Detachable capping device and method for an oil/gas well under blowout conditions

• US 9,562,412 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrascal, Jorge Fernando, Liliana Carrascal
• Original Assignee: Carrascal, Jorge Fernando, Liliana Carrascal
• Inventors: Carrascal, Jorge Fernando, Carrascal, Liliana
• Primary Examiner(s): Buck, Matthew R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMBO, AARON LLOYD
• Application Number:
  US14/474,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 892 Days
• Field of Search: 166/363, 166/368
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/062 with sliding rams
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/04 in underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes

Abstract

Offshore and onshore oil well blowouts can bring serious environmental damages which can cause serious economic loses. Oil wells under blowout conditions can be gushing fluids for months before the well is capped and plugged. Placing a capping device on the top of the well head can be challenged. In this paper it is presented a detachable capping device and a method that will help to control the well, or to plug it. The gushing fluids will be redirect through pipe to a surface vessel where they will be collected.

Claims

1. A detachable capping device for attachment to an oil/gas well under blowout conditions comprising:

two diametrically opposed housing members configured to attach to one another circumferentially around and in direct contact with a wellhead structure;

wherein the housing members each further comprise a sealing block, a piston and a relief hole, said piston configured to move the sealing block to an open or a closed position to allow or stop the flow of fluids to the outside environment, said relief hole for redirecting fluids from the oil/gas well to the surface;

wherein the wellhead structure comprises a flange in a blowout preventer or to any external part of the blowout preventer or to a flange for a well casing or flange for a riser.

2. A method for controlling a blowout from an oil/gas well with a detachable capping device comprising a housing comprising two diametrically opposed members, a sealing block, a piston, and a relief hole, the method comprising:

placing the housing circumferentially around and in direct contract with a well head structure;

actuating the piston for moving the sealing block to a closed position and redirecting downhole fluids to the surface through the relief hole;

or running a killing string into the well and moving the sealing block to the closed position to hermetically seal above the killing string, wherein the killing string is for controlling the blowout from the well;

wherein the wellhead structure comprises a flange in a blowout preventer or to any external part of the blowout preventer or to a flange for a well casing of a flange to a riser.