Downhole swivel apparatus and method

• US 8,118,102 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mako Rentals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mako Rentals, Inc.
• Inventors: Robichaux, Kip M., Caillouet, Kenneth G., Robichaux, Terry P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMBO, AARON LLOYD
• Application Number:
  US12/942,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20110114328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/345
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/01 Risers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/05 Swivel joints
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1007 for the internal surface of a pipe, e.g. wear bushings for underwater well-heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/001 specially adapted for underwater drilling dual gradient drilling E21B21/082
• 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

Abstract

What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections and allowing the fluid to be displaced in two stages, such as while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve or housing can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve or housing of the swivel.

Claims

1. A method of using a reciprocating swivel tool in a drill or work string, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) lowering a rotating and reciprocating swivel tool from the surface of a body of water to an annular BOP, the tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve, the sleeve being longitudinally reciprocable relative to the mandrel and the swivel tool including a quick lock/unlock system which has locked and unlocked states of the sleeve relative to the mandrel;

(b) after step “

a”

, having the annular BOP close on the sleeve;

(c) after step “

b”

, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel, wherein such relative longitudinal movement causing the quick lock/quick unlock system to enter an unlocked state;

(d) after step “

c”

, and before raising the swivel tool to the surface of the water, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel wherein such relative longitudinal movement causes the lock system to enter a locked state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein during step “

c”

operations are performed in the wellbore.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein during step “

c”

the tool is fluidly connected to a string having a bore and fluid is pumped through at least part of the string'"'"'s bore.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the quick lock system can rotate relative to the sleeve when activated and in a locked state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes at least one catch for restricting relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the annular BOP when the annular BOP is sealed on the sleeve.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sleeve includes two catches spaced apart on the longitudinal ends of the sleeve.

7. A method of using a swivel tool in a drill or work string, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) lowering a swivel tool to an annular blow out preventer, the tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve, the mandrel being fluidly connected to the drill or work string, and the sleeve being rotatably connected to the mandrel, the tool including a locking and unlocking system having locked and unlocked states for the sleeve relative to the mandrel and is capable of being locked and unlocked a plurality of times, wherein in the unlocked state the sleeve is longitudinally reciprocable relative to the mandrel for a first longitudinal length, and in the locked state the sleeve is longitudinally reciprocable relative to the mandrel for a second longitudinal length, the first length being greater than the second length;

(b) after step “

a”

, having the annular blow out preventer close on the sleeve;

(c) after step “

b”

, while the annular blow out preventer is closed on the sleeve, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel, wherein such relative longitudinal movement in a first longitudinal direction causes the locking system to enter an unlocked state;

(d) after step “

c”

, while the annular blow out preventer is closed on the sleeve, performing operations in the wellbore while the mandrel is moved longitudinally relative to the sleeve, and fluid is pumped through the drill or work string and the mandrel; and

(e) after step “

d”

, while the annular blow out preventer is closed on the sleeve, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel, wherein such relative longitudinal movement in a second longitudinal direction, which is opposite of the first longitudinal direction, causes the locking system to enter a locked state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein in step “

c”

, a jetting tool is used to jet a portion of the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein in step “

a”

, the first longitudinal length is between ¼

inches and 12 inches.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein in step “

a”

, when in a locked state, the locking system does not allow a limited amount of relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein in step “

a”

, when in a locked state, the locking system allows the sleeve to rotate relative to the mandrel.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the locking system can rotate relative to the sleeve when activated and in a locked state.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein locked and unlocked states are obtained by longitudinally moving the sleeve relative to the mandrel to a specified locking position.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein between steps “

c” and

“

d”

, the sleeve is moved outside of the annular blow out preventer and then back inside the annular blowout preventer.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the sleeve includes at least one catch for restricting relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the annular blow out preventer when the annular blow out preventer is closed on the sleeve.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sleeve includes two catches spaced apart on the longitudinal ends of the sleeve.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the sleeve is sealed with respect to the mandrel using a pair of spaced apart upper and lower packing units, the lower packing unit including a pair of directional sealing units sealing against flow in upper and lower directions, and the upper directional unit includes a sealing unit sealing against flow in the upper direction only.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein in step “

a”

, the locking system includes a spring and catch between the sleeve and mandrel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the spring includes a plurality of fingers rotationally connected to the sleeve, and the mandrel includes a ramp and locking valley which locking valley operatively engages the plurality of fingers, and the mandrel includes a fluted area.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the spring includes a locking ring and the mandrel includes a locking valley which locking valley operatively engages the locking ring.