Blowout container
First Claim
1. A system for containing and recovering from blowout of an oil or gas well having a well flow path, the system operable in place of, or as a failsafe alternative to, standard blowout preventer systems, the system comprising:
- a hydraulically operated gate valve positioned over the well at a wellhead, the gate valve alternating between a full open position and a full closed position, the gate valve further comprising a check valve operable to permit fluid flow into the well but not out from the well, the check valve operable when the gate valve is in the full closed position; and
at least one shearing assembly positioned over the gate valve opposite the wellhead, the shearing assembly comprising at least one implosion spool oriented into a cylindrical axis of the wellbore and operable to detonate explosive charges within the at least one implosion spool;
wherein operation of the system activates and detonates the explosive charges within the at least one implosion spool to clear the well flow path of any obstructions so as to permit the movement of the gate valve to the full closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for containing and recovering from the blowout of an oil or gas well. The blowout containment (BOC) system is operable in place of, or as a failsafe alternative to, standard blowout preventer (BOP) systems. The BOC system includes a hydraulically operated gate valve positioned over the well at the wellhead. The gate valve includes a check valve operable when the gate valve is closed. The BOC system further includes at least one shearing assembly positioned over the gate valve. The shearing assembly orients explosive charges into the well flow path. An activation trigger detonates the explosive charges to clear the well flow path of obstructions to permit the gate valve to close. Operation of the BOC system is preferably monitored and controlled from a remote location apart from the rig associated with the well.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for containing and recovering from blowout of an oil or gas well having a well flow path, the system operable in place of, or as a failsafe alternative to, standard blowout preventer systems, the system comprising:
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a hydraulically operated gate valve positioned over the well at a wellhead, the gate valve alternating between a full open position and a full closed position, the gate valve further comprising a check valve operable to permit fluid flow into the well but not out from the well, the check valve operable when the gate valve is in the full closed position; and at least one shearing assembly positioned over the gate valve opposite the wellhead, the shearing assembly comprising at least one implosion spool oriented into a cylindrical axis of the wellbore and operable to detonate explosive charges within the at least one implosion spool; wherein operation of the system activates and detonates the explosive charges within the at least one implosion spool to clear the well flow path of any obstructions so as to permit the movement of the gate valve to the full closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification