EP-4739881-A1 - BOLTLESS SEALING ASSEMBLY SECUREMENT METHOD

EP4739881A1EP 4739881 A1EP4739881 A1EP 4739881A1EP-4739881-A1

Abstract

A rotating control device used in managed pressure drilling, said rotating control device comprising: - a housing comprising a central circular portion having an opening extending therethrough, wherein said housing comprising a channel located proximate a top edge thereof; said channel defining an upper edge, a lower edge and a side wall located therebetween; - a sealing assembly adapted to be securely and removably inserted within said opening of said housing and defining an aperture sized for the insertion of a drillstring therethrough, wherein said sealing assembly is configured to seal around said drillstring and isolate an annulus of the drilling riser; - a boltless sealing assembly securement system comprising: o at least one boltless segment adapted for insertion into a channel located on said housing, each one of said at least one boltless segment comprising a shape adapted to fit within said channel and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a top surface and a bottom surface; said outer surface adapted to abut against the side wall of said channel and said lower surface adapted to abut against the lower edge of said channel and said top surface adapted to abut against the upper edge of said channel; o a boltless segment retainer comprising a top surface adapted for securing on a top edge of the housing and a lower edge adapted for insertion within the housing aperture and abutment against the inner surface of said at least one boltless segment; wherein said insertion of said at least one boltless segment into said channel and subsequent securement of the boltless segment retainer onto said at least one boltless segment is sufficient to secure said sealing assembly within said housing.

Inventors

NORVILA, CHARLES
MICHAUD, GEORGE
RYPSTRA, Scott
WILSON, STEWART
OTTO, Jeff

Assignees

Beyond Energy Services and Technology Corp.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240704

Claims (12)

1. A rotating control device used in managed pressure drilling, said rotating control device comprising: a housing comprising a central circular portion having an opening extending therethrough, wherein said housing comprising a channel located proximate a top edge thereof; said channel defining an upper edge, a lower edge and a side wall located therebetween; a sealing assembly adapted to be securely and removably inserted within said opening of said housing and defining an aperture sized for the insertion of a drillstring therethrough, wherein said sealing assembly is configured to seal around said drillstring and isolate an annulus of the drilling riser; a boltless sealing assembly securement system comprising: o at least one boltless segment adapted for insertion into a channel located on said housing, each one of said at least one boltless segment comprising a shape adapted to fit within said channel and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a top surface and a bottom surface; said outer surface adapted to abut against the side wall of said channel and said lower surface adapted to abut against the lower edge of said channel and said top surface adapted to abut against the upper edge of said channel; o a boltless segment retainer comprising a top surface adapted for securing on a top edge of the housing and a lower edge adapted for insertion within the housing aperture and abutment against the inner surface of said at least one boltless segment; wherein said insertion of said at least one boltless segment into said channel and subsequent securement of the boltless segment retainer onto said at least one boltless segment is sufficient to secure said sealing assembly inserted within said housing.
2. A sealing assembly retention and securement member for use on a rotating control device used in managed pressure drilling, where said rotating control device comprises: a housing comprising a central circular portion having an opening extending therethrough, wherein said housing comprising a channel located proximate a top edge thereof; said channel defining an upper edge, a lower edge and a side wall located therebetween; a sealing assembly adapted to be securely and removably inserted within said opening of said housing and defining an aperture sized for the insertion of a drillstring therethrough, wherein said sealing assembly is configured to seal around said drillstring and isolate an annulus of the drilling riser; and wherein said sealing assembly retention and securement member comprises: a boltless sealing assembly securement system comprising: o at least one boltless segment adapted for insertion into a channel located on said housing, each one of said at least one boltless segment comprising a shape adapted to fit within said channel and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a top surface and a bottom surface; said outer surface adapted to abut against the side wall of said channel and said lower surface adapted to abut against the lower edge of said channel and said top surface adapted to abut against the upper edge of said channel; o a boltless segment retainer comprising a top surface adapted for securing on a top edge of the housing and a lower edge adapted for insertion within the housing aperture and abutment against the inner surface of said at least one boltless segment; wherein said insertion of said at least one boltless segment into said channel and subsequent securement of the boltless segment retainer onto said at least one boltless segment is sufficient to secure said sealing assembly inserted within said housing.
3. The sealing assembly retention and securement member according to claim 2, wherein the sealing element is secured to an adapter which, during operation, abuts against said bottom surface of said at least one boltless segment.
4. The sealing assembly retention and securement member according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sealing element is incorporated into the direct design of the sealing assembly retention and securement member.
5. The sealing assembly retention and securement member according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said at least one boltless segment has a thickness sufficient that when placed in said channel, it protrudes therefrom and maintains the sealing assembly within said housing.
6. The sealing assembly retention and securement member according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the elastomeric component, its adapter, and/or housing allows for a tapered seal without the use of threads or axial forces that reduce the force necessary to install and remove the sealing assembly from the housing.
7. The boltless sealing assembly retention and securement member according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said at least one boltless segment has a geometry selected from the group consisting of: a geometry where the groove is between the base of the sealing assembly and a retaining wall; a geometry where the retaining wall’s geometry can help prevent the geometry of the segments from collapsing or moving out of their required retention position; and a geometry where the system allows for the confident securement of the sealing assembly without the direct use of bolts or fasteners through the sealing assembly or housing into any other component.
8. The sealing assembly retention and securement member according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said at least one boltless segment has an aperture located proximate the inner surface adapted to receive a tool used in the removal of said at least one boltless segment during a replacement operation.
9. The sealing assembly retention and securement member according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein said at least one boltless segment comprises a hinge connection between a first and a second member, wherein said hinge connection allowing the first and second member to be compressed towards one another to facilitate insertion into said channel located on said housing.
10. A use of a sealing assembly retention and securement member on a rotating control device used in managed pressure drilling, where said rotating control device comprises: a housing comprising a central circular portion having an opening extending therethrough, wherein said housing comprising a channel located proximate a top edge thereof; said channel defining an upper edge, a lower edge and a side wall located therebetween; a sealing assembly adapted to be securely and removably inserted within said opening of said housing and defining an aperture sized for the insertion of a drillstring therethrough, wherein said sealing assembly is configured to seal around said drillstring and isolate an annulus of the drilling riser; and wherein said sealing assembly retention and securement member comprises: a boltless sealing assembly securement system comprising: o at least one boltless segment adapted for insertion into a channel located on said housing, each one of said at least one boltless segment comprising a shape adapted to fit within said channel and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a top surface and a bottom surface; said outer surface adapted to abut against the side wall of said channel and said lower surface adapted to abut against the lower edge of said channel and said top surface adapted to abut against the upper edge of said channel; o a boltless segment retainer comprising a top surface adapted for securing on a top edge of the housing and a lower edge adapted for insertion within the housing aperture and abutment against the inner surface of said at least one boltless segment; wherein said insertion of said at least one boltless segment into said channel and subsequent securement of the boltless segment retainer onto said at least one boltless segment is sufficient to secure said sealing assembly inserted within said housing.
11. A method of securing a retaining a sealing element used in a rotating control device used in managed pressure drilling within a housing, said method comprising the steps: inserting a sealing assembly adapted to be securely and removably inserted within said opening of said housing and defining an aperture sized for the insertion of a drillstring therethrough; positioning the sealing assembly within the housing to form a seal from a lower portion situated below a channel located on an inner surface of said housing; inserting at least one boltless segment into said channel located on said housing, wherein at least one boltless segment comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein each one of said at least one boltless segment comprising a curved shape adapted to fit within a channel located within a circular housing and abut against an outer surface of said channel; inserting a boltless segment retainer onto or into a top edge of said housing; and securing said boltless segment retainer onto said top edge of said housing with securing means.
12. A kit for use with a rotating control device used in managed pressure drilling, said kit comprising: a housing comprising a central circular portion having an opening extending therethrough, wherein said housing comprising a channel located proximate a top edge thereof; said channel defining an upper edge, a lower edge and a side wall located therebetween; a sealing assembly adapted to be securely and removably inserted within said opening of said housing and defining an aperture sized for the insertion of a drillstring therethrough, wherein said sealing assembly is configured to seal around said drillstring and isolate an annulus of the drilling riser; a boltless sealing assembly securement system comprising: o at least one boltless segment having a specific geometry adapted for insertion into a channel located on said housing, each one of said at least one boltless segment comprising a curved shape adapted to fit within said channel and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a top surface and a bottom surface; said outer surface adapted to abut against the side wall of said channel and said lower surface adapted to abut against the lower edge of said channel and said top surface adapted to abut against the upper edge of said channel; o a boltless segment retainer comprising a top flat surface adapted for securing on a top edge of the housing and a lower edge adapted for insertion within the housing aperture and abutment against the inner surface of said at least one boltless segment; wherein said specific geometry is selected from the group consisting of: a geometry where the groove is between the base of the sealing assembly and a retaining wall; a geometry where the retaining wall’s geometry can help prevent the geometry of the segments from collapsing or moving out of their required retention position; and a geometry where the system allows for the confident securement of the sealing assembly without the direct use of bolts or fasteners through the sealing assembly or housing into any other component; and wherein said insertion of said at least one boltless segment into said channel and subsequent securement of the boltless segment retainer onto said at least one boltless segment is sufficient to secure said sealing element within said housing.

Description

BOLTLESS SEALING ASSEMBLY SECUREMENT METHOD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to Rotating Control Devices and the methods of retention for sealing assemblies, more specifically, to a method of retention of sealing assemblies with do not use bolts. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When drilling for oil and gas, one encounters geological formations that have a narrower tolerance for changes in bottom hole pressure. Constant improvements are being sought to reduce any downtime of equipment and expedite any repairs that become necessary. A widely adopted solution to this problem is the so called 'Managed Pressure Drilling' (MPD). In this method of drilling, the annular space is closed to the atmosphere by means of a Rotating Control Device (RCD). Rotating equipment requires maintenance as the drilling environment produces forces, elevated temperatures and abrasive cuttings detrimental to the longevity of seals, bearings, and packing elements. An RCD is a pressure- control device used during drilling for the purpose of making a seal around the drillstring during its rotation and/or tripping in and out of a well. The RCD is designed to contain or divert hydrocarbons or other wellbore fluids and pressure and prevent their release to the atmosphere. The RCD diverts the fluid into a manifold equipped with a specialized choke that allows manipulation of the well's bottom hole pressure. Right before breaking a connection to add a new stand, the pumps are ramped down. At the same time, the dynamic component of the bottom hole pressure drops and needs to be compensated for, in order to maintain a near-constant bottom hole pressure. In the oil and gas industry, it is paramount to ensure the safety of employees, a problem that may jeopardize employees' safety on a drilling rig is known as a "blowout". When a zone of high geopressure is encountered during a drilling operation and the pressure exceeds the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the drilling mud, and the formation has sufficient permeability to allow fluid flow, then the formation fluid will move into the wellbore and displace the drilling mud. This is referred to as a "kick"; and if unchecked it will result in a "blowout" which is an uncontrolled release of crude oil and/or natural gas from an oil well Through the use of an MPD system which includes an RCD a kick can be safely controlled. During drilling operations, the drill pipe or tubular is axially and slidably moved through the rotating control head. The axial movement of the drill pipe along with other forces experienced in the drilling operation, some of which are discussed below, causes wear and tear on the bearing and seal assembly and the assembly subsequently requires repair. Typically, the drill pipe or a portion thereof is pulled from the well and the bearing and seal assembly in the rotating control head is then released. The internal sealing elements may be either passive or active. Passive sealing elements, such as stripper rubber sealing elements, can be fabricated with a desired stretch-fit. On the other hand, an active sealing element typically requires a remote -to-the -tool source of hydraulic or other energy to open or close the sealing element around the outside diameter of the tubular. An active sealing element can be deactivated to reduce or eliminate the sealing forces of the sealing element with the tubular. Several types of RCDs have been proposed with combinations of active and passive seals or sealing element, usually combining a stripper rubber sealing element and an active sealing element. A tubular typically comprises sections with varying outer surface diameters. The passive and active sealing elements mentioned above must be designed to adapt to seal around all of the rough and irregular surfaces of the components of the tubular, drill pipe, tool joints, and drill collars. The continuous movement of the tubular through the sealing element while the sealing element is under pressure causes wear of the interior sealing surface of the sealing element. When drilling with a dual annular sealing element RCD, the lower of the two sealing elements is typically exposed to the majority of the pressurized fluid and cuttings returning from the wellbore, which communicate with the lower surface of the lower sealing element body. The upper sealing element is exposed to the fluid that is not blocked by the lower sealing element. When the lower sealing element blocks all of the pressurized fluid, the lower sealing element is exposed to a significant pressure differential across its body since its upper surface is essentially at atmospheric pressure when used on land or atop a riser. The highest demand on the RCD sealing elements occurs when tripping the tubular out of the wellbore under high pressure. Several components are used to control the fluid pressure. Typically, one or more blowout preventers (BOP) are mounted with the well forming a BOP stack to seal the well. In par