Rotating and reciprocating swivel apparatus and method with threaded end caps

• US 8,579,033 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mako Rentals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mako Rentals, Inc.
• Inventors: Robichaux, Kip M., Robichaux, Terry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buck, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMBO, AARON LLOYD
• Application Number:
  US13/086,828
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 166/339, 166/345, 166/351, 166/352, 166/358, 166/367, 166/85.1, 166/85.5, 166/78.1, 166/241.6, 175/5, 175/7, 175/10
• US Class Current: 166/351
• 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 21/00 Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor freeing objects stuck in boreholes by flushing E21B31/03
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/076 specially adapted for underwater installations

Abstract

What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer 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 marine oil and gas well drilling apparatus comprising:

(a) a marine drilling platform;

(b) a drill string that extends between the marine drilling platform and a formation to be drilled, the drill string having a flow bore;

(c) a mandrel having upper and lower end sections and connected to and rotatable with upper and lower sections of the drill string, the mandrel having an external diameter and including a longitudinal passage forming a continuation of a flow bore of the drill string sections;

(d) a sleeve having a longitudinal sleeve passage and an internal diameter, the sleeve being rotatably connected to the mandrel;

(e) an interstitial space between the internal diameter of the sleeve and the external diameter of the mandrel;

(f) wherein the sleeve has a pair of spaced apart end caps which are threadably connected to the sleeve.

2. The marine oil and gas well drilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein packing units are placed adjacent to the end caps and in opposing sealing directions.

3. The marine oil and gas well drilling apparatus of claim 2 wherein the packing units define a seal that moves longitudinally with the sleeve.

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

(a) lowering a rotating and reciprocating tool to an annular BOP, the tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve, the sleeve has a pair of spaced apart end caps which are threadably connected to the sleeve, the sleeve being reciprocable relative to the mandrel and the swivel including a quick lock/quick unlock system which has locked and unlocked states;

(b) after step “

a”

, having the annular BOP close on the sleeve;

(c) after step “

b”

, while the annular BOP is closed on the sleeve, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel and causing the quick lock/quick unlock system to enter an unlocked state;

(d) after step “

c”

, while the annular BOP is closed on the sleeve, performing frac operations below the annular BOP;

(e) after step “

d”

, while the annular BOP is closed on the sleeve, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel and activating the quick lock/quick unlock system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein in step “

a”

, the sleeve is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein, after step “

b”

, the sleeve is unlocked longitudinally relative to the mandrel.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein, after step “

c”

, the sleeve is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein during step “

c”

operations are performed in the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 4, 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.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein during step “

f”

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

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system is radially aligned before being activated and in a locked state.

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

13. The method of claim 4, 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.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the sleeve includes two catches spaced apart on the longitudinal ends of the sleeve.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one catch includes a detachable attachment, the detachable attachment being configured to mate with the annular BOP.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the detachable attachment includes two pieces which are detachably connectable to the sleeve.