MECHANICALLY EXTENDABLE DRILLING STAND AND METHOD OF USE

The present application for a MECHANICALLY EXTENDABLE DRILLING STAND AND METHOD OF USE claims priority to provisional application 62/252,230, filed Nov. 5, 2015.

Additionally, this application relates to issued U.S. Pat. No. 9,163,472 filed, Sep. 16, 2012 for an EXTENDABLE CONDUCTOR STAND HAVING MULTI-STAGE BLOWOUT PROTECTION and to U.S. Pat. No. 8,752,637 filed Aug. 16, 2013 for an EXTENDABLE CONDUCTOR STAND AND METHOD OF USE; the disclosures therein incorporated by reference.

It is contemplated that the disclosed extendable drilling stand may be used during each stage of the drilling process including the conductor stand for setting surface of the well bore and used as an A-stack assembly over an intermediate drilling casing.

A first embodiment of the present invention or extendable drilling stand including a bottom cylindrical conductor section fitted with a welded high pressure flange configured to be coupled to a mating flange welded to the surface conductor casing or to a flange welded to an intermediate conductor casing. In one embodiment the flange configured to be coupled to the larger surface conductor casing and a reducing coupling or reducing spool piece would be used to couple to an intermediate conductor casing. An upper cylindrical conductor section configured to be telescopically mated with the bottom conductor section, the upper conductor section also having a welded flange configured to mate to a rotating head or to an optional extension spool piece. A seal assembly formed between the bottom conductor section and top conductor section configured to prevent drilling process fluids or in-ground fluid or gas from leaking past the junction between the bottom conductor section and top conductor section. In a first embodiment the bottom conductor section will have a diameter larger than the top conductor section, and the top conductor section sized to moveably fit inside of the bottom conductor section. In a second embodiment, the bottom conductor section having a diameter smaller than the top conductor section and the bottom conductor sized to movably fit within the diameter of the top conductor section.

In another embodiment of the present invention or mechanically extendable drilling stand the length of the extendable conductor stand can be adjusted using a height adjustment and locking mechanism. This allows a user to bolt the bottom flange of the extendable conductor stand to a reciprocal flange on a drilling casing, to a flange on a diverter spool piece or to the flange of an inline blowout protection device or BOP. With the bottom section fixed in place, the top section can be raised, using the high adjustment and locking mechanism, toward the floor of the drilling platform and set at the correct height to mate with a rotating head or to align with the flow nipple.

In one embodiment the height adjustment and locking mechanism is one or more hydraulic cylinders or rams extending from the bottom conductor section to the top conductor section and configured to raise the top section a pre-determined distance. In one embodiment, having one or possibly two hydraulic cylinders, it is contemplated that a plurality of guild rods arranged in a radial pattern and extending between the bottom conductor section and the top conductor section will be necessary to align the conductor sections during height adjustment. In other embodiments having at least three hydraulic cylinders is contemplated that no guide rods will be required. When more than one hydraulic cylinders are used, hydraulic pressure will be balanced to ensure that the each of the cylinders extend or retract at the same rate and with substantially equal force.

In one embodiment a hydraulic power pack, including a drive motor, pump, filtration and reservoir will be substantially attached or incorporated with the extendable conductor stand. For example the hydraulic power pack maybe contained in a case or box welded to the lower conductor section. In another embodiment the hydraulic power pack maybe configured as a cart or skid having a high pressure hose or hoses and a return hose that can be attached to the hydraulic components of the extendable conductor stand via standard or quick connect couplings.

In one embodiment the height adjustment will be accomplished using electronic controls or control valves located substantially at the hydraulic power pack. In another embodiment a control pendant or remote control is used to adjust the height of the extendable stand, this will allow a user to be positioned a safe distance away from any moving parts and not be directly under the drilling platform.

In one embodiment the hydraulic rams or cylinders are double acting or will apply force during both and extension stroke and during retraction. In another embodiment the hydraulic rams or cylinders are single acting and will apply a calculated force during the extension stroke or when the top conductor section is being raised. The weight of the top conductor section will act to allow the single acting hydraulic rams to retract.

In one embodiment or in one method of use the height of the extendable drilling stand is fixed or locked in place when the hydraulic power pack is shut down or pump pressure is stopped; the hydraulic pressure in the cylinders will hold the drilling stand at the correct height. In another embodiment, manual or automatically actuated valves will be used to isolate the pressure in the hydraulic cylinders from the control system and hydraulic power pack. In yet another embodiment, independent locking valves are included to isolate each hydraulic cylinder individually creating a redundant hydraulic locking system in the event of a broken hose or seal failure.

In another embodiment, it is contemplated that the top conductor section is configured as a hydraulic cylinder having a sealed annular cross section which acts as a ram and an open bore section or open center to allow for drilling operations through the extendable drilling stand.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention or extendable drilling conductor stand the height adjustment and locking mechanism is one or more screw jack or screw drive mechanisms.

In one embodiment there is one or two synchronized screw jack drives having jacking rods which extend between the bottom and top conductor sections and a plurality of guide rods used to align and stabilized the extendable drilling conductor during raising and lowering operations.

