Rotating and reciprocating swivel apparatus and method

• US 9,027,649 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• 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): Buck, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMBO, AARON LLOYD
• Application Number:
  US14/077,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 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: 166/339
• 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 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 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 being reciprocable relative to the mandrel and the swivel including a quick lock/quick unlock system which has locked and unlocked states, the swivel including an interstitial space between the sleeve and the mandrel, the interstitial space having a interstitial pressure relief mode and non-pressure relief modes, the swivel being reversably switchable to and from pressure relief and non-pressure relief modes;

(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 and causing the quick lock/quick unlock system to enter an unlocked state;

(d) after step “

c”

, moving the sleeve outside of the annular BOP;

(e) after step “

d”

, moving the sleeve inside of the annular BOP and having the annular BOP close on the sleeve; and

(f) after step “

e”

, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel and activating the quick lock/quick unlock system.

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

a”

, the sleeve is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel.

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

b”

, the sleeve is unlocked longitudinally relative to the mandrel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, after step “

c”

, the sleeve is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel.

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

c”

operations are performed in the wellbore.

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

f”

operations are performed in the wellbore.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 1, 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.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system is radially aligned before being activated and in a locked state.

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

11. 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.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sleeve includes two catches spaced apart on the longitudinal ends of the sleeve.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one catch includes a detachable attachment, the detachable attachment being configured to mate with the annular BOP.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the detachable attachment includes two pieces which are detachably connectable to the sleeve.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of detachable attachments are includes for allowing the catch to fit a plurality of annular BOPs, the annular BOPs being manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers.

16. 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 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”

, 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”

, moving the sleeve outside of the annular BOP;

(e) after step “

d”

, moving the sleeve inside of the annular BOP and having the annular BOP close on the sleeve; and

(f) after step “

e”

, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel and activating the quick lock/quick unlock system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein in step “

a”

, the sleeve is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein, after step “

b”

, the sleeve is unlocked longitudinally relative to the mandrel.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein, after step “

c”

, the sleeve is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein during step “

c”

operations are performed in the wellbore.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein during step “

f”

operations are performed in the wellbore.

22. The method of claim 16, 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.

23. The method of claim 16, 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.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system is radially aligned before being activated and in a locked state.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system can rotate relative to the sleeve when activated and in a locked state.

26. The method of claim 16, 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.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the sleeve includes two catches spaced apart on the longitudinal ends of the sleeve.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one catch includes a detachable attachment, the detachable attachment being configured to mate with the annular BOP.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the detachable attachment includes two pieces which are detachably connectable to the sleeve.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein a plurality of detachable attachments are includes for allowing the catch to fit a plurality of annular BOPs, the annular BOPs being manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers.