Low Profile Rotating Control Device

• US 20130009366A1
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Hannegan, Don M., Bailey, Thomas F., Chambers, James W., Woodruff, David R., Harrall, Simon J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,004,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 277/326
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/08 Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/085 Underbalanced techniques, i.e. where borehole fluid pressure is below formation pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/106 Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019
• 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: E21B 33/068 having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells cementing-heads E21B33/05
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/085 Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/02 Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport with their own drive, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 Disassembling

Abstract

A system and method is provided for a law profile rotating control device (LP-RCD) and its housing mounted on or integral with an annular blowout preventer seal, casing, or other housing. The LP-RCD and LP-RCD housing can fit within a limited space available on drilling rigs.

Claims

1. Method for inspecting an annular blowout preventer seal in a housing, comprising the steps of:

removing a bearing assembly having an inner member and an outer member from an opening in said housing, wherein one of said members is rotatable relative to the other said member and one of said members having passage; and

removing an annular blowout preventer seal from said housing through said housing opening after the step of removing the bearing assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after the step of removing the bearing assembly said housing provides a full bore access to said annular blowout preventer seal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

removing a containment member for said annular blowout preventer seal through said housing opening after the step of removing the bearing assembly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said bearing assembly and said annular blowout preventer seal are positioned in said housing while being free of an attachment member.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a seal rotatably supported from one of said members; and

a support member for supporting said rotatably supported seal with one of said members.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said support member allows removable of said rotatably supported seal from said inner member and said outer member.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

a seal rotatably supported from one of said members; and

a support member for supporting said rotatably supported seal with one of said members.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said support member allows removable of said rotatably supported seal from said inner member and said outer member.

7. Method for inspecting an annular blowout preventer seal in a housing, comprising the steps of:

removing a bearing assembly having an inner member and an outer member from an opening in said housing, wherein one of said members is rotatable relative to the other said member and one of said members having passage; and

removing an annular blowout preventer seal from said housing through said housing opening after the step of removing the bearing assembly, wherein after the step of removing the bearing assembly said housing provides a full bore access to said annular blowout preventer seal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

removing a containment member for said annular blowout preventer seal through said housing opening after the step of removing the bearing assembly.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said bearing assembly and said annular blowout preventer seal are positioned in said housing while being free of an attachment member.

12. Method for inspecting an annular blowout preventer seal in a housing, comprising the steps of:

removing a bearing assembly having an inner member and an outer member from an opening in said housing, wherein one of said members is rotatable relative to the other said member and one of said members having passage;

removing a containment member for said annular blowout preventer seal through said housing opening after the step of removing the bearing assembly; and

removing an annular blowout preventer seal from said housing through said housing opening after the step of removing said containment member.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein after the step of removing the bearing assembly said housing provides a full bore access to said annular blowout preventer seal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said bearing assembly and said annular blowout preventer seal are positioned in said housing while being free of an attachment member.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

a seal rotatably supported from one of said members; and

a support member for supporting said rotatably supported seal with one of said members, said housing having a port communicating with said rotatably supported seal and said annular blowout preventer seal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said support member allows removable of said rotatably supported seal from said inner member and said outer member.

17. A rotating control apparatus, comprising:

an outer member having a longitudinal axis;

an inner member rotatably disposed with said outer member along said longitudinal axis;

a seal rotatably supported from one of said members along said longitudinal axis;

an annular blowout preventer seal disposed below said rotatably supported seal and along said longitudinal axis; and

an integral housing configured to receive a portion of said inner member and said outer member, said rotatably supported seal and said annular blowout preventer seal, said housing having a port not aligned with said longitudinal axis while communicating with said rotatably supported seal and said annular blowout preventer seal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said rotatably supported seal and said annular blowout preventer seal are positioned in said integral housing while being free of an attachment member.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a support member for supporting said rotatably supported seal with one of said members.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said support member allows removable of said rotatably supported seal from said inner member and said outer member.