Apparatus and method for drilling wells

• US 3,373,806 A
• Filed: 04/21/1964
• Issued: 03/19/1968
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1964
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Virgil D. Stone
• Original Assignee: Virgil D. Stone
• Inventors: Stone, Virgil D.
• Application Number:
  US04/361,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• US Class Current: 166/356
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/02 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/01 Risers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/037 Protective housings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/076 specially adapted for underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0007 for underwater installations E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/01 specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/136 from non-buoyant support E21B7/124 takes precedence

Claims

1. A METHOD OF COMPLETING A WELL BELOW A BODY OF WATER AT LEAST ABOUT 50 FEET DEEP COMPRISING FORCING A HEAVY-WALLED SNORKEL TUBE PERMANENTLY ENCIRCLING AND SEPARATE FROM CASING OF THE WELL DOWNWARDLY INTO THE GROUND BELOW THE BODY OF WATER WHEREBY SAID SNORKEL TUBE IS SUPPORTED BY THE GROUND AND EXTENDS UPWARDLY ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER, SAID SNORKEL TUBE HAVING A DIAMETER OF APPROXIMATELY TO 72 INCHES TO PERMIT A WORKMAN TO DESCEND IN THE TUBE TO INSTALL WELLHEAD CONNECTIONS, PUMPING WATER OUT OF THE TUBE, CUTTING OFF CASING OF THE WELL ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY OF WATER, INSTALLING A WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY ON THE UPPER END OF THE CASING, RUNNING A FLOW LINE FROM THE WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY UPWARDLY THROUGH THE TUBE TO ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER, AND SUPPORTING THE FLOW LINE WITHIN THE TUBE FOR DELIVERY OF WELL FLUIDS ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.