drill bit to the surface in the space between the drill string and the walls of the well hole being drilled. This space is often referred to as the “annulus”. The drilling fluid also creates a hydrostatic pressure in the annulus that prevents produced substances from blowing out of the well.
The process of removing the drill string from the well consists of raising the drill string out of the well and disconnecting one or more sections of joined pipe from the drill string. This process is often referred to as “tripping out”. Before the pipe sections are removed, the Kelly is removed from the drill string. A Kelly and its associated hose can contain approximately 20 gallons of drilling fluid that is under considerable pressure. The sections of pipe being tripped out also contain drilling fluid inside. When the Kelly or a pipe section is disconnected from the drill string, the drilling fluid in the Kelly or the pipe section spills out uncontrollably over the drilling rig floor and the personnel drilling the well. This results in an unsafe and hazardous environment for the personnel to work in.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an apparatus that prevents the spilling of drilling fluid on the drilling rig floor when the Kelly or when sections of pipe in a drill string are disconnected.
SUMMARYAn apparatus and method for containing fluids or gas released from a pipe is provided. The apparatus can comprise two or more arcuate sections hinged together to form a generally cylindrical or tubular containment chute that can be releasably enclosed around a pipe joint. Latching mechanisms can be used to hold the apparatus around the pipe joint. The apparatus can have one or more sealing members at each end of the containment chute that engage the pipe above and below the pipe joint so that the pipe joint is completely enclosed and sealed off. The sealing members can be of different sizes to provided staged sealing about the pipe joint. A spout can be located on the sidewall of the apparatus that allows drilling fluid that is released when the pipe joint is broken to flow from the apparatus through the spout into a hose connected to the spout, whereby the hose can divert the drilling fluid to a receptacle for recycling and reuse.
For the purposes of this specification and the claims contained herein, the term “rig” shall be deemed to include all forms of “rigs” known to those skilled in the oil and gas industry including “drilling rigs”, “test rigs”, “service rigs” and “off-shore rigs”. The term “pipe” shall be deemed to include “drill pipe”, “drill collars”, “tubulars”, “saver subs” or “thread-saver subassemblies”, “core barrels”, “top drive quills”, “coiled tubing”, “production tubing”, “down-hole assemblies”, “bottom-hole assemblies” and any other known tool or device having a threaded pipe joint connector that allows the connection to a pipe section containing fluid or gas.
For the purposes of this specification and the claims contained herein, the term “pipe joint” shall refer to connections between the Kelly and a pipe section, and to connections between adjoining pipe sections.
Broadly stated, an apparatus is provided for use in containing fluid or gas that is released upon disconnection of a threaded joint between sections of pipe or between a Kelly and a pipe section, the apparatus comprising: at least two arcuate sections of a generally tubular housing having upper and lower ends and outer and inner surfaces, the sections hinged together and configured to substantially enclose the threaded joint thereby providing a generally cylindrical enclosure disposed about the threaded joint; a handle disposed on at least one arcuate section; at least one upper groove disposed on the inner surface of the upper end of each arcuate section whereby at least one upper circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint; at least one lower groove disposed on the inner surface of the lower end of each arcuate section whereby at least one lower circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint; sealing means disposed in the at least one upper and lower circumferential grooves for providing a sealing contact with the Kelly or with the drilling pipe when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint; latching means for releasably latching the arcuate sections together when the housing is enclosed about the threaded joint, the latching means comprising at least one latching mechanism; and a spout disposed on the outer surface of at least one arcuate section near the lower end and above the at least one lower groove, the spout configured to provide communication between the outer and inner surfaces thereby providing a path for drilling fluid to flow through when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint and the threaded joint is disconnected.
Broadly stated, a method is provided for containing fluid or gas that is released upon disconnection of a threaded joint between sections of pipe or between a Kelly and a pipe section, the method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus, comprising: at least two arcuate sections of a generally tubular housing having upper and lower ends and outer and inner surfaces, the arcuate sections hinged together and configured to substantially enclose the threaded joint thereby providing a generally cylindrical enclosure disposed about the threaded joint, a handle disposed on at least one tubular housing section, at least one upper groove disposed on the inner surface of the upper end of each arcuate section whereby at least one upper circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, at least one lower groove disposed on the inner surface of the lower end of each arcuate section whereby at least one lower circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, sealing means disposed in the at least one upper and lower circumferential grooves for providing a sealing contact with the Kelly or with the drilling pipe when the sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, latching means for releasably latching the arcuate sections together when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, the latching means comprising at least one latching mechanism, and a spout disposed on the outer surface of at least one arcuate section near the lower end and above the at least one lower groove, the spout configured to provide communication between the outer and inner surfaces thereby providing a path for drilling fluid to flow through when the housing is enclosed about the threaded joint and the threaded joint is disconnected; placing the apparatus around the threaded joint, thereby enclosing the threaded joint; attaching one end of a hose to the spout, and placing the other end of the hose at a receptacle; and disconnecting the thread joint within the apparatus, whereby drilling fluid exiting from the Kelly from the drilling pipe section flows through from the apparatus through the spout and the hose to the receptacle.
