Emergency disconnect isolation valve

• US 10,519,744 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2016
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cajun Services Unlimited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cajun Services Unlimited, LLC
• Inventors: Randle, Bryce Elliott
• Primary Examiner(s): Buck, Matthew R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lembo, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US15/767,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20180298723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/006 Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners wear protectors E21B17/10; handling drilling pipes E21B19/00; thread protectors B65D59/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/06 Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/10 Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1294 characterised by a valve, e.g. a by-pass valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/063 Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc E21B34/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/12 operated by movement of casings or tubings

Abstract

An isolation valve system, method, and apparatus are provided that can isolate a wellbore and prevent fluids from exiting the well and prevent seawater from entering the well. The system can be a two-part design in some embodiments where a shear sub is selectively interconnected to a body via shearing screws. A sufficient force on the shear sub destroys the shearing screws and the shear sub is removed from the body. This movement rotates an actuator on the body, which in turn rotates a valve in the body to provide the isolating function during routine operation of a wellbore or during an emergency.

Claims

1. A system for disconnection in a drilling operation, comprising:

a body having an interior volume and an outer surface, the body having a seal positioned in the interior volume and a valve positioned in the seal, the valve is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the body having an actuator disposed on the outer surface of the body, and the actuator is interconnected the valve;

a shear sub at least partially covering the outer surface of the body, the shear sub having a slot and the actuator of the body is positionable in the slot; and

a shearing mechanism selectively interconnects the shear sub to the body and selectively disconnects the shear sub from the body when the shear sub is subjected to a predetermined shear force, wherein when the shear sub selectively disconnects from the body, the shear sub rotates the actuator as the actuator is removed from the slot of the shear sub to rotate the valve from the open position to the closed position.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a protrusion of the actuator that extends from an axis of rotation of the actuator; and

a catch of the shear sub that extends into the slot of the shear sub, wherein the catch drives the protrusion around the axis of rotation to rotate the actuator, which rotates the valve from the open position to the closed position when the shear sub is selectively disconnected from the body.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the shearing mechanism is a plurality of shear screws arrayed about a longitudinal axis of the body and the shear sub.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tab disposed on the outer surface of the body and positioned proximate to the actuator, wherein the tab is deflected when the shear sub is selectively interconnected to the body, and the tab is extended when the shear sub is selectively disconnected from the body to prevent rotation of the actuator and rotation of the valve from the closed position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the shear sub rotates the actuator approximately 90 degrees about an axis of rotation to rotate the valve from the open position to the closed position when the shear sub is selectively disconnected from the body.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a guide slot on an outer surface of the body;

a reentry sub having a guide feature that is positionable in the guide slot, and the reentry sub comprises a reentry slot; and

wherein after the shear sub disconnects from the body, the reentry sub is configured to selectively interconnect to the body, and the actuator is positionable in the reentry slot, and wherein the guide feature in the guide slot orients the reentry sub and the reentry slot to rotate the actuator and rotate the valve from the closed position to the open position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the guide slot comprises four orientation zones:

a first orientation zone allows the rotation of the reentry sub relative to the body to align the reentry sub and the body in a first angular orientation;

a second orientation zone allows the reentry sub to progressively cover the body along a longitudinal length of the body;

a third orientation zone allows further rotation of the reentry sub relative to the body to align the reentry sub and the body in a second angular orientation; and

a fourth orientation zone allows the reentry sub to further progressively cover the body along the longitudinal length of the body.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a shear ring positioned in a channel on an inner surface of the reentry sub; and

a channel disposed on the outer surface of the body, wherein the reentry sub is positioned over the body and the shear ring is positioned in the channel of the body to selectively interconnect the reentry sub and the body.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second actuator disposed on the outer surface of the body, and the second actuator is interconnected to the valve; and

a second slot of the shear sub, and the second actuator of the body is positionable in the second slot, wherein when the shear sub is selectively disconnected from the body, the shear sub rotates the second actuator as the second actuator is removed from the second slot to rotate the valve from the open position to the closed position.