Reduced mechanical energy well control systems and methods of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A well control system having a reduced potential mechanical energy requirement, the system comprising:
- a. a body defining a pressure containment cavity, wherein the body comprises a blowout preventer;
b. a mechanical device associated with the pressure containment cavity, wherein the mechanical device comprises a ram;
c. a source of directed energy, wherein the source of directed energy is a high power laser, has a power greater than about 1 kW; and
, has the capability to deliver a directed energy to a location within the pressure containment cavity, the directed energy having a first amount of energy having a power great than about 1 kW; and
,d. a source of potential mechanical energy associated with the mechanical device, and capable of delivering mechanical energy to a location within the pressure containment cavity, the source of potential energy having a potential energy having a second amount of energy;
e. wherein, the first amount of energy is at least as great as about 5% of the second amount of energy.
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Abstract
There is provided systems, methods and apparatus for the use of directed energy, including high power laser energy, in conjunction with mechanical shearing, sealing and closing devices to provide reduced mechanical energy well control systems and techniques.
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Citations
97 Claims
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1. A well control system having a reduced potential mechanical energy requirement, the system comprising:
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a. a body defining a pressure containment cavity, wherein the body comprises a blowout preventer; b. a mechanical device associated with the pressure containment cavity, wherein the mechanical device comprises a ram; c. a source of directed energy, wherein the source of directed energy is a high power laser, has a power greater than about 1 kW; and
, has the capability to deliver a directed energy to a location within the pressure containment cavity, the directed energy having a first amount of energy having a power great than about 1 kW; and
,d. a source of potential mechanical energy associated with the mechanical device, and capable of delivering mechanical energy to a location within the pressure containment cavity, the source of potential energy having a potential energy having a second amount of energy; e. wherein, the first amount of energy is at least as great as about 5% of the second amount of energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 97)
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39. A well control system having a reduced potential mechanical energy requirement, the system comprising:
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a. a body defining a pressure containment cavity, wherein the body comprises a blowout preventer; b. a mechanical device associated with the pressure containment cavity, wherein the mechanical device comprises a ram; c. a source of directed energy, wherein the source of directed energy is a high power laser, has a power of at least about 1 kW; and
, has the capability to deliver a directed energy to a location associated with the pressure containment cavity, the directed energy having a first power of at least about 1 kW; and
,d. a source of potential mechanical energy associated with the mechanical device, and capable of delivering mechanical energy to a location within the pressure containment cavity, the source of potential energy having a potential energy having a second power; e. wherein, the first power is at least as great as about 5% of the second power. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A well control system having a reduced potential mechanical energy requirement, the system comprising:
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a. a high power laser system; b. a riser; c. a blowout preventer stack; d. the blowout preventer stack defining a cavity; e. a mechanical device for sealing a well associated with the cavity; f. a source of directed energy, wherein the source of directed energy is a high power laser, has a power of at least about 1 kW, and has the capability to deliver a directed energy to a location associated with the cavity, the directed energy having a first amount of energy of at least about 1 kW; and
,g. a source of potential mechanical energy associated with the mechanical device, and capable of delivering mechanical energy to a location associated with the cavity, the source of potential energy having a potential energy having a second amount of energy energy; h. wherein, the first amount of energy is at least as great as about 5% of the second amount of energy, and i. wherein, the source of directed energy and the source of potential mechanical energy are within the cavity of the blowout preventer stack. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65)
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66. A constant energy depth independent well control system, the system comprising:
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a. a device for delivering directed energy subsea, the directed energy having a power of at least about 1 kW; b. a device for delivering mechanical energy associated with a potential energy source having an amount of potential energy; and
,c. the device for delivering directed energy subsea compensatively associated with the device for delivering mechanical energy, whereby the delivery of the directed energy compensates for losses in potential energy; d. a high power laser, a riser and a blowout preventer stack, e. wherein the device for delivering directed energy and the device for delivering mechanical energy are located within a cavity in the blowout preventer stack. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69)
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70. A laser BOP comprising:
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a. a first and a second ram block; b. the first ram block of the laser BOP having within a first and a second laser device, the first laser device defining a first laser beam path for delivery of a laser beam, the second laser device defining a second beam path for delivery of a laser beam; c. the second ram block of the laser BOP having within a third and a fourth laser device, the third laser device defining a third laser beam path for delivery of a laser beam, the fourth laser device defining a fourth laser beam path for delivery of a laser beam; and
,d. the ram blocks associated with an actuator center line; e. whereby the laser beam paths define beam path angles with respect to the actuator center line; and
wherein the laser beam has a power of at least about 5 kW; andf. wherein the laser is for damaging or cutting a tubular within the laser BOP.
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71. A laser BOP comprising:
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a. a first ram block; b. the first ram block of the laser BOP having within a first and a second laser device, the first laser device defining a first laser beam path for delivery of a laser beam, the second laser device defining a second beam path for delivery of a laser beam; and
,c. the ram block associated with an actuator center line; d. whereby the laser beam paths define beam path angles with respect to the actuator center line; and
wherein the laser beam has a power of at least about 5 kW; ande. wherein the laser is for damaging or cutting a tubular within the laser BOP. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A method of severing a tubular in a BOP cavity, comprising:
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a. delivering directed energy, having a power of at least about 5 kW, to a predetermined location on a tubular positioned in a cavity of a BOP; b. the directed energy damaging the tubular in a predetermined pattern; and
,c. applying a mechanical force to the tubular in association with the damage pattern, whereby the tubular is severed, d. wherein the directed energy is a high power laser beam having at least about 5 kW of power, and having a focal length, wherein the damage pattern is a slot having a length and a varying width, whereby the width varies proportionally to the focal length of the laser beam, e. wherein a source of the directed energy is within the BOP cavity. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86)
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87. A method for closing a well comprising:
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a. a step for delivering a high power laser beam, having a power greater than about 1 kW, to a tubular in a cavity in a BOP, wherein the high power laser beam is within the cavity of the BOP; b. a step for removing material from the tubular with the delivered high power laser beam; c. a step for applying a mechanical force to the tubular, wherein the mechanical force is provided by a ram; and
,d. the step for mechanically closing the well.
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88. A laser ram BOP comprising:
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a. a means for providing a high power laser beam to a BOP stack, the BOP stack defining a cavity, wherein the means for providing a high power laser beam is within the cavity of the BOP; b. a means for directing the high power laser beam, having a power greater than 1 kW, to a tubular within the BOP cavity; and
,c. a means for applying a mechanical force to the tubular, wherein the mechanical force is provided by a ram. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91)
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92. A BOP package comprising:
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a. a lower marine rise package; b. a lower BOP stack; c. a connector releasable connecting the lower marine riser package and the lower BOP stack; and
,d. the connector comprising a high power directed energy delivery device, having a power greater than 1 kW, wherein the high power directed energy delivery device is within the connector, e. wherein the high power energy deliver device comprises a high power laser beam delivery device capable of delivering a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 5 kW. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96)
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Specification