An apparatus and method for preventing the spilling of drilling fluid onto a drilling rig floor is provided. Referring to
In operation, apparatus 10 can be opened by spreading sections 16 and 18 away from each other to allow apparatus 10 to be placed around a pipe joint. Sections 16 and 18 can then be pushed together to form the containment chute that completely encloses the pipe joint. Apparatus 10 can further comprise one or more handles 12 to allow personnel to manipulate apparatus 10 on and off pipe joints. In a further embodiment, handle 12 can comprise chamfered corners 13 as a safety feature to allow personnel place their thumbs on to avoid potential crush injuries from other equipment on the drilling rig floor such as the power tongs used to hold sections of pipe.
In the illustrated embodiments, hinge 14 can comprise a “piano hinge” style of hinge although any suitable hinge can be used. In each of these illustrated embodiments, apparatus 10 can comprise a plurality of latch mechanisms 24 disposed in a spaced-apart configuration along one edge of apparatus 10 to releasably join sections 16 and 18 together.
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring for
Referring to
In one embodiment, seal grooves 42 and 43 can be configured with a T-shaped groove opening to receive a seal segment that can be slidably inserted and removed therefrom although any suitable groove shape can be used that can releasably retain a seal segment configured to inserted therein. Referring to
In one embodiment, seal segment 44 can comprise notches 50 on each end whereas seal segment 46 can comprise protrusions 54 configured to snugly insert into notches 50 when sections 16 and 18 are enclosed about a pipe joint thereby forming a continuous circular or toroidal seal around the pipe when apparatus 10 is fully enclosed around the pipe joint.
In one embodiment, seal segment 44 can comprise grooves 52 disposed on the top and bottom surfaces thereof to provide means to enable seal segment 44 to be slidably inserted into T-shaped upper or lower seal grooves 42 and 43. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that seal segments 44 or 46 can comprise other means besides grooves 52 to enable the seal segments to be releasably inserted in upper or lower seal grooves 42 and 43 if grooves 42 or 43 do not comprise a T-shaped opening. By providing seal segments of this configuration, worn or damaged seal segments can be easily replaced by drilling rig floor personnel without any special tools, skills or knowledge.
Referring to
In another embodiment, seal segments 44 and 46 of varying sizes can be used in a single apparatus 10. In such configurations, apparatus 10 can be referred to as having “staged seals”. As an example, the upper and lower outer seal grooves can be fitted with seal segments that are wider than the seal segments fitted in the upper and lower inner seal grooves. By doing so, the outer seal segments can fit snugly around the pipe above and below the pipe joint whereas the inner seal segments can fit snugly around the pipe joint itself, which is larger in diameter than the pipe's diameter.
In another embodiment, sections 16 and 18 can comprise two upper seal grooves 42 and two lower seal grooves 43 to enable the use of seal segments 44 and 46 that have differing properties. As an example, apparatus 10 can also be used as a pipe stripper and wiper where apparatus 10 is held stationary by personnel while the pipe is raised upwards through apparatus 10 by the drilling rig elevator. In this configuration, the outer and inner lower seal grooves can be fitted with seal segments that are dense and hard to compress, which make these seal segments better suited for scraping or stripping off larger or heavier solids attached from the exterior of the pipe. In addition, the outer and inner upper seal grooves can be fitted with seal segments that are less dense and easier to compress, which makes these seal segments better suited for wiping off residual fluids from the pipe's exterior and even compress enough to pass over the pipe joint as the drill string is raised up from the well.
