Method of using a rotating and reciprocating swivel

• US 9,470,045 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2010
• 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): Sayre, James G
• Application Number:
  US14/716,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20160040483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 166/358, 166/359, 166/344, 166/345, 166/367, 166/386, 166/385, 166/291, 166/292, 166/155, 166/381, 166/177.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/05 Swivel joints
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/061 Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/085 Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/00 Special methods or apparatus for drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/12 Underwater drilling using heave compensators E21B19/09

Abstract

What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a rotating and reciprocating swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections with the mandrel of the swivel being comprised of double box end joints and using double pin end subs to connect a plurality of such mandrel joints together.

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 a blow out preventer, the tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve, the sleeve being reciprocable relative to the mandrel and the mandrel including at least one joint having double box ends with the joint being severable by a ram blow out preventer, the sleeve having two spaced apart sealing units, the swivel including an interstitial space between the sleeve and the mandrel with first and second spaced apart sealing units each scaling the interstitial space;

(b) after step “

a”

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

(c) after step “

b”

, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel, wherein in step “

a”

the mandrel includes two double box end joints which are connected by a double pin end sub, and in step “

c”

when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the first sealing unit, the first sealing unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the second sealing keeps its seal of the interstitial space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after the double pin end sub passes by the first scaling unit, the first sealing unit regains its seal of the interstitial space.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the second scaling unit, the second scaling unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the first scaling keeps its seal of the interstitial space.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein after the double pin end sub passes by the second scaling unit, the second sealing unit regains its seal of the interstitial space.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of after step “

c”

, moving the sleeve outside of the blow out preventer.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of moving the sleeve back inside of the blow out preventer and having the blow out preventer close on the sleeve.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of, after moving the sleeve back inside the annular blow out preventer causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel and activating a quick lock/quick unlock system from an unlocked state to a locked state, causing an amount that the sleeve is reciprocable relative to the mandrel in the locked state to be reduced compared to the amount that the sleeve is reciprocable relative to the mandrel in the unlocked state.

8. 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 a blow out preventer, the tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve, the sleeve being reciprocable relative to the mandrel and the mandrel including at least one joint having double box ends with the joint being severable by a ram blow out preventer, the sleeve having two spaced apart sealing units, the swivel including an interstitial space between the sleeve and the mandrel with first and second spaced apart scaling units each scaling the interstitial space;

(b) after step “

a”

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

(c) after step “

b”

, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel, wherein in step “

a”

the mandrel includes two double box end joints which are connected by a double pin end sub, and in step “

c”

when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the second sealing unit, the second sealing unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the first sealing keeps its seal of the interstitial space.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein after the double pin end sub passes by the second sealing unit, the second sealing unit regains its seal of the interstitial space.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the first sealing unit, the first scaling unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the second scaling keeps its seal of the interstitial space.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein after the double pin end sub passes by the first sealing unit, the first sealing unit regains its seal of the interstitial space.