OIL WELL IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20120241160A1
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joe Spacek
• Original Assignee: Joe Spacek
• Inventors: Spacek, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 9,085,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/338
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/007 with a radially-retracting cutter rotating outside the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0355 Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/037 Protective housings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/06 Blow-out preventers , i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers rotating blow-out preventers E21B33/085
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/01 Arrangements thereon for guidance or control steering arrangements F42B10/60; aircraft flight control B64C; guidance systems other than those installed aboard F41G7/00, F41G9/00; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; flight control in general G05D1/00; computer aspects G06]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/38 Jamming means, e.g. producing false echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/145 comprising a plurality of reflecting particles, e.g. radar chaff missiles of the signal type provided with means for disseminating radar-reflecting chaff F42B12/70

Abstract

Two functionally and physically integrated subsystems form a supplemental disaster preventive system for offshore oil wells. A multi-function well subsystem modifies the sea-floor and in-well equipment to provide maintenance access, tools to cap the well, seal/re-seal the well, drill/re-drill the well, kill the well from the top, improve BOP reliability, add BOP functional redundancy, improve the cementing process, incorporate a sea-floor pressure relief/diversion function and improve the well'"'"'s life cycle safety. A dome top cylindrical sidewall structure encloses the well'"'"'s sea-floor equipment providing improved structural strength as well as passive protection from natural/human induced disasters. An intrusion detection and response subsystem provides sensing, processing and communication devices to detect, track & classify the 3D aspects of air/surface/sub-surface objects around a specific oil well or group of oil wells and provides the means to evaluate and eliminate threats.

Claims

1. An integrated underwater oil well disaster prevention subsystem for offshore oil wells to improve the functionality of the well by providing the means to prevent and/or repair well malfunctions and provide improved safety operation of the well. The Multi-Function Well Subsystem (MFWS) comprising modifications and additions to an offshore oil well'"'"'s sea-floor equipment where:

the addition of a remote controlled gate valve in series to the BOP'"'"'s output, where the valve in the opened position, provides unobstructed vertical assess (equal to the BOP'"'"'s feed through access diameter) from its'"'"' top port to its bottom port and in the closed position prevents well output flow.

The addition of an in-well pipe separating means by either cutting or by de-coupling where the said ‘

separated pipe’

can be extracted from the prior mentioned valve operational area.

The addition of a remote controlled exterior sidewall flow closing/sealing device in series with the wells output.

3. The system of claim 1 integrated with the system of claim 2.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure equalizing member in each of a plurality of hydraulic elements exposed to significant external pressures including in-well pressure, wherein the hydraulic elements being controlled and the hydraulic fluid reservoir used to pressurize the hydraulic elements are opened to take on the external pressure, and further comprising a hydraulic pump between the controlled element and the reservoir, the hydraulic pump providing delta pressure to alternately expand and contract the hydraulic elements when at their operational environment.

13. The system of claim 1 further incorporating a modification to an oil well Reamer Shoe Shaft and Drill Shaft comprising:

a remote controlled expandable plug;

a remote controlled sidewall gate valve;

a remote controlled exterior sidewall expandable o-ring sealing gasket.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a remote controlled solenoid to replace a release mechanism in an oil well Conversion Float Valve, so that when commanded will holds the valve open, or closed. In the closed position the valve will function as a one-way valve.

2. Structural modifications and additions to in-well equipment on an offshore oil well'"'"'s sea-floor equipment around the offshore oil well incorporating a top dome and cylindrical sidewall structure enclosing/about the well'"'"'s sea-floor equipment to improve the structural integrity of the well to prevent problems associated with natural and/or human induced malfunctions and/or threats.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the Multi-Function Well Subsystem further comprises an accessible area within the domed &

within the sidewall compatible with volume ROV operations.

20. The system of claim 2 integrated with the system of claim 5.

5. An Intrusion Detection and Response Subsystem (ID&

RS) comprising;

Means for detecting, tracking and classifying the aspects of air objects, surface objects and/or sub-surface objects around a specific oil well and groups of oil wells,

Means for evaluating threats &

neutralizing threats,

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a processor, a monitor, and control device(s) communicating with the sensors, and wherein sensed data from the sensors is converted to a serial digital format and digitally processed to the processor, the processor deriving detection, position, classification, threat analysis and related recommendations from the sensed data, the recommendations communicated to the monitor and the control device(s);

wherein an operator interfaces with the monitor and control device(s) and reviews the information and initiates actions and controls that ultimately interface with the sensors and other subsystem devices.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising a RF data link allowing remote monitoring &

control of the equipment about an oil well or group of oil wells.

8. A remotely controlled expandable gasket and/or plug device imbedded in a pipe/casing/drill bit to provide on-off flow control in the area between a pipe within a pipe/casing/well bore.

9. A remotely controlled well pipe/casing sidewall gate valve that when remotely commanded will allow flow through the sidewall.

10. An ‘

in-well’

interface system to monitor and control ‘

in-well’

equipment and tools comprising;

a fiber optic (FO) cable attached to/embedded in the drill pipe sidewall.

A modification to the ‘

normal’

pipe to pipe mechanical means where the addition of FO connecting means is provided to insure FO conductivity thru the said joint.

where the in-well sensors and controlled elements physically connected to the pipe are directly connected to the fiber optic cable and where the in-well sensors and controlled elements not physically connected to the pipe transfer data via non-physical contact means.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a pressure equalizing member in each of a plurality of hydraulic elements exposed to significant external pressures including in-well pressure, wherein the hydraulic elements being controlled and the hydraulic fluid reservoir used to pressurize the hydraulic elements are opened to take on the external pressure, and further comprising a hydraulic pump between the controlled element and the reservoir, the hydraulic pump providing delta pressure to alternately expand and contract the hydraulic elements when at their operational environment.

14. The system of claim 10 further incorporating a modification to an oil well Reamer Shoe Shaft and Drill Shaft comprising:

a remote controlled expandable plug;

a remote controlled sidewall gate valve;

a remote controlled exterior sidewall expandable o-ring sealing gasket.

19. The system of claim 10 further comprising a remote controlled solenoid to replace a release mechanism in an oil well Conversion Float Valve, so that when commanded will holds the valve open, or closed. In the closed position the valve will function as a one-way valve.

15. A pressure relief/diversion system comprising:

a parallel port to the well output connected to a remote controlled valve connected a pipe/tube diverting the said valve output to a safe location,

a sea-floor containment and/or separator tank.

remote controlled valves at differing elevations and associated pipes/tubes on the said tank diverting the well'"'"'s output to different locations.

16. An oil well pipe Enclosed Pipe Cutter Assembly compromising a structural means where:

a the cutter is embedded within the oil well pressured area

a wedge pipe/casing holding means supporting the upper pipe during the cutting process to insure the cutting element does not jam/pinch

17. Coupling/De-Coupling pipes/casings where:

the upper-most and lower-most ends having standard pipe to pipe connecting means;

upper pipe'"'"'s lower and lower pipe'"'"'s upper members includes mating flanges and a sealing gasket;

one of the pair'"'"'s pipe to pipe coupling/de-coupling matting end'"'"'s having a pipe member extending beyond its flange where the member'"'"'s diameter is different than its matting pipe end so that they fits inside (or outside) the other matting pipe.

one of the pipes matting ends will incorporate at least one spring loaded grabbing device protruding from the sidewall.

the grabbing device pivots on a hinge on the pipe member and compress into the sidewall.

the other of the pipes matting end including a unique sidewall threaded-stepped grabbing member on its matting surface.

the spring grabbing device includes a remote controlled device incorporated to compress the spring member into its sidewall to de-couple the pipes.