Referring to
Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. An apparatus for use in containing fluid or gas that is released upon disconnection of a threaded joint between sections of pipe or between a Kelly and a pipe section, the apparatus comprising:
- a) at least two arcuate sections of a generally tubular housing having upper and lower ends and outer and inner surfaces, the sections hinged together and configured to substantially enclose the threaded joint thereby providing a generally cylindrical enclosure disposed about the threaded joint;
- b) a handle disposed on at least one arcuate section;
- c) at least one upper groove disposed on the inner surface of the upper end of each arcuate section whereby at least one upper circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint;
- d) at least one lower groove disposed on the inner surface of the lower end of each arcuate section whereby at least one lower circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint;
- e) sealing means disposed in the at least one upper and lower circumferential grooves for providing a sealing contact with the Kelly or with the pipe section when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint;
- f) latching means for releasable latching the arcuate sections together when the housing is enclosed about the threaded joint, the latching means comprising at least one latching mechanism; and
- g) a spout disposed on the outer surface of at least one arcuate section near the lower end and above the at least one lower groove, the spout configured to provide communication between the outer and inner surfaces thereby providing a path for drilling fluid to flow through when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint and the threaded joint is disconnected.
2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latching means further comprises a plurality of latching mechanisms in a spaced-apart configuration disposed on the outer surface of the arcuate sections.
3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the latching mechanisms are ganged together to operate in unison.
4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism is selected from one or more of the group consisting of over-center latches, hook and catch latches and loop and catch latches.
5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sealing means comprise arcuate seal sections configured to be removably disposed in each of the at least one upper and lower grooves of the arcuate sections.
6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower grooves further comprise a T-shaped slot.
7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the sealing means comprise arcuate seal sections further comprising a T-shaped profile configured to be removably inserted in the T-shaped slot of the at least one upper or lower groove.
8-11. (canceled)
12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each arcuate section comprises at least two upper grooves, or at least two lower grooves, or both.
13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising arcuate seal sections disposed in each of the at least two upper grooves, or in each of the at least two lower grooves or in each of both.
14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a hose configured to couple to the spout and direct drilling fluid to a receptable when the housing is disposed about the threaded joint and when the threaded joint is disconnected.
15. A method of containing fluid or gas that is released upon disconnection of a threaded joint between sections of pipe or between a Kelly and a pipe section, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an apparatus, comprising: i) at least two arcuate sections of a generally tubular housing having upper and lower ends and outer and inner surfaces, the arcuate sections hinged together and configured to substantially enclose the threaded joint thereby providing a generally cylindrical enclosure disposed about the threaded joint, ii) a handle disposed on at least one tubular housing section, iii) at least one upper groove disposed on the inner surface of the upper end of each arcuate section whereby at least one upper circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, iv) at least one lower groove disposed on the inner surface of the lower end of each arcuate section whereby at least one lower circumferential groove is formed on the inner surfaces when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, v) sealing means disposed in the at least one upper and lower circumferential grooves for providing a sealing contact with the Kelly or with the pipe section when the sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, vi) latching means for releasably latching the arcuate sections together when the arcuate sections are enclosed about the threaded joint, the latching means comprising at least one latching mechanism, and vii) a spout disposed on the outer surface of at least one arcuate section near the lower end and above the at least one lower groove, the spout configured to provide communication between the outer and inner surfaces thereby providing a path for drilling fluid to flow through when the housing is enclosed about the threaded joint and the threaded joint is disconnected;
- b) placing the apparatus around the threaded joint, thereby enclosing the threaded joint;
- c) attaching one end of a hose to the spout, and placing the other end of the hose at a receptacle; and
- d) disconnecting the thread joint within the apparatus, whereby drilling fluid exiting from the Kelly from the drilling pipe section flows through from the apparatus through the spout and the hose to the receptacle.
16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the latching means further comprises a plurality of latching mechanisms in a spaced-apart configuration disposed on the outer surface of the arcuate sections.
17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the latching mechanisms are ganged together to operate in unison.
18. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the latching mechanism is selected from one or more of the group consisting of over-center latches, hook and catch latches, and loop and catch latches.
19. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the sealing means comprise arcuate seal sections configured to be removably disposed in each of the at least one upper and lower grooves of the arcuate sections.
20. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least one of the upper and lower grooves further comprise a T-shaped slot.
21. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein the sealing means comprise arcuate seal sections further comprising a T-shaped profile configured to be removably inserted in the T-shaped slot of the at least one upper or lower groove.
22-25. (canceled)
26. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein each arcuate section comprises at least two upper grooves, or at least two lower grooves, or both.
27. The method as set forth in claim 26, further comprising arcuate seal sections disposed in each of the at least two upper grooves, or in each of the at least two lower grooves, or in each of both.
28. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a hose configured to couple to the spout and direct drilling fluid to a receptable when the housing is disposed about the threaded joint and when the threaded joint is disconnected.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 27, 2017
Publication Date: Dec 14, 2017
Applicant: Katch Kan Holdings, Ltd. (Edmonton)
Inventors: Quinn A.J. Holtby (Edmonton), Dallas Laird Greenwood (Edmonton)
Application Number: 15/634,994