FLUSHING PROCEDURE FOR ROTATING CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20110214871A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Costo, Robert James, Zubia, Alberto, Fontenot, Huward Paul, Leduc, Trung
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/311
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/01 Risers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/085 Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2235/00 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2352/00 Apparatus for drilling in general E21
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/005 Fluid passages not relating to lubrication or cooling

Abstract

A method of flushing a wellbore fluid from a downhole tool containing a bearing package includes pumping hydraulic oil through at least one of a hydraulic inlet line and at least one of a pneumatic inlet line connected to the main housing and into an annulus formed between the bearing package and a main housing of the downhole tool, wherein the hydraulic oil replaces the wellbore fluid in the annulus, removing the wellbore fluid from the annulus through at least one hydraulic outlet line and at least one pneumatic outlet line connected to the main housing, pumping air through the at least one pneumatic inlet line connected to the main housing and removing the hydraulic oil from the at least one pneumatic inlet line connected to the main housing, and removing the hydraulic oil through at least one pneumatic outlet line connected to the main housing.

Claims

1. A method of flushing a wellbore fluid from a downhole tool containing a bearing package, the method comprising:

pumping hydraulic oil through at least one of a hydraulic inlet line and at least one of a pneumatic inlet line connected to the main housing and into an annulus formed between the bearing package and a main housing of the downhole tool, wherein the hydraulic oil replaces the wellbore fluid in the annulus;

removing the wellbore fluid from the annulus through at least one hydraulic outlet line and at least one pneumatic outlet line connected to the main housing;

pumping air through the at least one pneumatic inlet line connected to the main housing and removing the hydraulic oil from the at least one pneumatic inlet line connected to the main housing; and

removing the hydraulic oil through at least one pneumatic outlet line connected to the main housing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obstructing at least one hydraulic port and at least one pneumatic port of the bearing package before pumping the hydraulic oil.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing the obstruction from the at least one hydraulic port and the at least one pneumatic port of the bearing package after pumping the hydraulic oil.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein pumping the hydraulic oil at a pressure of about 500 psi removes the obstruction from the at least one hydraulic port and the at least one pneumatic port of the bearing package.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the wellbore fluid out of the at least one hydraulic outlet line and the at least one pneumatic outlet line and into the wellbore downhole of the downhole tool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool comprises a rotating control device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic oil is pumped at a pressure of between about 200 and 300 psi.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the air is pumped at a pressure of about 100 psi.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein pumping the hydraulic fluid continues until all of the wellbore fluid is removed from the annulus.

10. A flushing system for removing a wellbore fluid from a downhole tool containing a bearing package, the flushing system comprising:

a flushing block into which a main hydraulic oil inlet line and a main air inlet line are routed;

at least one hydraulic inlet line connected to a main housing of the downhole tool and at least one hydraulic outlet line connected to a main housing of the downhole tool; and

at least one pneumatic inlet line connected to the main housing of the downhole tool and at least one pneumatic outlet line connected to the main housing of the downhole tool.

11. The flushing system of claim 10, wherein the flushing block is configured to route hydraulic oil to the at least one hydraulic inlet line and to the at least one pneumatic inlet line.

12. The flushing system of claim 10, further comprising a disposal line, wherein the wellbore fluid from the at least one hydraulic outlet line and the at least one pneumatic outline line is routed.

13. The flushing system of claim 12, further comprising a valve configured to control fluid flow through the disposal line.

14. The flushing system of claim 10, wherein an obstructing device is installed in at least one hydraulic port and at least one pneumatic port of the bearing package to prevent the wellbore fluid from entering the at least one hydraulic port and the at least one pneumatic port.

15. The flushing system of claim 10, wherein the flushing block is configured to provide hydraulic oil from the main hydraulic oil inlet line to both the at least one hydraulic inlet line and the at least one pneumatic inlet line.

16. The flushing system of claim 10, wherein the flushing block is configured to provide air from the main air inlet line to the at least one pneumatic inlet line.

17. The flushing system of claim 10, further comprising a shuttle valve configured to route air from the main air inlet line only through the at least one pneumatic inlet line to the main housing.