In another embodiment there is three or more synchronized screw jack mechanisms which it is contemplated will operate without the use of guide rods.

In one embodiment the screw jack mechanism is a simple stacked nut arrangement which can be manually adjusted.

In another embodiment the screw jack mechanism includes an electric drive motor, gearbox and worm gear configured to engage the threaded jacking rods. The extension and retraction process can be accomplished using simple push button controls or using a remote pendant.

In yet another embodiment the height adjustment and locking mechanism is a rack and pinion gear arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description of the embodiments can be understood in light of the Figures which illustrate specific aspects of the embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the embodiments. In the Figures the physical dimensions of the embodiment may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions may be omitted.

FIG. 1, is a mechanically extendable drilling stand having hydraulic cylinders,

FIG. 2, is a mechanically extendable drilling stand with guide rods,

FIG. 3, is a mechanically extendable drilling stand having a screw jack height adjustment,

FIG. 4, is a second embodiment of a mechanically extendable drilling stand having a screw jack height adjustment,

FIG. 5, is a mechanically extendable drilling stand installed in a typical drilling stack, and,

FIG. 6, is mechanically extendable drilling stand having integral hydraulic ram.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the present invention or mechanically extendable drilling stand 100, including an extendable conductor stand having an upper conductor section 110 having a first inside diameter, a lower conductor section 120 having a second outside diameter configured to fit inside of the upper section 110. A seal assembly 150 configured to prevent drilling fluid, water, or gases from escaping at the extension junction. The upper conductor section 110 including a high pressure flange 131 compatible with a flange typical to a rotating head or spool piece, the lower conductor section 120 including a high pressure flange 132 configured to adapt to a reciprocal flange welded on a ground conductor section or drilling casing installed in the well cellar or to a blowout preventer (BOP). The conductor stand is extendable using one or more hydraulic cylinders 200 having a base end 220 and a rod end 210. The hydraulic cylinders 200 connected to the conductor 100 section with an upper mounting bracket 221 and a lower mounting bracket 222.

Another embodiment of the present invention or mechanically extendable drilling stand 100 is shown in FIG. 2, including a guide rod assembly 300 having a plurality of brackets 321, 322 and 323. The upper guide rods 321 and 322 including a bushing assembly 330 to allow guide rod 300 to slide through in a direction parallel with the extension of the drilling stand section 100. It is understood than in order for the drilling stand to mechanically extend without binding, three or more hydraulic cylinders 200 or a combination of hydraulic cylinders 200 in conjunction with guide rods 300 in groups of three or more must be used. In this embodiment, it is recognized that a jacking rod assembly 400, as shown in FIG. 3, or a rack and pinion gear assembly can be used in lieu of the hydraulic cylinders 200.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are embodiments of the present invention having a screw jack assembly 400. In FIG. 3, the screw jack assembly 400 includes, the jacking screw 410, a lower bracket 420, having a threaded nut 425, a upper guide bracket 421 and a drive gear box 450 including an electric motor 451. The gearbox 450 is configured to turn the jacking screw 410, which will thread through threaded nut 425 and force the drilling stand 100 to extend or contract depending upon the direction of rotation of jacking screw 410. In FIG. 4, the jacking screw 410 is fixed to bottom bracket 460 and gearbox 450 includes a threaded gear (not shown) that when turned, will allow the gearbox 450 to climb or descend the length of jacking screw 410. It is contemplated the each embodiment of the FIGS. 3 and 4 can be equally accomplished using a rack and pinion gear arrangement.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention or mechanically extendable drilling stand 100 installed in a typical drilling arrangement including, a rotating head 610, an extension spool piece 620, a BOP 630, and a diverter spool 640 all mounted on a drilling ground casing. The embodiment depicted includes hydraulic cylinders 200 which are connected to a hydraulic power pack 500.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the present invention or mechanically extendable drilling stand 100 where the upper conductor section 110 is configured as a hydraulic base having an annular pressure reservoir section 153 and the lower conductor section 120 is configured as a hydraulic rod having an annular high pressure acting face 152. A sealing section 151 is adapted to isolated hydraulic fluid to the pressure reservoir section 153. A wiper assembly 155 is configured near the base end of the upper conductor section 110 to align the lower conductor section 120 within the annular pressure reservoir section 153 and to keep the mating surfaces between the upper and lower conductor sections clean. A tool ramp 154 may be formed within the diameter of the upper conductor section 110 for ease of passing drilling tools through the drilling stand 100. The drilling stand 100 is operated using a hydraulic power pack 500 attached at generic hydraulic quick fitting or fittings 501. When a volume of hydraulic fluid is pumped into the pressure reservoir section 153, force is applied to the acting face 152 of the lower conductor section 120 and the conductor sections will telescopically extend. In yet another embodiment, it is contemplated that hydraulic fluid communication can be established in the void between seal assembly 151 and the bottom section of the upper conductor 110 and the wiper seal assembly 155 may be replaced with a pressure seal assembly causing the mechanically extendable drilling stand 100 to function as a double acting hydraulic cylinder.

It is to be understood that the above mentioned arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications or alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.