Abstract:
Sealing elements have lubricating seal profiles for communicating fluid between the sealing elements and the sealed drill string tubular or other oilfield component while the sealed drill string tubular or other oilfield component rotates or moves vertically relative to the seal elements. The same fluid used for drilling may also be used for seal lubrication, such as water, drilling fluid or mud, well bore fluid or other liquid or gas. The sealing elements may be disposed with a seal housing, which may be positioned with a marine riser, or subsea without a marine riser. The seal housing may prevent rotation of the seal elements with the sealed drill string tubular or other oilfield component. Alternatively, the seal housing may be an RCD that allows the sealing elements to rotate. The lubricating seal profiles include a wave pattern, a saw-tooth high film pattern, a downwardly inclined passageway pattern, an upwardly inclined passageway pattern, and a combined upwardly and downwardly inclined passageway pattern. In one embodiment, a stripper rubber seal element may have a lubricating seal profile on the inwardly facing bore surfaces of both its nose and throat sections for sealing with drill string tubulars and other oilfield components having different diameters. Dual seals with two annular spaced apart sealing surfaces, with or without lubricating seal profiles, may seal with a drill string tubular or other oilfield component. In another embodiment, differential pressures across two seal elements may be managed by filling the cavity between the two sealing elements with cuttings-free drilling fluid, mud, water, coolant, lubricant or inert gas at desired amounts of pressure.
Abstract:
A sealing element (10, 18) for sealing an oilfild component (DS) the sealing element having a bore fore receiving the oilfild component, the sealing element comprising : - a seal supporting section (16, 24) - a sealing section (21, 13) having an inwardly facing bore surface; and - a profile (12, 20 ) formed on said sealing section inwardly facing bore surface to seal the oilfield component while communicating a fluid between said sealing section and the oilfield component.
Abstract:
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for controlling and/or powering downhole components without the need for control and/or power lines (130) extending from the components to the surface of the well and without the need for power or control lines to be inserted into the wellbore along with the components. In one aspect of the invention, a borehole is lined with a casing (110), the casing having at least one aperture (125) disposed. Adjacent the aperture, on the outer surface of the casing, is a docking station (105), which is permanently attached to the casing and includes a socket (135). After the casing is installed in the borehole, a downhole component can be lowered into the wellbore. The downhole component is equipped with a connector (120) extending from an outer surface thereof. The connector assembly is disposable through the aperture (125) in the casing (110) and, the connector assembly can be connected to the socket (135) of docking station.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the invention, a thermite containing apparatus (160) is run into the wellbore (105) on a wire line and a window is subsequently formed in casing wall. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a run-in string or drill stem (110) with a drill bit (120) attached to a lower end thereof. A diverter (130), like a whipstock is attached temporarily to the drill bit with a mechanically shearable connection (132). At a lower end of the whipstock, a container (160) is formed and connected thereto. A telescopic joint (200) extends between the bottom of the container and an anchor (280) therebelow. The assembly allow to form a window and drill a lateral in a single trip.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the invention, a thermite containing apparatus (160) is run into the wellbore (105) on a wire line and a window is subsequently formed in casing wall. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a run-in string or drill stem (110) with a drill bit (120) attached to a lower end thereof. A diverter (130), like a whipstock is attached temporarily to the drill bit with a mechanically shearable connection (132). At a lower end of the whipstock, a container (160) is formed and connected thereto. A telescopic joint (200) extends between the bottom of the container and an anchor (280) therebelow. The assembly allow to form a window and drill a lateral in a single trip.